Category Archives: World Series of Poker

Casino expansion in Indiana; Wynn nixes Crown deal

Posted on April 11, 2019 by David McKee

Mike Pence having gone to Washington, D.C., we miss his existential debates over what does and does not represent an “expansion” of gambling in Indiana. Doubtless he would come down on the “does” side of a state House proposal to—rather than move … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Crown Resorts, Entertainment, Indiana, International, Law enforcement, Macau, Majestic Star, Philippines, Politics, Regulation, The Strip, World Series of Poker, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Christmas Case Bets

Posted on December 24, 2018 by David McKee

Macao is expected to set a record for visitation this, no doubt to the delight of casino executives in the enclave. If 32.5 million tourists came in 2017, they will be topped by the 35 million who came this year … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, Detroit, Economy, Hard Rock Hotel, Internet gambling, Macau, Politics, Station Casinos, Taxes, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Virginia, World Series of Poker | Comments Off

Churchill Downs deal goes south; Robocops at Pechanga

Posted on July 10, 2018 by David McKee

Early yesterday, Churchill Downs and Eldorado Resorts announced that they were deep-sixing the sale of Eldorado’s Lady Luck Vicksburg, although Churchill Downs’ purchase of Presque Isle Downs remains in play. Evidently, Churchill Downs was uncomfortable with Federal Trade Commission inquiries … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Caesars Entertainment, California, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Marijuana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Security, Sports betting, Technology, Tribal, Wall Street, World Series of Poker | Comments Off

Caesars, MGM strikes averted

Posted on June 4, 2018 by David McKee

Yesterday the Culinary Union announced that a tentative pact had been reached with Caesars Entertainment, in the wee hours of Friday morning, the first such in the current round of labor talks on the Las Vegas Strip. “The historic new … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, e-sports, Harrah's, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Mirage, New York, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, SLS Las Vegas, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, World Series of Poker, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Placidity in Indiana; Irma inconveniences card sharps

Posted on September 11, 2017 by David McKee

It was a flat August in the Hoosier State, as casino executives look toward Four Winds Casino in South Bend with trepidation. Perhaps it is the vampiric rise of slot routes in Illinois, but the northern tier of Indiana casinos … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Dan Lee, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, Florida, Full House Resorts, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Seminole Tribe, The Strip, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street, World Series of Poker | Comments Off

Trump’s Macao gambit; WPT goes to Japan

Posted on August 8, 2017 by David McKee

Donald Trump‘s policy toward China may be fairly unevolved at this stage, unless you count the agglomeration of additional trademarks in Macao. Technically speaking, the trademarks are registered to DTTM Operations (itself co-registered to The Donald), which operates from within … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Harrah's, Japan, Macau, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, World Series of Poker | Comments Off

It’s official: Las Vegas Raiders; Crime on the Strip

Posted on March 27, 2017 by David McKee

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell having slammed the door on Oakland, we’re going to have to follow Adam Schefter‘s lead and get used to saying “Las Vegas Raiders.” Needless to say, this is a huge coup for Sin City, all the bigger … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Geoff Freeman, Harrah's, Law enforcement, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip, World Series of Poker | Comments Off

Round One to Adelson; Berman honored; Atlantic City winning in polls

Posted on September 21, 2016 by David McKee

Sands China has been getting mad props for its handling of the Parisian rollout last week. Compared to Wynn Palace‘s “passive” approach to the market (and despite a hailstorm of upbeat verbiage from Steve Wynn), analyst Christopher Jones wrote, “The awareness … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Election, Harrah's, history, International, Lyle Berman, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, Mississippi, Nevada, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Transportation, Wall Street, World Series of Poker | 1 Comment

Kansas gets down to brass tacks; Lindsey Graham, man of mystery

Posted on June 2, 2015 by David McKee

After years of waiting, the fate of Kansas‘ seemingly unwanted fourth casino license, long in abeyance came down to three-and-a-half hours of presentations by a trio of rival bidders. The Kansas Lottery Gaming Facilities Review Board will make its choice by … Continue reading →

Posted in Internet gambling, Kansas, New York, Palms, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Tribal, World Series of Poker | Comments Off

Paradox in Maryland; Otter saves “instant racing”

Posted on April 7, 2015 by David McKee

While its competitors dealt with a variety of revenue declines, despite posting a record amount of revenue, Horseshoe Baltimore was up in March, grossing a best-yet $25 million. On a statewide basis, revenue was 17% higher last month. However, casinos … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., GTECH, Harrah's, Horseracing, Idaho, IGT, Maryland, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Reno, Tribal, World Series of Poker | Comments Off

