Category Archives: Harrah's

He came to buy Atlantic City

Posted on September 12, 2014 by David McKee

Just when you thought Atlantic City had shed several casinos, they’re coming right back. Would-be Revel buyer Glenn Straub would include casino gambling in his larger strategy for the property but make it incidental to other “hobbies.” “Who in the hell … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Politics, Regulation, Revel, Sports, Taxes, Transportation, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 11, 2014 by David McKee

“The expansive villa is truly the pinnacle of the Nobu Hotel. We wanted to further showcase and interpret the Nobu aesthetic and designed a luxurious and modern environment inspired by Japanese art, design and culture.” — Shawn Sullivan, Rockwell Group studio … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Harrah's, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Boston: Another agonizing delay; Loveman: Don’t worry, be happy

Posted on September 11, 2014 by David McKee

Just when it looked like the suspense would be ended over who’d get the Boston-area casino, the slow-moving Massachusetts Gaming Commission imposed another week’s delay on the process. Basically, commissioners want Wynn Resorts to do better than it has in … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Architecture, Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Genting, Harrah's, history, Marketing, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Transportation | Comments Off on Boston: Another agonizing delay; Loveman: Don’t worry, be happy

Decision time in Boston

Posted on September 9, 2014 by David McKee

At last, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission is taking up the Steve Wynn vs. Mohegan Sun battle for a Boston-area casino. Hearings began yesterday, with one round going to each challenger. Wynn Resorts surprisingly (given its reputation) lost the swimsuit competition, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cordish Co., Environment, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Racinos, Singapore, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Decision time in Boston

Trump bookmarks Chapter 11; Christie’s canny moves

Posted on September 9, 2014 by David McKee

Trump Entertainment Resorts is back in familiar territory: Chapter 11. It is the fourth time that minority owner Donald Trump‘s casinos have gone insolvent. He may try to wash his hands of the mess, but he gets equity for the use … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Culinary Union, Donald Trump, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Sports, Tilman Fertitta, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 2 Comments

Can’t stop the consolidation

Posted on September 9, 2014 by David McKee

Continuing the shrinkage of the manufacturing sector, Global Cash Access is taking another chess piece — Multimedia Games — off the board. GCA will pay $1.1 billion for Multimedia, which specializes in VLTs for racinos and tribal markets.The price represented … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Foxwoods, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, MTR Gaming, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off on Can’t stop the consolidation

New hope for Showboat, gloom for Atlantic City

Posted on September 8, 2014 by David McKee

While Revel and Trump Plaza go begging — and Trump Taj Mahal reportedly plans to close in November — suitors are lining up to woo Caesars Entertainment for the Showboat Atlantic City. Already Atlantic Properties Group has pitched the idea … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Donald Trump, Harrah's, history, Japan, MGM Mirage, Revel, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off on New hope for Showboat, gloom for Atlantic City

Dispatches from Iowa and Illinois

Posted on September 8, 2014 by David McKee

August was a good month for Iowa, as casino revenues rose 4%. The big winner was Pinnacle Entertainment‘s Ameristar Council Bluffs, up 7% with a $15 million gross. Caesars Entertainment had mixed results, with Horseshoe Casino ($16 million) down 3% … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Harrah's, Illinois, Iowa, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Warner Gaming | Comments Off on Dispatches from Iowa and Illinois

The fees that ate Las Vegas

Posted on September 3, 2014 by David McKee

 First, the good news. Harrah’s Las Vegas casino floor, one of the most claustrophobic and unpleasant in town is getting a makeover. And, while they’re at it, Caesars Entertainment is converting the space formerly occupied by The Cafe at Harrah’s and … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Harrah's, International, Maryland, Ohio, Phil Ruffin, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Singapore, The Strip | Comments Off on The fees that ate Las Vegas

Big Apple, smaller bites; Checkmate on the Strip

Posted on September 2, 2014 by David McKee

“There will never be another Mohegan Sun. That’s the way the market has shifted.” So says Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority CEO Mitchell Grossinger Etess on the smaller, economy-sized casinos he and his fellows will have to build in New York … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Harrah's, Mohegan Sun, New York, Planet Hollywood, The Strip | Comments Off on Big Apple, smaller bites; Checkmate on the Strip

Showboat, 1987-2014; Paris, 1999-????

