David Mckee's Stiffs & Georges

Advertisement

Archives By Month




May 2008

April 2008

March 2008

February 2008

January 2008

STAFF BLOGGERS

Robin Camacho
Las Vegas Real Estate



David Matthews
Gambling in Space



David McKee
Stiffs & Georges



Jean Scott
Frugal Vegas



Recent Comments

"Cher" is a four-letter word ...
Deb said: We were at opening night of Cher, We enjoyed it as well as the rest of the people there the show reg...   [More]

This isn't my day
Jeff in OKC said: Business writing is usually very dry. Money isn't funny. McKee puts a different spin on stories, som...   [More]

This isn't my day
dave202 said: I think you should scrap every blog post since you seem to be out of touch with just about everyone....   [More]

Earth to NYT, Earth to NYT ...
David McKee said: Honestly, no. I don't think P&B merit big photo play in the NYT, especially given the brevity of...   [More]

Earth to NYT, Earth to NYT ...
Steve said: Come on, David. Own up. You were picking on the whole thing based on something minor you spotted abo...   [More]

Search

Subscribe

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog.


TAGS

atlantic city boyd gaming columbia sussex current downtown election harrah's indiana international labor louisiana macau mgm mirage monte carlo fire pennsylvania pinnacle entertainment politics regulation sheldon adelson stanley ho steve wynn taxes the strip tribal

High spirits in Evansville

Posted At : April 7, 2008 09:49 AM | Posted By : D McKee
Related Categories: Atlantic City,Taxes,Indiana,The Strip,Columbia Sussex,Steve Wynn

The acquisition, by Reno's own Eldorado Resorts, of the Casino Aztar riverboat, is playing to the expected hosannas. Interestingly, while 21% of the workforce was pink-slipped by outgoing owner Columbia Sussex, that seems to be the least of players' concerns. An unscientific online poll has that coming in fifth of five priorities, far behind expanding the entertainment options available at the casino. Whatever the case, the prospective owners are accentuating the positive.

Memo to Dawn Gibbons: Don't quit your day job (fourth item).

Tax increases could be life or death to rural Nevada casinos, Bill Bible says, making a compelling argument. Which raises a fairness question: Should the privilege tax be applied at a uniform (i.e., regressive) rate to all Nevada casinos or should it be graduated to better reflect the market disparities between, say, Elko and the Strip? Whatever the case, smaller casinos are between a rock (the lobbying power of their bigger brethren) and a hard place (public support for hiking the privilege tax).

Players or profits? That's a dilemma being faced by Atlantic City casinos as they tighten up on comps. So, if you're a bused-in player and you think you're not feeling as much love as in the past, you're probably right.

Analyst Nick Danna says comp-addicted customers need to get the "just say 'no'" treatment for casinos. As he puts it, "There are certain customers that Atlantic City really shouldn't attract anymore because they're just not profitable." Translation: Retiree players have outlived their usefulness to the Boardwalk and need to make way for bright young things with disposable $$.

That's cold.

A small collection of imperfect shows: The never-ending mutation of Le Reve is chronicled. If you're like me and suspect that Franco Dragone just keeps throwing random junk at the wall until something sticks, this article will only bolster that suspicion. As the headline says,the show "reveals itself slowly." Three years of tinkering and they still haven't got it right? Yeah, you could call that "slow," I guess.

Typo of the Day: In the Las Vegas Sun, "Possible hostage situation diffused." I suppose they mean "defused." I'd sure hate to contemplate the alternative: possible hostage situations spreading throughout the Las Vegas Valley.

[Email Blogger]

Comments