Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

Bio

13 is the loneliest number

Posted on September 23, 2010 by David McKee

Just because Missouri can have 13 casinos doesn’t mean it must. Or so contends Missouri Gaming Commission Chairman Jim Mathewson, hinting that none of the four pending applications might be accepted. He asks, “If all we do is take a … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa, Isle of Capri, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sahara | 4 Comments

Fertitta to rescue A.C. Hilton?

Posted on September 22, 2010 by David McKee

Tilman Fertitta, that is. The Landry’s Restaurants CEO has sussed out a bargain on the Boardwalk, in the form of the unprofitable Atlantic City Hilton. No doubt Fertitta’s interest has not a little something to do with the fact that … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Current, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Laughlin, Macau, MGM Mirage, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | 7 Comments

“Osmopo”

Posted on September 22, 2010 by David McKee

Oh, to have a functioning digital camera once again! But I digress … If you can, get on down to the Las Vegas Strip today, where letters have been affixed to the roof of Cosmopolitan‘s east tower (left). It looks … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cosmopolitan, Current, The Strip | 2 Comments

Leaving Liberace

Posted on September 21, 2010 by David McKee

This is a cruel year for Nevada. Vision-care and dental programs for the elderly are being cut back, funding for treatment of problem gambling is in short supply, entire degree programs (you read that right) at UNLV are being eliminated … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Entertainment, history, TV | 2 Comments

Desperate times

Posted on September 17, 2010 by David McKee

They call for desperate measures, it’s said. MGM Resorts International has just rolled out a heckuva bargain play. If you can afford a two-night stay at Aria or Vdara between Sept. 24 and Dec. 23, and you can find a … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Columbia Sussex, Cretins, Current, Lake Tahoe, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 7 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 17, 2010 by David McKee

This video clip is the stuff of Vegas legend. KVBC-TV morning anchor Kimberly Wagner experiences an on-air meltdown when she takes umbrage at a camera angle, in what is probably the only newscast to ever reference She-Ra.

Posted in history, TV | 2 Comments

Snooki Nation

Posted on September 17, 2010 by David McKee

Like it or not, this is the new Las Vegas, folks. If you don’t want to be trampled by the douchebagerie, you probably shouldn’t come here. Last night, Encore‘s casino floor and hallway looked like a Jersey Shores casting call. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cretins, Current, Election, Encore, Entertainment, Harrah's, Morgans Hotel Group, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism | 4 Comments

Plaza postscript; exit Liberace; Teller spooks!

Posted on September 16, 2010 by David McKee

One of my conjectures in regard to yesterday’s disclosure that the Plaza Hotel was tentatively scheduled to be sold at foreclosure auction on Oct. 1 was that a postponement of the auction from Sept. 1 betokened an in-progress renegotiation of … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, Regulation, The Strip | 3 Comments

The Plaza’s $56 million question

Posted on September 15, 2010 by David McKee

Back in 2005, Mayor Oscar Goodman told a reporter — that’d be me — with “a local business publication,” formerly known as the Las Vegas Business Press — that he hoped to see the Plaza Hotel imploded to make room … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Downtown, Entertainment, Oscar Goodman, Tamares Group | 4 Comments

Running silent

Posted on September 15, 2010 by David McKee

At the moment, I’m following up on some leads that might (I stress “might“) coalesce into a bigger story. I’ve also been trying to clear my desk of a flurry of Questions of the Day and sundry other essays. Topics … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Entertainment, history, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 4 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 15, 2010 by David McKee

“If you don’t hold us accountable, we’ll do some real bad things in Washington, D.C.” — casino heir and swinger Sen. John Ensign (R-NV), pleading to be saved from himself. Who knew Foggy Bottom was the real Sin City?

Posted in Current, Election | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 14, 2010 by David McKee

“You’re not going to Las Vegas to see the king of beasts, you’re going there for gambling and hookers! You don’t go to see two guys in MGM Grand T-shirts poking at lions! That’s not right!” — David Letterman, on … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, The Strip, TV | 1 Comment

Tamares’ Memorial Day Massacre

Posted on September 13, 2010 by David McKee

Four hundred Las Vegans will find themselves pink-slipped by Tamares Group, whose latest bequest to downtown will be an Armistice Day closure of most of the Plaza, its showroom and certain portions of the casino floor excepted. If the tenure … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Tamares Group, Tilman Fertitta | 5 Comments

Once before it goes

Posted on September 13, 2010 by David McKee

Today’s schedule is taken up largely with conducting an autopsy of the Liberace Museum, as well as transcribing an (unrelated) interview with Teller. In the meantime, for those of you who haven’t seen the Museum and can’t make it before … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, history, Sahara, The Strip, TV | 1 Comment

Would you buy a used casino from this man?

Posted on September 10, 2010 by David McKee

Donald Trump has even more reason to scowl and squint today. His old buddy Richard Fields — to my complete non-surprise — walked away from his interminably protracted attempt to buy Trump Marina at ever-lower prices. (He’s got a point: … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, MGM Mirage | 1 Comment

Off to the races

Posted on September 10, 2010 by David McKee

Several gubernatorial jousts have serious implications for casino expansion in this great U.S. of A. In Ohio, Gov. Ted Strickland (D and once tipped as a possible vice-president) is trailing former Rep. John Kasich (R), based on poll results aggregated … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Atlantic City, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Texas, Tribal | 1 Comment

Girls! Girls! Girls!; Liberace has left the building

Posted on September 10, 2010 by David McKee

Columbia Sussex‘s Westin Casuarina, the place where shows go to be ignored, is trying again with one-two punch of bodaciousness. Our research staff is doing its best to uncover details on Burlesque: The Show, for which we have nothing more … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Columbia Sussex, Economy, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Movies, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 4 Comments

Singapore keeps on booming; Kudos to WMS, Golden Gaming

Posted on September 9, 2010 by David McKee

While it’s still a stretch that Sheldon Adelson is going to bank an annual $1 billion profit on Marina Bay Sands, as he predicts, he’s making money hand over fist there anyway. J.P. Morgan analysts say Marina Bay is on … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Downtown, Economy, Golden Gaming, Marketing, Morgans Hotel Group, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Technology, Wall Street, WMS Industries | Comments Off on Singapore keeps on booming; Kudos to WMS, Golden Gaming

Book ’em

Posted on September 9, 2010 by David McKee

A brief digression, if you’ll allow … Guest blogger Jeff_in_OKC and I conduct occasional off-list discussions of the beloved Sixties TV show that featured the most tight-assed cops on the planet, Hawaii  Five-0. Steve McGarrett was probably my formative influence … Continue reading →

Posted in Regulation, TV | 3 Comments

Harrah’s does it again (and again … and again)

Posted on September 9, 2010 by David McKee

Hey, Gary Loveman, don’t let the doorknob hit you in the butt as you skedaddle out of Kansas for the second time.  Ever-fickle, Harrah’s Entertainment turned tail and ran from the Sunflower State on the very date its Wichita-area proposal … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, California, Current, Economy, Encore, Entertainment, Harrah's, Kansas, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Shuffle Master, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 6 Comments