Category Archives: Entertainment

Pritzker in denial; Get Mobbed on New Year’s Eve

Posted on December 13, 2019 by David McKee

“This is the voice of delusion,” said an S&G source of Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) and his stated optimism of getting a casino in Chicago, an idea that has drawn a cavernous yawn from the gaming industry. He tried … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Entertainment, Illinois, Japan, Kansas, Macau, Marijuana, New Jersey, Sports, Tamares Group, Taxes, The Mob, Transportation, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Pritzker in denial; Get Mobbed on New Year’s Eve

Penn a solid bet; New Year’s Eve in Vegas could be better

Posted on December 11, 2019 by David McKee

Penn National Gaming got a rave review from J.P. Morgan gaming analyst Joseph Greff, who wrote that ” we continue to believe PENN offers a favorable risk/reward with an attractive valuation.” Strong fundamentals in the regional-gaming sphere were cited, as … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Japan, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Case Bets

Posted on December 9, 2019 by David McKee

Las Vegas went into the crapper last weekend, with the opening of the Giant Poo Experience in Lyft Art Park. I’m not inventing this. The larger-than-life-size mock-excrement was sponsored by airspray Poo-Pourri. Explained the company, “For over a decade, Poo~Pourri has … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Downtown, Entertainment, Internet gambling, Japan, Lotteries, Marketing, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Case Bets

Around the gambling world in nine stops

Posted on December 9, 2019 by David McKee

Please welcome new Stiffs & Georges guest contributor Cora Lee, a travel writer whose article on Japan‘s consumer culture was linked to S&G last week. Here is her debut S&G feature. Enjoy! Some places are known for their tropical islands, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Dining, Entertainment, International, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Movies, Singapore, The Strip, Tourism | 2 Comments

Illinois up, Maryland flat, Palms sued

Posted on December 6, 2019 by David McKee

Enjoy it while it lasts, Illinois. Gaming revenues shot up 8%, a welcome bit of good news. One extra weekend day surely helped although we find it hard to believe that entirely accounts for the variance. The overall gross was … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, CityCenter, Cordish Co., Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, FanDuel, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Illinois, Law enforcement, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Palms, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tilman Fertitta, Virginia, West Virginia | 1 Comment

Tumult in Atlantic City; Goodell’s exquisite hypocrisy

Posted on December 4, 2019 by David McKee

Atlantic City casinos have had enough with the town’s mayoral office. They want it eliminated in favor of a city manager. Difficult to argue with that one. Except for Don Guardian, we haven’t seen one A.C. mayor we’ve liked. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, China, Dining, Election, Entertainment, history, Indiana, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Oscar Goodman, Politics, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Unite-Here, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

‘Sharp’ criticism of Congress; MGM a popular stock pick

Posted on December 2, 2019 by David McKee

Newly elected National Congress of American Indians President Fawn Sharp wasted no time in opening a can of whup-ass on the U.S. Congress. Speaking to the House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States Oversight, Sharp … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Culinary Union, Derek Stevens, Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Hard Rock International, Japan, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Politics, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street, Washington State, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on ‘Sharp’ criticism of Congress; MGM a popular stock pick

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 1, 2019 by David McKee

“Just when I discovered the meaning of life, they changed it.”—George Carlin

Posted in Entertainment | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Next stop, Hempfield!

Posted on November 19, 2019 by David McKee

Cordish Gaming has broken ground on its Hempfield Township satellite casino in Pennsylvania. The $150 million property will have 750 slots and 30 table games, as well as a 445-seat sports book. The casino will fill the space left by … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Cordish Co., Dining, Downtown, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Golden Gaming, history, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Regulation, South Korea, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Going for the gold in California; Vegas tops sin survey

Posted on November 18, 2019 by David McKee

It’s not quite as pre-apocalyptic as dogs and cats living together but California Native American tribes are joining with private-sector racetracks to push for sports betting in the Golden State, surely the ripest market in the U.S. The coalition wants … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, Donald Trump, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Entertainment, history, Illinois, Japan, Louisiana, Regulation, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Big bounce at IGT; Cosmo revises restaurant lineup

Posted on November 15, 2019 by David McKee

“What’s 23% Between Friends?” So asked Credit Suisse analyst Ben Combes as he reported on International Game Technology‘s 3Q19 earnings call. IGT’s $407 million in cash flow exceeded consensus Wall Street expectations by 3%. IGT stock vaulted 23% on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Cosmopolitan, Delaware, Detroit, Dining, Entertainment, Genting, history, IGT, Indiana, International, Las Vegas Raiders, Lotteries, M Resort, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, New York, Penn National, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off on Big bounce at IGT; Cosmo revises restaurant lineup

