Category Archives: Cosmopolitan

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 2, 2015 by David McKee

“This contract is an example of when multiple parties have a vested interest in the outcome, lives can be changed.” — Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas CEO William McBeath, announcing the consummation of a four-year labor pact with the Culinary Union. … Continue reading →

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

Up and down the Strip

Posted on November 17, 2015 by David McKee

SLS Las Vegas is finally doing better, if by “doing better” you mean losing only $39 million in a full 3Q15 as opposed to the $46 million lost in the truncated (five-week) 3Q14. Stockbridge Capital Partners continues to have to … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cosmopolitan, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Economy, Fontainebleau, Genting, Harrah's, James Packer, Lucky Dragon, LVCVA, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Riviera, Sam Nazarian, Sheldon Adelson, SLS Las Vegas, Tamares Group, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | 2 Comments

It’s Galaxy’s turn to take a hit; Tohono O’odham file suit

Posted on August 20, 2015 by David McKee

Add Galaxy Entertainment to the companies taking on the chin in the Macao economy. The casino firm just posted a 46% drop in cash flow for 2Q15. Leading by example, Chairman Lui Che Woo announced a freeze in executive salaries … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Economy, Galaxy Entertainment, Harrah's, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Philippines, Regulation, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on It’s Galaxy’s turn to take a hit; Tohono O’odham file suit

Adelson push stuck in the mud?; Alabama wants gambling

Posted on July 31, 2015 by David McKee

Tireless blogger Steve Ruddock contends that we have good reason to be optimistic about the fate of Sheldon Adelson‘s fatwa against Internet gambling. For starters, there’s the sheer slothfulness of Congress itself: How many times has it promised, say, comprehensive … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, California, Churchill Downs, Cosmopolitan, Election, Georgia, Internet gambling, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Adelson push stuck in the mud?; Alabama wants gambling

Mirage sold?; Cosmo post-mortem; Ivey counterattacks

Posted on July 28, 2015 by David McKee

Our crackerjack research department at LVA is hot on the trail of a report that MGM Resorts International is going to shuck one of its signature properties, The Mirage, lock, stock and volcano. A sale of the megaresort that changed … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cosmopolitan, Idaho, International, MGM Mirage, North Las Vegas, Riviera, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, Technology, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Up in smoke

Posted on July 27, 2015 by David McKee

We know that Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas owner Blackstone Group wanted to change perceptions of the property but I don’t this is what they had in mind. One measly cigarette seems to have been all it took to send the … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, history, Horseracing, International, Macau, Monte Carlo fire, Pinnacle Entertainment, The Strip | Comments Off on Up in smoke

Pushback against Adelson; Packer’s pretension

Posted on June 29, 2015 by David McKee

“Poker is an all-American game. It’s a game that I learned as a teen and continue to play today. Just like millions of other players I enjoy the strategy and skill involved.” So said Rep. Joe Barton (R) as he introduced … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Australia, California, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, PokerStars, Politics, Regulation, Taxes, The Strip, Warner Gaming | Comments Off on Pushback against Adelson; Packer’s pretension

Big legal bill for Steve Wynn; SLS Las Vegas craters

Posted on June 24, 2015 by David McKee

In case Steve Wynn is having second thoughts that maybe it was a bad idea to try and muzzle stock-picker James Chanos, a federal court made it official. On top of two defeats in the courtroom, Wynn has been handed a … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment, Genting, James Packer, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Sahara, Sam Nazarian, Sheldon Adelson, SLS Las Vegas, Steve Wynn, The Mob, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Big legal bill for Steve Wynn; SLS Las Vegas craters

Behind the Showboat sale; Cosmo comeback

Posted on May 14, 2015 by David McKee

During its crusade to drive Stockton University out of the Showboat, the CEO of Trump Entertainment Resorts, Robert Griffin airily informed Stockton representatives that they should buy Trump Plaza instead — puncturing TER’s public posture that college kids should be kept … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cosmopolitan, Economy, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Politics, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off on Behind the Showboat sale; Cosmo comeback

