Category Archives: Current

Another headache for Blue Chip

Posted on January 10, 2011 by David McKee

Just when the up-and-down fortunes of Boyd Gaming‘s Blue Chip riverboat were on an “up” again, with a 1% revenue increase in December, Gun Lake Casino is preparing to open fire. The new tribal casino will be managed by Station … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Indiana, Station Casinos, Tribal | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 10, 2011 by David McKee

Look, if we had a government I thought we could trust, I might say differently, but they haven’t earned my trust in my lifetime.” — Bill Maher, defendingWikileaks‘ release of diplomatic cables and other official documents .

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

Case Bets: Philadelphia, Trump; Adelson’s successor

Posted on January 10, 2011 by David McKee

Even outgoing Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell (D) has thrown in the towel on a second Philadelphia casino. Now that he no longer has to gratify “george” campaign donors, Rendell says it may be time to look elsewhere in the state. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Economy, International, Isle of Capri, Macau, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Stanley Ho | 1 Comment

Upsizing Illinois

Posted on January 7, 2011 by David McKee

Or would “capsizing” be the right word? Late Thursday, Wells Fargo released a study of the effects on Illinois‘ casino market if a massive expansion backed by state Democrats goes through. They’re under the gun, since the whole issue gets … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Boyd Gaming, Current, Don Barden, Economy, Harrah's, IGT, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Wall Street, WMS Industries | 6 Comments

Sheldon: I’ll take Florida

Posted on January 7, 2011 by David McKee

It’s amazing what a transformative effect a night’s stay at Venelazzo will have. After stopping by Sheldon Adelson‘s little pied-a-terre, Florida Gov. Rick Scott (left) has done a 180 on casino expansion in Florida. Now Scott, refreshed by an evening’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Election, Florida, Genting, Harrah's, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 1 Comment

Elephant runs free

Posted on January 7, 2011 by David McKee

No, it’s not a metaphor for this week’s events in Washington, D.C., just the setup for a heartwarming vignette out of India …

Posted in Animals, Current, International | Comments Off on Elephant runs free

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 6, 2011 by David McKee

“Jim Gibbons … started out wanting to be governor because there was an office called governor and he was next in line. But instead of being changed by the experience, of rising above himself, his pride and his stubborn ideology, … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, history, Midnight Jim Gibbons | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Palms: Maloof out, Loveman in?

Posted on January 6, 2011 by David McKee

Now that Las Vegas has fallen about as far as it can, private equity firms are picking over the city like vultures sampling carrion. Don’t get me wrong: It’s a much smarter strategy than those PE bozos who bought in … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Current, Donald Trump, George Maloof, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Regulation, The Strip, TV, Wall Street | 9 Comments

Cosmo: Porches and walls

Posted on January 5, 2011 by David McKee

Today’s guest-blogger contribution comes from Dr. Augie Grant, holder of the J. Rion McKissick Professorship of Journalism at the University of South Carolina‘s School of Journalism & Mass Communications. Prof. Grant was in Las Vegas for the opening of The … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, MGM Mirage, The Strip | 8 Comments

Happy New Year?

Posted on December 30, 2010 by David McKee

Since Las Vegas is looking at a 3.5% increase in visitation from New Year’s Eve 2009 and 98% occupancy, the answer is “Yes.” Thank God, because it hopefully means that an equivocal recovery on the Strip is finally gaining traction, … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Charity, CityCenter, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Tribal, Wall Street | 5 Comments

I knew the NFL was bad this year …

Posted on December 30, 2010 by David McKee

… but not to the point of having 0-0 teams in the playoffs, as this ESPN graphic would have us believe. Thankfully, the Kissing Suzy Kolber blog archived this great moment in TV sports, so we can be assured that … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Sports, TV | 1 Comment

Hard Rock: No end of trouble on Paradise

Posted on December 28, 2010 by David McKee

Once again the blogosphere has caught the MSM napping. Report On Vegas informs readers that the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is having a rough time meeting its bills (this was the augury of doom for Barrick Gaming‘s short-lived stewardship … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Don Barden, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Lake Tahoe, Morgans Hotel Group, Pennsylvania, Sports, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tribal, TV | 3 Comments

Ruffin on the prowl; Penn’s blown opportunity

Posted on December 28, 2010 by David McKee

So much for the conventional wisdom that Phil Ruffin was just hanging onto Treasure Island for a few years to help MGM Resorts International through a rough patch. Seems he’s subsequently made offers for The Mirage (whose infrastructure is symbiotic … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, International, Kansas, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Steve Wynn, Tribal | 6 Comments

From the mailbag

Posted on December 28, 2010 by David McKee

It’s but 9:07 a.m. and two big pieces of news have fallen over the cyber-transom. An S&G reader informs me that leaderless Greektown Casino will have new — and good — management soon, in the form of a GM who’s … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Current, Detroit, Harrah's, Marketing, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Let it (not) snow!; BP screws casinos

Posted on December 27, 2010 by David McKee

With Atlantic City currently in white-out mode, casino executives must be studying next weekend’s forecast and hoping that it holds true. A few days of above-freezing temperatures ought to give the Boardwalk a chance to melt and shovel its way … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Current, Dennis Gomes, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, Harrah's, Macau, Marketing, Mississippi, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment | 2 Comments

Sheldon’s Chinese box

Posted on December 24, 2010 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson must have been a good boy this year. Santa left an extra present under his tree, in the form of probable approval by the Macau Land, Public Works & Transportation Bureau of apartment sales at 286-unit Four Seasons … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Wall Street | Comments Off on Sheldon’s Chinese box

‘Twere the Case Bets before Christmas

Posted on December 23, 2010 by David McKee

In the casino industry, everything was stirring, including the mice. Cordish’s revenge. It’s a dish best served by opening Cordish Gaming‘s controversial Arundel Mills gambling hall late next year with a temporary, one-year casino. That means karma comes early for … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Animals, Cordish Co., Current, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, G2E, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Singapore, The Mob, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on ‘Twere the Case Bets before Christmas

The Gossy 500

Posted on December 23, 2010 by David McKee

If you’re not watching heavy amounts of ESPN you may have missed this … … because nothing says “NASCAR” quite like a pallid British crooner in a slouch hat and tuxedo. Christmas in Vegas: Regarding that travel advice I gave … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Marketing, Sports, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 23, 2010 by David McKee

“When it’s all going to be said and done, Harry Reid has eaten our lunch.” — Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), paying the Senate Majority Leader a backhanded compliment. Old Sixty Votes couldn’t advance the cause of online poker but his … Continue reading →

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

Betting on crime; Anniversary in Indiana

Posted on December 21, 2010 by David McKee

Last week’s big chip heist at Bellagio may have left MGM Resorts International with a smidgen of egg on its face but it’s not as though others in the gambling industry have failed to see the opportunity to make money. … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Horseracing, Indiana, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, New York, Oscar Goodman, Racinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | 2 Comments