Category Archives: Environment

Palms: “It’s going down”

Posted on January 16, 2013 by David McKee

That’s what Lt. Castillo (the one, the only, the awesomeness that is Edward James Olmos) would say of the situation at Palms Casino Resort, which has spent the Joseph Magliarditi administration spiraling into disrepute. (Trouble at a Magliarditi-run casino? Shocking!) … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Environment, Palms, Regulation, The Strip, TV, Wall Street | 1 Comment

What manner of idiot …

Posted on January 15, 2013 by David McKee

… keeps fountains running during a hard freeze? A Caesars Entertainment executive, who else? Never mind that pipes have been bursting all over the valley (including one at LVA HQ) and that Lake Tahoe casinos have experienced “severe water and … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Cretins, Current, Environment, Harrah's, Lake Tahoe, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | 2 Comments

Pinnacle makes pricey Atlantic City exit; Fertitta’s Downtown mess

Posted on January 9, 2013 by David McKee

A Wall Street Journal story from yesterday evening reports that Pinnacle Entertainment has found a buyer for its 19 acres of Boardwalk land. These were cobbled together at huge cost — $270 million or $14 million an acre — by … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Current, Dan Lee, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Environment, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Tilman Fertitta | 3 Comments

Revel: Slow learning curve ahead; Sheldon spanked in Singapore

Posted on January 8, 2013 by David McKee

By the time Revel CEO Kevin DeSanctis realizes he’s made a mistake, he’s almost always past the point of no return. Although it is my deeply rooted opinion that smoking is a noxious, disgusting habit that invades other people’s space, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Current, Economy, Environment, Genting, International, Maine, Marketing, Maryland, Penn National, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Wall Street | Comments Off

Blackout at the Plaza

Posted on December 14, 2012 by David McKee

S&G has learned — and LVA staffers have confirmed — that all main-stage shows at Tamares Group‘s flagship Plaza Hotel have gone dark until further notice. A promotional appearance by Best Little Whorehouse in Texas cast members at South Point, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Dining, Downtown, Entertainment, Environment, Isle of Capri, Mississippi, Tamares Group, Tilman Fertitta | 4 Comments

Wynn comes (back) to Massachusetts; Revel’s rattling tin cup

Posted on December 5, 2012 by David McKee

Despite several months of doom-and-gloom economic predictions from Steve Wynn, the mogul has decided to “buy American” again, not only returning to the site of previous skirmishes (Philadelphia) but also taking a second run at Massachusetts. S&G was no fan … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Cannery Casino Resorts, Current, Economy, Election, Environment, Harrah's, Marketing, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Steve Wynn, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Un-Lucky by any name; Shame on Trump Entertainment

Posted on November 13, 2012 by David McKee

Since there is no problem in today’s America too trivial to be resolved with gunplay, let the record show that 31-year-old Kevin Jones Jr. was mortally wounded at the Lucky Club Casino early this morning. Jones was pronounced dead at … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Environment, MTR Gaming, North Las Vegas, Regulation, Steve Wynn | Comments Off

Wake up with Loveman; More election aftermath

Posted on November 8, 2012 by David McKee

No sooner were Wall Street analysts uttering serious concerns about a slow post-Sandy recovery for Atlantic City than who should pop up on CBS This Morning but Caesars Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman, doing damage control … It’s hard to decide … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Dan Gilbert, Donald Trump, Economy, Environment, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Transportation, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off

Atlantic City open for business

Posted on November 2, 2012 by David McKee

Actually, a few hardy souls — like fearless restaurateur Montgomery Dahm, who was semper fidelis to his fellow citizens — never closed. Add Tun Tavern to your list of must-see stops when you visit Atlantic City. Ditto Ducktown Tavern & … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Dining, Economy, Election, Environment, Florida, Racinos, Revel, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Third-quarter blahs: Ameristar, Boyd, MGM; Crackdown in Alabama

Posted on November 2, 2012 by David McKee

While nobody quite matched the $221 million loss posted by Caesars Entertainment, the gaming industry didn’t lack for underachievers in 3Q12, thanks largely to softness in domestic casino markets. Ameristar Casinos reported a $16 million profit, despite a 2% revenue … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Ameristar, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Colorado, Current, Detroit, Downtown, Environment, Harrah's, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off

