Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

Bio

From the bookbag

Posted on March 25, 2011 by David McKee

Having made less than the most of my college years, I’ve been sporadically trying to compensate ever since. (Although the extent of any Remedial Philosophy consists of my current reading matter, the anthology ‘Family Guy’ and Philosophy: A Cure for … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, history, International, Pennsylvania, TV | Comments Off on From the bookbag

Caesars steals Riv’s thunder; Trouble in Adelsonia

Posted on March 24, 2011 by David McKee

Obviously, the headline from today will be approval by the Nevada Gaming Commission of a partnership between Caesars Entertainment and Israeli-owned, Gibraltar-based 888 Holdings. Since it is simultaneously getting permission to shack up with Internet casino operator 888 and opposing … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Downtown, Election, Florida, Harry Reid, Hawaii, International, Internet gambling, Iowa, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Oscar Goodman, Politics, Regulation, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Tamares Group, Wall Street | Comments Off on Caesars steals Riv’s thunder; Trouble in Adelsonia

Terry the Casino Slayer

Posted on March 24, 2011 by David McKee

When Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R) was campaigning to reclaim his old office from Chet Culver (D), he argued against Culver’s casino-expansion plan, arguing that it was economically inadvisable. With the Iowa casino market not so much saturated as waterlogged, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Current, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Herbst Gaming, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Penn National, Politics, Stanley Ho, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off on Terry the Casino Slayer

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 24, 2011 by David McKee

“Vegas hotel mogul Steve Wynn is one of the most prominent art collectors in the country, and the possessor of one of the costliest elbows in history.” — ArtInfo.com roving reporter Julia Halperin, having a bit of fun in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

From the mailbag

Posted on March 24, 2011 by David McKee

Today’s “Question of the Day” about the future of the Sahara Hotel & Casino‘s monorail stop (and, by extension, the future of the Las Vegas Monorail itself) provoked a long and thoughtful response from an S&G reader. (By the way, … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Arizona, California, Cannery Casino Resorts, Current, Downtown, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Sahara, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | Comments Off on From the mailbag

Gimme, Gimme, Gimme

Posted on March 23, 2011 by David McKee

… some money after midnight: Evidently it’s not enough that gaming revenues and other casino-related retail taxes underwrite the State of Nevada. Lawmakers would extend a grubby mitt into the casino kitty and scoop up any unclaimed moolah. “[W]hy does … Continue reading →

Posted in ABBA, Cretins, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Horseracing, Louisiana, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Texas, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off on Gimme, Gimme, Gimme

Packer packs it in; Lights out at Resorts A.C.

Posted on March 22, 2011 by David McKee

James Packer‘s had enough of the U.S. casino market. While not definitively ruling out a return to the American gaming industry, the minority owner of Cannery Casino Resorts makes it clear that he’s neither the stomach nor the lucre for … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, Colony Capital, Dennis Gomes, history, James Packer, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, North Las Vegas, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 22, 2011 by David McKee

“For example, it has been alleged, and in one case confirmed by Righthaven’s counsel, that it brought at least two separate cases before this court against the wrong party. Using assembly-line litigation methods coupled with inadequate jurisdictional and factual due … Continue reading →

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

Adelson hits Florida speed bump

Posted on March 22, 2011 by David McKee

Gov. Rick Scott‘s big — and rather sudden — push to bring (more) private-sector casinos to Florida has run into a road block. The governor’s Tea Party base, of all people, is throwing up opposition … and not for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Genting, Horseracing, Isle of Capri, Minnesota, Mississippi, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Tourism, Tribal | 5 Comments

Mrs. God?

Posted on March 21, 2011 by David McKee

Oh man, is this gonna stir up a ruckus — and give Seth McFarlane inspiration for a thousand new Family Guy cutaways.

Posted in Current | Comments Off on Mrs. God?

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 20, 2011 by David McKee

“Paying there [sic] repsects [sic]” — onscreen graphic prefacing a 6 p.m. Saturday KSNV-TV news segment on a memorial service for victims of the fatal bus crash that killed 15 Mohegan Sun patrons. KSNV News Director Bob Stoldal really has … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, New York, Transportation, Tribal, TV | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

More fun with geography; Langford & The Man; Caesars’ rough week

Posted on March 18, 2011 by David McKee

What’s in a mile? A lot more than you might think, especially if you’re a Maine legislator. Confronted with a pesky requirement that gambling venues in the Pine Tree State must have 100-mile exclusivity zones, some would redefine a “mile” … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Don Barden, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, Indiana, Macau, Maine, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Just another night at Aria

Posted on March 18, 2011 by David McKee

This TV spot has been out a while but I didn’t chance upon it until I was home yesterday, nursing a Combo Meal of maladies. Isn’t it nice that that the oversexed young couple has 4,000-room Aria all to themselves? … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Current, Dining, Marketing, MGM Mirage, TV | 1 Comment

This just in … no, really

Posted on March 18, 2011 by David McKee

It only took four months but The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas finally has video of its opening night (plus its New Year’s Eve bash) online. Today. As in, like, moments ago. So if you couldn’t make it, this is what … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Current, Entertainment, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on This just in … no, really

New dealer at Shufflemaster

Posted on March 18, 2011 by David McKee

After a long CEO search that threatened never to end, Shufflemaster has found its man. And it’s not just anybody rather, but Gavin Isaacs … most recently the president COO of Bally Technologies since 2006, during which time he helped … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Bally Technologies, Current, Shuffle Master, Technology | Comments Off on New dealer at Shufflemaster

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 18, 2011 by David McKee

Olivia Munn cuts through the usual morning-talk cr@p in an unforgettable blend of inebriation and performance art, proving the old saying, in vino veritas. These are the merest highlights. The unexpurgated version is much funnier.

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

Old wine, new bottles

Posted on March 16, 2011 by David McKee

“[W]e’re not selling a shoe or a bottle of water. We’re selling an experience,” says Isle of Capri Casinos Vice President of Brand Marketing — and friend of S&G — Julia Carcamo (left). Those words should be engraved on certain … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Dining, Economy, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Marketing, Missouri, Morgans Hotel Group, Sahara, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 16, 2011 by David McKee

“The employees I talked to last night (interestingly enough) didn’t have it in for [Sahara owner Sam] Nazarian. They had truckloads of blame for the management [Navegante Group] he put into place. One said ‘He spends $400 million on this … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Sahara, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

The second coming

Posted on March 16, 2011 by David McKee

To follow the local media, you’d think Jesus Christ was returning to Earth at Caesars Palace. Instead, it’s Céline Marie Claudette Dion, who owns a just slightly smaller fanbase. Back when her first Caesars residency was announced, at a time … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Current, Economy, Encore, Harrah's, history, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 8 Comments

Err Trump

Posted on March 15, 2011 by David McKee

Failed gaming mogul Donald Trump appears to be running his presidential quasi-campaign with the same business acumen that made his casino empire what it is today. The incident is more funny than anything else because Trump’s wouldn’t-fool-an-infant scheme is lifted … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Donald Trump, Iowa, Politics, Regulation, TV | 5 Comments