Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

Bio

M-G-M vs. $MGM

Posted on November 12, 2010 by David McKee

There’s been much confusion involving the (actual) insolvency of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer vs. the (urban legend) bankruptcy of MGM Grand Mirage Resorts International, so The Onion gets in on the act. Let’s not forget all the overseas players the Green Monster scared … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, International, MGM Mirage, Movies, The Strip | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 11, 2010 by David McKee

“Anyone who attempts to shoot video on the show floor and is not accompanied by a G2E Press Representative will be escorted off the premises.” — the American Gaming Association, just rrrrrrrrrrrolling out that welcome mat for media covering Global … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, G2E, Harrah's | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 10, 2010 by David McKee

“Garth Brooks may be a very talented performer but he’s not worth $253. Hell, I wouldn’t even pay $253 to see Elvis if you could resurrect him.” — Las Vegas Sun reader Phillip McWatt, balking at a $100 price increase … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Entertainment, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism | 6 Comments

Tropicana memory lane

Posted on November 10, 2010 by David McKee

Heartfelt thanks to S&G reader Pete F. for sharing his video of the Tropicana Las Vegas‘ Tokyo Suite, circa 2005. That’d be in the waning days of the Aztar Corp. era, while the footage above was taken during the short-lived … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Current, Entertainment, history, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | 12 Comments

Gaming’s big election night; Coming attractions

Posted on November 9, 2010 by David McKee

This just in: Fuming over a 5,000-vote-plus margin of defeat, opponents of a casino in western Maine are demanding a recount. Casino developer Black Bear Entertainment calls this “a needlessly divisive exercise.” Do I sense the subtle touch of Penn … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Downtown, Economy, Election, Environment, history, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Penn National, Racinos, Sahara | 3 Comments

Steve Wynn & the Half-Blood Princes; Harrah’s thinks ahead; rough road for Revel

Posted on November 9, 2010 by David McKee

Count Wynn Las Vegas President Andrew Pascal among the casualties of Steve Wynn‘s divorce from ex-wife Elaine Wynn. As of Monday, former nephew-in-law Pascal joined the ranks of Nevada‘s unemployed, ceding authority to Marilyn Winn. Pun opportunities aside, Winn’s sudden … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, George Maloof, Harrah's, Indiana, Macau, Missouri, Movies, Regulation, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 4 Comments

What if they held an implosion and nobody came?

Posted on November 9, 2010 by David McKee

Tropicana Las Vegas CEO Alex Yemenidjian has played the publicity game very astutely of late. So it’s hard to imagine what he was thinking when he decided to implode a wing of low-rise hotel rooms in the dead of night … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Ohio, The Strip | 4 Comments

Sheldon Adelson, beard

Posted on November 9, 2010 by David McKee

Last week, S&G unearthed a contribution from self-professed “too liberal” Sheldon Adelson to flaming homophobe Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN). Turns out, she’s not the only apostle of intolerance with whom Adelson has crept under the covers. Last Sunday, the Las … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Harrah's, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn | 8 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 9, 2010 by David McKee

“When inequality rises, the richest rake in their winnings and buy even bigger mansions and fancier cars. Those a notch below then try to catch up, and end up depleting their savings or taking on more debt, making a financial … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Steve Wynn, Taxes | 1 Comment

Juice job of 2011

Posted on November 8, 2010 by David McKee

Harrah’s Entertainment and the AFL-CIO have collected the requisite 20,000 signatures to place its request for a publicly funded stadium out back of Imperial Palace (currently a vast, dark wasteland) before Nevada solons. CEO Gary Loveman would throw in some … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Economy, Election, Harrah's, Politics, Sports, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism | 2 Comments

G2E bargain at Station; analysts split on Sands

Posted on November 8, 2010 by David McKee

If you’re looking for an affordable room in Las Vegas during Global Gaming Expo, try Expedia‘s German site (“.de”). A European-based S&G source reports finding rooms at Boulder Station going for €57 and Fiesta Rancho asking €59 — or $79 … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Florida, G2E, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Texas, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 8, 2010 by David McKee

“In the face of all those challenges, like our Gilded Age forebears, we have a political system that manages to be both volatile and gridlocked — indeed, it may be gridlocked not least because it is so volatile. And, like … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, history | 4 Comments

Harrah’s Lousiana Purchase?

Posted on November 8, 2010 by David McKee

According to an S&G source, Harrah’s Entertainment — soon to be Caesars Entertainment — is supposedly laying the groundwork for a purchase of L’Auberge du Lac from Pinnacle Entertainment. Harrah’s CEO Gary Loveman was supposedly on-property last month and L’Auberge’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Harrah's, Louisiana, Mississippi, Pinnacle Entertainment, The Strip, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 6, 2010 by David McKee

“These bastards are so cheap they make Harrah’s look generous by comparison.” — an East Coast player’s complaint about Penn National Gaming‘s casinos.

Posted in Harrah's, Penn National | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 5, 2010 by David McKee

“Suffice to say, it’s a very strange situation that someone who wants to be a representative of the state of Nevada never reached out to the No. 1 industry and even actively attacked Senator [Harry] Reid for helping it. I … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Economy, Election, Harry Reid, MGM Mirage, The Strip | 2 Comments

Icahn’s CEO jumps ship

Posted on November 4, 2010 by David McKee

In something of a shocker, Scott Butera, CEO of Tropicana Entertainment is leaving the firm to join a rival — but undisclosed — casino company. It’s an amicable parting, judging by the fact that Butera is staying to smooth over … Continue reading →

Posted in Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Current, Detroit, Don Barden, Donald Trump, Economy, Fontainebleau, Herbst Gaming, Morgans Hotel Group, Shuffle Master, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Iowa is flat

Posted on November 4, 2010 by David McKee

Actually it’s not, if you’ve lived there (as I did for four wonderful years). However, Iowa‘s casino industry is, down one-tenth of a percent from October 2009. Actually, nine of the 17 non-tribal casinos recorded revenue increases, particularly the small … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Colorado, Cordish Co., Current, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Laughlin, Maryland, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

A brief digression … and dark doings in Maine

Posted on November 4, 2010 by David McKee

For those of you who are fascinated by the inexact science known as polling, there’s plenty of interesting reading about What Went Wrong in Nevada (and elsewhere). Major news organizations blew off internal tracking polls, to their eventual mortification. They … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Election, Florida, Horseracing, Penn National, Racinos, Taxes, Technology | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 4, 2010 by David McKee

“I’m not into psychoanalyzing people, I don’t have the background for that, but he just doesn’t seem particularly happy with everything and every success that he’s had.” — Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-NV) on former boss Sheldon Adelson. The latter’s 2010 … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Politics, Sheldon Adelson | 1 Comment

All systems go at Trop … but more trouble on Paradise

Posted on November 3, 2010 by David McKee

As new owner Onex Corp. continues with a full-court press of renovations, the Nevada Gaming Control Board has given the new ownership consortium its thumbs-up. The makeover has continued apace since my visit in June. An inside look at details … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Detroit, Dining, Downtown, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Morgans Hotel Group, Regulation, Riviera, The Strip, Tourism | 3 Comments