Category Archives: Florida

Caught between a skank and a Hard Rock; Kasich vs. casinos

Posted on April 11, 2011 by David McKee

Morgans Hotel Group may have skedaddled out of Las Vegas, tail firmly between legs, but it’s not free of trouble linked to its calamitous Sin City sojourn. During Morgans stewardship of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, it offered $300,000 … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Economy, Entertainment, Florida, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Iowa, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Marriott moots LV casino

Posted on April 8, 2011 by David McKee

Offering Sin City a slim reed of hope, Marriott International has let it be known — through “trailer station” operator United Coin — that it hopes to build a 3,500-room casino-hotel directly opposite the Las Vegas Convention Center. Considering the … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Current, Florida, Harrah's, history, LVCVA, Mississippi, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | 5 Comments

Station hearts Goodman … Carolyn, that is

Posted on April 4, 2011 by David McKee

In what may be a historic first, Frank Fertitta III, Lorenzo Fertitta and their rival Texas cousin Tilman Fertitta all agree upon something: Carolyn Goodman‘s mayoral candidacy. As in, they’re for it. Once you lump together Zuffa (parent of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Don Barden, Donald Trump, Downtown, Election, Florida, Golden Gaming, history, International, Jack Binion, Michael Gaughan, Oscar Goodman, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Station Casinos, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta | 2 Comments

Sheldon Adelson’s court jester yuks it up

Posted on April 1, 2011 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands-backed mayoral candidate Victor Chaltiel rolled out the following prank ad today … I’m not sure that there’s any percentage in going after the grandmotherly (but hopelessly vague) Carolyn Goodman in the snide fashion that is quickly becoming … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Current, Downtown, Election, Florida, Harrah's, International, Laughlin, Macau, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Mississippi, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Texas, The Strip, TV | 1 Comment

Salvation for Illinois? “Golden Boys” strike again

Posted on March 31, 2011 by David McKee

According to lobbyists for MGM Resorts International‘s Grand Victoria riverboat, the smoking ban in Illinois has stove in casino revenues by 33%. Statewide, the average is -28% since 2008 — costing the state no small amount of tax monies — … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Florida, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Station Casinos, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, TV | Comments Off on Salvation for Illinois? “Golden Boys” strike again

Florida rejects Adelson; Mixed signals from Cosmo; Station’s quixotic quest

Posted on March 31, 2011 by David McKee

It’s all over — until 2012, anyway — for Sheldon Adelson‘s heavy-handed push to ram a set of “destination resorts” through the Florida Legislature. A poison-pill amendment, attached at the behest of parimutuels, would let existing slot houses go to … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Florida, International, Macau, North Las Vegas, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Florida rejects Adelson; Mixed signals from Cosmo; Station’s quixotic quest

Sahara Sam: Will he or won’t he?

Posted on March 25, 2011 by David McKee

An MGM Resorts International press release hailing the new SBE/M life partnership holds out a slim reed of hope that predictions Sahara Hotel & Casino owner Sam Nazarian will redevelop the site are more than just additional vaporware. (The Sahara … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Animals, CityCenter, Current, Florida, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Sahara, The Strip, Tourism | 1 Comment

Caesars steals Riv’s thunder; Trouble in Adelsonia

Posted on March 24, 2011 by David McKee

Obviously, the headline from today will be approval by the Nevada Gaming Commission of a partnership between Caesars Entertainment and Israeli-owned, Gibraltar-based 888 Holdings. Since it is simultaneously getting permission to shack up with Internet casino operator 888 and opposing … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Downtown, Election, Florida, Harry Reid, Hawaii, International, Internet gambling, Iowa, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Oscar Goodman, Politics, Regulation, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Tamares Group, Wall Street | Comments Off on Caesars steals Riv’s thunder; Trouble in Adelsonia

Trains to nowhere?

