Category Archives: Entertainment

“Showstoppers” gets it done; Soul-searching at Cirque

Posted on December 22, 2014 by David McKee

Basking in the afterglow of the opening night of ShowStoppers. (Or properly, Steve Wynn’s Showtoppers) Wynn Resorts CEO Steve Wynn called it the most satisfying creative experience he’d had to date. When he finishes a hotel, he said, all he … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Entertainment, Movies, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on “Showstoppers” gets it done; Soul-searching at Cirque

The genius of Wynn; Wilmot charges ahead

Posted on December 19, 2014 by David McKee

Steve Wynn doesn’t wrap his hotels in bronze glass just because he likes the color. No, he has determined that the light passing through it makes his guests look more attractive “in rooms that have warmer light … One of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Entertainment, LVCVA, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Tourism | Comments Off on The genius of Wynn; Wilmot charges ahead

Vegas hits the jackpot & other Case Bets

Posted on December 17, 2014 by David McKee

We don’t know how much they’ve spent yet and how much of a blockbuster year this will be for Las Vegas but we know one thing for certain. We’ve finally broken the 40 million mark in annual visitation, a Holy … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, Sports, Tourism | 1 Comment

Taj at Icahn’s mercy; The wrath of Wynn

Posted on December 17, 2014 by David McKee

Trump Entertainment Resorts CEO Bob Griffin (below) has basically flung himself at the feet of Carl Icahn and begged the billionaire to keep funding Trump Taj Mahal “well into 2015,” while Unite-Here‘s appeal of a bankruptcy court ruling is adjudicated, maybe … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, Entertainment, Harrah's, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Morgans Hotel Group, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off on Taj at Icahn’s mercy; The wrath of Wynn

Sayonara, Sam; Showstopping Steve

Posted on December 17, 2014 by David McKee

When the going gets tough, Sam Nazarian gets the hell out of Dodge, although he’ll try to take some of the revenue stream with him. That’s the moral to be drawn from his withdrawal from any operational role at SLS … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Entertainment, Geoff Freeman, Regulation, Sahara, Sam Nazarian, Steve Wynn, The Mob, Wall Street | Comments Off on Sayonara, Sam; Showstopping Steve

Much ado about Harmon

Posted on December 16, 2014 by David McKee

After endless months of maneuvering and legal posturing, MGM Resorts International and  Tutor Perini arrived at a settlement on what was to have been the opening day of an epic trial. (That’s seven weeks of jury selection down the drain.) The case … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Entertainment, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, International, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Much ado about Harmon

Icahn: My way or the highway

Posted on December 15, 2014 by David McKee

If Unite-Here doesn’t cave in today, it’s curtains for Trump Taj Mahal. Or so says Carl Icahn, who wants the union to abandon its court fight to restore health and pension benefits breached by Trump Entertainment Resorts. If Icahn carries … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Dining, Entertainment, Harrah's, Louisiana, Pinnacle Entertainment, Texas, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off on Icahn: My way or the highway

Walk softly, carry a Talking Stick

Posted on December 3, 2014 by David McKee

There’s a new symbolic benchmark for the economic importance of tribal gaming in the U.S. What was the US Airways Center, in Phoenix, home of the Phoenix Suns, is becoming Talking Stick Resort Arena. It’s a testimony to the financial … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Dotty's, Entertainment, Golden Gaming, Politics, Regulation, Station Casinos, Tribal | 1 Comment

Palace coup at Full House

Posted on December 1, 2014 by David McKee

When you strike at the king, you must kill him — and dissident investor Dan Lee (left) was successful in deposing Andre Hilliou from his throne at Full House Resorts. “I would also like to thank Andre and Mark for their … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Dan Lee, Entertainment, Indiana, Internet gambling, Marketing, Mississippi, New York, PokerStars, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Slots drive Vegas; Big change at Foxwoods

