Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

Bio

Wynncore sells itself short

Posted on March 4, 2011 by David McKee

While I wouldn’t go so far as to call it a substitute for Mardi Gras, the “Jazz Brunch” at Country Club Grill is as tasty as they would have you believe … and quite a lot better than it comes … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Dining, Louisiana, Marketing, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 2 Comments

Idiocy Express

Posted on March 4, 2011 by David McKee

George F. Will is an @$$. I say this because he claims to intuit that my desire to travel to and from Las Vegas by rail is motivated by a desire to make my fellow Americans “more amenable to collectivism.” … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Cretins, Current, Louisiana, The Strip, Transportation | 6 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 4, 2011 by David McKee

“In terms of the fear, the worry, and the emotional turmoil that comes with being a defendant in a lawsuit, I expect you will shortly get to experience that yourself.” — plaintiff’s attorney J. Todd Kincannon, opening a can of … Continue reading →

Posted in Cretins, Current, history, South Carolina | 5 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 3, 2011 by David McKee

“[President Obama has] doubled down on a lot of things, going back to education … the idea that we’re testing kids and we’re tying teachers salaries to how kids are performing on tests, that kind of mechanized thinking has nothing … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Movies, TV | 8 Comments

Loveman 1, Atlantic City 0

Posted on March 3, 2011 by David McKee

After much Hamlet-like deliberation, Gov. Chris Christie (R) put his ixnay on a bill that would have made Internet gambling legal within New Jersey. Citing constitutional issues, he said legislators ought to put the issue to popular vote … a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Florida, Harrah's, Illinois, Internet gambling, Iowa, New York, Politics | 1 Comment

Warm February in Philly; “Lion King” hungry

Posted on March 3, 2011 by David McKee

After a pretty lackluster January, gaming revenues in Pennsylvania bounced back at the slots.  The statewide February average was a 10% increase year/year, with Sands Bethlehem right on that button ($22 million) and Harrah’s Chester Downs down 2% ($24 million). … Continue reading →

Posted in Cannery Casino Resorts, CityCenter, Current, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Case Bets: Ferris wheel fetishists; Rail fail; “Aerotropolis” now?

Posted on March 2, 2011 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment better get a move on with that Ferris wheel it wants to build out back of O’Shea’s. A rival project, slated for problematic (and fairly blighted) land opposite Mandalay Bay received approval from Clark County. Then again, getting … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, California, Dubai, Entertainment, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, history, International, MGM Mirage, Phil Ruffin, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Silverton, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | 5 Comments

Seminoles’ big payday; ‘Net-bet stampede: It’s on

Posted on March 2, 2011 by David McKee

After a full year of Class III gambling, the Seminole Tribe has grossed $2 billion. Depending on how considerably that amount ramps up, the State of Florida will enjoy at least a $1 billion “rake” by the end of Gov. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Current, Florida, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Kentucky, MGM Mirage, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | 4 Comments

HRH: When the Scheetz hit the fan

Posted on March 2, 2011 by David McKee

Thanks to the S&G reader who provided me with that ready-made headline. Yes, Morgans Hotel Group has closed the book on Scheetz’s Folly, the $770 million purchase of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The Sun‘s Liz Benston lays out … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Golden Gaming, International, James Packer, Kansas, Morgans Hotel Group, The Strip, Wall Street | 3 Comments

If you can’t come to the Cosmo …

Posted on March 1, 2011 by David McKee

… then The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas will come to you, thanks to this handy-dandy traveling attraction. Perhaps other Vegas resorts have tried this but this is the first such “roadshow” I’ve seen. On a not-so-happy note, I’ve been hearing … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Marketing, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off on If you can’t come to the Cosmo …

Jane Russell, 1921-2011

Posted on March 1, 2011 by David McKee

A self-described “full-figured gal” who led a very full life, former film star and eternal sex goddess Jane Russell rode off to that big movie studio in the sky yesterday. She lent her ample charms to pictures that included The … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, history, Morgans Hotel Group, Movies | 3 Comments

Macao rally boosts Sands, Wynn & Melco; No “Triumph” at Hilton

Posted on February 28, 2011 by David McKee

Publicly traded casino operators in Macao got a dose of good news today. A late-month rally in play means another record month at the tables, a 51% increase from last year. Roughly half the $2.5 billion haul will be divided … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Colony Capital, Cordish Co., Current, Detroit, Economy, Entertainment, Macau, Maryland, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Macao rally boosts Sands, Wynn & Melco; No “Triumph” at Hilton

Power shift at Ameristar

Posted on February 28, 2011 by David McKee

No longer will the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation be calling the shots at Ameristar Casinos. The financial needs of the nonprofit have led Ameristar Chairman Ray Neilsen to liquidate 83% of the foundation’s stake in ASCA for an above-market $17.50. … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Harrah's, Indiana, Kansas, Marketing, Missouri, Penn National, Planet Hollywood, The Strip, Transportation, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 28, 2011 by David McKee

“They basically gave the middle finger to their database … Once an offer has been extended and redeemed, I don’t think you can welsh on it.” — Fine Point Group founder Randall Fine, on Sheldon Adelson‘s retroactive revocation of comps … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Marketing, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | 2 Comments

Hard Rock: End of a (bad) era

Posted on February 25, 2011 by David McKee

Scheetz’s Folly, otherwise known as the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, will soon be in new hands. After several addled years under Morgans Hotel Group, whose bright ideas included “building a hotel suite with an S&M theme and a human … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, Current, Morgans Hotel Group, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street, Warner Gaming | 2 Comments

Did you know … ?

Posted on February 25, 2011 by David McKee

… that back in what Sue Lowden would call “the olden days,” the high cost of presenting grand opera was (in some cities) subsidized by the revenues from casino games in the foyer? I do not know if this was … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Entertainment, history, Movies | Comments Off on Did you know … ?

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 24, 2011 by David McKee

“But the thing I truly, truly cannot live without, is a ‘Kirin Dragon.’ That beaut there is a 7.5-foot-tall fiberglass statue. I can’t imagine where it was supposed to go or why, with this on hand, they threw that crappy … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Dubai, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Behind the curtain at Wynn LV

Posted on February 24, 2011 by David McKee

Freshly uploaded to the Web, here’s a look at how Wynn Resorts makes those truly baffling illusions at Wynn Las Vegas‘ Lake of Dreams come to life. As always, there’s Steve Wynn (& Co.) and then there’s Everyone Else.

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip | 1 Comment

Hooters in default; Rio robbed; Morgans out, Warner in?

Posted on February 24, 2011 by David McKee

From the “Could mean something, could mean nothing” File comes a Notice of Default, filed by the Bank of New York against Hooters Casino Hotel. The lenders are calling in a $130 million note on the 332-room hotel (arguably making … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Detroit, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Massachusetts, Morgans Hotel Group, Station Casinos, Tamares Group, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, TV, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Back from Chicago

Posted on February 24, 2011 by David McKee

My apologies to everyone who got tired of looking at Stanley Ho‘s wizened mug. S&G was on a brief, unannounced hiatus, as yours truly ventured to the cold but wondrous place that is Chicago, home to the greatest architecture in … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Illinois, Michael Gaughan, Penn National, Politics, Steve Wynn | 6 Comments