Smoke gets in Boston’s eyes; Penn receives important award

Posted on November 14, 2019 by David McKee

Shuttles for Encore Boston Harbor are stirring up some local ire, due to the fumes they generate while idling at the Wellington MBTA Station curb. This has generated the threat of a lawsuit from the Conservation Law Foundation. It’s not just … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Churchill Downs, Cosmopolitan, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Encore, Entertainment, Illinois, Japan, Massachusetts, Movies, Penn National, Rush Street Gaming, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Technology, Terry Caudill, The Mob, Transportation, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Smoke gets in Boston’s eyes; Penn receives important award

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 12, 2019 by David McKee

“I sincerely hope I have exhibited good moral character and will be able to vote my conscience on Donald J. Trump and his fellow American candidates.”—Neil Young, on his application for U.S. citizenship. Young’s stoner credentials might prove to be … Continue reading →

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

Caution on Scientific, Golden; VIPs passé in Macao

Posted on November 8, 2019 by David McKee

Scientific Games must have been less than thrilled with Credit Suisse analyst Ben Combes‘ report on their third quarter. It was headlined, “Solid Quarter, But Leverage Concerns Keep Us on the Sidelines.” Cash flow of $344 million beat the Wall … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Canada, China, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Genting, Golden Gaming, Greenwood Racing, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Raiders, Lotteries, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Resort fees, Rush Street Gaming, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Caution on Scientific, Golden; VIPs passé in Macao

Less KAOS, more chaos at Palms

Posted on November 6, 2019 by David McKee

Station Casinos has an excellent record as an operator. Why then did it misjudge its attempt to compete with the Las Vegas Strip in its takeover (and makeover) of the Palms? And while it knows its onions with regard to … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Colorado, Dining, Election, Entertainment, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Palms, Penn National, Real Estate, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Less KAOS, more chaos at Palms

Churchill Downs fights horseracing reform; Mattress Mack doesn’t regret $13M World Series bet

Posted on November 4, 2019 by David McKee

Churchill Downs‘ third-quarter cash flow results were “softer than expected” according to J.P. Morgan analyst Daniel Politzer, who added the “the impact of this was likely mitigated by the company announcing a slew of updates/capital projects which helped placate investors, … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Baseball, Charity, Churchill Downs, Colorado, Culinary Union, Election, Entertainment, Geoff Freeman, Horseracing, Kentucky, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Maine, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, Texas, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Churchill Downs fights horseracing reform; Mattress Mack doesn’t regret $13M World Series bet

Cordish bully on Philly

Posted on November 4, 2019 by David McKee

We’ll soon find out if the Philadelphia market can sustain five casinos when Cordish Gaming‘s Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia opens, next door to Citizens Bank Park (baseball) and close to Lincoln Financial Field (football) and Wells Fargo Center (basketball and … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, Charity, Cordish Co., Dan Gilbert, DFS, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Florida, Las Vegas Raiders, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sahara, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Clarkson takes Vegas; Penn exudes confidence

Posted on November 1, 2019 by David McKee

It’s about time: Kelly Clarkson is coming to Las Vegas for a residency at Planet Hollywood, running from April 1 of next year through the following September. Having been on the scene for nearly 20 years (already?), Clarkson will have … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Penn National, Slot routes, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

$6 million man; Tribal troubles

Posted on October 21, 2019 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands can’t stay out of court. Marina Bay Sands is being sued by a Chinese gambler who says $6.6 million of his money was moved out of his account and disbursed to other individuals he didn’t know in … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Florida, Hard Rock International, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, New York, Singapore, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on $6 million man; Tribal troubles

Biden lobbies Station; Important victory for Flynt, casinos

Posted on October 21, 2019 by David McKee

George GOP donor Frank Fertitta III is unlikely to put missives from Joe Biden at the top of his in-box. Thus it was more of a theatrical gesture than a substantive negotiation when Biden wrote to the Fertitta, in an open … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Cretins, Culinary Union, Dining, Election, Entertainment, Konami, Lake Tahoe, Law enforcement, Maryland, Massachusetts, Palms, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Technology, The Mob, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment