Category Archives: Election

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

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

John Kasich, casino killer

Posted on May 3, 2011 by David McKee

Aw, isn’t this great? After Gov. John Kasich (R-OH) made the ludicrous claim that Ohio voters didn’t know what they were getting into when they approved a casino initiative in 2008, his legislative allies are trying to up the ante. … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Election, Harrah's, history, Kentucky, Lyle Berman, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, TV, Wall Street | 6 Comments

Steve Wynn, victim?

Posted on April 27, 2011 by David McKee

Watch the latest video at video.foxbusiness.com Is the casino mogul the victim of, as he says, “prejudice”? You decide. Dealers and nightclub employees whose tips he’s confiscated may not be passing him the crying towel, however.

Posted in Current, Economy, Election, International, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 4 Comments

Austerity, MGM style; Only in Nevada

Posted on April 25, 2011 by David McKee

Despite a decidedly underwhelming financial performance in 2009, MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren managed to take home $13.75 million in overall compensation. Last year, he had to make ends meet on $9.8 million. Snarkiness aside, this actually shows that … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Environment, Harrah's, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, North Las Vegas, Politics, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, TV, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Trump plays the Strip

Posted on April 25, 2011 by David McKee

It looks like Phil Ruffin tired of Mystere and needed a new clown show. In other news: Bad tidings for Steve Wynn; his presidential candidate of choice, Gov. Haley Barbour (R-MS) is folding his tent.

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Current, Donald Trump, Election, Entertainment, Marketing, Phil Ruffin, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 8 Comments

Poker Stars & the Gang of 48

Posted on April 22, 2011 by David McKee

In the wake of Pokergeddon (dubbed “Grey Friday” by the online-casino community), a new source of hubbub is the missing $14,000, bread that Poker Stars allegedly laid on nine Democrats in the Nevada Assembly (including, sadly, the otherwise-admirable James Ohrenschall, … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, International, Internet gambling, Mississippi, Politics | 5 Comments

Oaf of Office III

Posted on April 22, 2011 by David McKee

… an occasional series. S&G keeps referring to Donald Trump‘s glass jaw — an obvious liability to his phony/delusional political aspirations. Obligingly, The Donald served up a characteristic hissy fit after Caesars Palace headliner Jerry Seinfeld canceled an appearance at … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Charity, Cretins, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Marketing, Oscar Goodman, Politics, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Tourism, Transportation, TV | 3 Comments

The Flim-Flam Man

Posted on April 20, 2011 by David McKee

If anything salutary emerges from Donald Trump‘s “cynical branding exercise,” it’s that it may finally expose an epic “scam” once and for all. I refer, of course, to the Trump-generated myth that he is a successful casino operator. True, he … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Charity, Cretins, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Indiana, Marketing, TV, Wall Street | 6 Comments

At the winner is … Isle of Capri; Big shakedown in Ohio

Posted on April 14, 2011 by David McKee

That ongoing Isle of Capri Casinos Comeback Tour comes to Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, which won Pennsylvania‘s final “resort casino” license earlier today. Situated in the greater Pittsburgh area, the rural getaway is owned by lumber tycoon (and “george” political donor) … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Election, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, M Resort, Maryland, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes, TV, Wall Street, West Virginia | 6 Comments

As Steve Wynn said …

Posted on April 8, 2011 by David McKee

… you have to admire Donald Trump because it’s not easy to go bankrupt when you own three casinos. The years! The billions! The hairdos! His current ego-gratification tour is taking him to Arizona. I dare him to come on … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Goodman and Station win Round One; MGM’s Free(dom) Ride

Posted on April 6, 2011 by David McKee

The Las Vegas electorate had a lovely parting gift for Victor Chaltiel and Sheldon Adelson. Which is to say that Carolyn Goodman didn’t win the Las Vegas mayoralty outright yesterday but is a relatively low hurdle away from inheriting husband … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Downtown, Election, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Oscar Goodman, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, The Mob, The Strip, TV | 1 Comment

Station hearts Goodman … Carolyn, that is

Posted on April 4, 2011 by David McKee

In what may be a historic first, Frank Fertitta III, Lorenzo Fertitta and their rival Texas cousin Tilman Fertitta all agree upon something: Carolyn Goodman‘s mayoral candidacy. As in, they’re for it. Once you lump together Zuffa (parent of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Don Barden, Donald Trump, Downtown, Election, Florida, Golden Gaming, history, International, Jack Binion, Michael Gaughan, Oscar Goodman, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Station Casinos, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta | 2 Comments

Sheldon Adelson’s court jester yuks it up

Posted on April 1, 2011 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands-backed mayoral candidate Victor Chaltiel rolled out the following prank ad today … I’m not sure that there’s any percentage in going after the grandmotherly (but hopelessly vague) Carolyn Goodman in the snide fashion that is quickly becoming … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Current, Downtown, Election, Florida, Harrah's, International, Laughlin, Macau, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Mississippi, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Texas, The Strip, TV | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 29, 2011 by David McKee

“I don’t take him seriously even as a guy who runs casinos.” — Bill Maher on the subject of Donald J. Trump, on tonight’s edition of Hardball.

Posted in Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Election, TV | Comments Off

Crazy, party of one

Posted on March 28, 2011 by David McKee

It’s been years — if not decades — since Donald Trump was taken seriously. Why should his publicity-stunt “presidential campaign” be any different? If Winston Churchill had nothing to offer his countrymen but blood, toil, tears and sweet, Trump has … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Election, Sheldon Adelson, TV | Comments Off

Courting the curious

Posted on March 25, 2011 by David McKee

This is the fifth in a six-video series that The Cosmopolitan has been running on cable TV. But not on the usual casino-friendly channels like ESPN. No, the Cosmo has targeted the Sundance Channel and IFC for these spots. People … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Election, Entertainment, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Steve Wynn, The Strip, TV | Comments Off

Caesars steals Riv’s thunder; Trouble in Adelsonia

Posted on March 24, 2011 by David McKee

Obviously, the headline from today will be approval by the Nevada Gaming Commission of a partnership between Caesars Entertainment and Israeli-owned, Gibraltar-based 888 Holdings. Since it is simultaneously getting permission to shack up with Internet casino operator 888 and opposing … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Downtown, Election, Florida, Harry Reid, Hawaii, International, Internet gambling, Iowa, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Oscar Goodman, Politics, Regulation, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Tamares Group, Wall Street | Comments Off

Terry the Casino Slayer

Posted on March 24, 2011 by David McKee

When Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R) was campaigning to reclaim his old office from Chet Culver (D), he argued against Culver’s casino-expansion plan, arguing that it was economically inadvisable. With the Iowa casino market not so much saturated as waterlogged, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Current, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Herbst Gaming, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Penn National, Politics, Stanley Ho, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off

Gimme, Gimme, Gimme

Posted on March 23, 2011 by David McKee

… some money after midnight: Evidently it’s not enough that gaming revenues and other casino-related retail taxes underwrite the State of Nevada. Lawmakers would extend a grubby mitt into the casino kitty and scoop up any unclaimed moolah. “[W]hy does … Continue reading →

Posted in ABBA, Cretins, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Horseracing, Louisiana, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Texas, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off