Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

Bio

SLS Las Vegas: Pretty pictures and propaganda

Posted on May 18, 2012 by David McKee

To celebrate the first anniversary of his cold-blooded, premeditated murder of the Sahara, nightclub owner Sam Nazarian trotted out freshly hired casino boss Rob Oseland, along with some models (no, not of the runway ilk) and even a rendering that … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Archon Corp., Boyd Gaming, California, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Encore, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Plaza, Sahara, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 4 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 18, 2012 by David McKee

“Human beings should be allowed to make their own choices in life.” — North Carolina state Sen. Tom Apodaca (R), offering some radical advice to prudes who oppose adding table games to Harrah’s Cherokee‘s repertory .

Posted in Harrah's, Politics, Tribal | 2 Comments

Trouble in Wayne’s World

Posted on May 18, 2012 by David McKee

Dedicated to Mr. Charles Monster: Wow, I totally didn’t see this coming … not! See our May 1 “Question of the Day” on Casa de Shenandoah for some ominous foreshadowing of The Wayner’s latest financial pickle. Wayne Newton‘s contractor “claims … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Tourism, Wayne F. Newton | Comments Off on Trouble in Wayne’s World

Boyd takes Peninsula, punts Echelon (again)

Posted on May 17, 2012 by David McKee

Ever since a highly quixotic and even nonsensical attempt to take over most of Station Casinos, the cards have been played very, very close to the vest at Boyd Gaming. However, like another second-tier major, Ameristar Casinos, it’s showing renewed … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

One Vegas castastrophe, slightly used

Posted on May 16, 2012 by David McKee

If you’ve got a spare $1,450 handy, you can be the proud owner of the London Clubs marquee that formerly adorned Planet Hollywood‘s façade back when it was still the Aladdin, plus one baccarat chip, shipping and handling not included. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Harrah's, history, Planet Hollywood, The Strip | 5 Comments

Internet gambling: It’s here, deal with it; Another delay in Massachusetts

Posted on May 16, 2012 by David McKee

It’s ironic that Sheldon Adelson is expending so much lungpower and cash to try and block federal legitimization of Internet poker and possibly other games. Washington has been left in the dust by individual states and, if it did try … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, California, CityCenter, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Shuffle Master, Slot routes, Taxes, Technology, Tribal | 2 Comments

Tropicana Toronto? CityCentre? Horseshoe Etobicoke?

Posted on May 16, 2012 by David McKee

There’s a dark horse in the race for a Toronto megaresort … very dark. It’s Onex Corp., known to you and me as the owner of the Tropicana Las Vegas. Onex subsidiary Casino ABS owns four of the largest casinos … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Kansas, Macau, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Tropicana Toronto? CityCentre? Horseshoe Etobicoke?

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 16, 2012 by David McKee

“I suppose there is something to be said for losing money without the inconvenience of leaving town, but that’s usually called property tax or alimony.” — pollster Peter Woolley on New Jersey citizens’ overwhelming support for sports betting. It’s symbolically … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Regulation, Sports | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Casinos in Ohio: We have liftoff

Posted on May 15, 2012 by David McKee

How’s that for flair? Vegas casino openings are going to have raise their — pardon the pun — game. Last night, Horseshoe Casino Cleveland opened with a hella big splash, packing all the nearby hotels and generating heavy media coverage. … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Dan Gilbert, Harrah's, Ohio, Tourism | 1 Comment

Casino codependency, Chris Christie’s cowardice & other Case Bets

Posted on May 15, 2012 by David McKee

It’s too bad Steve Friess isn’t here to write this next story, because it’s right up his alley. What do you do if your big-name headliner badmouths your casino and CEO on opening night? You re-hire him, what else? Like … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Current, Donald Trump, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, Internet gambling, LVCVA, Marketing, New York, Ohio, Politics, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, Taxes, The Strip, TV | 2 Comments

Canada to Caesars: “Bonehead!”; What’s (hidden) in a logo?

