Category Archives: Environment

Opening tonight!; DIY Vdara Death Ray

Posted on August 10, 2012 by David McKee

Hoping to join Evil Dead The Musical and Best Little Whorehouse in Texas in the progression of locally produced musicals to casino showrooms is Summer Camp! The Musical, which opens tonight at the Onyx Theatre, near what used to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Current, Downtown, Entertainment, Environment, Harrah's, Planet Hollywood, Sahara, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tourism, TV, Vdara Death Ray | Comments Off

Yanqui, go home!

Posted on June 11, 2012 by David McKee

Spain‘s banking system has joined a series of toppling dominoes that will likely prompt multiple, TARP-like measures and have the European Union mulling methods of preventing a run on the banks. Into this atmosphere of imminent catastrophe and 24% unemployment … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Economy, Environment, Florida, International, Macau, New York, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Tourism | 1 Comment

Get over it, Vegas; Fat City

Posted on April 27, 2012 by David McKee

Some local businessmen busted out the crying towels last weekend and threw themselves a pity party in the pages of the Los Angeles Times. Now, the wipeout of the Las Vegas economy is — or should be — old news … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Economy, Encore, Environment, MGM Mirage, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism | 4 Comments

“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

Revel gets a rave review

Posted on April 4, 2012 by David McKee

Deutsche Bank‘s Carlo Santarelli took a jaunt down to Atlantic City to check out Revel, the biggest noise on the Boardwalk in almost a decade. He thought … well, let him tell it: “From the check in reception area, complete … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Cosmopolitan, Cretins, Current, Dennis Gomes, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, Genting, Harrah's, Marketing, New York, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, TV, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Dear Floridians …; Mission unfinished; Blue skies

Posted on January 30, 2012 by David McKee

Sarah Palin says, “vote for Newt, annoy a liberal, vote Newt.” I say, “Vote Newt, please, because the concurrent stream of Sheldon Adelson stories is a blogger’s dream come true. Keep that gravy train going!” (Besides, it’s had the side … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Current, Election, Environment, Florida, Harrah's, International, Louisiana, Marketing, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, South Carolina, Steve Wynn, TV | 3 Comments

The clueless Adelson; A happy birthday; Big Brother Penn

Posted on January 27, 2012 by David McKee

Yes, it’s yet another exciting episode of The New(t) Adventures of Sheldon Adelson. When, in typically unsubtle (read: crass) fashion, the casino potentate began pouring kegs full of money into the current presidential race, it was bound to set off … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Current, Election, Environment, Harrah's, M Resort, Macau, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn | 3 Comments

Station Casinos: In your face

Posted on January 26, 2012 by David McKee

For a company that bridles at negative press coverage, Station Casinos has a genius for provoking it. Case in point: Its increasingly hysteria-tinged campaign toward the Culinary Union. Up until now, it’s been confined to a series of overwrought, unintentionally … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Current, Economy, Environment, Harrah's, Marketing, Station Casinos, TV | 2 Comments

Illinois: Not cricket; Boyd’s not going to like this: Death Ray: The sequel

Posted on January 25, 2012 by David McKee

Hardly had the outlines for a gaming-expansion compromise been leaked from the Illinois governor’s mansion when state Speaker of the House Michael Madigan (D, right) nixed the idea — or at least the prospect of a deal getting done in … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Current, Election, Environment, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Vdara Death Ray | 3 Comments

Illinois: They shoot horses, don’t they?; Friday film festival

Posted on January 20, 2012 by David McKee

Score another round for Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn (D): By threatening a drawn-out negotiation process that would put casino expansion hard up against election season — with lawmakers facing the terra incognita of redrawn districts — he may have forced … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Election, Environment, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, Internet gambling, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Rhode Island, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off

Belated Christmas presents, Midwest edition

Posted on January 11, 2012 by David McKee

To quote Stephen Sondheim, everything’s coming up roses … or close enough, anyway. Last Friday, strong numbers out of Iowa — of a non-caucus ilk — showed the state’s casinos rebounding to the tune of 16% (on a $121 million) … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Dan Lee, Don Barden, Donald Trump, Economy, Environment, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Kentucky, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Taxes, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

‘Grimm’ reaper; Marathon ordeal; Last call for queries

Posted on December 12, 2011 by David McKee

Las Vegas made the Sunday funny pages this week. One could get all irate about Mike Peters‘ dig at gambling and the Strip. However, if he wanted to equate casinos with fleapits, he could have chosen more wisely than he … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Environment, Florida, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 1 Comment

What’s wrong with this picture?

Posted on December 12, 2011 by David McKee

TV watchers have been getting a heavy dose of commercials from British Petroleum, promoting tourism along the Gulf Coast (which, not so recently, BP was responsible for befouling). What grabs my eye is that Margaritaville Casino & Restaurant COO Karen … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Mississippi | Comments Off

Aliante Station changes hands but little else; Amigo Adelson

Posted on October 21, 2011 by David McKee

Aliante Station is now formally the property of Texas Pacific Group, Standard General and Apollo Management. Two of those funds also own Caesars Entertainment, which might create some interesting “Chinese wall” situations. (Can’t have trade secrets passing back and forth, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Colorado, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, Harrah's, International, North Las Vegas, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Taxes | Comments Off

ColSux: They’re outta here!; Accord in Motown; Murren changes course

Posted on October 20, 2011 by David McKee

Those last few remnants of Columbia Sussex CEO William J. Yung‘s former casino empire continue to topple about him. The Kentucky-based oligarch, whose properties are notorious for their poor working conditions and even worse maintenance, has been reaping a gargantuan … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Culinary Union, Dan Lee, Detroit, Donald Trump, Economy, Environment, G2E, Harrah's, International, Lake Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, Louisiana, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Pets, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Sports, Texas, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Rehab in rehab

Posted on September 13, 2011 by David McKee

If it seems that the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino‘s infamous Rehab pool party has been keeping a lower profile this year, that’s no illusion. The expulsion of Morgans Hotel Group and its party-hearty executive team has brought a de-empahsis … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Environment, Hard Rock Hotel, Massachusetts, The Strip, Warner Gaming | 2 Comments

Irene, you jezebel!

Posted on September 9, 2011 by David McKee

“You come, you stay, you go/It really doesn’t matter/You’ve done it all before/By now they’ll know the pattern.” — ABBA OK, so Benny & Bjorn were writing about a gal named Elaine not a hurricane called Irene. Although the storm … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Environment, Harrah's, Macau, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Tourism, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off

After the deluge

Posted on September 6, 2011 by David McKee

Although it cost casino owners a couple of days’ business, the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee inflicted scarcely any damage compared to Hurricane Katrina. (Safety measures taken in post-Katrina years helped.) Since the Louisiana casino market has been in an … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Environment, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Tourism, Transportation | 1 Comment

Atlantic City: The morning after

Posted on August 28, 2011 by David McKee

Damage from Hurricane Irene wasn’t as bad as feared in Atlantic City, although it ripped up beach facilities pretty good. Casinos were even able to maintain power through the wee hours of Sunday morning. Borgata‘s Water Club tower sustained some … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Environment, Tilman Fertitta, Transportation | Comments Off

The lost weekend; Machine Gun Bloom

Posted on August 26, 2011 by David McKee

When casino revenues weren’t as bad as expected, earlier this summer, one Atlantic City property executive called it a light at the end of the tunnel. Elsewhere, S&G reader American Gaming Guru pithily remarked that the light was an oncoming … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Current, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Downtown, Entertainment, Environment, G2E, Genting, Harrah's, history, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Neil Bluhm, New York, Oscar Goodman, Slot routes, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism | 6 Comments