Category Archives: Tropicana Entertainment

Hard Rock takes Icahn to the cleaners

Posted on May 11, 2017 by David McKee

Well, now we know how much Hard Rock International paid for Trump Taj Mahal — and why Carl Icahn wanted to keep it a secret. The defunct casino changed hands for $50 million, well below the nine-figure sum Icahn was … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, Donald Trump, Glenn Straub, Hard Rock International, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off

Freeman: Let my people bet!

Posted on May 11, 2017 by David McKee

Undistracted by the current shenanigans in Washington, D.C., the American Gaming Association‘s Geoff Freeman is staying on course about legalized sports betting. The AGA recently commissioned a Greenberg Quinlan Rosner poll that concluded — surprise! — that most Americans favor legalized … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Baseball, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Foxwoods, Full House Resorts, Geoff Freeman, GLPI, Harrah's, Indiana, Internet gambling, Majestic Star, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Sports, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Freeman: Sports betting is coming; Second thoughts on Paradise Park

Posted on April 27, 2017 by David McKee

It could be a case of wishing that legalization of sports betting will make it so. Or maybe Geoff Freeman is privy to intelligence that he’s not shared with the rest of us. Either way, he thinks a sports-betting repeal … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Carl Icahn, Dining, Donald Trump, Geoff Freeman, Goldman Sachs, history, Laughlin, Politics, Sports, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Transportation, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Big bounce in Louisiana; Poker and booze go better together

Posted on April 19, 2017 by David McKee

Compared with a flood-plagued March of 2015, business was booming at Louisiana casinos, up 10%, especially Baton Rouge (+20.5%), although New Orleans was flat. JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff is predicting less salubrious results in April, blaming the Easter Bunny, among … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Foxwoods, Genting, GLPI, Harrah's, IGT, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Regulation, South Korea, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off

Warm spring in the Midwest; Vegas Vic gets political

Posted on April 10, 2017 by David McKee

Don’t believe anyone who says the economy is bad: Casino takings are up all across the Midwest. The biggest gain was in Ohio, where casino win rose 7%, even though players continue to blow off Jack Cleveland ($18 million, -8%). … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Ameristar, Animals, Archon Corp., Boyd Gaming, California, Dan Gilbert, Downtown, Eldorado Resorts, Full House Resorts, Harrah's, Indiana, Isle of Capri, Law enforcement, Majestic Star, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, PokerStars, Politics, Racinos, Tropicana Entertainment, Wayne F. Newton | Comments Off

Gaming up nationally — but Louisiana gets hammered

Posted on March 20, 2017 by David McKee

America‘s casino industry had a winning month in January, up 3.5% to $3.4 billion. Even Illinois, which has never recovered from the smoking ban, was in the top four, behind Nevada (naturally), Pennsylvania and Louisiana. The only serious loser was … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Marketing, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, West Virginia | Comments Off

Atlantic City suffers February hiccup; Caesars K.O.’d in Korea

Posted on March 14, 2017 by David McKee

All good things must end and, in the case of Atlantic City, a pretty steady comeback hit a pothole in December, with business down 2%. Even Borgata ($58 million) was down a percentage point. Citywide, slot revenue was actually up … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Glenn Straub, Golden Gaming, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Macau, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, South Korea, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Sheldon stifles story; Trump Plaza’s end near

Posted on March 6, 2017 by David McKee

News about Las Vegas Sands‘ negotiations to sell Sands Bethlehem (confirmed) to MGM Resorts International (alleged) have been all over the Internet, especially once MGM’s name entered the discussion. You know where the story hasn’t been? Yup. Sheldon Adelson‘s very … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Hard Rock International, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here | Comments Off

MGM tipped as Sands Bethlehem buyer

Posted on March 5, 2017 by David McKee

It’s definite: Las Vegas Sands is shopping Sands Bethlehem, no matter what Ron Reese tells you. Company executives visited Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board Commissioner Richard G. Jewell with the news, which he confirmed to the Allentown Morning Call. Corroboration came … Continue reading →

Posted in Carl Icahn, Georgia, Internet gambling, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Movies, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

More resort fees at MGM; Sands Bethlehem sold?

