Category Archives: Current

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 24, 2010 by David McKee

“Hong Kong teen leaves granny in morgue after gambling funeral cash” — link (defunct, unfortunately) on GamingFloor.com.

Posted in Current, International, Problem gambling | 2 Comments

Adelson, Earl & a paper tiger

Posted on February 24, 2010 by David McKee

Opening a drowsy eye, the Las Vegas Review-Journal belatedly took note of Las Vegas Sands‘ Singapore project, although the story was just a puff piece (perhaps because its writer used to toil in Vegas’ PR shops, including a stint at … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Current, Economy, Genting, Harrah's, Lake Las Vegas, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off on Adelson, Earl & a paper tiger

This just in: Wynn goes to Philly

Posted on February 23, 2010 by David McKee

As of this moment (i.e., while I’m typing), Hunter Hillegas‘ blog has what neither the Las Vegas Sun nor the Las Vegas Review-Journal do: the breaking news that, yes indeed, Wynn Resorts is riding to the rescue of the hapless … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Wall Street | 5 Comments

Case Bets: Boyd speaks, Kansas stalls & problem gamblers get the shaft

Posted on February 23, 2010 by David McKee

Boyd Gaming CEO Keith Smith weighs in on the subject of emerging markets. Significant by its omission: Florida. Boyd got its fingers burnt down there and knows better than some in the industry that it’s not the Land of Opportunity … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Detroit, Economy, Florida, Kansas, Lyle Berman, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tamares Group, Tribal | Comments Off on Case Bets: Boyd speaks, Kansas stalls & problem gamblers get the shaft

“The worst riverboat casino in the world”

Posted on February 23, 2010 by David McKee

That’d be the President, symbolic flagship of Pinnacle Entertainment‘s fleet. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has an excellent story, laying out the complexities surrounding the Missouri Gaming Commission‘s legally dubious move to shut the old ship down. There are no heroes … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Current, Missouri, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Regulation | 4 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 23, 2010 by David McKee

“I don’t have any claim to being a bright individual.” — Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons, who seems bent on proving his point.

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

Introducing Planet Harrah’s

Posted on February 23, 2010 by David McKee

Newly Harrah’s-ized Planet Hollywood has got a new Web site. OK, it’s a little rudimentary by 2010 standards but we’re in the top of the first inning here. (If for some reason the page doesn’t show in your browser, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Cirque du Soleil, Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Technology, The Strip, Wayne F. Newton, World Series of Poker | 12 Comments

Penn: “You stupid darkness!”

Posted on February 22, 2010 by David McKee

In one of my absolute favorite Peanuts strips, Charlie Brown finds Linus out in the night, carrying a taper. Asked to explain, Linus replies that it’s better to light a single candle than curse the darkness. Cut to Lucy, elsewhere, … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Maryland, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, The Strip, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Case Bets: Wynn in Philly, topless in Vegas, Pegasus crashes

Posted on February 22, 2010 by David McKee

It’s a slow news day in the industry, though not without its amusing elements. For instance, the Philadelphia Inquirer devoted a significant amount of ink to the weighty question of whether half-dozen casinos in the greater Philly area might be … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cannery Casino Resorts, CityCenter, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Genting, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

‘Viva Elvis’: It’s here and …

Posted on February 22, 2010 by David McKee

… it’s one giant, steaming heap of merde. Cirque du Soleil is clearly just doing this one for the bread and it shows. Desert Companion Editor Andrew Kiraly‘s baneful summation of Cirque’s oeuvre as “arid pretension” never seemed more appropriate. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Current, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, The Strip | 6 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 20, 2010 by David McKee

“One [cowboy] draws a pistol and fires a shot into a campfire, which bursts into flames. It’s terrific fun, but when we think of Elvis, is a cowpoke spinning a flaming lasso something that springs to mind? I mean, if … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Current, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, The Strip | 1 Comment

Skin(less) City

Posted on February 19, 2010 by David McKee

Before we get into the good (?) stuff, I should mention that S&G has been nominated as part of Las Vegas CityLife‘s “Best of the Valley” poll. I probably should have pimped this a week ago, when the poll went … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Current, Detroit, Economy, Entertainment, International, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Problem gambling, Regulation, Technology, The Strip | 5 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 19, 2010 by David McKee

“The problem with slapping Mitt Romney is that you’re liable to break your hand on his hair.” — DailyFiasco.com, on the recent sissy fight between the itinerant candidate and rapper Sky Blu.

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

Sheldon Adelson, TV star

Posted on February 19, 2010 by David McKee

There I was, wrapping up a two-day “staycation” with dinner at Metro Pizza when I looked up and … let’s say I’m lucky I didn’t choke to death from shock at what I saw. There was Las Vegas Sands potentate … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Current, Economy, Entertainment, International, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, TV, Wall Street, Wayne F. Newton | 1 Comment

Sands & MGM previewed

Posted on February 16, 2010 by David McKee

Weighing in ahead of Las Vegas Sands and MGM Mirage conference calls, J.P. Morgan analysts have some early projections. They remain bullish on Marina Bay Sands, although it may now open in late May. (Incredibly, Morgan says this one-month discrepancy … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Economy, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 6 Comments

Canaries in the coal mine

Posted on February 16, 2010 by David McKee

A minor brouhaha has been playing out in the pages of Howard Stutz‘s blog. Last Friday, Susquehanna Financial Group apparently sacked gaming analyst Robert LaFleur. “[D]ue to the departure of the analyst from the firm,” said SFG, with faultless deadpan … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Case Bets: Sands in Singapore, casinos in Hawaii, Foxwoods’ prophecy

Posted on February 16, 2010 by David McKee

What a turnaround: Las Vegas Sands has finally ‘fessed up that India will be a top feeder market for Marina Bay Sands (left). There’s no shame in that — it simply gives S&G the opportunity to remind Sands that we … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Genting, International, Labor, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Taxes, Tribal | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 16, 2010 by David McKee

“Because of the [Gov. Jim] Gibbons and [Sen. John] Ensign thing, people come up to me at every event and say, ‘Can he keep it in his pants?’” — Amy Tarkanian, wife of senatorial aspirant Danny Tarkanian, articulating the new … Continue reading →

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

President-ial politics

Posted on February 12, 2010 by David McKee

You know January was bad in St. Louis when the lowly President‘s $2 million take was the only revenue increase in the area. While the Harrah’s Entertainment/Ameristar Casinos pair of Maryland Heights riverboats continues to dominate the market with a … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Current, Harrah's, Missouri, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Taxes | Comments Off on President-ial politics

And now for a word from our sponsor …

Posted on February 11, 2010 by David McKee

There are only a few opportunities remaining to catch Rainbow Company Youth Theatre‘s Unsung Heroes of Nevada’s Past. This speedy theatrical primer on the founding of Las Vegas is far more delightful than didactic (including a quintet sung by four … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Donald Trump, Entertainment, George Maloof, Movies, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on And now for a word from our sponsor …