Category Archives: Donald Trump

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 8, 2015 by David McKee

“[Donald] Trump sues when he is made to feel small, insufficiently wealthy, threatened or mocked. He sues for sport, he sues to regain a sense of control, and he sues to make a point. He sues as a means of saying … Continue reading →

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2016: Know thy enemy

Posted on July 6, 2015 by David McKee

A Las Vegas Sun roundup of the presidential field gives some helpful guidance. For instance, we’ve long known that Jeb Bush (R) was anti-casino, despite gambling expansion on his watch in Florida. Martin O’Malley (D) was in similar circumstances in … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Election, Florida, Maryland, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Tribal, Vermont, Wisconsin | Comments Off on 2016: Know thy enemy

From Russia with baccarat; Massachusetts tribe has no quit in it

Posted on July 6, 2015 by David McKee

North Korean, South Korean and northern Chinese punters will relatively soon have at least two opportunities to take short-hop flights to Vladivostok, where two casinos — relatively modest in budget by American standards — are in progress. The junior of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Donald Trump, history, International, Lawrence Ho, Massachusetts, New York, Racinos, Regulation, Slot routes, Technology, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on From Russia with baccarat; Massachusetts tribe has no quit in it

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 2, 2015 by David McKee

“Yes, the 2016 Republican field is so wide and diverse it includes perhaps the nation’s first presidential candidate with his own fragrance, and, it must be noted, not just any fragrance. Success has ‘a masculine combination of rich vetiver, tonka … Continue reading →

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This just in … Trump dumped

Posted on June 29, 2015 by David McKee

Our long television nightmare is over.

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Dispatch from Macao

Posted on June 29, 2015 by David McKee

Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli visited Macao recently and found “limited signs of help on the way.” For instance, the anti-corruption campaign continues merrily forward, with arrests up 32% from last year. Give a dearth of VIP play, operators are … Continue reading →

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Mixed news from Atlantic City; More silliness from Trump

Posted on June 17, 2015 by David McKee

Atlantic City continued its paradoxical ways last month. The market as a whole suffered another big decline, down 10%. However, for individual operators, May was mostly good, with a same-store gain of 4%. (To see the blended impact of Internet … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Mohegan Sun, Scientific Games, Technology, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, TV, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Christie vs. Sweeney; Straub out of A.C.?

Posted on June 2, 2015 by David McKee

A bill introduced in the New Jersey Legislature sets up a proxy fight between Gov. Chris Christie (R) and state Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D) over the timing of when Garden State voters will be called upon to decide Atlantic … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Election, Glenn Straub, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Politics, Revel, Steve Wynn, Taxes | Comments Off on Christie vs. Sweeney; Straub out of A.C.?

Good April for Vegas; Frankie the Fish and Sister Sandra

Posted on May 29, 2015 by David McKee

Baccarat play on the Las Vegas Strip improved by double-digit numbers for the second month in a row, up 14% in April, contributing to an 8% upward surge on the Strip. Baccarat revenues rose 5%, while all other table games … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Macau, Marketing, Mississippi, North Las Vegas, Philippines, Politics, Regulation, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, The Strip, Vietnam | Comments Off on Good April for Vegas; Frankie the Fish and Sister Sandra

New life for the Trop?; Paragon’s latest trophy

Posted on May 14, 2015 by David McKee

David G. Schwartz muses on the brave, new world at the Tropicana Las Vegas — soon with 100% more Penn National Gaming. He assesses it as a win for both parties. Penn gets a foothold at a strategic crossroads on … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Baseball, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Hard Rock Hotel, history, M Resort, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Riviera, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Station Casinos, The Strip, Transportation, Westgate LV | Comments Off on New life for the Trop?; Paragon’s latest trophy

Glenn Straub: The Omega Man

Posted on May 13, 2015 by David McKee

Glenn Straub‘s public image as an ADD-afflicted flake won’t be helped by a recent Bloomberg Business story that outlined the latest twist in his ever-shifting plans for Revel: Straub wants to turn it into a hotspot for cryogenics, of which … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Florida, Revel, Sports, Tourism, Transportation | 2 Comments

