Category Archives: Architecture

Atlantic City faces uncertain 2015; Wynn remakes Boston look

Posted on December 29, 2014 by David McKee

It can’t get any worse. That’s the cautious mantra emerging from the Boardwalk, where Atlantic City shed four casinos last year. Trump Taj Mahal is on life support provided by Carl Icahn and Caesars Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman has cast … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Economy, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Regulation, Revel, Steve Wynn, Technology, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off

Hello, Yellow Brick Road; Packer’s big plan

Posted on December 22, 2014 by David McKee

New York‘s Oneida Indian Nation was quick to counterpunch at last week’s private-sector casino expansion. They plan to open 436-slot, 250-job Yellow Brick Road Casino in L. Frank Baum‘s hometown of Chittenango, N.Y. Thanks to the terms of their compact with the state, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Australia, Harrah's, Horseracing, James Packer, Marketing, MGM Mirage, New York, Racinos, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

The genius of Wynn; Wilmot charges ahead

Posted on December 19, 2014 by David McKee

Steve Wynn doesn’t wrap his hotels in bronze glass just because he likes the color. No, he has determined that the light passing through it makes his guests look more attractive “in rooms that have warmer light … One of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Entertainment, LVCVA, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Tourism | Comments Off

Blast from the past

Posted on December 19, 2014 by David McKee

It’s time to revive the S&G tradition of a Friday film festival. Thanks to Bellagio Director of Productions Frank Coccaro for pointing the way to these nostalgia-inducing clips.

Posted in Architecture, Downtown, history, MGM Mirage | Comments Off

Dotty’s loses, Genting hesitates, Penn adapts

Posted on December 4, 2014 by David McKee

Look at that picture. Seriously, keep looking. Does that seem like a tavern to you? A casino? Some curious hybrid? For years the Clark County Commission has been grappling with the vexing questions posed by the rapidly growing Dotty’s chain of … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cordish Co., Dotty's, Downtown, Genting, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Station Casinos, The Strip | 2 Comments

Flat at the Strat and other Case Bets

Posted on November 18, 2014 by David McKee

What a difference a year makes for American Casino & Entertainment Properties. Twelve months ago it was losing $9 million. In 3Q14, it posted a $600K profit. The reversal was achieved, in part, by squeezing customers with higher room rates … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boulder Strip, Columbia Sussex, Kentucky, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, North Las Vegas, Reno, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off

The Philadelphia experiment; Wynn mellows

Posted on November 17, 2014 by David McKee

We’re on the eve of the day the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is expected to issue the fifth license for the Philadelphia area. It has to be awarded by a convoluted process called a “qualified majority,” whereby all four legislative … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cordish Co., Economy, Genting, Harrah's, James Packer, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off

Rough times in Macao; The NFL’s double standard

Posted on November 3, 2014 by David McKee

At least in relative, this month is shaping up as the worst in Macao‘s casino history, with the gambling industry looking at a 23% drop in gross receipts. And when 80% of your economy is predicated on casinos, you’ve got … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, South Korea, Sports, Steve Wynn | 2 Comments

Wynn confounded; Sands gets tough

Posted on October 29, 2014 by David McKee

During yesterday’s call with gaming analysts, Steve Wynn admitted to being “confused” by a Macao gaming market where revenues in October could fall 20%-23%. “The new regulations in smoking, the turmoil in Hong Kong lately, in the month of October, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Macau, Massachusetts, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off

Story time with Grandpa Sheldon

Posted on October 28, 2014 by David McKee

Although he’s almost upstaged by his toupee, Sheldon Adelson delivers a fairly absorbing history of the world according to Sheldon.

Posted in Architecture, Internet gambling, Macau, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore | 1 Comment

Reading Loveman’s tea leaves

Posted on October 23, 2014 by David McKee

Gary Loveman has made a lot of mistakes as Caesars Entertainment CEO but building a convention center in Atlantic City wasn’t one of them. In fact, it’s been one of his better ideas. While he was in town to put … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 2 Comments

Packer’s complaint; Bally bloodbath

Posted on October 16, 2014 by David McKee

James Packer‘s run of bad luck has crossed the Pacific Ocean and infected his Australian casinos. Faced with soft numbers at Crown Resorts, he blamed players, exclaiming, “The punters are killing us!” Packer was also put on the defensive by … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Bally Technologies, Economy, International, James Packer, Sam Nazarian, Scientific Games, The Strip, Wall Street, Westgate LV | Comments Off

Funeral garb for Harmon; Death blow to Dotty’s?

Posted on October 8, 2014 by David McKee

Although it’s there to protect pedestrian, it’s fitting that the corpse of Harmon Hotel is shrouded in widow’s weeds. MGM Resorts International will be holding a protracted funeral for the first Las Vegas hotel to close without ever housing a … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Dotty's, Golden Gaming, International, MGM Mirage, Politics, Singapore, Station Casinos, The Strip | 1 Comment

Sanguine at Penn; Serrano goes Italian

Posted on October 1, 2014 by David McKee

Executives from Penn National Gaming were hosted by J.P. Morgan analysts this week at Global Gaming Expo and gave a fairly mellow outlook on business. Nationally, commerce is seen as stabilizing but not having bottomed out yet, although Penn is “holding … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Dining, Election, G2E, Harrah's, history, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off

Wynn basks in victory

Posted on September 24, 2014 by David McKee

Having crushed his opposition in the Boston area, Steve Wynn can afford to be magnanimous — as he was in a flying visit to Beantown to mend fences and bask in the glow of victory … and to give a … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Election, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Transportation | Comments Off

Why is this man smiling?; The daffy world of Glenn Straub

Posted on September 19, 2014 by David McKee

“Restructure! Restructure! Restructure! That’s all he ever does because that’s all he can do!” That was a friend of mine, speaking in exasperation of Donald Trump. However, today the remark could be updated to refer to Gary Loveman. The CEO … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, IGT, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Revel, Transportation, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Boston: Wynn wins!; Changing horses at Boyd

Posted on September 17, 2014 by David McKee

Although the Massachusetts Gaming Commission put Wynn Resorts through the wringer this past week, when the chips were down Wynn emerged the winner by a 3-1 vote. The positive verdict comes with some conditions, so a second vote will be … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Election, Horseracing, Macau, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off

Boston: Wynn takes a stand

Posted on September 16, 2014 by David McKee

Friday will go down as the day Steve Wynn told the Massachusetts Gaming Commission where it could get off. In a letter to the commissioners, Wynn “said Wynn Resorts would not alter the design of their proposed 27-story hotel tower in … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, history, Maine, Marketing, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Transportation | Comments Off

‘I’m poorer than you are’

Posted on September 15, 2014 by David McKee

That’s the argument being reiterated in New York State, as impoverished cities and their would-be casino saviors fight for over one or (more likely) two casino licenses. Case in point: Newburgh, where Mayor Judy Kennedy (left) has become a media celebrity of … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Economy, Genting, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, New York, Regulation, Steve Wynn | Comments Off

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 11, 2014 by David McKee

“The expansive villa is truly the pinnacle of the Nobu Hotel. We wanted to further showcase and interpret the Nobu aesthetic and designed a luxurious and modern environment inspired by Japanese art, design and culture.” — Shawn Sullivan, Rockwell Group studio … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Harrah's, The Strip | Comments Off