Category Archives: Cosmopolitan

Bellagio is burning; Parking valets stiffed

Posted on April 14, 2017 by David McKee

Remember the Monte Carlo fire and how it was fueled by construction foam? It was much the same story last night when the south “arm” of Bellagio caught on fire, a blaze which raged for 25 minutes. “You can smell that sulfur,” said … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cosmopolitan, Cretins, Economy, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Monte Carlo fire, Planet Hollywood, Technology, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Bellagio is burning; Parking valets stiffed

Freeman gets Christmas wish; Florida lawmakers: Let’s make a deal

Posted on December 30, 2016 by David McKee

American Gaming Association President Geoff Freeman could hardly have asked for a better present, all wrapped in a big, dollar-bill bow: The IRS has abandoned a set of proposed casino-reporting “reforms” that would have been intrusive, onerous and costly. (Of … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Current, Florida, Geoff Freeman, Harry Reid, MGM Mirage, Politics, Racinos, Seminole Tribe, Taxes, The Strip | 3 Comments

MGM’s base motives; Slots: You snooze, you lose

Posted on December 29, 2016 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International really kicked over a hornet’s nest when it extended pay-for-parking to locals. Spokesman Gordon Absher (“The sacrificial lamb or the goat staked to the post in Jurassic Park,” in the words of Las Vegas Review-Journal columnist Steve … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cosmopolitan, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Strip, Transportation | 1 Comment

What the Lucky Dragon means; National Harbor lifts all boats

Posted on December 9, 2016 by David McKee

The good Dr. David G. Schwartz ponders the significance of Lucky Dragon Casino and begins with one salient milestone: “Lucky Dragon is the first genuinely new property to open in the tourist corridor since The Cosmopolitan six years ago.” That’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cosmopolitan, Donald Trump, Genting, Harrah's, history, Internet gambling, Japan, Lucky Dragon, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Nevada, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on What the Lucky Dragon means; National Harbor lifts all boats

Japan: Hold your horses!

Posted on December 6, 2016 by David McKee

Contrary to a press report over the weekend — and too credulously picked up by S&G — casino gambling is far from out of the woods in the Japanese Diet. True, it was voted out of committee in the lower … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Japan, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Japan: Hold your horses!

Running the tables in Pennsylvania; MGM woos Georgia (again)

Posted on December 5, 2016 by David McKee

Due to Pennsylvania‘s quirky habit of releasing slot and table game revenue numbers in staggered fashion, we don’t often comment on Keystone State gambling revenues. Fortunately, the Center for Gaming Research at UNLV consolidates the information into one handy-dandy report. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Aristocrat, Australia, Cosmopolitan, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Georgia, GLPI, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Hooters, Isle of Capri, Macau, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, SLS Las Vegas, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | Comments Off on Running the tables in Pennsylvania; MGM woos Georgia (again)

Local is beautiful; Adelson loses partner

Posted on October 10, 2016 by David McKee

Motley Fool columnist Travis Hoium says investors are missing a good bet if they overlook Las Vegas locals operators to focus on the big Las Vegas Strip players. He cites Station Casinos, Boyd Gaming and Penn National Gaming (presumably for … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cosmopolitan, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, history, Law enforcement, M Resort, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Palms, Penn National, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Pittsburgh pleads with Rivers Casino; Strong numbers from Maryland, Illinois

Posted on October 7, 2016 by David McKee

Pittsburgh is essentially saying “Pretty please” to Rush Street Gaming‘s Rivers Casino, begging the latter to keep voluntarily paying $10 million a year to the city, even though Rush Street is no longer under any legal obligation to do so. Pittsburgh Finance … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Cosmopolitan, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Taxes, Technology, The Strip | 6 Comments

What if they gave a tax and nobody paid?; Fewer comps for video poker?

Posted on September 2, 2016 by David McKee

Just when it seemed there was no line in the sand that casinos wouldn’t draw regarding taxation, gambling halls in Pennsylvania have finally had enough of state levies. Paying $5 million for five years (and $250,000 a year after that) … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Technology, The Strip | 1 Comment

New vibe for Venetian; Atlantic City workers flee to D.C.

Posted on August 9, 2016 by David McKee

  For the first time in 17 years, The Venetian is using TV advertising. We’re not only impressed by the length of the abstention but also by the fact that Las Vegas Sands has done so well without the assistance of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cosmopolitan, Election, Entertainment, Environment, Harrah's, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, TV | Comments Off on New vibe for Venetian; Atlantic City workers flee to D.C.

