Neanderthals target Wampanoags; Pinball Hall on the move

Posted on July 31, 2018 by David McKee

A strange, one-third-of-a-page ad appeared in the July 19 edition of The Hill. “For over 30 years,” it huffed, “the Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Tribe sought federal recognition for the specific purposes of opening a CASINO [Horrors! — Ed.] — in 2007, that recognition was achieved via Congressional and Department of Interior intervention — and ILLEGAL contributions to federal officials.” Already we have a problem, because the Department of Interior did not ‘intervene’: It was performing its function of arbitrating tribal-recognition matters. The ad goes on to mention to 2009 conviction of former Mashpee chief Glenn Marshall for making illegal campaign contributions. Since Marshall victimized the tribe as well (which the ad conveniently forgets to mention), his prison term was rightly not Continue reading →

Posted in California, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Politics, Regulation, Riviera, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal | 1 Comment

San Manuel escalates tribal skirmish; Pullback on paid parking?

Posted on July 27, 2018 by David McKee

The SoCal arms race continues. Having already deployed a mind-boggling 4,800 slot machines, San Manuel Casino is going upscale in a big way. It will add a concert hall, spa, pool plaza and hotel, all to the tune of $550 million. It’s San Manuel’s way of taking aim at newly expanded Pechanga Resort & Casino, as well as Palm Springs-area rivals Agua Caliente Casino Resort & Spa and Morongo Casino Resort & Spa. Meanwhile, Pala Casino Resort & Spa is opting out of this escalating warfare, putting a $170 million, 349-room hotel on hold. This is not a battle meant for the faint of heart (or light of wallet). While Pala has revamped its existing, 500-room hotel, “We’ll revisit it in full after we see how the summer goes. So far, it’s been very, very busy,” said Vice President of Hotel Operations Hassan Abdel-Moneim.

San Manuel, for its part, says it is responding to customers’ number-one complaint, Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, California, Cordish Co., Greenwood Racing, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 27, 2018 by David McKee

“Before the Taj closed in 2015, we had an eight-casino market that was fairly stable. So with the opening of two new casinos we go to a nine-casino market, and the question is whether we can sustain that. And I don’t know. But I will say this: I really don’t care. I hope it does. But I will say this to anyone who comes into this market. If you cannot compete in this market, you have no business running a casino.” — New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement Director David Rebuck on the competitive dynamics of Atlantic City.

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Culinary loses sense of decency; Inhumanity in Macao

Posted on July 27, 2018 by David McKee

Terry Caudill and the Culinary Union have come to terms on labor pacts for Binion’s Gambling Hall and the Four Queens. The agreement awaits ratification by the 650 employees affected. In the meantime, the Culinary stepped way over the line by picketing the clinic of Station Casinos board member and veterinarian Dr. James Nave. (One might call it a knavish move.) The Culinary not only had the audacity to make its vendetta against Station personal, it actually sent out a press release with photos of the labor action. Since my sainted Grandmother McKee was a secretary to Samuel Gompers, it’s a cold day in Hell when I denounce a labor union. The devil must be reaching for his muffler even as I type this.

* Don’t read this story if you’re afraid to cry. There’s an animal-rights scandal brewing around Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Architecture, Culinary Union, Downtown, Election, Internet gambling, Macau, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Pets, Philippines, Regulation, Station Casinos, Terry Caudill, Tribal, Washington State | Comments Off on Culinary loses sense of decency; Inhumanity in Macao

Penn bullish on Trop; Boyd wows Wall Street

Posted on July 27, 2018 by David McKee

M Resort and Tropicana Las Vegas are no longer the charity cases of Penn National Gaming. The company made a point of lauding them during this week’s earnings call, with JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff characterizing their performance — along with that of New Mexico‘s Zia Park — as “solid” and Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli reporting that  they “experienced property records as marketing refinements drove meaningful margin enhancements.” Back East, Penn is nailing down sites for its two satellite casinos in Pennsylvania, from which it expects to achieve an impressive Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Geoff Freeman, Illinois, Indiana, International, Las Vegas Sands, M Resort, Massachusetts, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 27, 2018 by David McKee

“We have spent over $500 million in renovating this building, and you may recall when we first purchased this building, we promised we would not just paint it and put a guitar on the wall. How do you think we did?” — Hard Rock International CEO Jim Allen at the opening of Hard Rock Atlantic City.

