Category Archives: Columbia Sussex

Harrah’s ups the ante

Posted on April 9, 2010 by David McKee

Yr. Humble Blogger is a fan of the Las Vegas buffet scene — and owns the waistline to prove it. Starting Monday, Harrah’s Entertainment ratchets up the temptation factor by keeping seven of its Strip buffets open round the clock. … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Current, Dining, George Maloof, Harrah's, M Resort, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, The Strip | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 26, 2010 by David McKee

“Ever since banks lent all that money to Columbia Sussex to buy my hotel, my paycheck is smaller, I don’t qualify for health insurance anymore, and my co-workers are laid off.” — Baltimore Sheraton laundress Mary Lee Hinant. Her hotel … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Current, Labor, Maryland, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Case Bets: Gibbons vs. gaming; Pansy Ho; R-J shocked, shocked!; Rat Pack not back

Posted on March 19, 2010 by David McKee

First off, a hearty S&G salute to Steve Friess, named “Best Blogger” by the readers of Las Vegas CityLife. (Yes, I was nominated but didn’t even make it into second place. I’ll live.) As you scroll — and scroll — … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Economy, Entertainment, Macau, Midnight Jim Gibbons, New York, Pansy Ho, Regulation, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Taxes, Technology, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism | 3 Comments

White-out in Atlantic City

Posted on March 11, 2010 by David McKee

Thirty-seven inches of snow in February was a problem Atlantic City could do very well without. While the white stuff takes some of the edge off the sobering realization that the Boardwalk is -34% since February 2006, you know the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on White-out in Atlantic City

Pennsylvania: Give Adelson a break; Harrah’s latest excuses

Posted on March 9, 2010 by David McKee

While principle dictates that Las Vegas Sands ought to be held to the terms of its agreement with the State of Pennsylvania, recent developments give one pause. Namely, why should Steve Wynn get favorable treatment enjoyed by no other casino … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Columbia Sussex, Economy, George Maloof, Harrah's, Illinois, Louisiana, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 9, 2010 by David McKee

“There will undoubtedly be tough sledding ahead for Atlantic City, especially in light of the increasing competition from neighboring states. However, I believe that Atlantic City, with its beautiful beaches, can again become a premier destination resort.” — Carl Icahn, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Regulation, Tropicana Entertainment | 3 Comments

Sands backslides, backpedals in Pennsylvania

Posted on March 1, 2010 by David McKee

Wow, there’s nothing like the rumor of an in-progress sale to light a fire under Las Vegas Sands to restart its desultory Sands Bethlehem. Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson tries to imply that resumption of the hotel is contingent upon getting … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Lake Las Vegas, Macau, Massachusetts, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Strip | 6 Comments

“The worst riverboat casino in the world”

Posted on February 23, 2010 by David McKee

That’d be the President, symbolic flagship of Pinnacle Entertainment‘s fleet. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has an excellent story, laying out the complexities surrounding the Missouri Gaming Commission‘s legally dubious move to shut the old ship down. There are no heroes … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Current, Missouri, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Regulation | 4 Comments

Enter Loveman, exit jobs; Tamares’ legacy

Posted on February 3, 2010 by David McKee

Just this morning I was thinking that the first thing Planet Hollywood employees could expect when Harrah’s Entertainment took over was large-scale job losses and so it will be. This is one of those occasions I really hate being proven … Continue reading →

Posted in ABBA, Ameristar, Columbia Sussex, Current, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Tamares Group, Wall Street | 6 Comments

Happy ending for “Aztar”

Posted on January 15, 2010 by David McKee

Here’s a feel-good story to help ring out the week. The Indiana Gaming Commission has approved Tropicana Entertainment as a suitable owner-operator for the Casino Aztar riverboat, berthed in Evansville. There are a number of contingencies, primarily the plunking down … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, Indiana, Labor, Louisiana, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Sheldon the Barbarian & other news

Posted on January 11, 2010 by David McKee

Amid reports of vastly improved attendance at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show comes news of a typical overreaction by Las Vegas Sands. I know of one company that was doing off-site demos and fortunately wasn’t among the vendors turfed out … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Carl Icahn, Colorado, Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Indiana, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | 5 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 4, 2010 by David McKee

“It’s a New Day at Tropicana Las Vegas.” — signature line on official Tropicana e-mails. Translation: William J. Yung III has left the building.

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Columbia Sussex, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

‘Tis the season

Posted on December 23, 2009 by David McKee

Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson cuts the ribbon on Boot Hill Casino. The gentleman at the rear in the red tie is the Kansas Lottery’s Ed Van Petten, taking time out from carrying water for Mike Ensign. Having been on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Archon Corp., Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Don Barden, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Environment, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Jack Binion, James Packer, Kansas, M Resort, Macau, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Oscar Goodman, Penn National, Pets, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 8 Comments

Pelican State blues

Posted on December 15, 2009 by David McKee

November numbers are in for Louisiana and it’s the Pelican State’s worst gaming month in five quarters. Only the independent Eldorado Shreveport riverboat and Fair Grounds racino near New Orleans reported revenue growth. All major operators took it on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Columbia Sussex, Harrah's, International, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Maryland, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Regulation | Comments Off on Pelican State blues

Tiger: On the game

Posted on December 9, 2009 by David McKee

Memo to the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority: Boys, it’s time to re-retire that “What happens here …” slogan because it is so yesterday. Sure, there was an era when a man of privilege might come to Las Vegas … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Current, Regulation, Sports, The Strip | 3 Comments

Who’s better for F’bleau: Icahn or Penn?

Posted on December 8, 2009 by David McKee

That’s the unspoken question hanging over a lengthy piece in yesterday’s Las Vegas Sun. While Penn National Gaming is willing to commit $1.5 billion or more to finishing Fontainebleau, lead bidder Carl Icahn may be able to do the job … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Fontainebleau, Kansas, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Aria, Vdara discounting already

Posted on December 3, 2009 by David McKee

In its discussions with J.P. Morgan analysts, MGM Mirage has regularly been boasting that Aria’s room rates are running higher (very, very slightly higher) than Bellagio. Being a skeptical fellow by nature, my instinct was that Aria was being propped … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Columbia Sussex, Current, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, George Maloof, Harrah's, Herbst Gaming, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Silverton, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tourism | 6 Comments

We *are* Dubai

Posted on December 2, 2009 by David McKee

“If anywhere is emblematic of the debt-fuelled extravagance of the past decade, it is surely [X], which strove to have the tallest, the biggest and the best of everything.” They’ve just got to be talking about Las Vegas, right? No, … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dubai, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, James Packer, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Plaza, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, TV, Wall Street | 6 Comments

No Sh!t, Sherlock Dept.

Posted on November 21, 2009 by David McKee

“Motorists are advised to expect delays or find an alternate route.” — Clark County‘s considered opinion of the proper response to a drastic narrowing of the Strip, ending (we hope) Nov. 27. Is this advice likely to be heeded? Not … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Current, The Strip, Transportation | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 16, 2009 by David McKee

“We’re trying to let the community know that we are here and we are here to stay for a while.” — ominous words from Glenn Koehler, Columbia Sussex‘s director of the Horizon casino-hotel in Lake Tahoe. Landlord Park Cattle Co. … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Lake Las Vegas, Regulation, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Quote of the Day