Category Archives: Florida

The continuing adventures of Sheldon Adelson, Harry Reid and the GSA

Posted on April 14, 2012 by David McKee

First, the good news. Business is off and running at brand-new Sands Cotai Central, whose Himalaya casino (372 tables, 600 slots) opened last Wednesday. In total square footage, it overtakes Venetian Macao for status as the world’s largest casino (30% … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Current, Economy, Election, Florida, Genting, Harrah's, Harry Reid, history, International, Macau, Massachusetts, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Stanley Ho, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, TV, Wall Street | 5 Comments

Singapore: Many called, two chosen; Tunica catches a break

Posted on March 22, 2012 by David McKee

VIP junket operators are coming to Singapore, J.P. Morgan stock analysts reported. Actually, they’re already there in the form of “shadow junkets,” according to Singaporean media. And if Las Vegas Sands or Genting Berhad are knowingly dealing with illegal junketeers, … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Current, Economy, Florida, Genting, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Pokergeddon, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, South Carolina, Stanley Ho, Taxes, Technology, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Wynn vs. Okada: Payback Time

Posted on February 20, 2012 by David McKee

Looks like Kazuo Okada brought a knife to a gunfight with Steve Wynn. The latter has spent the last year having former FBI boss Louis Freeh and sundry investigators check up on Okada — and what a lot of dirt … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Florida, Genting, International, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Sands’ new strategy: Blame Genting; Big Gaming backs Romney

Posted on February 15, 2012 by David McKee

First, the good news. Las Vegas Sands is signaling that it is not going to take its ball and come home from Florida, regardless of what lobbyist Nick Iarossi said last week. However, Sands’ emissary to the Sunshine State, Andy … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Current, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Election, Florida, Genting, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, LVCVA, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

From the mailbag: Florida

Posted on February 8, 2012 by David McKee

From the Sunshine State comes this dispatch from one of S&G‘s far-flung network of reader correspondents. This player is obviously quite familiar with the state of gambling in the great State of Florida … Mardi Gras Casino opened with $100 … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Florida, Genting, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Marketing, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Adelson’s perfidy and big karmic payback

Posted on February 6, 2012 by David McKee

Last Saturday, Sheldon Adelson personally presided over the Special Supplemental Sheldon Adelson Presidential Caucuses (an event hijacked from the state GOP) at the Dr. Miriam & Sheldon G. Adelson Educational Campus … and stepped in it again. Adelson’s footpads, according … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Election, Florida, Macau, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Adelson denies having influence

Posted on January 31, 2012 by David McKee

Contrary to what the Washington Post reported and what Clark County GOP Chairman Dave Gibbs told The Associated Press, the man runs Las Vegas Sands says he had little or nothing to do with the rescheduling of Saturday’s Nevada Republican … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Florida, Genting, Massachusetts, Sheldon Adelson | 1 Comment

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

When executives attack; Sheldon’s new beard; Wall Street loves it some MGM

Posted on January 24, 2012 by David McKee

Few YouTube feeds are more prolific and state of the art than that of Station Casinos (although they really ought to think twice about posting cell-phone footage online; it looks rinky-dink). However, what you will not see is an ad … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Culinary Union, Current, Election, Florida, Macau, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Texas, TV, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Florida: How much is too much?; Sheldon Adelson, ventriloquist

Posted on January 20, 2012 by David McKee

Those $2 billion megaresorts mooted for Florida will have a much easier time making their nut if state Rep. Erik Fresen (R, left) holds sway. In an attempt to woo recalcitrant conservatives, Fresen is proposing various restraints on gambling’s growth … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Election, Florida, Fontainebleau, Genting, International, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Macau, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Tourism | 1 Comment

Meet Virginia McDowell, Part I

Posted on January 13, 2012 by David McKee

What are your plans for Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, in Pennsylvania? We’re still waiting for the appeal process to wind its way through the courts. The original plan called for to build on an existing facility on the Nemacolin property, which … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Florida, G2E, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Marketing, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Station Casinos, Taxes, Technology, Texas, Tourism, Tribal | 3 Comments

Sunshine State sap

Posted on January 10, 2012 by David McKee

Backers of Florida casinos, working under the rubric of Associated Industries of Florida, evidently take voters down there for simpletons. Their ‘See Spot Run’ pitch for casino-based destination resorts describes something that sounds very much like Venelazzo or Wynncore, then … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Florida, history, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off on Sunshine State sap

Adelson: Whining our future; The online deluge

Posted on January 9, 2012 by David McKee

Apparently there’s no avoiding what has become the story of the day: Sheldon Adelson‘s $5 million dowry to presidential aspirant Newt Gingrich. It’s a gift that comes with a substantial pre-nup; if Gingrich falters in South Carolina, American Crossroads and … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Economy, Election, Florida, George Maloof, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Hooters, International, Internet gambling, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, South Carolina, The Strip, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Hans Klok, come back!

Posted on January 6, 2012 by David McKee

Sometimes one experiences an experience so awful that its sheer awfulness is awfully far beyond the power of words to describe. That’s what happened last night at the premiere of Vegas Magic Theatre at Gold Coast. (How bad was it? … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, Downtown, Entertainment, Florida, Isle of Capri, The Strip | 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

Blast from the Past

Posted on December 7, 2011 by David McKee

This week finds me up to my butt in page proofs of Rick Lax‘s forthcoming book, I Get Paid for This, a Michael Jackson The [sic] Immortal World Tour™ review for WizardOfVegas.com, profiles of developer Brett Torino and Mayor Carolyn … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Cirque du Soleil, Columbia Sussex, Downtown, Entertainment, Florida, Harrah's, history, James Packer, Lake Tahoe, Massachusetts, Movies, Tamares Group, The Strip | 1 Comment

Hooters: What next?; PE fools and their money; Deal or no-Deal in Georgia?

Posted on November 30, 2011 by David McKee

It’s all over for the current administration at Hooters Casino Hotel. They’ve given up trying to fight efforts by Canyon Capital Realty Advisors to have the money-losing property sold via foreclosure auction. If Canpartners wins at auction, it may go … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Current, Economy, Election, Florida, Georgia, Golden Gaming, Herbst Gaming, Hooters, Horseracing, Slot routes, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Sanguine Sands; Genting vs. Islamofascism; Arkansas vs. Missouri

Posted on November 23, 2011 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands dispatched its international overseer, Rob Goldstein (right) and sidekick Dan Briggs to New York as envoys to Wall Street. As reported by J.P. Morgan‘s Joseph Greff, Sands’ outlook is sanguine, particularly with regard to the Singapore and … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Economy, Election, Florida, Genting, Goldman Sachs, International, Macau, Massachusetts, Missouri, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Taxes, Texas, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Morgans: They’re baaaaaaack!; Un-win at Cosmo

Posted on November 18, 2011 by David McKee

Just when you thought it was safe to invest in Las Vegas again, the city went to bed last night to the news that masters of disaster Morgans Hotel Group had purchased nightclub operator Light Group. Given Morgans’ propensity for … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cosmopolitan, Current, Entertainment, Florida, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Sahara, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Domino effects

Posted on October 31, 2011 by David McKee

“Prior to the official opening, a 60-minute opening ceremony was held outside of the main entrance to the casino, where local and state politicians patted each other on the back for finally getting the casino opened, a mere 10 years … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Culinary Union, Current, Detroit, Economy, Election, Florida, Harrah's, Horseracing, Isle of Capri, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Singapore, Slot routes, Taxes, Tourism, Tribal | 1 Comment