Posted on March 14, 2011 by David McKee

Spurning of federal high-speed-rail money by governors like Rick Scott (R-FL), John Kasich (R-OH) and Scott Walker (R-WI) might mean some of the multibillion-dollar largesse would be rechanneled toward Sig Rogich‘s and Sen. Harry Reid‘s Desert Xpress, bound for Victorville, … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Florida, Harry Reid, Ohio, Transportation | 1 Comment

“Hi, I’m John Ensign, your casino host”

Posted on March 7, 2011 by David McKee

In development that was a foregone conclusion to everyone but Sen. John Ensign (R) himself, the former casino executive and prospective heir to the Mandalay Resort Group fortune of Mike Ensign, announced his retirement from politics today. The former general … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Election, Florida, history, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Texas, The Strip | 3 Comments

Loveman 1, Atlantic City 0

Posted on March 3, 2011 by David McKee

After much Hamlet-like deliberation, Gov. Chris Christie (R) put his ixnay on a bill that would have made Internet gambling legal within New Jersey. Citing constitutional issues, he said legislators ought to put the issue to popular vote … a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Florida, Harrah's, Illinois, Internet gambling, Iowa, New York, Politics | 1 Comment

Seminoles’ big payday; ‘Net-bet stampede: It’s on

Posted on March 2, 2011 by David McKee

After a full year of Class III gambling, the Seminole Tribe has grossed $2 billion. Depending on how considerably that amount ramps up, the State of Florida will enjoy at least a $1 billion “rake” by the end of Gov. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Current, Florida, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Kentucky, MGM Mirage, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | 4 Comments

Sheldon Adelson, Man of La Mancha

Posted on February 17, 2011 by David McKee

Life’s being pretty good these days to Las Vegas Sands, thanks in part to better-than-expected convention traffic at Marina Bay Sands (offsetting tepid meeting/expo biz in Macao). In addition to eyeballing Florida, Texas, Massachusetts and Japan, CEO Sheldon Adelson has … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Current, Downtown, Economy, Florida, Genting, International, Macau, Massachusetts, Oscar Goodman, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Texas, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 2 Comments

Gary Loveman … visionary?

Posted on February 15, 2011 by David McKee

At the risk of pumping additional hydrogen into his already zeppelin-sized ego, allow me to suggest that Caesars Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman, PhD. is actually onto something. But first would somebody clue him in that there has been casino gambling … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Florida, G2E, Harrah's, Jack Binion, Marketing, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Taxes, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 2 Comments

The sky is falling!

Posted on February 1, 2011 by David McKee

Or so you’d think, to hear the reaction to the news that Florida is contemplating bringing a micromanaged form of casino gambling to its fair shores. S&G readers are well rehearsed in the flaws of the bill being contemplated in … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Florida, Harrah's, Hawaii, history, Ohio, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | 1 Comment

Fun with geography, Adelson-style

Posted on January 27, 2011 by David McKee

Thanks to a tip from reader detroit1051, S&G customers can avail themselves of this handy online tool. With it, you can pretend to be Sheldon Adelson, scissoring the State of Florida into 75-mile zones of exclusivity (because, being a super-patriot … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Florida, Politics, Sheldon Adelson | 1 Comment

The race for Florida is on

Posted on January 26, 2011 by David McKee

Emissaries from Las Vegas Sands and Wynn Resorts were in Tallahassee to woo Florida legislators yesterday. Also present was Boyd Gaming, which owns property in the Sunshine State and understandably doesn’t want to see solons crafting a sweetheart deal for … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Florida, Genting, Macau, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal | 3 Comments

Adelson dealt a setback

Posted on January 21, 2011 by David McKee

Florida casinos, the latest pet project of Sheldon Adelson and new ally Gov. Rick Scott (R), got the back of the hand from Miami Beach‘s city commission. Since Miami Beach is the most desirable casino zipcode in the state, this … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Boyd Gaming, Current, Florida, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Saved!

Posted on January 12, 2011 by David McKee

Illinois‘ casino industry just dodged a bullet the size of a 747 when the lower house failed to bring a gaming-expansion bill to a vote last night. A new Legislature is sworn in today, sending this colossally bad and ill-timed … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Florida, Harrah's, Illinois, Internet gambling, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Pennsylvania, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 4 Comments

Nevada’s November: rough sledding; Sunny Sheldon

Posted on January 11, 2011 by David McKee

If pressed for a prediction, I’d say 2011 will be a good year for the Strip, not so much for the rest of the Silver State. Just when I was feeling a bit queasy about November’s gaming revenues, Dr. David … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, California, Cretins, Current, Downtown, Florida, Horseracing, Laughlin, LVCVA, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, North Las Vegas, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tourism, TV, Wall Street | 4 Comments