Category Archives: Current

Frank Fertitta Jr., 1938-2009

Posted on August 22, 2009 by David McKee

There's a nice R-J obituary for the Station Casinos patriarch, although you won't find it in Saturday's online edition, inexplicably. You have to go back and root around in the "Breaking News" box from Friday. (By the time the R-J … Continue reading →

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Chintz thy name is …

Posted on August 22, 2009 by David McKee

… Harrah's Entertainment. We've just returned from the formal opening of Matsuri. The 8 p.m. show started at 8:16, due in no small part to the fact that the Imperial Palace had one usher working the entire showroom. One showroom. … Continue reading →

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Illinois does it again; Storm over CityCenter

Posted on August 20, 2009 by David McKee

A new law in Illinois that legalizes video poker statewide may have some unforeseen consequences. Namely, video gambling at truck stops throughout the Land of Lincoln. This represents a much bigger expansion than was originally sold to the public. Whenever … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Illinois, Iowa, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Wall Street | Comments Off on Illinois does it again; Storm over CityCenter

Just what the doctor ordered

Posted on August 19, 2009 by David McKee

With Eastern Division President Carlos Tolosa calling it a day, Harrah's Entertainment is dispatching Atlantic City native Don Marrandino to try and turn things around out there. (No word on whether the Alizma triplets will accompany him eastward.) Marrandino's portfolio … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Current, Economy, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, The Strip | Comments Off on Just what the doctor ordered

Goliath, by request

Posted on August 19, 2009 by David McKee

For those of you have been asking about Goliath, here he is during last Friday's visit to Mountain Vista Animal Hospital: At the time, he was understandably shy and a little bit frightened … … but on Monday he abruptly … Continue reading →

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Goliath, by request

Posted on August 19, 2009 by David McKee

For those of you have been asking about Goliath, here he is during last Friday's visit to Mountain Vista Animal Hospital: At the time, he was understandably shy and a little bit frightened … … but on Monday he abruptly … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Current, Pets | Comments Off on Goliath, by request

Reality check

Posted on August 18, 2009 by David McKee

It's sackcloth-and-ashes time at the Las Vegas Review-Journal, which ran another "The end is nigh" story about falling gambling revenues. (The Aliante Station Effect appears to have petered out in North Las Vegas.) Yes, we're all the way down, down, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Current, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Michael Gaughan, North Las Vegas, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Reality check

Goliath awaits

Posted on August 18, 2009 by David McKee

A reader asks: "Doth thou humble Fasolt not feel intruded upon? Or does he reside at home whilst you work?" The latter. Fasolt's sheer preponderance, not to mention his total aversion to the litter box, militate against taking him anywhere. … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Current, Pets | Comments Off on Goliath awaits

Colony Capital strikes (out) again; Big Bleauh

Posted on August 17, 2009 by David McKee

Despite taking a 22% gouge out of expenses, Colony Capital and its Goldman Sachs sidekicks managed to convert a 2Q08 profit to a $10.5 million 2Q09 loss. Revenues were down $30 million (or 40%), half of that from diminished room … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Economy, Fontainebleau, Genting, Harrah's, Laughlin, Mesquite, Penn National, Planet Hollywood, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Colony Capital strikes (out) again; Big Bleauh

Blogging and cats …

Posted on August 17, 2009 by David McKee

… do not mix well, as you can see: Goliath, the one-pound, two-ounce kitten we rescued from the I-15 “on” ramp by Caesars Palace, is climbing all over Yr. Humble Blogger — as shown — and, more to the point, … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Current, Pets | Comments Off on Blogging and cats …

Saving money? Buy the Trop!

Posted on August 14, 2009 by David McKee

If you're looking for a bargain on the Strip, what about buying the Tropicana Las Vegas? The Las Vegas Review-Journal found that Onex Corp. got $440 million worth of equity (or a 61% share) for a Filene's Basement price of … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Phil Ruffin, Pinnacle Entertainment, The Strip | Comments Off on Saving money? Buy the Trop!

Saving money? Buy the Trop!

Posted on August 14, 2009 by David McKee

If you're looking for a bargain on the Strip, what about buying the Tropicana Las Vegas? The Las Vegas Review-Journal found that Onex Corp. got $440 million worth of equity (or a 61% share) for a Filene's Basement price of … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Phil Ruffin, Pinnacle Entertainment, The Strip | Comments Off on Saving money? Buy the Trop!

Kitty rescue at Caesars; Stingy Station

Posted on August 14, 2009 by David McKee

As we were driving to LVA HQ this morning, we spotted a disoriented-looking little cat running through the Flamingo Rd./I-15 interchange, across from Caesars Palace. We were in a quandary about what to do until it turned and started ambling … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Architecture, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Current, Dining, Entertainment, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Pets, Station Casinos, The Strip | Comments Off on Kitty rescue at Caesars; Stingy Station

I was just saying …

Posted on August 12, 2009 by David McKee

… to a colleague that, given Atlantic City‘s dismal July numbers, a plea for governmental assistance had to be just ’round the corner. Well, whaddya know? In at least five instances, Atlantic City’s casinos are run by companies that just … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on I was just saying …

Stanley Ho, ailing monarch

Posted on August 10, 2009 by David McKee

Not many of us make headlines by waking up in the morning and saying something. But when the future of over 50% of Macao's casino market hinges on A) your health and B) your plan of succession, and C) your … Continue reading →

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Neverland Station?

Posted on August 7, 2009 by David McKee

So long Viva, hello Michael Jackson? According to NBC News, parts of Neverland Ranch are going to be dismantled and moved to — you guessed it — Las Vegas. Who owns Neverland Ranch? Colony Capital? Who has amassed enormous tracts … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Current, Dining, Station Casinos, The Strip | Comments Off on Neverland Station?

Boyd, Ameristar stable; CityCenter schedule revised

Posted on August 5, 2009 by David McKee

Second-quarter results from Boyd Gaming and Ameristar Casinos gave continued reason to be sanguine about each company. Both reported profits (12 cents per share at Boyd, double that at Ameristar) and both missed their revenue targets by an aggregate of … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colorado, Current, Downtown, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Boyd, Ameristar stable; CityCenter schedule revised

McKee vs. Lerner

Posted on August 3, 2009 by David McKee

Actually, the headline misstates what was a very collegial — if occasionally dissenting — exchange of views between Union Gaming Group's Bill Lerner and Yr. Humble Blogger on Jon Ralston's Face to Face show. It was only my second-ever gig … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Economy, International, Kansas, Labor, M Resort, Macau, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Station Casinos, The Strip, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off on McKee vs. Lerner

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 30, 2009 by David McKee

"Privé. Gibbons. Ensign. Rampant foreclosure. Half-built, hubristic casinos. Record unemployment. UFC. Mob Museum. Maybe Las Vegas 2009 is just Tom Wolfe's next novel." — Las Vegas Weekly Editor Scott Dickensheets, from Facebook.

Posted in Current, Downtown, Economy, Labor, Politics, Sports, Station Casinos, The Mob, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Case Bets: Hard Rock, Puck, Station, Greek Isles

Posted on July 29, 2009 by David McKee

Morgans Hotel Group has never seemed able to make up its mind about what to do with the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino (one of the stranger acquisitions of recent years). Then-CEO Ed Scheetz came in talking big about classing … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Colony Capital, Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Marketing, Morgans Hotel Group, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Case Bets: Hard Rock, Puck, Station, Greek Isles