Category Archives: Atlantic City

Aquedud?; Trump, chump

Posted on January 19, 2012 by David McKee

I apologize for feeding you some incorrect info earlier when I erroneously stated that the Philadelphia market lost business (apparently to Atlantic City) last month. Nope, Santa Claus was good to every casino in the Keystone State, although he could … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Charity, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Genting, Harrah's, Jack Binion, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Tribal, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off on Aquedud?; Trump, chump

Meet Virginia McDowell, Part II: Tales of Trump

Posted on January 18, 2012 by David McKee

In terms of turning around Isle’s financial performance, do you feel the full 180 degrees have been achieved yet? We’ve had a couple off different priorities over the last few years, as far as our strategic initiatives. One was to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Harrah's, history, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Kentucky, Marketing, Missouri, Tourism, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Another domino wobbles; Western, R.I.P.; Fighting over pocket change?

Posted on January 17, 2012 by David McKee

Add South Carolina to the list of states that could be suddenly taking a more favorable view of casino gambling. What the United Keetowa Band of Cherokee Indians is pitching have to be compacted with Gov. Nikki Haley (R, right). … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Downtown, history, Internet gambling, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, South Carolina, Tamares Group, Tribal | 2 Comments

Belated Christmas presents

Posted on January 10, 2012 by David McKee

Good news is busting out all over, starting in the unlikeliest place … Atlantic City. Ye Olde Boardwalk was up 4% last month, its first revenue-positive month in 15 quarters. Even a 10% fall in table drop couldn’t put a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Genting, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Sunshine State sap

Posted on January 10, 2012 by David McKee

Backers of Florida casinos, working under the rubric of Associated Industries of Florida, evidently take voters down there for simpletons. Their ‘See Spot Run’ pitch for casino-based destination resorts describes something that sounds very much like Venelazzo or Wynncore, then … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Florida, history, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off on Sunshine State sap

Adelson: Whining our future; The online deluge

Posted on January 9, 2012 by David McKee

Apparently there’s no avoiding what has become the story of the day: Sheldon Adelson‘s $5 million dowry to presidential aspirant Newt Gingrich. It’s a gift that comes with a substantial pre-nup; if Gingrich falters in South Carolina, American Crossroads and … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Economy, Election, Florida, George Maloof, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Hooters, International, Internet gambling, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, South Carolina, The Strip, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Pennsylvania gives thanks; Aqueduct, superstar

Posted on December 16, 2011 by David McKee

This has been a terrible fortnight for S&G but, hey, we’ve got some good news from Pennsylvania. Last month’s gambling revenues were reported this morning and they’re up 12%, thanks mostly to the growing popularity of table games. (Atlantic City, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, Cannery Casino Resorts, Current, Economy, Genting, IGT, Illinois, Macau, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Wall Street, WMS Industries | 2 Comments

Borgata or bust; ‘LVH,’ Jacko & Sinead

Posted on December 9, 2011 by David McKee

First, the good news: Borgata — accounting for more than one-fifth of the entire market share — continues to vastly outpace the rest of the Atlantic City market. Last month, it raked in $50 million for a 2% gain, driven … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cirque du Soleil, Colony Capital, Current, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Laughlin, MGM Mirage, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Sanguine Sands; Genting vs. Islamofascism; Arkansas vs. Missouri

Posted on November 23, 2011 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands dispatched its international overseer, Rob Goldstein (right) and sidekick Dan Briggs to New York as envoys to Wall Street. As reported by J.P. Morgan‘s Joseph Greff, Sands’ outlook is sanguine, particularly with regard to the Singapore and … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Economy, Election, Florida, Genting, Goldman Sachs, International, Macau, Massachusetts, Missouri, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Taxes, Texas, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Ameristar goes East; Colony’s secret formula revealed

Posted on November 17, 2011 by David McKee

Yesterday morning, Wall Street was advised by Ameristar Casinos that the latter had forked over $16 million for land in Springfield, Massachusetts. Given that Ameristar has been in extreme-caution mode since the death of founder Craig H. Neilsen and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Architecture, Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Current, Detroit, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Movies, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | 3 Comments

