Category Archives: Architecture

Mohegan Sun’s eastern inspiration; Bumper crop in Colorado

Posted on July 1, 2015 by David McKee

You’d never know Mohegan Sun has been experiencing financial difficulties on the home front to judge by the scale and expense of its South Korean partnership with Incheon International Airport Corp. The two sides have finalized conceptual plans for Inspire … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Colorado, Economy, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Regulation, South Korea, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off

Macao: Victory or status quo?; No more soft opening at Linq

Posted on July 1, 2015 by David McKee

Deutsche Bank was predicting a 37% dropoff in Macao gaming revenues for June. They came in 36% under last year’s numbers. Is this good news or not-so-bad news? Probably the latter. The novelty factor of Galaxy Phase II was quick … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Economy, Environment, Harrah's, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Pushback against Adelson; Packer’s pretension

Posted on June 29, 2015 by David McKee

“Poker is an all-American game. It’s a game that I learned as a teen and continue to play today. Just like millions of other players I enjoy the strategy and skill involved.” So said Rep. Joe Barton (R) as he introduced … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Australia, California, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, PokerStars, Politics, Regulation, Taxes, The Strip, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

More grief for Uncle Carl; Bluhm backs down

Posted on June 18, 2015 by David McKee

Carl Icahn has won his gambit to take over Trump Taj Mahal but that doesn’t mean he and Unite-Here are all lovey-dovey. Although Icahn earlier called Trump Entertainment Resorts the most distressed company he’s ever seen, he’s giving CEO Bob … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Cordish Co., Harrah's, history, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Regulation, Taxes, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Unite-Here | 2 Comments

Kirk Kerkorian, 1917-2015

Posted on June 17, 2015 by David McKee

Here in Las Vegas, the impact of Kirk Kerkorian‘s death is still sinking in. A man known for self-effacing personal habits left the world as discreetly as he passed through it in his Ford Taurus, leaving accomplishments that far exceeded … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Downtown, Harry Reid, history, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Movies, Neil Bluhm, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Slot routes, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Mixed news from Atlantic City; More silliness from Trump

Posted on June 17, 2015 by David McKee

Atlantic City continued its paradoxical ways last month. The market as a whole suffered another big decline, down 10%. However, for individual operators, May was mostly good, with a same-store gain of 4%. (To see the blended impact of Internet … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Mohegan Sun, Scientific Games, Technology, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, TV, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Hard Rock, Resorts World put their chips on the table

Posted on June 8, 2015 by David McKee

While New Jersey politicians bicker over the timing of a constitutional referendum for adding northerly casinos, Hard Rock International unveiled a detailed picture of its plans for its desired Meadowlands casino (a site favored by 73% of voters polled, although … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, CityCenter, Economy, Election, Genting, Glenn Straub, Hard Rock Hotel, Hard Rock International, Horseracing, Macau, New York, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off

Adieu, Monte Carlo; Sunny April in Detroit

Posted on May 12, 2015 by David McKee

Judging from how it bastardized the Strip facade of Monte Carlo, it’s clear MGM Resorts International doesn’t quite know what to do with the place. CEO Jim Murren tacitly confirmed this recently when he said MGM was studying myriad options … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Detroit, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off

Boyd shatters expectations; Dover Downs flounders

Posted on May 1, 2015 by David McKee

Compared to Steve Wynn‘s gloom — and sapped stock price — about Las Vegas’ immediate economic prospects earlier this week, Boyd Gaming CEO Keith Smith was bullish on Sin City. And why not? Boyd reported profits of 31 cents a … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Delaware, Downtown, Economy, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Planet Hollywood, Racinos, Sports, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Nothing’s easy at Revel; Death sentence for Harrah’s Tunica

Posted on April 29, 2015 by David McKee

“What am I going to do with this stuff with no electricity, no heat, no air conditioning? These people just give me so many roadblocks.” So complained Glenn Straub after New Jersey‘s Division of Gaming Enforcement ordered him to post guards … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Genting, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Mississippi, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 1 Comment

