Category Archives: Donald Trump

Pain in the ACH

Posted on August 12, 2011 by David McKee

In the shrinking Atlantic City market, where most of the casinos are operating in the red, it was inevitable that one or two of the so-called “parasitic” ones would bite the dust. While the ex-Atlantic City Hilton (preposterously rebranded as … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Harrah's, history, Marketing, Mississippi, Penn National, Regulation, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal | 3 Comments

Vegas’ recovery? D.O.A.

Posted on August 2, 2011 by David McKee

In the wake of last weekend’s Grand Capitulation on the banks of Foggy Bottom (I’ll let you decide who capitulated to whom), the incipient Las Vegas recovery that was materializing in late 2011 is probably as good as dead. Even … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Donald Trump, Economy, history, International, Macau, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 8 Comments

“Family friendly Vegas” is back; Putting the “gone” in Longoria; A mess in Mississippi

Posted on July 13, 2011 by David McKee

Actually, it never left, as any casual visit to the Strip will prove. But, strapped for a marketing position, Trump International is going for the wholesome niche with a vengeance. Stuck with a lemon, Trump marketing execs are making lemonade … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Architecture, CityCenter, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Politics, Regulation, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 14, 2011 by David McKee

“When a buffoon such as Donald Trump can flirt with running for president, and receive chin-stroking coverage, you know something’s gone wrong. Trump must have thought it was hilarious. And he didn’t have to spend a penny for all that … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Election, Marketing, TV | 6 Comments

Frosty spring on the Boardwalk; Tortoises vs. hares in Pennsylvania

Posted on June 10, 2011 by David McKee

Dennis Gomes‘ comeback trail at Resorts Atlantic City (left) finally hit a wall in May. The recovering casino was 4% off last year’s pace, although that’s above-average performance in market that took another thwack last month, down 9%. The feeble … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Economy, George Maloof, Harrah's, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Racinos, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Frosty spring on the Boardwalk; Tortoises vs. hares in Pennsylvania

Ruffin it; Atlantic City: up in smoke?

Posted on May 31, 2011 by David McKee

“Nightclubs — we just didn’t fare well with them. There are so many nightclubs. Everyone’s got just one or two. Ours were just marginal.” That’s Treasure Island owner Phil Ruffin‘s argument for repositioning the pirate place for a mid-market, middle-aged … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cirque du Soleil, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, history, Horseracing, Kansas, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, Morgans Hotel Group, New York, Pennsylvania, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Warner Gaming | 1 Comment

Illinois’ suicide pact; Donald Trump, freeloader

Posted on May 31, 2011 by David McKee

Whether you spent Memorial Day grilling some bratwurst or, like me, crawling around with Murphy’s Oil Soap and a cleaning cloth, we did no harm. That can’t be said for the Illinois House of Representatives, which opened a can of … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Horseracing, IGT, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Missouri, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Slot routes, Taxes, The Strip, WMS Industries | 3 Comments

Steve Wynn, Las Vegas Vegan; Where the Boomer bux have gone

Posted on May 27, 2011 by David McKee

As he will tell anybody who listens, Wynn Resorts CEO Steve Wynn is not only a Las Vegan but a Las Vegas vegan. There’s no zealot like a convert and Wynn (the only casino boss to whom the term “genius” … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Encore, Entertainment, Steve Wynn, Tourism, TV, Wall Street | 3 Comments

“Rat Pack” on the move?

Posted on May 27, 2011 by David McKee

Rumor has it that The Rat Pack is Back is going to pull up stakes from the Union Plaza and take root at The Rio, where it will follow Larry Marshak‘s ersatz Platters/Coasters/Marvellettes revue in the Crown Theater. I’m not … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Current, Donald Trump, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, Marketing, Phil Ruffin, Riviera, Sahara, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tourism, TV | Comments Off on “Rat Pack” on the move?

