Category Archives: Tropicana Entertainment

Big month for Atlantic City; Wanna be president?

Posted on August 12, 2016 by David McKee

Casino gambling revenue in Atlantic City was up 5%, to $258 million, last month and Internet gaming revenues pole-vaulted 39%, exceeding $17 million. Higher coin-in at the slots translated into a 3% growth in one-armed banditry while a 7% increase … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Election, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here, Westgate LV | Comments Off on Big month for Atlantic City; Wanna be president?

Missouri is doing just fine, thanks; Cautious hope for Moulin Rouge

Posted on August 10, 2016 by David McKee

Pinnacle Entertainment did a masterful job of managing expectations in its quarterly earnings call, citing disruptive road work around Ameristar St. Charles as a potential setback from the property. Today, Missouri released its July gaming results and — surprise — … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Downtown, Environment, G2E, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Moulin Rouge, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sports, Steve Wynn, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Missouri is doing just fine, thanks; Cautious hope for Moulin Rouge

Election special: New Jersey, New York, Oregon

Posted on August 9, 2016 by David McKee

An MGM Resorts International executive with whom I spoke yesterday told me the New Jersey casino ballot initiative is trailing badly in the polls. We hope he’s right, especially as news of the closure of Trump Taj Mahal (and Glenn … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Charity, Economy, Election, Foxwoods, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Hooters, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New York, Oregon, Politics, Revel, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here | Comments Off on Election special: New Jersey, New York, Oregon

Indiana gamblers visit less, play more; Rude surprise at Seminole Hard Rock

Posted on August 9, 2016 by David McKee

Indiana casino customers visited less last month but more than made up for it with increased spending, keeping Hoosier State gaming revenues stable. That even-keel figure conceals some big swings and roundabouts at individual property. Horseshoe Hammond had an unaccountably … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Cirque du Soleil, Dining, Florida, Full House Resorts, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Seminole Tribe, Slot routes, Transportation, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Murren minces few words; Wynn Boston Harbor sets opening date

Posted on August 5, 2016 by David McKee

Commiting truth isn’t as rare in the casino business as in politics but MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren was startlingly candid in yesterday’s earnings call, crediting a surge in Las Vegas summer business to a Zika virus outbreak in Florida, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Carl Icahn, Entertainment, Florida, Foxwoods, International, Internet gambling, LVCVA, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Riviera, Singapore, South Korea, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Unite-Here, Wall Street | Comments Off on Murren minces few words; Wynn Boston Harbor sets opening date

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 5, 2016 by David McKee

“This titan of Wall Street is utterly incapable of making a decision unless it is mean-spirited and benefiting him alone. The great deal-maker would rather burn the Trump Taj Mahal down just so he can control the ashes. In the end … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Trump Taj: Everybody loses; Mixed bag for Boyd

Posted on August 4, 2016 by David McKee

Labor Day weekend will be the final hurrah for Trump Taj Mahal. Owner Carl Icahn has expressed his intent to close the struggling casino rather than continue to negotiate with striking Unite-Here Local 54. ““I would never have thought Carl … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Churchill Downs, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here | Comments Off on Trump Taj: Everybody loses; Mixed bag for Boyd

Pinnacle dominates Louisiana; Trump settles Vegas case

Posted on July 22, 2016 by David McKee

Pulled under by the Shreveport/Bossier City market (-6%), June gaming numbers in Louisiana came in 3% off last year’s. Pinnacle Entertainment‘s Boomtown Bossier ($5 million) far outperformed the competition, up 11%. Hardest hit were the Caesars Entertainment properties, with usually reliable … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Churchill Downs, Culinary Union, Donald Trump, GLPI, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Palms, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Slot routes, Station Casinos, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here | Comments Off on Pinnacle dominates Louisiana; Trump settles Vegas case

Tribal gaming reaches new high; New concept for Railroad Pass

Posted on July 21, 2016 by David McKee

Last year was the best ever for tribal casinos, up 5% from 2014, coming in just a bit shy of $30 billion. Recent efforts to align tribal and private-sector casino interests come at a time when the tribal sector could … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Dubai, Economy, Election, Indiana, Kazuo Okada, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Nebraska, Philippines, Regulation, Transportation, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Tribal gaming reaches new high; New concept for Railroad Pass

