Category Archives: Environment

Across the Pacific

Posted on April 17, 2019 by David McKee

In a nodal moment for Macao, mass-market gambling revenue constituted the majority of monies collected during 1Q19. This is the first time that mass-market winnings have surpassed VIP ones. VIP baccarat revenue was down 16% while mass-market win was up … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Environment, Japan, Kazuo Okada, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Philippines, Problem gambling, Technology, Tourism | Comments Off

Caesars: Under the weather; Wynn enters the Internet

Posted on April 16, 2019 by David McKee

Lack of thrift in the executive corridors is hurting Caesars Entertainment‘s stock price. JP Morgan analyst Daniel Politzer just ratcheted his price target down to $12, citing “worse than expected weather/GGR results at CZR’s regional properties and higher than previously … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Colorado, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, Illinois, Internet gambling, Iowa, New York, Reno, Scientific Games, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

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

Wynn bids for Crown Resorts; MGM garners lofty accolades

Posted on April 9, 2019 by David McKee

In the latest episode from this winter’s senseless round of buy-or-be-bought transactions, Wynn Resorts has tendered an offer to Crown Resorts. Presumably the fun has gone out of tying James Packer‘s shoelaces together. The transaction, while would transform Wynn into … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Carl Icahn, Dan Gilbert, Environment, Galaxy Entertainment, Hard Rock International, history, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Sexual misconduct, Steve Wynn, Unite-Here, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 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

Bowing to Wynn; Mixed views on Las Vegas

Posted on February 28, 2019 by David McKee

Today the Massachusetts Gaming Commission meets to finalize its disgraceful prostration, er, litigation settlement with Steve Wynn and presumably to lay the groundwork for levying some manner of fine on Wynn Resorts now that Nevada has set a $20 million … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Caesars Entertainment, California, Carl Icahn, Donald Trump, Economy, Environment, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Raiders, Laughlin, Massachusetts, Mesquite, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Phil Ruffin, Regulation, Reno, Sexual misconduct, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wendover, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

SJM Fok-ed up; Virginia approves casinos

Posted on February 28, 2019 by David McKee

Lucina Laam may be the most important person in Macao‘s turbulent casino history. As Wife #2 of Stanley Ho she bore Daisy Ho, Pansy Ho, Lawrence Ho and two other daughters not involved in the gaming biz. Now, in an … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, DFS, Donald Trump, Downtown Grand, Environment, history, International, Las Vegas Sands, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, New York, Pansy Ho, Pennsylvania, Politics, Singapore, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Stanley Ho, Technology, Tribal, Virginia | Comments Off

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

Going green

Posted on February 18, 2019 by David McKee

by Jessica Kane, Special correspondent If you are a resident of Las Vegas, you may be considering a ‘green’ burial following your death. With that in mind, you may have an array of questions about the possibility for a green … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Environment, Nevada | Comments Off

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 7, 2019 by David McKee

“We want to lead by being good, not by being profitable. We think of profits as a byproduct of the new experience.” — SCP Hotels CEO Ken Cruse on his brand’s wellness-oriented, name-your-price business model.

Posted in Colorado, Environment, Marketing | Comments Off

Vegas: Locals outperform the Strip; Sisolak nuked

Posted on January 31, 2019 by David McKee

Nevada gaming revenue was up 4% last month, just a few hundred thousand shy of an even billion dollars, even though the Las Vegas Strip was relatively stagnant. Strong baccarat win by the house (jumping 14.5%) was offset by 3% … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Aristocrat, Boulder Strip, Donald Trump, Downtown, Environment, IGT, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Mesquite, Nevada, Regulation, Reno, Scientific Games, South Carolina, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Pac-12 to Vegas?; Climate change rattles travel industry

Posted on January 30, 2019 by David McKee

Pac-12 football championship play could be coming to Las Vegas. I emphasize the “could” because there are several moving parts to this story, including the possibility that Las Vegas and Los Angeles are pawns in the conference’s attempts to shake … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, California, Environment, International, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | Comments Off

Louisiana: What happened?; Wynn wins historic victory

Posted on January 22, 2019 by David McKee

While most jurisdictions performed impressively last month, Louisiana was down 2.5%. How to account for the slippage? True, the drive-in driven Shreveport/Bossier City market was off 1.5%. But the real culprit was Baton Rouge, toppling 15.5% and ravaged by the new … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, GLPI, Greenwood Racing, International, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Vietnam, Wall Street, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Deifik defects from Atlantic City; Stevens unveils new casino

Posted on January 11, 2019 by David McKee

That was brief. After six months of operation at Ocean Resort, owner Bruce Deifik wants out. Word is he’s found a mystery buyer, one who will invest $70 million in “a new buffet, additional hotel suites, gaming floor improvements and … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, Colorado, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, Marketing, Revel, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta, Transportation | 2 Comments

Big Beaver and other Case Bets

Posted on December 6, 2018 by David McKee

Sands China has upped its capital commitment to Sands Cotai (aka The Londoner) as its Four Seasons is scheduled for a $450 million upgrade. The Sands Cotai makeover is now budgeted at $2.2 billion, a hefty vote of confidence in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Hard Rock International, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Pennsylvania, Transportation | 1 Comment

CG Technology avoids death penalty; SoCal: The wrath of Kahn

Posted on November 20, 2018 by David McKee

$1.75 million was the magic number to get CG Technology out of detention with the Nevada Gaming Commission. In addition, $250,000 will be laid on the Nevada Council for Problem Gambling, a settlement provision we can totally get behind. It … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Cantor Gaming, CityCenter, Environment, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Problem gambling, Regulation, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

No love for Lucky Dragon

Posted on November 1, 2018 by David McKee

What if they sold a casino and nobody bid? That was the unenviable fate of Lucky Dragon Casino at bankruptcy auction. No one wants the jinxed property, leaving it in the frigid hands of principal lender Snow Covered Capital. Thus … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Environment, Genting, Indiana, Lucky Dragon, Majestic Star, Marketing, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, SLS Las Vegas, Station Casinos, Tropicana Entertainment | 3 Comments

Election update; Resorts World reaches for the sky

Posted on October 31, 2018 by David McKee

Driving Arkansas Forward, the initiative to legalize casino gambling at four Arkansas locations, looks like it will score a come-from-behind victory in less than a week. Early polling had it down, 41% to 48%, but it’s now turned the tide, … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Architecture, Arkansas, Election, Environment, Genting, Horseracing, International, Internet gambling, Nevada, Racinos, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off

Strip tanks in September; Adelson vs. Buffett

Posted on October 30, 2018 by David McKee

If you want to know what it’s hard to get financing to develop on the Las Vegas Strip you could either A) ask Steven Witkoff or B) look at the latest, very blah numbers from September — $546 million. That 4% … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Downtown, Economy, Election, Environment, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off

Doing the right thing

Posted on October 16, 2018 by David McKee

Bravo to Hard Rock International and Seminole Gaming for stepping up to partner with Clean the World (which was covered in this space last week) to help victims of Hurricane Michael. According to CasinoBeats.com, “An immediate donation of 30,000 containers … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Cretins, Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, Florida, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New Jersey, Racinos, Seminole Tribe, Sports betting, The Strip | Comments Off