Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

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Macao even more profitable than previously thought

Posted on February 10, 2010 by David McKee

If the Chinese government isn’t handing free money to casino operators in Macao, they’re getting the next best thing: free land. Due to the exceptionally slow-moving nature of Macanese governmental paperwork, casino developers have been able to build on their … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes | 4 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 10, 2010 by David McKee

“If there was this kind of trepidation in Las Vegas, there’d be no Las Vegas.” — a reader’s reaction to the one-step-forward/two-steps-backward dysfunction that is ongoing in Kansas. Then again, it could soon be moot.

Posted in Kansas, Lyle Berman, Politics, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Kudos for Loveman

Posted on February 9, 2010 by David McKee

Harrah’s Entertainment is no longer going to the dogs — or won’t be, if it gets its way in Iowa. It’s offered to pay the Hawkeye State a tidy $70 million in exchange for being released from its greyhound-racing requirement … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Harrah's, Iowa, Racinos, Regulation, Sports | 1 Comment

Torino’s big gamble

Posted on February 9, 2010 by David McKee

At a time when the bottom has fallen out of Las Vegas Strip land prices what possessed Brett Torino to make an uncontested, above-market bid for a small and awkwardly configured piece of Strip real estate? Before we get to … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Economy, Harrah's, International, MGM Mirage, Pinnacle Entertainment, Planet Hollywood, Steve Wynn | 8 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 9, 2010 by David McKee

“I’m rooting for Frank Marino‘s Divas at the Imperial Palace and the Singing Naked Boys [sic] at the Onyx Theater because it’s the smaller shows that are the true meat and potatoes of  entertainment.” — Las Vegas media event fixture … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Harrah's | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Aren’t we glad?

Posted on February 9, 2010 by David McKee

When given lemons, make lemonade. When hit with a throat infection, lay low and scrounge around for S&G fodder. So it is today — and I didn’t have to scrounge very far. While Las Vegas didn’t dodge too many bullets … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Architecture, Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, Carl Icahn, Dubai, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, IGT, Illinois, Indiana, James Packer, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Transportation, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street, WMS Industries | 3 Comments

A funny thing happened …

Posted on February 8, 2010 by David McKee

I was touring the Erotic Heritage Museum, when my guide, doctoral student Amanda Morgan, made the following observation: “As you know, Nevada is very conservative. If you look at the population of people in Las Vegas and looked at the … Continue reading →

Posted in California, CityCenter, Election, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Politics, The Strip, TV | 4 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 8, 2010 by David McKee

“Even here in Washington, that’s real money.” — President Barack Obama, to Katie Couric, during a pre-Super Bowl interview, on the subject of a trillion dollars.

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

Adieu, Bourbon Street

Posted on February 5, 2010 by David McKee

Kitty-korner from Bally’s Las Vegas is the former site of Bourbon Street, long since imploded by Harrah’s Entertainment and not the least bit missed. It had a skanky reputation and the tightest slots you ever did play. After it was … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Louisiana, The Strip, Wayne F. Newton | 5 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 5, 2010 by David McKee

“Unfortunately, people come to hotels or motels to commit suicide, to commit crimes, to do drugs, prositution.” — former Queen of Hearts owner Ann Meyers, representing for the Nevada hotel industry. If that was her audition to be the new … Continue reading →

Posted in Cretins, Downtown, Tourism | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Lowden’s interesting omission

Posted on February 4, 2010 by David McKee

Here, for your viewing pleasure, is Archon Corp. Treasurer Sue Lowden‘s newest ad spot. I saw it on the tube this morning and was struck by the euphemistic way it gets around having to describe her as a “casino executive,” … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Election, Marketing, Politics, TV | 5 Comments

Pawlenty, in real time

Posted on February 4, 2010 by David McKee

As you may have already read, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) is coming to Venelazzo to dole out some markers to the local GOP that he could call in for a 2012 presidential run (native son John Ensign having obligingly … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Election, Internet gambling, Labor, Minnesota, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Tribal | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 4, 2010 by David McKee

“We will lose our competitive edge … and add to the already crushing burden of unemployment in this state. We will lose the ability to train the workforce for the very economy we wish to attract this state.” — Dan … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Labor, Midnight Jim Gibbons | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Case Bets: Laughlin postmortem, Newton grounded, Gibbons robs problem gamblers

Posted on February 4, 2010 by David McKee

It’s an S&G Special Austerity Edition (i.e., no pictures) … Three grand. That’s the value of a human life in Nevada. The Washingtonian who crashed his car into Laughlin‘s Edgewater casino, killing two and injuring seven, is out on $6,000 … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Current, Detroit, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, IGT, Laughlin, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Movies, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Reno, Transportation, TV, Wall Street, Wayne F. Newton | Comments Off on Case Bets: Laughlin postmortem, Newton grounded, Gibbons robs problem gamblers

See Laughlin and die

Posted on February 3, 2010 by David McKee

It’s standard industry practice to jam slot machines up as close to the front door as humanly possible. Hell, if they could put them out on the street, they would. (Casino Royale actually has machines on the Strip, but they’re … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Entertainment, Laughlin, Macau, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Station Casinos, The Strip, TV | 8 Comments

Enter Loveman, exit jobs; Tamares’ legacy

Posted on February 3, 2010 by David McKee

Just this morning I was thinking that the first thing Planet Hollywood employees could expect when Harrah’s Entertainment took over was large-scale job losses and so it will be. This is one of those occasions I really hate being proven … Continue reading →

Posted in ABBA, Ameristar, Columbia Sussex, Current, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Tamares Group, Wall Street | 6 Comments

For those about to rock …

Posted on February 3, 2010 by David McKee

… there is a new tribute show at the Riviera. Having fallen out with ill-starred Rockstar: The Tribute, the Riv comes back with: Why am I getting a heavy This is Spinal Tap vibe off that poster? From the looks … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Movies, Riviera, The Strip | 3 Comments

Feast or famine

Posted on February 3, 2010 by David McKee

While we in Las Vegas struggle to reconcile long nightclub lines and (depending on which casino you visit) full gaming floors with but smallish increases in revenue and visitation, it’s one big-ass Christmas over in Macao. Revenue skyrocketed 63% last … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Harry Reid, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Feast or famine

Gettin’ “Gossy” with it

Posted on February 3, 2010 by David McKee

Our staff is definitely having too much fun today. They’ve suggested a new, Gossyfied look for Lance Burton … which certainly beats the Criss Angel-ic angst currently adorning his billboards. Personally, having recently seen Burton in performance, I can’t decide … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Entertainment, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, The Strip | Comments Off on Gettin’ “Gossy” with it

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 3, 2010 by David McKee

“We expect that Clark County will lag the nation in employment growth by 12 months or so. We do not expect to see job growth nationally until well into next year. This means we will not see measurable job growth … Continue reading →

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