Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

Bio

It ain’t easy being green

Posted on January 25, 2011 by David McKee

Editor’s note: Here is the second in a series of contributions from University of South Carolina faculty member Prof. Augie Grant. In today’s installment, Dr. Grant reflects on the gap between rhetoric and performance in the “greening” of Las Vegas … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Environment, The Strip | 4 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 25, 2011 by David McKee

“Lack of interest leads to not taking gambling seriously. Even a smart politician like Barack Obama can make the mistake of telling people not to waste their money going to Las Vegas — twice. Obama knows that Nevada is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Harry Reid, Politics | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Wynn makes friends abroad, enemies at home

Posted on January 21, 2011 by David McKee

Steve Wynn has long prided himself on his good relations with the Culinary Union. However, those could soon be a thing of the past if he and front man Jesse Waits continue to extend Wynncore‘s tip-confiscation policies to Culinary-repped workers. … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Harrah's, Macau, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 1 Comment

Adelson dealt a setback

Posted on January 21, 2011 by David McKee

Florida casinos, the latest pet project of Sheldon Adelson and new ally Gov. Rick Scott (R), got the back of the hand from Miami Beach‘s city commission. Since Miami Beach is the most desirable casino zipcode in the state, this … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Boyd Gaming, Current, Florida, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Best-kept secret in Vegas

Posted on January 20, 2011 by David McKee

Best-kept secret in Vegas. It’s the pool deck at Cosmopolitan, according to an S&G reader who visited it after dark and found but four patrons hanging out on its shores. The missus and I checked it last night and, sure … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Massachusetts, Politics, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 5 Comments

The case of the ‘missing’ Moore; Waiting for Macao

Posted on January 20, 2011 by David McKee

Recent photo coverage of the makeover of CityCenter‘s famous/notorious “pocket park” made it appear as though the Henry Moore sculpture (best thing in CityCenter, IMO) had gone missing. Was MGM Resorts International retreating from its commitment to public after a … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Current, Entertainment, history, Lake Tahoe, Macau, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Reno, The Strip | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 20, 2011 by David McKee

“You miss the ‘olden days’ when poultry was considered currency.” — from Las Vegas CityLife‘s list of “Signs You Should Not Run for Public Office.”

Posted in Archon Corp., Election | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 18, 2011 by David McKee

“They also said they were less likely to share their success with others, by talking about their rewards, if they earned cash. In addition, two of every five survey participants said they use cash rewards for bills or other necessities, … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Harrah's | 3 Comments

Rooms at the top

Posted on January 18, 2011 by David McKee

It’s been a bumpy and expensive education in the Las Vegas casino business for Goldman Sachs. However, the banking house is giving its flagship property, the Stratosphere, a new look (and a new general manger to go with it). If … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Goldman Sachs, Herbst Gaming, Isle of Capri, Marketing, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 2 Comments

East Coast escalation; A modest reprieve

Posted on January 18, 2011 by David McKee

While I’ve been sorting through the sordid life of Allen R. Glick, things have been heating up back east with regard to casino expansion. A Tuesday-morning dispatch from the analysts at J.P. Morgan ran down the salient developments. First, in … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Environment, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Taxes, Wall Street | Comments Off on East Coast escalation; A modest reprieve

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 17, 2011 by David McKee

“All that happened was some of [the Hollywood Foreign Press Association] were taken to see Cher in concert. How the hell is that a bribe? Really. ‘Do you want to go and see Cher?’ ‘No.’ ‘Why?’ ‘Because it’s not 1975!’” … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, The Strip, TV | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 14, 2011 by David McKee

“Our intent is to be a large capital facilitator to enable SBE to embark on a shopping spree through the rubble and wreckage of a stretched industry, and do those bold things that others would not consider.” — Colony Capital … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Economy, Sahara, Station Casinos, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Sound like anyplace you know?

Posted on January 13, 2011 by David McKee

Raving Consulting President Steve Browne has published a litany of signs of poor customer service. They’re all worth reading but three seem particularly applicable to present-day Las Vegas casinos: • If you expect your employees to pick up trash from … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Current, Downtown, North Las Vegas, The Strip | Comments Off on Sound like anyplace you know?

Mr. Glick on Line 1!

Posted on January 13, 2011 by David McKee

Mr. Captain of Industry there is Allen R. Glick (1942- ), front man for the infamous Stardust skim. I’ll be spending some quality time with Mr. Glick’s curriculum vitae this afternoon, as he’s to be the subject of a forthcoming … Continue reading →

Posted in history, The Mob, The Strip | 4 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 13, 2011 by David McKee

“Sahara is a dirty hell hole. This is all you need to know.” — Vegas Tripping, naming the minaret-topped casino the worst on the Strip. Congratulations to Sam Nazarian and new minority owner Colony Capital, which really knows how to … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Current, Harrah's, Sahara, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip | 3 Comments

Play Cosmo, get a car!

Posted on January 13, 2011 by David McKee

Enviro-friendly, too. I want it! (Funny how The Cosmopolitan, of which little was initially expected, looks like the feel-good story of the year, while CityCenter is a continuing disappointment, and Fontainebleau and sundry other projects have fallen on their faces.) … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, Fontainebleau, MGM Mirage, Transportation | 1 Comment

What did I just say?

Posted on January 12, 2011 by David McKee

I’m one state closer to making the “under” on my over/under of states likely to put online wagering on the docket this session. Both houses of the New Jersey Legislature have given their approval to a bill that now goes … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Current, Election, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Maryland, Massachusetts, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Sports, Taxes | 1 Comment

A fit of ‘Peep’

Posted on January 12, 2011 by David McKee

While I personally do not find Holly Madison terribly attractive, the producers of Peepshow are complete and utter dumbf@*!s if they think she’s ‘too fat’ to star in their struggling show. Let’s leave aside the question of Madison’s appearance (and … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, Planet Hollywood, The Strip | 2 Comments

Saved!

Posted on January 12, 2011 by David McKee

Illinois‘ casino industry just dodged a bullet the size of a 747 when the lower house failed to bring a gaming-expansion bill to a vote last night. A new Legislature is sworn in today, sending this colossally bad and ill-timed … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Florida, Harrah's, Illinois, Internet gambling, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Pennsylvania, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 4 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 12, 2011 by David McKee

“Getting it done right and getting it done with quality is the better thing to do … You want to capitalize property tax relief, not political contribution relief.” — Pennsylvania House Republican spokesman Steve Miskin, addressing another probable delay in … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation | Comments Off on Quote of the Day