Category Archives: Current

Nevada disappoints but Atlantic City bombs

Posted on October 12, 2012 by David McKee

If there’s a saving grace to August’s rather glum Nevada gambling win (-3%), it’s that the month ended on a Friday, so there may be some as-yet-unreported slot revenue that will fluff the September results. (That optimism must be offset, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Laughlin, North Las Vegas, Politics, Racinos, Revel, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

When money talks, few are deaf

Posted on October 12, 2012 by David McKee

When addressing the subject of Sheldon Adelson (must we?), the extent to which he has stolen Wynn’s thunder and lightning was made manifest by a lengthy Politico.com profile. Adelson (right, ca. 1998), who can often behave like a colicky infant, … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tourism, TV, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Some Wynn, some of the time

Posted on October 12, 2012 by David McKee

Having been eclipsed both as a political mover and shaker, and — dare I say it? — casino developer by Sheldon Adelson, the suddenly ubiquitous Steve Wynn appears to be trying to regain the spotlight. His recent KSNV-TV marathon landed … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Current, International, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Strip, TV, Wall Street | 2 Comments

You can’t cure stupidity

Posted on October 11, 2012 by David McKee

For the record, I wouldn’t know John Oceguera from a manhole cover and the amount of ‘truthiness’ in this ad is of no concern to me. But it’s in heavy rotation on Las Vegas TV stations and makes me grind … Continue reading →

Posted in Cretins, Current, Election, Marketing, TV | Comments Off on You can’t cure stupidity

Steve Wynn attends vice-presidential debate in drag

Posted on October 11, 2012 by David McKee

Just kidding … but I made you look!

Posted in Cretins, Current, TV | 1 Comment

Revenue roundup: Ohio, Maryland, Missouri & Indiana; Mohegan Sun snow job

Posted on October 11, 2012 by David McKee

Let’s start with the new kid on the block … Ohio: September saw Ohio‘s two casinos and one racino rake in an aggregate $50 million. The ‘novelty factor’ has waned, along with vacation time, since June’s $58 million haul, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Current, Dan Gilbert, Don Barden, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, MTR Gaming, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Taxes, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street, West Virginia | 2 Comments

Hail, Bill’s!; Trump slump; Back in the fold

Posted on October 10, 2012 by David McKee

In a typically ludicrous Gary Loveman brainstorm, Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon is to become — wait for it — Caesars Drai’s. (Yeah, ‘WTF?’ and all that.) Although you’d have to be either masochistic or insane to loan money to … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Current, Detroit, Donald Trump, Florida, Harrah's, Illinois, International, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Hail, Bill’s!; Trump slump; Back in the fold

Black man frightens Steve Wynn, Part Two; MGM: Time to forget Harmon?

Posted on October 10, 2012 by David McKee

As Yahoo‘s Jeff Macke cuttingly puts it, he “found a real, live businessman who creates jobs,” thereby providing a Steve Wynn-to-sanity translation, courtesy of CIO Advisors‘ Hugh Johnson. If Wynn were truly being honest, he’d cut to the quick: He’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cantor Gaming, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Cosmopolitan, Cretins, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Fontainebleau, Goldman Sachs, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, history, International, Louisiana, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, North Las Vegas, Politics, Sports, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Technology, TV, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Black man frightens Steve Wynn, Part One

Posted on October 10, 2012 by David McKee

Update: Today, Wynn got into the act in the ongoing Big Bird charade. As Steve Sebelius points out, it’s meaningless posturing, nothing more. Life’s been good to Steve Wynn. How good? Well, if you or I talked like a crazy … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cantor Gaming, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Cosmopolitan, Cretins, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, North Las Vegas, Pennsylvania, Plaza, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Station Casinos, The Strip, TV | 27 Comments

And Columbus makes three …

Posted on October 9, 2012 by David McKee

Fittingly, Penn National Gaming chose Columbus Day to open its newest casino, in the Ohio city that bears the name of the man who didn’t quite discover America in 1492. With 3,000 slots and 100 tables, it’s loaded for bear. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Current, Dan Gilbert, Dining, Economy, Harrah's, Indiana, M Resort, Missouri, MTR Gaming, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Station Casinos, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, TV, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Illinois: Cause for optimism?

