Category Archives: Harrah's

Fire island; The Illinois creep

Posted on July 31, 2012 by David McKee

If you drove past Treasure Island this morning and saw a veritable armada of emergency vehicles jammed into an access road and spilling out on Spring Mountain Road, the good news is that things are under control. The bad news … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Dining, Harrah's, Illinois, Monte Carlo fire, Phil Ruffin, Slot routes, The Strip | Comments Off on Fire island; The Illinois creep

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 18, 2012 by David McKee

“The minor was in contact with the four drink servers, at least two dealers, a floor supervisor and at least 10 other Harrah’s employees, none of whom asked for identification, the complaint says.” — from a Las Vegas Sun story … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Harrah's, Regulation, The Strip | 5 Comments

Wipeout: “Surf the Musical”

Posted on July 18, 2012 by David McKee

All photos: © Scott Roeben Surf the Musical officially washed ashore last night at Planet Hollywood and one can only hope this bit of flotsam goes out with the next ebb tide. Although it’s not quite as craptastic as a … Continue reading →

Posted in ABBA, Cirque du Soleil, Entertainment, Harrah's, Movies, Planet Hollywood, Technology, The Strip | 3 Comments

Starship to Victorville … and sundry curiosities

Posted on July 11, 2012 by David McKee

No, I don’t know who Cobra Starship is but their “#1Nite” (yes, that’s how they spell it) is the sort of bubble-gum pop that ought to stick to the top of the charts. It’s another entry in that can’t-fail music-video … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, California, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Harry Reid, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, TV | Comments Off on Starship to Victorville … and sundry curiosities

The wreck of the Sierra Rose; LVH: The smell of death; TWU (sur)renders unto Caesars

Posted on July 11, 2012 by David McKee

It was inevitable that this Lake Tahoe marine disaster would go viral. Besides, as an S&G reader astutely pointed out, the sinking of the Sierra Rose makes a tidy metaphor for Nevada‘s economy: a top-heavy S.S. McMansion now half-underwater due … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Detroit, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, Hooters, Lake Tahoe, Riviera, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Last weekend at The Mirage; “Jersey Boys” rumble

Posted on July 9, 2012 by David McKee

It was bound to happen: Not one, not two, but four douchebags trying to get tables at The Mirage‘s Carnegie Deli wearing nothing more than swimming trunks and flip-flops. That’s taking “casual” just a mite far. What’s the over/under on … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Current, Dining, Entertainment, George Maloof, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Tourism | 3 Comments

Sigma Derby rides again; Revel vs. Maryland Live!, Round One; Idiocy epidemic at Trump Taj

Posted on July 3, 2012 by David McKee

Just when it seemed hope was lost … The D is reintroducing Sigma Derby to Downtown. In one fell swoop of utter brilliance, owner Derek Stevens has staked a prohibitive claim to Gaming Executive of the Year. To be completely … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Cordish Co., Current, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Problem gambling, Regulation, Revel, Technology, The Strip | 5 Comments

Back at my post

Posted on June 25, 2012 by David McKee

Barring enormous dissatisfaction in McLean, Virginia, the USAT travel guides are off my desk for the time being, which means slightly more leisure to ponder such matters as what the rise to power of the Islamic Brotherhood in Cairo (albeit … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Harrah's, International, LVCVA, Politics, Sheldon Adelson | 2 Comments

Shocking preliminary finding

Posted on June 21, 2012 by David McKee

Although I’m still swotting on USA Today copy, the finish line is within sight and the Las Vegas Strip property with the most name-checks to date is — surprise of surprises — Paris-Las Vegas, singled out in multiple categories. Who’da … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Donald Trump, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism | 5 Comments

“He’s just a stooge”

Posted on June 20, 2012 by David McKee

While I’m still on semi-hiatus, working on travel guides for USA Today (the Downtown one got submitted last night), here’s a reminder that when Caesars Entertainment persuades — “coerces” might be more like it — its lenders into writing off … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, California, Economy, Harrah's, history, Internet gambling, Ohio, Tourism, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Everything’s coming up Penn

