NEW HAMPSHIRE?
According to multiple reports last week, results of a survey conducted by the speedway show that Loudon, N.H., residents are in favor of the installation of lights at the Magic Mile as well as allowing a casino to be built there. As has been the trend in other areas of New England, Massachusetts recently, New Hampshire is considering allowing casino gaming. Governor-elect Maggie Hassan is looking into the idea as a way of boosting revenue and creating jobs. Lou Modestino of the Brockton Enterprise, pointed out a big reason why the Granite State is suddenly trying to board the casino train: everyone else is doing it. "With the new nearby Oxford Black Bear Casino in western Maine and the new casinos and slot parlors on the horizon in nearby Massachusetts, N.H. residents could easily travel out of state for that form of entertainment."
There are always those that are opposed. Especially the neighboring town of Canterbury. This is just going to make things more interesting - and even more things for the NE Time Gambling blog to cover!
STEVE WYNN, at it AGAIN?
Meanwhile, back in the Bay State, Las Vegas casino mogul Steve Wynn, who failed to persuade Foxborough to accept a lavish $1 billion gambling resort, is investigating land on the Mystic River for a possible casino bid in Everett, which would create a clash among gambling titans for the state’s most lucrative casino license. Wynn’s return to the Massachusetts market would create a competition for the sole greater Boston casino license between two of the biggest names in casino gambling. Suffolk Downs, in partnership with casino giant Caesars Entertainment, formerly Harrah's, has already applied for casino development rights for the track in East Boston. This competition for the Boston area site would be very interesting considering the difference in properties and philosophy.
Let's review some of the owned properties.
Wynn, which started his empire with family bingo money in Maryland, parlayed that and other earnings into a strip of land he bought next to Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. By selling that, raising the status of the Golden Nugget downtown to a resort, and building the Mirage, Steve Wynn could be said to have started the Las Vegas boom from the 70's to the present. Wynn Resorts now includes: Wynn & Encore in Las Vegas and Wynn & Encore Macau in Macau, China.
Caesars Entertainment, which owns over 50 casinos all over the country, has casinos that range from riverboats and small low end casinos, to larger more impressive casinos like Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. This company which used to be Harrahs Entertainment, reminds me of PacMan - eating as much as he can as long as he can. To Harrah's, I mean Caesars, credit the new Linq project in Las Vegas looks very interesting, including the world's tallest observation wheel. check it out at http://www.caesars.com/thelinq/
What Wynn has done for artistic beauty, and elegance in the gaming resort, Harrahs/Caesars re-invents its hospitality and amenities but adding to it's collection of different properties. Now, if they would only keep their properties in good shape. ( "take down the balloon, take down the balloon, ...." - reference to Paris Las Vegas and it's decaying balloon)
POWERBALL
Congrats to whoever won Powerball last night. Just a hint - I'd love to take a trip to Maine to check out those two casinos - for the blog, of course.
Happy Holidays
Binbin
