Category Archives: WMS Industries

Those tight slots; A birthday for Horseshoe

Posted on August 20, 2015 by David McKee

When one reads that casino revenues were up in, say, Indiana, despite lower foot traffic, you’ve got to wonder how its done. Applied Analysis has the answer: Slot holds are at “all-time highs,” meaning that some of the economic recovery … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Baseball, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Indiana, Maryland, Penn National, Regulation, Tamares Group, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street, WMS Industries | 5 Comments

Phua case collapses; Bwin wooed ardently

Posted on May 27, 2015 by David McKee

Well, that’s it. With the exclusion of evidence gathered from all three Caesars Palace VIP villas used by Paul Phua, the federal government’s case against the poker pro collapses ignominiously. U.S. District Judge Andrew Gordon had already tossed all the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Penn National, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Scientific Games, Shuffle Master, Sports, Uncategorized, WMS Industries | Comments Off

Honeymoon over in Atlantic City; Resistance in Connecticut

Posted on March 13, 2015 by David McKee

All the gains Atlantic City casinos had been making from the downsizing of the market came to an abrupt end last month. Gambling revenues dove 16% and same-store revenues fell 2% (yes, even the Borgata‘s). Luck simply was not on … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, Boyd Gaming, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Riviera, Scientific Games, Shuffle Master, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street, WMS Industries | 1 Comment

Golden, Scientific on the move

Posted on January 26, 2015 by David McKee

Golden Gaming continues to absorb its competitors. Its latest acquisition is Lakes Entertainment, one of the most venerable names in Midwestern gambling. Golden will pay a 37% premium to purchase Lakes at $9.57 a share. While 64% of shareholders will … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Golden Gaming, Horseracing, IGT, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Scientific Games, Slot routes, Technology, Wall Street, WMS Industries | Comments Off

When titans wed; Cupidity at Revel

Posted on August 1, 2014 by David McKee

Just when you thought the manufacturing sector had engaged in enough consolidation that it would take a pause to pay down debt (or at least burp) comes a mega-consolidation. International Game Technology‘s two biggest rivals will become one. Ronald Perelman‘s … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, Cretins, GTECH, IGT, Regulation, Revel, Shuffle Master, Wall Street, WMS Industries | 1 Comment

Goodbye IGT, hello Gtech

Posted on July 16, 2014 by David McKee

Early this morning, International Game Technology announced it had been acquired by Gtech, an Italian company specializing in lotteries. The terms of the deal include the assumption of $1.7 billion in debt and the payment of $4.7 billion in cash. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Current, Economy, GTECH, IGT, Scientific Games, Shuffle Master, Wall Street, WMS Industries | Comments Off

Japan factor overrated?; Gural’s head start

Posted on November 20, 2013 by David McKee

Skepticism is starting to emerge regarding Union Gaming Group‘s projection of $10 billion a year from Japanese casinos, should they be legalized. Among the reasons given are that “whales” from Japan aren’t a major factor in Pacific Rim casinos. Also, … Continue reading →

Posted in Japan, Marketing, New York, Penn National, Racinos, Scientific Games, Tribal, Wall Street, WMS Industries | Comments Off

New look for IGT; Bally thinks small; Why see Britney?

Posted on September 24, 2013 by David McKee

There’s a new logo in town and it belongs to International Game Technology. That futuristic type you see is emblematic of the slot-machine company’s ongoing reinvention of itself into an online-gaming provider. The firm may be rolling out new machines … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Entertainment, IGT, Illinois, Internet gambling, Scientific Games, Shuffle Master, Slot routes, The Strip, Wall Street, WMS Industries | Comments Off

So long, Sahara and WMS; Bridge of sighs; Private equity’s newest gamble

Posted on May 10, 2013 by David McKee

Gone and soon to be forgotten is the fugly NASCAR Cafe (site of terrible customer service), one of Bill Bennett‘s dubious ‘enhancements’ to the Sahara during his ownership. Current owner Sam Nazarian is ripping the Sahara apart in earnest, although … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Current, Dan Gilbert, Dining, Harrah's, history, Ohio, Regulation, Sahara, Sam Nazarian, Scientific Games, Sports, The Strip, Wall Street, WMS Industries | 1 Comment

Cleveland: Gilbert appeases skeptics; Scientific Games dissed

Posted on May 8, 2013 by David McKee

Hey, if you had an albatross the size of Caesars Entertainment slung around your neck, you’d be understandably subject to skepticism and perhaps even being called out in public, perhaps to the point of getting tetchy about it. That’s the … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Harrah's, International, Maryland, Ohio, Racinos, Scientific Games, Technology, Wall Street, WMS Industries | Comments Off

