Category Archives: Minnesota

Carnage in Pennsylvania; Fortune Cup takes on Sigma Derby

Posted on January 15, 2018 by David McKee

*Slot revenues at Pennsylvania casinos are in and if JP Morgan‘s numbers are correct they were terrible. According to Morgan analysts slot winnings dove 27%, bottoming out at $187.5 million. Worst off was Sands Bethlehem ($25 million), sinking 44%, followed … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Dan Gilbert, Delaware, Detroit, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Neil Bluhm, Nevada, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Station Casinos, Taxes, Technology, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off

Wynn’s new frontier

Posted on December 14, 2017 by David McKee

Wynn Resorts made it official last night: It had paid just under $335 million for the old New Frontier site, which it is taking over from James Packer. The deal makes a fool of Packer, who paid $570 million for … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cretins, Current, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Donald Trump, Florida, Genting, Hard Rock International, James Packer, Lucky Dragon, LVCVA, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Riviera, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Curtains for Trump Plaza; Prez “downright dumb” about tribes

Posted on November 22, 2017 by David McKee

It’s dynamite time for Trump Plaza in Atlantic City — and about time. The pertinent question seems to be how owner Carl Icahn is going to get rid of this eyesore or, more specifically, how he’s going to pay for it. Rather … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Donald Trump, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Minnesota, Politics, Sam Nazarian, Taxes, Transportation, Tribal | 2 Comments

Governors to Sessions: Butt out!

Posted on April 11, 2017 by David McKee

If Attorney General Jeff Sessions was thinking about re-reinterpreting the Federal Wire Act, he might want to think again. The National Governors Association composed a letter to Sessions in which it said, “States are best equipped to enforce and regulate … Continue reading →

Posted in Internet gambling, Iowa, Minnesota, Politics, Tribal | Comments Off

Penn: The wait is over; Scientific strikes again

Posted on October 5, 2016 by David McKee

On Oct. 10, the same day that Trump Taj Mahal is scheduled to close, Penn National Gaming will open the long-deferred Hollywood Casino Jamul (federal approvals had been holding it up). In celebration, Penn is announcing that relief of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, California, Downtown, Georgia, Minnesota, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Scientific Games, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Caesars dips toe in skill-based slots; MGM National Harbor snares Dylan

Posted on September 12, 2016 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment is going on the road, as it were, to test-drive its first foray into skill-based slots. It’s going to install six Gamblit Gaming slot carousels at Harrah’s Rincon, with 36 slated for Las Vegas deployment next year. The … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Colorado, Cordish Co., Downtown, Environment, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Hooters, IGT, Internet gambling, Kansas, Maine, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, South Dakota, Sports, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, TV, West Virginia, Westgate LV, Wisconsin | 2 Comments

Acrimony grows at Taj; Racism in Nebraska election race

Posted on July 14, 2016 by David McKee

As protests against Carl Icahn spilled over into New York City, his casino CEO, Anthony Rodio, sent ominously mixed signals about the future of Trump Taj Mahal. On the one hand, he offered a partial restoration of health benefits and … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Galaxy Entertainment, Iowa, Lake Tahoe, Macau, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Nebraska, Racinos, Regulation, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here | Comments Off

Trump’s tribal treachery

Posted on July 5, 2016 by David McKee

As the press continues to dig into Donald Trump‘s past, it’s uncovering activity that is vile even by Trump’s debased standards. Such is the case in his race-baiting campaign against the casino application of the St. Regis Mohawks. Not man … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Donald Trump, Genting, Hard Rock International, International, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Lawrence Ho, Minnesota, New York, PokerStars, Regulation, The Mob, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Indiana celebrates 20 years of casinos; Racinos gain traction in Nebraska

Posted on June 13, 2016 by David McKee

“I read that one of the steel plants is closing more lines. We have 70 jobs open right now,” says Horseshoe Hammond General Manager Dan Nita, alluding to the resiliency of the Indiana casino industry, which is celebrating 20 years. … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Don Barden, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Genting, Harrah's, Indiana, Iowa, Majestic Star, Marketing, Minnesota, Nebraska, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Tribal, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Case Bets: California, Florida, Minnesota, Macao

Posted on April 28, 2016 by David McKee

In a dramatic development, the six-tribe coalition that opposed letting PokerStars into California stood aside, clearing the path to unanimous approval by the Assembly Governmental Organization Committee of a bill by state Rep. Adam Gray that would legalize online poker in … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Election, Florida, Galaxy Entertainment, history, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Macau, Minnesota, PokerStars, Politics, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off

