Category Archives: Current

Rio: The final frontier?

Posted on August 13, 2010 by David McKee

Although I was hoping to keep this under wraps a few more days, reader Jeff_in_OKC connected all the dots this afternoon, so I’ll have to scoop myself. Here goes … At last week’s annual Star Trek Convention, the program contained … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Current, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Harrah's, The Strip, World Series of Poker | 8 Comments

New shakeup at Melco; Adelson goes tropical

Posted on August 13, 2010 by David McKee

Those of you for whom Melco Crown Entertainment has been a bumpy ride are about to experience additional turbulence. CFO Simon Dewhurst has stepped down and MPEL board has — rather late in the day — decided “to find a … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Current, International, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 13, 2010 by David McKee

“Blogging is tedious and dumb, and leads to fully formed ideas.” — from the new mock-trailer, Twit Network.

Posted in Current, Technology | 1 Comment

The Summer of Love(man)

Posted on August 12, 2010 by David McKee

It may be hard to believe in retrospect, but at the time of Harrah’s Entertainment‘s LBO, some analysts thought it would be partly amortized by selling off the company’s regional properties. That prompted me to write something to the effect … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Current, Detroit, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, Horseracing, Kansas, Marketing, Ohio, Racinos, Regulation, Station Casinos, Taxes, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

12 best things about the Station bankruptcy auction

Posted on August 12, 2010 by David McKee

1. Don’t have to keep “OpCo,” “PropCo” and “LandCo” straight anymore. 2. No casinos placed in receivership or shut down. 3. No more having to spell-check whether it’s Judge “Greg” or “Gregg” Zive. (It’s the latter, in case you were … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism | 4 Comments

Sign of the Times

Posted on August 12, 2010 by David McKee

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy An indescribable scene in Atlanta — must-viewing for casino executives who think recovery is just around the corner.

Posted in Current, Economy | 1 Comment

Massachusetts: On and On and On

Posted on August 12, 2010 by David McKee

Oy vey!

Posted in Current, Economy, Massachusetts, Politics, Taxes | Comments Off on Massachusetts: On and On and On

Underwater at the Westin

Posted on August 11, 2010 by David McKee

If you’re having to go hat in hand to the bank to ask for a renegotiated home loan, take comfort in the thought that you’re hardly alone. Even plutocrats like Columbia Sussex CEO William J. Yung are having to plead … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Ameristar up for grabs

Posted on August 11, 2010 by David McKee

Having been in “stay the course” mode ever since the death of company founder Craig H. Neilsen, locals giant Ameristar Casinos is putting itself on the block. According to the New York Post, the company has hired an investment bank … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Station Casinos, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Atlantic City: It could be worse

Posted on August 10, 2010 by David McKee

Considering that table games were up and running in Delaware and gradually rolling out in Pennsylvania, it comes as a pleasant surprise to see that Atlantic City was only down 5% in July. Frankly, I was expecting much worse, especially … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Horseracing, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, New York, Pansy Ho, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Technology, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Wasted … and the 77% solution

Posted on August 10, 2010 by David McKee

Not even the cachet of Carey Hart and occasional appearances by Pink were enough to keep Wasted Space going. The Hard Rock Hotel is calling it quits on the club, bumping it in favor of a race and sports book. … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, CityCenter, Current, Economy, Entertainment, George Maloof, Harrah's, M Resort, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Morgans Hotel Group, Pennsylvania, Riviera, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | 5 Comments

America’s growth market is … Detroit?!?!

Posted on August 10, 2010 by David McKee

Despite being in one of the two hardest-hit regions of America, Detroit has posted casino-revenue gains in five of the last seven months. It’s done this without significant new casino product (unlike Missouri, which is -4% once River City is … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Detroit, Economy, Macau, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Station Casinos | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 9, 2010 by David McKee

“States talk openly of poaching gamblers from their neighboring states and view keeping their own residents’ money within state borders as something akin to a religious duty.”  — Wayne Parry & Stephen Singer of The Associated Press on casino-market cannibalization … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy | 1 Comment

Case Bets: New Jersey; A lucky guy; Genting’s good fortune

Posted on August 9, 2010 by David McKee

Garden State Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.) may have excluded sports betting as a new revenue source for the state’s besieged casino industry. As expected, state Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D, left) tuned the governor out and continues to pursue legalization of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Cordish Co., Current, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Genting, Harrah's, International, Macau, New York, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Singapore, Sports, Tamares Group, Tourism | 1 Comment

Rising Sun; At Harry’s mercy

Posted on August 9, 2010 by David McKee

It’s not news that Japan has been mulling casino gambling for the umpteenth time. What is news is that the Diet — or rather, the General Assembly of International Sightseeing Industry Development Diet Member Association — has gotten very serious … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Harrah's, Harry Reid, International, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 7, 2010 by David McKee

Since we didn’t have one yesterday, today there are two, in the form of a de facto debate: “There is this odd mismatch between countries like Germany that you mention, and Britain, where we have an established church. And yet … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Michael Gaughan | 5 Comments

The great train robbery

Posted on August 6, 2010 by David McKee

Take that, Boyd Gaming, ya varmints! To paraphrase vile Remington Products CEO Victor Kiam (1926-2001), the Fertitta Brothers liked Station Casinos so much they stole the company. Not only did three Fertitta siblings and an in-law cash out during the … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Penn National, Station Casinos, Wall Street | 7 Comments

Chrome Dome

Posted on August 5, 2010 by David McKee

Last weekend, as I ploughed into a pile of analyst reports, court filings, etc., I came across a Clark County Commission planning report on Christopher Milam, Paul & Sue Lowden‘s proposed Silver State Arena. As you can see, it would … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Baseball, Current, Economy, LVCVA, MGM Mirage, Riviera, Sahara, Sports, Taxes, The Strip, Transportation, TV | 8 Comments

Gone baby, gone

Posted on August 5, 2010 by David McKee

“[T]he confidence that ­property prices and stock markets would permanently defy gravity” is a phrase that perfectly encapsulates how the casino industry got itself into its present pickle. In what other mindset could an industry convince itself that it could … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Economy, Encore, Entertainment, Environment, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, history, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 5, 2010 by David McKee

“Think of the American economy as a large apartment block. A century ago – even 30 years ago – it was the object of envy. But in the last generation its character has changed. The penthouses at the top keep … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy | 1 Comment