Category Archives: Boyd Gaming

PNK piquing little interest; B.S. walks

Posted on December 26, 2012 by David McKee

‘Twas the day after Christmas and all through the house, shareholders were beginning to cool on the value of Ameristar Casinos stock. It closed ever so slightly down from Pinnacle Entertainment‘s $26.50/share offer price. Perhaps I was wrong and $869 … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, California, Current, Goldman Sachs, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, Illinois, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Plaza, Regulation, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip, Wall Street, Warner Gaming | 1 Comment

A Christmas wish list …

Posted on December 24, 2012 by David McKee

For those of us who missed it this year, the best Christmas tradition of which I know. First and most importantly … To you, the reader, who makes this possible, a year of happiness, health and wealth, whether material, intellectual … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dan Gilbert, Don Barden, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, IGT, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Revel, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, TV, Wayne F. Newton | 5 Comments

Pinnacle punks Penn, swipes Ameristar

Posted on December 21, 2012 by David McKee

We’ve learned two important things today. One, that the Mayan calendar is not the most reliable predictor of events. Two, that Ameristar Casinos‘ on-again/off-again talk about putting itself up for sale was back in “on” mode. Before hardly anybody got … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Columbia Sussex, Cordish Co., Current, Dan Lee, Economy, Election, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Missouri, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Texas, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Blackout at the Plaza

Posted on December 14, 2012 by David McKee

S&G has learned — and LVA staffers have confirmed — that all main-stage shows at Tamares Group‘s flagship Plaza Hotel have gone dark until further notice. A promotional appearance by Best Little Whorehouse in Texas cast members at South Point, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Dining, Downtown, Entertainment, Environment, Isle of Capri, Mississippi, Tamares Group, Tilman Fertitta | 4 Comments

B (Dis)Connected

Posted on December 13, 2012 by David McKee

After months upon months of unilateral disarmament, Boyd Gaming has decided to fight back against Station Casinos‘ hugely successful “We Love Locals” TV campaign. (We could discuss why Station felt the need to reassure Las Vegans that it liked them, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Marketing, Station Casinos, TV | 4 Comments

Capitol Hill and Internet poker: Too little, too late (as usual)

Posted on November 28, 2012 by David McKee

Despite support from an unlikely coalition that includes the American Gaming Association, the National Fraternal Order of Police and the National Association of Convenience Stores, federal legalization of Internet poker seems no closer in the 2012 lame duck session of … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Harry Reid, International, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation | 3 Comments

Louisiana be crazy; Maryland: If you can’t beat ’em …; Revel on the ropes

Posted on November 15, 2012 by David McKee

Casino revenues in the Pelican State were up 2% last month, entirely upon the strength of Pinnacle Entertainment‘s L’Auberge Baton Rouge (above). It propelled the Baton Rouge market 58% upward, grossing $11 million at the expense of Argosy Baton Rouge … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Cordish Co., Current, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Revel, Taxes, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Wake up with Loveman; More election aftermath

Posted on November 8, 2012 by David McKee

No sooner were Wall Street analysts uttering serious concerns about a slow post-Sandy recovery for Atlantic City than who should pop up on CBS This Morning but Caesars Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman, doing damage control … It’s hard to decide … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Dan Gilbert, Donald Trump, Economy, Environment, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Transportation, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off on Wake up with Loveman; More election aftermath

Atlantic City open for business

Posted on November 2, 2012 by David McKee

Actually, a few hardy souls — like fearless restaurateur Montgomery Dahm, who was semper fidelis to his fellow citizens — never closed. Add Tun Tavern to your list of must-see stops when you visit Atlantic City. Ditto Ducktown Tavern & … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Dining, Economy, Election, Environment, Florida, Racinos, Revel, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Third-quarter blahs: Ameristar, Boyd, MGM; Crackdown in Alabama

Posted on November 2, 2012 by David McKee

While nobody quite matched the $221 million loss posted by Caesars Entertainment, the gaming industry didn’t lack for underachievers in 3Q12, thanks largely to softness in domestic casino markets. Ameristar Casinos reported a $16 million profit, despite a 2% revenue … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Ameristar, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Colorado, Current, Detroit, Downtown, Environment, Harrah's, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Third-quarter blahs: Ameristar, Boyd, MGM; Crackdown in Alabama

Zynga counterattacks; Fail, Caesar; Adelson honored

Posted on October 25, 2012 by David McKee

If the Stalin organs of the Zynga PR battery had fallen silent, it was only to reload. As predicted yesterday, Zynga is regrouping around Internet gambling as its new strategy of choice. Zynga unleashed “announced an exclusive partnership [with Bwin.party] … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Dan Lee, Donald Trump, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal | 1 Comment

He shoots, he scores!; Zynga zinged; Hill puts leg before wicket

Posted on October 24, 2012 by David McKee

Monday’s interview with Interblock global sales supremo Tom O’Brien (right) yielded some passing observations that are probably too peripheral for my upcoming Casino Life piece … but perfect for S&G. Interblock maintains field offices in Las Vegas (soon to become … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Boyd Gaming, Current, Election, Genting, IGT, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Macau, Regulation, Singapore, Technology, TV | Comments Off on He shoots, he scores!; Zynga zinged; Hill puts leg before wicket

Boyd Gaming: Stardust memories

Posted on October 23, 2012 by David McKee

Shortly before Global Gaming Expo, I had a chance to sit down with Boyd Gaming CEO Keith Smith and query him on the company’s growth strategy, which will soon plant the Boyd flag in Kansas and Iowa. While many casino … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Boyd Gaming, Economy, G2E, Iowa, Kansas, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, The Strip | 5 Comments

Pinnacle saves September in Louisiana; Echelon under wraps; The red-headed stepkids of Station, Sands and Caesars

Posted on October 18, 2012 by David McKee

Folks down in the Pelican State had better things to do than gamble last month … like clean up after Hurricane Isaac. This might account for a 5% year/year decline in casino revenues. Louisiana‘s gambling venues grossed $200 million last … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Florida, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Wall Street | Comments Off on Pinnacle saves September in Louisiana; Echelon under wraps; The red-headed stepkids of Station, Sands and Caesars

Parlez-vous *faux pas*?

Posted on October 18, 2012 by David McKee

OK, so Cirque du Soleil‘s Zarkana is certain to be a slam-dunk at the box office and a better financial performer than its predecessor, the unlamented Viva Elvis. However, does anyone find this invitation a bit culturally off-key? English and … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Current, Entertainment, Hooters, International, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Station Casinos, The Strip | 1 Comment

Nevada disappoints but Atlantic City bombs

Posted on October 12, 2012 by David McKee

If there’s a saving grace to August’s rather glum Nevada gambling win (-3%), it’s that the month ended on a Friday, so there may be some as-yet-unreported slot revenue that will fluff the September results. (That optimism must be offset, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Laughlin, North Las Vegas, Politics, Racinos, Revel, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Revenue roundup: Ohio, Maryland, Missouri & Indiana; Mohegan Sun snow job

Posted on October 11, 2012 by David McKee

Let’s start with the new kid on the block … Ohio: September saw Ohio‘s two casinos and one racino rake in an aggregate $50 million. The ‘novelty factor’ has waned, along with vacation time, since June’s $58 million haul, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Current, Dan Gilbert, Don Barden, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, MTR Gaming, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Taxes, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street, West Virginia | 2 Comments

Illinois: Cause for optimism?

Posted on October 5, 2012 by David McKee

Late last month, Bally Technologies landed a massive order of 4,000+ video poker terminals — VGTs in industry parlance — in Illinois. Y’all remember slot routes in the Land of Lincoln? They’ve taken so long to be put into place … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Boyd Gaming, Current, Harrah's, Illinois, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Politics, Slot routes | Comments Off on Illinois: Cause for optimism?

Freudian slip and fall; Loveman’s shabby show

Posted on October 3, 2012 by David McKee

One week after he became S&G‘s Casino Owner of the Year for his “george” treatment of Green Bay Packer fans, Derek Stevens stepped on a PR banana peel. His Golden Gate and The D casinos are holding monthly drawings whose … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Ohio, Sports, The Strip, Wall Street | 6 Comments

Gomes alone; Mohegan Sun pink-slip-slidin’ away

Posted on September 28, 2012 by David McKee

Former Resorts Atlantic City underboss Aaron Gomes might want to change his travel plans. Scarcely had he announced his departure from his late father’s casino than his new gig, Sydney‘s troubled Star Casino, looks very doubtful. Gomes had planned to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, Current, Dennis Gomes, Economy, Genting, Marketing, Massachusetts, New York, Racinos, Regulation, Tourism, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Gomes alone; Mohegan Sun pink-slip-slidin’ away