Category Archives: Economy

Case Bets: Wynn in Philly, topless in Vegas, Pegasus crashes

Posted on February 22, 2010 by David McKee

It’s a slow news day in the industry, though not without its amusing elements. For instance, the Philadelphia Inquirer devoted a significant amount of ink to the weighty question of whether half-dozen casinos in the greater Philly area might be … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cannery Casino Resorts, CityCenter, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Genting, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 22, 2010 by David McKee

“The buck stopped with me. But if you don’t get the right information, it’s difficult to make common-sense decisions.” — Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson, passing the buck for his company’s near-collapse onto former LVS executives.

Posted in Economy, Macau, Sheldon Adelson, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Skin(less) City

Posted on February 19, 2010 by David McKee

Before we get into the good (?) stuff, I should mention that S&G has been nominated as part of Las Vegas CityLife‘s “Best of the Valley” poll. I probably should have pimped this a week ago, when the poll went … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Current, Detroit, Economy, Entertainment, International, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Problem gambling, Regulation, Technology, The Strip | 5 Comments

Sheldon Adelson, TV star

Posted on February 19, 2010 by David McKee

There I was, wrapping up a two-day “staycation” with dinner at Metro Pizza when I looked up and … let’s say I’m lucky I didn’t choke to death from shock at what I saw. There was Las Vegas Sands potentate … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Current, Economy, Entertainment, International, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, TV, Wall Street, Wayne F. Newton | 1 Comment

Sands & MGM previewed

Posted on February 16, 2010 by David McKee

Weighing in ahead of Las Vegas Sands and MGM Mirage conference calls, J.P. Morgan analysts have some early projections. They remain bullish on Marina Bay Sands, although it may now open in late May. (Incredibly, Morgan says this one-month discrepancy … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Economy, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 6 Comments

Case Bets: Sands in Singapore, casinos in Hawaii, Foxwoods’ prophecy

Posted on February 16, 2010 by David McKee

What a turnaround: Las Vegas Sands has finally ‘fessed up that India will be a top feeder market for Marina Bay Sands (left). There’s no shame in that — it simply gives S&G the opportunity to remind Sands that we … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Genting, International, Labor, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Taxes, Tribal | 3 Comments

The Flying Dutchman of the Strip

Posted on February 16, 2010 by David McKee

Pity poor Rockstar: The Tribute. It briefly played Planet Hollywood‘s Wyrick Entertainment Complex last June, then got the boot. An announced revival at the Harmon Theater never materialized. A late-2009 move to the Riviera was ballyhooed. Guess what? Rockstar never … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Environment, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 2 Comments

Buy a Vegas condo, get a political donation

Posted on February 15, 2010 by David McKee

A piquant news item, cobbled together from two @RalstonFlash tweets: “This is embarrassing: George Maloof, tapped to host POTUS for DNC fundraiser this week in LV, gave $2,400 to [Sen. Harry] Reid foe [Danny] Tarkanian in Sept. Maloof gave to … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Election, George Maloof, Harry Reid, Politics | 2 Comments

“YCMIU”

Posted on February 12, 2010 by David McKee

As I learned earlier today, that’s PDA shorthand for “You can’t make it up.” (It was used by Jon Ralston in reference to a certain governor’s claim to 11-plus years of celibacy … but I digress.) Actually, maybe you can … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Massachusetts, Politics, Problem gambling, Taxes | Comments Off on “YCMIU”

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 11, 2010 by David McKee

“We will have to eliminate programs and services which make some people feel good, but which we simply can no longer afford.” — Gov. Jim Gibbons (R-NV), proposing to zero-out — among other things — the state’s $1.8 million in … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Politics, Problem gambling | 1 Comment

Torino’s big gamble

Posted on February 9, 2010 by David McKee

At a time when the bottom has fallen out of Las Vegas Strip land prices what possessed Brett Torino to make an uncontested, above-market bid for a small and awkwardly configured piece of Strip real estate? Before we get to … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Economy, Harrah's, International, MGM Mirage, Pinnacle Entertainment, Planet Hollywood, Steve Wynn | 8 Comments

Aren’t we glad?

Posted on February 9, 2010 by David McKee

When given lemons, make lemonade. When hit with a throat infection, lay low and scrounge around for S&G fodder. So it is today — and I didn’t have to scrounge very far. While Las Vegas didn’t dodge too many bullets … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Architecture, Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, Carl Icahn, Dubai, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, IGT, Illinois, Indiana, James Packer, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Transportation, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street, WMS Industries | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 8, 2010 by David McKee

“Even here in Washington, that’s real money.” — President Barack Obama, to Katie Couric, during a pre-Super Bowl interview, on the subject of a trillion dollars.

Posted in Current, Economy | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Pawlenty, in real time

Posted on February 4, 2010 by David McKee

As you may have already read, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) is coming to Venelazzo to dole out some markers to the local GOP that he could call in for a 2012 presidential run (native son John Ensign having obligingly … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Election, Internet gambling, Labor, Minnesota, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Tribal | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 4, 2010 by David McKee

“We will lose our competitive edge … and add to the already crushing burden of unemployment in this state. We will lose the ability to train the workforce for the very economy we wish to attract this state.” — Dan … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Labor, Midnight Jim Gibbons | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Case Bets: Laughlin postmortem, Newton grounded, Gibbons robs problem gamblers

Posted on February 4, 2010 by David McKee

It’s an S&G Special Austerity Edition (i.e., no pictures) … Three grand. That’s the value of a human life in Nevada. The Washingtonian who crashed his car into Laughlin‘s Edgewater casino, killing two and injuring seven, is out on $6,000 … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Current, Detroit, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, IGT, Laughlin, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Movies, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Reno, Transportation, TV, Wall Street, Wayne F. Newton | Comments Off on Case Bets: Laughlin postmortem, Newton grounded, Gibbons robs problem gamblers

Enter Loveman, exit jobs; Tamares’ legacy

Posted on February 3, 2010 by David McKee

Just this morning I was thinking that the first thing Planet Hollywood employees could expect when Harrah’s Entertainment took over was large-scale job losses and so it will be. This is one of those occasions I really hate being proven … Continue reading →

Posted in ABBA, Ameristar, Columbia Sussex, Current, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Tamares Group, Wall Street | 6 Comments

Feast or famine

Posted on February 3, 2010 by David McKee

While we in Las Vegas struggle to reconcile long nightclub lines and (depending on which casino you visit) full gaming floors with but smallish increases in revenue and visitation, it’s one big-ass Christmas over in Macao. Revenue skyrocketed 63% last … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Harry Reid, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Feast or famine

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 3, 2010 by David McKee

“We expect that Clark County will lag the nation in employment growth by 12 months or so. We do not expect to see job growth nationally until well into next year. This means we will not see measurable job growth … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Big love

Posted on February 3, 2010 by David McKee

This latest tempest in a teaspoon has inspired a yawningly predictable reaction amongst Nevada politicians. The lone witty note was struck by Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority President Rossi Ralenkotter, who deployed irony in lieu of indignation: “While we … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Detroit, Economy, Harry Reid, LVCVA, Macau, MGM Mirage, Movies, Oscar Goodman, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | 3 Comments