Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

Bio

Case Bets: Lake Las Vegas, Todd English, the CityCenter smear, Harrah’s Chester, etc.

Posted on March 16, 2010 by David McKee

Far on the outskirts of Sin City, the Kingdom of Make-Believe (aka Lake Las Vegas) is the newest and — in terms of acreage — biggest metaphor yet for the unrealistic expectations and sometimes insane assumptions which have laid our … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., CityCenter, Current, Dining, Dubai, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Lake Las Vegas, Laughlin, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, TV | 14 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 16, 2010 by David McKee

“If the love of money is the root of all evil, are we better as a nation now that we’re broke?” — Lily Tomlin, last night at MGM Grand. (Her current run at the Green Monster ends tomorrow … but … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

CityCenter: Guilty by association

Posted on March 15, 2010 by David McKee

This new attack ad, fired today, represents the latest salvo in what might be called The War Over CityCenter. Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), not having been shy to take credit for CityCenter’s completion, is fair game. Where the ad may … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Colony Capital, Current, Dubai, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Harrah's, Harry Reid, International, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Regulation, Riviera, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip | 2 Comments

Elvis: That’s the way it’s gonna be

Posted on March 15, 2010 by David McKee

Herewith my — hopefully — last words on the subject of Cirque du Soleil‘s Viva Elvis, by way of Wizard of Vegas.com. As to the gaping fissure between national and local opinion-makers (myself included), I’ve given it a moderate amount … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, The Strip | 4 Comments

Case Bets: Pinnacle’s new CEO; Mr. Bit

Posted on March 15, 2010 by David McKee

S&G congratulates Anthony Sanfilippo, new president and COO of Pinnacle Entertainment. A former regional overseer for Harrah’s Entertainment (prexy of its Central and Western divisions), he’s familiar with the ground on which Pinnacle’s battles will be fought, including Lousiana, Missouri … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Current, Harrah's, Indiana, Louisiana, Missouri, Pets, Pinnacle Entertainment | 2 Comments

Dare to compare

Posted on March 12, 2010 by David McKee

This compare-and-contrast montage of MGM Grand Macau, Wynn Macau and Sociedade de Jogos de Macau‘s Grand Lisboa provides a mini-education. At first blush, the MGM property looks a mite too fancy for its own good, though it compares favorably to … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Encore, Macau, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 2 Comments

House of cards

Posted on March 12, 2010 by David McKee

Literally. How Venetian Macao was recreated in playing-card form.

Posted in Macau, Sheldon Adelson, TV | Comments Off on House of cards

Bad PR for gaming

Posted on March 12, 2010 by David McKee

Mike Ensign‘s 96 dimes of hush money to his son’s mistress’ pimp daddy (aka Doug Hampton) and “Casino Jack” Abramoff make cameo appearances in this attack ad (found via @RalstonFlash). Throw in the heavy-handed meddling in casino affairs of Gov. … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Iowa, Marketing, New York, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Reno, Sahara, TV | Comments Off on Bad PR for gaming

Headline of the week

Posted on March 12, 2010 by David McKee

“Smell of pot from chimney leads to record bust” — Philadelphia Inquirer … and to a record buzz, no doubt.

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Who’s crazier: Adelson or Florida?

Posted on March 12, 2010 by David McKee

Pay no attention to the over-budget, behind-schedule megaresort in the background. Six casinos at $2 billion apiece. No joking, that’s what a Sheldon Adelson flunky is proposing in Florida. (I guess the white-out of Atlantic City isn’t the only snow … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Economy, Macau, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Taxes, The Strip | 4 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 12, 2010 by David McKee

“Even I was surprised at the amount of work it requires to be governor.” — Gov. Jim Gibbons (R-NV), upon filing for reelection.

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

Today’s Vegas: something for everybody

Posted on March 11, 2010 by David McKee

From Sin City Advisor: St Patrick’s Day now officially lesbian (Wasted Space) Mexican (Club Fortune) midget-wrestling (Velvet Lion) bikini contest (McFadden’s). And if you’re a bikini-wearing, midget-wrestling Mexican lesbian, you’ve truly landed in clover. Erin Go Bragh, señoritas!

Posted in Boulder Strip, Entertainment, Harrah's, Morgans Hotel Group, The Strip | 1 Comment

White-out in Atlantic City

Posted on March 11, 2010 by David McKee

Thirty-seven inches of snow in February was a problem Atlantic City could do very well without. While the white stuff takes some of the edge off the sobering realization that the Boardwalk is -34% since February 2006, you know the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on White-out in Atlantic City

This is getting nasty

Posted on March 11, 2010 by David McKee

Update: S&G sends its condolences to Sen. Reid after his wife and daughter were severely injured in an automobile accident this afternoon. Back when Archon Corp. Treasurer Sue Lowden (left) threw her hat into the 2010 U.S. Senate race, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., CityCenter, Current, Economy, Election, Harry Reid, Labor, Laughlin, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, TV | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 11, 2010 by David McKee

“Guess putting up $25 million to found a law school doesn’t get you much love these days.” — unnamed Boyd Gaming executive, reacting to Fortune magazine’s low ranking of the company in, among other categories, “Social Responsibility.”

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Charity, Current | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

First, the good news …

Posted on March 11, 2010 by David McKee

Congratulations to MGM Mirage for being named, for the fourth time in five years, to DiversityInc‘s “Top 50 Companies for Diversity.” Like predecessor J. Terrence Lanni, not only does CEO Jim Murren say the right things (“As long as I … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, New York, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on First, the good news …

Harrah’s monster month & other matters

Posted on March 11, 2010 by David McKee

So big it’s practically an island unto itself, Horseshoe Hammond had another blockbuster month, dominating all Indiana casinos with $47 million in revenue — a 7% increase. Excepting a 4% upturn aboard Don Barden‘s beleaguered Majestic Star II, that was … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Cirque du Soleil, Don Barden, Entertainment, Harrah's, Indiana, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off on Harrah’s monster month & other matters

Fortune doesn’t favor the Boyd

Posted on March 10, 2010 by David McKee

Fortune, in the sense of “destiny,” supposedly favors the bold. Fortune, the magazine, holds no great affection for Boyd Gaming. Since the company is one for which I’ve long had high regard, it gives me no pleasure to report this. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Charity, Current, Harrah's, International, Isle of Capri, Macau, MGM Mirage, Movies, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 10, 2010 by David McKee

“Political pundits cast aspersions on candidates and incumbents by labeling their policies and beliefs ‘communist’ or ‘socialist. I have noticed many of these exchanges recently and wanted to bring them to light in a humorous way by placing them here … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Current, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Movies, Politics, The Mob, The Strip, TV | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Wynn on the defensive

Posted on March 10, 2010 by David McKee

Steve Wynn hasn’t done his homework on the tortured history of Foxwoods‘ vagabond casino project and if his aides at Wynn Resorts tried to bring him up to speed, they’ve obviously failed miserably. Still — and quite understandably — chafing … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Pennsylvania, Politics, Steve Wynn, Tribal, TV | 4 Comments