Category Archives: Downtown

The importance of being Steve Wynn

Posted on January 23, 2014 by David McKee

How can you pitch a multi-billion-dollar casino in largely extemporaneous fashion, bereft of glossy renderings or a video fly-through. By being Steve Wynn, that’s how. His pitch to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission seems to have been less about touting the … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Foxwoods, Genting, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Rhode Island, Steve Wynn | Comments Off

Case Bets: Massachusetts, Biloxi, Betcoin and Cosmo

Posted on January 22, 2014 by David McKee

In a TV interview, Massachusetts Gaming Commission Chairman Stephen Crosby tipped his hand, indicating that approval of MGM Springfield is far more likely than not. However, the MGC might be making some demands of its own, above and beyond what … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Cosmopolitan, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, New York, Regulation, Taxes, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off

A ‘bit’ of progress

Posted on January 21, 2014 by David McKee

You can’t use bitcoin to gamble in Vegas … yet. But Derek Stevens is bitcoin-enabling both the Golden Gate and The D to accept the cyber-currency in selected parts of his properties, starting Jan. 22. Stevens is crediting customer input … Continue reading →

Posted in Derek Stevens, Downtown, Economy, Indiana, Macau, New York, Ohio, Racinos, Technology, Tourism | Comments Off

Nevada finishing year strong; Christie’s choler

Posted on December 31, 2013 by David McKee

With a little help from one extra weekend day, Nevada gross gaming revenues shot upward 12% statewide in November and 23% on the Strip. Baccarat players lost their shirts, with the house winning 94% more than the previous year. Less … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Cordish Co., Current, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Laughlin, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Regulation, Reno, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 2 Comments

Most happy fella; Whither the Western?

Posted on December 4, 2013 by David McKee

If you added Melco Crown Entertainment to your portfolio of stocks, you’ve got a right to be feeling smart right about now. U.S.-traded shares of the stock are up 111% over the course of 2013. Weaker-than-expected high roller play has … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, International, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Melco Crown Entertainment, Tourism | 1 Comment

Changing of the Guard at Bally; Whence Mecca?

Posted on November 25, 2013 by David McKee

Now that the Bally Technologies takeover of Shuffle Entertainment is a done deal, there’s a bit of musical chairs to be played. Senior Vice President for Law & Government Mark Lerner will be eased out, in favor of Shuffle’s general counsel, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Downtown, Economy, Macau, Planet Hollywood, Shuffle Master, Tamares Group | Comments Off

Suffolk Downs: Devil in the details; Wynn exculpated

Posted on November 22, 2013 by David McKee

Suffolk Downs has yet to reveal how it will shoehorn a $1 billion casino into the Revere portion of its property. However, its struggle to do so is being made even harder both by opposition groups and Boston politicians who’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Arizona, Downtown, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Racinos, Regulation, Tribal | 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

Is Revel in play?; James Packer: Wanted man

Posted on November 11, 2013 by David McKee

I never would have believed it after a recent change of CEOs and a major redirection of Revel Resort‘s marketing efforts, but the casino could be put up for sale. The bottom having fallen out of the resale market for … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Animals, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Downtown, International, James Packer, Taxes, Technology, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off

Falling upward in Nevada; MGM: The Lion meows

Posted on October 31, 2013 by David McKee

Helped by a wee bit of late-August slot revenue, Nevada posted a 7% revenue gain this month, for a $959 haul. The Strip performed spectacularly, up 13%, and Downtown edged 2% higher. Lake Tahoe vaulted 23% but Reno fell off … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, CityCenter, Current, Downtown, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Macau, Mesquite, MGM Mirage, North Las Vegas, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Wall Street | Comments Off

Breaking Boyd

Posted on October 31, 2013 by David McKee

Boyd Gaming missed Wall Street expectations last quarter, posting negative earnings of eight cents a share, compared to the $0.01/share profit the Street was anticipating. Deutsche Bank‘s Carlo Santarelli blamed “softer-than-expected net revenues … below the low-end of management’s guidance.” Las … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Current, Downtown, Environment, Greenwood Racing, history, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Wall Street | 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

New life for EuroVegas?; Trailer Station rides again;

Posted on October 10, 2013 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson may have charmed out a back-door exemption to Spain‘s antismoking policy. The national government is drafting legislation that would give provinces wiggle room where the ban is concerned. Which means that Madrid could go ahead and give Adelson … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Downtown, Environment, Hard Rock International, International, Macau, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Tribal, Wisconsin | Comments Off

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

August: Hot on the Strip

Posted on September 30, 2013 by David McKee

Boy, did the house win big last August. Las Vegas Strip gambling revenues were up 20%, driven by exceptionally lucky baccarat play (win up 55.5%), in a month when 1.5% less was wagered on the game. (A modest increase in … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Current, Downtown, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, North Las Vegas, Reno, The Strip | Comments Off

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

Penn, Boyd take the hot seat

Posted on September 25, 2013 by David McKee

Continuing its series of “fireside chats,” Deutsche Bank‘s Carlo Santarelli met with Penn National Gaming executives. They reported that high-end play was pretty much normal but that small-fry players (who represent a quarter of their database) are wagering less these … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Internet gambling, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Wall Street | Comments Off

“Ugly” month on the Strip

Posted on August 30, 2013 by David McKee

That’s the word that normally temperate J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff employedd to describe a July in with Las Vegas Strip winnings fell 14% (as opposed to 8% statewide; others had a different perspective). And since the month began and … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Downtown, Economy, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, North Las Vegas, Reno, The Strip | 1 Comment

Another reason to hate Allegiant; Fertitta gets an “F”

Posted on August 21, 2013 by David McKee

That airline that charges you for checking bags, then floated the idea of charging you for not checking bags has found yet another way to screw its customers, as a planeload of them discovered last weekend in Las Vegas. Yes, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Downtown, Laughlin, Mississippi, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Transportation | 4 Comments

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