Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

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California, by the numbers

Posted on January 12, 2010 by David McKee

Capitol Weekly breaks down the vital statistics of California’s tribal-casino industry, in case you were curious. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) needn’t worry about additional slot capacity causing traffic jams and more crime: Golden State tribal casinos are mired in a … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Economy, Politics, Tribal | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 12, 2010 by David McKee

“I don’t think it’s anything he should resign over at all. I’m just hoping at some point we take one of these things that’s made into this huge racial divide and use it as an opportunity to have some meaningful … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Harry Reid, Politics | 2 Comments

Big payoff for Pennsylvania

Posted on January 12, 2010 by David McKee

Gov. Ed Rendell (D) and other state leaders have got to be feeling the love for the Keystone State‘s budding casino industry, which generated over $1 billion in tax revenue last year. That boffo return was achieved without table games … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, Economy, Harrah's, IGT, Indiana, Kentucky, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Technology, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, TV | 2 Comments

Back to normal

Posted on January 12, 2010 by David McKee

For starters, let’s just write off 2006-7 as an aberration. While dancing in the streets is premature, Nevada‘s casino revenues from November ($873 million) at least give us an excuse to breathe a sigh of relief — especially when other … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Current, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Lake Tahoe, Missouri, North Las Vegas, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

There’s life after Midler

Posted on January 12, 2010 by David McKee

Being a member of the troupe in The Showgirl Must Go On was good while it lasted but a “Caesars Salad Girl”‘s gotta eat. In the case of CSGs Kamilah Marshall and Shayna Steele that means cutting a solo CD … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment | Comments Off on There’s life after Midler

That casino smell

Posted on January 11, 2010 by David McKee

As you step through the front doors of Aria‘s check-in foyer, a too-heavy musk is jammed up your nostrils. It smells like the same suffocating attar that’s employed in Venelazzo, except maybe heavier. The good news is that if you … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Atlantic City, Baseball, CityCenter, Current, Economy, Florida, Harry Reid, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sports | 4 Comments

Sheldon the Barbarian & other news

Posted on January 11, 2010 by David McKee

Amid reports of vastly improved attendance at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show comes news of a typical overreaction by Las Vegas Sands. I know of one company that was doing off-site demos and fortunately wasn’t among the vendors turfed out … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Carl Icahn, Colorado, Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Indiana, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | 5 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 11, 2010 by David McKee

“However, weekend room rates at Aria are equal to or great than those at Bellagio in only 6/13 periods (46% of the time).” — from a J.P. Morgan room-rate survey. You just can’t beat a classic.

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Economy, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Tourism | 1 Comment

It’s a miracle!

Posted on January 8, 2010 by David McKee

You’re looking at a photo that was imbedded in a new Riviera press release and — praise be! — Fontainebleau has disappeared. Yes, vanished, gone as though it were never there: like it was all a bad dream. Yes, yes, … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Fontainebleau, MGM Mirage, Riviera, Sahara | 5 Comments

It could be worse … couldn’t it?

Posted on January 8, 2010 by David McKee

That’s what passes for optimism these days when confronted by ledgers like those posted by casinos in Illinois and Indiana for December. While the former’s 5% decline hardly looks like cause for celebration, it at least suggests the Land of … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Don Barden, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Hard time for Carruthers

Posted on January 8, 2010 by David McKee

Former Betonsports PLC CEO David Carruthers drew 33 months in the slammer for racketeering. The law under which he was convicted, Slick Billy Frist‘s odious UIGEA, is ludicrous and overdue for repeal, but the recklessnss of Carruthers and company founder … Continue reading →

Posted in International, Internet gambling, Regulation, Texas | Comments Off on Hard time for Carruthers

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 8, 2010 by David McKee

“With table games, Sands Bethworks, which is an hour outside of Manhattan, should be able to draw a more lucrative customer. We believe Las Vegas Sands will now move forward with adding more nongaming amenities.” — Steven Wieczynski, of Stifel … Continue reading →

Posted in New York, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Wall Street | 3 Comments

2.5 Cheers for Harrah’s

Posted on January 8, 2010 by David McKee

As erratically as it has been run since the departure of Phil Satre, they still get some things right at Harrah’s Entertainment … and not in the sense that a stopped watch is correct twice a day. For instance, Harrah’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Planet Hollywood, Station Casinos, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 5 Comments

CityCenter’s original spore

Posted on January 7, 2010 by David McKee

Here’s the “bubble drawing,” roughed out by Jim Murren and MGM Mirage Design Group head Bill Smith back in February 2004, the tiny acorn from which CityCenter sprouted. Our thanks to MGM Mirage for sharing it with us. It will … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, MGM Mirage | 8 Comments

Garth Brooks, City Center’s art: the reviews

Posted on January 7, 2010 by David McKee

Much has been made of the $40 million in art lavished upon CityCenter. Virtually all of it is stunning in isolation but how does it work in context? CityLife dispatched me on a mission to evaluate CC’s many installations. As … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Architecture, CityCenter, Current, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Pets, Politics, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 5 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 7, 2010 by David McKee

“PA table game approval a positive for PENN” — headline on this morning’s e-mail blast from J.P. Morgan. Who knew those Wall Street analysts would ever embed a jest like that within a stock recommendation?

Posted in Current, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Wall Street | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 6, 2010 by David McKee

“Spacey, ethereal and sterile.” — a friend’s description of the Crystals shopping mall.

Posted in CityCenter, MGM Mirage, The Strip | 2 Comments

Isle of Capri is back

Posted on January 6, 2010 by David McKee

While I was taking a cat to the vet, Isle of Capri was throwing a spanner into the Boyd Gaming works. Its bold move complicates Boyd’s proposed takeover of Station Casinos … or does it? Should Boyd succeed, it will … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Isle of Capri, Station Casinos | 5 Comments

From the S&G Twitter feed …

Posted on January 5, 2010 by David McKee

Whilst I try to decipher my notes from the New Year’s Day performance by Carlos Mencia, here’s what you’ve been missing if you don’t follow the S&G Twitter feed (Twitter handle: @stiffsgeorges): • Pittsburgh‘s Rivers Casino sacks exec team, brings … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cordish Co., Current, Entertainment, Florida, Harrah's, International, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Racinos, Riviera, Singapore | Comments Off on From the S&G Twitter feed …

Crystals, the sequel

Posted on January 5, 2010 by David McKee

If this video segment gives you a strong sense of déja vu, it’s probably because the retailers in Pansy & Daisy Ho‘s new Macao mall are pretty much the same cast of characters you’ll find in Crystals at CityCenter. However, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Current, Macau, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Planet Hollywood | Comments Off on Crystals, the sequel