Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

Bio

Adelson's rescuer?

Posted on September 30, 2009 by David McKee

Meet Wilbur Ross. He’s an investor of all trades with an appetite for distressed assets. And he’s turning his sights to the casino industry. In particular, he’s drawn a bead on “companies [who] are also looking at selling assets in … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Atlantic City, Cannery Casino Resorts, CityCenter, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Horseracing, Macau, MGM Mirage, New York, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Tribal, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off on Adelson's rescuer?

Case Bets: Wynn in Macao, "Peepshow" strips down

Posted on September 29, 2009 by David McKee

• Steve Wynn is accelerating his timetable for developing on the Cotai Strip™. If Wynn continues to learn from his early miscalculations (and I see no reason to expect otherwise), a gaming-centric Wynn Resorts property on Cotai is a far … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Economy, Entertainment, Harry Reid, Macau, Planet Hollywood, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | Comments Off on Case Bets: Wynn in Macao, "Peepshow" strips down

Buy our casino, please!

Posted on September 29, 2009 by David McKee

Any well-furnished casino that doesn’t try to monetize its fine appointments is missing a revenue opportunity. However, it’s one thing to covet the lovely furnishings of, say, the Sky Lofts at MGM Grand. It’s quite another to check into a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Harrah's, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Buy our casino, please!

Masters of the Obvious II

Posted on September 29, 2009 by David McKee

Regarding the punting of casinos from Penghu, the great minds of Wall Street put on their thinking caps and came up with the following, as paraphrased by the Las Vegas Review-Journal: "analysts said the vote could be a viewed as … Continue reading →

Posted in Don Barden, Economy, International, Macau, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Wall Street | Comments Off on Masters of the Obvious II

Hell no, they won't; Penghu punk'd; Barbarians at the gates (again)

Posted on September 28, 2009 by David McKee

Pay taxes, that is. Two Indiana racinos are pushing back against a tax rate that averages 38%. Considering that the two tracks — one run by Cordish Gaming — are the newbies on the Hoosier State scene, one could fairly … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Cordish Co., Cosmopolitan, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, Horseracing, Indiana, International, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Hell no, they won't; Penghu punk'd; Barbarians at the gates (again)

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 25, 2009 by David McKee

"With his ruddy nose, droopy eyes and imposing belly, the mayor might not be much of a looker, but the middle-aged woman behind the counter blushes, and tattooed men jump up from their brown leather armchairs and grin like schoolboys. … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Economy, International, Oscar Goodman, Tourism | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

ColSux gets smacked (again)

Posted on September 25, 2009 by David McKee

In case you've wondered whether Columbia Sussex's endgame in its interminably protracted — and often preposterous — negotiations with the Culinary Union was to provoke a strike at the Tropicana Las Vegas, the company's actions elsewhere leave little doubt. (I … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska, Columbia Sussex, Economy, Labor, The Strip | Comments Off on ColSux gets smacked (again)

Crime doesn't pay; Wyden wimps out

Posted on September 25, 2009 by David McKee

Five dimes worth of damage, $40,000 bail — and all to wrest a measly two grand from some vending machines at Harrah’s Atlantic City. That’s the losing bet made by two security guards. Couple this with the floormen who destroyed … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, Wall Street | Comments Off on Crime doesn't pay; Wyden wimps out

Big Trop shakeup

Posted on September 24, 2009 by David McKee

During his absent-minded interregnum as Tropicana Las Vegas CEO Scott Butera nearly denuded the casino of on-property entertainment. Only the hasty re-signing of Xtreme Magic left the Trop with a show in the house. Over time, Butera’s people added a … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Entertainment, Horseracing, Maryland, Ohio, Penn National, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Big Trop shakeup

Go ask Alex

Posted on September 23, 2009 by David McKee

Without further ado, we present S&G‘s much-hyped interview with Tropicana Las Vegas CEO Alex Yemenidjian, a trim, nattily attired man of impeccable manners and refreshing directness, as you will see. I led off with questions from the readership … Nelson … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Dining, Entertainment, Illinois, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, TV | 1 Comment

