Category Archives: Warner Gaming

Wynn’s big buy; DFS in retreat

Posted on December 9, 2015 by David McKee

Steve Wynn is $63,800,000 lighter in the wallet this morning, after purchasing one million shares of Wynn Resorts on the open market over the last three days. This brings his total stake in the company to slightly more than 11 … Continue reading →

Posted in Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Macau, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

That wild and crazy Glenn Straub strikes again

Posted on September 10, 2015 by David McKee

Now that wacky Glenn Straub is out of the picture, Stockton University says it is fielding offers for the ex-Showboat. What anybody can do other than run it as a hotel (Caesars Entertainment having removed its gaming entitlement but forgotten … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Glenn Straub, GLPI, Harrah's, history, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Revel, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Unite-Here, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

The lion grumbles; Is Alabama casino-ready?

Posted on July 16, 2015 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International is not going to sit idly by while the State of Connecticut tries to horn in on MGM Springfield‘s business. MGM President William Hornbuckle said the company was “not going to go peacefully” but would not give … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Atlantic City, Foxwoods, Iowa, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Around the Midwest

Posted on July 8, 2015 by David McKee

Iowa was as flat as much of its landscape last month. Amidst the prevailing revenue stasis (sign of a perfectly sized market) there were a few significant movers. Isle of Capri Casinos‘ three properties were up a collective 2%, while … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Dan Gilbert, Full House Resorts, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Pushback against Adelson; Packer’s pretension

Posted on June 29, 2015 by David McKee

“Poker is an all-American game. It’s a game that I learned as a teen and continue to play today. Just like millions of other players I enjoy the strategy and skill involved.” So said Rep. Joe Barton (R) as he introduced … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Australia, California, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, PokerStars, Politics, Regulation, Taxes, The Strip, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Strip treads water in May; Penn a big hit in Massachusetts

Posted on June 26, 2015 by David McKee

For all the hoopla about the (fixed?) Mayweather-Pacquiao fight, Strip gaming revenues sent mixed signals. The game that matters most, baccarat, saw somewhat less play (-7%) but the house got beaten badly, its winnings down 36%. By contrast, all other … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Regulation, Reno, Transportation, Wall Street, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Straub puts Revel back in play; Hard Rock heads for Meadowlands

Posted on June 5, 2015 by David McKee

Glenn Straub‘s helter-skelter regime at Revel will continue at least a while more. He’s talking about reopening the HQ nightclub in July and evicting ACR Energy Partners from Revel’s power plant, getting one monkey off his back. He did and … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Glenn Straub, Hard Rock Hotel, Hard Rock International, Indiana, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Revel, Tourism, Tribal, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Smooth sailing in Illinois, Iowa; Bad legislative bet

Posted on June 5, 2015 by David McKee

Just when Illinois casinos are trying to stave off another expansion of gambling, May brought a most inconvenient uptick in gambling revenues, albeit only half a percentage point, which can presumably be accounted for by the fact that this May had … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Sports, Taxes, Wall Street, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Mohegans, Foxwoods get go-ahead; More trouble for Caesars

Posted on June 1, 2015 by David McKee

Driven by apocalyptic job-loss projections by Foxwoods Casino Resort and Mohegan Sun, the House of Representatives of Connecticut passed a casino bill to Gov. Dannel Malloy (D) for his signature. The bill doesn’t authorize a casino per se but rather … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Foxwoods, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Well done, Horseshoe; Hard Rock gets hacked

Posted on May 5, 2015 by David McKee

Last week, Horseshoe Baltimore found itself a sitting duck during the civil disturbances that followed the death of Freddy Gray. With police imposing a 10 p.m.-5 a.m. curfew, Horseshoe had no choice but to curtail its operating hours, closing at 9 … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Dan Gilbert, Georgia, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Maryland, MGM Mirage, South Carolina, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Caesars quits Ohio; Adelson’s Iran problem

Posted on March 2, 2015 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment‘s portfolio is lighter to the tune of two Ohio casinos and a racino. The beleaguered company sold its 20% in Horseshoe Cleveland, Horseshoe Cincinnati and ThistleDown Racino to majority shareholder Rock Ohio Ventures, giving Dan Gilbert full control … Continue reading →

Posted in Dan Gilbert, GTECH, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, IGT, International, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, Warner Gaming | 2 Comments

Could saturation have peaked?

