Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

Bio

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 14, 2011 by David McKee

“I learned a lot from my mom during her last year — mainly that it really, really sucks to be dependent, and even when your body betrays you, it doesn’t mean that you’ve lost your marbles. And instead of getting respect … Continue reading →

Posted in Herbst Gaming, Reno | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

If you liked CityCenter …

Posted on July 14, 2011 by David McKee

… you’ll lurve the “ghost cities” of China. Actually, they look more like something Sheldon Adelson would design — if Adelson were doing mile-long lines of cocaine, that is. He and others like him who own casinos in Macao better … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Current, Downtown, Dubai, Economy, Environment, Harrah's, International, Jack Binion, Macau, Marketing, Mesquite, MGM Mirage, Michael Gaughan, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 2 Comments

Warriors of The Cosmo

Posted on July 13, 2011 by David McKee

If you can’t get people to the art … bring Art to the people.

Posted in Architecture, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Warriors of The Cosmo

Blast from the past

Posted on July 13, 2011 by David McKee

Thanks go out to reader Greg Askins for putting me onto this evocative TWA travel poster from 1965. Some of you might get a kick out of going back to a time when Yr. Humble Blogger was in short pants … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, history, Marketing, North Las Vegas, Station Casinos, Tourism, Transportation | 1 Comment

Sheldon Adelson, stiff?

Posted on July 13, 2011 by David McKee

Why would a man whose company shells out $2.5 million a year for a personal security detail balk at paying an extra hundred grand? (Las Vegas Sands has an interesting defense: We didn’t break the law … and, if we … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Economy, Harry Reid, Macau, Regulation, Singapore, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

“Family friendly Vegas” is back; Putting the “gone” in Longoria; A mess in Mississippi

Posted on July 13, 2011 by David McKee

Actually, it never left, as any casual visit to the Strip will prove. But, strapped for a marketing position, Trump International is going for the wholesome niche with a vengeance. Stuck with a lemon, Trump marketing execs are making lemonade … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Architecture, CityCenter, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Politics, Regulation, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 13, 2011 by David McKee

Not a quote today but something for our international readers. Rupert Murdoch‘s recent travails have lent new currency to this vintage Fry & Laurie skit … although Murdoch should only be so lucky as to resemble the future Dr. Gregory … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, International, TV | 1 Comment

Shoe-fondling on the Strip

Posted on July 11, 2011 by David McKee

A casino as gaudy and glittery (and busy, visually and otherwise) as The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas may not be the ideal context for appreciating the subtleties of fine art. However, this isn’t a museum-friendly kind of town, so perhaps … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Current, Entertainment, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Shoe-fondling on the Strip

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 8, 2011 by David McKee

“Goldman is making a decent long-term investment in where the Strip is heading. The Stratosphere and the land could be more valuable imploded and built up with something else.” — gaming analyst Robert LaFleur, then with Susquehanna Financial Group, on … Continue reading →

Posted in Carl Icahn, Economy, Goldman Sachs, history, The Strip, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Where there’s smoke …

Posted on July 7, 2011 by David McKee

Fighting For Air: Secondhand Smoke in Casinos from RPCI Health Behavior-Paul Hage on Vimeo. No question about it, the issue of secondhand smoke is the greatest moral dilemma before the casino industry … especially since eliminating it means making a … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Environment, Harrah's, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 7, 2011 by David McKee

“Separating drivers from their cars would be like forcing Mickey and Minnie Mouse to divorce.” — New York Times reporter Eric Lipton, on the difficulties facing mass transit in the U.S.

Posted in Transportation | 1 Comment

Anthony Marnell III answers your questions

Posted on July 6, 2011 by David McKee

Anonymous: What happened to the self-serve soda fountains? [They] actually became a Health Department issue. They’re very expensive to maintain and the public had basically worn them out. There were lots of problems with the syrup and things falling down … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, M Resort, Marketing, Penn National, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 6, 2011 by David McKee

“What does a Las Vegas resident do on the Fourth of July? I’ll tell you what a Vegas visitor does: He goes out on the Strip to look for imaginary fireworks.” — a visiting S&G reader, disappointed by the lack … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Texas, The Strip, Tourism, TV | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

So it begins

Posted on July 6, 2011 by David McKee

Slow news day: There wasn’t much worth noting yesterday, other than some preliminary numbers out of Pennsylvania (i.e., slot revenues). Table games money could change the picture but, so far, June is looking like a good month for Las Vegas … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Environment, M Resort, Marketing, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal, TV | 1 Comment

It was a dark and stormy night …

Posted on July 5, 2011 by David McKee

… when monsoon season arrived in Las Vegas on July 3, borne upon thunderstorms of exceptional. Caesars Palace had a fireworks display scheduled that evening and, at the appointed time, seemed to have nothing but a damp squib. However … … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Entertainment, Harrah's, North Las Vegas, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism | 5 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 5, 2011 by David McKee
Posted in Marketing | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Restarting in Ohio

Posted on July 1, 2011 by David McKee

Now that Penn National Gaming and Rock Ohio Caesars have waved the white flag to Gov. Jon Kasich‘s monetary demands, work is resuming at their once-stalled Ohio casinos. In the case of ROC’s Cleveland casino, Rock Ventures and Caesars Entertainment … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Current, Harrah's, Horseracing, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 1, 2011 by David McKee

“You can’t make perfume out of a pile of garbage.” — Illinois Gaming Board Chairman Aaron Jaffe on the Legislature’s casino-expansion bill. Gov. Pat Quinn (D), meanwhile, remains noncommittal, even cryptic.

Posted in Illinois | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

ACH-ooo!; The Admiral’s last voyage

Posted on July 1, 2011 by David McKee

For the second time in a week, Hilton Hotels & Resorts has stripped its name from a Colony Capital casino-hotel. First to go was the Las Vegas Hilton, to be known next year as [your logo here]. Today comes news … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Current, Dennis Gomes, Economy, Harrah's, history, Macau, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Heard on the Strip …

Posted on June 30, 2011 by David McKee

No formal announcement has been made but scuttlebutt has it that when the Union Plaza reopens downtown, it will have an unusual tenant for the showroom formerly occupied by The Rat Pack is Back! If true, it would mean that … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Current, Dining, Downtown, Entertainment, George Maloof, Riviera, Station Casinos, Tamares Group, The Strip | 1 Comment