Category Archives: Current

More political football at CityCenter

Posted on May 18, 2010 by David McKee

Due to the Las Vegas Review-Journal‘s bizarre campaign to secede from the Internet, we dare not even link to an excellent Howard Stutz rundown of MGM Mirage‘s attempt to gain the high ground in the fractious “Who screwed up CityCenter” … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Archon Corp., Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Current, Economy, Election, Harry Reid, Labor, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Movies, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 17, 2010 by David McKee

“I recall a conversation with a prominent gaming executive when he was asked to support [then-Rep. Jim] Gibbons four years ago. He wondered why the state’s power elite would anoint someone who was quietly embarrassing in D.C. amid 435 members … Continue reading →

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

Andy Rooney is an @$$

Posted on May 17, 2010 by David McKee

Actually, I had a more sphincter-specific adjective in mind. I tuned the nasty old fart out years ago, when he approving noted the spread of AIDS. The CBS-TV in-house crackpot hasn’t stopped rejoicing in human misery since then. Here are … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Detroit, Economy, The Strip, TV | 2 Comments

Trop tour!

Posted on May 17, 2010 by David McKee

I’ll be spending late Wednesday with a hardhat atop my noggin, as I get a tour of the ongoing makeover at the Tropicana Las Vegas. The two big, outdoor signs have already been replaced, the marquee (left) is getting a … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Entertainment, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | 4 Comments

Writing today

Posted on May 17, 2010 by David McKee

… on mostly non-S&G projects, so blogorrhea is at a minimum, alas. We’re also trying to work out the kinks in our system that would enable us to get that week-old Atlantic City piece out of the right-hand box without … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Dining, George Maloof, Station Casinos, The Strip | Comments Off on Writing today

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 17, 2010 by David McKee

“Mark Manendo, 42, has never married and has lived with his mother for long periods of time.” — Assemblywoman Kathy McClain (D-NV) lobbing a creaky old form of sexual innuendo against her opponent in the primary. Judging by the locution, … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Election, Politics | 3 Comments

More X Train hype

Posted on May 16, 2010 by David McKee

Those folks behind the X Train have managed to snag some teevee time and the more they talk, the more their project sounds like empty hype: a lot of fancy promises upfront but little indication of from whence the startup … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Current, Tourism, Transportation | 3 Comments

“The American consumer is toast”

Posted on May 14, 2010 by David McKee

If you think MGM Mirage CEO Jim Murren sounds apocalyptic when he forecasts no major development on the Las Vegas Strip until circa 2020 (heck, Carl Icahn may keep Fontainebleau on ice until 2015) then get a load of this … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Fontainebleau, Genting, Harrah's, Herbst Gaming, Mesquite, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | 3 Comments

This just in …

Posted on May 13, 2010 by David McKee

Casino regulators in Iowa have dealt a sweeping rebuff to Gov. Chet Culver (D). While the Hawkeye State’s Racing & Gaming Commission gave its nod to a casino targeted primarily at the South Dakota market, it backhanded three other proposals. … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Iowa, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, The Strip | Comments Off on This just in …

CityCenter, political football *du jour*

Posted on May 13, 2010 by David McKee

Now that the all-too-inevitable “Who screwed up CityCenter?” unpleasantness between MGM Mirage and Perini Building has escalated into full-blown litigation and subcontractors fend for themselves, Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) has been caught in the crossfire. His main rival, Archon Corp. … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., CityCenter, Current, Election, Harry Reid, MGM Mirage, Politics, The Strip | Comments Off on CityCenter, political football *du jour*

Resorts World lifts Marina Bay Sands

Posted on May 13, 2010 by David McKee

Strongly early numbers and performance from Genting‘s Resorts World Sentosa metaresort are fueling bullish sentiment regarding Las Vegas Sands‘ $5.7 billion Marina Bay Sands megalith (above), part of a multi-pronged tourism push. Sentosa did $243 million in revenue and $79 … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Genting, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Resorts World lifts Marina Bay Sands

Nevada: No recovery yet

Posted on May 11, 2010 by David McKee

“We hit the bottom and are slowly climbing out,” contends Nevada Gaming Control Board analyst Frank Streshley, trying to put the best spin on a flat March. There were definitely some silver linings. Who’da thunk Laughlin (2.5%), Reno (5%) and … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, California, CityCenter, Current, Downtown, Economy, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, LVCVA, Marketing, Mesquite, MGM Mirage, Reno, Sports, The Strip | 10 Comments

Not just another pretty face

Posted on May 11, 2010 by David McKee

Because of the relatively low base salaries drawn by CEOs of major casino companies, they’ve generally been exempt from mass-media scrutiny. However, the ways in which the compensation pot has been sweetened for Las Vegas‘ (or would that be China‘s?) … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, International, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Transportation, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 11, 2010 by David McKee

“Where financing was hard to come by before, it’s nearly impossible for today.” — Columbia Sussex Executive Vice President Joseph Yung (son of Bill). Yes, it would be … especially when you’re leveraged to the gills like ColSux.

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Wall Street | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

From the mailbag

Posted on May 11, 2010 by David McKee

A reader writes … “I have noticed a definite reduction of postings to this blog. Is there just nothing to write about or is everything going to Twitter? I don’t twitter and really miss the information from this blog.” Where … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Station Casinos, Technology | Comments Off on From the mailbag

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 10, 2010 by David McKee

“Anybody who was not madly in love with Lena Horne should report to his undertaker immediately and turn himself in.” — actor/activist Ossie Davis, speaking of the legendary songstress who died yesterday at age 92. Here she is in unaccustomed … Continue reading →

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

While Atlantic City burns …

Posted on May 7, 2010 by David McKee

While Atlantic City burns, Gov. Chris Christie fiddles. After coming into office saying the right things about helping the state’s casino industry, Christie has spent most of first months in office dithering uselessly. Having waited until A) the Revel project … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Atlantic City, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Current, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Environment, Harrah's, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Illinois’ results are good, Sands’ are better

Posted on May 7, 2010 by David McKee

Praise be! Casino revenues in Illinois were actually flat (+0.5%) last month. It’s mainly a consequence of Penn National‘s Empress Joliet being back in the fray, raking in $40 million. (You’ll recall that, a year ago, its pavilion was but … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Harrah's, Macau, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, The Strip | Comments Off on Illinois’ results are good, Sands’ are better

Or maybe Excalibur …

Posted on May 7, 2010 by David McKee

Former Mandalay Resort Group boss Mike Ensign‘s payoff of his son’s mistress (which is under investigation for “structuring,” i.e., tax avoidance) is but one of many salacious matters that have brought Senate Ethics Committee staffers to Sin City. They got … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, MGM Mirage, Politics, TV | Comments Off on Or maybe Excalibur …

Adelson does it again

Posted on May 6, 2010 by David McKee

Despite vigorous attempts by Singapore to discourage its own citizens from gambling, it’s not working. Even a $72 admission charge isn’t keeping them out. Better still, VIP junketeers are encountering smoother access than was expected. (Junket scrutiny in Singapore is … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Genting, International, Macau, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore | 4 Comments