Adelson push stuck in the mud?; Alabama wants gambling

Posted on July 31, 2015 by David McKee

Tireless blogger Steve Ruddock contends that we have good reason to be optimistic about the fate of Sheldon Adelson‘s fatwa against Sheldon_Adelson dye jobInternet gambling. For starters, there’s the sheer slothfulness of Congress itself: How many times has it promised, say, comprehensive immigration reform and delivered squat? Besides, Adelson’s congressional flunkies have moved off Restoring America’s Wire Act (“a beached whale,” according to a GOP lobbyist) and are trying the more oblique route of freezing state-by-state legalization — which still raises vexing Tenth Amendment questions — while conducting a fan dance “study” of the issue. You can bet they Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, California, Churchill Downs, Cosmopolitan, Election, Georgia, Internet gambling, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Adelson push stuck in the mud?; Alabama wants gambling

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 31, 2015 by David McKee

“We build resorts and we are bringing to Boston a destination resort. Hopefully, they will treat us with softer hands. It will feel good when they stop hitting us.” — Steve Wynn, lamenting his treatment by Massachusetts officials.

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Meet Galaxy Entertainment; The lion grumbles; Steve Wynn gets in touch with inner Scrooge

Posted on July 31, 2015 by David McKee

In Macao, “a pharaonic exercise in overbuilding” may be a canny strategy for a post-crisis economy. Once the Chinese government Galaxy Macaodrives the money launderers from the Macanese temple and develops adjacent Hengqin Island into a family friendly plethora of resorts and attractions, Macao’s image could be almost wholly reinvented. Or, as Templeton Emerging Markets Group Chairman Mark Mobius says, “Once they scrap the image of being a center for money laundering and other illicit activities, Macao will be transformed into an entertainment center like Las Vegas.”

At the forefront of this is Galaxy Entertainment, which is proceeding with all deliberate speed on additional casino construction as well as Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Galaxy Entertainment, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Reno, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wisconsin | Comments Off on Meet Galaxy Entertainment; The lion grumbles; Steve Wynn gets in touch with inner Scrooge

Wynn splits expectations

Posted on July 30, 2015 by David McKee

Wynn Resorts split Wall Street expectations for cash flow in Macao last quarter, as well as on the Las Vegas Strip. Analyst Carlo Santarelli of Deutsche Bank said Wynn’s Vegas room revenue stevewynn“wasn’t great” and characterized management’s projections as “a tad aggressive.” As for the Macao, although Wynn did better than anticipated, Santarelli opined “it’s very difficult to believe Macau is bottoming with firm conviction … we believe WYNN is the most appropriate way to play the potential fundamental/sentiment shift we would anticipate accompanying the trend stability [in a best-case scenario]. Accordingly, while we do not believe we are out of the woods yet as it pertains to Macau, we continue to believe the longer term optionality in WYNN is compelling.”

Despite a significant drop in table play, Wynn held steady in Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Macau, Massachusetts, Planet Hollywood, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, Technology, The Strip, Transportation, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 28, 2015 by David McKee

“I shudder to think what Indian country would look like without the revenue that comes in from Indian gaming.” — Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Kevin Washburn, testifying on the financial impact of tribal casinos.

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

This is Vegas on drugs

Posted on July 28, 2015 by David McKee

Posted in The Strip | Comments Off on This is Vegas on drugs

Venetian Bangkok?; Online gaming gains a champion

Posted on July 28, 2015 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands has let it be known that, should Thailand legalize casinos, it would like to get a foot in the door — in the form of a sheldon-tuxmetaresort like its $5.7 billion Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. That’s all well and good but the Thai government remains hopelessly at odds with itself on the issue. When National Police Chief General Somyot Poompanmoung voiced his approval of legalized casinos, Thai strongman Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-O-cha told him to put a sock in it. The country is still without a new constitution and many parliamentarians would rather concentrate upon that.

