Category Archives: Derek Stevens

Happy birthday, Las Vegas

Posted on May 15, 2013 by David McKee

Historians bicker over the incorporation date of Las Vegas. Some say it happened as late as June 1, 1911. Others argue for May 15, 1905. Golden Gate owner Derek Stevens, opting for the earlier benchmark, has had his employees digging … Continue reading →

Posted in Derek Stevens, Downtown, history | 3 Comments

Good and bad ideas in marketing; Small is beautiful, Vegas

Posted on April 18, 2013 by David McKee

Break out a flagon of whatever Derek Stevens is drinking and put it on my tab, lads. To commemorate the first leg of the Triple Crown, he’s holding a May 3-4 Sigma Derby tournament. Buy-in starts at $50, so starting … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Current, Derek Stevens, Detroit, Downtown, Economy, Goldman Sachs, Harry Reid, history, Horseracing, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Pennsylvania, Sam Nazarian, Sports, Station Casinos, The Strip | 1 Comment

Tamares: The dead walk among us

Posted on April 11, 2013 by David McKee

Uh-oh. This is not good. Tamares Group is going to cease taking room bookings at the Vegas Club. In an ominous phrase, it’s “evaluating its options” for the hotel-casino, whose gambling floor and other amenities are but a pallid shadow … Continue reading →

Posted in Derek Stevens, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, history, Hooters, International, Tamares Group, Terry Caudill, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism | 5 Comments

Case Bets: Binion’s redux; Dr. Doom; Everybody goes to Caesars

Posted on February 15, 2013 by David McKee

Today’s top story is the rumor, first aired on LasVegasAdvisor.com that Binion’s Gambling Hall & Hotel will close in July, lock, stock and million-dollar display. This dovetails with an earlier report that a detailed makeover is in the works. So … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, California, Dan Gilbert, Derek Stevens, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Marketing, Massachusetts, Ohio, Oscar Goodman, Palms, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Racinos, Slot routes, Taxes, Technology, Terry Caudill, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal | 3 Comments

D, Trop try something different; Cannibalization comes to Ohio

Posted on November 12, 2012 by David McKee

Nothing says ‘November in Las Vegas‘ quite like a beach club. Yes, after unending delays, Nov. 16 is the date certain for the opening of Bagatelle Beach & Supper Club. If Bagatelle does, as promised, deliver “afternoons that transport guests … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Dan Gilbert, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Marketing, MTR Gaming, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, The Strip | Comments Off on D, Trop try something different; Cannibalization comes to Ohio

Shame on you, Derek Stevens!

Posted on October 16, 2012 by David McKee

Vue Bar at The D used to be one of the stronger bargain plays Downtown. In the land of the $8 draft, Vue offered $1 pulls and a Blue Moon would set you back a whole two bucks. However, The … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Entertainment, Marketing | Comments Off on Shame on you, Derek Stevens!

Freudian slip and fall; Loveman’s shabby show

Posted on October 3, 2012 by David McKee

One week after he became S&G‘s Casino Owner of the Year for his “george” treatment of Green Bay Packer fans, Derek Stevens stepped on a PR banana peel. His Golden Gate and The D casinos are holding monthly drawings whose … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Ohio, Sports, The Strip, Wall Street | 6 Comments

Doing the right thing, with a “D”

Posted on September 26, 2012 by David McKee

As in The D and its owner Derek Stevens, who is refunding bets made on the Green Bay Packers last Monday, when victory was literally stripped from their hands by nincompoop NFL scab referees. They’ve been likened to Foot Locker … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Derek Stevens, Downtown, history, Sports, The Strip, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Good news for online gambling? Bad news for Rio

Posted on July 31, 2012 by David McKee

• Anti-gambling prick Rep. Steve King (R-IA) may find himself under investigation. Unfortunately, he’s not being investigated for being an anti-gambling prick. But it might remove one more obstacle to online poker. • The online-gambling world wet its panties last … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Harrah's, history, Internet gambling, Politics, Regulation, Tourism, Transportation | 2 Comments

For sale: One casino marquee, slightly used

Posted on July 22, 2012 by David McKee

It looks like the new owner of Fitzgeralds/The D is a little hard up for cash. Rather than donate the Fitzgeralds marquee to the Neon Museum, he’s liquidating the big display on eBay — and for a mere $25,000. At 10 … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Current, Derek Stevens, Downtown, history | 2 Comments

Macao: Crossed fingers at Wynn; Confrontation at Melco

Posted on April 19, 2012 by David McKee

According to the Jornal Tribuna de Macau, by the end of the month, Wynn Resorts and the government of Macao “may sign” the long-awaited land tender upon which the fate of $2.7 billion Wynn Cotai rests. It “could be” a … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Current, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, Hooters, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Moody’s no longer moody on Vegas; Golden Gate upsizes

Posted on March 20, 2012 by David McKee

Caution, thy name is Moody’s Investors Service. So if Moody’s is bullish on the near-term future of Las Vegas, I guess we can well and truly believe that a recovery is here … well, on the Strip. Away from Las … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Current, Dennis Gomes, Derek Stevens, Don Barden, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Gary Goett, Marketing, North Las Vegas, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Putting the best and worst foot forward

Posted on March 13, 2012 by David McKee

After months of confidentiality agreements and other top-hush nonsense, it’s official: Fitzgeralds Casino Hotel in downtown Las Vegas will become the D. Now, I can’t think that — let alone type it — without recalling the Family Guy episode in … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Derek Stevens, Dining, Don Barden, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, Tamares Group, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 2 Comments