Posted on November 26, 2014 by David McKee

Las Vegas Strip casino revenues fell 6% last month, largely thanks to soft table play. Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli characterized slot play as “encouraging and driven primarily by volume,” as the Strip recorded its sixth consecutive month of increased … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Delaware, Downtown, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Mohegan Sun, North Las Vegas, Racinos, Slot routes, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Slots drive Vegas; Big change at Foxwoods

Case Bets

Posted on November 20, 2014 by David McKee

A California tribe is getting into Internet gambling in a somewhat roundabout way. The Pala Indians are beta-testing PalaCasino.com, which will be run off the online platform of … Borgata. (Casinos in Atlantic City can host as many as five … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Cosmopolitan, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Internet gambling, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Regulation, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off on Case Bets

Quack Pack attack

Posted on November 13, 2014 by David McKee

Since it’s the altar on which A&E recently sacrificed Longmire, I don’t have warm feelings about Duck Dynasty, although the network itself goes one better, depicting Phil Robertson and his clan as bizarre backwoods cretins. With a pedigree like that, … Continue reading →

Posted in Cretins, Entertainment, Harrah's, The Strip, TV | Comments Off on Quack Pack attack

Showman Steve; Who’ll take Bucharest?

Posted on November 6, 2014 by David McKee

Rather than hire out entertainment for his Wynncore showroom (the one not occupied by Le Reve), Steve Wynn has taken a DIY approach. He’s producing and co-writing Showstoppers, a revue of some of the most iconic songs from Broadway musicals. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Columbia Sussex, Cordish Co., Current, Entertainment, Genting, Harrah's, International, Kentucky, Maryland, Penn National, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Showman Steve; Who’ll take Bucharest?

Election Special

Posted on November 5, 2014 by David McKee

Where gaming-related issues were concerned, there was one big race last night and a bunch of also-rans. The main event, of course, was Massachusetts, where casino repeal went down to defeat 60% to 40%, good news for Penn National Gaming, … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Colorado, Economy, Entertainment, Illinois, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Wisconsin | 2 Comments

NHL maybe, NBA not so much

Posted on October 30, 2014 by David McKee

“Preliminary talks” could mean relatively nothing but when one of the principal parties is MGM Resorts International, you have to take them seriously … especially when MGM is building an arena intended for major-league sports. Still, there don’t appear to … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Sports, The Strip | 1 Comment

The village idiot; Knuckle-dragging in Maryland

Posted on October 29, 2014 by David McKee

Every city has its cross to bear. In the case of Las Vegas, it’s former steroid user, baseball player and serial dumbass Jose Canseco. He obviously skipped firearm-safety class the day they told you to make sure your gun is … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Cretins, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, Maryland, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off on The village idiot; Knuckle-dragging in Maryland

Fighting on in New Jersey; One-armed banditry

Posted on October 28, 2014 by David McKee

Monmouth Park may have been stayed from offering NFL and World Series bets, among others, but state Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D) isn’t giving up fighting the good fight, describing it as “the last hurrah.” Describing an Atlantic City that’s devoid … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Harry Reid, Illinois, Macau, Mohegan Sun, Racinos, Sports, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off on Fighting on in New Jersey; One-armed banditry

Reading Loveman’s tea leaves

Posted on October 23, 2014 by David McKee

Gary Loveman has made a lot of mistakes as Caesars Entertainment CEO but building a convention center in Atlantic City wasn’t one of them. In fact, it’s been one of his better ideas. While he was in town to put … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 2 Comments

Memo from Macao

Posted on October 23, 2014 by David McKee
Posted in Economy, Entertainment, Macau, Marketing, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Memo from Macao

Caesars wins times two

Posted on October 10, 2014 by David McKee

Congratulations are in order twice over for Caesars Entertainment. The company is towering over its competitors in the social-gaming sphere, according to Eilers Research. While Zynga still rules Facebook and DoubleDown Casino has thrown a lifeline to International Game Technology, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Detroit, Entertainment, Environment, Harrah's, IGT, Internet gambling, Maryland, MGM Mirage, World Series of Poker | Comments Off on Caesars wins times two