Hurricane Sandy: “It’s going to take years to recover”; ‘Unsafe sex’ at Sands

Posted on October 30, 2012 by David McKee

A natural disaster on the East Coast is fast becoming an industry-wide problem, its effects felt as far afield as Iowa, I kid you not. In light of the total havoc Hurricane Sandy has wrought upon travel, particularly by air, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Donald Trump, Economy, Environment, Genting, Harrah's, Iowa, New York, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, The Mob, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Atlantic City and Sandy’s silver lining; Adelson to cop a plea?

Posted on October 29, 2012 by David McKee

At the risk of taking Hurricane Sandy too lightly, in some respects the storm — currently on a path straight for Atlantic City — represents a strange blessing in disguise for the Boardwalk. With the city all buttoned up as … Continue reading →

Posted in Cretins, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Environment, Macau, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

USA Today’s best of the Strip

Posted on October 6, 2012 by David McKee

Pursuant to our last S&G dispatch, here are the USA Today choices for top attractions on the Strip (uniqueness and affordability being prime considerations). If you’re not staying at a Hilton property right now, you aren’t vouchsafed access to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Entertainment, Environment, George Maloof, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Movies, Planet Hollywood, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | Comments Off

Western … sold?; Loveman takes a bath; Loving couples at the Flamingo

Posted on September 20, 2012 by David McKee

Update: The head of Tamares Group’s Vegas casino operations, Anthony Santo, has contacted S&G. He categorically denies that any sale of the Western has taken place. Well, “the Internets” are jumping today with the rumor that the defunct Western Hotel … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Boyd Gaming, Current, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, Harrah's, Tourism | 6 Comments

The rains came, 9/11/12

Posted on September 11, 2012 by David McKee

It may not be a David Lean epic but this video gives you an idea just how heavy the waters were on the Las Vegas Strip, over by Harrah’s Las Vegas. Strangely, local TV stations are concentrating upon the effects … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Environment, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 4 Comments

“Mob Attraction” inundated

Posted on September 11, 2012 by David McKee

… and not with customers unfortunately. Las Vegas is currently experiencing torrential downpours and flash flooding — including on the Strip. This suddenly closed the Tropicana Las Vegas‘ “Mob Attraction,” thanks to a wee bit of a design flaw. According … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Entertainment, Environment, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, history, Technology, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism, Warner Gaming | 2 Comments

Pinnacle’s cockeyed optimist

Posted on August 29, 2012 by David McKee

Call me Nostradamus: As Hurricane Isaac essentially sits parked on the Louisiana and Mississippi coastlines, I am again given cause to wonder what in Heaven’s name made Pinnacle Entertainment CEO Anthony Sanfilippo think he could hold the L’Auberge Baton Rouge … Continue reading →

Posted in Cretins, Current, Environment, Louisiana, Mississippi, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Tourism, TV | Comments Off

Non-quote of the day; After Harmon, what next?

Posted on August 28, 2012 by David McKee

As Hurricane Isaac forced the closure of 18 casinos in Louisiana and Mississippi (including the Silver Slipper [left]) and casino-expansion measures in Illinois and Michigan came to a head, what story did the American Gaming Association deem its highest priority today? … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Detroit, Downtown, Environment, Illinois, Louisiana, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Slot routes, The Strip, Tourism, Vdara Death Ray | Comments Off

Isaac: Flood waters hit Beau Rivage

Posted on August 28, 2012 by David McKee

First, the good news: Since thousands of people are being adversely affected by Hurricane Isaac, still gathering strength, one of them is Donald Trump. The bloated bloviator has been promising another of his shocking revelations — too shocking to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Election, Environment, Florida, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, TV | 1 Comment

Batten down the hatches!

Posted on August 27, 2012 by David McKee

Tropical Storm Isaac is charting a path across the Gulf of Mexico and, with aspirations to “hurricane” status, is on a collision course with New Orleans, the City That Couldn’t Catch a Break. So far, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Dining, Environment, Harrah's, history, International, Louisiana, Mississippi, Politics, Regulation, Technology, TV | 2 Comments