Category Archives: Boyd Gaming

Revel: It was all downhill from here

Posted on April 8, 2013 by David McKee

Yeah, Beyoncé is a hard act to follow but who knew that Revel would fall so far, so fast? So enjoy this brief moment when things looked so very promising* … in the meantime, I’m running down leads on some … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Dining, Downtown, Entertainment, Gary Goett, history, Michael Gaughan, North Las Vegas, Revel, Station Casinos, Tamares Group | 6 Comments

Illinois: Recovering or grasping a branch?

Posted on April 6, 2013 by David McKee

We’re at a point where we can finally say that Illinois‘ colossal slide in casino revenues has ended … at least until people get into the habit of playing video poker in bars. Reckless legislators like Rep. Lou Lang (D), … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Slot routes | 1 Comment

Before the fall …

Posted on March 20, 2013 by David McKee

Eight years later, Steve Wynn is still firmly ensconced at the top. Gary Loveman is hanging on for dear life and George Maloof is a sad-faced figurehead. And $2.7 billion for a casino resort (Wynn Las Vegas) looks like frugality … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Economy, Fontainebleau, George Maloof, history, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Somebody Sent Us These II

Posted on March 20, 2013 by David McKee

Continuing a very occasional series, here are some casino-related ephemera that have washed up on the shores of cyberspace. For instance … … only about 25% of the rooms at the newly announced Gansevoort Las Vegas will enjoy this particular … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Australia, Boyd Gaming, Current, Dining, Economy, Genting, Harrah's, International, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 1 Comment

Revel: Don’t cry for him, Argentina; Are Twinkies the new Caesars?

Posted on March 13, 2013 by David McKee

Revel Atlantic City‘s day of deliverance is at hand: CEO Kevin DeSanctis has been ousted, along with Chief Investment Officer Michael Garrity. But there’s no need to shed tears over their fate. They will continue “developing amenity projects” for Revel … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Current, Dennis Gomes, Dining, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Movies, Station Casinos, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 2 Comments

North Strip: SLS yes, F-blew no, Riviera maybe

Posted on March 7, 2013 by David McKee

S&G contributor JeffInOKC returns from a too-long absence with some thoughts on one of our favorite topics, the North Strip … It is common for us to hear the term “Too Big to Fail,” but I think the true story … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Fontainebleau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Riviera, Sahara, Sam Nazarian, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism | 4 Comments

Resorts World LV: Look familiar?

Posted on March 5, 2013 by David McKee

A reader in Arizona asks the question that was on my mind yesterday and probably yours, too: “Is it just me … or does this look like just a copper/gold-colored version of CityCenter?” Agreed! (With a large helping of Mandalay … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Current, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Genting, history, Macau, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Movies, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | 3 Comments

Echelon no more: Boyd humiliated yet again; Caesars pulls another plug

Posted on March 4, 2013 by David McKee

If you’ll pardon my vulgarity, shit got real while I was tied up with other projects. Last week’s sale of excess baggage Dania Jai-Alai in Florida was just a tiny prelude to this morning’s blockbuster: Echelon is kaput. Instead, Boyd Gaming … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Current, Downtown, Economy, Environment, Florida, Fontainebleau, Genting, Harrah's, history, International, Kansas, Mississippi, New York, Plaza, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sahara, Singapore, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street | 7 Comments

Pinnacle expands, Boyd loses face

Posted on February 28, 2013 by David McKee

Jeez, I go on sabbatical to attend to other writing commitments and hella history breaks loose: Internet gambling is now the law of Nevada and New Jersey (so much for federal legalization being “just around the corner,” huh?), Caesars Entertainment … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Florida, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, The Strip | 4 Comments

An indispensable man; MGM’s two-front campaign

Posted on February 14, 2013 by David McKee

French statesman Georges Clemenceau once dryly remarked that the cemeteries are full of indispensable men. Clemenceau’s quip obtained fresh sting this week when the gaming world lost Dr. William Eadington. The industry scholar has been struggling with cancer for a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, history, Internet gambling, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Penn National, Problem gambling, Regulation, Revel, Stanley Ho, Technology | Comments Off

MGM back into Atlantic City?