Posted on September 2, 2014 by David McKee

In the end, the Showboat Atlantic City had a good run of it, lasting almost three decades on the Boardwalk. It succumbed, in part, to wounds inflicted by owner Caesars Entertainment, which cut into its customer base by building Harrah’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Harrah's, New York, Pennsylvania, Revel, Sam Nazarian, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Loveman’s big score; Slots come to Dayton

Posted on August 28, 2014 by David McKee

“You’re in Baltimore, baby, it says so right there, in big gray block letters on a smokestack at the trash plant just past the entrance.” Caesars Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman, long celebrated as the wizard of database market, also finds … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Cordish Co., Genting, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Marketing, Maryland, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, The Strip, Transportation, Vietnam | Comments Off on Loveman’s big score; Slots come to Dayton

Caesars has a live one, Revel not

Posted on August 27, 2014 by David McKee

Even though it’s still on pace to close Aug. 31, Showboat‘s last chapter may have yet to be written. Caesars Entertainment spokesman Gary Thompson told reporters that multiple expressions of interest in the property have been received. He added that … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Dining, Economy, Harrah's, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Revel | Comments Off on Caesars has a live one, Revel not

Bad ideas never die; The Fugees; Left holding the bag

Posted on August 26, 2014 by David McKee

Politicians are ever-fond of the notion of using casinos as surrogate police, tasking them with collecting delinquent child-support payments. Louisiana has actually been doing this since 2011 and hit the jackpot: $2 million-plus to date. So where do deadbeat dads … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cantor Gaming, Delaware, Harrah's, Louisiana, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Revel, Sports, Taxes | Comments Off on Bad ideas never die; The Fugees; Left holding the bag

Horseshoe Baltimore launches; Hypocrisy in Indiana

Posted on August 26, 2014 by David McKee

On a “gritty stretch of Russell Street” in Baltimore, partners Caesars Entertainment and Rock Gaming are preparing to bust out their latest inner-city casino. Not only will it provide commendable urban renewal, it will also give Maryland Live! its most … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Baseball, Cordish Co., Dan Gilbert, Harrah's, Indiana, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Politics, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Holy Grail achieved at MGM; Greed and gouing

Posted on August 25, 2014 by David McKee

While all the media hoo-ha was focused on SLS Las Vegas‘ opening last Friday, a comparably historic event took place at the other end of the Strip. New Hampshire resident Walter Misco hit the jackpot on MGM Grand‘s famously stingy … Continue reading →

Posted in Dan Gilbert, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, New Hampshire, Ohio, Regulation, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Holy Grail achieved at MGM; Greed and gouing

Party poopers

Posted on August 25, 2014 by David McKee

Those losers at Al-Qaeda are fixating on Las Vegas. In their fanzine, Palestine, they urge their followers to build car bombs and target Sin City. Nightclubs and casino floors are the high-impact targets of opportunity. (Real geniuses, these terrorist folk.) Both … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Florida, Harrah's, International, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Party poopers

When the punishment doesn’t fit the crime

Posted on August 21, 2014 by David McKee

Matthew Eisenberg is no Jean Valjean. Still, that’s no excuse for levying upon him a fine that is 375 times the amount he stole ($200 in chips) from Rivers Casino. The fault lies not with Rivers but with Pennsylvania laws. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Genting, Harrah's, International, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Tourism | Comments Off on When the punishment doesn’t fit the crime

Case Bets

Posted on August 21, 2014 by David McKee

Any fears of antitrust litigation in the Scientific Games/Bally Technologies merger were put to rest yesterday when the two companies announced they had cleared the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act waiting period ahead of schedule. This is hardly equal to leaping the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Genting, Harrah's, Japan, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Ohio, Regulation, Riviera, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, TV | Comments Off on Case Bets

Revel’s 21 grand goof

Posted on August 21, 2014 by David McKee

Revel‘s high-speed shutdown is descending into farce. Its armored-car contractor, GardaWorld, managed to lose $21,000 of long green. How? They — no kidding — left a cash bag on top of the truck. Security footage shows the cash still precariously … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Harrah's, Mississippi, Racinos, Revel, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street | 1 Comment