Category Archives: Entertainment

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 9, 2012 by David McKee

“Jenny! That lady is dancing in her bra and panties. That’s disgusting!” — my 13-year-old niece, Sydney, getting her first glimpse of a go-go dancer Revolution Lounge at The Mirage. I do not think Sin City is her millieu.

Posted in Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Tourism | 2 Comments

Sigma Derby rides again; Revel vs. Maryland Live!, Round One; Idiocy epidemic at Trump Taj

Posted on July 3, 2012 by David McKee

Just when it seemed hope was lost … The D is reintroducing Sigma Derby to Downtown. In one fell swoop of utter brilliance, owner Derek Stevens has staked a prohibitive claim to Gaming Executive of the Year. To be completely … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Cordish Co., Current, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Problem gambling, Regulation, Revel, Technology, The Strip | 5 Comments

Isle knows how to sell it; “Gamming” at the Cosmo

Posted on June 28, 2012 by David McKee

If you’ve been watching casino-preview videos for the last dozen years, you’ve become inured to all the usual tropes, including the de rigeur, 3-D flyby and the glowing executive testimonials. Give Isle of Capri Casinos credit for realizing that the … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Current, Entertainment, Isle of Capri, Marketing, Missouri, Technology, The Strip | 2 Comments

End of an era

Posted on June 5, 2012 by David McKee

In a major step toward the de-Maloofization of the Palms, one of its signature attractions closed last weekend. As of yesterday, one can no longer gamble, ogle Bunnies nor do anything else at the semi-private Playboy Club. It was one … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Entertainment, George Maloof, Illinois, Marketing, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tribal | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 4, 2012 by David McKee

“I swear, folks: The Republicans here are better than any act on the Strip. It is not even close.” — Jon Ralston, upon learning that the Clark County GOP had rented a billboard — I kid you not — dissing … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Entertainment, Marketing | 2 Comments

Another quiet evening on the Strip; Big noise in Atlantic City

Posted on May 31, 2012 by David McKee

You might call it “UFC Smackdown”: Police were summoned to Wynncore in the pre-dawn hours of last Saturday to break up the proverbial “domestic disturbance.” Former Playboy model and current UFC ring girl Arianny Celeste (née Arianna Lopez) and boyfriend … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Dennis Gomes, Economy, Entertainment, Revel, Sports, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism | 2 Comments

“Smurf The Musical”

Posted on May 30, 2012 by David McKee

That’s the LVA office nickname for jukebox tuner Surf The Musical, currently in rehearsal at Planet Hollywood. As many as 35 Beach Boys songs have been laid end-to-end to create a midget version of a Broadway musical. The show’s creators … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Harrah's, Movies, Planet Hollywood, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 1 Comment

Holy Toledo!; D-Day in Massachusetts

Posted on May 29, 2012 by David McKee

Citizens of Toledo put on their best wife-beater and queued up for opening day at Penn National Gaming‘s brand-new Hollywood Casino Toledo. Sure, Revel had Beyoncé but H’wood Toledo had … Jamie Farr (plus ABBA impersonators). So there, Atlantic City! … Continue reading →

Posted in ABBA, Architecture, Current, Dan Gilbert, Election, Entertainment, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Ohio, Penn National, Regulation, Tribal | 4 Comments

Beyoncé 1, Revel 0.5; Meet Harrah’s Philadelphia; Riviera realities

Posted on May 29, 2012 by David McKee

So the big, official, grand, this-time-we-really-mean-it opening of Revel Resort & Casino came and went … and all the media has been talking about is Beyoncé and how bootylicious she looks so soon after giving birth. (Seven-plus pages of YouTube … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cosmopolitan, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, Marketing, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Revel, Riviera, Sahara, The Strip, Tourism | 5 Comments

Caesars: Total disrespect; Palms giving up the ghost

Posted on May 25, 2012 by David McKee

Here’s a chuckle as you head into the Memorial Day weekend: Horseshoe Bossier City‘s Riverdome was on the receiving end of an online diss from Kelly Clarkson. During her Stronger tour, the rocker evidently wasn’t too impressed with the sprung … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Entertainment, George Maloof, Harrah's, Louisiana, The Strip, TV | 3 Comments

