Category Archives: Alex Meruelo

Rio sold; Best casinos named

Posted on September 23, 2019 by David McKee

Despite rumors that Caesars Entertainment has sworn off trying to sell The Rio (again), it turns out that the Roman Empire was still shopping the resort. It’s been tentatively sold to “a principal of Imperial Companies” for $516 million. If … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, Cosmopolitan, Derek Stevens, Dining, Downtown, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Genting, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Marketing, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, New York, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Reno, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, TV, World Series of Poker, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Vegas gets first tribal casino

Posted on June 26, 2019 by David McKee

My doctor says it behooves me to take it easy, so that can mean only one thing … news briefs! If you were waiting for Native American tribes to put down roots in Las Vegas, wait no longer. Virgin Hotels … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Animals, Arizona, Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Entertainment, Florida, Hard Rock Hotel, Law enforcement, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Movies, Sahara, SLS Las Vegas, Sports, Tamares Group, The Strip, Transportation | Comments Off on Vegas gets first tribal casino

The Sahara returns, hurray

Posted on June 4, 2019 by David McKee

Proving that you can’t keep a classic brand down, Alex Meruelo is ditching meaningless SLS Las Vegas and bringing back Sahara Hotel & Casino for the place locals never stopped thinking of as “the Sahara.” It’s too late to restore the … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Carl Icahn, Dining, Environment, GLPI, Louisiana, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Sahara, Sam Nazarian, SLS Las Vegas, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Skye Station?; Resort fee reprieve

Posted on November 26, 2018 by David McKee

According to The Associated Press, locals giant Station Casinos has snapped up 40 acres in the fast-growing Skye Canyon suburb, in the northwest part of the Las Vegas Valley. Station got the dirt dirt-cheap: 40 gaming-zoned acres for $36 million. … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Boyd Gaming, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Palms, Resort fees, Sports, Station Casinos, The Strip | 4 Comments

No love for Lucky Dragon

Posted on November 1, 2018 by David McKee

What if they sold a casino and nobody bid? That was the unenviable fate of Lucky Dragon Casino at bankruptcy auction. No one wants the jinxed property, leaving it in the frigid hands of principal lender Snow Covered Capital. Thus … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Environment, Genting, Indiana, Lucky Dragon, Majestic Star, Marketing, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, SLS Las Vegas, Station Casinos, Tropicana Entertainment | 3 Comments

SLS gets new look; Automation targets women, minorities

Posted on October 10, 2018 by David McKee

Alex Meruelo has begun exorcising the unclean spirit of Sam Nazarian from SLS Las Vegas. In a giant gesture of faith, Meruelo will invest $100 million in a property makeover, starting with those oh-so-excessively-trendy hotel rooms. Next week Meruelo will get … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Meruelo, CityCenter, Culinary Union, MGM Resorts International, Sahara, Sam Nazarian, SLS Las Vegas, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off on SLS gets new look; Automation targets women, minorities

Mohegan Sun shines

Posted on October 1, 2018 by David McKee

Congratulations to Mohegan Sun on being named ‘Best Hotel’ by readers of USA Today. I’ve never stayed there but would reckon this is quite a coup and shows yet again that tribal casinos don’t yield the palm to private-sector ones … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, CityCenter, Derek Stevens, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Foxwoods, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New York, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Reno, Resort fees, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

‘Net, sports betting slow to ramp in Pennsylvania; Enter the Dragons

Posted on August 20, 2018 by David McKee

Three casinos in Pennsylvania have been cleared for Internet gambling. Of the trio, tiny Mount Airy Casino may loom the largest, being affiliated with both 888 and also PokerStars, which has  been having a few issues of late. (Interestingly, Presque Isle … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Caesars Entertainment, Eldorado Resorts, Greenwood Racing, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Regulation, SLS Las Vegas, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, The Strip | Comments Off on ‘Net, sports betting slow to ramp in Pennsylvania; Enter the Dragons

Shocker: Hard Rock Rocksino sold; New top man at SLS

Posted on April 5, 2018 by David McKee

Despite being the dominant racino operator — hell, gaming operator — in Ohio, it seems that Hard Rock International is throwing in the towel. It’s selling Hard Rock Rocksino to MGM Growth Properties. Early Wall Street speculation is that we’re … Continue reading →

Posted in ACEP, Affinity Gaming, Alex Meruelo, Boyd Gaming, Colorado, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Florida, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Illinois, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Reno, SLS Las Vegas, The Strip, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Happy birthday, Ellis Island; SLS in, Sahara out for now

Posted on April 4, 2018 by David McKee

Congratulations are in order to Ellis Island Hotel Casino & Brewery (not in that order of priority) on 50 years in business. What started as two menu items has grown into a beloved locals hangout whose karaoke nights are the … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Architecture, Atlantic City, Dining, Economy, Ellis Island, Greenwood Racing, Pennsylvania, Revel, Sam Nazarian, Sheldon Adelson, SLS Las Vegas, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off on Happy birthday, Ellis Island; SLS in, Sahara out for now

Adelson subsidizes foreign policy; Packer’s comeback

Posted on February 23, 2018 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson‘s at it again. This time, in the cause of escalating Mideast tensions, he’s putting his money where his mouth is. The toupee-crowned supermogul is reported to be offering to foot the bill for at least some of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Atlantic City, Australia, Donald Trump, Glenn Straub, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Lucky Dragon, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Crown 18, The Strip | Comments Off on Adelson subsidizes foreign policy; Packer’s comeback

Savior for Lucky Dragon?; Louisiana city shops for riverboat

Posted on February 21, 2018 by David McKee

Things go from bad to worse at ill-named Lucky Dragon Casino. Already it was looking at a foreclosure auction tomorrow. Now owner Andrew Fonfa has put it in Chapter 11. The move was rationalized on the grounds that letting the … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Boyd Gaming, Culinary Union, Derek Stevens, Louisiana, Lucky Dragon, Mississippi, SLS Las Vegas, Station Casinos | 1 Comment