Category Archives: Current

A tense time for Mike Ensign

Posted on April 23, 2011 by David McKee

His son’s resignation from the U.S. Senate isn’t going to get former Mandalay Resort Group big shot Mike Ensign out of the hot seat. As yesterday’s New York Times, the Senate Ethics Committee may yet refer its findings to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn | 2 Comments

Poker Stars & the Gang of 48

Posted on April 22, 2011 by David McKee

In the wake of Pokergeddon (dubbed “Grey Friday” by the online-casino community), a new source of hubbub is the missing $14,000, bread that Poker Stars allegedly laid on nine Democrats in the Nevada Assembly (including, sadly, the otherwise-admirable James Ohrenschall, … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, International, Internet gambling, Mississippi, Politics | 5 Comments

Oaf of Office III

Posted on April 22, 2011 by David McKee

… an occasional series. S&G keeps referring to Donald Trump‘s glass jaw — an obvious liability to his phony/delusional political aspirations. Obligingly, The Donald served up a characteristic hissy fit after Caesars Palace headliner Jerry Seinfeld canceled an appearance at … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Charity, Cretins, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Marketing, Oscar Goodman, Politics, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Tourism, Transportation, TV | 3 Comments

Blockbuster month in Pennsylvania; Resurgence in Atlantic City; Douchebag of the Decade

Posted on April 20, 2011 by David McKee

You want good news? We’ve got your good news right here: Casino revenues in Pennsylvania rocketed 24% last month. (35% if you include SugarHouse but that’s an apples-to-oranges metric.) Since, on a same-store basis, slot winnings were just slightly down, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cannery Casino Resorts, Cretins, Current, Dennis Gomes, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Marketing, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tribal | 3 Comments

Marriott’s master plan?; Cosmo blows?

Posted on April 20, 2011 by David McKee

Last week, we were discussing United Coin‘s assertion that a Marriott-branded hotel-casino may be erected on the acre formerly occupied by the old Sport of Kings gambling parlor. I recently had a chance to scope out United’s Little Acre and … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, LVCVA, Sahara, Tourism | 4 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 20, 2011 by David McKee

“I didn’t know the R-J had TV — thought it was just another thing they didn’t believe in.” — a reader’s reaction to the Review-Journal‘s bizarre Web telecasts, providing your daily minimum requirement of ‘WTF?‘

Posted in Current, Technology, TV | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

The Flim-Flam Man

Posted on April 20, 2011 by David McKee

If anything salutary emerges from Donald Trump‘s “cynical branding exercise,” it’s that it may finally expose an epic “scam” once and for all. I refer, of course, to the Trump-generated myth that he is a successful casino operator. True, he … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Charity, Cretins, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Indiana, Marketing, TV, Wall Street | 6 Comments

Stop and smell the roses …

Posted on April 19, 2011 by David McKee

… and while you’re at it, pull the weeds growing around them. That’s been a big part of my week so far, as I try to catch up on a backlog of commissions, kick the tires on a possible new … Continue reading →

Posted in Current | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 17, 2011 by David McKee

Ladies and gentlemen, the musical stylings of Sharron Angle. Brain bleach may be advisable.

Posted in Current | 4 Comments

‘Pokergeddon’ as it happens

Posted on April 15, 2011 by David McKee

Today’s Department of Justice/FBI surprise attack on PokerStars, Absolute Poker and Full Tilt Poker is a story that’s moving so fast that there’s scarcely time to mull or comment upon it. Almost nobody saw this coming, although Nathan Vardi of … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Current, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Politics, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 15, 2011 by David McKee

“Online poker is toast.” — Hunter Hillegas, in a Tweet of enviable pithiness, summarizing today’s Department of Justice crackdown on Internet gambling firms Full Tilt Poker, scandal-prone Absolute Poker, and PokerStars. Full Tilt and PokerStars business partners Wynn Resorts and … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, International, Internet gambling, Regulation, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn | 3 Comments

Fire sale in Vicksburg; Win or loss for Gettysburg?

Posted on April 15, 2011 by David McKee

Update: An earlier version contained a gross error/AARP moment on Yr. Humble Blogger’s part. I have amended the story so that it contains greater “factiness.” Also, fellow Canadian firm Gateway Casinos is the likely operator-to-be. In a curt announcement, Tropicana … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, Current, history, Indiana, International, Isle of Capri, Massachusetts, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Slot routes, Tourism, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, TV, Wall Street | 5 Comments

Low-rolling at Aria; MGM ups China ante; That doggone Desert Xpress

Posted on April 14, 2011 by David McKee

A SoCal-based player kindly shared this image from the latest Aria/M life offer: My friend ran an experienced eye over the chips on the rail and concluded that it “must be the lowest-minimum craps table Aria has ever seen,” as … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Cantor Gaming, CityCenter, Current, Harry Reid, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Movies, Pansy Ho, Problem gambling, Regulation, Stanley Ho, Technology, The Strip, Transportation, Wall Street | Comments Off on Low-rolling at Aria; MGM ups China ante; That doggone Desert Xpress

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 12, 2011 by David McKee

“I’m really encouraged by the summer. Bookings are great. The big news is, we’re all working together.” — Don Marrandino, president of Caesars Entertainment‘s four Atlantic City casinos. Cooperation on the Boardwalk? Now there’s a new (and welcome) trend.

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Harrah's, Tourism | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 11, 2011 by David McKee

“The purpose of the courts is to provide a forum for the orderly, just, and timely resolution of controversies and disputes. Plaintiff’s wishes to the contrary, the courts are not merely tools for encouraging and exacting settlements from defendants cowed … Continue reading →

Posted in Current | 1 Comment

Why is this man smiling? (And other Case Bets)

Posted on April 11, 2011 by David McKee

Because Sen. Harry Reid‘s decision not to importune lenders on behalf of Fontainebleau (unlike CityCenter) means he steered clear of a widening circle of litigation and recrimination, that’s why. Among those in the hot seat are hapless James Packer and … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Current, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Economy, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, Harry Reid, James Packer, Regulation, Sports, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment | 6 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 9, 2011 by David McKee

“Trump … sounds very self-assured. This is because before he was a reality-show host, he was in the New York real estate business, a profession in which it is vital to be able to say imaginary things with total certainty.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Donald Trump, New York, TV | 1 Comment

Marriott moots LV casino

Posted on April 8, 2011 by David McKee

Offering Sin City a slim reed of hope, Marriott International has let it be known — through “trailer station” operator United Coin — that it hopes to build a 3,500-room casino-hotel directly opposite the Las Vegas Convention Center. Considering the … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Current, Florida, Harrah's, history, LVCVA, Mississippi, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | 5 Comments

Let’s do the Time Warp

Posted on April 8, 2011 by David McKee

Hallucinations are not considered a symptom of fibromyalgia but I sure thought I was seeing things yesterday when noon-hour TV newscasts led with Union Village. Somebody obviously thinks it’s still 2007, as they’re proposing a $1.5 billion, 171-acre hospital-cum-retirement-community complex … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Lake Tahoe, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tourism, TV, Wall Street | 1 Comment

As Steve Wynn said …

Posted on April 8, 2011 by David McKee

… you have to admire Donald Trump because it’s not easy to go bankrupt when you own three casinos. The years! The billions! The hairdos! His current ego-gratification tour is taking him to Arizona. I dare him to come on … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | 3 Comments