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MGM lauds Springfield as Mandalay Bay woes increase

Posted on July 25, 2018 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International is targeting Hartford (and five other media markets) with its initial TV spot for MGM Springfield, whose opening is now less than a month away. The ad, which you can see for yourself, has shoutouts to virtually every Las Vegas Strip staple, from slot-playing grannies to nightclubs to hints of Cirque du Soleil. “Each component is meant to capture the energy of the resort and showcase the ‘wow’ moments guests will encounter throughout the destination,” said casino President Michael Mathis. Other markets in MGM’s cross-hairs are Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Elaine Wynn, Environment, Law enforcement, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Reno, Rhode Island, Sexual misconduct, Sports betting, Taxes, TV, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on MGM lauds Springfield as Mandalay Bay woes increase

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 25, 2018 by David McKee

“The golf industry isn’t necessarily booming.” — Green Valley Golf Range owner Cindy Scardina, justifying the extension of slot routes to golf courses in Hanover Park, Illinois.

Posted in Economy, Illinois, Slot routes, Sports | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Congress hearts Massachusetts tribe; Who let the dogs out?

Posted on July 24, 2018 by David McKee

Against all odds, a bill to clear away legal challenges to the Mashpee Wampanoags and their Project First Light is set to be heard in the U.S. House of Representatives. A star-studded hearing has been set up by Rep. William Keating (D), who will call tribal Chairman Cedric Cromwell and Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke as witnesses. Keating’s move comes on the heels of a pro-Wampanoag bill introduced in the Senate by newborn casino supporter Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D). A federal court remanded the Mashpee Wamps’ land-into-trust agreement back to Interior during the Barack Obama administration, a headache that Zinke has inherited. However, Cromwell says he has seen “amazing bipartisan support” in Congress and “We’ve got dozens of tribal nations who have come out in support of this bill.” No wonder, if you can get Congress to intervene whenever your land-into-trust application gets impeded.

According to the Cape Cod Times, “Cromwell urged Congress to exercise its authority to prevent Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Macau, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Tribal | 1 Comment

MGM lawsuit shaky; Sports betting slow to gain traction

Posted on July 24, 2018 by David McKee

If MGM Resorts International thinks its federal lawsuit against victims of the Mandalay Bay Massacre will be a speedy way of disposing of all pending cases, it may be in for a rude surprise. Legal experts say the matter could drag on for years, possibly going all the way to the Supreme Court. Why? In part it’s because the Safety Act of 2002 has never been tested in a court of law. Thus, MGM has no legal precedent to cite, merely some statements by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen that “make clear” that mass murderer Stephen Paddock committed terrorism. Washington, D.C.-based attorney Brian Shaw calls MGM’s case “far too broad of an interpretation of the statute. It should be fairly clear that what MGM did is not what was intended in the statute.It is [Nielsen’s] responsibility, not that of a judge.”

Boston College Law School Associate Dean Alfred Yen added that the Safety Act lacks clarity and, whatever the outcome, appeals are Continue reading →

Posted in Japan, Law enforcement, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Ohio, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting | Comments Off on MGM lawsuit shaky; Sports betting slow to gain traction

Sheldon’s sphere; Macao renewal delayed

Posted on July 23, 2018 by David McKee

In a wise move, Las Vegas Sands is investing $75 million in the event sphere being built behind Venelazzo by Madison Square Garden Co. By taking an equity position in the innovative venue, Sands presumably gains the potential to redeploy similar spheres in Macao and Japan, which thirst for diverse entertainment offerings. At least we hope so. The sphere will be joined to Sands Expo Center, The Venetian and Palazzo by a pedestrian bridge. Reports the Las Vegas Sun, “The 360-foot-tall by 500-foot-wide facility features a 580,000-square-foot spherical shape wrapped in an open-air trellis structure that includes 190,000 linear feet of LED lighting that is fully programmable to create a digital showcase.”

