Category Archives: Current

Pride and Pepto-Bismol

Posted on December 28, 2011 by David McKee

Santa Claus was a little over-generous this year, was my waning flu was topped off with a Christmas Night onset of acid reflux, in St. Nick-sized portions. Being almost 40 lbs. overweight, feeling the tightness in my chest, and with … Continue reading →

Posted in Cretins, Current, Dining, history, Illinois, International, Macau, Singapore, The Strip | 5 Comments

I’ll be sick for Christmas

Posted on December 23, 2011 by David McKee

Alas, most of the work week has been lost to a sudden onset of the flu. After answering a few “Question(s) of the Day” I was a goner … even though news of the casino industry marches implacably onwards. Anyway, … Continue reading →

Posted in Current | 3 Comments

Pennsylvania gives thanks; Aqueduct, superstar

Posted on December 16, 2011 by David McKee

This has been a terrible fortnight for S&G but, hey, we’ve got some good news from Pennsylvania. Last month’s gambling revenues were reported this morning and they’re up 12%, thanks mostly to the growing popularity of table games. (Atlantic City, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, Cannery Casino Resorts, Current, Economy, Genting, IGT, Illinois, Macau, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Wall Street, WMS Industries | 2 Comments

Fun with math

Posted on December 15, 2011 by David McKee

There’s regular arithmetic and then there’s Walmart math. I mean, who ever knew that a 29% price increase constituted a “rollback”? Perhaps I shouldn’t be sharing this novel concept with the gaming industry, giving them ideas, but S&G readers deserve … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Marketing | 1 Comment

A very Vegas “Nutcracker”; The vanishing Bob Earl

Posted on December 15, 2011 by David McKee

Well, slightly Vegas anyway. Holly Madison has managed to become the single most ubiquitous celebrity in town (unless you count food-stained wretch Robin Leach, which I don’t). This year, she’s gracing Nevada Ballet Theater‘s The Nutcracker, which is playing a … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Dining, Entertainment, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, The Strip | Comments Off on A very Vegas “Nutcracker”; The vanishing Bob Earl

Why is this man still smiling?

Posted on December 15, 2011 by David McKee

Colony Capital has a Nevada gaming license. Ronald P. Johnson does not, even though he’s been advising Goldman Sachs on its gaming operations for the past year. Big mistake. On Tuesday, a Clark County judge split the baby that is … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Current, Don Barden, Economy, Goldman Sachs | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 15, 2011 by David McKee

“Dismissing the burgeoning number of Americans on the right who are suspicious of interventionism and hawkishness is intellectually suspect and unwise. A majority of Republicans now think that the Iraq War was a mistake. The general non-interventionist impulse on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, history, International | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

‘Grimm’ reaper; Marathon ordeal; Last call for queries

Posted on December 12, 2011 by David McKee

Las Vegas made the Sunday funny pages this week. One could get all irate about Mike Peters‘ dig at gambling and the Strip. However, if he wanted to equate casinos with fleapits, he could have chosen more wisely than he … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Environment, Florida, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 1 Comment

More treat than trick

Posted on December 9, 2011 by David McKee

October’s revenue figures for Nevada emerged today and it was a good month statewide ($961 million, +8%) and a great one for the Las Vegas Strip ($560.5 million, +13%). Mind you, October 1 was a Saturday, meaning that some Sept. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Current, Downtown, Economy, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Mesquite, North Las Vegas, Pinnacle Entertainment, Reno, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tourism | 1 Comment

Borgata or bust; ‘LVH,’ Jacko & Sinead

Posted on December 9, 2011 by David McKee

First, the good news: Borgata — accounting for more than one-fifth of the entire market share — continues to vastly outpace the rest of the Atlantic City market. Last month, it raked in $50 million for a 2% gain, driven … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cirque du Soleil, Colony Capital, Current, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Laughlin, MGM Mirage, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

“Michael Jackson™”: Mortal?