Even Tourism & Sports Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, whom one would think would support casinos, expressed Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, International, Japan, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, South Korea | Comments Off on Venetian Bangkok?; Online gaming gains a champion

Mirage sold?; Cosmo post-mortem; Ivey counterattacks

Posted on July 28, 2015 by David McKee

Our crackerjack research department at LVA is hot on the trail of a report that MGM Resorts International is going to shuck one of its mirage-pic2signature properties, The Mirage, lock, stock and volcano. A sale of the megaresort that changed Las Vegas irrevocably has been bruited about for years and MGM CEO Jim Murren has been on an asset-selling freny of late. Starwood Capital Group, fresh from selling the Riviera, is the mooted buyer. Fast-rising Paragon Gaming would be jobbed in to run the hotel-casino with which Steve Wynn changed the template of Vegas resorts forever, spurring countless imitations — and in the face of rampant skepticism, it should be remembered.

It may not remain “The Mirage,” though, as Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cosmopolitan, Idaho, International, MGM Mirage, North Las Vegas, Riviera, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, Technology, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Baccarat blowout on Strip; Ader strikes again

Posted on July 28, 2015 by David McKee

Strip casinos had the impossible task of keeping up with last June’s baccarat tally (when revenues shot up 155%) and, as might be expected, Baccaratfell off the pace. The volume of play plunged 43% and revenue tumbled 57%. As for other table games, wagers were down 4.5% but the house held its own, with revenues flat from last year. Wrote J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff, “we expect the market to continue to experiencing volatility in baccarat play given a likely slowdown in Chinese players.”

The contraction in baccarat play contributed mightily to a 16% decline in Strip gaming revenues. Even slots disappointed, with Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Entertainment, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Mesquite, Planet Hollywood, Reno, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Baccarat blowout on Strip; Ader strikes again

Shocker in Massachusetts; Successes and setbacks for Penn

Posted on July 27, 2015 by David McKee

In a stunning reversal of fortune, KG Urban Enterprises has ditched its $650 million New Bedford casino project, citing financial difficulties. This ends seven years of grinding effort to gain civic NewBedfordcasinoacceptance, which culminated in a landslide electoral victory earlier this year. It also leaves a Neil Bluhm-backed casino proposal in Brockton as the only one on the table before the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. Said KG Urban Managing Partner Barry M. Gosin, “Despite significant efforts and expenditures on our part, we and our lenders/partners have been unable to create a viable financing package for the project. In particular, both Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Environment, Florida, Foxwoods, GLPI, Illinois, Internet gambling, Maine, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Scientific Games, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Shocker in Massachusetts; Successes and setbacks for Penn

Up in smoke

Posted on July 27, 2015 by David McKee

We know that Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas owner Blackstone Group wanted to change perceptions of the property but I don’t this is what they had in mind. One measly cigarette seems to have been all it took to send the resort’s Bamboo Pool area up in a cloud of dense Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, history, Horseracing, International, Macau, Monte Carlo fire, Pinnacle Entertainment, The Strip | Comments Off on Up in smoke

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 27, 2015 by David McKee

“[U]nderworld figures were reportedly told to avoid Echo’s Gold Coast property, the Jupiters Hotel & Casino, because their presence might hurt Echo’s chances to win the second Brisbane license.” — from a Global Gaming Business expose of Australian casino operator Echo Entertainment Group‘s cozy relationship to Ozzie criminal elements.

Posted in Australia, The Mob | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

MGM’s march to the sea; REITmania explained

Posted on July 24, 2015 by David McKee

Where MGM Resorts International goes, other casino companies Kasim Reedare quick to follow — to Atlanta, in this case. Mayor Kasim Reed (pictured) is being coy about who the new suitors are, other than two are domestically based (would Las Vegas Sands pass on another urban opportunity, having turned down Boston?) and one is from overseas, which surely must be Genting Group. Not that the Hizzoner is a fan of gambling, saying Las Vegas is what it is for a reason but “it would be fiscal malpractice … not to hear these people out.”

Rumors of the potential site continue to circle on doomed Turner Field (the Atlanta Braves go through baseball stadiums like Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Boulder Strip, Genting, Georgia, GLPI, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on MGM’s march to the sea; REITmania explained

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 24, 2015 by David McKee

“What you have put together is a template on how this should be done. “There are good synergies between these two companies.” — Nevada Gaming Commissioner Randolph Townsend, on Golden Gaming‘s takeover of Lakes Entertainment, which was consummated yesterday.