By partnering with MSG on the sphere, Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson is thinking well outside the box, just as Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Iowa, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Nebraska, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, TV | Comments Off on Sheldon’s sphere; Macao renewal delayed

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 23, 2018 by David McKee

“The winner will be the group that promises to build the biggest integrated resort with the smallest casino.”– Delta State Holdings Managing Director David Bonnet on Japan‘s love/hate attitude toward casino-based megaresorts.

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Warren sides with Wampanoags; Vdara dances The Robot

Posted on July 20, 2018 by David McKee

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D) has waded into the Brockton-vs.-Taunton fight for a tribal casino. She’s introducing a bill that would circumvent the inactive Bureau of Indian Affairs and smooth the path of the Mashpee Wampanoags. While we have nothing against the latter, this matter belongs in the BIA’s remit not that of Congress. Brockton Mayor William Carpenter complained, “Year after year we’re running multimillion-dollar deficits in our budget. We’ve laid off schoolteachers for three years in a row. We desperately need the revenue. The whole thing just seems unfair to me. I don’t know if Brockton will ultimately be granted the license or not from the state gaming commission, but I know our opportunities should not be taken away by a piece of special-interest legislation.” Meanwhile, Neil Bluhm — no small donor to Democratic Party causes — would like to have Rush Street Gaming‘s case for a casino re-heard.

Warren has Genting Group, scheduled developer of Project First Light, in Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, CityCenter, Genting, Hard Rock International, Japan, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Politics, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Warren sides with Wampanoags; Vdara dances The Robot

Hypocrisy at Station; Gamblers flee smoke-free casinos

Posted on July 20, 2018 by David McKee

Station Casinos has claimed on at least seven occasions that, if its workers want to unionize, it will honor their wishes. The Culinary Union called Station’s bluff and the company has been talking out of the other side of its mouth ever since. Most recently, yesterday in fact, the National Labor Relations Board tossed Station’s challenge to the Green Valley Ranch election, saying, “we find that the Employer failed to prove that any employees knew or would have reasonably inferred that the Petitioner had made a list of employees who had not yet voted in the election. Absent such proof, the Petitioner’s conduct could not have reasonably tended to interfere with the employees’ free choice in the election.” No matter that 78% of employees voting cast their ballots in favor Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Culinary Union, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Louisiana, Palms, Pinnacle Entertainment, Station Casinos, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

MGM lawsuit clarified; Circumspect Caesars

Posted on July 19, 2018 by David McKee

Contrary to what early press reports led us to believe, MGM Resorts International‘s counterclaim against victims of the Mandalay Bay Massacre does not affect any of the active cases now moving forward against the casino giant. The Associated Press says, “The lawsuits target victims who have sued the company and voluntarily dismissed their claims or have threatened to sue … MGM claims the victims — through actual and threatened lawsuits — have implicated [a security contractor’s] services because they involve concert security, including training, emergency response and evacuation.” Hence the resort to federal court and invocation of a post-9/11 law, the Safety Act, as an all-encompassing legal shield.

