Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

Bio

Great moments in casino marketing

Posted on October 13, 2010 by David McKee

We associate Sega with video games but once upon a time, it was in the slot business. Those old machines do look awfully quaint unless … … you juxtapose a Sega one-armed bandit with über-mega-hot European sex goddess Edwige Fenech … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, Current, history, Marketing, Movies, Pennsylvania, Technology, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on Great moments in casino marketing

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 13, 2010 by David McKee

“Your political schizophrenia [sic] in this situation is a perfect example of the business-as-usual approach on the part of many insiders in today’s political world. Your desire to have it both ways entirely ignores any notion of honest, integrity-based positions … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Election, Harry Reid | 1 Comment

Singapore: Our whales lose more than your whales!

Posted on October 12, 2010 by David McKee

Think you’re so big, Las Vegas? Well, Singapore just went all “In your face” on Sin City. One area tycoon recently blew $50 million at Marina Bay Sands and/or Resorts World Sentosa. Not to be outdone, a Singaporean zillionaire dropped … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boulder Strip, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, Genting, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, Lake Tahoe, Missouri, Pinnacle Entertainment, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Tamares Group, The Strip | 2 Comments

Atlantic City: It could have been worse; Hard Rock changes its tune

Posted on October 12, 2010 by David McKee

OK, so September’s numbers from Atlantic City only represent one month of competition from SugarHouse, in Philadelphia. However, with every other casino in Pennsylvania having enjoyed two full months of table games, a 12% dropoff isn’t as bad as I … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Current, Detroit, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, M Resort, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | 2 Comments

Plaza gets an infusion of F-blew

Posted on October 12, 2010 by David McKee

(Editor’s note: Since I found this state-of-the art version of the previous Tex & Edna Boil video, I’ve replaced the old one with another in which Tex & Edna get into the curio-barn business … sort of like Carl Icahn, … Continue reading →

Posted in Carl Icahn, Downtown, Fontainebleau, Tamares Group, Tilman Fertitta, TV | 6 Comments

Celebrity justice; Harrah’s goes to the dogs

Posted on October 12, 2010 by David McKee

As you all probably know by now, Palms owner George Maloof was busted on a DUI last weekend. Under any other circumstances, it would be endearing to learn that the generally unassuming Maloof doesn’t have himself chauffeured about town. Lack … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, CityCenter, Columbia Sussex, Downtown, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Harrah's, Herbst Gaming, Lake Las Vegas, MGM Mirage, Monte Carlo fire, Pets, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 11, 2010 by David McKee

“We are no longer the nation that used to amaze the world with its visionary projects. We have become, instead, a nation whose politicians seem to compete over who can show the least vision, the least concern about the future … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, New York | 2 Comments

Cantor’s been a naughty boy

Posted on October 11, 2010 by David McKee

There’s a certain whiff of desperation to this Cantor Gaming spot, pimping their casino-in-one gaming devices (which, in addition to their cutting-edge technology, apparently make chicks find you totally hot). The gadgetry and software, which were legalized five years ago, … Continue reading →

Posted in M Resort, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Technology, TV | 4 Comments

The whales of August

Posted on October 8, 2010 by David McKee

Nevada had another big casino bounce — $944.5 million, its largest since February’s $947 million. However, some of the positive auguries are real and some are misleading. To get the big one out of the way, Strip slot revenues were … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Kansas, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Louisiana, North Las Vegas, Regulation, Reno, The Strip, Tourism, Vdara Death Ray, Wall Street | 2 Comments

No (M)irage this time: Penn enters Vegas

Posted on October 8, 2010 by David McKee

They’ve been busy little beavers at Penn National Gaming, which is — would you believe it? — now the third-largest operator in the U.S. Never mind that Penn bought a horse track in Ohio, on top of building two casinos … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Current, Donald Trump, Fontainebleau, Harry Reid, Louisiana, M Resort, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Texas, Wall Street, West Virginia | 7 Comments

The Primm mystery deepens

Posted on October 7, 2010 by David McKee

So is Herbst family hubris about to claim one or more victims in Primm? LVA sources report that perhaps 240 cars were there on a recent weekend, a sixth of them at Whiskey Pete’s, which wasn’t taking room bookings either … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Herbst Gaming | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 7, 2010 by David McKee

“Dems look to use marijuana to energize Nevada voters” — headline in the Las Vegas Sun. That may be the first time Mary Jane and “energize” have been mentioned in the same sentence.

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

Lost horizon

Posted on October 6, 2010 by David McKee

Even as the window of opportunity is slamming shut, “Casino companies are finally starting to see [Internet gambling] as a possible growth engine for the industry and are hoping for congressional help,” writes Motley Fool columnist Travis Hoium. That’d be … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Internet gambling, Macau, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, The Strip | 3 Comments

Ameristar’s altruism … and so much more

Posted on October 6, 2010 by David McKee

Gaming regulators in Missouri got a little unsolicited advice from Ameristar Casinos as to where to put Casino License #13. Ameristar Vice President of Government Relations & Public Affairs Troy Stremming commissioned a study on the matter. Its shocking conclusion: … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Arizona, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Colony Capital, Cretins, Current, Dennis Gomes, Economy, Genting, Harrah's, Horseracing, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Missouri, New York, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tourism, Tribal, TV, West Virginia | 5 Comments

Case Bets: Maryland, New Jersey, Arizona & the Riv

Posted on October 6, 2010 by David McKee

Although the Maryland public has warmed up to the idea of table games, casinos in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware and New Jersey needn’t lose sleep: Marylanders are at least two years — probably four — from voting table games into … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Election, Horseracing, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Politics, Riviera, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 2 Comments

What’s up in Primm?

Posted on October 6, 2010 by David McKee

Earlier this week, LVA received a tip that Herbst Gaming would be tearing down Whiskey Pete’s in January and closing Buffalo Bill’s as well. After receiving a somewhat guarded reply from Kirvin Doak, which is handling PR for the creditor-owned … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Herbst Gaming, Marketing | 1 Comment

Ask Anthony?

Posted on October 6, 2010 by David McKee

Former Harrah’s Entertainment veep and Santo Gaming founder Anthony F. Santo is six days into his stewarship of Tamares Group‘s downtown Las Vegas casinos. But he’s not putting all his eggs in Tamares’ basket. His company was handed the reins … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Reno, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tourism, Vdara Death Ray, Wall Street | 6 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 6, 2010 by David McKee

“The court has not reached this conclusion lightly. It is acutely aware of the perilous nature of the world in which we live. But the Constitution is the rock upon which our nation rests. We must follow it not when … Continue reading →

Posted in Current | 1 Comment

Days of Reckoning

Posted on October 5, 2010 by David McKee

Pinballing between projects, I’ll try to carom off the “blogging” bumper for a moment here … 1,075. That’s the magic number of feet below which Lake Mead cannot drop lest Hoover Dam should become inoperable — plunging Clark County into … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Downtown, Economy, Environment, Harrah's, history, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism | 5 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 5, 2010 by David McKee

“You want to see [Sen. Jim] DeMint, I have juice with him … I go to Washington, D.C. and want to see Jim DeMint, he’s right there for me. I want to see [Sen.] Tom Coburn, he’s right there for … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Politics | 3 Comments