Category Archives: Detroit

The Great Riverboat Robbery revisited; Wynncore Manila?

Posted on September 28, 2011 by David McKee

Under fire for the low property valuations it placed on Pinnacle Entertainment‘s River City and Caesars Entertainment‘s Harrah’s Maryland Heights, the St. Louis County Board of Equalization backpedaled … sorta. They accepted County Assessor Jake Zimmerman‘s increased valuation for soon-to-expand … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Current, Detroit, Downtown, Economy, G2E, Harrah's, International, Marketing, Missouri, Pinnacle Entertainment, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, Taxes, Wall Street | Comments Off on The Great Riverboat Robbery revisited; Wynncore Manila?

We’re Number One!

Posted on September 19, 2011 by David McKee

Guess which city tops the misery index, according to BusinessInsider.com? Yup, good old Las Vegas, where real estate values have totally cratered and employment isn’t looking so hot, either. Any talk of recovery on the Strip looks somewhat relative when … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, California, Detroit, Economy, Florida, Louisiana, Reno, The Strip | 1 Comment

Boardwalk brinkmanship

Posted on September 13, 2011 by David McKee

As the hours tick away toward this week’s expiration of labor agreements at nine Atlantic City casinos, managements are all but daring Culinary Union parent Unite Here to strike. Caesars Entertainment had the brass to declare it was continuing “to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Culinary Union, Current, Dennis Gomes, Detroit, Economy, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation | 2 Comments

Consolation prize

Posted on September 8, 2011 by David McKee

Congratulations to Caesars Entertainment. Its Canadian flagship, Caesars Windsor, was voted best “Detroit area” casino by readers of Casino Player magazine for the 11th year running, as well as snagging 10 other awards. Now, if only Caesars could monetize that. … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Detroit, Economy, Harrah's, International, Regulation | 5 Comments

J. Terrence Lanni, 1943-2011

Posted on July 15, 2011 by David McKee

Just minutes ago, Las Vegas Sun reporter Rick Velotta posted the news that we’d been dreading for several years now. Former MGM Mirage CEO J. Terrence Lanni has died, presumably for the cancer from which he was revealed to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Current, Detroit, G2E, Harrah's, history, Macau, MGM Mirage, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 5 Comments

Your moment of Carmen Electra; Don Barden, R.I.P.

Posted on May 24, 2011 by David McKee

It’s not purely gratuitous. Ms. Electra, late of MGM Grand’s Crazy Horse Paris, has defected to Planet Hollywood. On June 4, she’ll participate in the inaugural performance at Pussycat Dolls Burlesque Saloon. Hopefully it will be at least as exciting … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Detroit, Dining, Don Barden, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 5 Comments

Macao rally boosts Sands, Wynn & Melco; No “Triumph” at Hilton

Posted on February 28, 2011 by David McKee

Publicly traded casino operators in Macao got a dose of good news today. A late-month rally in play means another record month at the tables, a 51% increase from last year. Roughly half the $2.5 billion haul will be divided … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Colony Capital, Cordish Co., Current, Detroit, Economy, Entertainment, Macau, Maryland, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Macao rally boosts Sands, Wynn & Melco; No “Triumph” at Hilton

Hooters in default; Rio robbed; Morgans out, Warner in?

Posted on February 24, 2011 by David McKee

From the “Could mean something, could mean nothing” File comes a Notice of Default, filed by the Bank of New York against Hooters Casino Hotel. The lenders are calling in a $130 million note on the 332-room hotel (arguably making … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Detroit, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Massachusetts, Morgans Hotel Group, Station Casinos, Tamares Group, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, TV, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Hard Rock: Oh no!; Bellago bandit busted

Posted on February 3, 2011 by David McKee

Is there anybody who could probably run the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino worse than hapless Morgans Hotel Group? We may soon find out as Navegante Group has been announced as operator-to-be by NorthStar Realty Finance Corp. The latter, as … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Detroit, Entertainment, Herbst Gaming, history, Macau, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Regulation, Riviera, Sahara, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, The Strip, Wall Street | 6 Comments

From the mailbag

Posted on December 28, 2010 by David McKee

It’s but 9:07 a.m. and two big pieces of news have fallen over the cyber-transom. An S&G reader informs me that leaderless Greektown Casino will have new — and good — management soon, in the form of a GM who’s … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Current, Detroit, Harrah's, Marketing, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