Icahn leaves Taj workers nostalgic for Trump; Megaresort proposed for NYC

Posted on July 7, 2016 by David McKee

You can measure the acrimony between Unite-Here Local 54 and Tropicana Entertainment by the fact that striking workers at Trump Taj Mahal are using Donald Trump as a stick with which to beat Carl Icahn. By astutely negotiating a pact … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Carl Icahn, Charity, Cordish Co., Cosmopolitan, Donald Trump, Election, Entertainment, Genting, Georgia, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, New York, Regulation, Revel, Stanley Ho, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Unite-Here | Comments Off on Icahn leaves Taj workers nostalgic for Trump; Megaresort proposed for NYC

Can Atlantic City withstand a strike?; Cosmo gets a complete makeover

Posted on June 27, 2016 by David McKee

While Atlantic City waits to see how long it takes Glenn Straub to get Revel reopened (we’re now at D-Day Plus Twelve and counting), Local 54 of Unite-Here is girding itself for a strike. It’s amassed a war chest and … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, The Strip, Unite-Here | Comments Off on Can Atlantic City withstand a strike?; Cosmo gets a complete makeover

Secrecy prevails in Nevada; Doubletalk Down Under

Posted on March 22, 2016 by David McKee

In a step backward for public transparency, the Nevada Gaming Commission has decreed that privately held casinos no longer have to disclose their financial performance. Not only will this spare SLS Las Vegas the embarrassments that are its quarterly reports, … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Charity, Cosmopolitan, Culinary Union, Harrah's, Phil Ruffin, Problem gambling, Regulation, SLS Las Vegas, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Secrecy prevails in Nevada; Doubletalk Down Under

It’s a new day at the Cosmo; Atlantic City’s fate in Borgata’s hands

Posted on February 8, 2016 by David McKee

“The bottom line is you have a casino. Instead of downplaying that, let’s celebrate it.” That’s Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas CEO Bill McBeath outlining the besetting sin of his predecessors, ignoring the central role of gambling as the Cosmo’s revenue … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment, Illinois, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Slot routes, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on It’s a new day at the Cosmo; Atlantic City’s fate in Borgata’s hands

Christie’s bum rap; New partner for Packer?; Casino chicanery in Maine

Posted on January 26, 2016 by David McKee

“The people involved in this, if you took a thimble and put their knowledge of Atlantic City in it, it wouldn’t fill it,” says Thomas Carver, former policy czar for the resort town, who lost his job when he displeased … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Cosmopolitan, Economy, Election, Internet gambling, James Packer, Maine, Melco Crown Entertainment, New Hampshire, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Revel, Taxes, The Strip | Comments Off on Christie’s bum rap; New partner for Packer?; Casino chicanery in Maine

Ground shifts on i-gaming in California; T-Mobile’s new trophy

Posted on January 7, 2016 by David McKee

California took one step forward and one step back in the field of Internet gambling. A bill to legalize online poker was scratched from yesterday’s legislative agenda. If it makes you feel any better, the opposition of six major California … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, PokerStars, Politics, Sam Nazarian, Sports, The Strip | Comments Off on Ground shifts on i-gaming in California; T-Mobile’s new trophy

Penn owns Ohio; Adelson expands R-J

Posted on January 7, 2016 by David McKee

Gaining 19% last month, Hard Rock Rocksino reclaimed its top spot in Ohio, grossing almost $19 million and edging aside Horseshoe Casino Cleveland by one decimal point. The latter saw an 11% slippage revenues, while ThistleDown Racino continues to look like … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Penn owns Ohio; Adelson expands R-J

Adelson’s endurance; Doom for Dotty’s?

Posted on January 6, 2016 by David McKee

Outwardly, Sheldon Adelson maintains an air of placidity regarding business affairs in Macao, where gaming revenue dropped 34% in 2015. However, it can’t much please him to pick up his morning newspaper and read that Wall Street is expecting more of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Dotty's, Economy, Macau, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, Sheldon Adelson, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 23, 2015 by David McKee

“I could have sold pencils over there and made more money.” — Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas CEO Bill McBeath on the casino floor, which is due to be part of a $200 million, three-year revamp of the megaresort.

Posted in Architecture, Cosmopolitan, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 4, 2015 by David McKee

“The responsibility for everything that takes place upon a property [is on] the owners of that property — regardless of whether it’s regulated by a specific code or not. It is perhaps prudent that they consider what transpired.” — Clark County … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Regulation, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day