Posted in Golden Gaming, Lyle Berman, Regulation | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Boyd gets Wall Street love; Louisiana expansion slows

Posted on July 24, 2015 by David McKee

Boyd Gaming doesn’t make Wall Street‘s hit parade very often, so this morning’s dispatch from Deutsche Bank‘s Carlo Santarelli the boyd-gaming-200more remarkable. “The improving regional [gross gaming revenue] climate and intense cost disciplines take our forecasts, and subsequently, our Price Target higher,” he wrote. Second-quarter cash flow comfortably exceeded expectations and Boyd raised projections for full-year cash flow by $32 million.

J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff was also impressed with Boyd’s numbers, both in terms of Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Downtown, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 23, 2015 by David McKee

“Bigger projects’ best hope for success depends on Vietnam’s government changing course, and that’s not a smart money bet.” — Forbes correspondent Muhammad Cohen on the difficulty of large-scale casino development in Vietnam.

Posted in International, Regulation | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Trump (the casino) loses again; New look for Bluhm

Posted on July 23, 2015 by David McKee

Business is in a tailspin at Trump Taj Mahal, in part due to Unite-Here‘s call for a boycott of the austerity-minded property. Trump trump-taj mahaEntertainment Resorts wanted the union muzzled, plus financial compensation. But a federal judge handed CEO Bob Griffin his walking papers, ruling that federal law protected Unite-Here’s actions against the casino. Griffin had argued that bankruptcy law forbade Unite-Here from lobbying casino clients and urging them to avoid the Taj. Union President Robert McDevitt took a victory lap, saying, “We knew at that point that [owner-to-be] Carl Icahn didn’t have the legal right to stop us from talking to Taj Mahal customers.” It remains to be seen whether McDevitt will act upon the union’s strike vote.

On another front, Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Cordish Co., Idaho, Maryland, Neil Bluhm, New York, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Unite-Here | 1 Comment

Vetting the candidates

Posted on July 23, 2015 by David McKee

Although Paddy Power has lengthened his odds for gaining the White House to 12/1, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) would be one of the most supportive — if not the most supportive — candidates Christie Guadagnotoward the gaming industry. He’s also taken advantage of the Department of Justice‘s reinterpretation of Wire Act to get the Garden State into Internet gaming (although he downplays the significance of his signature on the enabling legislation). He’s also pushed very, very vigorously for legalized sports betting. His one blemish is recent mistreatment of New Jersey‘s Indian tribes, which could point to a more conservative position on tribal gambling nationwide.

That “maybe” hardens into a certainty when the subject is Jeb Bush, the ex-Florida governor who refused to Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Election, Florida, International, New York, Politics, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off on Vetting the candidates

Panning for gold in Macao

Posted on July 23, 2015 by David McKee

Wall Street analysts succeeded in setting their expectation for Las Vegas Sands performance in Macao so low that the company was Sands-Macaoable to exceed them despite deep, double-digit declines in revenue, including 14% less revenue per hotel room. Lower marketing costs were cited and “retail came in better than expected (retail mall profits were up 21%)” wrote J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff. Also, the decline in premium mass-market play was smaller than that in the base mass-market segment.

Even a slippage at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore was ameliorated by higher premium-mass play from Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, International, Japan, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, South Korea, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Panning for gold in Macao

Sands hit hard; No toilet paper for you!

Posted on July 22, 2015 by David McKee

Macao‘s recession has affected Las Vegas Sands‘ most recent quarterly results and the news isn’t good. You know things are bad Sands Cotaiwhen Sands Bethlehem ($137.5 million, +9%) is the lone bright spot. At least LVS had only mildly adverse news on the Strip, where Venelazzo ($346 million) was down 2%. But the numbers from Macao were varying degrees of dire. Even in Singapore, things weren’t so good, with Marina Bay Sands ($713 million) reporting an 11% dip. Getting back to China, hardest hit were Venetian Macao ($739.5 million) down 28% and Sands Cotai Central ($554 million) falling 29%.

Sands Macao  ($242 million) also had a rough quarter, off 23%, but Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Harrah's, Indiana, Macau, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Sands hit hard; No toilet paper for you!