Category Archives: TV

Indiana gets it done; Fox puts $$ into sports betting

Posted on May 10, 2019 by David McKee

It’s official. Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) has affixed his signature to a bill that will expand gambling in the Hoosier State by approving two new casinos and permitting sports betting, expected to take off by September. (All-important mobile betting … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Connecticut, Foxwoods, Indiana, Majestic Star, MGM Resorts International, PokerStars, Politics, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports, Sports betting, TV | Comments Off on Indiana gets it done; Fox puts $$ into sports betting

Solid month for Maryland; Casino sale aborted

Posted on May 7, 2019 by David McKee

Maryland casino revenues inched up to $145 million last month, led by MGM National Harbor with $61 million and 42% of market share. Maryland Live, no surprise, was second with 33% and $48 million (+2%). Horseshoe Baltimore grossed $20 million … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., GLPI, Golden Gaming, Illinois, Internet gambling, Iowa, Lotteries, Macau, Maryland, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, Nebraska, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Sports betting, Tribal, TV, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off on Solid month for Maryland; Casino sale aborted

Putting problem gaming on notice; Station has a hit

Posted on May 1, 2019 by David McKee

“Whilst the vast majority of our customers enjoy our products responsibly, it is high time that the industry did more to protect its customers from potential harm.” Thus spake GVC CEO Kenny Alexander in a dramatic change of policy. Along … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Connecticut, Foxwoods, Horseracing, International, Kazuo Okada, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Palms, Philippines, Problem gambling, Sports, Station Casinos, TV, Wall Street, William Hill | Comments Off on Putting problem gaming on notice; Station has a hit

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 29, 2019 by David McKee

Melisandre: What do we say to the God of Death? Arya Stark: Not today. Best exchange from last night’s installment of Game of Thrones.

Posted in Entertainment, TV | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Re-enter the Dragon

Posted on April 23, 2019 by David McKee

Yes, the Lucky Dragon will be coming back, albeit under a new name. Construction magnate Don Ahern has made a $36 million purchase of the luckless casino, which still carries another $50 million in debt. (Hence the bargain price.) Ahern … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Caesars Entertainment, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Lucky Dragon, MGM Resorts International, Pets, Sports betting, Tamares Group, The Strip, TV | 1 Comment

Cosmopolitan on the block (again)

Posted on April 18, 2019 by David McKee

Blackstone Group‘s tenure at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas will be remarkably brief (although nothing in the gaming industry will ever match the extreme brevity of the abortive Wynn Resorts/Crown Resorts merger). Bloomberg reports that Blackstone is exploring “strategic options” … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Caesars Entertainment, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Downtown, history, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Marketing, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Politics, Sports betting, Tamares Group, The Strip, TV, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Cosmopolitan on the block (again)

Winter is coming … to Pahrump

Posted on April 16, 2019 by David McKee

Last Sunday, Game of Thrones returned with an exposition-heavy season opener. No word yet on whether it dampened business at Nevada brothels but they’ve evidently been taking some inspiration from the A Song of Ice and Fire saga. According to … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Entertainment, Greenwood Racing, New Jersey, Pahrump, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, TV | Comments Off on Winter is coming … to Pahrump

Free-market forces in Atlantic City; Wire Act flip-flop

Posted on April 10, 2019 by David McKee

As one might anticipate in a highly competitive free market, the upsized Atlantic City casino industry saw 15% less cash flow last year. This is only to be expected with the addition of Hard Rock Atlantic City and Ocean Resort. Far … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Florida, Hard Rock International, history, International, Internet gambling, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ocean Resort, Politics, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Tilman Fertitta, TV | 1 Comment

Gilbert sells to Hard Rock; Masters odds are out

Posted on April 8, 2019 by David McKee

Hard Rock International exited the Ohio market by one door, then reentered it by another. The tribal giant bought Dan Gilbert out of Jack Cincinnati and Turfway Park. REIT Vici Propreties will own the real estate of the casino and … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Caesars Entertainment, DFS, Donald Trump, Genting, Hard Rock International, International, Iowa, Kentucky, Las Vegas Sands, Marketing, Maryland, Ohio, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal, TV | Comments Off on Gilbert sells to Hard Rock; Masters odds are out

News briefs from around the globe

Posted on April 1, 2019 by David McKee

It’s the end of an era at Hard Rock Rocksino in Ohio. This week it becomes MGM Northfield Park, a completely uninspiring handle that reeks of insecurity. Dan Gilbert, if you’re ever going to make a run for the top … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Charity, Dining, Entertainment, International, Japan, Lake Las Vegas, Law enforcement, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Real Estate, Technology, The Strip, TV | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 2, 2019 by David McKee

“Profanity is the sign of a lazy mind.” — Norman Newlander (Alan Arkin) in The Kominsky Method. Great show.