Plaintiffs’ attorneys are not impressed. The very vocal Robert Eglet was quick to respond. “This is absolute gamesmanship. It’s outrageous. It’s just pouring Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Election, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Resorts International, Sports betting, Tribal | Comments Off on MGM lawsuit clarified; Circumspect Caesars

Big trouble in not-so-little China

Posted on July 19, 2018 by David McKee

In his latest column, gaming-law expert I. Nelson Rose contends that U.S.-owned casinos in Macao are on dangerous ground, caught in the cross-hairs of the U.S./China trade war. He begins by recapitulating China’s highly targeted retaliations, which make red states like Iowa their Ground Zero. He points out the vulnerability of Las Vegas casinos to curtailment of exit visas from China: In 2013, the Chinese government launched its now-infamous crackdown on corruption. In Las Vegas, “Just a slowdown in visitors from China cost Nevada casinos more than $400 million a year on this one card game,” baccarat, lifeblood of the Strip.

Beijing could also throttle visitor traffic to Macao, as it has done in the past. “One of my students was in charge of the frequent visitors program for Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Donald Trump, Genting, International, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Big trouble in not-so-little China

Sport of kings on wobbly legs; Sports betting races ahead in N.J., N.Y., flags in Pennsylvania

Posted on July 18, 2018 by David McKee

Were it not for racinos, we’d probably be talking about the sport of kings in the past tense. Handle at racetracks has fallen 50% in the last 15 years. However, slot machines have infused a billion dollars a year, keeping the horseracing industry on artificial respiration. Even with the spread of sports betting, particularly on mobile applications, the new era is “more likely to change the face of those businesses rather than revive them.” The situation is bad enough to have prompted a summit in Cleveland last weekend between track owners and lawmakers, trying to cure an ailing patient. “It’s going to require experimentation, reinventing the industry,” Spectrum Gaming Group‘s Douglas Reed offered somewhat unhelpfully. He offered e-sports as a possible draw to the ovals — but can you really see that happening? For all the talk of a “potential crossover,” video gamers make unlikely horse players.

The potential spread of sports books will take wagering to places where the tracks or not. However, calling that a solution presupposes Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Cordish Co., DFS, Dining, Greenwood Racing, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Macau, New York, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta | 1 Comment

MGM lawsuit backfires

Posted on July 18, 2018 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International stepped in it — at least momentarily — when it elected to sue victims of the Mandalay Bay Massacre in federal court. The Twitterverse briefly arose in #BoycottMGM outrage, but it died down by day’s end and MGM stock price was unruffled. The company did, however, obliquely acknowledge that ‘MGM sues victims’ makes a bad headline and tried t0 explain its hair-splitting legal strategy: “We have filed what is known as an action for declaratory relief. All we are doing, in effect, is asking for a change in venue from state to federal court. We are not asking for money or attorney’s fees. We only want to resolve these cases quickly, fairly and efficiently.” (And in MGM’s favor, of course. Hence the forum-shopping in the Ninth Circuit.)

By filing the suit, MGM placed itself in a Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Arizona, Atlantic City, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Donald Trump, Environment, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Security, Sports, The Strip, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 18, 2018 by David McKee

“I understand that the primary casino customer is a 58-year-old gal who enjoys the solitude of slot playing. But we’re creating a chair that’s more current, and casinos are starting to catch on.” — Gary Platt Manufacturing “chair guru” Ed Abadie on the considerations that go into casino seat design.

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Wynn Resorts fights back; Rage against the (slot) machine

Posted on July 17, 2018 by David McKee

Not taking charges of promising kickbacks lying down, Wynn Resorts has countersued Anthony Gattineri. The latter has thrown yet another spanner into the Encore Boston Harbor works by suing the company for an $18 million, under-the-table promise he says was made him by casino President Robert DeSalvio. Wynn concedes that DeSalvio and Gattineri met in San Diego in 2014 (a key point of Gattineri’s suit) but denies that any kickback was promised. As you may recall, Gattineri and two other landowners got talked down from $75 million for some Everett acreage to $35 million when one of them was found to have a felony record.

“The claims that Mr. Gattineri made are patently false and are designed to Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, history, Internet gambling, Macau, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Penn National, Rhode Island, Sahara, Sam Nazarian, SLS Las Vegas, Wisconsin, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment