Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

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Margaritaville on the rocks

Posted on July 15, 2010 by David McKee

Long-serving — and long-suffering — Biloxi Mayor A.J. Holloway has lost patience with Harrah’s Entertainment. He is convinced that the metamorphosis of Grand Casino Biloxi into Margaritaville Casino is kaput and that Harrah’s will tear down what little it has … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Animals, Archon Corp., Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Charity, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Encore, Environment, Fontainebleau, George Maloof, Harrah's, Holy Cow, Indiana, International, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Movies, Pennsylvania, Pets, Phil Ruffin, Planet Hollywood, Plaza, Riviera, Sahara, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, TV, Wall Street | 5 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 14, 2010 by David McKee

“Nevada itself would love to be receiving more revenue from casino gaming, but there’s precious little its legislators or governor can do to expand gambling in the state, save thinking good thoughts (although slot route operators would likely settle for … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Politics, Regulation, Slot routes | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 13, 2010 by David McKee

Via Sharron Angle, the gift who keeps on giving. She may be conflating (mangling?) the distressed-debt-buyback provision that Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) whisked through Congress — much to the relief of several big casino companies — with his cold-calling on … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Economy, Election, Harry Reid, MGM Mirage, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Riviera: Non-story of the year

Posted on July 13, 2010 by David McKee

In what was 2010’s biggest foregone conclusion, Riviera Holdings filed bankruptcy yesterday. This has been coming a long time although the scanty news coverage leaves it unclear whether what’s taking place is the pre-packaged bankruptcy that would see the Riv … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Animals, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Current, Economy, Election, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Michael Gaughan, Pansy Ho, Politics, Regulation, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, Silverton, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, TV, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Harrah’s checkmates Philly?

Posted on July 12, 2010 by David McKee

That $67 million note Harrah’s Entertainment holds on the site of the Foxwoods Wynn Resorts [your casino here] site in Philadelphia is turning out to be mighty valuable. The gambling giant is looking to roll that I.O.U. into an equity … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Don Barden, Donald Trump, Harrah's, Mississippi, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Tribal | Comments Off on Harrah’s checkmates Philly?

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 12, 2010 by David McKee

“I suspect we’ll be talking about growth in the next couple of months. I always think tomorrow is going to be better than today.” — Harrah’s Entertainment‘s East Coast chief, Don Marrandino, whistling past the graveyard that is Atlantic City, … Continue reading →

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

S&G hither & yon

Posted on July 12, 2010 by David McKee

Last weekend’s usual barrage of errands, veterinary appointments, etc., was interrupted long enough for Yr. Humble Blogger to guest-host another edition of The Strip Podcast. In it, I reveal my shameful ignorance of televised poker (something I literally tuned out … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Architecture, Cannery Casino Resorts, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Missouri, North Las Vegas, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Technology, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, TV, Wall Street, World Series of Poker | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 11, 2010 by David McKee

“I don’t listen to a critic who is not rich because I say, ‘If you’re so smart, why aren’t you rich? I send these guys embroidered Sheldon Adelson towels with a handwritten letter that says, ‘This is for you to … Continue reading →

Posted in Sheldon Adelson, Wall Street | 2 Comments

It’s Sheldon’s world, we just live in it

Posted on July 9, 2010 by David McKee

Oh, how I envy Sheldon Adelson. My own hair grows thinner and grayer while his becomes thicker and darker. (The photo at left, shows Classic Sheldon, circa 1999.) But I digress … Adelson is one of the stars of an … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Economy, Florida, International, Macau, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Stanley Ho, Taxes, Texas, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 4 Comments

When her head stops spinning …

Posted on July 9, 2010 by David McKee

… where will Sharron Angle stand vis-a-vis the casino industry? She’s already raised the bogeyman of “undue [casino] pressure” — as opposed to “due pressure”? — in her now-scrubbed original Web site, which keeps coming back from the cyber-grave. The … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Economy, Harry Reid, MGM Mirage, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Mob, The Strip | 7 Comments

Green Monster meets Little Monsters

Posted on July 9, 2010 by David McKee

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy Fans of Lady Gaga (like the missus) got an extended preview of Her Gaganess’ MGM Grand concert (Aug. 13) this morning on the Today show. (Good luck finding … Continue reading →

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

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 9, 2010 by David McKee

Provided by reader eddacat. Many thanks.

Posted in Animals, Environment | 1 Comment

“I’m not dead yet!”

Posted on July 8, 2010 by David McKee

Taking its cue from Monty Python‘s interpretation of the death of Mary, Queen of Scots, management of the Riviera refuses to roll over and die. Its latest enhancement is somewhat out of the box as far as Strip watering holes … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Current, Dining, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, MGM Mirage, Phil Ruffin, Riviera, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, TV | 4 Comments

Sharron Angle, casino analyst

Posted on July 8, 2010 by David McKee

Reckless rhetoric. Last week, S&G called B.S. on senatorial aspirant Sharron Angle‘s faux solicitude for the unfinished casinos along the Strip. Turns out, if she had her way, there’d be at least one more: Aria, plus all the other components … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Current, Donald Trump, Dubai, Economy, Election, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, TV | 6 Comments

Around the horn

Posted on July 8, 2010 by David McKee

Iowa‘s casino revenues last month were nearly the textbook definition of “flat”: up a tenth of a percent, the first revenue-positive month since February 2009. (Hey, growth is growth. We’ll take it.) The drag anchor on revs was Harrah’s Entertainment, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Current, Detroit, Don Barden, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, Indiana, International, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Missouri, Pansy Ho, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Stanley Ho, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, TV | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 8, 2010 by David McKee

“So many of the [blackjack] tables have been removed and turned into sucker games. They’re killing the cash cow instead of milking it.” — Pi Yee Press General Manager Al Rogers, distributor of Blackjack News, on the rise of 6-5 … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, The Strip | 3 Comments

Aqueduct: Penn screws the pooch

Posted on July 7, 2010 by David McKee

Since tout  le monde is fixated upon where LeBron James will play next season (is it OK for me to say I don’t care?), this seems like the moment to observe that Penn National Gaming bricked an easy layup. That’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cannery Casino Resorts, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Genting, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 7, 2010 by David McKee

“I think all of us who have success become assholes for about five years, and if you’re lucky, you can get through your asshole period and go back to being a regular person.” — Paris-Las Vegas headliner Barry Manilow.

Posted in Entertainment, Harrah's, The Strip | 1 Comment

New casino pitched for Massachusetts

Posted on July 7, 2010 by David McKee

Even though the Massachusetts state Senate has opted to go with destination casinos, Suffolk Downs racetrack is putting its chips on a racino-centric bill currently before the assembly. The track has three things going for it: proximity to Boston plus … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Donald Trump, Horseracing, Macau, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson | 2 Comments

Vegas continues to confound

Posted on July 7, 2010 by David McKee

A friend recently posed to me the question of how Nevada‘s casino revenues can be so anemic at a time when casino floors appear so crowded (only 100K fewer visitors in April 2009 than two years earlier). I’m coming around … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Current, Downtown, Economy, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, North Las Vegas, Regulation, The Strip | 3 Comments