Posted in Entertainment, TV | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

King on the rag; Macao mobbed; Sheldon goes green

Posted on February 27, 2019 by David McKee

Better hurry and line up that Circa funding, Derek Stevens: Rep. Steve King (R) is coming after your EB-5 investors. King has introduced a bill, currently little more than a placeholder, to terminate the EB-5 program. In the past we’ve been … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Cirque du Soleil, Cretins, Delaware, Derek Stevens, Downtown Grand, Entertainment, Environment, Genting, Hard Rock International, International, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, South Korea, Sports betting, Terry Caudill, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 1 Comment

Fearless Oscar recap

Posted on February 25, 2019 by David McKee

New Jersey bookmakers are doubtless shelling out some long green today after Olivia Colman upset their (and my) odds-on pick, Glenn Close at the Academy Awards last night. Despite having the law of averages seemingly in her favor, Close continues … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, International, Movies, New Jersey, TV | Comments Off on Fearless Oscar recap

Iowa weighs sports betting; Miller time

Posted on February 21, 2019 by David McKee

Iowa casinos and DFS would be the winners if a new bill, which just passed out of a Senate State Government Committee, becomes law. Casinos would be given the right to operate terrestrial, mobile and online sports betting, and DFS would … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, DFS, Downtown, Economy, Horseracing, Iowa, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Oklahoma, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, The Mob, The Strip, Tribal, TV, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Iowa weighs sports betting; Miller time

Chicago or bust?; Ocean Resort in deep water

Posted on February 12, 2019 by David McKee

With Illinois gaming revenue stuck at 2006 levels, some sense is finally filtering into legislative discussion of a Chicago casino. Could that idea have passed its sell-by date? The inability of Rivers Casino, however successful, and slot routes to move … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, Economy, Illinois, Racinos, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, TV, West Virginia | 2 Comments

Super Bowl hits and misses; Sigma Derby rides again

Posted on February 4, 2019 by David McKee

Super Bowl LIII is over and viewers are left to ponder such existential questions as “Is Julian Edelman a Hall of Famer?” and “Why are all NFL kickers bald?” The New England Patriots did the most important thing, i.e. covering the … Continue reading →

Posted in Derek Stevens, Downtown, Entertainment, history, International, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Paragon Gaming, Sigma Derby, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, TV | Comments Off on Super Bowl hits and misses; Sigma Derby rides again

New boss at AGA; Route 91 Harvest returns

Posted on December 17, 2018 by David McKee

Replacing Geoff Freeman, the American Gaming Association has tapped Business Roundtable Senior Vice President for Government Relations Bill Miller. A Beltway lobbyist of two decades’ standing, Miller should be able to hit the ground running. Thirteen years of lobbying on … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, California, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Geoff Freeman, Greenwood Racing, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tribal, TV | 3 Comments

Sports betting a ‘go’ in Rhode Island; Reefer gladness in Vegas

Posted on November 16, 2018 by David McKee

Getting a leg up on Massachusetts, casinos in Rhode Island will start taking sports bets in a week or so. Workers are putting the finishing touches on Twin River Casino‘s new sports book. Tiverton Casino Hotel will follow at some … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, Dining, Election, International, Marijuana, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pets, Rhode Island, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, TV | Comments Off on Sports betting a ‘go’ in Rhode Island; Reefer gladness in Vegas

Illinois stumbles; Kimmel returns to Vegas roots

Posted on October 5, 2018 by David McKee

It would take more than an extra weekend day to account for a 7% slippage in Illinois gaming revenues, which were positive year/year in 2017. Nobody had a revenue-positive month, not even Rivers Casino, down 5% despite a state-leading $34 … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Delaware, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Galaxy Entertainment, GLPI, Greenwood Racing, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Movies, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, TV, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Illinois stumbles; Kimmel returns to Vegas roots

Las Vegas: The good, the bad, the resort fees

Posted on October 4, 2018 by David McKee

Mark it on your calendar. According to Credit Suisse analyst Cameron McKnight, long-awaited, tantalizingly delayed Resorts World Las Vegas will debut in late 2020, a date “recently … affirmed” by Genting Group. In other good news for Sin City, convention and … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Donald Trump, Economy, G2E, Genting, International, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Macau, New York, Resort fees, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, TV, Wall Street | 1 Comment