Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

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Quote of the Day

Posted on July 25, 2010 by David McKee

“Today we are in a disaster because we didn’t do what Kenny Guinn had spent months researching and tried to pass. I remember he’d go into meetings with his clipboard saying ‘We’re going to have huge deficits if we don’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Harrah's, history, Politics | 1 Comment

Adelson fires Sands China CEO; Kenny Guinn, 1936-2010

Posted on July 23, 2010 by David McKee

It’s getting rather slippery on the tiled floors of Venelazzo and its Macao offshoots, what will the frequent bloodbaths that are becoming a hallmark of Sheldon Adelson‘s reign as creator and CEO of Las Vegas Sands. The victim sent over … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Harrah's, history, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Monte Carlo fire, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 23, 2010 by David McKee

“I think we can say we’re definitely not interested [in Station Casinos] … We’re not really aware The Rio is for sale.” — Penn National Gaming CFO William Clifford during what must have been a very confusing conference call. You … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Harrah's, Penn National, Station Casinos, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Chris Christie, rock star

Posted on July 22, 2010 by David McKee

New Jersey‘s outspoken governor lays down some righteous grooves at Meadowlands, including telling the horsey set what it needs to hear: “I don’t have the money to be subsidizing failure.” Gov. Chris Christie on New Jersey horseracing: this industry has … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Goldman Sachs, Horseracing, Movies, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Taxes, Technology, Tourism, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 22, 2010 by David McKee

“The commission’s vision for revitalizing Atlantic City is encouraging. One thing we know is we can no longer use Band-Aid approaches in an attempt to heal a city suffering with a gaping wound.” — state Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D), … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Economy, Encore, Politics, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

The great Hilton showroom massacre (and other light news)

Posted on July 22, 2010 by David McKee

In true Colony Capital fashion, the Las Vegas Hilton continues to shed parts like a rattletrap car. Our LVA research team reports that Shimmer Cabaret fixtures Voices (“Starring the beautiful and talented Lani Misalucha“) and Sin City Bad Girls have … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Colony Capital, Current, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Environment, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on The great Hilton showroom massacre (and other light news)

Atlantic City: Christie’s coup d’etat

Posted on July 21, 2010 by David McKee

Last week, I tried to work up a piece entitled, “Atlantic City, R.I.P.” After all, the Boardwalk had just come off a catastrophic June, impacted by table games in Delaware. Since table games were in process of sweeping Pennsylvania, from … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, Horseracing, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Stanley Ho, Taxes, The Mob, Tourism | 6 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 20, 2010 by David McKee

“The numbers speak for themselves. We’re down over [25%] over the past two years. And I hear some people in town say, “Well, don’t panic” … well, when do we panic?” — state Sen. James Whelan, former mayor of Atlantic … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Economy | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Louisiana treads (oily) water

Posted on July 20, 2010 by David McKee

It’s a rare day when one can report that a casino market was down year/year but did better than expected. If you were looking for serious Deepwater Horizon spillover into June’s casino numbers, you’d be surprised. Statewide, casinos were -4.5% … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Current, Dining, Economy, Environment, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Louisiana, M Resort, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Louisiana treads (oily) water

What’s that smell at Red Rock?

Posted on July 20, 2010 by David McKee

No, it’s not the ethical stench of the Station Casinos‘ LBO/bankruptcy/reorganization process. It’s the hazmat situation brought on by the careless handling of chemicals. Chlorine was pumped into an acid tank, causing respiratory irritation, a few hospitalizations — a no … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Current, Environment, International, Macau, Marketing, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism | 1 Comment

Galaviz hearts Singapore — with caution

Posted on July 19, 2010 by David McKee

Analysts continue to do a 180 from their cautious outlook on Singapore five years ago. Among those raining plaudits on the early performance of the city-state’s two megaresorts is Jonathan Galaviz of Galaviz & Co. He estimates that Singapore will … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Genting, International, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Tourism, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Recovery? Not in the cards

Posted on July 19, 2010 by David McKee

Month after month of discouraging data from around the country makes it clear that any recovery in the casino industry is a long way off, perhaps years. Heck, just getting back to 2007 levels of prosperity doesn’t take into account … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Economy, Encore, Entertainment, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 7 Comments

Next victim: Westin Casuarina?

Posted on July 19, 2010 by David McKee

Here’s a story that seems to have slipped past all of us. On March 31, the Westin Casuarina was placed on “Imminent Default” status by Fitch Ratings. The property was running at 61.5% occupany, with ADRs of $119 and 61.55 … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Economy, Harrah's, Lake Tahoe, The Strip, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 19, 2010 by David McKee

“[Las Vegas Review-Journal Editor Thomas] Mitchell told me Friday that I was cherry-picking stories to paint a negative picture of a paper he insisted plays it ‘fair and down the middle.’ I asked the editor whether his reporters might be … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election | 2 Comments

Veer-ing toward completion

Posted on July 16, 2010 by David McKee

With completion of Harmon Hotels having vanished into the mists of Time, the opening of Veer Towers effectively represents the end of CityCenter‘s rollout. (If and when the Harmon opens as something other than an office tower — one mooted … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Genting, MGM Mirage, New York, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal | 2 Comments

Sigma Derby, anyone?; No welcome mat for Wynn

Posted on July 16, 2010 by David McKee

Now from an unpleasant topic to a pleasant one: The oddball casino games that we like to play. For instance, I know we have a few fans of Sigma Derby in the house and MGM Grand obliges us by keeping … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Downtown, Entertainment, Horseracing, Massachusetts, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip | 5 Comments

CityCenter: Stop the madness!

Posted on July 16, 2010 by David McKee

Just when I thought I was out of the Sharron Angle vs. CityCenter insanity, they pull me back in. As I feared, the mythical “CityCenter bailout” has become a meme in that echo chamber of misinformation and urban mythology, cable … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Election, Fontainebleau, Harry Reid, MGM Mirage, Taxes, The Strip, TV, Wall Street | 9 Comments

Your questions, answered

Posted on July 16, 2010 by David McKee

Paul Shanahan writes (in part): I think Fontainebleau would have looked much better if it was around 500 feet high instead of being close to 730 feet. It looks bulky and just kind of bizarre down there at the north … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Current, Donald Trump, Environment, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Michael Gaughan, Mississippi, Ohio, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Mob | 5 Comments

Wynn: I heart New York

Posted on July 15, 2010 by David McKee

As threatened, Steve Wynn is moving … but not to Macao. The mogul just dropped $24 million on a little pied-a-terre on Central Park South, in the city so nice they named it twice, New York, N.Y. (Corporate HQ, however, … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Massachusetts, New York, Phil Ruffin, Plaza, Steve Wynn, TV | 2 Comments

Wynn Beantown?; Adelson likes it rough; “Chico Station,” etc.

Posted on July 15, 2010 by David McKee

“Two can play this game.” That’s the message coming from Steve Wynn. Since his former Philadelphia partners are now playing footsie with Harrah’s Entertainment, Wynn is turning his back on the City of Brotherly Love and shifting his gaze to … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Environment, George Maloof, Harrah's, Horseracing, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, TV | Comments Off on Wynn Beantown?; Adelson likes it rough; “Chico Station,” etc.