Category Archives: Detroit

Case Bets: Aria, IGT, Maryland & Detroit

Posted on November 20, 2009 by David McKee

There was a small setback for Bally Technologies when it had to pull its iView DM systems software out of Aria. Seems MGM Mirage gave Bally a scant five days to get iView DM up, running and certified. Expect to … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, CityCenter, Current, Detroit, Economy, IGT, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Technology, Tribal | 2 Comments

Case Bets: Pinnacle, Pennsylvania, Harrah’s & Sands

Posted on October 30, 2009 by David McKee

Third quarter at PNK: 3Q09 numbers are out for Pinnacle Entertainment and the comparisons cover the spectrum from very good (Lumiere Place up 19%), good (+5% at L’Auberge du Lac) and lousy (-13% aboard Boomtown New Orleans). Once a free-spending … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Current, Detroit, Economy, Harrah's, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Macao giveth, Macao taketh away

Posted on October 13, 2009 by David McKee

Casino operators in Macao better make the most of the recent relaxation of visa quotas into the enclave. What the government gives with one hand, it partly reclaims with the other. Casino expansion remains out of the question and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Detroit, Economy, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Macao giveth, Macao taketh away

Leaving Las Vegas

Posted on October 12, 2009 by David McKee

At least 28,000 have done so over the two years-plus (probably more when you allow for the people still moving here). What are the likely consequences of Las Vegas‘ pegging its future on a one-trick economy? And is it going … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Current, Detroit, Economy, Election, Horseracing, Indiana, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Racinos, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off on Leaving Las Vegas

Good times ahead?

Posted on October 12, 2009 by David McKee

New Yorker economic columnist James Surowiecki puts current consumer-spending strends in perspective — and what he finds should gladden the hearts of casino owners. Basically, he finds historical evidence the current tendency toward thriftiness will soon pass. Of course, when … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Detroit, Economy, Fontainebleau, Illinois, International, James Packer | Comments Off on Good times ahead?

Leaving Las Vegas

Posted on October 12, 2009 by David McKee

At least 28,000 have done so over the two years-plus (probably more when you allow for the people still moving here). What are the likely consequences of Las Vegas‘ pegging its future on a one-trick economy? And is it going … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Current, Detroit, Economy, Election, Horseracing, Indiana, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Racinos, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off on Leaving Las Vegas

Atlantic City sucks …

Posted on September 22, 2009 by David McKee

… says the Motley Fool, in essence. Even Borgata, which posted a higher operating profit year/year, is deemed merely to suck less than everybody else. I’m not sure I’m with the Fools on this one. For instance, shouldn’t Sands Bethlehem … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Colorado, Detroit, Donald Trump, Florida, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Mirage, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Atlantic City sucks …

Penn hearts F'bleau … maybe

Posted on September 18, 2009 by David McKee

So the much-bruited suitor for stalled, bankrupt Fontainebleau has been "outed" and it's … Penn National Gaming. Ace reporter Alexandra Berzon, late of the Las Vegas Sun, broke the story. However, she notes that Penn and F'bleau have been dickering … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Detroit, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Planet Hollywood, The Strip | Comments Off on Penn hearts F'bleau … maybe

Worst Trend Yet

Posted on September 17, 2009 by David McKee

This is the sort of bottom-feeding move you'd expect from Columbia Sussex but not from Hyatt. Suffice it to say that if casino-hotels try this cheapjack number in Atlantic City, Detroit or Las Vegas, there will be holy hell to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Current, Detroit, Economy, Entertainment, Labor, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Worst Trend Yet

Can John Ensign disown his dad?

Posted on September 16, 2009 by David McKee

Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) finally has achieved distinction within the Senate — albeit in a manner of which he’s surely never dreamt. Citizens for Ethics & Responsibility in Government* has named Johnny Casino to its Most Corrupt Members of Congress … Continue reading →

Posted in Detroit, Illinois, Kansas, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Taxes, Technology | Comments Off on Can John Ensign disown his dad?