Posted on October 5, 2012 by David McKee

Late last month, Bally Technologies landed a massive order of 4,000+ video poker terminals — VGTs in industry parlance — in Illinois. Y’all remember slot routes in the Land of Lincoln? They’ve taken so long to be put into place … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Boyd Gaming, Current, Harrah's, Illinois, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Politics, Slot routes | Comments Off on Illinois: Cause for optimism?

Freudian slip and fall; Loveman’s shabby show

Posted on October 3, 2012 by David McKee

One week after he became S&G‘s Casino Owner of the Year for his “george” treatment of Green Bay Packer fans, Derek Stevens stepped on a PR banana peel. His Golden Gate and The D casinos are holding monthly drawings whose … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Ohio, Sports, The Strip, Wall Street | 6 Comments

Bacchanalia at Caesars; I’ll take the Mubarak Suite, please

Posted on September 28, 2012 by David McKee

Despite rampant neglect elsewhere on the Strip, Caesars Entertainment continues to take good care of its namesake, Caesars Palace. A Wednesday-night visit disclosed that myriad schlock retailers had been banished, as Jay Sarno‘s toga party tries to keep pace with … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Entertainment, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, history, International, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Sahara, Technology, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 4 Comments

Gomes alone; Mohegan Sun pink-slip-slidin’ away

Posted on September 28, 2012 by David McKee

Former Resorts Atlantic City underboss Aaron Gomes might want to change his travel plans. Scarcely had he announced his departure from his late father’s casino than his new gig, Sydney‘s troubled Star Casino, looks very doubtful. Gomes had planned to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, Current, Dennis Gomes, Economy, Genting, Marketing, Massachusetts, New York, Racinos, Regulation, Tourism, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Gomes alone; Mohegan Sun pink-slip-slidin’ away

Our brief national nightmare is over

Posted on September 27, 2012 by David McKee

Within 48 hours of the traveshamockery in Seattle, the NFL‘s imperious bid to break the referees’ union has collapsed. The league has agreed to terms that amount to total capitulation. Zebras 1, NFL -1 (counting collateral damage inflicted upon fans). … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Sports, TV | 1 Comment

Would you buy a used Monorail from these guys?

Posted on September 26, 2012 by David McKee

Let the record show that the American Gaming Association‘s daily SmartBrief is an invaluable one-stop shop for casino-related news stories, especially now that several of the leading Las Vegas-centric blogs have taken a dirt nap. However, if you can’t find … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Economy, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | 5 Comments

Doing the right thing, with a “D”

Posted on September 26, 2012 by David McKee

As in The D and its owner Derek Stevens, who is refunding bets made on the Green Bay Packers last Monday, when victory was literally stripped from their hands by nincompoop NFL scab referees. They’ve been likened to Foot Locker … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Derek Stevens, Downtown, history, Sports, The Strip, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Colony Capital and the Temple of Doom; Big Gaming’s come a long way, baby

Posted on September 25, 2012 by David McKee

Earlier today, I penned a 1.5-page Question of the Day on the recent past and dubious future of the Las Vegas Hotel & Casino, which I habitually type as “Las Vegas Hilton.” Even if one confines the narrative to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Culinary Union, Current, Dennis Gomes, Downtown, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Goldman Sachs, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Tamares Group, The Strip | Comments Off on Colony Capital and the Temple of Doom; Big Gaming’s come a long way, baby

USA Today at last! (Sorta)

Posted on September 21, 2012 by David McKee

Remember those USA Today travel guides whose writing put me hopelessly behind the S&G 8-ball? (Two hundred and thirty-five e-mails still unread!) Well, if you’re staying at a Hilton-branded property (soon to include much of Trump International), you can view … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Harrah's, The Strip, Tourism | 1 Comment

Yellowtail = douchetastic; Hyde & seek

Posted on September 21, 2012 by David McKee

If you’re ever tempted to envy those of us who must attend media events for restaurants: Don’t. They’re a chore — crowded, noisy and sprinkled with microbes of food that is usually grossly unrepresentative of the daily bill of fare. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Cretins, Current, Dining, Downtown, Entertainment, Marketing, MGM Mirage, The Strip, TV | 3 Comments