Category Archives: Current

Signs of the Times

Posted on March 19, 2010 by David McKee

Seen today outside The Rio on Flamingo Road: Two chicks holding handmade, barely legible “Car Wash” signs. What the … ? Was this an official Rio event? There’s no mention of it either on the casino’s Web site nor on … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, Marketing, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Technology, The Strip | 2 Comments

Cloud 9 brought to earth

Posted on March 19, 2010 by David McKee

We’ve been enjoying [sic] an unusually blustery winter in Las Vegas. All that’s missing is Eeyore. Well, him and now the Cloud 9 sightseeing balloon. This piquant Strip attraction met a tragic end yesterday. (Douchebaggy Fox 5 doesn’t permit video … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, M Resort, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, TV | Comments Off on Cloud 9 brought to earth

Hard Rock LV: Trouble on Paradise

Posted on March 18, 2010 by David McKee

Ed Scheetz: architect of disaster It was with great swagger that Morgans Hotel Group captured the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in 2006. Newbies to the Vegas market, Morgans has had a rough education during the intervening years. Its most … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Herbst Gaming, Morgans Hotel Group, Wall Street | 10 Comments

Exonerating Adelson

Posted on March 17, 2010 by David McKee

While Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson might approve of Gary Kreep‘s recent PAC-tivities, inasmuch as they redound to the detriment of competitor MGM Mirage, he’s not behind them. Or, to put it another way, if Adelson’s been involved it … Continue reading →

Posted in California, CityCenter, Current, Dubai, Election, Florida, Macau, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho | 5 Comments

This just in: Stanley Ho is mobbed up

Posted on March 17, 2010 by David McKee

Yeah, I know … no shit, Sherlock. With the notable exception of the Las Vegas Business Press‘ Matt Ward, precious few journalists have been willing to come forward and report what everybody’s tacitly agreed, ever since the Macanese casino market … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Regulation, Stanley Ho, The Mob | 3 Comments

And the winner is … Mohegan Sun

Posted on March 17, 2010 by David McKee

Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs is on pace to become the first Pennsylvania casino to deploy table games. A hearty S&G congratulations to the Mohegans and a big “WTF?” to WNEP-TV and its eccentric video-embed format.

Posted in Current, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Tribal, TV | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 17, 2010 by David McKee

“[I]t kind of brings people together. It gets people involved, and it’s nice if you’re new and you don’t know a lot of people. It can be positive if you do it right.” — Republican National Congressional Committee staff member … Continue reading →

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

Todd English, P.D.Q.

Posted on March 17, 2010 by David McKee

First of all, huge thanks to all who have sent their condolences regarding Mr. Bit. We’re all in quite a funk at home. Rascal‘s reaction was the most heartbreaking. When we brought the empty cat carrier back, he ran up, … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, CityCenter, Current, Dining, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Pets, The Strip | 5 Comments

Mr. Bit, 1993-2010

Posted on March 16, 2010 by David McKee

Another of my cats crossed the proverbial Rainbow Bridge today, ending 14 years of faithful companionship. Our vet says we did the right thing but that doesn’t lessen the sense of betrayal, even though Mr. Bit could no longer eat … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, CityCenter, Current, Dining, Pets | 17 Comments

Capping Macao

Posted on March 16, 2010 by David McKee

Compared to the acrimony currently flowing on the Strip, a stunning new policy directive from across the Pacific practically qualifies as “happy-talk news” … With casino revenues increasing at a jet-propelled pace, China has yet again applied the brakes to … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, International, Macau, Plaza, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Tourism, Wall Street | 6 Comments

Case Bets: Lake Las Vegas, Todd English, the CityCenter smear, Harrah’s Chester, etc.

Posted on March 16, 2010 by David McKee

Far on the outskirts of Sin City, the Kingdom of Make-Believe (aka Lake Las Vegas) is the newest and — in terms of acreage — biggest metaphor yet for the unrealistic expectations and sometimes insane assumptions which have laid our … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., CityCenter, Current, Dining, Dubai, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Lake Las Vegas, Laughlin, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, TV | 14 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 16, 2010 by David McKee

“If the love of money is the root of all evil, are we better as a nation now that we’re broke?” — Lily Tomlin, last night at MGM Grand. (Her current run at the Green Monster ends tomorrow … but … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

CityCenter: Guilty by association

Posted on March 15, 2010 by David McKee

This new attack ad, fired today, represents the latest salvo in what might be called The War Over CityCenter. Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), not having been shy to take credit for CityCenter’s completion, is fair game. Where the ad may … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Colony Capital, Current, Dubai, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Harrah's, Harry Reid, International, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Regulation, Riviera, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip | 2 Comments

Case Bets: Pinnacle’s new CEO; Mr. Bit

Posted on March 15, 2010 by David McKee

S&G congratulates Anthony Sanfilippo, new president and COO of Pinnacle Entertainment. A former regional overseer for Harrah’s Entertainment (prexy of its Central and Western divisions), he’s familiar with the ground on which Pinnacle’s battles will be fought, including Lousiana, Missouri … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Current, Harrah's, Indiana, Louisiana, Missouri, Pets, Pinnacle Entertainment | 2 Comments

Bad PR for gaming

Posted on March 12, 2010 by David McKee

Mike Ensign‘s 96 dimes of hush money to his son’s mistress’ pimp daddy (aka Doug Hampton) and “Casino Jack” Abramoff make cameo appearances in this attack ad (found via @RalstonFlash). Throw in the heavy-handed meddling in casino affairs of Gov. … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Iowa, Marketing, New York, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Reno, Sahara, TV | Comments Off on Bad PR for gaming

Who’s crazier: Adelson or Florida?

Posted on March 12, 2010 by David McKee

Pay no attention to the over-budget, behind-schedule megaresort in the background. Six casinos at $2 billion apiece. No joking, that’s what a Sheldon Adelson flunky is proposing in Florida. (I guess the white-out of Atlantic City isn’t the only snow … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Economy, Macau, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Taxes, The Strip | 4 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 12, 2010 by David McKee

“Even I was surprised at the amount of work it requires to be governor.” — Gov. Jim Gibbons (R-NV), upon filing for reelection.

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

White-out in Atlantic City

Posted on March 11, 2010 by David McKee

Thirty-seven inches of snow in February was a problem Atlantic City could do very well without. While the white stuff takes some of the edge off the sobering realization that the Boardwalk is -34% since February 2006, you know the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on White-out in Atlantic City

This is getting nasty

Posted on March 11, 2010 by David McKee

Update: S&G sends its condolences to Sen. Reid after his wife and daughter were severely injured in an automobile accident this afternoon. Back when Archon Corp. Treasurer Sue Lowden (left) threw her hat into the 2010 U.S. Senate race, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., CityCenter, Current, Economy, Election, Harry Reid, Labor, Laughlin, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, TV | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 11, 2010 by David McKee

“Guess putting up $25 million to found a law school doesn’t get you much love these days.” — unnamed Boyd Gaming executive, reacting to Fortune magazine’s low ranking of the company in, among other categories, “Social Responsibility.”

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Charity, Current | Comments Off on Quote of the Day