Category Archives: Columbia Sussex

Need casino furniture, cheap?

Posted on March 13, 2008 by David McKee

When I visited Detroit, the official position of MGM Grand Detroit was that its vacated temporary casino (formerly an IRS building) could be re-activated as a casino, if MGM so chose. I guess they chose otherwise. Yes, this roulette table … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Detroit, Downtown, Florida, Louisiana, Tribal | Comments Off on Need casino furniture, cheap?

Stat of the Week

Posted on March 13, 2008 by David McKee

According to a report filed by private detective Jim Perry of Perry Investigations, on the evening of Sept. 1, 2007, he spent two hours conducting surveillance at the Tropicana Resort & Casino, between 8:15 and 10:15 p.m. During that time, … Continue reading →

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This week in Columbia Sussex

Posted on March 11, 2008 by David McKee

"Things are a little murky." That's how the Cincinnati Enquirer describes the Did-he-or-didn't-he issue of whether Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear met with million-dollar booster and Columbia Sussex CEO William Yung III, whose desire for a Cincinnati-area casino is the worst-kept … Continue reading →

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Atlantic City, the glass half-full

Posted on March 10, 2008 by David McKee

Normally a 1.5% jump in casino revenue wouldn’t be cause for dancing in the streets and maybe today’s numbers aren’t reason to get carried away. Given that there’s a quadrennial aberration (i.e., Feb. 29) in play, the +0.1% in slot … Continue reading →

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Treasure hunt for Columbia Sussex story

Posted on March 7, 2008 by David McKee

A lengthy item on the latest twists and turns in the Columbia Sussex saga, begun Wednesday and finished today, has — through a quirk of our blogging software — posted not as the most recent item but somewhere over on … Continue reading →

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'Sin Fund' falls upon evil days

Posted on March 5, 2008 by David McKee

Not so long ago, journalists like yours truly, were hailing the early success of the Ladenburg Thalmann Gaming & Casino Investment Fund (GACFX). Unfortunately, since its apogee in the fall of last year GACFX has been in a steep decline, … Continue reading →

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Isle: Goldstein out, Perry in; Trump pummeled

Posted on March 5, 2008 by David McKee

Isle of Capri Casinos announced widening Y/Y losses today, along with the retirement of CEO Bernard Goldstein after 16 years at the helm. He gives way to board member James Perry, former CEO of Argosy Gaming and (briefly) Trump Entertainment. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Donald Trump, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Marketing, Mississippi, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Singapore, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Columbia Sussex strikes back

Posted on March 5, 2008 by David McKee

This could become a Hammer Studios-esque series of updates. Just contemplate the possible titles: The Curse of Columbia Sussex, Columbia Sussex Has Risen from the Grave, Taste the Blood of Columbia Sussex, Columbia Sussex and the Monster from Hell, Columbia Sussex … Continue reading →

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'Terrible' timing

Posted on March 3, 2008 by David McKee

By golly, it seems like a mere nine days ago that a local newspaper story was reporting disproportionately strong lottery sales at a California-border store owned by Herbst Gaming. "Since taking over the store, the location's total lottery ticket sales have … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Herbst Gaming, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment | Comments Off on 'Terrible' timing

Columbia Sussex dodges bullet

Posted on March 3, 2008 by David McKee

Yes, Columbia Sussex is in default on $960 million in debt, says a Delaware court. But it's not in immediate default, giving the hotelier at least another month to wriggle out of that tight spot. However, a source for the Las … Continue reading →

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MGM Grand to make a big splash

Posted on February 28, 2008 by David McKee

Our "ace in the hole" source has caught wind of a major expansion of the pool area and water features at MGM Grand, extending toward the Signature condos. The official verbiage is as follows: The plans depict a recreational area … Continue reading →

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Racinos a bum deal?

Posted on February 25, 2008 by David McKee

They are if you’re a horse owner at The Isle Casino & Racing @ Pompano Park, which not only left trainers and owners out in the cold, as far as slot revenues are concerned, it just slashed purse amounts by … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Florida, Horseracing, Kentucky, Politics, Sports, Tribal | Comments Off on Racinos a bum deal?

Criticism of Yung begins to sting

Posted on February 25, 2008 by David McKee

Editorial pinpricks, like a Cincinnati Enquirer jibe about “pay to play,” evidently took their toll on Columbia Sussex CEO William Yung III. Defending his high-profile push for a Kentucky casino, which has included strewing more than $1 million in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Kentucky, The Strip | Comments Off on Criticism of Yung begins to sting

Tropicanned

Posted on February 21, 2008 by David McKee

I've spent the morning at the Las Vegas Tropicana and may be too tired (and too dehydrated) to blog worth a damn. Jeez, that place is humid! Oh well, so as not to leave readers empty-handed, here's a copy of … Continue reading →

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Labor troubles at Station, Trop

Posted on February 19, 2008 by David McKee

Ever since the Las Vegas Business Press was made subordinate to the business desk of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the latter had ‘dibs’ on any of the former’s stories it coveted — or so it was explained to me at … Continue reading →

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Columbia Sussex roundup

Posted on February 18, 2008 by David McKee

It’s difficult to figure out CEO William Yung III‘s endgame in his high-profile pursuit of a casino in Kentucky, as it could potentially further complicate the attempted sale of Casino Aztar in Evansville, Ind. So far, suitors have proven to … Continue reading →

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More trouble for LV Trop

Posted on February 15, 2008 by David McKee

Its popular “Bodies” exhibition has become the focus of an ABC News investigation, with reports airing both on Good Morning America and tonight’s edition of 20/20. Veteran reporter Brian Ross raises some very disturbing questions about the provenance of the … Continue reading →

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That other Trop letter

Posted on February 14, 2008 by David McKee

S&G has obtained a copy of the 15-page complaint letter from the National Environmental Health Association to management of the Atlantic City Tropicana, alleging substandard conditions and service at the hotel-casino. Excerpts from this letter pretty much convicted the Tropicana … Continue reading →

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Another Baton Rouge bulletin

Posted on February 13, 2008 by David McKee

Columbia Sussex‘s mooted flip-flop of its Belle of Baton Rouge and Amelia Belle riverboats turns out not to have been a snap decision in the wake of a pro-Pinnacle Entertainment vote in Baton Rouge. Seems that the company has been … Continue reading →

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Big Love

Posted on February 12, 2008 by David McKee

Why does Mike Huckabee hate America? That’s one question posed in the ongoing fallout from Mitt Romney‘s bizarre equation between continuing his presidential campaign and abetting “surrender to terror”? Dangerous stuff, that democracy. It makes people vote for casinos and … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Election | Comments Off on Big Love