The Strip: February disappoints

Posted on March 31, 2015 by David McKee

Las Vegas Strip casino revenues fell 4% in February, in a month that was mildly positive on a statewide basis, up 1%. Blame baccarat: Play was down 22%, although players took the house to the cleaners, with casino win down … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Cosmopolitan, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Lake Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Reno, The Strip, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off on The Strip: February disappoints

The wrath of Icahn; Cautious progress in Indiana

Posted on March 19, 2015 by David McKee

Using the power of the blogosphere, Carl Icahn opened an extra-large can of whup-ass on Unite-Here Local 54 today. While he fleetingly alluded to the ineptitude of Trump Entertainment Resorts management (“The bottom line is that, even without making exorbitant … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Donald Trump, Illinois, Indiana, Politics, Slot routes, Trump Entertainment Resorts, TV | Tagged | Comments Off on The wrath of Icahn; Cautious progress in Indiana

What’s Pinnacle worth?; Trump dump

Posted on March 18, 2015 by David McKee

J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff has been running the numbers on Gaming & Leisure Properties‘ hostile-takeover bid for Pinnacle Entertainment and concluded — no surprise — that the current offer won’t get the deal done, even if Pinnacle leadership will … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Donald Trump, GLPI, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, TV, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Trump’s hollow victory; Seminoles make new friends

Posted on March 10, 2015 by David McKee

In a display of either weakness or stupidity, Carl Icahn has caved in to Donald Trump and reached an agreement to keep the TV star’s name on Trump Taj Mahal. As anyone who’s followed the dwindling of the Trump empire from … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Donald Trump, Florida, Harrah's, Marketing, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 3 Comments

Trump wins battle against himself; Riviera’s fate sealed

Posted on February 23, 2015 by David McKee

Perpetual litigant Donald J. Trump has won the first round in his lawsuit against Trump Entertainment Resorts, whose minority shareholders include one Donald J. Trump. A bankruptcy judge in Delaware ruled that the suit can proceed. It contends that Trump … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Genting, James Packer, LVCVA, Riviera, The Strip, Tourism, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Westgate LV | 1 Comment

Building a better Cosmopolitan

Posted on February 20, 2015 by David McKee

Although awash in generalities, Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas CEO Bill McBeath did allow some form of insight into his plans for the resort. Allowing that casino-floor performance was “pretty anemic,” he hopes to make it more attractive to high rollers. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, history, MGM Mirage, Sports, The Strip | Comments Off on Building a better Cosmopolitan

Where to dump Trump?; Straub stumped

Posted on February 11, 2015 by David McKee

Although he’s buried millions of dollars in New Jersey, having been party to four casino bankruptcies, Donald Trump doesn’t want his carcass interred there. Instead, when he goes to that big sand trap in the sky, he wants to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Florida, Glenn Straub, Golden Gaming, Horseracing, Illinois, Louisiana, Lyle Berman, Maryland, Revel, Slot routes | 1 Comment

Case Bets

Posted on February 6, 2015 by David McKee

A lengthy bout of bronchitis has kept me out of action, but I’m finally on the mend and apologize for all the news coverage I missed, such as … * First there was Deflategate. Now there’s Menzelgate. Could Idina Menzel … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Entertainment, Internet gambling, Iowa, Mississippi, Regulation, South Dakota, Sports | Comments Off on Case Bets

Sands scores in Pennsylvania; More nonsense from Trump

Posted on January 19, 2015 by David McKee

Pennsylvania isn’t anywhere near done with building casinos but it is feeling market saturation. A $40 million decline in slot winnings pushed casinos to sub-2013 levels. The proliferation of casino product did not help. “When I came here six years ago, there were … Continue reading →

Posted in Cantor Gaming, Donald Trump, Macau, Massachusetts, Michael Gaughan, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, TV | Comments Off on Sands scores in Pennsylvania; More nonsense from Trump