SLS Las Vegas: Pretty pictures and propaganda

Posted on May 18, 2012 by David McKee

To celebrate the first anniversary of his cold-blooded, premeditated murder of the Sahara, nightclub owner Sam Nazarian trotted out freshly hired casino boss Rob Oseland, along with some models (no, not of the runway ilk) and even a rendering that … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Archon Corp., Boyd Gaming, California, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Encore, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Plaza, Sahara, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 4 Comments

Casino codependency, Chris Christie’s cowardice & other Case Bets

Posted on May 15, 2012 by David McKee

It’s too bad Steve Friess isn’t here to write this next story, because it’s right up his alley. What do you do if your big-name headliner badmouths your casino and CEO on opening night? You re-hire him, what else? Like … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Current, Donald Trump, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, Internet gambling, LVCVA, Marketing, New York, Ohio, Politics, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, Taxes, The Strip, TV | 2 Comments

U.S.S. Adelson lost at sea

Posted on May 2, 2012 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson‘s presidential campaign officially sank today. It was preceded to Davey Jones’ Locker by $21.5 million in Adelson family money (or $10.75 million per primary victory). It’s been a brief voyage but one revelatory of Sheldon’s inner workings. For … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Election, Entertainment, Florida, Internet gambling, Macau, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, TV | 5 Comments

The biggest losers; The Facebook factor

Posted on April 30, 2012 by David McKee

There’s a new power player in gaming and it’s … Brookfield Asset Management? The Canadian lender is already calling the shots (along with Warner Gaming) at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, a $1.5 billion quagmire into which Morgans Hotel … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Current, Dubai, Entertainment, Goldman Sachs, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, IGT, International, Internet gambling, Laughlin, Morgans Hotel Group, Pinnacle Entertainment, Steve Wynn, Wall Street, Warner Gaming | 1 Comment

New York State of mind; Atlantic City peace of mind; O’Shea’s, a piece of …

Posted on April 30, 2012 by David McKee

If the question of casino expansion were put to Empire State voters this November, the outcome would probably be adverse. That’s the conclusion of a Benenson Group survey. If the fact that Benenson is President Barack Obama‘s pollster of preference … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Entertainment, Genting, Harrah's, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, New York, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on New York State of mind; Atlantic City peace of mind; O’Shea’s, a piece of …

Big Brother is triangulating you; Dark days for LVH, Riv; Pinnacle’s Lone Star play

Posted on April 26, 2012 by David McKee

Just to make sure you’re not piggybacking onto its mobile-gambling systems, Cantor Gaming is partnering with Locaid to provide “geo-fencing” for its pocket casinos, which can now be played damn near anywhere on a casino property. (The real endgame, however, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cantor Gaming, Colony Capital, Colorado, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Goldman Sachs, Hooters, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Texas, The Strip, TV, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Weirdest “Little Whorehouse”

Posted on April 25, 2012 by David McKee

Living in Las Vegas podcasters Scott & Melissa Whitney checked out the Plaza Las Vegas‘ production of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas are were, to say the least, nonplussed by Amateur Night antics too strange to describe. The bizarrie … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Downtown, Entertainment, Movies, Tamares Group, Technology | 1 Comment

“Relic Hunter” Live?

Posted on April 23, 2012 by David McKee

Now that Dancing with the Stars‘ satellite show is off and hoofing at the Tropicana Las Vegas, PR people keep proffering interviews with guest star Tia Carrere. Yes, the Relic Hunter herself. This is — or might be — all … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Entertainment, The Strip, TV | 1 Comment

“Less-than-Best Little Whorehouse”

Posted on April 20, 2012 by David McKee

Last night, fledgling SFS Productions rolled out The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas at the Plaza Las Vegas and, true to its subject matter, it’s a emotionless copulation — to borrow a Pauline Kael line, it’s a practiced hooker with … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Current, Downtown, Entertainment, Environment, MGM Mirage, Riviera, Tamares Group, Technology, Texas, The Strip, Tourism | 6 Comments

Macao: Crossed fingers at Wynn; Confrontation at Melco

Posted on April 19, 2012 by David McKee

According to the Jornal Tribuna de Macau, by the end of the month, Wynn Resorts and the government of Macao “may sign” the long-awaited land tender upon which the fate of $2.7 billion Wynn Cotai rests. It “could be” a … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Current, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, Hooters, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 2 Comments