Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

Bio

Colony Capital and the Temple of Doom; Big Gaming’s come a long way, baby

Posted on September 25, 2012 by David McKee

Earlier today, I penned a 1.5-page Question of the Day on the recent past and dubious future of the Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, which I habitually type as “Las Vegas Hilton.” Even if one confines the narrative to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Culinary Union, Current, Dennis Gomes, Downtown, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Goldman Sachs, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Tamares Group, The Strip | Comments Off on Colony Capital and the Temple of Doom; Big Gaming’s come a long way, baby

History is a lie … just ask the NFL

Posted on September 25, 2012 by David McKee

Two things give me reason today to ponder the line of thinking which holds that history is a construct formed by the winners — an agreed-upon narrative that keeps up from asking too many pesky questions. First, tonight is the … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Sports, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 7 Comments

USA Today at last! (Sorta)

Posted on September 21, 2012 by David McKee

Remember those USA Today travel guides whose writing put me hopelessly behind the S&G 8-ball? (Two hundred and thirty-five e-mails still unread!) Well, if you’re staying at a Hilton-branded property (soon to include much of Trump International), you can view … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Harrah's, The Strip, Tourism | 1 Comment

Yellowtail = douchetastic; Hyde & seek

Posted on September 21, 2012 by David McKee

If you’re ever tempted to envy those of us who must attend media events for restaurants: Don’t. They’re a chore — crowded, noisy and sprinkled with microbes of food that is usually grossly unrepresentative of the daily bill of fare. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Cretins, Current, Dining, Downtown, Entertainment, Marketing, MGM Mirage, The Strip, TV | 3 Comments

Study those sample ballots!

Posted on September 21, 2012 by David McKee

Here is an entertaining — and dare I say nostalgic? — way of issuing my biennial missive on the importance of voting … and of not overlooking that stuff at the bottom of your ballot. Casino-related initiatives will be voted … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Marketing, Maryland, TV | Comments Off on Study those sample ballots!

Louisiana better than expected; Arkansas casinos: Wait ’til year after next

Posted on September 20, 2012 by David McKee

“It could have been better.” That will be the refrain from Louisiana, up 1% last month despite some final-week disruption by an unwelcome visitor named Hurricane Isaac. Allowing for a few blips here and there throughout the state, including a … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Louisiana, Maryland, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes, Texas | Comments Off on Louisiana better than expected; Arkansas casinos: Wait ’til year after next

Western … sold?; Loveman takes a bath; Loving couples at the Flamingo

Posted on September 20, 2012 by David McKee

Update: The head of Tamares Group’s Vegas casino operations, Anthony Santo, has contacted S&G. He categorically denies that any sale of the Western has taken place. Well, “the Internets” are jumping today with the rumor that the defunct Western Hotel … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Boyd Gaming, Current, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, Harrah's, Tourism | 6 Comments

Hicks is back; Sheldon Adelson, misery broker

Posted on September 19, 2012 by David McKee

Give Caesars Entertainment for making a good call this week. It’s inked a one-year residency deal with American Idol winner Taylor Hicks to return to Bally’s, starting Oct. 17. Prices will still begin at a wallet-friendly $40/seat and, in light … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Current, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Florida, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, International, Movies, Planet Hollywood, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

What the fuQ?; A dubious honor

Posted on September 19, 2012 by David McKee

Word around here is that Caesars Entertainment did an in-house survey on potential re-names of Imperial Palace — soon to become “The Quad” — and promptly dumped the poll results in the nearest wastepaper basket. Se non e ver, e … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, CityCenter, Culinary Union, Current, Detroit, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, International, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Racinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism | 3 Comments

Sunny summer in Pennsylvania; Stanley Ho seen!