From the mailbag #5

Posted on September 23, 2009 by David McKee

Our Comment-Eating Server has been at it again, so here are a few reader remarks that got devoured in cyberspace (where no one can hear you scream at your computer) … With regard to “Gambling Scandal Ensnares Eight More“: This … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Donald Trump, Environment, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Labor, Regulation, The Mob, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on From the mailbag #5

Atlantic City sucks …

Posted on September 22, 2009 by David McKee

… says the Motley Fool, in essence. Even Borgata, which posted a higher operating profit year/year, is deemed merely to suck less than everybody else. I’m not sure I’m with the Fools on this one. For instance, shouldn’t Sands Bethlehem … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Colorado, Detroit, Donald Trump, Florida, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Mirage, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Atlantic City sucks …

Ask Alex!

Posted on September 22, 2009 by David McKee

Tomorrow morning, I have scored some precious face time with Tropicana Las Vegas CEO Alex Yemenidjian. The ostensible topic of the media event is "Special Guest," er, Wayne Newton. But screw that. Let's find out what else is going on … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Columbia Sussex, Entertainment, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, TV | Comments Off on Ask Alex!

Gambling scandal ensares eight more

Posted on September 21, 2009 by David McKee

It’s not quite on the global scale of the Ultimate Bet brouhaha, but the Tran Organization‘s conspiracy to fleece dozens of U.S., Canadian and tribal casinos is racking up an amazing head count. To date, federal prosecutors have already nailed … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, California, Colony Capital, Don Barden, Donald Trump, Harrah's, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Station Casinos, The Mob, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Gambling scandal ensares eight more

Are you ready for some football? No!

Posted on September 21, 2009 by David McKee

Galaxy Theatres' multiplex at The Cannery has scrapped all its big-screen showings of Monday Night Football, it was announced today, one week into the NFL season. Perhaps the incessant jabbering of Jon Gruden sent patrons screaming out onto the casino … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Cannery Casino Resorts, Dining, Election, Entertainment, Harry Reid, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Sahara, Sports, The Strip, TV | Comments Off on Are you ready for some football? No!

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 19, 2009 by David McKee

“Too cool for Vegas.” — a friend's description of Frank Gehry's design for the Lou Ruvo Center for the study of Alzheimer's disease.

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

Penn hearts F'bleau … maybe

Posted on September 18, 2009 by David McKee

So the much-bruited suitor for stalled, bankrupt Fontainebleau has been "outed" and it's … Penn National Gaming. Ace reporter Alexandra Berzon, late of the Las Vegas Sun, broke the story. However, she notes that Penn and F'bleau have been dickering … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Detroit, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Planet Hollywood, The Strip | Comments Off on Penn hearts F'bleau … maybe

Worst Trend Yet

Posted on September 17, 2009 by David McKee

This is the sort of bottom-feeding move you'd expect from Columbia Sussex but not from Hyatt. Suffice it to say that if casino-hotels try this cheapjack number in Atlantic City, Detroit or Las Vegas, there will be holy hell to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Current, Detroit, Economy, Entertainment, Labor, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Worst Trend Yet

Do not resuscitate?

Posted on September 17, 2009 by David McKee

Most of us hew to the standard English-language definition of “fixation” (as in “I have a sudden fixation with actresss Crystal Chappell“). However, in Cirque du Soleil-speak, “fixation” means “damage repair.” To wit: Criss F. Angel vehicle Believe has been … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Economy, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Riviera, Sports, Technology | Comments Off on Do not resuscitate?

Terror at Sam's Town?

Posted on September 17, 2009 by David McKee

On Sept. 15, local blogger Flipchip reported that Sam's Town was being swept by a crime wave. There was, he wrote, a "rash of robberies," including two perpetrated against his wife. She was, he wrote, "then berated by the on-duty … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Current | Comments Off on Terror at Sam's Town?