Category Archives: Current

Maryland accord totters; Massachusetts cities get testy

Posted on April 23, 2012 by David McKee

Never say “never” but a pet casino project of Maryland Senate President Thomas V. “Mike” Miller Jr. is in critical condition. The sweetheart deal, which would gift-wrap a casino for National Harbor in Miller’s Prince George’s County (in return for … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Harrah's, Maryland, Massachusetts, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Reno, Steve Wynn | 1 Comment

“Less-than-Best Little Whorehouse”

Posted on April 20, 2012 by David McKee

Last night, fledgling SFS Productions rolled out The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas at the Plaza Las Vegas and, true to its subject matter, it’s a emotionless copulation — to borrow a Pauline Kael line, it’s a practiced hooker with … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Current, Downtown, Entertainment, Environment, MGM Mirage, Riviera, Tamares Group, Technology, Texas, The Strip, Tourism | 6 Comments

Gilbert, Caesars hit Ohio speed bump; Maple Leaf misadventure; Rearranging deck chairs on the WesCas

Posted on April 20, 2012 by David McKee

Rub a dub-dub, three companies in a tub called Rock Ohio Caesars. In emulation of Nevada‘s built-first-license-later system, the Ohio Casino Control Commission is just getting around to mulling the bonafides of Horseshoe Casino Cleveland‘s shareholders. Little-publicized minority partner Lyle … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Current, Detroit, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Iowa, Kansas, Lyle Berman, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Stanley Ho, The Strip, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Macao: Crossed fingers at Wynn; Confrontation at Melco

Posted on April 19, 2012 by David McKee

According to the Jornal Tribuna de Macau, by the end of the month, Wynn Resorts and the government of Macao “may sign” the long-awaited land tender upon which the fate of $2.7 billion Wynn Cotai rests. It “could be” a … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Current, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, Hooters, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Penn, Vegas to GSA: Thank you!; What price Victorville?

Posted on April 19, 2012 by David McKee

With so many fine hotels to choose from in Las Vegas, it’s no wonder that it took disgraced General Services Administration Regional Commissioner Jeffrey Neely no fewer than eight ‘fact-finding’ missions at a cost of $130,000 (or $16,250 per vacation … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Cordish Co., Current, Economy, Entertainment, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Illinois, International, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, TV, Wall Street, Warner Gaming | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 15, 2012 by David McKee

“There doesn’t appear to be no respite in sight for Full Tilt Poker, especially after it has once again been hit with another class-action lawsuitfrom [sic] disgruntled online poker players.” — latest dispatch from CalvinAyre.com. Holy grammatical meltdown, Batman!

Posted in Current, Internet gambling | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

The continuing adventures of Sheldon Adelson, Harry Reid and the GSA

Posted on April 14, 2012 by David McKee

First, the good news. Business is off and running at brand-new Sands Cotai Central, whose Himalaya casino (372 tables, 600 slots) opened last Wednesday. In total square footage, it overtakes Venetian Macao for status as the world’s largest casino (30% … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Current, Economy, Election, Florida, Genting, Harrah's, Harry Reid, history, International, Macau, Massachusetts, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Stanley Ho, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, TV, Wall Street | 5 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 14, 2012 by David McKee

“I was brought up Catholic; this feels wrong.” — Dancing with the Stars host Tom Bergeron, when brought onstage and instructed to shake his booty by Lacey Schwimmer during last night’s preview of the DWTS satellite show at the Tropicana … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Entertainment, The Strip, Tourism, TV | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Sheldon Adelson, super villain

Posted on April 13, 2012 by David McKee

“Where’s the white cat,” asked an S&G reader when photos from the grand opening of Sands Cotai Central showed Sheldon Adelson doing a superb impersonation of Ernst Stavro Blofeld, “crumpets” in attendance. You can just imagine him sitting there, brainstorming … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Massachusetts, Movies, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism | 7 Comments