Blimps on the radar

Posted on September 10, 2009 by David McKee

Dipping into the dispatch box, S&G finds the following tidbits, courtesy of the nice people at J.P. Morgan: Alex Yemenidjian is serious about revamping the Tropicana Las Vegas. He's just inked a contract with Bally Technologies for a player-tracking system … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, CityCenter, Detroit, Economy, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, LVCVA, Marketing, MGM Mirage, North Las Vegas, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, The Strip, TV | Comments Off on Blimps on the radar

More Midwest notes

Posted on July 14, 2009 by David McKee

Continuing a trend of lower-than-projected returns across the Midwest, Iowa's riverboats were flat last month and racinos saw a 5% decline. All major operators lost ground but something is very wrong at Ameristar Casinos, whose Council Bluffs boat was way … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Bally Technologies, Detroit, Economy, IGT, Illinois, Iowa, MGM Mirage, WMS Industries | Comments Off on More Midwest notes

Michael Jackson, casino baron?

Posted on June 26, 2009 by David McKee

As the media rages down Memory Lane, here’s one from the Strange But True file: Michael Jackson partnered with Detroit entrepreneur Don Barden in a scheme to gerrymander a Motown casino into Barden’s hands. I covered the story for Casino … Continue reading →

Posted in Detroit, Don Barden, Economy, Genting, International, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore | Comments Off on Michael Jackson, casino baron?

MGM: Deal or no deal?

Posted on June 17, 2009 by David McKee

MGM Mirage CEO Jim Murren is re-mulling asset sales of MGM Grand Detroit, Gold Strike (Tunica, Miss.) and Beau Rivage. But all Strip assets are definitively off the market (yes, even Slots A Fun). Since the Detroit and Tunica casinos … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Detroit, Downtown, Economy, International, Jack Binion, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on MGM: Deal or no deal?

Gambling and hope

Posted on June 4, 2009 by David McKee

Andy Holtmann of Raving Consulting has a splendid essay on this very topic and the fine line that casinos must walk when playing to people's hopes. It carries particular weight as it's authored by someone who's taken a mighty wallop … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Detroit, Economy, Marketing, Transportation | Comments Off on Gambling and hope

Case Bets: Packer & Ho, Sands Bethlehem, MGM Mirage, Ameristar, Penn, Harrah's, etc.

Posted on June 3, 2009 by David McKee

• Smashing guitars — but not over each other’s noggins — James Packer and Lawrence Ho christened City of Dreams. The younger Ho downplayed expectations of foot traffic, saying his $2.4 billion megaresort could get by on far fewer visitors … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Cordish Co., Current, Detroit, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Horseracing, Iowa, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Maryland, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Wall Street | Comments Off on Case Bets: Packer & Ho, Sands Bethlehem, MGM Mirage, Ameristar, Penn, Harrah's, etc.

Murren talks smack re: Wynn, Schaeffer

Posted on May 1, 2009 by David McKee

"No one has proven, by the way, that they can operate properties better than us, so …uh … and there's a mountain of information to show that we operate properties better than anybody. Everything that we've acquired is making more … Continue reading →

Posted in Detroit, Macau, MGM Mirage, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Murren talks smack re: Wynn, Schaeffer

Case Bets: Isle exits U.K.; no room at the Trop; Carlino channels Astaire, etc.

Posted on April 24, 2009 by David McKee

Isle of Capri Casinos is coming up for air, literally extricating itself from underneath Ricoh Stadium in Coventry, U.K. As part of CEO James Perry‘s attempt to refocus a company that spread itself too thin under his predecessor, he’s walking … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Current, Detroit, Economy, Florida, Goldman Sachs, Illinois, International, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Regulation, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on Case Bets: Isle exits U.K.; no room at the Trop; Carlino channels Astaire, etc.

Case Bets: Seminoles, Iverson, Harrah's, PartyGaming, Station's luck, etc.

Posted on April 15, 2009 by David McKee

Down in Florida, the tide may be turning in favor of the Seminole Tribe. Both the Florida Retail Federation and Restaurant Lodging Association have thrown their support behind the status quo, as represented by Gov. Charlie Crist‘s Class III casino … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Detroit, Don Barden, Florida, Harrah's, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Reno, Sports, Station Casinos, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Case Bets: Seminoles, Iverson, Harrah's, PartyGaming, Station's luck, etc.

A delicate balance

Posted on April 7, 2009 by David McKee

Another day, a little more movement in the CityCenter situation. Well, it's that or talk about tourism and gaming revenue numbers that are too depressing to contemplate for long. Time was that the American banking industry was practically giving away … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Current, Detroit, Economy, James Packer, M Resort, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on A delicate balance