Category Archives: Boyd Gaming

More bankruptcies predicted

Posted on August 12, 2008 by David McKee

Financial Week weighs in the casino industry's current doldrums, amplifying the newly recurrent refrain that the revenue diversification which we thought would shield Las Vegas and other destination markets from the bad times is instead increasing its exposure to same. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Herbst Gaming, Indiana, Morgans Hotel Group, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 11, 2008 by David McKee

"Something which is fairly unique to a city the size of Las Vegas, is that the decisions of one or two individuals have the power to destabilize the entire city. We’re a one trick town … with only a few … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, The Strip | Comments Off

Case Bets: Luxor, Excalibur, Cannery East

Posted on August 8, 2008 by David McKee

MGM Mirage has provided a little more insight into just how much it’s doing in terms of spending on renovations to Luxor and Excalibur. “We are spending around $100M in improvements on each of these properties this year, and we … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, James Packer, MGM Mirage, The Strip | Comments Off

Isle reduces risk in Florida

Posted on August 5, 2008 by David McKee

As we’re seeing, it’s not always a bad idea to scrap or delay an expansion. Such is the case with Isle of Capri‘s decision to allow the expiration of an agreement with Florida Gaming Corp. to turn Miami Jai-Alai into … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Florida, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Tribal | Comments Off

Man Bites Dog Dept.

Posted on August 4, 2008 by David McKee

A Republican senator running for reelection on the strength of his good relationship with … Sen. Barack Obama?!? Between that and the strong possibility that Sen. John McCain could win the presidency and yet see the national GOP sustain tremendous … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Election, Politics, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Boyd Has Brass Balls

Posted on August 1, 2008 by David McKee

Yesterday, I got a hint that Something Big was going to be announced in today’s Boyd Gaming earnings report. Little did I suspect it would be the completely unprecedented (in my recollection) step of halting a megaresort project in mid-stream … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Morgans Hotel Group, Riviera, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Ameristar: What makes sense?

Posted on August 1, 2008 by David McKee

Perhaps this is what happens when you outsource your business coverage to India, but Reuters had a story yesterday positing MGM Mirage and Harrah's Entertainment as two of the likeliest buyers for Ameristar Casinos. Uhhh, I hate to break this … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Harrah's, James Packer, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Lamest casino promotion. Ever

Posted on July 29, 2008 by David McKee

Not long ago, I received an oversized postcard in the mail from Eastside Cannery Casino Hotel (or E-Can, in LVA parlance). They want me to go to www.cannerycasinos.com and sign up for a players’ card. And what do I get … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, International, Michael Gaughan | Comments Off

Donald Trump: ass; David Snow: hero

Posted on July 28, 2008 by David McKee

Don't you wish you lived in whatever parallel universe is inhabited by Donald J. Trump? If you did, you could claim that your 60%+ unoccupied Trump International — which just sacked 20% of its workforce — is an incredible success. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, MGM Mirage, Regulation, The Strip | Comments Off

Gold Coast buffet update, etc.

Posted on July 21, 2008 by David McKee

I just heard from Boyd Gaming and they say that the corned beef/chicken choice at the Gold Coast buffet's carving station was the luck of the draw and not indicative of a cutback. Roast beef, turkey and brisket are still … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Columbia Sussex, Lake Tahoe, MGM Mirage, Movies | Comments Off

Gold Coast buffet

Posted on July 18, 2008 by David McKee

Our ongoing buffet crawl took us to the Gold Coast last night. After applying a Pocketbook of Values coupon, it came out to $11.80 for two people, which definitely counts as a bargain play, provided you manage your expectations somewhat. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Mississippi, Wall Street | Comments Off

Good riddance at Boyd

Posted on July 18, 2008 by David McKee

Former Nevada Athletic Commission chairman. Former Boyd Gaming director. Member of the 197-person "Midnight Jim" Gibbons transition team. Out-and-out disgrace. That'd be Luther Mack, who walked the plank at Boyd Gaming last week, not (as I speculated at the time) … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Mississippi, Regulation | Comments Off

The Ameristar war begins

Posted on July 17, 2008 by David McKee

Just a quick hit on my way out the door to spend an evening prepping for The Dark Knight by watching Batman Begins … Ameristar's in play. No news flash there and, for the life of me, I can't figure … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Columbia Sussex, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Isle of Capri, James Packer, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Case Bets: Orleans, El Cortez, Harrah's arena

Posted on July 16, 2008 by David McKee

I’m in the second day of stomach flu, so small portions are advisable … A “juice job” that followed two fatalities at The Orleans has come under federal scrutiny. In an unrelated development, Boyd Gaming board member Luther Mack has … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Harrah's | Comments Off

Indiana: It sure could be worse

Posted on July 8, 2008 by David McKee

… because you could be Illinois, where June gambling revenues went into the toilet (-21%). Which isn’t to say that Indiana‘s numbers look good only by comparison. In fact, the Hoosier State may be benefiting from the Land of Lincoln’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Columbia Sussex, Harrah's, Indiana, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Harrah's: Just as predicted

Posted on July 2, 2008 by David McKee

… it's servicing its debt by issuing more debt. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, as it will save the company $100 million. "What is more curious, if not troubling, is the reference to retiring debt taking advantage of current … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Harrah's, Wall Street | Comments Off

Something's brewing on Koval; Echelon goes underground

Posted on June 26, 2008 by David McKee

Harrah’s Entertainment continues to demolish the low-rise apartment dwellings it accumulated behind its Barbary Coast/Flamingo/Imperial Palace/Harrah’s Las Vegas cluster of properties. Also, a shiny new fleet of construction trailers now sits where Bourbon Street‘s hotel tower once did. Could we … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Movies, The Strip | Comments Off

Good news for the Boardwalk

Posted on June 11, 2008 by David McKee

May 2008 was only the fourth-best May in Atlantic City’s 30-year history of casino gambling, but it was good enough to qualify as cause for celebration. The New Jersey Casino Control Commission has the full breakout, from which a few … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Pennsylvania, Regulation | Comments Off

Not smoking stunts your (revenue) growth

Posted on May 7, 2008 by David McKee

Let's get one thing clear: Smoking is a noxious habit that's likely to kill you and certain to alienate other people, in my opinion. (I had two grandparents who smoked until the air turned blue, then smoked some more, which … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Harrah's, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off

Same as it ever was?

Posted on May 2, 2008 by David McKee

Nothing lasts. I’m finding that out the hard way as the acid in the paper labels in my CD collection eat through the discs, gradually rendering them unplayable and sending me into a race between preservation and catastrophe. (When last … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Columbia Sussex, Harrah's, Herbst Gaming, Station Casinos, The Strip | Comments Off