Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

Bio

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 4, 2010 by David McKee

“I don’t know of an American president who’s resigned. There may have been one.” — radio host Michael Savage. Uhhh … ever hear tell of a fella called Richard Nixon? (I’m one of those Americans who made the mistake of … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 1 Comment

Blast from the past

Posted on June 4, 2010 by David McKee

If you look carefully, you can find this at the southwest corner of the UNLV campus: I can’t recall a time when this still served as a water feature — something that’s out of the question nowadays — and it … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, history, The Strip | Tagged | 1 Comment

What is “brand equity”?

Posted on June 3, 2010 by David McKee

Isle of Capri execs break it down for us in this newly released video. Of course, the specific components of “brand equity” at Wynn Resorts would be quite different, as they would at Harrah’s Entertainment, etc. Isle was one of … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Marketing, Missouri, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 4 Comments

From the mailbag

Posted on June 3, 2010 by David McKee

One S&G reader has — unlike me — been to John Ascuaga’s Nugget and deeply regrets having done so: John Ascuaga’s Nugget might be the most soul-crushing casino I’ve ever been to, and I know from soul-crushing casinos.  It’s 1985-modern, … Continue reading →

Posted in Reno | 4 Comments

Another bright idea

Posted on June 3, 2010 by David McKee

Gov. Jim Gibbons proposes deregulating taxicabs. I’m sure he’ll get a big “thank you” from every Vegas visitor who’s ever been “longhauled” to their hotel, usually via the tunnel under McCarran International Airport. Unregulated chiropractors sounds like

Posted in Election, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Regulation, Transportation | 1 Comment

Look who’s getting into the pool-party scene

Posted on June 3, 2010 by David McKee

If you seek a casino pool on the Strip that’s relaxing, quiet and douchebag-free, my experience says, “Try the Riviera.” After all, “tranquil” and “Vegas” needn’t be oxymoronic. But Riv management’s out to change all that … OK, one doesn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Marketing, Riviera, The Strip | Comments Off on Look who’s getting into the pool-party scene

“The CityCenter shuffle”; Atlantic City saved … for now

Posted on June 3, 2010 by David McKee

That’s what subcontractors are calling the maze of paperwork they’ve had to negotiate while laboring on MGM Mirage‘s $8.5 billion metaresort. When it comes to real estate and construction coverage in Las Vegas, there’s Tony Illia and then there’s everybody … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Atlantic City, CityCenter, Economy, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Politics, Sports, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 1 Comment

I stand corrected

Posted on June 3, 2010 by David McKee

Kudos to the reader who caught my boo-boo regarding casinos built over interstate highways: Regarding a U.S. casino sitting astride a highway, please note that John Ascuaga’s Nugget in Sparks (outside of Reno) sits astride Interstate 80. He went on … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Marketing, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Missouri, Phil Ruffin, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Reno, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Wall Street | Comments Off on I stand corrected

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 3, 2010 by David McKee

“The first requirement alone creates an oxymoron by requiring proof of ‘good moral character.’ If they had good moral character they would not be reporters in the first place.” — truer words were never spoken, in this case by Las … Continue reading →

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

So much news …

Posted on June 2, 2010 by David McKee

… so little time. East Coast casinos are stepping up their Asian-American marketing … and people are complaining? Don’t do it and you’re culturally insensitive. Do it and you’re predatory. This is one of those perception battles casinos will never … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, Indiana, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Riviera, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | 2 Comments

There are fairies at the bottom of his garden

Posted on June 2, 2010 by David McKee

Trying to cling to state redevelopment subsidies, Fall River Mayor Will Flanagan says the city can have its cake and eat it, too. Given the obstacles outlined in this report — and in previous S&G dispatches — I’ll have whatever … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Massachusetts, Tribal | 1 Comment

Harrah’s $1.5B Bratislava bet; Marina Bay Sands booms; Falcons swoop upon Hilton, etc.

Posted on June 2, 2010 by David McKee

With almost no exception other than The Newspaper That Shall Remain Nameless, a $1.85 billion Metropolis project headed up by Harrah’s Entertainment has flown completely under the radar of the U.S. media ever since its announcement last October. Oh, some … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Current, Economy, Environment, Genting, Harrah's, International, James Packer, Labor, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Tribal, TV, Wall Street | 2 Comments

When bad things happen to bad people … plus Cher

Posted on June 2, 2010 by David McKee

Two of the three casinos that say they were stiffed for $822,000 by ex-Boston Celtic Antoine Walker are now owned by Harrah’s Entertainment. The unlucky third is Red Rock Resort. Back “in the olden days” (a Sue Lowden-ism that’s quite … Continue reading →

Posted in Cretins, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Movies, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Sports, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism | 3 Comments

Rearranging the deck chairs

Posted on June 2, 2010 by David McKee

Although bankruptcy at the Riviera is more a matter of “when” than “if,” the only casino in town with three CEOs hasn’t stopped trying on the entertainment front: In a town that has Frank Caliendo and Terry Fator, any impressionist … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Don Barden, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, Movies, Planet Hollywood, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | 1 Comment

Advice from Uncle Sheldon

Posted on June 2, 2010 by David McKee

We now return to our regularly scheduled programming.

Posted in Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Advice from Uncle Sheldon

Politics, gaming getting hopelessly muddled

Posted on June 2, 2010 by David McKee

Primary day in Nevada is less than a week away and that’s far too long for my taste. If I had a dollar for every robo-call I’ve received and every expensive-looking flier that’s found its way into my mailbox (and … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Current, Economy, Election, Labor, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, TV, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Poultry in Motion

Posted on June 1, 2010 by David McKee

PETA is not amused — but you will be as the Best.Casino Promotion.Ever rolls into Pittsburgh. We speak of course of the Tic-tac-toe-playing chicken, Ginger. Given a choice between working the casino circuit, being cooked for dinner or laying eggs … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Archon Corp., Current, Entertainment, Marketing, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 1, 2010 by David McKee

“There is little doubt such a division [of Station Casinos], if it were to occur in the absence of a rational and comprehensive business approach, could create economic disaster for many parties.” — Judge Gregg Zive, tipping his hand on … Continue reading →

Posted in Station Casinos | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Gulf Coast: Oh $#!%!

Posted on June 1, 2010 by David McKee

This just in: Blobs of tar are washing up on Mississippi‘s Gulf Coast shoreline and an oil slick has been spotted to the south of Pascagoula. It’s not the total wipeout for coastal casinos that was Hurricane Katrina but it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Environment, Mississippi | Comments Off on Gulf Coast: Oh $#!%!

Case Bets: Station, Macao, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, Encore 2x, etc.

Posted on June 1, 2010 by David McKee

$864.5 million: That’s the magic number if you want to put in an opening bid on 11 Station Casinos properties (plus unspecified land and some tribal-casino-management contracts) come Aug. 6. Boyd Gaming‘s already made it clear that it’s good for … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Bally Technologies, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Economy, Encore, Entertainment, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Isle of Capri, Macau, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment