Category Archives: Dining

Gaming exempt from Wall Street love; Harry-come-lately

Posted on March 3, 2020 by David McKee

Gaming stocks responded indifferently to yesterday’s Wall Street rally. Wynn Resorts was up and down but ultimately flat, MGM Resorts International ticked up 2%, Las Vegas Sands was flat and Melco Resorts & Entertainment slipped a percentage point. So much … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, China, Churchill Downs, Conventions, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Entertainment, Harry Reid, Health, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Oregon, South Korea, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Caution at Churchill Downs doesn’t impress Wall Street

Posted on February 28, 2020 by David McKee

Churchill Downs‘ stock reacted adversely to a cautious 4Q19 revenue report, as investors worried about the impact of coronavirus on the running of the Kentucky Derby, slated for May 2. JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff, although one of those staying … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Churchill Downs, Dining, Health, Horseracing, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Macau, Money laundering, Regulation, Resort fees, Scientific Games, Slot routes, Sports betting, Taxes, The Mob, The Strip, Virginia, Wall Street, William Hill | Comments Off

Crime pays; Dream-ing big

Posted on February 19, 2020 by David McKee

Donald Trump granted executive clemency to four convicted criminals, three of whom had—surprise!—casino connections. Steve Wynn‘s money man Michael Milken benefited from the support not of the tainted Wynn but of Sheldon Adelson. (Mirage Resorts was financed with junk bonds, … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska, Architecture, Caesars Entertainment, Dining, Downtown, Health, International, Las Vegas Raiders, Law enforcement, Lotteries, Louisiana, Macau, Massachusetts, North Las Vegas, Oklahoma, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal, Virgin Hotels | 1 Comment

Encore gets real; Atlantic City on impressive streak

Posted on February 17, 2020 by David McKee

According to the Boston Globe, a “sense of reality” in sinking in at Encore Boston Harbor that it has to appeal to somebody besides high-income demographics. “This shift was evident recently when a bright-red taco truck appeared on the gambling … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Canada, Dining, Georgia, Illinois, Internet gambling, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Real Estate, Regulation, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Mob, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

MGM’s past distinguished, future cloudy; Broken Winds

Posted on February 14, 2020 by David McKee

Yesterday, while noting MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren‘s impending departure, we were remiss in noting some of his accomplishments. On Murren’s 2008-20 watch, the company became synonymous with diversity, environmentalism, LEED certification and community outreach. With becoming modesty, Murren … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Churchill Downs, Connecticut, Dining, Diversity, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, Foxwoods, Japan, Kentucky, Macau, Marijuana, Maverick Gaming, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Sports betting, Tribal, Wall Street, Washington State, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

New deadline for Oklahoma; Nevada casinos notch new high

Posted on February 12, 2020 by David McKee

Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy DeGiusti has placed the ball on compact renewal squarely back in Oklahoma‘s court. However, he has—to mix metaphors—split the baby quite fairly. And he’s given everyone a ticking clock to make a deal. Both sides are to … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Dining, Economy, Health, Macau, Maryland, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Nevada, Oklahoma, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Tribal, Virginia | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 11, 2020 by David McKee

“Diets usually leave a person aggravated, discouraged, and the same size.”—Amy Lanou

Posted in Dining | Comments Off

Case Bets

Posted on February 4, 2020 by David McKee

My head feels more disorganized than the Iowa Democratic caucuses (and that’s going some), so take a few Case Bets and call me in the morning … * Our salient recollection of Valentine’s Day in Las Vegas involves taking the … Continue reading →

Posted in Conventions, Dining, Election, Entertainment, FanDuel, history, International, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Sands, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Scientific Games, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, TV, Virgin Hotels | 2 Comments

Super Bowl betting: Mack is back; Warren’s gambling problem

Posted on January 31, 2020 by David McKee

According to one online-betting site, Super Bowl odds are staying firm, with the Kansas City Chiefs 1.5-point favorites to win. “Last minute odds are some of the best,” it claims. Not when they’re as static as these. Speaking of “the … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Dining, Donald Trump, Election, Environment, Hard Rock Hotel, Health, Marketing, Massachusetts, Sports betting, Texas, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal | 1 Comment

Penn pulls up a Barstool; Fear and trembling in Macao

Posted on January 29, 2020 by David McKee

As expected, Penn National Gaming bought a significant position in Barstool Sports, investing $135 million cash, $28 million PENN shares, and getting 36% of the two board seats and 36% of the company. The remainder is split between Chernin Group … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Derek Stevens, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Macau, Movies, Nevada, Penn National, Problem gambling, Reno, Rhode Island, Sports betting, Technology, Wall Street | Comments Off

California scheming; Exploitation in Cambodia

Posted on January 13, 2020 by David McKee

Don’t hold your water but lawmakers in California have gone so far as to hold an actual, living, breathing, preliminary hearing (emphasis on “preliminary”) on the issue of sports betting. The endgame here is not to legalize sports betting via the … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Election, Fontainebleau, International, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Palms, Politics, Regulation, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Steven Witkoff, The Strip, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Japan scandal grows; Caesars slammed

Posted on January 6, 2020 by David McKee

Japan‘s 500.com bribery case continues to spread. An additional five Nipponese lawmakers have been implicated, accused of taking $9,249. The notion that Japanese solons would sell their souls for such chump change indicates how desperately they want to get in on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Columbia Sussex, Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Illinois, Indiana, Japan, Lake Tahoe, Law enforcement, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, North Carolina, Politics, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip | 3 Comments

New Year’s Eve Jottings

Posted on December 31, 2019 by David McKee

Jottings: Eldorado Resorts is taking care of some unfinished business while the Caesars Entertainment merger goes through. It’s reported to be close to settling a lawsuit with Isle of Capri Boonville workers who were litigating the company over time-card-protocol violations … … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Missouri, The Mob, The Strip | 2 Comments

Greed is good (Not!); Miller looks back on 2019

Posted on December 19, 2019 by David McKee

Most gaming CEOs are wearing hair shirts and taking vows of poverty compared to bet365 CEO Denise Coates, the new poster girl of greed. She awarded herself $422 million in compensation (no, that’s not a typo). In 2015-6 Coates scraped … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, China, Cosmopolitan, Dining, International, Macau, Massachusetts, Money laundering, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Resort fees, Sports betting, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

What gives, Indiana?; Galaxy ousted from Philippines

Posted on December 11, 2019 by David McKee

Despite the excellent November performance of surrounding Midwest states, Indiana casinos were up only 1% last month. Factor in an extra weekend day this year and that’s a pretty underwhelming result. In its last full month of service, riverboat Glory of … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Dan Gilbert, Dining, DraftKings, Eldorado Resorts, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, Galaxy Entertainment, Indiana, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Philippines, Rush Street Gaming, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports, Sports betting, The Mob, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Around the gambling world in nine stops

Posted on December 9, 2019 by David McKee

Please welcome new Stiffs & Georges guest contributor Cora Lee, a travel writer whose article on Japan‘s consumer culture was linked to S&G last week. Here is her debut S&G feature. Enjoy! Some places are known for their tropical islands, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Dining, Entertainment, International, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Movies, Singapore, The Strip, Tourism | 2 Comments

Tumult in Atlantic City; Goodell’s exquisite hypocrisy

Posted on December 4, 2019 by David McKee

Atlantic City casinos have had enough with the town’s mayoral office. They want it eliminated in favor of a city manager. Difficult to argue with that one. Except for Don Guardian, we haven’t seen one A.C. mayor we’ve liked. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, China, Dining, Election, Entertainment, history, Indiana, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Oscar Goodman, Politics, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Unite-Here, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

‘Sharp’ criticism of Congress; MGM a popular stock pick

Posted on December 2, 2019 by David McKee

Newly elected National Congress of American Indians President Fawn Sharp wasted no time in opening a can of whup-ass on the U.S. Congress. Speaking to the House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States Oversight, Sharp … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Culinary Union, Derek Stevens, Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Hard Rock International, Japan, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Politics, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street, Washington State, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Florida gets tough on black market; Nugget tops Atlantic City

Posted on November 27, 2019 by David McKee

Florida‘s black market slot-parlor industry is coming under renewed scrutiny as it offers not only unlimited soda but an invitingly soft target for armed robbers looking for high concentrations of cash. In a 15-month period, Jacksonville police have logged 500 … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Dining, Donald Trump, Florida, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, New Jersey, Regulation, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Resorts World postponed (again); Drugs-for-points scandal settled

Posted on November 22, 2019 by David McKee

Guess what? Tortoise-powered Resorts World Las Vegas has been hit with another construction delay. (Shocking. Absolutely shocking.) It’s getting pushed back all the way into summer of 2021, a half-year delay. Sometimes one thinks it will be a miracle if … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Dining, Genting, Japan, Lake Las Vegas, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Lucky Dragon, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Palms, Pansy Ho, Resorts World LV, South Dakota, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment