Author Archives: David McKee

About David McKee

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Case Bets: Meow!; Dr. Death; Spineless Dems

Posted on July 29, 2008 by David McKee

Diss of the Day. “Having just raised the newsstand price for weekday and Saturday editions by 50 percent, the Las Vegas Review-Journal announced Monday it has eliminated sections of the paper as a cost-cutting measure.” — lead sentence of the … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Current, Election, Environment, Politics, The Strip | Comments Off on Case Bets: Meow!; Dr. Death; Spineless Dems

Lamest casino promotion. Ever

Posted on July 29, 2008 by David McKee

Not long ago, I received an oversized postcard in the mail from Eastside Cannery Casino Hotel (or E-Can, in LVA parlance). They want me to go to www.cannerycasinos.com and sign up for a players’ card. And what do I get … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, International, Michael Gaughan | Comments Off on Lamest casino promotion. Ever

Donald Trump: ass; David Snow: hero

Posted on July 28, 2008 by David McKee

Don't you wish you lived in whatever parallel universe is inhabited by Donald J. Trump? If you did, you could claim that your 60%+ unoccupied Trump International — which just sacked 20% of its workforce — is an incredible success. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, MGM Mirage, Regulation, The Strip | Comments Off on Donald Trump: ass; David Snow: hero

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 25, 2008 by David McKee

"There is better stuff than that." — Penn National Gaming CEO Peter Carlino, referring to the Las Vegas Tropicana, in a discussion of possible Las Vegas acquisition targets.

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Penn National, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

A dirty rotten shame

Posted on July 24, 2008 by David McKee

According to local entertainment scribe Mike Weatherford, the new ownership at the Sahara is trying to re-up with promoter Larry Marshak‘s ersatz Platters/Coasters/Marvelettes act. Thanks to the byzantine histories of these groups and their ever-rotating membership, sufficient loopholes have existed … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Sahara | Comments Off on A dirty rotten shame

Gold Coast buffet update, etc.

Posted on July 21, 2008 by David McKee

I just heard from Boyd Gaming and they say that the corned beef/chicken choice at the Gold Coast buffet's carving station was the luck of the draw and not indicative of a cutback. Roast beef, turkey and brisket are still … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Columbia Sussex, Lake Tahoe, MGM Mirage, Movies | Comments Off on Gold Coast buffet update, etc.

Gold Coast buffet

Posted on July 18, 2008 by David McKee

Our ongoing buffet crawl took us to the Gold Coast last night. After applying a Pocketbook of Values coupon, it came out to $11.80 for two people, which definitely counts as a bargain play, provided you manage your expectations somewhat. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Mississippi, Wall Street | Comments Off on Gold Coast buffet

Good riddance at Boyd

Posted on July 18, 2008 by David McKee

Former Nevada Athletic Commission chairman. Former Boyd Gaming director. Member of the 197-person "Midnight Jim" Gibbons transition team. Out-and-out disgrace. That'd be Luther Mack, who walked the plank at Boyd Gaming last week, not (as I speculated at the time) … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Mississippi, Regulation | Comments Off on Good riddance at Boyd

The Ameristar war begins

Posted on July 17, 2008 by David McKee

Just a quick hit on my way out the door to spend an evening prepping for The Dark Knight by watching Batman Begins … Ameristar's in play. No news flash there and, for the life of me, I can't figure … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Columbia Sussex, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Isle of Capri, James Packer, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on The Ameristar war begins

All-star atrocity

Posted on July 16, 2008 by David McKee

Pardon the digression whilst I vent about the bad joke that was last night's MLB All-Star Game (or was it the "State Farm All-Star Game" or something like that? Bud Selig is whoring the national pastime out like a regular … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, TV | Comments Off on All-star atrocity

Case Bets: Orleans, El Cortez, Harrah's arena

Posted on July 16, 2008 by David McKee

I’m in the second day of stomach flu, so small portions are advisable … A “juice job” that followed two fatalities at The Orleans has come under federal scrutiny. In an unrelated development, Boyd Gaming board member Luther Mack has … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Harrah's | Comments Off on Case Bets: Orleans, El Cortez, Harrah's arena

Ameristar spurned, Wynn rewarded

Posted on July 11, 2008 by David McKee

What’s worse than being jilted? Being told you’re too ugly to to even date. That’s about what happened to Ameristar Casinos, which just got blown off by Crown Ltd. Then again, look at James Packer’s American holdings and pending acquisitions … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, James Packer, Macau, MGM Mirage, Movies, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Ameristar spurned, Wynn rewarded

Indiana: It sure could be worse

Posted on July 8, 2008 by David McKee

… because you could be Illinois, where June gambling revenues went into the toilet (-21%). Which isn’t to say that Indiana‘s numbers look good only by comparison. In fact, the Hoosier State may be benefiting from the Land of Lincoln’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Columbia Sussex, Harrah's, Indiana, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Indiana: It sure could be worse

Gambling > Gas Prices

Posted on July 8, 2008 by David McKee

Although a new Precision Opinion study of consumer attitudes vis-a-vis Las Vegas concludes that there's "a direct correlation between rising gas prices and reduced Las Vegas visitation," the news may not be as bad as it appears at first blush. … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Current | Comments Off on Gambling > Gas Prices

"Mamma Mia!": the confusion thickens

Posted on July 7, 2008 by David McKee

For those keeping score at home, the marketers of the new Mamma Mia! movie are doing their damnest to blot our copy books. Songs cut from the film turn up on the soundtrack CD but ones that are in the … Continue reading →

Posted in ABBA, Movies, The Strip | Comments Off on "Mamma Mia!": the confusion thickens

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 7, 2008 by David McKee

"I'm pleased that we reached this resolution, and I look forward to working with all the parties to reach consensus on the continuing restructuring efforts of the company." — Columbia Sussex CEO William J. Yung III, expressing his delight at … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

MTR in retreat

Posted on July 7, 2008 by David McKee

If MTR Gaming is still afloat today, it’s almost certainly thanks to the fact that its two remaining casinos — racinos in Chester, W.V., and Erie, Penn., enjoy oligopolistic market conditions where competitors are few and far between. A long … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Downtown, Labor, Pennsylvania, The Strip | Comments Off on MTR in retreat

Hole-in-the-wall casinos reviewed

Posted on July 3, 2008 by David McKee

In the current City Life, Lissa Townsend Rodgers visits a few of Las Vegas’ less publicized casinos, in search of $1 booze. The Gold Spike is lauded, provided your “goal is simply to get as drunk as possible as quickly … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Movies, The Strip | Comments Off on Hole-in-the-wall casinos reviewed

Barden: The comedy continues

Posted on July 3, 2008 by David McKee

Financing for Don Barden‘s stalled Pittsburgh casino remains, as ever, two weeks away. Barden’s people say they’ll have it by mid-July (conveniently, after the next meeting of Pennsylvania’s gaming commission), they’re “continuing to close” with Credit Suisse, and contractors are … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Pennsylvania | Comments Off on Barden: The comedy continues

Harrah's: Just as predicted

Posted on July 2, 2008 by David McKee

… it's servicing its debt by issuing more debt. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, as it will save the company $100 million. "What is more curious, if not troubling, is the reference to retiring debt taking advantage of current … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Harrah's, Wall Street | Comments Off on Harrah's: Just as predicted