Category Archives: Current

G2E bargain at Station; analysts split on Sands

Posted on November 8, 2010 by David McKee

If you’re looking for an affordable room in Las Vegas during Global Gaming Expo, try Expedia‘s German site (“.de”). A European-based S&G source reports finding rooms at Boulder Station going for €57 and Fiesta Rancho asking €59 — or $79 … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Florida, G2E, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Texas, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Harrah’s Lousiana Purchase?

Posted on November 8, 2010 by David McKee

According to an S&G source, Harrah’s Entertainment — soon to be Caesars Entertainment — is supposedly laying the groundwork for a purchase of L’Auberge du Lac from Pinnacle Entertainment. Harrah’s CEO Gary Loveman was supposedly on-property last month and L’Auberge’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Harrah's, Louisiana, Mississippi, Pinnacle Entertainment, The Strip, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 5, 2010 by David McKee

“Suffice to say, it’s a very strange situation that someone who wants to be a representative of the state of Nevada never reached out to the No. 1 industry and even actively attacked Senator [Harry] Reid for helping it. I … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Economy, Election, Harry Reid, MGM Mirage, The Strip | 2 Comments

Icahn’s CEO jumps ship

Posted on November 4, 2010 by David McKee

In something of a shocker, Scott Butera, CEO of Tropicana Entertainment is leaving the firm to join a rival — but undisclosed — casino company. It’s an amicable parting, judging by the fact that Butera is staying to smooth over … Continue reading →

Posted in Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Current, Detroit, Don Barden, Donald Trump, Economy, Fontainebleau, Herbst Gaming, Morgans Hotel Group, Shuffle Master, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Iowa is flat

Posted on November 4, 2010 by David McKee

Actually it’s not, if you’ve lived there (as I did for four wonderful years). However, Iowa‘s casino industry is, down one-tenth of a percent from October 2009. Actually, nine of the 17 non-tribal casinos recorded revenue increases, particularly the small … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Colorado, Cordish Co., Current, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Laughlin, Maryland, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Big Gaming’s big win

Posted on November 3, 2010 by David McKee

When the dust settled — and did so quite quickly on Election night — GOP pollster Frank Luntz had it right and everybody else had it wrong. Instead of experiencing a fatal wound or even the electoral near-death experience of … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Current, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 3, 2010 by David McKee

“We believe there are a lot of distressed casinos across the country that have attractive assets. We would like to be an acquirer of those assets.” — incoming Trump Entertainment Resorts CEO Robert F. Griffin. Try not to laugh.

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Donald Trump, Economy | 3 Comments

Big Brother is watching you …

Posted on November 2, 2010 by David McKee

… and his name is Gary Loveman. While the Harrah’s Entertainment CEO hasn’t left a paper trail, several of his top lieutenants — including veeps Jan Jones (governmental affairs), Rick Mazer (boss of the Flamingo, Harrah’s Las Vegas, Imperial Palace, … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Politics, The Strip, TV | 13 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 2, 2010 by David McKee

“But if a microphone appears, [Sen. Harry Reid] assumes the persona of a wan, Old West undertaker whose own pulse needs to be checked.” — from a New York Times story encapsulating today’s election as ‘Hold your nose and vote.’

Posted in Current, Harry Reid | 1 Comment

Twilight of the gods?

Posted on November 2, 2010 by David McKee

It’s been obvious since jump street that MGM Resorts International bit off more than it could chew when it upsized its ambitions for the old Boardwalk site into a civic citadel, a Valhalla on the Strip. Behind CEO Jim Murren‘s … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Current, Dining, Dubai, Entertainment, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism | 2 Comments

Murren: I heart CityCenter; Wynn: I heart China; Angle: I heart Latinos … plus Boyd’s new fragrance

Posted on October 29, 2010 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International and old ball and chain Dubai World have consummated a deal to extend $1.8 billion in CityCenter loans, a reworking that MGM CEO Jim Murren calls “a capital structure that’s much more … in keeping with a … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, CityCenter, Columbia Sussex, Current, Dubai, Economy, Election, Environment, Harrah's, Macau, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, TV, Wall Street | 6 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 29, 2010 by David McKee

“I’m completely sick and tired of thinking about what took place behind me. We’re ecstatic to be out of bankruptcy with new ownership. We’re well capitalized. I’ll be damned if we’re going to see this thing fail.” — Tropicana Casino … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 28, 2010 by David McKee

“Prisoners suffered amplified exfoliation demands” — one of many Gray Lady-style headlines available from a habit-forming new Web application, the “New York Times Torture Euphemism Generator.”

Posted in Current, Technology | 1 Comment

“Lion King” to close

Posted on October 28, 2010 by David McKee

Lion King cast members learn they’ll be joining the ranks of the unemployed. MGM Resorts International announced today that it is “extending” The Lion King through the end of next year … which is a nice way of saying they’re … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Current, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, The Strip | 4 Comments

Vegas as people imagine it to be

Posted on October 27, 2010 by David McKee

Judging by the misconceptions one has to fight off (somebody revived the old “Disney Land to Las Vegas” canard about the mag-lev train recently), it’s a lot like the Indianapolis envisioned in this satire of an anarchist campaign ad. And, … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Indiana, Transportation | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 27, 2010 by David McKee

“If it tastes good, I spit it out.” — former NBA great — and popular Vegas high roller — Charles Barkley on his diet, which has enabled him to shed 45 pounds thus far.

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

Harrah’s to the rescue; Penn Nat’l bigfoots Maryland dispute

Posted on October 26, 2010 by David McKee

If — as appears to be the case — a deal to have Harrah’s Entertainment take over the stalled Foxwoods casino project in Philadelphia is all but done, hopefully it will render the question moot as to whether the casino … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Cordish Co., Current, Election, Harrah's, Maryland, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Tribal | Comments Off on Harrah’s to the rescue; Penn Nat’l bigfoots Maryland dispute

Singapore: Mission accomplished

Posted on October 25, 2010 by David McKee

A curious item popped up on the Manila Web site MB.com last week. Remember how Macao was “Asia’s Las Vegas”? The new meme is “More Than Just the New Vegas” (emphasis added). The lengthy puff piece rather strenuously posited Macao … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Dining, Genting, Harrah's, International, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Marketing, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Singapore: Mission accomplished

Galaxy Cotai postponed; MGM stages a comeback

Posted on October 25, 2010 by David McKee

It’s not official but, seeing as two top executives at the Macao megaresort (including its COO) just got the chop, it appears pretty likely. A project that was expected to open in late March of next year now looks as … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Harry Reid, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Tropicana Entertainment, TV, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Strange bedfellow

Posted on October 20, 2010 by David McKee

Animus by casino dealers toward tip-confiscation by Steve Wynn is causing them to embrace this piece of work … Yeah, that’s a serious ad, not comedy skit. Travis Barrick likes to give the impression that he’d have busted that mean … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Politics, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 2 Comments