Category Archives: Dining

High rolling

Posted on April 1, 2014 by David McKee

Las Vegas has its newest icon and the local media are duly wowed. The Review-Journal hauled out a stock of familiar superlatives — “stylish … trendy … hip.” The Las Vegas Sun wasn’t much more restrained. Then there was passenger … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Dining, Entertainment, Harrah's, The Strip | Comments Off

Gentlemen, place your bids

Posted on March 31, 2014 by David McKee

Today, New York State starts taking bids on the four casinos it will soon be licensing upstate. At yet, there is no mechanism in place for determining licensing fees or whether the surrounding communities want the casinos or not. In … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Entertainment, Genting, Harrah's, Massachusetts, New York, Regulation, The Strip, Transportation | Comments Off

Upside down at Cosmo; Casino beggars; Tribal casinos set new record

Posted on March 26, 2014 by David McKee

If a 3% ROI is your idea of a good return on a casino, have we got the place for you: The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. It continues to narrow losses and improved gambling revenues 25%. Last year, the Cosmo’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, California, Colorado, Cosmopolitan, Delaware, Dining, Entertainment, Harrah's, Kansas, Macau, New York, Oklahoma, Racinos, Singapore, Taxes, Texas, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 1 Comment

Massacre in Maine; South Korea, land of opportunity?

Posted on March 20, 2014 by David McKee

Six gambling-expansion bills were mowed down in Maine‘s state Senate last night. Three of the quashed proposals would have provided some form of Native American gambling. (A fourth would have allowed racinos to go from 3,000 slots to 4,500.) Pleasant … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Harrah's, International, Maine, Mississippi, New York, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off

Discontent in Beantown; Sands, Day 4

Posted on February 14, 2014 by David McKee

Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh (right) wants the awarding of a Beantown-area casino put off … mainly so he’ll have more time to cadge and scheme his way into “host community” status, where the big money is to be found. Steve … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Illinois, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Steve Wynn | 1 Comment

Britney F. Spears & other Case Bets

Posted on January 7, 2014 by David McKee

Strip gyp: What does $25,000 buy you? At Planet Hollywood it will get you one-twentieth of a minute with Britney F. Spears. Either the currency of celebrity has become inflated beyond measure or our 15 minutes of fame have shrunk … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Entertainment, Genting, Harrah's, Macau, New York, Planet Hollywood, Racinos, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, The Strip | Comments Off

Racing the clock at Foxwoods, in Philly

Posted on November 15, 2013 by David McKee

It’s entirely possible that Milford voters could pink-slip Crossroads Massachusetts next Tuesday. But even if they don’t, Foxwoods Casino Resort CEO Scott “Woody” Butera is watching the project crumble before his very eyes. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission looked at the … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cordish Co., Current, Dining, Election, Foxwoods, Horseracing, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Tomato King Procacci, Wall Street | Comments Off

X Train dead? Is so! Is not!

Posted on November 15, 2013 by David McKee

“I’ll believe when I see it” has always been a good policy to follow when dealing with the X Train. This, you may recall, was the rail service that was to be underwritten with onboard gambling and was to double … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Dining, Downtown, North Las Vegas, Tamares Group, Tourism, Transportation | Comments Off

Let us now praise Scott Walker

Posted on October 30, 2013 by David McKee

For someone often regarded as brash and confrontational, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) has been mediating an intrastate tribal dispute in a judicious, deliberative fashion. He’s extended the timeline on his yea-or-nay decision, the better to sort through varying figures … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Economy, Illinois, The Strip, Tribal, Wisconsin | Comments Off

Positive auguries in New York

Posted on October 29, 2013 by David McKee

Supporters of more casinos in New York State have been a little anxious about sentiment in New York City, where the fate of the constitutional amendment is expected to rest. They may be breathing a sigh of relief today after … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Downtown, Economy, Election, Foxwoods, Macau, Mohegan Sun, New York, Sheldon Adelson, Tamares Group | Comments Off

Singin’ the blues in Pennsylvania, Louisiana

Posted on October 16, 2013 by David McKee

Even slight improvements in consumer spending weren’t enough to help Pennsylvania. Gross gambling revenue fell 6%. Thanks to strong table play, Sands Bethlehem was able to buck the trend, staying flat for September. By contrast, Harrah’s Philadelphia — in a … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Learning to love the Boardwalk again

Posted on October 4, 2013 by David McKee

In a surprising — but not unwelcome — turn of events two Philadelphia casino investors are looking at getting into Atlantic City. It’s amazing the effect legalized Internet betting can have. Business partners George Miller and Kevin Flynn own 0.5% … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Dining, Donald Trump, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Pennsylvania, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta | 2 Comments

Comeback for Lee; Penn, Mohegans get thumbs-up

Posted on October 3, 2013 by David McKee

Palms Casino Resort, which could use some casino-savvy brainpower at its helm, believes it has found it in new CEO Dan Lee. Out the door, unceremoniously, goes the much-bounced-around Joseph Magliarditi, who ricocheted to the Palms by way of M … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Dan Lee, Dining, Downtown, Massachusetts, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, Palms, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Great idea, little hope; Another Palms flop

Posted on September 27, 2013 by David McKee

“I grew up playing Atari and Nintendo, and I want to believe my skill in these games has some effect on the outcome.” So says American Gaming Association President Geoff Freeman, lending his support to a new line of skill-based … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Dining, Foxwoods, G2E, Horseracing, IGT, Mohegan Sun, Palms, Technology | 1 Comment

Murren woos Maryland; Downtown Grand shows promise

Posted on September 26, 2013 by David McKee

After hinting at a low-key design for his National Harbor casino proposal, MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren rolled out something fairly spectacular. The terraced, canopied design looks not a little futuristic and the Las Vegas Review-Journal was right to … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Dining, Downtown, Hard Rock International, International, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | 1 Comment

Motivated in Massachusetts; Naked at Horseshoe

Posted on September 12, 2013 by David McKee

If there’s anything to be learned from this week’s Hard Rock International face-plant in West Springfield, it’s not to take anything for granted. HRI made the mistake of believing its own poll, indeed, venerating it like holy writ, and got a … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Foxwoods, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Regulation, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

On the lighter side

Posted on September 3, 2013 by David McKee

Add Cedar Rapids to the list of cities offering a “Las Vegas flavor” to their citizens — at least if Cedar Crossing Casino goes through as planned, which will include a management team of Peninsula Gaming execs rendered homeless by … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Dining, Entertainment, Harrah's, Iowa, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off

Foxwoods: Mo’ money; Hard Rock brings it on; Wishful thinking at Cosmo

Posted on September 3, 2013 by David McKee

Caved, shaken down, outfoxed: Take your choice of term as Foxwoods Massachusetts has seemingly capitulated to Milford selectmen and raised its downpayment from $18 million to $34 million. All it took was a few grumblings from the aforementioned selectmen and … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Hard Rock International, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn | Comments Off

Loveman, Loveman everywhere

Posted on August 29, 2013 by David McKee

Racetrack owner Richard Fields and Caesars Entertainment are wrapping up their deals with Boston and Revere with dispatch. And the latter are making out like bandits. In their zeal to close deals, Fields and Loveman may be overpaying for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Entertainment, Foxwoods, G2E, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Racinos, Rhode Island, Steve Wynn, Tribal | Comments Off

Case Bets: Walker’s wager; “e” on the QT; Blue no more

Posted on August 20, 2013 by David McKee

One of the nation’s largest tribal casinos, Potowatomi Bingo, in Milwaukee, has been caught by the economic malaise that is dogging so many of the nation’s casinos. Although Potowatomi defied the Great Recession, peaking in 2009 and rebounding after a … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Downtown, Economy, North Las Vegas, Politics, The Strip, Tribal | 2 Comments