Boffo February in Nevada

Posted on April 10, 2012 by David McKee

Casinos in the Silver State were up 6% in February, which is pretty damned impressive when you consider that Chinese New Year fell in January this year, giving Month #2 a tough row to hoe. But, with the exception of … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Lake Las Vegas | Comments Off on Boffo February in Nevada

Last night at the Palms

Posted on April 6, 2012 by David McKee

Kelly Clarkson rocked The Pearl to its foundation with a joyous, 80-minute set. Unfortunately for us (but happily for them), these anonymous videographers had better

Posted in Current, Entertainment, George Maloof, The Strip | Comments Off on Last night at the Palms

Trump Plaza reprieved; Stirrings at Sahara

Posted on April 5, 2012 by David McKee

Good news for Trump Plaza: It’s off the “death watch,” having dramatically reversed its fortunes last year. Although revenues continue to decline, gross operating profit swung from a $2 million loss in 2010 to a nearly $3 million gain last … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Current, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, Sahara, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Transportation, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Worst operator of 2011; GSA’s wrong amount of wrong

Posted on April 4, 2012 by David McKee

Worst of the year? That’d be Grand Station Casino, a former Harrah’s riverboat in Vicksburg, and its owners, Delta Development & Investments. They managed to parlay a $3.25 million steal of a casino that could have gone for $35 million … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, Culinary Union, Current, Economy, Harry Reid, M Resort, Macau, Marketing, Mississippi, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism | 2 Comments

Revel gets a rave review

Posted on April 4, 2012 by David McKee

Deutsche Bank‘s Carlo Santarelli took a jaunt down to Atlantic City to check out Revel, the biggest noise on the Boardwalk in almost a decade. He thought … well, let him tell it: “From the check in reception area, complete … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Cosmopolitan, Cretins, Current, Dennis Gomes, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, Genting, Harrah's, Marketing, New York, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, TV, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Like I said …

Posted on March 28, 2012 by David McKee

That MGM Resorts International casino project in Massachusetts looked like a long shot to me — and so it was. After a high-profile launch, complete with a personal appearance by CEO Jim Murren, a dedicated Web site and a promised … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Current, Election, Goldman Sachs, Indiana, International, Louisiana, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sheldon Adelson, Transportation, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 28, 2012 by David McKee

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy “Do not go and take that money and have fleet feet and go on vacation or go to Las Vegas or Atlantic City.” — Suze Orman, on what … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, The Strip, Tourism, TV, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Bad timing; The wrong amount of WTF?; Uncle Sheldon speaks

Posted on March 23, 2012 by David McKee

Surely the worst entertainment coverage in Vegas is Wayne’s World, penned by former Lance Burton flack Wayne Bernath. A copy of his April effort (pictured) is available upon request, as it’s sure to be a collector’s item — along the … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Current, Downtown, Entertainment, Marketing, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Tamares Group, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Aria: Take it again from the top, boys

Posted on March 22, 2012 by David McKee

Y’all remember that ‘consciousness-raising’ campaign MGM Resorts International announced on behalf of Aria, earlier this week. The first in a six-part series of videos, The Reveal, went live late this afternoon. Subsequent blipverts will include The Motive and Entrapment. (It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Entertainment, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Movies, Technology, The Strip | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 22, 2012 by David McKee

“If you’re in the business of disseminating news, you don’t sue the people you’re disseminating news to.” — David Kravets, of Wired Magazine, on the self-inflicted financial catastrophe of Sherman Frederick‘s “little friend,” Righthaven, one of the most birdbrained get-rich-quick … Continue reading →

Posted in Current | 2 Comments

Singapore: Many called, two chosen; Tunica catches a break

Posted on March 22, 2012 by David McKee

VIP junket operators are coming to Singapore, J.P. Morgan stock analysts reported. Actually, they’re already there in the form of “shadow junkets,” according to Singaporean media. And if Las Vegas Sands or Genting Berhad are knowingly dealing with illegal junketeers, … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Current, Economy, Florida, Genting, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Pokergeddon, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, South Carolina, Stanley Ho, Taxes, Technology, Wall Street | 1 Comment