Foxwoods Philly: It’s history

Posted on November 11, 2011 by David McKee

Barring a huge reversal from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, the long and mostly inept saga of Foxwoods Philadelphia has finally come to a conclusion. The politically juiced-in trio of Ron Rubin, Lewis Katz and Comcast Chairman Ed Snider (collectively known … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Don Barden, Harrah's, Illinois, Lyle Berman, Maryland, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal | 1 Comment

Atlantic City: Fertitta struggling, Gomes triumphing, Boyd steady

Posted on November 10, 2011 by David McKee

No surprise that Borgata remains in a class by itself among Atlantic City resorts. It finished October at 0.0% deviance from last year, as flat as “flat” can be. The lone gainer in the market was Resorts Atlantic City, up … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Current, Dennis Gomes, Detroit, Donald Trump, Economy, Genting, Harrah's, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, New York, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Rock, Paper, City; Generosity at Caesars, shopping at Sands

Posted on November 2, 2011 by David McKee

While Massachusetts lawmakers sharpen their scissors in order to cut and paste two versions of the Lege’s casino-enabling bill, the city of Holyoke is happy to find itself between Hard Rock International and Paper City Development. The partnership has its … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Detroit, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Maine, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Going home again; Hotel Hell: The sequel

Posted on November 1, 2011 by David McKee

Here’s a casino-development story with several personal angles. When I lived in Minneapolis and wrote from the since-defunct Twin Cities Reader, my publisher was R.T. Rybak. Now he’s mayor of the city and is trying to hold onto the perennially … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Culinary Union, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Genting, Harrah's, Herbst Gaming, Isle of Capri, Lyle Berman, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism | 4 Comments

Domino effects

Posted on October 31, 2011 by David McKee

“Prior to the official opening, a 60-minute opening ceremony was held outside of the main entrance to the casino, where local and state politicians patted each other on the back for finally getting the casino opened, a mere 10 years … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Culinary Union, Current, Detroit, Economy, Election, Florida, Harrah's, Horseracing, Isle of Capri, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Singapore, Slot routes, Taxes, Tourism, Tribal | 1 Comment

Is MGM Grand Detroit too successful for its own good?

Posted on October 28, 2011 by David McKee

From a labor-relations standpoint, yes. Although workers at Greektown Casino were quick to ratify a new collective-bargaining agreement, closely followed by MotorCity Casino, it was a different story across town. Employees of MGM Grand Detroit decided their union reps were … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Detroit, Economy, Election, MGM Mirage, New York, Penn National, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Tourism, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Detroit: one down, two to go

Posted on October 25, 2011 by David McKee

Workers at eternally struggling Greektown Casino didn’t need a translator to read the handwriting on the wall. Nearly 75% of them voted to ratify a new union contract last night. In return for modest financial incentives, employees will be shouldering … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Culinary Union, Current, Detroit, Economy, The Strip | Comments Off on Detroit: one down, two to go

iTrump, scandal, Sachs and tax

Posted on October 21, 2011 by David McKee

Cyber-Trump. Faux ex-presidential candidate and NBC-TV comedy star Donald Trump has made his views known on Internet gambling … like anybody cares. Prepare for a shocker, folks. The Donald is — Gasp! — in favor of it. There was, of … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Cretins, Culinary Union, Current, Detroit, Don Barden, Economy, Election, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism | 1 Comment

ColSux: They’re outta here!; Accord in Motown; Murren changes course

Posted on October 20, 2011 by David McKee

Those last few remnants of Columbia Sussex CEO William J. Yung‘s former casino empire continue to topple about him. The Kentucky-based oligarch, whose properties are notorious for their poor working conditions and even worse maintenance, has been reaping a gargantuan … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Culinary Union, Dan Lee, Detroit, Donald Trump, Economy, Environment, G2E, Harrah's, International, Lake Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, Louisiana, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Pets, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Sports, Texas, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on ColSux: They’re outta here!; Accord in Motown; Murren changes course

Florida: Bend over & grab; Slots on the loose in A.C.

Posted on October 17, 2011 by David McKee

Background investigations in Nevada — at least before the budgetary axe starting falling on the Nevada Gaming Control Board — were said to be an indescribably unpleasant experience. As award-winning local columnist Michael Green once pointed out, when Gary Loveman … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Entertainment, Florida, Genting, Harrah's, Marketing, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Florida: Bend over & grab; Slots on the loose in A.C.