Atlantic City on the mend; Trump: Fish or cut bait?; Mike Ensign’s woes

Posted on May 25, 2011 by David McKee

My apologies for attenuated bloggery today but a swarm of deadlines presses upon me, including coverage of the demise of 104-year-old Huguette Clark, daughter of Sen. William A. Clark, from whom Clark County takes its name. You’ll find a lengthy … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Charity, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Current, Dan Lee, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Election, Environment, Harrah's, history, Isle of Capri, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 24, 2011 by David McKee

“Even though everybody knew he wouldn’t, part of me wishes [Donald] Trump had run for president, just so NBC would have been forced to cancel his ‘People Who Seem Vaguely Familiar Apprentice.’” — Las Vegas Review-Journal TV critic Christopher Lawrence, … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, TV | 1 Comment

Herbst Gaming: new name, familiar faces

Posted on May 23, 2011 by David McKee

No, the company hasn’t been dissolved. But with the various Herbst boys having been run off — plus the negative brand equity created by their eponymous casino firm’s financial collapse — new ownership decided it’s time for a new moniker. … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Boyd Gaming, California, Carl Icahn, Current, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Herbst Gaming, history, IGT, Illinois, International, MGM Mirage, Regulation, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Trump’d and skunked

Posted on May 18, 2011 by David McKee

Having predicted from Moment One that Donald Trump‘s TV ratings stunt masquerading as a presidential campaign was a traveshamockery and nothing less, please forgive me if I take one more victory lap, courtesy of Lawrence O’Donnell. The MSNBC pundit, who … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Florida, International, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, TV | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 17, 2011 by David McKee

“[Donald] Trump argues that a trade deficit with a country means that American trade with that country is bad for America, that the amount of a trade deficit represents the amount of damage to America. He says that America has … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Economy, Marketing, Wall Street | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

A tale of three casinos; Explosive night at Monte Carlo

Posted on May 16, 2011 by David McKee

But first … put this in the ‘Told Ya So’ File. The flim-flam man can now resume his fiduciary duties to Trump Entertainment Resorts and doing what he does best: Making delusional claims about his net worth. Three Vegas casinos … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Hard Rock Hotel, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Monte Carlo fire, Morgans Hotel Group, Riviera, Sahara, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Johnny Casino, thug; Truce at the Trop; The T-Word

Posted on May 13, 2011 by David McKee

Although the Mob may have left Las Vegas, its strong-arm tactics are still in use. Respected casino architect Paul Steelman found that out when he wouldn’t give a job to John Ensign‘s borderline-illiterate former chief of staff, Doug Hampton. Drunk … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Culinary Union, Current, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Kansas, MGM Mirage, Penn National, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 12, 2011 by David McKee

“I like it that [Donald] Trump is filthy rich but nobody told his accent. His whole life is models and gold leaf and marble columns but he still sounds like a know-it-all down at the O.T.B.” — Seth Myers at … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Donald Trump | 3 Comments

Trump’d

Posted on May 11, 2011 by David McKee

With his sham presidential “campaign” disintegrating faster than a hydrogen-filled zeppelin, inept casino operator Donald Trump‘s much-hyped Sunday announcement turns out to have been a put-on, too. Trump lackey Michael Cohen is still trying to pump air into the deflating … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cretins, Current, Donald Trump, Election, Marketing, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, TV, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Has Illinois finally bottomed out? Trop shakeup; Big markdown on Trump

Posted on May 6, 2011 by David McKee

Sorry to disappoint, but we won’t have the answer until June–August, three straight months with the same number of weekend days as last year. By that point we’ll know whether April‘s 2% increase was the beginning of a trend. Last … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, George Maloof, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | 3 Comments

Steve, Steve, what gives?

Posted on May 3, 2011 by David McKee

Dear Steve Wynn: No this really isn’t about that truly unfortunate (to put it gently) wedding video that Wynn Las Vegas put on YouTube last Monday. Although, as Hunter Hillegas posted on Twitter, “That video kinda freaks me out. Also, … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cretins, Donald Trump, Dubai, Economy, Entertainment, history, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Mirage, Pokergeddon, Politics, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Technology, The Strip | 4 Comments