DFS becomes political football; More trouble for PokerStars

Posted on March 28, 2016 by David McKee

Add Yahoo to the list of daily fantasy sports providers that are tiptoeing out of New York State under an accord with state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. The latter has said that if the issue can’t be resolved in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Election, Florida, Harrah's, Indiana, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Oklahoma, PokerStars, Politics, South Korea, Wisconsin | Comments Off

Georgia on their minds; DFS regulation gathers speed

Posted on November 4, 2015 by David McKee

There’s a new suitor in the crowd of casino companies eager to extend their brands into Georgia: the Seminole Tribe. It wants to build a Hard Rock International casino in 2018, opposite Mercedes-Benz Stadium, where the Atlanta Falcons will play. Hard … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Georgia, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Internet gambling, Minnesota, New York, Problem gambling, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Taxes | Comments Off

Philadelphia decision tipped; Insolvency on the high seas

Posted on November 11, 2014 by David McKee

While we’ve been focused on Boston and New York, a major casino decision in Philadelphia has been creeping upon us. The second casino license in Philly city limits is to be awarded on Nov. 18 and early intel has it … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Economy, Election, Florida, Geoff Freeman, Greenwood Racing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Technology, Tomato King Procacci, Tribal, Uncategorized | Comments Off

One less brick in the wall

Posted on January 21, 2014 by David McKee

Internet gambling in New Jersey is still wet behind the ears but state Sen. Raymond Lesniak wants to move it to the grown-ups’ table. Specifically, he wants wide-area Internet poker play. Domestic (read: Nevada and New Jersey) and international ones … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Georgia, Internet gambling, Minnesota, Ohio | Comments Off

Indiana: The good, the bad, the ‘meh’; Vegas: What’s that smell?

Posted on February 8, 2013 by David McKee

January casino revenues from Indiana present a conundrum. Although the state is still the most lucrative casino jurisdiction in the Midwest ($192 million last month), it’s hard to tell whether the half-full glass is filling or emptying. Foot traffic was … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Cordish Co., Current, Don Barden, Economy, Environment, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Laughlin, Mesquite, Minnesota, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Tourism, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Election wrap-up: Winners & losers

Posted on November 7, 2012 by David McKee

But first, because it will never, ever get old … Also this, from @daveweigel: “[Florida] exit poll: Obama winning Jewish vote by 40 points. 40 points. Nice work, Sheldon Adelson.” We’ll tap dance on Sheldon’s head some more further down, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Colorado, Cordish Co., Cretins, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Florida, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Maine, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Shuffle Master, Steve Wynn, Tribal, TV, Wall Street, West Virginia | 4 Comments

Going home again; Hotel Hell: The sequel

Posted on November 1, 2011 by David McKee

Here’s a casino-development story with several personal angles. When I lived in Minneapolis and wrote from the since-defunct Twin Cities Reader, my publisher was R.T. Rybak. Now he’s mayor of the city and is trying to hold onto the perennially … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Culinary Union, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Genting, Harrah's, Herbst Gaming, Isle of Capri, Lyle Berman, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism | 4 Comments

Sheldon Adelson’s court jester yuks it up

Posted on April 1, 2011 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands-backed mayoral candidate Victor Chaltiel rolled out the following prank ad today … I’m not sure that there’s any percentage in going after the grandmotherly (but hopelessly vague) Carolyn Goodman in the snide fashion that is quickly becoming … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Current, Downtown, Election, Florida, Harrah's, International, Laughlin, Macau, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Mississippi, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Texas, The Strip, TV | 1 Comment

Adelson hits Florida speed bump

Posted on March 22, 2011 by David McKee

Gov. Rick Scott‘s big — and rather sudden — push to bring (more) private-sector casinos to Florida has run into a road block. The governor’s Tea Party base, of all people, is throwing up opposition … and not for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Genting, Horseracing, Isle of Capri, Minnesota, Mississippi, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Tourism, Tribal | 5 Comments

‘Twere the Case Bets before Christmas

Posted on December 23, 2010 by David McKee

In the casino industry, everything was stirring, including the mice. Cordish’s revenge. It’s a dish best served by opening Cordish Gaming‘s controversial Arundel Mills gambling hall late next year with a temporary, one-year casino. That means karma comes early for … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Animals, Cordish Co., Current, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, G2E, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Singapore, The Mob, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off