2014 is the new 2007; Good news from Pennsylvania, Detroit

Posted on December 7, 2010 by David McKee

It will take Las Vegas seven years to return to its former prosperity. Or so concludes a new report from consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, which sees casino revenue improving in late 2011 (in line with a Moody’s Investor Service report that … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Current, Detroit, Economy, Harrah's, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Plaza, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | 5 Comments

Icahn’s CEO jumps ship

Posted on November 4, 2010 by David McKee

In something of a shocker, Scott Butera, CEO of Tropicana Entertainment is leaving the firm to join a rival — but undisclosed — casino company. It’s an amicable parting, judging by the fact that Butera is staying to smooth over … Continue reading →

Posted in Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Current, Detroit, Don Barden, Donald Trump, Economy, Fontainebleau, Herbst Gaming, Morgans Hotel Group, Shuffle Master, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 4 Comments

All systems go at Trop … but more trouble on Paradise

Posted on November 3, 2010 by David McKee

As new owner Onex Corp. continues with a full-court press of renovations, the Nevada Gaming Control Board has given the new ownership consortium its thumbs-up. The makeover has continued apace since my visit in June. An inside look at details … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Detroit, Dining, Downtown, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Morgans Hotel Group, Regulation, Riviera, The Strip, Tourism | 3 Comments

Kerkorian’s mixed message; Winners & Losers

Posted on October 13, 2010 by David McKee

Earlier this week, Hudson Securities analyst Robert LaFleur — something of a maverick in the gaming sector — voiced doubts about MGM Resorts International‘s ability to sustain its debt covenants. With an overhang of $13 million in debt, few properties … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Current, Detroit, Economy, Harrah's, International, Louisiana, M Resort, Macau, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Vdara Death Ray, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Atlantic City: It could have been worse; Hard Rock changes its tune

Posted on October 12, 2010 by David McKee

OK, so September’s numbers from Atlantic City only represent one month of competition from SugarHouse, in Philadelphia. However, with every other casino in Pennsylvania having enjoyed two full months of table games, a 12% dropoff isn’t as bad as I … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Current, Detroit, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, M Resort, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | 2 Comments

Jump le sharque: Cirque bombs in Macao

Posted on September 28, 2010 by David McKee

After sinking a reported $150 million into Cirque du Soleil‘s Zaia, Las Vegas Sands may find itself in possession of a very expensive “loss leader.” According to The Australian, “attendances [sic] have been poor and tickets have been heavily discounted.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cirque du Soleil, Current, Detroit, Economy, Entertainment, International, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Jump le sharque: Cirque bombs in Macao

M life … an insurance company?

Posted on August 31, 2010 by David McKee

Editor’s note: While I’m busy with other projects, S&G will be hosting a few guest bloggers. First up is Detroit_1051, who noted some discrepancies in the way MGM Resorts International handles its frequent-player program … A friend opened her mail … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Detroit, Dining, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, The Strip, Tourism | 2 Comments

The Summer of Love(man)

Posted on August 12, 2010 by David McKee

It may be hard to believe in retrospect, but at the time of Harrah’s Entertainment‘s LBO, some analysts thought it would be partly amortized by selling off the company’s regional properties. That prompted me to write something to the effect … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Current, Detroit, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, Horseracing, Kansas, Marketing, Ohio, Racinos, Regulation, Station Casinos, Taxes, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

America’s growth market is … Detroit?!?!

Posted on August 10, 2010 by David McKee

Despite being in one of the two hardest-hit regions of America, Detroit has posted casino-revenue gains in five of the last seven months. It’s done this without significant new casino product (unlike Missouri, which is -4% once River City is … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Detroit, Economy, Macau, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Station Casinos | 3 Comments

Concord in Massachusetts; Mixed bag at Melco

Posted on July 30, 2010 by David McKee

It’s been leaked to the Boston Globe that a deal is at hand that would resolve the impasse currently holding casino-enabling legislation at bay. While still probably not to Gov. Deval Patrick‘s liking (he wants one racino, the compromise bill … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Bally Technologies, Current, Detroit, Economy, Election, IGT, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, WMS Industries | Comments Off on Concord in Massachusetts; Mixed bag at Melco