Posted on February 8, 2013 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International has a 50% stake in Borgata that nobody wants … except MGM. In bolstering move that Atlantic City sorely needs, MGM may get to reclaim its half of the resort (with the support of partner Boyd Gaming), … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Election, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Regulation, Stanley Ho, The Mob | 1 Comment

December in Vegas: The house won; Sheldon of La Mancha

Posted on February 8, 2013 by David McKee

There are gambling markets … and then there’s Las Vegas. Players opened their wallets — oh, did they ever — and lost big. Casino winnings on the Las Vegas Strip were up 13.5% and Nevada casinos overall did 10% better … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Current, International, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Marketing, Mesquite, North Las Vegas, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Ameristar: No surprises; Illinois, Iowa and Ohio all soft

Posted on February 7, 2013 by David McKee

A preview of Ameristar Casinos‘ 4Q12 report draws an about-what-we-expected reaction from Joseph Greff of J.P. Morgan. Ameristar narrowly missed most of Wall Street‘s expectations, a result Greff partially attributes to “sluggish … regional gaming spend.” Hardest-hit by the competition … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Colorado, Current, Detroit, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Kansas, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Missouri, MTR Gaming, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment | Comments Off

Caesars: Cui bono?; Loveman woos Britney

Posted on February 6, 2013 by David McKee

Our question for the day is, “Who benefits?” Taking the long view of Caesars Entertainment to bundle a mixed bag of Planet Hollywood, its-casino-to-be in Baltimore and Caesars Interactive, in whose interest is it to purchase minority stakes, since CEO … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dan Gilbert, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Planet Hollywood, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

If Gary Loveman ran America … plus the usual Trump mockery

Posted on January 24, 2013 by David McKee

That’s essentially the ‘what if’ scenario taken on by Las Vegas Sun columnist J. Patrick Coolican (virtually the only person left at the Sun who’s worth reading). He’s weighed the pros and cons of the Loveman Gang, er, Business Roundtable … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, Massachusetts, The Strip | 3 Comments

Boyd tightens belt; Detroit defies Ohio threat; Tilman makes a boo-boo

Posted on January 23, 2013 by David McKee

It’s time to pay the piper for Boyd Gaming‘s $1.5 billion takeover of Peninsula Gaming and Boyd employees are the first ones feeling the pinch. Three vice presidents — including 13-year Boyd veteran Dan Stark — and roughly 250 employees … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Iowa, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Revel, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Hollywood, we have a problem; The Marrandino mystery

Posted on January 11, 2013 by David McKee

Ohio casinos had a below-average December, although the blow was softened by table hold of — YEOW! — 23%. That’s borderline-astronomical compared to Las Vegas averages for 2004-2011 period. It’ll help make up for slot revenues that suggest, with six … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Current, Dan Gilbert, Economy, Harrah's, Horseracing, Maryland, MTR Gaming, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Wall Street | 3 Comments

November in Vegas: The house lost; Players jilt Caesars in A.C.

Posted on January 10, 2013 by David McKee

There’s no other way of saying it (although many are trying). Strip casinos got their clocks cleaned in November as Lady Luck favored the punters, not the house. A 13% dropoff on the Strip was driven by a perfect storm … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, North Las Vegas, Revel, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 5 Comments

MGM Cotai clears final barrier; devil in the Maryland details

Posted on January 9, 2013 by David McKee

Although the government of Macao enjoys nothing better than to make casino owners wait and fidget for their land leases to be “gazetted,” today is MGM Resorts International‘s lucky day. MGM China received final approval for its Cotai Strip megaresort. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, Current, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off

Exit Fahrenkopf, enter … ?

Posted on January 7, 2013 by David McKee

After a long (17 years) and eventful tenure at the top of the American Gaming Association, President Frank J. Fahrenkopf is calling it a day. On June 30, he hands over the reins to a successor as yet to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Boyd Gaming, Current, Florida, G2E, Internet gambling, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | 2 Comments