Category Archives: Current

The Big Lie rides again

Posted on October 19, 2010 by David McKee

If I ever — God forbid! — run for office in Nevada, I’m going to just make stuff up and lie my head off. After all, candidates on both sides of this year’s marquee races have set the “truthiness” bar … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Election, MGM Mirage, Politics, The Strip | 9 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 19, 2010 by David McKee

“Hell, Bob, I’ll scuba dive in that thing.” — Oscar Goodman to restaurateur Robert Ansara, when asked to top off the world’s largest margarita (to promote breast-cancer awareness). As for the TV spot above, it’s pretty clear that the wrong … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Current, Election, Marketing, Oscar Goodman | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Fellini comes to Vegas

Posted on October 18, 2010 by David McKee

Here’s the one-minute version of Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas‘ surrealistic new teaser ad. I’m not sure who the target market is — the vibe is decidedly upscale but perhaps too arty, over the heads of the Speidi wannabes who frequent … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Cosmopolitan, Current, Marketing, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 5 Comments

Harrah’s on new spending spree

Posted on October 18, 2010 by David McKee

As predicted and dreaded by skeptical bond analysts, proceeds from Harrah’s Entertainment‘s semi-IPO of 17% of the company, it has been officially disclosed, will be rolled into retail therapy for CEO Gary Loveman. An anticipated $575 million will be used … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, George Maloof, Harrah's, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, The Strip, TV, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Adelson wins twice over

Posted on October 18, 2010 by David McKee

Bowing to reality, Macao‘s government will accede to Las Vegas Sands‘ desire — and rather desperate need — for 5,000 additional guest workers in order to complete long-delayed Venetian Oriental (left). Even with an infusion of Mainland laborers, the megaresort’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Cannery Casino Resorts, Current, Don Barden, Election, Harrah's, Macau, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off on Adelson wins twice over

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 18, 2010 by David McKee

“I think that you’re misinterpreting those commercials. I’m not sure that those are Latinos in that commercial.” — Sharron Angle, one-woman ‘Quote of the Day’ machine, referring to the image above (which depicts Mexican citizens … in Mexico).

Posted in Current, Election, International, Marketing, TV | 6 Comments

Glass menagerie

Posted on October 15, 2010 by David McKee

In this absolutely brand-new video clip, Encore designer Roger Thomas provides a backstory on the inspiration and fabrication for the chandeliers in the casino. The follow-up video ought to be Steve Wynn explaining why the Macao-style division of the casino … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Current, Encore, Movies, TV | 3 Comments

On a personal note …

Posted on October 15, 2010 by David McKee

My best pal, Fasolt, known to S&G readers, lost his battle with kidney failure and lymphoma earlier this week. The good people at Mountain Vista Animal Hospital put the big fellow out of his misery, illness having shriveled his once-enormous … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Current, Pets | 7 Comments

Dr. Loveman on the case; Death Ray designer stays mum

Posted on October 15, 2010 by David McKee

Confronted with an anemic patient — i.e., the Las Vegas Strip — attending physician Gary Loveman, Ph.D, has been prescribing a series of stimuli. (Possibly the only “economic stimulus” that all Americans can support.) Since customers are spending more selectively, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Riviera, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Vdara Death Ray | 7 Comments

Macao: The fine art of spin

Posted on October 14, 2010 by David McKee

No wonder Steve Wynn and Sheldon Adelson love it in China. Where else are you going to find such a compliant media, able to extract a silver lining from the darkest of clouds. For instance, “cost overruns” are something that … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Harrah's, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Macao: The fine art of spin

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 14, 2010 by David McKee

“There’s nothing wrong with our health-care system.” — Sharron Angle. Lucky woman, she’s obviously never had to deal with an HMO.

Posted in Current | 4 Comments

Kerkorian’s mixed message; Winners & Losers

Posted on October 13, 2010 by David McKee

Earlier this week, Hudson Securities analyst Robert LaFleur — something of a maverick in the gaming sector — voiced doubts about MGM Resorts International‘s ability to sustain its debt covenants. With an overhang of $13 million in debt, few properties … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Current, Detroit, Economy, Harrah's, International, Louisiana, M Resort, Macau, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Vdara Death Ray, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Great moments in casino marketing

Posted on October 13, 2010 by David McKee

We associate Sega with video games but once upon a time, it was in the slot business. Those old machines do look awfully quaint unless … … you juxtapose a Sega one-armed bandit with über-mega-hot European sex goddess Edwige Fenech … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, Current, history, Marketing, Movies, Pennsylvania, Technology, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on Great moments in casino marketing

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 13, 2010 by David McKee

“Your political schizophrenia [sic] in this situation is a perfect example of the business-as-usual approach on the part of many insiders in today’s political world. Your desire to have it both ways entirely ignores any notion of honest, integrity-based positions … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Election, Harry Reid | 1 Comment

Atlantic City: It could have been worse; Hard Rock changes its tune

Posted on October 12, 2010 by David McKee

OK, so September’s numbers from Atlantic City only represent one month of competition from SugarHouse, in Philadelphia. However, with every other casino in Pennsylvania having enjoyed two full months of table games, a 12% dropoff isn’t as bad as I … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Current, Detroit, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, M Resort, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 11, 2010 by David McKee

“We are no longer the nation that used to amaze the world with its visionary projects. We have become, instead, a nation whose politicians seem to compete over who can show the least vision, the least concern about the future … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, New York | 2 Comments

The whales of August

Posted on October 8, 2010 by David McKee

Nevada had another big casino bounce — $944.5 million, its largest since February’s $947 million. However, some of the positive auguries are real and some are misleading. To get the big one out of the way, Strip slot revenues were … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Kansas, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Louisiana, North Las Vegas, Regulation, Reno, The Strip, Tourism, Vdara Death Ray, Wall Street | 2 Comments

No (M)irage this time: Penn enters Vegas

Posted on October 8, 2010 by David McKee

They’ve been busy little beavers at Penn National Gaming, which is — would you believe it? — now the third-largest operator in the U.S. Never mind that Penn bought a horse track in Ohio, on top of building two casinos … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Current, Donald Trump, Fontainebleau, Harry Reid, Louisiana, M Resort, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Texas, Wall Street, West Virginia | 7 Comments

The Primm mystery deepens

Posted on October 7, 2010 by David McKee

So is Herbst family hubris about to claim one or more victims in Primm? LVA sources report that perhaps 240 cars were there on a recent weekend, a sixth of them at Whiskey Pete’s, which wasn’t taking room bookings either … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Herbst Gaming | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 7, 2010 by David McKee

“Dems look to use marijuana to energize Nevada voters” — headline in the Las Vegas Sun. That may be the first time Mary Jane and “energize” have been mentioned in the same sentence.

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