The Strip: February disappoints

Posted on March 31, 2015 by David McKee

Las Vegas Strip casino revenues fell 4% in February, in a month that was mildly positive on a statewide basis, up 1%. Blame baccarat: Play was down 22%, although players took the house to the cleaners, with casino win down … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Cosmopolitan, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Lake Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Reno, The Strip, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off on The Strip: February disappoints

Whither McCartney?; Distress at Caesars

Posted on March 19, 2015 by David McKee

Earlier this week, Vegas Tripping reported the departure of Thomas McCartney from The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. In its press release, the Cosmo went beyond the neutral sort of verbiage reserved for such pronouncements, saying that “Mr. McCartney did not … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Cosmopolitan, Delaware, Genting, Harrah's, Illinois, James Packer, New York, Riviera, SLS Las Vegas, Station Casinos, The Strip, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 1 Comment

Building a better Cosmopolitan

Posted on February 20, 2015 by David McKee

Although awash in generalities, Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas CEO Bill McBeath did allow some form of insight into his plans for the resort. Allowing that casino-floor performance was “pretty anemic,” he hopes to make it more attractive to high rollers. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, history, MGM Mirage, Sports, The Strip | Comments Off on Building a better Cosmopolitan

We’re Number One; Adelson goes Disney

Posted on February 13, 2015 by David McKee

Las Vegas is officially the epicenter of the nightclub universe. Seven of the 10 top-grossing clubs in Nightclub & Bar‘s 2014 survey are on the Las Vegas Strip. The honor roll is topped by XS Nightclub, followed by Hakkasan, Marquee … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Macau, MGM Mirage, Palms, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Technology | Comments Off on We’re Number One; Adelson goes Disney

Cosmo: Unwin out

Posted on December 10, 2014 by David McKee

Whatever Blackstone Group plans for The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, it doesn’t include CEO John Unwin, who will leave at year’s end. Don’t cry for him just yet: He’ll temporarily be on a consulting contract, which conveniently keeps him for … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Cokehead gets Nevada casino license; Cosmo sale near

Posted on December 4, 2014 by David McKee

Goodwill generated by the opening of SLS Las Vegas just went up Sam Nazarian‘s nose. The Los Angeles nightclub operator admitted to doing cocaine last April while living it up in Mexico. This is the kind of revelation casino pundits … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Harrah's, history, Macau, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 1 Comment

Case Bets

Posted on November 20, 2014 by David McKee

A California tribe is getting into Internet gambling in a somewhat roundabout way. The Pala Indians are beta-testing PalaCasino.com, which will be run off the online platform of … Borgata. (Casinos in Atlantic City can host as many as five … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Cosmopolitan, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Internet gambling, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Regulation, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off on Case Bets

Brainless in Connecticut; Jobless in Las Vegas

Posted on November 10, 2014 by David McKee

What do you do when your slot revenues are declining? Build more casinos, of course! That’s the idea Mohegan Sun is pushing in Connecticut, with the help of a few well-placed lawmakers. It’s a no-brainer … as in, you’d have … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Foxwoods, Genting, Hard Rock International, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New York, Sam Nazarian, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Wisconsin | Comments Off on Brainless in Connecticut; Jobless in Las Vegas

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 15, 2014 by David McKee

Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas CEO John Unwin, having stumbled across a new trend on the Las Vegas Strip, tries to spin it as a brilliant master plan. Casino? What casino?

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

The contradictions of Sam Nazarian

Posted on August 19, 2014 by David McKee

Is Sam Nazarian becoming a legend in his own mind? You have to wonder when you read that he’s had a statue of himself erected in the front of SLS Las Vegas. Sure, Bob Stupak did the same thing at … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment, Florida, Genting, International, Japan, Marketing, MGM Mirage, New York, Pennsylvania, Sahara, Sam Nazarian, The Strip, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Tightening the screws in China; Comeback at Cosmo

Posted on August 15, 2014 by David McKee

  In view of the outflux of currency from China, the country’s symbol seems not so much a Great Wall as a giant sieve. This was symbolized recently by the attempt to control UnionPay cash transfers masquerading as purchases in … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Macau, MGM Mirage, Regulation, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Tightening the screws in China; Comeback at Cosmo