Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

Bio

Maddox: Stand by my man

Steve Wynn disgusts me so much that I want to pack it in. His latest stratagem, faced with police reports, is a time-honored [sic] one: Blame the victim. Wynn sent a spokesman out to say the mogul “has never been supplied … Continue reading

Posted in Donald Trump, Japan, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Nevada, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Strip weak, locals strong, Reno supercharged; Stanley Ho’s empire crumbles

January got the Las Vegas Strip off to a less-than auspicious start, with revenues dropping 9% from 2017. Locals casinos, meanwhile, were living it up, as revenue rose 8%, thanks in part to New Year’s Eve weekend slot drop being … Continue reading

Posted in Arkansas, Boulder Strip, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Downtown, Economy, Election, Foxwoods, Galaxy Entertainment, Harrah's, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Lucky Dragon, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Mesquite, MGM Mirage, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

“We’re very proud to be part of the community. That the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi provides us with the opportunity to give back is phenomenal. Most corporations, most casinos especially, don’t get to do that, and that we are … Continue reading

Posted in Charity, Tribal | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Wynn: It gets worse; More changes for Palms

Steve Wynn may have left Wynn Resorts but the collateral damage keeps careening about like a ricocheting bullet. Yesterday The Associated Press got a hold of two police reports filed against the mogul. The more explosive of the two alleges that … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Dining, Downtown, Eldorado Resorts, Illinois, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Palms, Regulation, Reno, Sexual misconduct, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Steven Witkoff, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Wynn: It gets worse; More changes for Palms

Hard Rock makes sweeping pledge; Wynn dodges a bullet

Having expanded the old Trump Taj Mahal concert venue by over 25%, Hard Rock International is promising the Boardwalk “more live music than Atlantic City has ever seen.” We’re talking 200 live events in Year One. “When’s the first time someone has … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Dining, Entertainment, Environment, Geoff Freeman, Hard Rock International, International, Japan, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Revel, Sexual misconduct, The Strip, Transportation, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Greed in Japan; IGT embraces diversity

“Japan Junks it Up.” That was Global Gaming Business‘ teaser for an article on investment-killing measures that have a strong chance of making it into the Liberal Democratic Party‘s casino-implementation bill. Jim Murren might want to think twice about sinking … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Harrah's, IGT, Illinois, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Japan, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Taxes, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

“Everyday young children are being dropped off at schools that are wide-open, soft targets for people bent on mass murder. In every community in America … they must come together to implement the very best strategy to harden our schools, including … Continue reading

Posted in Current, Law enforcement | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Adelson subsidizes foreign policy; Packer’s comeback

Sheldon Adelson‘s at it again. This time, in the cause of escalating Mideast tensions, he’s putting his money where his mouth is. The toupee-crowned supermogul is reported to be offering to foot the bill for at least some of a … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Atlantic City, Australia, Donald Trump, Glenn Straub, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Lucky Dragon, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Crown 18, The Strip | Comments Off on Adelson subsidizes foreign policy; Packer’s comeback

Quote of the Day

“I have so much to do that I am going to bed.” — old Savoyard saying. It’s how I feel when I have a fibromyalgia attack, as was the case today.

Posted in Current | 1 Comment

Showboat to sail again?; The plague of resort fees

Although Caesars Entertainment may have thought it removed a competitor from the board when it stripped the Showboat of its gaming entitlement, think again. Owner Bart Blatstein has taken the opening steps toward returning the Showboat to the gambling seas. … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Environment, Genting, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, International, Maryland, Revel, The Strip | 1 Comment

Georgia on my mind

Full disclosure time: Yesterday, I referred to Las Vegas as “here,” on the presumption that Sin City is as much a state of mind as a city in Nevada. However, since October 2016 S&G has been headquartered in the solarium … Continue reading

Posted in Current, Georgia, Harrah's, Nevada, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Savior for Lucky Dragon?; Louisiana city shops for riverboat

Things go from bad to worse at ill-named Lucky Dragon Casino. Already it was looking at a foreclosure auction tomorrow. Now owner Andrew Fonfa has put it in Chapter 11. The move was rationalized on the grounds that letting the … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Boyd Gaming, Culinary Union, Derek Stevens, Louisiana, Lucky Dragon, Mississippi, SLS Las Vegas, Station Casinos | 1 Comment

MGM to jack up resort fees; Boyd braces for Four Winds impact

Looking for a bargain in casino stocks? JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff nominates MGM Resorts International, which he says “remains cheap.” He bases this, in part, on strong Las Vegas Strip performance driven by “two jewels” Bellagio and MGM Grand. … Continue reading

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, California, Cannery Casino Resorts, Hawaii, Indiana, Louisiana, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Missouri, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Resort fees, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on MGM to jack up resort fees; Boyd braces for Four Winds impact

Nevada: A sinful state of affairs

Nevada had better look to its laurels. The Silver State has been ranked only as the third most sinful in America. That’s probably because we’re down at #30 in the “hatred and anger” category, a good place to be. We’re … Continue reading

Posted in California, Florida, Law enforcement, Maine, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Nevada, TV, Vermont | Comments Off on Nevada: A sinful state of affairs

Cuomo’s experiment a dud

They’re going to be hurting for revenue in Albany. The Empire State’s three newest casinos have passed their first anniversary and are an aggregate $230 million short of their revenue projections. Yes, they’re generating new revenue (30% according to Moody’s … Continue reading

Posted in Genting, Neil Bluhm, New York, Taxes, Tribal | 1 Comment

Caesars takes the lead; Fortune Cup comes to Vegas

In the wake of yet another senseless mass shooting, Caesars Entertainment is making guest security a priority (not to imply that it wasn’t earlier). From now on, Caesars security personnel will be empowered to enter guest rooms once every 24 hours, … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Culinary Union, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Genting, Harrah's, Law enforcement, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Technology, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Negotiation time in Vegas; MGM China trounces expectations

Yes, it’s that exciting moment when the Culinary Union contract comes due and the local flexes its muscle to get results from the casinos. Frankly, we don’t expect much drama this year, given the excellent state of the Las Vegas … Continue reading

Posted in CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Culinary Union, Donald Trump, Downtown, Harrah's, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Reno, Sexual misconduct, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

“No other New Jersey online casino licensee has even eclipsed the $5 million threshold. The Golden Nugget’s pace-setting is the result of solid management, a strong platform and its willingness to innovate, such as the launch of live-dealer games.” — Steve … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Internet gambling, Tilman Fertitta | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Sands Parisian a hit; The price is right for DFS in Massachusetts

We never thought of Sheldon Adelson as a big online guy but the Las Vegas Sands CEO felt it imperative to let the Hong Kong Stock Exchange know that Parisian Macao had racked up over five billion social-media impressions to date. … Continue reading

Posted in DFS, Economy, Internet gambling, Macau, Massachusetts, Penn National, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Texas, Tribal | Comments Off on Sands Parisian a hit; The price is right for DFS in Massachusetts

MGM’s $3.4 billion gamble; A.C. Trop, Vegas Strip show promise

With concession renewal lurking around the 2020 corner, this might seem a risky time for MGM Resorts International to open a $3.4 billion casino in Macao. But MGM China CEO Grant Bowie says, “The concession renewal will not be determined by … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Entertainment, Harrah's, Macau, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Unite-Here, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment