Category Archives: history

Durango deal done; Apollo snows NV regulators (again)

Posted on December 6, 2022 by David McKee

Making good on a promise and a plan, Station Casinos offloaded 21 acres next to Durango Station (ab0ve) last week for $24 million. Not a bad score. The buyer is Ovation Development Corp., which will help seed Durango’s customer base … Continue reading →

Posted in Apollo Management, Caesars Entertainment, Florida, Hard Rock International, history, Las Vegas Raiders, Marketing, Nevada, Real Estate, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Wynn impresses; Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb; Culinary bombs

Posted on November 10, 2022 by David McKee

Wall Street analysts were across-the-board upbeat on Wynn Resorts‘ 3Q22 performance, as high-end casinos in Las Vegas continue to flourish. Although he categorized himself as “neutral,” given the evolving situation in Macao, analyst Joseph Greff of J.P. Morgan encapsulated third-quarter … Continue reading →

Posted in Apollo Management, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Century Casinos, China, Culinary Union, Economy, Election, Failsinos, history, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Massachusetts, Mattress Mack, Missouri, New York, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Station goes off its meds; Hochul names casino pickers

Posted on October 4, 2022 by David McKee

Richard Schuetz writes today that “the reality of casino company board rooms is that they are overwhelmed with way too much testosterone.” That certainly seems to be the case at Station Casinos, which has announced seven projects to be executed … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Downtown, El Cortez, Failsinos, history, Indiana, Michael Gaughan, New York, North Carolina, North Las Vegas, Oklahoma, Palms, Regulation, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Station Casinos, Tribal | 3 Comments

Atlantic City still surging; Aces win it all for Las Vegas

Posted on September 19, 2022 by David McKee

Casino executives in Atlantic City may continue to plead poverty but the numbers tell a different story. Last month’s tally was $274 million, up 4.5% from last year. Slot revenue was $204 million, up 3% on looser hold and 3.5% … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, China, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., DraftKings, FanDuel, Genting, Golden Nugget, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, history, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Raiders, Louisiana, LVCVA, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, New York, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports, The Strip, Wall Street, WInd Creek, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

The bad sleep well

Posted on September 5, 2022 by David McKee

In case you missed it, crusading, veteran investigative journalist Jeff German was murdered near his home on Friday. He was stabbed to death following an “altercation” with someone as yet unknown. The up-close-and-personal manner of the crime puts the mind … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, history, Law enforcement, LVCVA, Midnight Jim Gibbons, The Mob | 1 Comment

Jottings for the weekend

Posted on September 2, 2022 by David McKee

Aside from the launch of sports betting in Kansas—spearheaded by Hollywood Casino and Kansas Star—it’s been a slow news week. Casino gambling is headed the wrong way in Alabama, where employee-owned GreeneTrack Class II casino was forced to shut down, … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Australia, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Connecticut, Crown Resorts, Detroit, DraftKings, Florida, history, Kansas, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Mohegan Sun, Money laundering, Nebraska, Penn National, Racinos, Seminole Tribe, Singapore, Sports betting, Taxes | 1 Comment

Atlantic City burgeoning; Posthumous Adelson scandal

Posted on August 17, 2022 by David McKee

Revenues on the Boardwalk jumped 8% last month from July 2021, reaching $299 million on the nose. Slot winnings were good, up 5.5% on 6.5% more coin-in but table win was even better, growing 16% on only 4% higher wagering. … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Bally, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, California, CityCenter, Donald Trump, DraftKings, Environment, FanDuel, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, history, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, Ocean Resort, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Sports betting | 2 Comments

Playing the China card in Vegas; Fresh scandal in N.Y.

Posted on August 11, 2022 by David McKee

In an escalation of its not-so-cold war with Resorts World Las Vegas, Local 501 of the Operating Engineers is deploying the Commie card against Genting Group. The latter has been playing dirty pool in Local 501’s attempt to organize at … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, China, Election, Genting, Georgia, Health, history, International, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Peninsula Pacific, Pets, Politics, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Sports betting, Virginia | 2 Comments

Cosmic quarter at MGM; New name, same old Penn

Posted on August 5, 2022 by David McKee

“No Recession yet, just all time records,” reported Truist Securities analyst Barry Jonas of MGM Resorts International‘s 2Q22 earnings call. Better-than-ever Las Vegas Strip and regional revenues beat the pants off Wall Street‘s expectations, outweighing “weakness” in Macao, where gaming … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Chicago, China, Churchill Downs, Conventions, Cordish Co., Cosmopolitan, DraftKings, FanDuel, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, history, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, M Resort, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Scott Butera, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Virginia, Wall Street, Wyoming | 1 Comment

Insolvency in Macao; Sports betting everywhere

Posted on July 14, 2022 by David McKee

Prior to the current Covid-19 lockdown, casinos in Macao were already engaged in a $600 million/month cash burn, thanks to the China‘s zero-tolerance policy on the disease. That will only get worse now that access to customers has been shut … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, California, China, DraftKings, Economy, Election, FanDuel, Hard Rock International, Health, history, Illinois, Macau, Maryland, Ohio, PointsBet, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, Tourism, TV, Westgate LV | 1 Comment

