Category Archives: George Maloof

Palms: Maloof out, Loveman in?

Posted on January 6, 2011 by David McKee

Now that Las Vegas has fallen about as far as it can, private equity firms are picking over the city like vultures sampling carrion. Don’t get me wrong: It’s a much smarter strategy than those PE bozos who bought in … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Current, Donald Trump, George Maloof, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Regulation, The Strip, TV, Wall Street | 9 Comments

Cosmo attempts suicide; a big (Para)bounce?

Posted on December 2, 2010 by David McKee

Maybe Union Gaming analyst Bill Lerner knew something the rest of us didn’t when he predicted the opening of The Cosmopolitan (aka “Osmopo”) would improve business for other high-end hotels on the Strip. After all, what could send New Year’s … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Entertainment, George Maloof, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | 9 Comments

Steve Wynn & the Half-Blood Princes; Harrah’s thinks ahead; rough road for Revel

Posted on November 9, 2010 by David McKee

Count Wynn Las Vegas President Andrew Pascal among the casualties of Steve Wynn‘s divorce from ex-wife Elaine Wynn. As of Monday, former nephew-in-law Pascal joined the ranks of Nevada‘s unemployed, ceding authority to Marilyn Winn. Pun opportunities aside, Winn’s sudden … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, George Maloof, Harrah's, Indiana, Macau, Missouri, Movies, Regulation, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Suicide Sharron; Gossy-ness is back; Borgata’s buyer unmasked

Posted on October 21, 2010 by David McKee

Sharron Angle‘s latest kamikaze dive into the CityCenter aircraft carrier has sparked quite a bit of discussion in the S&G “Comments” threads. A couple of things spring to mind. One, if she is now alleging that MGM Resorts International imported … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Economy, Election, Entertainment, George Maloof, International, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | 5 Comments

Harrah’s on new spending spree

Posted on October 18, 2010 by David McKee

As predicted and dreaded by skeptical bond analysts, proceeds from Harrah’s Entertainment‘s semi-IPO of 17% of the company, it has been officially disclosed, will be rolled into retail therapy for CEO Gary Loveman. An anticipated $575 million will be used … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, George Maloof, Harrah's, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, The Strip, TV, Wall Street | 1 Comment

CityCenter gets a visitor, deploys Vdara Death Ray

Posted on September 28, 2010 by David McKee

He’s not just any sightseer but the type of East Coast tastemaker MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren hoped to impress: New Yorker architecture critic Paul Goldberger. Heretofore, Goldberger’s most memorable pronouncement in re Vegas came 13 years ago, when … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Cretins, Current, Encore, Fontainebleau, George Maloof, history, Marketing, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Tribal, TV, Vdara Death Ray, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Wasted … and the 77% solution

Posted on August 10, 2010 by David McKee

Not even the cachet of Carey Hart and occasional appearances by Pink were enough to keep Wasted Space going. The Hard Rock Hotel is calling it quits on the club, bumping it in favor of a race and sports book. … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, CityCenter, Current, Economy, Entertainment, George Maloof, Harrah's, M Resort, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Morgans Hotel Group, Pennsylvania, Riviera, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | 5 Comments

Wynn Beantown?; Adelson likes it rough; “Chico Station,” etc.

Posted on July 15, 2010 by David McKee

“Two can play this game.” That’s the message coming from Steve Wynn. Since his former Philadelphia partners are now playing footsie with Harrah’s Entertainment, Wynn is turning his back on the City of Brotherly Love and shifting his gaze to … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Environment, George Maloof, Harrah's, Horseracing, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, TV | Comments Off on Wynn Beantown?; Adelson likes it rough; “Chico Station,” etc.

Margaritaville on the rocks

Posted on July 15, 2010 by David McKee

Long-serving — and long-suffering — Biloxi Mayor A.J. Holloway has lost patience with Harrah’s Entertainment. He is convinced that the metamorphosis of Grand Casino Biloxi into Margaritaville Casino is kaput and that Harrah’s will tear down what little it has … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Animals, Archon Corp., Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Charity, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Encore, Environment, Fontainebleau, George Maloof, Harrah's, Holy Cow, Indiana, International, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Movies, Pennsylvania, Pets, Phil Ruffin, Planet Hollywood, Plaza, Riviera, Sahara, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, TV, Wall Street | 5 Comments

Motley Crew

Posted on May 26, 2010 by David McKee

(Editor’s note: Whoever labeled the photo at left misplaced the captions. FF3 is the guy having the good hair day and brother Lorenzo is the one with the handkerchief in his breast pocket.) In my 15 years of following the … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Current, Downtown, Economy, George Maloof, Goldman Sachs, James Packer, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Station Casinos, Tourism, Wall Street | 6 Comments

The Ribis Factor

Posted on May 21, 2010 by David McKee

Today’s a hectic one: four bylines due and not much time for S&G. However, I am the beneficiary of some number-crunching conducted by a reader, who’s been following the decline and fall of Colony Capital‘s two Atlantic City casinos under … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, George Maloof, Harrah's, Marketing, Mississippi, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Racinos, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on The Ribis Factor

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 19, 2010 by David McKee

“Sir, it’s a line charge. It’s the privilege of phone service, even if you don’t use it.” — response of Sam’s Town and Palms desk personnel to a patron’s complaint about being charged a dollar a day for the phone(s) … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Economy, George Maloof, The Strip, Tourism | 1 Comment

Writing today

Posted on May 17, 2010 by David McKee

… on mostly non-S&G projects, so blogorrhea is at a minimum, alas. We’re also trying to work out the kinks in our system that would enable us to get that week-old Atlantic City piece out of the right-hand box without … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Dining, George Maloof, Station Casinos, The Strip | Comments Off on Writing today

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 28, 2010 by David McKee

“What, perhaps you ask, is ‘Gossiness’? Well, nobody exactly knows, except that it is very likely in coming years to be an Urban Dictionary entry synonymous with an act that thinks it can burst on the Vegas scene and expect … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, George Maloof, Harrah's, International, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Harrah’s red-headed stepchild

Posted on April 23, 2010 by David McKee

If we (you, me, everybody) had a dollar for ever time we heard a rumor that Harrah’s Entertainment was putting The Rio on the block, we could pool enough moolah to amortize CEO Gary Loveman‘s recent $100,000 pay cut. Our … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Atlantic City, Current, Economy, George Maloof, Harrah's, International, James Packer, Laughlin, Planet Hollywood, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street | 10 Comments

Harrah’s ups the ante

Posted on April 9, 2010 by David McKee

Yr. Humble Blogger is a fan of the Las Vegas buffet scene — and owns the waistline to prove it. Starting Monday, Harrah’s Entertainment ratchets up the temptation factor by keeping seven of its Strip buffets open round the clock. … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Current, Dining, George Maloof, Harrah's, M Resort, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, The Strip | 2 Comments

Pennsylvania: Give Adelson a break; Harrah’s latest excuses

Posted on March 9, 2010 by David McKee

While principle dictates that Las Vegas Sands ought to be held to the terms of its agreement with the State of Pennsylvania, recent developments give one pause. Namely, why should Steve Wynn get favorable treatment enjoyed by no other casino … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Columbia Sussex, Economy, George Maloof, Harrah's, Illinois, Louisiana, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Best Strip bargain yet? Plus: Loveman’s verbal gymnastics, pool fees, etc.

Posted on March 5, 2010 by David McKee

Luke Jermay is a charming English mentalist who does a low-budget but worthwhile show at O’Shea’s. His presentation may not be as polished as that of rival Gerry McCambridge, but what Jermay lacks in razzmatazz, he makes up in personality. … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, George Maloof, Harrah's, James Packer, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Minnesota, Planet Hollywood, The Strip | 6 Comments

Case Bets: Loveman & ladies’ shoes, CityCenter, Singapore, the Palms and Wayne Newton

Posted on February 26, 2010 by David McKee

Naptime in the casino. If American casinos are less frenetic than those of, say, Macao, the gambling culture in Singapore is very relaxed indeed. Fancy a catnap at your slot machine? No problem! Oh, to see the expression on Sheldon … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, CityCenter, Current, Entertainment, Genting, George Maloof, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, The Strip, TV, Wall Street | 4 Comments

New Donny in town

Posted on February 25, 2010 by David McKee

As in Clay, Donny Clay, played by the versatile Jason Alexander in The Donny Clay Experience. This delightful one-man show will be a peripatetic and hopefully long-lived visitor to Planet Hollywood … unless Gary Loveman‘s crony Frank Biondi (ex-Viacom CEO) … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Current, George Maloof, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Movies, Planet Hollywood, The Strip, Tourism | 2 Comments