Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

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Back at my post

Posted on June 25, 2012 by David McKee

Barring enormous dissatisfaction in McLean, Virginia, the USAT travel guides are off my desk for the time being, which means slightly more leisure to ponder such matters as what the rise to power of the Islamic Brotherhood in Cairo (albeit … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Harrah's, International, LVCVA, Politics, Sheldon Adelson | 2 Comments

Hot “chics” at Cosmo

Posted on June 22, 2012 by David McKee

If you want to be considered ‘with it,’ it wouldn’t hurt to display a modicum of literacy, as yet another painfully clueless Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas promotional short demonstrates. Don’t you just love the unwitting (Unwin-ing?) implication that the “hot … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Marketing, The Strip, Tourism | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 21, 2012 by David McKee
Posted in Regulation | 1 Comment

Shocking preliminary finding

Posted on June 21, 2012 by David McKee

Although I’m still swotting on USA Today copy, the finish line is within sight and the Las Vegas Strip property with the most name-checks to date is — surprise of surprises — Paris-Las Vegas, singled out in multiple categories. Who’da … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Donald Trump, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism | 5 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 20, 2012 by David McKee

It took 72 years but Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) has finally mastered the art of the soundbite. Congratulations, sir!

Posted in Current, Harry Reid, TV | 1 Comment

“He’s just a stooge”

Posted on June 20, 2012 by David McKee

While I’m still on semi-hiatus, working on travel guides for USA Today (the Downtown one got submitted last night), here’s a reminder that when Caesars Entertainment persuades — “coerces” might be more like it — its lenders into writing off … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, California, Economy, Harrah's, history, Internet gambling, Ohio, Tourism, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Trump’s greatest accomplishment

Posted on June 15, 2012 by David McKee

While we can’t blame — much as we might like — the downfall of Atlantic City on Donald Trump, if one individual contributed to its precipitous decline more than any other, it was the guy with the orange combover. Seriously, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Economy, history, Steve Wynn | 2 Comments

Everything’s coming up Penn

Posted on June 15, 2012 by David McKee

As befits a proud papa, Penn National Gaming has been showing Wall Street analysts around its newest offspring: Hollywood Casino Toledo. The metrics are pretty awe-inspiring. Already the customer database is approaching 50,000 players and 47% of all slot play … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Current, Dan Lee, Detroit, Don Barden, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, International, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Missouri, MTR Gaming, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 14, 2012 by David McKee

“One of the worst IPOs in recent memory! A company that is consistently losing money, and with an enterprise value of $19.5 billion is ridiculous! The company’s interest expense alone is [roughly twice] its current market cap. Valuing this company based on its book … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 11, 2012 by David McKee

“We’re in the business of providing entertainment. We make a profit. If something manipulates that in an ill-begotten way, that’s not fair.” — The Meadows General Manager Sean Sullivan, whining about card counters. Casinos in Pennsylvania and Ohio are actually … Continue reading →

Posted in Cannery Casino Resorts, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Regulation | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Yanqui, go home!

Posted on June 11, 2012 by David McKee

Spain‘s banking system has joined a series of toppling dominoes that will likely prompt multiple, TARP-like measures and have the European Union mulling methods of preventing a run on the banks. Into this atmosphere of imminent catastrophe and 24% unemployment … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Economy, Environment, Florida, International, Macau, New York, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Tourism | 1 Comment

Casino John rides again; Mashpee ride to victory

Posted on June 10, 2012 by David McKee

As is my habit, I tuned in CNN‘s Your Money yesterday. No sooner was the TV on but there was Gov. John Kasich (R), taking justifiable pride in Ohio‘s having recently added 73,300 jobs. The inescapable irony — and fact … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Current, Economy, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, Tribal, TV | 4 Comments

Toronto: Move over, Jim and Gary, here comes Sheldon

Posted on June 8, 2012 by David McKee

No disrespect to Steve Wynn, but the human starter gun for any serious casino race is now Sheldon Adelson. Except for China, he’s not been in any casino-expansion movement for the long haul since he lost Mirage Resorts. And with … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Economy, Florida, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, New York, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Texas, Tourism | 3 Comments

Atlas stumbled

Posted on June 7, 2012 by David McKee

Warren Buffett likes to say that we’ve already had class warfare in this country and his class won. Whilst laid up, recuperating from an ill-advised meal at Mizumi, I had reason to ponder this in connection with the recent stateside … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Bally Technologies, Culinary Union, Current, Dining, Economy, Election, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | 7 Comments

Watch your back, Steve!

Posted on June 6, 2012 by David McKee

Wouldn’t you love to know what was in Steve Wynn‘s most recent pre-nup now that his wife is referring to herself as “Owner” of Wynn Resorts — as our colleague Chuck Monster recently discovered? Andrea Wynn may have a few … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Election, George Maloof, Hard Rock Hotel, Morgans Hotel Group, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off on Watch your back, Steve!

Caesars in Boston

Posted on June 6, 2012 by David McKee

Oh, that Gary Loveman is hilarious! Sorry, folks, I had to stop that video so I could have a laugh when he boasted, “Caesars [Entertainment] stands for the ultimate in destination luxury resorts?” Since when? A bunch of forward-looking fellas … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Current, Harrah's, International, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Caesars in Boston

Bail, Caesar!

Posted on June 5, 2012 by David McKee

“I don’t like Caesars [Entertainment] because of its high leverage – the company has $21.2 billion in net debt and $1.7 billion per year of interest obligations. To manage cost, Caesar [sic] has reduced marketing and operating costs and limited … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Harrah's, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

End of an era

Posted on June 5, 2012 by David McKee

In a major step toward the de-Maloofization of the Palms, one of its signature attractions closed last weekend. As of yesterday, one can no longer gamble, ogle Bunnies nor do anything else at the semi-private Playboy Club. It was one … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Entertainment, George Maloof, Illinois, Marketing, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tribal | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 4, 2012 by David McKee

“I swear, folks: The Republicans here are better than any act on the Strip. It is not even close.” — Jon Ralston, upon learning that the Clark County GOP had rented a billboard — I kid you not — dissing … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Entertainment, Marketing | 2 Comments

Insanity in Illinois, Philadelphia

Posted on June 1, 2012 by David McKee

If insanity is doing the same thing over and over (and over) and expecting a different result, then we have outbreaks of it in both the Illinois Legislature and the Philadelphia casino market. In Pennsylvania, lawmakers have the disposition of … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Harrah's, Horseracing, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments