Category Archives: Culinary Union

Illinois beats the odds; MGM goes au naturel

Posted on February 8, 2016 by David McKee

Well, here’s a novel piece of news out of Illinois, where it always seems that gloom and doom hold sway. Gaming revenues were up 2% last month. That’s even more impressive when you consider that it’s being measured against a … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Culinary Union, Entertainment, Environment, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Nevada, Penn National, Technology, The Strip, Transportation, Wall Street | Comments Off on Illinois beats the odds; MGM goes au naturel

To park or not to park, that is the question

Posted on January 25, 2016 by David McKee

Jim Murren wants more than our money with MGM Resorts International‘s controversial new parking fees. He wants our gratitude. “I ask them to honestly reflect what it means to be a local and how the tourist economy has improved their … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Culinary Union, Economy, Harrah's, International, MGM Mirage, Sports, The Strip, Transportation | Comments Off on To park or not to park, that is the question

MGM’s sudden Connecticut ardor; Labor peace in Detroit

Posted on December 8, 2015 by David McKee

Connecticut‘s government is trying to have an MGM Resorts International lawsuit dismissed, but MGM isn’t going away quietly. It’s targeted the no-bid process whereby a Mohegan Sun–Foxwoods Resort Casino joint venture was juiced into a third, off-reservation casino, location still … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Detroit, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Foxwoods, Genting, International, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Phil Ruffin, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on MGM’s sudden Connecticut ardor; Labor peace in Detroit

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

Runaway costs in Springfield; Lucky Dragon not so lucky

Posted on November 20, 2015 by David McKee

MGM Springfield is turning into the worst of both worlds. Not only has the ‘wow’ factor been subtracted (“really the least interesting part of our project,” one exec contended), with the result that the casino-hotel looks more like a bank … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, California, Culinary Union, Downtown, Entertainment, Lucky Dragon, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Taxes, Transportation | Comments Off on Runaway costs in Springfield; Lucky Dragon not so lucky

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 13, 2015 by David McKee

“Mr. Trump says, ‘Make America great again.’ Well, the Trump workers say, ‘Start here.’” —Trump International Hotel employee Maria Elena Durazo, calling for unionization of the hotel at a rally attended by Hillary Rodham Clinton, as reported by the Las … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Donald Trump, Election, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Adelson finds his man

Posted on October 13, 2015 by David McKee

Marco Rubio could be justthisclose to a Sheldon Adelson endorsement. When Rubio was in Las Vegas last week, playing counterpoint to Donald Trump, he had a meeting with Adelson that “had an air of importance” according to Politico.com. Should Adelson … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Donald Trump, Election, Florida, Geoff Freeman, Internet gambling, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Wall Street, Wisconsin | 3 Comments

Trump Trek: The wrath of Khan

Posted on October 8, 2015 by David McKee

Donald Trump‘s touring show is playing Treasure Island even as I type this (Phil Ruffin was the opening act). The Culinary Union‘s Bethany Khan was loaded for bear and unleashed this blast at The Donald today.

Posted in Culinary Union, Donald Trump, Phil Ruffin | Comments Off on Trump Trek: The wrath of Khan

The mystery of Steve Wynn; DFS steps in it

Posted on September 24, 2015 by David McKee

For the third time, Steve Wynn has pulled back from Atlantic City. This time he’s yanking Wynn Interactive‘s application for an online casino. The move comes an awfully long time after Wynn announced his opposition to Internet wagering, so who knows … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Culinary Union, Election, Genting, Geoff Freeman, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, New York, Oklahoma, PokerStars, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal | 1 Comment

China is the watchword; Atlantic City rebounds

Posted on September 16, 2015 by David McKee

Builders of $135 million Lucky Dragon Casino, across Sahara Avenue from the former Circus Circus RV park, are fast-tracking the project for a mid-2016 opening. Financed with EB-5 visa contributions, Lucky Dragon hopes to be a one-stop shop for Chinese players … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Atlantic City, Culinary Union, Dining, Election, Lucky Dragon, Macau, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, SLS Las Vegas, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on China is the watchword; Atlantic City rebounds

Georgia on their minds; How to kill a casino

Posted on September 14, 2015 by David McKee

MGM National Harbor President Lorenzo Creighton dangles some shiny objects and big numbers before Georgia newspaper readers, promising even bigger things for Atlanta, as MGM Resorts International tries to counter lawmakers’ congenital opposition to gambling with suasion and seductive dollar … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Culinary Union, Derek Stevens, Detroit, Downtown, Economy, Georgia, Horseracing, International, James Packer, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes | Comments Off on Georgia on their minds; How to kill a casino

Culinary Union declares war on Deutsche Bank; The NFL’s dirty hands

Posted on September 14, 2015 by David McKee

Deutsche Bank, in its role as 25% shareholder in Station Casinos, continues to draw fire from the Culinary Union. Let’s clear up a couple of things first. Yes, the Culinary still has an axe to grind with Station over the … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, Oklahoma, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, Sports, Station Casinos, Tamares Group, Tribal | Comments Off on Culinary Union declares war on Deutsche Bank; The NFL’s dirty hands

Tribe outfoxes Arizona; Macao is glutted

Posted on September 11, 2015 by David McKee

Rather than continue waiting for Arizona casino czar Daniel Bergin to reverse himself and give them permission to open a Class III casino, the Tohono O’odham Nation has done an end run. It will open with 1,089 Class II electronic … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Culinary Union, Galaxy Entertainment, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Palms, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Uncategorized, Wall Street | Comments Off on Tribe outfoxes Arizona; Macao is glutted

Wynn: Massachusetts vs. Boston; Crisis and opportunity at Station

Posted on July 13, 2015 by David McKee

Steve Wynn appears to be losing patience with the obstacles being thrown in his way by seemingly vanquished adversaries in his long fight to get a Boston-area casino. He’s filed a defamation suit against the city, after a lawsuit championed … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Georgia, history, International, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, New York, Politics, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, Slot routes, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Wynn: Massachusetts vs. Boston; Crisis and opportunity at Station

Trump bookmarks Chapter 11; Christie’s canny moves

Posted on September 9, 2014 by David McKee

Trump Entertainment Resorts is back in familiar territory: Chapter 11. It is the fourth time that minority owner Donald Trump‘s casinos have gone insolvent. He may try to wash his hands of the mess, but he gets equity for the use … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Culinary Union, Donald Trump, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Sports, Tilman Fertitta, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 2 Comments

Case Bets for a Monday morning

Posted on June 2, 2014 by David McKee

Because Vegas is starved for retail along the Strip (ha!), Caesars Entertainment has been beavering away busily on Grand Bazaar Shops, in front of Bally’s Las Vegas. Vital Vegas has been sussing out the progress of the mall and it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Culinary Union, Derek Stevens, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Mohegan Sun, Revel, The Strip | Comments Off on Case Bets for a Monday morning

Caution at MGM, audacity at Caesars; Cortez crumbles

Posted on May 28, 2014 by David McKee

As the line continues to blur between social gaming and real-money gambling, MGM Resorts International continues to hang back from the latter and favor the former. It’s putting its efforts into a free-play site that offers M Life rewards, as … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Downtown, Harrah's, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Tamares Group, Terry Caudill | Comments Off on Caution at MGM, audacity at Caesars; Cortez crumbles

Massive tribal victory in SCOTUS; Bad day at Hard Rock?

Posted on May 27, 2014 by David McKee

We should probably brace ourselves for dramatic new interpretations of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, following a surprising Supreme Court decision. The State of Michigan had been trying to get rid of a Bay Mills Indian Community casino that was … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Culinary Union, Downtown, Hard Rock Hotel, Tribal, Warner Gaming | 1 Comment

And then there were fewer; The Culinary’s empty threats

Posted on May 20, 2014 by David McKee

Scratch two names from the mad scramble for a New York State casino. The vaguely interested Rolling Hills Entertainment is out but it was a long shot. Of greater consequence is Pinnacle Entertainment‘s abandonment of its pursuit of the Albany … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Culinary Union, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Harrah's, Illinois, Maryland, New York, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Tamares Group, Taxes, Terry Caudill | Comments Off on And then there were fewer; The Culinary’s empty threats

Wynn’s albatross; Culinary gets wrist slapped

Posted on May 13, 2014 by David McKee

Steve Wynn‘s Everett casino project is getting pinned down by fire from several directions. Boston City Attorney Thomas Frongillo argues that a sale to Wynn Resorts by FBT Everett Realty LLC should be voided because the latter concealed an ownership stake … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Environment, Harrah's, Indiana, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Steve Wynn | 2 Comments