Posted on February 10, 2015 by David McKee

It’s a banner day when casino revenues in Illinois grow 8.5%. It’s no illusion: In context, $115.5 million is a pretty good haul. A downward spiral in gas prices may already be showing up in slot hoppers and drop boxes. … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Entertainment, Foxwoods, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street, Warner Gaming | 1 Comment

Case Bets: IGT, Hard Rock, Golden Gaming

Posted on January 28, 2015 by David McKee

Profits were slimmer for International Game Technology in 1Q15, with the company reporting $35 million, 56% less than a year ago. IGT, which is in the process of being acquired by GTECH, offered little commentary on the results. CEO Patti … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Columbia Sussex, Dining, Harrah's, Lake Tahoe, Lyle Berman, Maryland, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, Slot routes, Warner Gaming | 1 Comment

Incompatible bedfellows; Freeman seizes the day

Posted on November 17, 2014 by David McKee

Boyd Gaming and MGM Resorts International have gone to bed with bwin.party but may wake up with Anaya Gaming Group. That’s one possible outcome of “preliminary discussions with a number of interested parties” and bwin. “Such discussions may or may not … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Geoff Freeman, Hard Rock Hotel, International, Internet gambling, Iowa, Marketing, MGM Mirage, PokerStars, Regulation, Sports, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Wild, wild East; Fertitta remembered

Posted on October 24, 2014 by David McKee

Imagine a Las Vegas in which to play you were required to lay out at least $65 … and where the average minimum bet was $270, maybe even $320. You’d have Macao, whose players dwarf Vegas’ ($20 average minimum bet) … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, history, International, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Macau, Michael Gaughan, Singapore, Station Casinos, The Strip, Warner Gaming | 1 Comment

Tempers fray in Macao; Wynn honored

Posted on October 15, 2014 by David McKee

One union’s “industrial action” is another company’s “dialogue.” That’s the Rashomon-like situation playing out at MGM Grand Paradise in Macao. Earlier this month, Forefront of the Macao Gaming announced that a weekend work-to-rule would take place at MGM. Dealers were … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Lake Tahoe, Macau, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Tropicana Entertainment, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Ivey loses & sundry Case Bets

Posted on October 9, 2014 by David McKee

Phil Ivey won’t be edge-sorting cards anytime soon. A British judge has ruled that, whether he knew it or not, Ivey was cheating when he won $12 million at Crockfords, a Genting Group casino in London. “He gave himself an advantage … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Columbia Sussex, Election, Genting, Indiana, International, Japan, Lake Tahoe, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Station Casinos, Taxes, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Cornrows and casinos

Posted on October 9, 2014 by David McKee

Those who argue that Iowa is saturated with casinos found plentiful ammunition in the latest set of revenue numbers from the state. True, Hard Rock Sioux City is doing far better than its predecessor, Argosy Sioux City. Also, Harrah’s Council … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Ameristar, Bally Technologies, Boyd Gaming, G2E, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Dispatches from Iowa and Illinois

Posted on September 8, 2014 by David McKee

August was a good month for Iowa, as casino revenues rose 4%. The big winner was Pinnacle Entertainment‘s Ameristar Council Bluffs, up 7% with a $15 million gross. Caesars Entertainment had mixed results, with Horseshoe Casino ($16 million) down 3% … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Harrah's, Illinois, Iowa, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Hard Rock rocks Sioux City; Chris Christie’s mighty pen

Posted on August 11, 2014 by David McKee

Lost in the loud death rattle of Argosy Belle Sioux City was the opening of its successor — some would say usurper — Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. And, contrary to what naysayers would have you believe, it’s bringing a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, history, Iowa, Oscar Goodman, Penn National, Politics, Sports, The Mob, Tourism, Warner Gaming | Comments Off