Category Archives: Harrah's

Trouble at Wynncore; ‘Phantom’ exorcised

Posted on January 12, 2012 by David McKee

Steve Wynn (no introduction required) and old pal — and major investor — Kazuo Okada are having a falling-out that spilled into the files of the SEC. Okada has lined up heavyweight Las Vegas law firm Lionel Sawyer & Collins … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Belated Christmas presents, Midwest edition

Posted on January 11, 2012 by David McKee

To quote Stephen Sondheim, everything’s coming up roses … or close enough, anyway. Last Friday, strong numbers out of Iowa — of a non-caucus ilk — showed the state’s casinos rebounding to the tune of 16% (on a $121 million) … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Dan Lee, Don Barden, Donald Trump, Economy, Environment, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Kentucky, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Taxes, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Belated Christmas presents

Posted on January 10, 2012 by David McKee

Good news is busting out all over, starting in the unlikeliest place … Atlantic City. Ye Olde Boardwalk was up 4% last month, its first revenue-positive month in 15 quarters. Even a 10% fall in table drop couldn’t put a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Genting, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Adelson: Whining our future; The online deluge

Posted on January 9, 2012 by David McKee

Apparently there’s no avoiding what has become the story of the day: Sheldon Adelson‘s $5 million dowry to presidential aspirant Newt Gingrich. It’s a gift that comes with a substantial pre-nup; if Gingrich falters in South Carolina, American Crossroads and … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Economy, Election, Florida, George Maloof, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Hooters, International, Internet gambling, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, South Carolina, The Strip, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 6, 2012 by David McKee

“Caesars [Entertainment] has comped me to a few meals, sent me show tickets, and invited me to slot tournaments. The company’s still convinced I want to ride a bus down to Laughlin and stay there for a few days, too, … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Harrah's, Laughlin, Marketing, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Vegas’ newest low-roller joint; Is the Lion extinct?; Another classy Sands moment

Posted on January 4, 2012 by David McKee

Move over, Longhorn and Vegas Club. The spirit of Nevada Palace (R.I.P.) hath descended upon the Palms. If recent sackings of Bunny dealers portended a sea change at the former George Maloof property, during my latest visit I practically collided … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Current, Dining, Entertainment, George Maloof, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | 3 Comments

Best new casino-hotel of 1998 …

Posted on January 4, 2012 by David McKee

… goes to the Octavius Tower at Caesars Palace, which opened last month. It’s tucked far enough away from the casino floor to provide some mental lebensraum as well, and it has a dedicated check-in desk. Since it directly overlooks … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Donald Trump, Encore, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | 4 Comments

Adelson vacillates; Macao triumphs; Name of infamy

Posted on January 4, 2012 by David McKee

Showing something less than his usual decisiveness, Sheldon Adelson continues to send mixed signals with regard to his intentions in his native Massachusetts. He’s re-upped with Boston-based lobbyist firm Donoghue Barrett & Singal. However, despite years of scouting the market, … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Current, Economy, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, Iowa, Macau, Massachusetts, Penn National, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Adelson vacillates; Macao triumphs; Name of infamy

A very Vegas “Nutcracker”; The vanishing Bob Earl

Posted on December 15, 2011 by David McKee

Well, slightly Vegas anyway. Holly Madison has managed to become the single most ubiquitous celebrity in town (unless you count food-stained wretch Robin Leach, which I don’t). This year, she’s gracing Nevada Ballet Theater‘s The Nutcracker, which is playing a … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Dining, Entertainment, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, The Strip | Comments Off on A very Vegas “Nutcracker”; The vanishing Bob Earl

‘Grimm’ reaper; Marathon ordeal; Last call for queries

Posted on December 12, 2011 by David McKee

Las Vegas made the Sunday funny pages this week. One could get all irate about Mike Peters‘ dig at gambling and the Strip. However, if he wanted to equate casinos with fleapits, he could have chosen more wisely than he … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Environment, Florida, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 1 Comment

