Category Archives: Entertainment

Up and down the Strip; Land of the not-so-rising Sun

Posted on April 30, 2019 by David McKee

As a determination on its suitability in Massachusetts comes down to the wire (and opening date of Encore Boston Harbor is set for June 23), Wynn Resorts is trying to reap some positive karma. It has abandoned its pay-for-parking policy. … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Japan, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, Resort fees, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Up and down the Strip; Land of the not-so-rising Sun

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 29, 2019 by David McKee

Melisandre: What do we say to the God of Death? Arya Stark: Not today. Best exchange from last night’s installment of Game of Thrones.

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

New date for The Drew

Posted on April 17, 2019 by David McKee

There are some stirrings of life around the Fontainebleau/The Drew carcass. This week developer Steven Witkoff announced the hiring of Diller Scofidio+ Renfro architectural team to finish the massive hulk, with a new completion date of 2022. (We never bought … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Culinary Union, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Genting, MGM Resorts International, Politics, Racinos, Sam Nazarian, Sports, Steven Witkoff, The Strip, Virginia | 1 Comment

Winter is coming … to Pahrump

Posted on April 16, 2019 by David McKee

Last Sunday, Game of Thrones returned with an exposition-heavy season opener. No word yet on whether it dampened business at Nevada brothels but they’ve evidently been taking some inspiration from the A Song of Ice and Fire saga. According to … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Entertainment, Greenwood Racing, New Jersey, Pahrump, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, TV | Comments Off on Winter is coming … to Pahrump

Not his first Rodio; Less Intrigue at Wynn

Posted on April 15, 2019 by David McKee

Just as the clock was running out for Caesars Entertainment to name a new CEO, Carl Icahn‘s preferred candidate, Anthony Rodio, came across the transom, fresh from Affinity Gaming. Or so the Wall Street Journal says and the WSJ is … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Entertainment, Environment, Marijuana, Nevada, Sports, Taxes, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Not his first Rodio; Less Intrigue at Wynn

Casino expansion in Indiana; Wynn nixes Crown deal

Posted on April 11, 2019 by David McKee

Mike Pence having gone to Washington, D.C., we miss his existential debates over what does and does not represent an “expansion” of gambling in Indiana. Doubtless he would come down on the “does” side of a state House proposal to—rather than move … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Crown Resorts, Entertainment, Indiana, International, Law enforcement, Macau, Majestic Star, Philippines, Politics, Regulation, The Strip, World Series of Poker, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Casino expansion in Indiana; Wynn nixes Crown deal

News briefs from around the globe

Posted on April 1, 2019 by David McKee

It’s the end of an era at Hard Rock Rocksino in Ohio. This week it becomes MGM Northfield Park, a completely uninspiring handle that reeks of insecurity. Dan Gilbert, if you’re ever going to make a run for the top … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Charity, Dining, Entertainment, International, Japan, Lake Las Vegas, Law enforcement, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Real Estate, Technology, The Strip, TV | 1 Comment

West Virginia joins ‘Net-bet pack; Conventioneers flood the Strip

Posted on March 29, 2019 by David McKee

And then there were five. Internet gambling was legalized in West Virginia this week, as was i-poker. Gov. Jim Justice (R) appears to have been opposed to the law—or to giving political opponents a stick to beat him with—so he … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Florida, Genting, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, MGM Resorts International, New York, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Scientific Games, Tamares Group, The Strip, West Virginia | 2 Comments

Run for the roses; Friends of Dorothy

Posted on March 28, 2019 by David McKee

I’ve got a horse right here, his name is … no, not Paul Revere but Game Winner and he’s favored to win the annual run for the roses at Churchill Downs. At least that’s what Kentucky Derby Online Betting says. KDOB … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill Downs, Current, Entertainment, Horseracing, Marketing, Mohegan Sun, Movies, Palms, Regulation, Station Casinos, Technology, Tribal | 3 Comments

Case Bets

Posted on March 26, 2019 by David McKee

It’s try, try again time for New Hampshire‘s Legislature, as it attempts to enact casino gambling. The state senate has narrowly passed a casino-enabling bill but it still needs to go through the lower house and receive the signature of … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, DFS, Entertainment, history, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, New Hampshire, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sports betting | Comments Off on Case Bets