Posted on May 14, 2012 by David McKee

You can’t ask for a better diagnosis of what might be loosely called Caesars Entertainment‘s business plan than this anonymous comment from a Las Vegas Review-Journal reader: “Right now, their strategy for getting out of the hole appears to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Harrah's, history, Horseracing, International, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | 3 Comments

Lovemaniacs, rejoice!

Posted on May 14, 2012 by David McKee

A Friday computer glitch that destroyed half an S&G posting also accidentally closed “Comments” for “Lovemania comes to Cleveland.” Thankfully, LVA‘s Webmistress Jessica was able to rectify the situation with a few mouse clicks. Thanks also to the eagle-eyed Caesars … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Movies, Ohio, Technology | 1 Comment

Jersey voters jeer ‘Net bets; A friend in high places

Posted on May 14, 2012 by David McKee

“We’ve never been this close to Internet gaming. We’ve talked about it for 10 years. And we’re closer than ever to sports betting. It certainly takes New Jersey outside traditional gaming and puts us at the forefront of the initiatives … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, CityCenter, Current, Election, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Politics, Racinos, Revel, Tourism | 2 Comments

Lovemania comes to Cleveland

Posted on May 11, 2012 by David McKee

Looking like death warmed over, Caesars Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman took time from promoting the opening of Horseshoe Cleveland to try and spin the unloading of Harrah’s Maryland Heights as another brilliant masterstroke, rather than more evidence of the shambles … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Current, Dan Gilbert, Economy, Florida, Harry Reid, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Wall Street | Comments Off on Lovemania comes to Cleveland

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 11, 2012 by David McKee

“But there is surely something here: the notion that being privileged and conformist requires actual punishment of the marginalized and under-privileged; that you pick on younger, weaker boys, not older ones; and that you psychologically traumatize the victim by permanently … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Revel: Can’t drive 55?; Another setback in Massachusetts

Posted on May 10, 2012 by David McKee

Revel, the new, $2.4 billion casino on the Boardwalk has been conducting a sort of “stealth opening,” conducting a two-month-plus dry run. Along with the stealth opening come what you might call “stealth revenues”: $13 million-plus in its first full … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Florida, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, Massachusetts, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Technology, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Sheldon speaks

Posted on May 10, 2012 by David McKee

… as does Las Vegas Sands COO Michael Leven. The big man starts talking four minutes in, following a introductory flourish of boastfulness and fawning intermingled. I feel bad for the interviewer: Sheldon Adelson can’t even accept

Posted in Culinary Union, International, Macau, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Sheldon speaks

Massachusetts: Now *this* is interesting; Bluhm’s shameless hypocrisy; Casino John

Posted on May 9, 2012 by David McKee

In an attempt to shave a few months off their casino-approval timeline, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission is going to put the horse before the cart. (I guess you’d call it a “Massachusetts Miracle.”) Potential operators’ fiscal and ethical probity will … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Current, Don Barden, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Iowa, Kansas, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, New York, Ohio, Pansy Ho, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Singapore, Taxes, Tribal | 1 Comment

Beaten in Beantown: Steve Wynn calls it quits

Posted on May 8, 2012 by David McKee

Just like that, another Las Vegas casino heavyweight has hit the canvas in Massachusetts. Election results in Foxborough spelled doom for Steve Wynn‘s proposed resort (below) and neither he nor New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft wasted any time throwing … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Sports, Steve Wynn, Tribal | 3 Comments

“It was 20 years ago today …”

Posted on May 8, 2012 by David McKee

Well, not quite. But with the Southern Gaming Summit convening today in Biloxi, it’s as good a moment as any to look back on the quaint beginnings of what’s now a kind of American Riviera. Eleven casinos, 5,598 hotel rooms, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, Current, history, Isle of Capri, Marketing, Mississippi, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on “It was 20 years ago today …”