Problems for the Pequots, Mohegans; Twin River looks north

Posted on April 22, 2015 by David McKee

A legislative attempt to add three Mashantucket Pequot/Mohegan tribal casinos in Connecticut is running into a buzz saw of legal problems … or at least questions. Since the casinos are gift-wrapped for the tribes in question, state Attorney General George … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Macau, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Rhode Island, South Korea | Comments Off

Revel: Crippled giant; Tough choice in Indiana

Posted on April 13, 2015 by David McKee

It may feel good for Glenn Straub to spit defiance (“We will never give in to blackmail. Let them dig their own grave, along with endangering other peoples’ lives.”) at the ACR power plant that just cut off water and … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Economy, Glenn Straub, Indiana, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Politics, Revel, The Strip | 1 Comment

War of words at Wynn; Resorts World a ‘go’

Posted on March 25, 2015 by David McKee

Efforts by the local press to cover the Wynn vs. Wynn scrum were pretty well obliterated this week by a one-two punch from the New York Times. Behind the “no girls allowed” treehouse mentality of the Wynn Resorts board lurks … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Fontainebleau, Genting, James Packer, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Foxwoods returns to Massachusetts … maybe

Posted on March 6, 2015 by David McKee

In the slow-simmering competition for a southeastern Massachusetts casino license, Foxwoods Resort Casino has just turned up the heat. It will wed spinster KG Urban, which brings a waterfront New Bedford site to the nuptials, while Foxwoods will provide the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Foxwoods, Horseracing, Illinois, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off

Building a better Cosmopolitan

Posted on February 20, 2015 by David McKee

Although awash in generalities, Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas CEO Bill McBeath did allow some form of insight into his plans for the resort. Allowing that casino-floor performance was “pretty anemic,” he hopes to make it more attractive to high rollers. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, history, MGM Mirage, Sports, The Strip | Comments Off

The new Siegel in town; The word on the Strip is “Fore!”

Posted on February 19, 2015 by David McKee

Any article that begins by described the late Star Trek: The Experience as “essentially weird” has one strike against it. (I can’t tell you how many former employees told me it was the best job they ever had.) Such is … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Colony Capital, Entertainment, Japan, MGM Mirage, New York, Politics, Singapore, Sports, The Strip, Westgate LV | 2 Comments

Straub’s time runs short; Smoke gets in Macao’s eyes

Posted on February 10, 2015 by David McKee

Glenn Straub may be $10 million the poorer after yet another deal for Revel has come apart at the seams. Straub wanted to expunge any obligations to Revel tenants. Federal courts would not let him. And, upon that impasse, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Downtown, Economy, Environment, George Maloof, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, history, Macau, Revel, Steve Wynn | 1 Comment

Super Bawl

Posted on January 28, 2015 by David McKee

Never mind that it’s one of the biggest weekends in Sin City, the National Football League continues to stick its fingers in its ears when it comes to casinos that dare whisper the words “Super Bowl.” Not only must Las Vegas … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Arizona, Economy, Geoff Freeman, Regulation, Sports, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

Adelson gives himself promotion; Making Macao family friendly

Posted on January 23, 2015 by David McKee

With Edward Tracy retiring and Rob Goldstein only undertaking the presidency of Sands China on an interim basis, Sheldon Adelson has named himself CEO of Sands China in addition to Las Vegas Sands. This is viewed as a positive move, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Economy, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn | Comments Off

Mohegan Sun ambushes Wynn

Posted on January 22, 2015 by David McKee

Pursuing by lawsuit what it could not win on merit, Mohegan Sun has piled onto the scrum of litigation against the Massachusetts Gaming Commission for having awarded a Boston-area casino license to Wynn Resorts (which had no comment). Mohegan Tribal Gaming … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Steve Wynn | 1 Comment