Heavy action prophesied for March Madness; Death at Bellagio

Posted on March 19, 2019 by David McKee

“Unlike any other sporting event in the country, March Madness attracts millions who fill out brackets, make casual bets with friends or wager at a legal sports book, which Americans can now do more than ever before.” With those words … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Current, Dining, Downtown, Entertainment, history, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Palms, Security, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tourism | 1 Comment

Stevens’ acumen questioned; Deejay era on downturn

Posted on March 7, 2019 by David McKee

A report has surfaced questioning the financial viability of $800 million Circa (written back when it was still 18 Fremont). In what seems like a preliminary shot fired across Derek Stevens‘ bow by Unite-Here, it asserts ” the project is … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Culinary Union, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, Hard Rock International, MGM Mirage, Ocean Resort, The Strip, Unite-Here, Wall Street | 3 Comments

More Tamares tomfoolery; MGM evicts Hard Rock brand

Posted on March 4, 2019 by David McKee

Tamares Group has been up to its usual shenanigans, using the Plaza Hotel as a stalking horse. The latter slapped a quickie eviction notice on the Beauty Bar, citing multiple incidents involving repeated calls to Las Vegas Metro as the … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Architecture, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Election, Entertainment, Hard Rock International, International, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Palms, Sports betting, Station Casinos | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 2, 2019 by David McKee

“Profanity is the sign of a lazy mind.” — Norman Newlander (Alan Arkin) in The Kominsky Method. Great show.

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

Adelson ailing; Coup d’etat at Caesars

Posted on March 1, 2019 by David McKee

Last night, KTNV-TV reported that James Jimmerson, an attorney for Sheldon Adelson, had declared the mogul’s condition to be “dire.” Subsequently it was disclosed that Adelson has been diagnosed with cancer and hasn’t been to his office since Christmastime. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Current, Entertainment, International, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Adelson ailing; Coup d’etat at Caesars

King on the rag; Macao mobbed; Sheldon goes green

Posted on February 27, 2019 by David McKee

Better hurry and line up that Circa funding, Derek Stevens: Rep. Steve King (R) is coming after your EB-5 investors. King has introduced a bill, currently little more than a placeholder, to terminate the EB-5 program. In the past we’ve been … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Cirque du Soleil, Cretins, Delaware, Derek Stevens, Downtown Grand, Entertainment, Environment, Genting, Hard Rock International, International, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, South Korea, Sports betting, Terry Caudill, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 1 Comment

Bluhm’s big push; Gary dissed; Oscar betting debuts

Posted on February 11, 2019 by David McKee

Neil Bluhm isn’t waiting like some blushing wallflower for the Massachusetts Gaming Commission to approve him for a casino in Brockton. He’s spent $430,000 on Beacon Hill to make his $700 million casino project in reality. To put that in … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Architecture, Caesars Entertainment, Cirque du Soleil, Economy, Entertainment, Genting, Indiana, Iowa, Law enforcement, Majestic Star, Massachusetts, Movies, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Rhode Island, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Bluhm’s big push; Gary dissed; Oscar betting debuts

Maryland booms, Illinois frozen out; Resort fees to rise … again

Posted on February 7, 2019 by David McKee

Business continues to boom for MGM National Harbor, which raked in $57 million last month, 12% growth and 41% of the Free State’s $137 million gross gaming revenue. Maryland Live‘s 34% market share translated into a gross of $46 million. Horseshoe … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Colorado, Cordish Co., Detroit, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Illinois, Las Vegas Raiders, Louisiana, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Resort fees, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Wall Street, West Virginia | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 5, 2019 by David McKee

“When you get past all the glitz of Enigma—the ornately choreographed dancing, the elaborate stunts, the animations that play on the giant screen—you’re left with a show that fully embraces and celebrates the lifestyles of its audience. Enigma isn’t just … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Super Bowl hits and misses; Sigma Derby rides again

Posted on February 4, 2019 by David McKee

Super Bowl LIII is over and viewers are left to ponder such existential questions as “Is Julian Edelman a Hall of Famer?” and “Why are all NFL kickers bald?” The New England Patriots did the most important thing, i.e. covering the … Continue reading →

Posted in Derek Stevens, Downtown, Entertainment, history, International, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Paragon Gaming, Sigma Derby, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, TV | Comments Off on Super Bowl hits and misses; Sigma Derby rides again