Category Archives: Florida

Earth to Adelson, Earth to Adelson …

Posted on December 21, 2009 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson claims he can finish his two resuscitated Cotai Strip™ casinos (below) and build three more in the next five years. Let the record show that Adelson currently also has casinos in various states of … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cordish Co., Current, Economy, Florida, International, Macau, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Movies, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, The Strip, Tribal | 2 Comments

Wynn bails on N.Y.

Posted on November 4, 2009 by David McKee

As they come into the backstretch on the bidding for a racino at New York‘s Aqueduct Racetrack, one contender has pulled out of the race: Steve Wynn. Did he balk at the $200 million upfront fee? Penn National Gaming basically … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Downtown, Economy, Florida, Harrah's, Macau, MGM Mirage, New York, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Tilman Fertitta, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Wynn bails on N.Y.

From the Twitter feed

Posted on November 4, 2009 by David McKee

@VegasFunFacts: “McCarran Airport was named after former NV Sen. Pat McCarran, known for his anti-communism and for lobbying fed funds and projects for NV.” (Translation: Choke on it, China-loving, guvmint-bashing Steve Wynn.) @jccarcamo: “Republicans on a special committee considering the … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Election, Florida, MGM Mirage, Politics, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal | Comments Off on From the Twitter feed

Atlantic City sucks …

Posted on September 22, 2009 by David McKee

… says the Motley Fool, in essence. Even Borgata, which posted a higher operating profit year/year, is deemed merely to suck less than everybody else. I’m not sure I’m with the Fools on this one. For instance, shouldn’t Sands Bethlehem … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Colorado, Detroit, Donald Trump, Florida, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Mirage, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Atlantic City sucks …

Pinnacle meets karma

Posted on August 27, 2009 by David McKee

Plans by Pinnacle Entertainment to move its President riverboat upriver just hit a big snag. Taking the view that the President’s license is portable, Pinnacle hoped to use either the vessel itself or the license to jimmy open a new … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Cordish Co., Florida, Kansas, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | Comments Off on Pinnacle meets karma

Xanadu: the prequel?

Posted on June 12, 2009 by David McKee

Martin Stern‘s 1975 conceptualization of a Xanadu casino-hotel, as virtually reconstructed by Dr. David G. Schwartz, struck a familiar chord with one S&G reader. They quickly detected a resemblance between Welton Becket‘s 1971 Disney’s Contemporary Resort, built in modular fashion … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Election, Florida, MGM Mirage, Politics, Technology, The Strip, Transportation | Comments Off on Xanadu: the prequel?

Case Bets: Isle exits U.K.; no room at the Trop; Carlino channels Astaire, etc.

Posted on April 24, 2009 by David McKee

Isle of Capri Casinos is coming up for air, literally extricating itself from underneath Ricoh Stadium in Coventry, U.K. As part of CEO James Perry‘s attempt to refocus a company that spread itself too thin under his predecessor, he’s walking … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Current, Detroit, Economy, Florida, Goldman Sachs, Illinois, International, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Regulation, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on Case Bets: Isle exits U.K.; no room at the Trop; Carlino channels Astaire, etc.

Case Bets: Seminoles, Iverson, Harrah's, PartyGaming, Station's luck, etc.

Posted on April 15, 2009 by David McKee

Down in Florida, the tide may be turning in favor of the Seminole Tribe. Both the Florida Retail Federation and Restaurant Lodging Association have thrown their support behind the status quo, as represented by Gov. Charlie Crist‘s Class III casino … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Detroit, Don Barden, Florida, Harrah's, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Reno, Sports, Station Casinos, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Case Bets: Seminoles, Iverson, Harrah's, PartyGaming, Station's luck, etc.

Boyd vs. Station II

Posted on February 26, 2009 by David McKee

Well, that was a waste of a good hour. Boyd Gaming teased its Thursday morning conference call with intimations that All (or at least Some) Would Be Revealed about its surprise bid for most of the assets of Station Casinos. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Economy, Florida, Harrah's, Indiana, Louisiana, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Boyd vs. Station II

Case Bets: Seminoles, Tropicana, Shuffle Master, Stanley Ho

Posted on February 3, 2009 by David McKee

Seminoles offer to lay $288 million and 12,000 new jobs on the table, for starters. Sunshine State Republicans blow them a raspberry. Constitutional or not, Gov. Charlie Crist‘s compact put a good deal in place for both sides. (It wasn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Atlantic City, Australia, Columbia Sussex, Florida, Politics, Regulation, Shuffle Master, Stanley Ho, The Strip, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Case Bets: Seminoles, Tropicana, Shuffle Master, Stanley Ho

Winners & Losers

Posted on November 5, 2008 by David McKee

And now the obligatory post-Election, What’s-it-all-about-Alfie roundup … Culinary Union 1, Casino CEOs O: True, the Culinary tripped all over its own feet in the early going, leading to Democratic caucuses that weren’t so much “Barackular” as “debacular.” But D. … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska, Ameristar, Atlantic City, California, Colorado, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Florida, Gary Goett, Harrah's, IGT, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Missouri, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Winners & Losers

Isle reduces risk in Florida

Posted on August 5, 2008 by David McKee

As we’re seeing, it’s not always a bad idea to scrap or delay an expansion. Such is the case with Isle of Capri‘s decision to allow the expiration of an agreement with Florida Gaming Corp. to turn Miami Jai-Alai into … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Florida, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Tribal | Comments Off on Isle reduces risk in Florida

Need casino furniture, cheap?

Posted on March 13, 2008 by David McKee

When I visited Detroit, the official position of MGM Grand Detroit was that its vacated temporary casino (formerly an IRS building) could be re-activated as a casino, if MGM so chose. I guess they chose otherwise. Yes, this roulette table … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Detroit, Downtown, Florida, Louisiana, Tribal | Comments Off on Need casino furniture, cheap?

Desperation in Florida

Posted on March 5, 2008 by David McKee

Is Isle of Capri‘s racino a disappointment (especially for horsemen)? Is Boyd Gaming taking Florida expansion off the table? Is Magna Entertainment threatening to close overextended Gulfstream Park? What’s a Florida lawmaker to do? Why, legalize every form of gambling … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Florida, Horseracing, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Tribal | Comments Off on Desperation in Florida

Racinos a bum deal?

Posted on February 25, 2008 by David McKee

They are if you’re a horse owner at The Isle Casino & Racing @ Pompano Park, which not only left trainers and owners out in the cold, as far as slot revenues are concerned, it just slashed purse amounts by … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Florida, Horseracing, Kentucky, Politics, Sports, Tribal | Comments Off on Racinos a bum deal?