“Elvis”: A modern morality tale

Posted on June 25, 2022 by David McKee

According to Baz Luhrmann‘s new biopic Elvis, the protagonist (uncanny Austin Butler) was a falling angel, self-styled Colonel Tom Parker (Tom Hanks) was Satan and Hell is Las Vegas. Such is the narrative trajectory of this epic, which ends with … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, history, Movies | 2 Comments

Steve Wynn, Commie stooge?; Resorts World LV jumps shark

Posted on May 18, 2022 by David McKee

If there’s one thing Steve Wynn loves almost as much as money (and women to whom he is not married) it’s the Red Chinese. He’s been warbling sweet nothings about them ever since he got a gig in Macao as … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, Baseball, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, China, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Donald Trump, DraftKings, Economy, Entertainment, Failsinos, FanDuel, Florida, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, history, Internet gambling, Macau, Michigan, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Real Estate, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, The Strip, WInd Creek, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Siegel’s Strip scheme; Tilman’s Rocky Mountain high

Posted on April 12, 2022 by David McKee

Siegel Group got a steal of a deal on the north Las Vegas Strip: 10 acres for $75 million. The vacant land used to be occupied, in part, by the La Concha Motel (pictured). It was also once destined for … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Churchill Downs, Colorado, Dan Lee, Full House Resorts, Genting, Golden Nugget, Greenwood Racing, Health, history, Illinois, Indiana, Japan, Law enforcement, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Real Estate, Spectacle Entertainment, Taxes, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta | 2 Comments

Barley’s leaves a bad taste; Woe is Star; Mega-Jottings

Posted on March 28, 2022 by David McKee

When a casino is named Barley’s Brewing Co. you’d expect to get a decent glass of suds there. Not so. Las Vegan Lon Enwright is $8 million richer—but physically damaged beyond price—after being served cleaning fluids instead of beer (the … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Baseball, Boulder Strip, Charity, China, Conventions, Crown Resorts, Derek Stevens, history, Japan, Kentucky, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Money laundering, Movies, New Jersey, Politics, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, Star Entertainment, Station Casinos, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street, Wisconsin | Comments Off

Twin Spires collapse; The Great Buffet Battle

Posted on February 28, 2022 by David McKee

Online sports betting has claimed its second victim. First it was Wynn Interactive. Now it’s Churchill Downs subsidiary Twin Spires. Too much competition and too little profitability were the reasons cited by CEO Bill Carstanjen. CHDN will also cease its … Continue reading →

Posted in Century Casinos, Churchill Downs, Cretins, Florida, history, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Movies, New York, Peninsula Pacific, Pennsylvania, Seminole Tribe, Sexual misconduct, Sports betting, Virginia, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Station sets revenue records, Penn less fortunate

Posted on February 4, 2022 by David McKee

Having quietly broken ground on $750 million Durango Station, proud papa Station Casinos announced that despite “some headwinds,” the company had achieved record-level cash flow in 4Q21. “The government’s mask mandate across the state of Nevada remained in place and … Continue reading →

Posted in Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, California, Canada, Conventions, Derek Stevens, Downtown, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Hawaii, Health, history, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Marketing, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Palms, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Technology, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Adios, Tropicana?; New York sports betting tops $1 billion easily

Posted on January 28, 2022 by David McKee

Visit the Tropicana Las Vegas while yet you can. Why? Because Bally’s Corp. Chairman Soo Kim is seriously weighing the possibility of “knocking it down and starting over.” Yes, Kim would rebrand the place as Bally’s Las Vegas and then … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Bally, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, Columbia Sussex, Conventions, DraftKings, e-sports, Economy, Election, FanDuel, GLPI, Health, history, Laughlin, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Peninsula Pacific, Penn National, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Sahara, Sports betting, Taxes, Texas, The Strip, Virginia | Comments Off

Weekends without Adele

Posted on January 22, 2022 by David McKee

As all of Christendom now knows, one Adele Atkins of Tottenham has been forced to cancel/reschedule 13 weeks of shows at Caesars Palace. When Adele signed for this gig, in early December, it was regarded as the showbiz coup of … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Cirque du Soleil, Cretins, Current, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Genting, history, Resorts World LV, The Strip | 1 Comment

Adele fiasco at Caesars; Trouble for Sands in Florida

Posted on January 21, 2022 by David McKee

Resorts World Las Vegas, we’ll see your Celine Dion health-scare postponement and raise you an Adele cancellation at Caesars Palace. The British megastar’s team has, like so much of the human race, contracted Covid-19 and is not physically capable of … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Diversity, Election, Entertainment, Florida, Greenwood Racing, Health, history, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, New York, Peninsula Pacific, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sahara, Seminole Tribe, Sports, Sports betting | 1 Comment

Programming note

Posted on December 29, 2021 by David McKee

Due to a mysterious fatigue, my doctor has put me on bed rest for the remainder of the week. That means no S&G. Fortunately, it’s been a glacially slow news week, unless you count the passing of former gaming regulator … Continue reading →

Posted in Harry Reid, history, The Mob | 3 Comments