Borgata or bust; ‘LVH,’ Jacko & Sinead

Posted on December 9, 2011 by David McKee

First, the good news: Borgata — accounting for more than one-fifth of the entire market share — continues to vastly outpace the rest of the Atlantic City market. Last month, it raked in $50 million for a 2% gain, driven … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cirque du Soleil, Colony Capital, Current, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Laughlin, MGM Mirage, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Blast from the Past

Posted on December 7, 2011 by David McKee

This week finds me up to my butt in page proofs of Rick Lax‘s forthcoming book, I Get Paid for This, a Michael Jackson The [sic] Immortal World Tour™ review for WizardOfVegas.com, profiles of developer Brett Torino and Mayor Carolyn … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Cirque du Soleil, Columbia Sussex, Downtown, Entertainment, Florida, Harrah's, history, James Packer, Lake Tahoe, Massachusetts, Movies, Tamares Group, The Strip | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 6, 2011 by David McKee

“You had to have a kind of intuitive courage. I’m not well-suited to those kinds of decisions.” — Gary Loveman, to Bloomberg Businessweek, on why he thought $900 million was too high a price for getting then-Harrah’s Entertainment into Macao. … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, history, Macau | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Boyd: Trapped in Florida; Sands muzzled in Singapore; Good vibes in Macao

Posted on November 29, 2011 by David McKee

This is a good time to be in Florida, right? Not if you’re Boyd Gaming and have been trying to unload Dania Jai-alai, souvenir of a half-assed venture into the Sunshine State’s racino market. The company has scrapped an $80 … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Economy, Genting, Harrah's, Macau, MGM Mirage, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Boyd: Trapped in Florida; Sands muzzled in Singapore; Good vibes in Macao

Jack Abramoff, human sewage; Massachusetts: It’s done

Posted on November 22, 2011 by David McKee

Victor Rocha says it best: “Jack Abramoff is still the scum off the earth.” The unrepentant ripoff artist — to call him a snake in the grass would be a slander upon serpents — claims his only failing was to … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, California, Don Barden, Election, Harrah's, history, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, Movies, Oklahoma, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Texas, The Mob, Tribal | Comments Off on Jack Abramoff, human sewage; Massachusetts: It’s done

Election update: Evening the score; A Wynn-Winn situation

Posted on November 21, 2011 by David McKee

It’s five o’clock in Shreveport … or soon will be. Voters in Bossier Parish handed the casino industry a belated 2011 “win,” balancing the ledger in an otherwise disappointing electoral cycle. A Margaritaville-branded casino (employing a Lake Charles boat purchased … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Current, Dining, Election, Entertainment, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Marketing, Pinnacle Entertainment, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | 5 Comments

Hold that recovery!

Posted on November 17, 2011 by David McKee

Just when things were looking good … I mean, after many a premature prediction of economic recovery, room-rate trends on the Las Vegas Strip were looking like change in which one could believe. J.P. Morgan projections for the fourth quarter … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Current, Economy, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism | 4 Comments

Foxwoods Philly: It’s history

Posted on November 11, 2011 by David McKee

Barring a huge reversal from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, the long and mostly inept saga of Foxwoods Philadelphia has finally come to a conclusion. The politically juiced-in trio of Ron Rubin, Lewis Katz and Comcast Chairman Ed Snider (collectively known … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Don Barden, Harrah's, Illinois, Lyle Berman, Maryland, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal | 1 Comment

Atlantic City: Fertitta struggling, Gomes triumphing, Boyd steady

Posted on November 10, 2011 by David McKee

No surprise that Borgata remains in a class by itself among Atlantic City resorts. It finished October at 0.0% deviance from last year, as flat as “flat” can be. The lone gainer in the market was Resorts Atlantic City, up … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Current, Dennis Gomes, Detroit, Donald Trump, Economy, Genting, Harrah's, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, New York, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 9, 2011 by David McKee

“The era of government-granted casino monopolies is over. Many of our markets are now oversaturated with commercial and tribal casinos. In some states, licenses are even being left untaken. The era of limitless capital is over. Between huge commercial casino … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, G2E, Harrah's, Regulation, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Quote of the Day