Big win for Wynn; Entertainer gets shrunken head

Posted on July 20, 2016 by David McKee

It’s never too late to count out litigious Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone but it looks like Wynn Boston Harbor may finally be inevitable. The casino project received a development permit from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. Sore losers Mohegan … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Entertainment, Iowa, Louisiana, Macau, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Transportation, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here | Comments Off on Big win for Wynn; Entertainer gets shrunken head

Acrimony grows at Taj; Racism in Nebraska election race

Posted on July 14, 2016 by David McKee

As protests against Carl Icahn spilled over into New York City, his casino CEO, Anthony Rodio, sent ominously mixed signals about the future of Trump Taj Mahal. On the one hand, he offered a partial restoration of health benefits and … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Galaxy Entertainment, Iowa, Lake Tahoe, Macau, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Nebraska, Racinos, Regulation, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here | Comments Off on Acrimony grows at Taj; Racism in Nebraska election race

Lean June in Atlantic City; Respect for the riff raff

Posted on July 13, 2016 by David McKee

Just when it should have been booming with the summer season, Atlantic City casino revenue fell 4% — $197.5 million — although online casino revenues rose 41% (to $16 million). Resorts Digital — aka PokerStars — is still bringing up the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Marketing, Mohegan Sun, PokerStars, Regulation, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Lean June in Atlantic City; Respect for the riff raff

Shifty speculation in Massachusetts; Hoosiers spend more

Posted on July 8, 2016 by David McKee

Two Boston-area mayors are digging in against a slot parlor proposed for Revere. New Revere Mayor Brian Arrigo and Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone (below) have both voiced opposition to the project, which would be near Suffolk Downs (the ballot question is … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Full House Resorts, Harrah's, Horseracing, Law enforcement, Majestic Star, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Shifty speculation in Massachusetts; Hoosiers spend more

Icahn leaves Taj workers nostalgic for Trump; Megaresort proposed for NYC

Posted on July 7, 2016 by David McKee

You can measure the acrimony between Unite-Here Local 54 and Tropicana Entertainment by the fact that striking workers at Trump Taj Mahal are using Donald Trump as a stick with which to beat Carl Icahn. By astutely negotiating a pact … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Carl Icahn, Charity, Cordish Co., Cosmopolitan, Donald Trump, Election, Entertainment, Genting, Georgia, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, New York, Regulation, Revel, Stanley Ho, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Unite-Here | Comments Off on Icahn leaves Taj workers nostalgic for Trump; Megaresort proposed for NYC

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 5, 2016 by David McKee

“Hundreds of dead mice were found in the kitchen of this building! If you like mice and roaches, stay at the Taj Mahal!” — Unite-Here Local 54 Organizing Director Benjamin Albert taunting customers — and citing Atlantic City Health Department statistics … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Environment, Mohegan Sun, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here | 2 Comments

Strike at the Taj; Macao half-full or half-empty?

Posted on July 1, 2016 by David McKee

While Tropicana Entertainment managed to stave off at the very last minute a strike at its eponymous Atlantic City casino, Trump Taj Mahal was not so fortunate. In a 99% predictable outcome, roughly 1,000 Taj workers walked off their jobs … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Economy, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, Philippines, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Donald Trump, stiff; Partial labor peace in Atlantic City

Posted on June 30, 2016 by David McKee

One of the benefits of Donald Trump‘s current ubiquity is that it has belatedly spurred the press into debunking the myth that he was a successful casino operator in Atlantic City. A particularly damning Associated Press story connects the dots … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, Galaxy Entertainment, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Revel, Steve Wynn, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here | Comments Off on Donald Trump, stiff; Partial labor peace in Atlantic City

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 27, 2016 by David McKee

“You have to give people an experience that makes them want to come back, and non-gambling amenities are a big part of that. Competition being what it is, we’re going to give people a reason to come back here and … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Marketing, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Doing it the right way

Posted on June 21, 2016 by David McKee

In keeping with the aphorism that history repeats itself, first as tragedy, then as farce, Glenn Straub‘s fire-aim-ready attempt to reopen Revel continues to drag on, providing an object lesson in how not to open a casino. As though to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Internet gambling, Macau, New York, Politics, Problem gambling, Revel, Stanley Ho, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Louisiana gets hammered; Three states legalize DFS

Posted on June 20, 2016 by David McKee

As we’ve noted before, May was hard on Midwest casino operators, nowhere more so than in Louisiana, where gambling revenue was down 13%. This marks seven months of same-store decline for the Pelican State, an exceptional slump, with the usually … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, Churchill Downs, Colorado, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sports, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 2 Comments