Dr. Loveman’s voodoo; Reid hangs it up

Posted on March 30, 2015 by David McKee

Despite having wrought havoc upon Caesars Entertainment, Chairman Gary Loveman — looking alarmingly puffy and ill — manages to still find himself taken seriously as a talking head. He gave CNBC a dosage of his usual spin-doctoring. This includes one … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Geoff Freeman, Harrah's, Harry Reid, history, Japan, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Politics, TV, World Series of Poker | Comments Off

Caesars foe now its BFF; Suffolk Downs returns

Posted on February 20, 2015 by David McKee

Considering that it is the owner of Caesars Interactive and WSOP.com, one would hardly expect Caesars Entertainment to welcome PokerStars back to the U.S. market. But that is precisely what it has done, proclaiming that “we need to focus on where … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Harrah's, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal, World Series of Poker | 2 Comments

Celebrity Caesars investors get clipped

Posted on January 20, 2015 by David McKee

As the opposing sides entrench for an acrimonious battle over the assets of Caesars Entertainment, a few early losers are emerging. Unsecured creditor Robert DeNiro‘s Nobu in Caesars Palace is owed $459,964 and loud-mouthed chef Gordon Ramsay can yell all he … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Charity, Dining, Harrah's, Internet gambling, New York, Reno, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, World Series of Poker | Comments Off

Loveman’s credit capers; Green shoots in flyover country

Posted on December 1, 2014 by David McKee

Reorganization of Caesars Entertainment promises to continue to provide drama. UMB Bank threw red meat on the barbeque with a lawsuit that charged Apollo Management and Texas Pacific Group with having “thoroughly ransacked CEOC in a sweeping and now transparent plan … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Maryland, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street, World Series of Poker | 6 Comments

Caesars: How do they do it?

Posted on November 11, 2014 by David McKee

This just in: Working with “key senior creditors,” Caesars Entertainment Operating Co. is reported to be arranging a prepackaged bankruptcy, with a target date of Jan. 14. How does Gary Loveman keep his job? If he were a cat, he’d … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Harrah's, Macau, Ohio, Regulation, The Strip, Wall Street, World Series of Poker | Comments Off

Caesars wins times two

Posted on October 10, 2014 by David McKee

Congratulations are in order twice over for Caesars Entertainment. The company is towering over its competitors in the social-gaming sphere, according to Eilers Research. While Zynga still rules Facebook and DoubleDown Casino has thrown a lifeline to International Game Technology, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Detroit, Entertainment, Environment, Harrah's, IGT, Internet gambling, Maryland, MGM Mirage, World Series of Poker | Comments Off

Adelson vs. Loveman: Splitting the difference

Posted on May 30, 2014 by David McKee

“One of the things I’ve learned in this industry is we are extraordinarily competent at shooting at one another.” So said American Gaming Association President Geoff Freeman after getting caught in the crossfire over Internet gambling. So, as the industry … Continue reading →

Posted in Geoff Freeman, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, The Strip, Warner Gaming, World Series of Poker | 1 Comment

Shamelessness at Suffolk Downs

Posted on May 15, 2014 by David McKee

In a ludicrous reversal, the owners of Suffolk Downs offered to end horseracing at the track if the Massachusetts Gaming Commission would, pretty please with cream on top, give them a casino license. Up to that point, Suffolk Downs has … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Cretins, Horseracing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Vdara Death Ray, World Series of Poker | Comments Off

Big coup for Lumiere; Where next, Vegas?

Posted on December 6, 2013 by David McKee

And Caesars Entertainment‘s March stop on the World Series of Poker is … Lumiere Place?!?!? Yes, a marquee Caesars attraction is being held on Tropicana Entertainment property. The reason is twofold. One, Horseshoe Cleveland isn’t big enough to handle the … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Detroit, Harrah's, Marketing, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Station Casinos, Technology, Tropicana Entertainment, World Series of Poker | Comments Off

Election Special: No surprise in New York, big surprise in Massachusetts

Posted on November 6, 2013 by David McKee

Massachusetts may not be ready for casino gambling (unless Steve Wynn is building it). Voters said no and again no yesterday, in a series of referendums. Mohegan Sun is — quite understandably — asking for a recount. Its casino proposal … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Election, Foxwoods, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New York, Politics, Regulation, Steve Wynn, World Series of Poker | 2 Comments