Posted on June 15, 2012 by David McKee

As befits a proud papa, Penn National Gaming has been showing Wall Street analysts around its newest offspring: Hollywood Casino Toledo. The metrics are pretty awe-inspiring. Already the customer database is approaching 50,000 players and 47% of all slot play … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Current, Dan Lee, Detroit, Don Barden, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, International, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Missouri, MTR Gaming, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 14, 2012 by David McKee

“One of the worst IPOs in recent memory! A company that is consistently losing money, and with an enterprise value of $19.5 billion is ridiculous! The company’s interest expense alone is [roughly twice] its current market cap. Valuing this company based on its book … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Casino John rides again; Mashpee ride to victory

Posted on June 10, 2012 by David McKee

As is my habit, I tuned in CNN‘s Your Money yesterday. No sooner was the TV on but there was Gov. John Kasich (R), taking justifiable pride in Ohio‘s having recently added 73,300 jobs. The inescapable irony — and fact … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Current, Economy, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, Tribal, TV | 4 Comments

Toronto: Move over, Jim and Gary, here comes Sheldon

Posted on June 8, 2012 by David McKee

No disrespect to Steve Wynn, but the human starter gun for any serious casino race is now Sheldon Adelson. Except for China, he’s not been in any casino-expansion movement for the long haul since he lost Mirage Resorts. And with … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Economy, Florida, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, New York, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Texas, Tourism | 3 Comments

Caesars in Boston

Posted on June 6, 2012 by David McKee

Oh, that Gary Loveman is hilarious! Sorry, folks, I had to stop that video so I could have a laugh when he boasted, “Caesars [Entertainment] stands for the ultimate in destination luxury resorts?” Since when? A bunch of forward-looking fellas … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Current, Harrah's, International, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Caesars in Boston

Bail, Caesar!

Posted on June 5, 2012 by David McKee

“I don’t like Caesars [Entertainment] because of its high leverage – the company has $21.2 billion in net debt and $1.7 billion per year of interest obligations. To manage cost, Caesar [sic] has reduced marketing and operating costs and limited … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Harrah's, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Insanity in Illinois, Philadelphia

Posted on June 1, 2012 by David McKee

If insanity is doing the same thing over and over (and over) and expecting a different result, then we have outbreaks of it in both the Illinois Legislature and the Philadelphia casino market. In Pennsylvania, lawmakers have the disposition of … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Harrah's, Horseracing, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Macao: “This is decent”; Massachusetts slams door behind Adelson

Posted on June 1, 2012 by David McKee

Macao casino revenue grew ‘only’ 7% last month, which is bad … if you were thinking monthly, large double-digit increases (21% over the past five months) were a sustainable norm. “This is decent,” J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff said of … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, CityCenter, Current, Economy, Election, Harrah's, International, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Macao: “This is decent”; Massachusetts slams door behind Adelson

Loveman heir abdicates; VLTs hit Ohio tomorrow; Wayne’s World II

Posted on May 31, 2012 by David McKee

Shares of Caesars Entertainment sank today on the news that CFO Jonathan Halkyard has quit, taking an equivalent position at NV Energy. Although the latter’s financial outlook is far rosier, with scant long-term debt, its revenue base ($611 million last … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Dan Gilbert, Economy, Harrah's, history, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Wayne F. Newton | Comments Off on Loveman heir abdicates; VLTs hit Ohio tomorrow; Wayne’s World II

“Smurf The Musical”

Posted on May 30, 2012 by David McKee

That’s the LVA office nickname for jukebox tuner Surf The Musical, currently in rehearsal at Planet Hollywood. As many as 35 Beach Boys songs have been laid end-to-end to create a midget version of a Broadway musical. The show’s creators … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Harrah's, Movies, Planet Hollywood, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 1 Comment