Santarelli bails on SGMS; Blasts from the recent past

Posted on February 5, 2013 by David McKee

Scientific Games has lost the faith of Deutsche Bank‘s Carlo Santarelli. The analyst put out a “sell” recommendation this morning on SGMS stock, issuing a new target price of $6/share, down from $7. (Scientific was trading at $9.49 at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Marketing, Scientific Games, The Strip, Wall Street, WMS Industries | 1 Comment

Case Bets: Super Bowl, WMS, Bally, Wynn, Penn vs. MGM

Posted on February 1, 2013 by David McKee

“The twilight’s last reaming”?!?!? Christina Aguilera said it, I didn’t. Of all the proposition bets being made on Sunday’s “Big Game” (the favored Vegas euphemism), my favorite is how long it will take Alicia Keys to crawl through the National … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Bally Technologies, Current, Economy, Entertainment, IGT, International, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Scientific Games, Slot routes, Sports, Steve Wynn, Tourism, Wall Street, WMS Industries | Comments Off

Merger of the Nerds; Cosmo picketed

Posted on January 31, 2013 by David McKee

With 2013 shaping up as a good year for slot sales, Scientific Games has chosen this moment to pounce upon WMS Industries, one of the oldest, biggest and most-respected firms in the industry. SGMS shares promptly leapfrogged from $8.93 to … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Culinary Union, Current, Harry Reid, IGT, Internet gambling, Politics, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street, WMS Industries | 2 Comments

Investor Week: The slot makers speak; More Ohio expansion

Posted on March 21, 2012 by David McKee

Themes! Themes! Themes! That was the promise made by WMS Industries, which plans to introduce no fewer than 55 of them between now and year’s end. I’d thought we were past the era in which slot manufacturers indiscriminately licensed every … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, Cordish Co., Current, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Harrah's, IGT, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Maryland, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Shuffle Master, Slot routes, Technology, Wall Street, WMS Industries | 1 Comment

Pennsylvania gives thanks; Aqueduct, superstar

Posted on December 16, 2011 by David McKee

This has been a terrible fortnight for S&G but, hey, we’ve got some good news from Pennsylvania. Last month’s gambling revenues were reported this morning and they’re up 12%, thanks mostly to the growing popularity of table games. (Atlantic City, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, Cannery Casino Resorts, Current, Economy, Genting, IGT, Illinois, Macau, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Wall Street, WMS Industries | 2 Comments

Breakthrough in Massachusetts

Posted on October 13, 2011 by David McKee

This just in … the Massachusetts state Senate voted 24-14 to send casino legalization on to a conference committee, where the House’s version — passed with a crushing majority — already reposes. Differences between the two versions, obviously, will have … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Current, Economy, Florida, Genting, Harrah's, Horseracing, IGT, Internet gambling, Movies, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street, WMS Industries | Comments Off

The great riverboat robbery; Pusateri’s revenge; Gaming’s top 12

Posted on September 21, 2011 by David McKee

Increased funding for education is always the big selling point whenever gambling laws in Missouri are liberalized. This week, schools are finding out what sort of Indian givers their casino benefactors are. Schools are among the public services that stand … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Bally Technologies, Boyd Gaming, Current, George Maloof, Harrah's, IGT, Isle of Capri, Macau, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Morgans Hotel Group, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, Warner Gaming, WMS Industries | 3 Comments

Down Memory Lainie, er, Lane

Posted on August 29, 2011 by David McKee

On Oct. 26, the erstwhile “Gossy Room” at The Palms will host a fundraiser for AFAN. Headlining the event will be Lainie Kazan, who — the press release informs us — is “widely known for her starring role in My … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Charity, Current, Entertainment, George Maloof, history, Marketing, Riviera, Silverton, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, TV, WMS Industries | 2 Comments

Thaw in Massachusetts? Hilton has left the building

Posted on August 25, 2011 by David McKee

After screwing the pooch in the previous legislature, it looks as though Gov. Deval Patrick (D-MA) and state lawmakers are finally on the same page regarding casino expansion in the Bay State. Analyst Joseph Greff rates the solons’ chances of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, Colony Capital, Current, Economy, Genting, Horseracing, IGT, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Marketing, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Singapore, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Warner Gaming, WMS Industries | 2 Comments

Raw deal

Posted on June 18, 2011 by David McKee

In the end two, casino operators bent over, grabbed their ankles and took it hard from Gov. John Kasich (R), who can claim a near-unqualified victory — and in blistering time. With money and pilings already sunk into Ohio, neither … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Boyd Gaming, Current, Election, Harrah's, Horseracing, IGT, Indiana, Isle of Capri, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes, Wall Street, WMS Industries | 3 Comments