Posted on December 5, 2011 by David McKee

As the reviews trickle in from Saturday night’s Las Vegas premiere of Michael Jackson The IMMORTAL World Tour™ we may be seeing an inversion of the Viva Elvis™ phenomenon. In the latter instance, the out-of-towners raved and local critics yawned. … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Cirque du Soleil, Current, Economy, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, The Strip | Comments Off on “Michael Jackson™”: Mortal?

Casinos in Kentucky … soon?; Tenants to Sands: Let my people go!

Posted on December 2, 2011 by David McKee

Per S&G‘s prediction, Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear (D) wasted little time after winning reelection before resuming his push for casino legalization. You’d never think that he beat opponent state Senate President David Williams (R) like a drum at the ballot … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Dining, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip | Comments Off on Casinos in Kentucky … soon?; Tenants to Sands: Let my people go!

Fight the power

Posted on December 2, 2011 by David McKee

PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet from Fight for the Future on Vimeo. Sheldon Adelson and Steve Wynn are huge admirers of the despotic government of China, which censors the Internet wholesale. So I’m sure they just lurve this … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Internet gambling, Macau, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Technology | Comments Off on Fight the power

Hooters: What next?; PE fools and their money; Deal or no-Deal in Georgia?

Posted on November 30, 2011 by David McKee

It’s all over for the current administration at Hooters Casino Hotel. They’ve given up trying to fight efforts by Canyon Capital Realty Advisors to have the money-losing property sold via foreclosure auction. If Canpartners wins at auction, it may go … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Current, Economy, Election, Florida, Georgia, Golden Gaming, Herbst Gaming, Hooters, Horseracing, Slot routes, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Boyd: Trapped in Florida; Sands muzzled in Singapore; Good vibes in Macao

Posted on November 29, 2011 by David McKee

This is a good time to be in Florida, right? Not if you’re Boyd Gaming and have been trying to unload Dania Jai-alai, souvenir of a half-assed venture into the Sunshine State’s racino market. The company has scrapped an $80 … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Economy, Genting, Harrah's, Macau, MGM Mirage, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Boyd: Trapped in Florida; Sands muzzled in Singapore; Good vibes in Macao

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 23, 2011 by David McKee

“It was a largely sober, largely tedious evening. This group has clearly seen too much of each other at this point and is now moving into the post-1977 M*A*S*H period.” — Esquire‘s Charles P. Pierce, on what he describes as … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, history | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Adelson making mischief in Massachusetts?

Posted on November 22, 2011 by David McKee

This just in: Scarcely was the ink dry on Massachusetts‘ new casino law when the state got slapped with litigation. The issue? The law’s “explicit, race-based set-asides that give federally recognized Indian tribes a categorical advantage over all other applicants … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off on Adelson making mischief in Massachusetts?

Ask Virginia!

Posted on November 22, 2011 by David McKee

Following in the footsteps of Alex Yemenidjian and Anthony Marnell IIII, the CEO of Isle of Capri Casinos, Virginia McDowell, has agreed to take questions from S&G readers early next month. So here’s your shot: Sharpen those pencils and dream … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Current, Economy, Isle of Capri, Mississippi, Ohio, Penn National | 1 Comment

Election update: Evening the score; A Wynn-Winn situation

Posted on November 21, 2011 by David McKee

It’s five o’clock in Shreveport … or soon will be. Voters in Bossier Parish handed the casino industry a belated 2011 “win,” balancing the ledger in an otherwise disappointing electoral cycle. A Margaritaville-branded casino (employing a Lake Charles boat purchased … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Current, Dining, Election, Entertainment, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Marketing, Pinnacle Entertainment, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | 5 Comments

Morgans: They’re baaaaaaack!; Un-win at Cosmo

Posted on November 18, 2011 by David McKee

Just when you thought it was safe to invest in Las Vegas again, the city went to bed last night to the news that masters of disaster Morgans Hotel Group had purchased nightclub operator Light Group. Given Morgans’ propensity for … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cosmopolitan, Current, Entertainment, Florida, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Sahara, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments