Category Archives: Current

Adelson sees Wynn, raises him

Posted on August 7, 2012 by David McKee

Since Garth Brooks has been a money-spinner for Wynncore, rival Venelazzo is seeing Steve Wynn one Tim McGraw and raising him one Faith Hill. So there! Sheldon Adelson was (understandably) absent from today’s big announcement, which was the worst-kept secret … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Marketing, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Adelson sees Wynn, raises him

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 1, 2012 by David McKee

“There is no human problem which could not be solved if people simply do as I advise.” — Gore Vidal (1925-2012), novelist, historian, polemicist and provocateur par excellence.

Posted in Current | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Put your money on Nevada!

Posted on August 1, 2012 by David McKee

No, not in some phony-baloney Chamber of Commerce way. I mean, there could be some good wagering to be had on behalf of Nevada were its sports books were to petition for the right (which is theirs, in principle, according … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Election, Ohio, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 31, 2012 by David McKee

“I remember staying up  late many Saturday nights to watch Porky’s, Meatballs and Revenge of the Nerds on HBO. And like any, red-blooded, prepubescent male, I always thought there was way too much story between the shower scenes. This is … Continue reading →

Posted in Cretins, Current, Entertainment, Movies, Planet Hollywood | 1 Comment

He’s Gaughan and done it again

Posted on July 24, 2012 by David McKee

Where others in Las Vegas hold back, Michael Gaughan plunges boldly forward. Using its iView platform, Bally Technologies has been holding virtual horse races, streamed across the slot floors of various tribal casinos. Pechanga Resort & Casino in California and … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, California, Current, Entertainment, Horseracing, Michael Gaughan, Pennsylvania, Technology, Tribal | 6 Comments

For sale: One casino marquee, slightly used

Posted on July 22, 2012 by David McKee

It looks like the new owner of Fitzgeralds/The D is a little hard up for cash. Rather than donate the Fitzgeralds marquee to the Neon Museum, he’s liquidating the big display on eBay — and for a mere $25,000. At 10 … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Current, Derek Stevens, Downtown, history | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 18, 2012 by David McKee

“The minor was in contact with the four drink servers, at least two dealers, a floor supervisor and at least 10 other Harrah’s employees, none of whom asked for identification, the complaint says.” — from a Las Vegas Sun story … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Harrah's, Regulation, The Strip | 5 Comments

End of an experiment

Posted on July 16, 2012 by David McKee

Insurgo Theater Movement‘s residency at the Plaza Las Vegas ended not with a bang but a Facebook whimper five hours ago: “Greetings mes braves! Insurgo is no longer producing at The Plaza. We want to thank them for a great … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Downtown, Entertainment, Tamares Group | 1 Comment

Something for the Monday blues

Posted on July 16, 2012 by David McKee

We could all use a laugh these days, so I present to you the song stylings of Mitt Romney. It’s a good thing he’s only running for President of the United States and not in our republic’s most important plebiscite: … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Entertainment | 1 Comment

Last weekend at The Mirage; “Jersey Boys” rumble

Posted on July 9, 2012 by David McKee

It was bound to happen: Not one, not two, but four douchebags trying to get tables at The Mirage‘s Carnegie Deli wearing nothing more than swimming trunks and flip-flops. That’s taking “casual” just a mite far. What’s the over/under on … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Current, Dining, Entertainment, George Maloof, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Tourism | 3 Comments

Sigma Derby rides again; Revel vs. Maryland Live!, Round One; Idiocy epidemic at Trump Taj

Posted on July 3, 2012 by David McKee

Just when it seemed hope was lost … The D is reintroducing Sigma Derby to Downtown. In one fell swoop of utter brilliance, owner Derek Stevens has staked a prohibitive claim to Gaming Executive of the Year. To be completely … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Cordish Co., Current, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Problem gambling, Regulation, Revel, Technology, The Strip | 5 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 3, 2012 by David McKee

“[X] took five years to build at a cost of $2.4 billion. The building is nearly two million square feet, and will offer the latest technology at check-in, creature comforts … including a spa and several dining options, and almost … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, The Strip, Transportation | 1 Comment

Isle knows how to sell it; “Gamming” at the Cosmo

Posted on June 28, 2012 by David McKee

If you’ve been watching casino-preview videos for the last dozen years, you’ve become inured to all the usual tropes, including the de rigeur, 3-D flyby and the glowing executive testimonials. Give Isle of Capri Casinos credit for realizing that the … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Current, Entertainment, Isle of Capri, Marketing, Missouri, Technology, The Strip | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 25, 2012 by David McKee

“President Eastwood” has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?

Posted in Current | 3 Comments

Back at my post

Posted on June 25, 2012 by David McKee

Barring enormous dissatisfaction in McLean, Virginia, the USAT travel guides are off my desk for the time being, which means slightly more leisure to ponder such matters as what the rise to power of the Islamic Brotherhood in Cairo (albeit … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Harrah's, International, LVCVA, Politics, Sheldon Adelson | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 20, 2012 by David McKee

It took 72 years but Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) has finally mastered the art of the soundbite. Congratulations, sir!

Posted in Current, Harry Reid, TV | 1 Comment

Everything’s coming up Penn

Posted on June 15, 2012 by David McKee

As befits a proud papa, Penn National Gaming has been showing Wall Street analysts around its newest offspring: Hollywood Casino Toledo. The metrics are pretty awe-inspiring. Already the customer database is approaching 50,000 players and 47% of all slot play … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Current, Dan Lee, Detroit, Don Barden, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, International, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Missouri, MTR Gaming, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | 3 Comments

Casino John rides again; Mashpee ride to victory

Posted on June 10, 2012 by David McKee

As is my habit, I tuned in CNN‘s Your Money yesterday. No sooner was the TV on but there was Gov. John Kasich (R), taking justifiable pride in Ohio‘s having recently added 73,300 jobs. The inescapable irony — and fact … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Current, Economy, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, Tribal, TV | 4 Comments

Toronto: Move over, Jim and Gary, here comes Sheldon

Posted on June 8, 2012 by David McKee

No disrespect to Steve Wynn, but the human starter gun for any serious casino race is now Sheldon Adelson. Except for China, he’s not been in any casino-expansion movement for the long haul since he lost Mirage Resorts. And with … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Economy, Florida, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, New York, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Texas, Tourism | 3 Comments

Atlas stumbled

Posted on June 7, 2012 by David McKee

Warren Buffett likes to say that we’ve already had class warfare in this country and his class won. Whilst laid up, recuperating from an ill-advised meal at Mizumi, I had reason to ponder this in connection with the recent stateside … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Bally Technologies, Culinary Union, Current, Dining, Economy, Election, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | 7 Comments