Posted on March 3, 2017 by David McKee

It was show time for the big boys at the J.P. Morgan Gaming, Lodging, Restaurant & Leisure Management Access Forum, starting with MGM Resorts International, which had to get started by explaining why fourth-quarter numbers had been “coming in well below … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, California, Donald Trump, Economy, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Japan, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

The case for cannibalization; Hard Rock buys Taj

Posted on March 2, 2017 by David McKee

There’s still a big budget shortfall in Pennsylvania and state Rep. Mike Sturla thinks he has at least part of the answer: slot routes. Casinos can be expected to decry this proposed solution and some already are. But for Sturla … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Economy, Foxwoods, Geoff Freeman, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Harry Reid, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Revel, Slot routes, Sports, The Strip, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, West Virginia | Comments Off

Wayne Newton, Mr. Convention; Adelson covets Vietnam

Posted on March 1, 2017 by David McKee

If you doubted that the convention business is the new face of Las Vegas, it trotted out the pretty visage of Wayne Newton. The latter’s Casa de Shenandoah is promoting itself as the new place to hold your meeting, offering to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Illinois, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, South Korea, Technology, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, Vietnam, Wayne F. Newton | Comments Off

Atlantic City warms up; Tribe puts faith in Trump

Posted on February 15, 2017 by David McKee

Judging by his apparent failure to build brand awareness of Ten, mogul Glenn Straub is going to have trouble cracking the Atlantic City nut. That’s fine by his rivals, who are all doing very well without him. Online gambling continues … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Harrah's, Kansas, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, New York, North Las Vegas, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Steve Wynn, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off

Station, Culinary at it again; Attack of the Russian slot cheats

Posted on February 14, 2017 by David McKee

After reaching a fragile labor peace with Station Casinos, the Culinary Union is heading for another scrum with the company, publishing a petition to “Stations Casino” [sic!], detailing various and sundry workplace complaints, such as “first aid supplies were not … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Culinary Union, Georgia, International, Law enforcement, MGM Mirage, New York, Penn National, Politics, South Carolina, Station Casinos, Technology, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off

Sports betting a political football; Lucky Dragon doing just fine

Posted on February 10, 2017 by David McKee

Lawmakers in Maryland are entering the fray over sports betting. Unlike their counterparts in New Jersey, they’re not challenging the federal government directly. The proposed law, as drafted, would make sports betting legal in the Free State *if* the Bradley … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Delaware, Dining, Donald Trump, Georgia, GLPI, Harrah's, Hawaii, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Lucky Dragon, Macau, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Philippines, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Singapore, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off

Mixed results in Indiana; New Hampshire tries, tries, tries again

Posted on February 9, 2017 by David McKee

Casino revenue was down 4% last month in Indiana but, with one less weekend than last year and a 6% decline in foot traffic, I’m disinclined to read too much into the results. However, just for the record, let’s look … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Full House Resorts, GLPI, Harrah's, Indiana, Majestic Star, Mississippi, New Hampshire, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sports, Tropicana Entertainment, TV | Comments Off

Lukewarm Christmas in Louisiana; New casino for Indiana?

Posted on January 20, 2017 by David McKee

Despite an extra weekend in December, Louisiana gaming revenues were only modestly up, +4%, although gambling fever sure gripped Baton Rouge, where casinos won 14% more than last year. New Orleans has fallen to a distant third ($47 million) as … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, Churchill Downs, Dan Lee, Florida, Full House Resorts, GLPI, Harrah's, Indiana, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Seminole Tribe, Taxes, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off

Warm December in Atlantic City; Las Vegas stages comeback

Posted on January 13, 2017 by David McKee

Online gambling continues to be a hit with New Jersey players, up 31% to $18 million in December. Resorts Digital‘s market share has eked past Tropicana Entertainment‘s but Golden Nugget is far and away the leader, with 26%. Enjoy it … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Economy, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Revel, The Strip, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off

Trump vs. Las Vegas; E-sports is big busine$$

Posted on January 12, 2017 by David McKee

“Donald Trump is the most uninformed president the U.S. has ever had. This is not an opinion. It is based on the realities of how human beings communicate: He does not read. ‘[Trump] said in a series of interviews that he does not … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off

A slight chill in the air

Posted on January 10, 2017 by David McKee

Even allowing for additional weekend in 2016, gaming results last month were a tad frosty, shall we say? The best market was Missouri, which was merely flat. That was largely due to strength in the St. Louis area, where Pinnacle … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Full House Resorts, GLPI, Harrah's, Indiana, Isle of Capri, Majestic Star, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off