Posted on September 18, 2012 by David McKee

Except for a 4% slippage in July, the motto around Pennsylvania might be, “Cannibalization? What cannibalization?” The Keystone State has shrugged off new competition from Ohio, from New York City, from Revel in Atlantic City, and even from within the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Dan Gilbert, Harrah's, Macau, Neil Bluhm, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Sunny summer in Pennsylvania; Stanley Ho seen!

One pig, slightly perfumed; Loveman’s fire sale

Posted on September 17, 2012 by David McKee

Having waited too long and spent too much to ever get around to his long-rumored teardown of the Imperial Palace, the CEO/CFO/COB and prexy of Caesars Entertainment, one Gary Loveman, now finds himself perfuming a pig. Despite having more brand … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Florida, Hard Rock Hotel, history, Internet gambling, Iowa, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Ohio, Racinos, Reno, The Strip, Wall Street, World Series of Poker | 3 Comments

Atlantic City: Revenues up, Seminoles out, Mohegans in

Posted on September 17, 2012 by David McKee

Stick a fork in the Dennis Gomes legacy at Resorts Atlantic City. Son Aaron Gomes is not only leaving but going halfway around the globe, to team up with former Borgata exec Larry Mullin and reboot Jupiters Gold Coast Casino, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, Marketing, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Revel, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Trump’s brand equity hits new low

Posted on September 17, 2012 by David McKee

… as in so deep you can’t reach it without the services of a bathysphere. S&G has argued for a long time, with demonstrable evidence, that Trump Entertainment Resorts has nothing to lose by dumping the Trump name from its … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Donald Trump, Election, International, Marketing, Sheldon Adelson, TV, Wall Street | 2 Comments

“Zark-who”?

Posted on September 14, 2012 by David McKee

If you’ve been wondering where the pre-opening buzz for Aria‘s new Cirque du Soleil show, Zarkana, is … you’re not alone. I Get Paid for This author Rick Lax is puzzled by the strange, stealthy run-up to a show that … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Current, Entertainment, Marketing, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on “Zark-who”?

LVA to Earth, LVA to Earth … come in, Earth

Posted on September 13, 2012 by David McKee

S&G readers have been reporting difficulties accessing LasVegasAdvisor.com and/or seeing this column in more than a rudimentary HTML version. Is this a widespread phenomenon? We’ve certainly been having computer problems up the wazoo here at LVA HQ and I apologize … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Current, Entertainment, Technology, The Strip | 1 Comment

The rains came, 9/11/12

Posted on September 11, 2012 by David McKee

It may not be a David Lean epic but this video gives you an idea just how heavy the waters were on the Las Vegas Strip, over by Harrah’s Las Vegas. Strangely, local TV stations are concentrating upon the effects … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Environment, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 4 Comments

“Mob Attraction” inundated

Posted on September 11, 2012 by David McKee

… and not with customers unfortunately. Las Vegas is currently experiencing torrential downpours and flash flooding — including on the Strip. This suddenly closed the Tropicana Las Vegas‘ “Mob Attraction,” thanks to a wee bit of a design flaw. According … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Entertainment, Environment, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, history, Technology, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism, Warner Gaming | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 10, 2012 by David McKee

The Colbert Report Mon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c The 2012 People’s Party Congress of Charlotte – Youth Vote www.colbertnation.com Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog Video Archive Life is too short for watching political conventions and … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Entertainment, TV | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Just my luck!

Posted on September 10, 2012 by David McKee

On my busiest non-S&G day of the year, who should be reporting gaming revenues but Nevada, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Atlantic City. Uff da! That’d be a load if even if my desk were clear. I’ll try to get you … Continue reading →

Posted in Current | Comments Off on Just my luck!

Bad for Trump, good for me

Posted on September 8, 2012 by David McKee

Do you own a Trump International condo? Guess what? In another instance of the impotence of the Trump brand name, he’s sublicensing part of Trump Int’l to a genuinely powerful hotelier. Vegas Today and Tomorrow blogger Mark Adams has ferreted … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Donald Trump, Downtown, The Strip, Tourism | 2 Comments