Category Archives: Wall Street

Just when …

Posted on January 20, 2014 by David McKee

You thought Atlantic City had taken its lumps for January, but here comes an additional indignity. Borgata was forced to cancel part of its Winter Poker Open in mid-tourney. Casino surveillance detected the insinuation of fake chips into the tournament’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, Macau, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Technology, Wall Street | Comments Off

Frigid winter for Midwest casinos

Posted on January 10, 2014 by David McKee

Blame it on brutal weather or whatever your like but Midwest casino revenues have been dismal in December and it’s my doleful duty to report them. Missouri dipped 11%. Positive performers, like Pinnacle Entertainment‘s River City (+6%) were few. Of … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Indiana, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Second chances for Caesars, Hard Rock

Posted on January 9, 2014 by David McKee

In a bit of good news for Caesars Entertainment, the government of South Korea is considering a relaxation of its casino-bidding rules. Specifically, the requirement of a BBB bond rating may be knocked down a bit — and bond ratings … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, International, Iowa, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Wall Street, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Wynn’s new man in Macao; Sheldon’s losing hand

Posted on January 7, 2014 by David McKee

Steve Wynn will continue to be CEO and Chairman of Wynn Macau. However, he’s handing off the presidency to Gamal Aziz. It’s another sign that Macao isn’t just a department of a company like Wynn Resorts but an entity unto … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Defining a Vegas recovery; Big push in New Hampshire

Posted on January 6, 2014 by David McKee

Which would you rather have: More visitors three years straight or more spending per capita? That’s the choice Las Vegas has to make as it defines its recovery. On the bright side, ADRs are catching up with supply, with which … Continue reading →

Posted in Cannery Casino Resorts, Charity, Current, Economy, Iowa, New Hampshire, Ohio, Penn National, Singapore, The Strip, Wall Street, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Macao rules

Posted on January 2, 2014 by David McKee

Today’s big story is pretty obvious: The 19% year-over-year revenue growth of Macao, which posted $45 billion in gross gaming dollars. (2012’s increase was similarly dramatic.) Analysts offer a somewhat cloudy picture for next year. No, there will be no … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off

Overexuberance in New Jersey, generosity in Maryland

Posted on December 27, 2013 by David McKee

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) is setting himself up for a fall with his blue-sky projections of Internet-gambling revenue. Eilers Research has projected that it will take two or three years for gambling revenue to reach $227 million … … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, history, Illinois, Internet gambling, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, Regulation, Slot routes, Taxes, The Mob, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Optimism in Boston; Sands is #1

Posted on December 26, 2013 by David McKee

What are the chances that Suffolk Downs could become the most profitable casino in the Western Hemisphere? Not good, you’d think, but Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority is willing to bet on it. If annual revenue reaches $1 billion, then Revere … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Churchill Hill, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New York, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Wall Street | Comments Off

Curtains for Atlantic Club; Foxwoods rides again

Posted on December 23, 2013 by David McKee

In a curious bankruptcy-court resolution, the Atlantic Club Hotel was sold to two buyers. Tropicana Entertainment — probably getting the better part of the deal — paid $8.4 million for the gambling equipment and player database. Caesars Entertainment spent $15 … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street, Wisconsin | Comments Off

Hasta la vista, EuroVegas

Posted on December 13, 2013 by David McKee

His demands having been rejected by the Spanish government, Sheldon Adelson has renounced EuroVegas, his $30 billion grand folly of 12 hotels, six casinos and 18,000 slots in Spain. Considering his hard-nosed stance that the company only concentrate on projects … Continue reading →

Posted in Greenwood Racing, International, Japan, Maryland, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Wall Street | Comments Off

Casinos on the dole; Conflict in Massachusetts

Posted on December 5, 2013 by David McKee

We’ve come 180 degrees in the evolution of the casino industry in the U.S. State governments once embraced them as what Dover Downs Gaming & Entertainment CEO Denis McGlynn calls a “sin-tax pot of gold.” Now they’re flailing amidst overmuch competition … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Caesars’ big bazaar; Psychic powers in Massachusetts; When is a profit not a profit?

Posted on December 4, 2013 by David McKee

Linq is shaping up handsomely and its Ferris wheel just had its last gondola added yesterday. So, if we can put Caesars Entertainment‘s debt problems aside for a second, the company is doing very nicely in the capex department, where … Continue reading →

Posted in Delaware, Harrah's, International, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Racinos, Regulation, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Mohegan switches sides in Massachusetts; Ghosts in the machine

Posted on December 3, 2013 by David McKee

It’s not quite official but the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority has thrown in its lot with Suffolk Downs, one of the dwindling number of candidates for a Massachusetts casino license (and where a big redesign is well underway). Mohegan Sun wasted … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, IGT, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Technology, Wall Street | Comments Off

Any way out for Caesars?

Posted on November 22, 2013 by David McKee

Woodfield Consulting Group has put a “strong sell” recommendation on Caesars Entertainment stock, deeming it “a poor equity investment choice that offers low expected return to equity investors with high speculative risk.” Noting that Caesars has six years’ and $17 … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Harrah's, Japan, Maryland, Ohio, The Strip, Wall Street | 5 Comments

Discord over Macao, harmony at MGM

Posted on November 21, 2013 by David McKee

If there’s anything murkier than the gambling subculture of Macao, it’s the report on same issued by U.S.-China Economic Security Review Commission. Its conclusion that money laundering “might be out there” won’t come to a shock to anyone. U.S. casino companies … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Current, Macau, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off

Japan factor overrated?; Gural’s head start

Posted on November 20, 2013 by David McKee

Skepticism is starting to emerge regarding Union Gaming Group‘s projection of $10 billion a year from Japanese casinos, should they be legalized. Among the reasons given are that “whales” from Japan aren’t a major factor in Pacific Rim casinos. Also, … Continue reading →

Posted in Japan, Marketing, New York, Penn National, Racinos, Scientific Games, Tribal, Wall Street, WMS Industries | Comments Off

Case Bets: Scientific, Japan, Pennsylvania, Arizona

Posted on November 19, 2013 by David McKee

Happy trails to Scientific Games CEO Lorne Weil, who got the axe this morning. He was immediately replaced by former Revlon CEO David L. Kennedy. Revlon ower Ronald Perelman takes over as CEO. Kennedy isn’t a newcomer to Scientific: He … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Cannery Casino Resorts, Current, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Japan, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

The little slot company that could; Thinking small in New York; Thinking big in Macao

Posted on November 15, 2013 by David McKee

Earlier this week, Howard Stutz looked into the fascinating story of Multimedia Games, beloved of stock analysts but shunned by share buyers. What’s not to like? Multimedia widened its profit last quarter, to $10 million. Sales in FY13 rose 27%, … Continue reading →

Posted in International, Japan, Macau, New York, Racinos, Stanley Ho, Technology, Wall Street | Comments Off

Racing the clock at Foxwoods, in Philly

Posted on November 15, 2013 by David McKee

It’s entirely possible that Milford voters could pink-slip Crossroads Massachusetts next Tuesday. But even if they don’t, Foxwoods Casino Resort CEO Scott “Woody” Butera is watching the project crumble before his very eyes. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission looked at the … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cordish Co., Current, Dining, Election, Foxwoods, Horseracing, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Tomato King Procacci, Wall Street | Comments Off

Life beyond Wynn; Crazy bounce in Atlantic City; Pressure rises in Macao

Posted on November 13, 2013 by David McKee

Applicants for Philadelphia‘s remaining casino license say they’re still keen on their chances even though Steve Wynn has dropped out? And why not? Everybody else’s odds just got better. I’d be doing the happy dance, too, if I was Penn … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Macau, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Revel, Steve Wynn, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street | Comments Off