Category Archives: Harrah's

Rule or ruin in Illinois; A new deal in Detroit

Posted on November 8, 2011 by David McKee

State Rep. Lou “Death Wish” Lang (D, right) continues to dare, then double-dare Gov. Pat Quinn (D) to veto what’s now a 2.6X expansion of the number of gambling positions in the state of Illinois. Lang has offered a few … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Current, Dan Lee, Detroit, Economy, Harrah's, history, Illinois, Indiana, International, Iowa, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Reno, Slot routes, The Strip, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Sahara 2.0: Nazarian gets real

Posted on November 2, 2011 by David McKee

Chuck Monster had this right on the money: He called Sahara owner Sam Nazarian‘s bluff over and over and over again on the latter’s luxury-megaresort predictions for the aging, shuttered property. Today, the Clark County Commission took the wraps off … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Current, Economy, Fontainebleau, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Riviera, Sahara, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 5 Comments

Rock, Paper, City; Generosity at Caesars, shopping at Sands

Posted on November 2, 2011 by David McKee

While Massachusetts lawmakers sharpen their scissors in order to cut and paste two versions of the Lege’s casino-enabling bill, the city of Holyoke is happy to find itself between Hard Rock International and Paper City Development. The partnership has its … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Detroit, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Maine, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Going home again; Hotel Hell: The sequel

Posted on November 1, 2011 by David McKee

Here’s a casino-development story with several personal angles. When I lived in Minneapolis and wrote from the since-defunct Twin Cities Reader, my publisher was R.T. Rybak. Now he’s mayor of the city and is trying to hold onto the perennially … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Culinary Union, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Genting, Harrah's, Herbst Gaming, Isle of Capri, Lyle Berman, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism | 4 Comments

Domino effects

Posted on October 31, 2011 by David McKee

“Prior to the official opening, a 60-minute opening ceremony was held outside of the main entrance to the casino, where local and state politicians patted each other on the back for finally getting the casino opened, a mere 10 years … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Culinary Union, Current, Detroit, Economy, Election, Florida, Harrah's, Horseracing, Isle of Capri, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Singapore, Slot routes, Taxes, Tourism, Tribal | 1 Comment

Quotations from Chairman Steve; Elvis catches fire

Posted on October 26, 2011 by David McKee

Perhaps due to his eagerness to get Wynn Cotai jump-started, Steve Wynn has become an even more pliant sock puppet for China‘s central government than was Sheldon Adelson. It must be a source of great amusement among the ruling elite … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Current, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, Macau, Maryland, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, TV, West Virginia | 3 Comments

Lies, damned lies & Illinois; Casino overboard!

Posted on October 25, 2011 by David McKee

Way to go, Joe Canfora! The Merit Casino CEO shows how impressive a statistic can sound when taken out of context. By stating “there are more slot machines per 100,000 people in Iowa than there are in Illinois,” Canfora craftily … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Iowa, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Regulation | 1 Comment

Aliante Station changes hands but little else; Amigo Adelson

Posted on October 21, 2011 by David McKee

Aliante Station is now formally the property of Texas Pacific Group, Standard General and Apollo Management. Two of those funds also own Caesars Entertainment, which might create some interesting “Chinese wall” situations. (Can’t have trade secrets passing back and forth, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Colorado, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, Harrah's, International, North Las Vegas, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Taxes | Comments Off

iTrump, scandal, Sachs and tax

Posted on October 21, 2011 by David McKee

Cyber-Trump. Faux ex-presidential candidate and NBC-TV comedy star Donald Trump has made his views known on Internet gambling … like anybody cares. Prepare for a shocker, folks. The Donald is — Gasp! — in favor of it. There was, of … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Cretins, Culinary Union, Current, Detroit, Don Barden, Economy, Election, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism | 1 Comment

ColSux: They’re outta here!; Accord in Motown; Murren changes course

Posted on October 20, 2011 by David McKee

Those last few remnants of Columbia Sussex CEO William J. Yung‘s former casino empire continue to topple about him. The Kentucky-based oligarch, whose properties are notorious for their poor working conditions and even worse maintenance, has been reaping a gargantuan … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Culinary Union, Dan Lee, Detroit, Donald Trump, Economy, Environment, G2E, Harrah's, International, Lake Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, Louisiana, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Pets, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Sports, Texas, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

MSM tunes Steve Wynn out

Posted on October 20, 2011 by David McKee

Has Steve Wynn jumped the shark? That is a question I never, ever thought I’d be asking. But an interesting thing happened in the wake of Winn Wynn Resorts‘ most recent conference call. Toward the end, he went on his … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, Carl Icahn, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Florida, Harrah's, history, Illinois, International, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Plaza, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 5 Comments

What if they gave a casino and no one came?

Posted on October 18, 2011 by David McKee

Such been the plight of Maryland, a state that’s experienced the curious predicament of having more casino licenses than applicants. It’s much the same as Kansas, where things have gone awful quiet. Now, Kansas is like a corn-fed Macao: You … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Current, Donald Trump, Economy, G2E, Harrah's, International, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Macau, Maryland, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes, West Virginia | 1 Comment

Big ‘boing’ in Pennsylvania; Labor strife in Detroit

Posted on October 18, 2011 by David McKee

Casino revenues last month in Pennsylvania must have been riding a pogo stick — up 13% from last year. That includes a 39% moonshot in table revenues. Leaders include Sands Bethlehem (22%, right), while Penn National‘s eponymous racino must be … Continue reading →

Posted in Cannery Casino Resorts, Current, Detroit, Economy, Genting, Harrah's, Indiana, International, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Taxes | Comments Off

Florida: Bend over & grab; Slots on the loose in A.C.

Posted on October 17, 2011 by David McKee

Background investigations in Nevada — at least before the budgetary axe starting falling on the Nevada Gaming Control Board — were said to be an indescribably unpleasant experience. As award-winning local columnist Michael Green once pointed out, when Gary Loveman … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Entertainment, Florida, Genting, Harrah's, Marketing, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

The King of Palm Beach

Posted on October 14, 2011 by David McKee

Florida‘s seven struggling, casino-enabled parimutuels could become eight, with the entry of a new player … While the courts have now made it possible for Don King to make an end-run around Palm Beach County voters, if necessary, by taking … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Florida, G2E, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal | 2 Comments

Breakthrough in Massachusetts

Posted on October 13, 2011 by David McKee

This just in … the Massachusetts state Senate voted 24-14 to send casino legalization on to a conference committee, where the House’s version — passed with a crushing majority — already reposes. Differences between the two versions, obviously, will have … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Current, Economy, Florida, Genting, Harrah's, Horseracing, IGT, Internet gambling, Movies, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street, WMS Industries | Comments Off

More Trop troubles; Adelson’s wins & losses

Posted on October 12, 2011 by David McKee

Update: The Trop has been hit with yet another defection — and it’s a biggie. A bit shy of two years into his tenure as president of the Tropicana Las Vegas, veteran executive Tom McCartney has given his notice. While … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Culinary Union, Harrah's, history, International, Isle of Capri, Macau, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | Comments Off

Monopoly over Miami

Posted on October 4, 2011 by David McKee

A recent visitor to Las Vegas from the Pacific Rim told me that Sheldon Adelson has worn out his welcome in Macao (which is on pace to eclipse all other gaming markets combined) and is fast doing so in Singapore. … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Current, Economy, Florida, Genting, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Laughlin, Macau, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Wall Street | Comments Off

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 3, 2011 by David McKee

“What is this ‘Million Dollar Piano’? It’s your basic Yamaha grand fancified with 68 LED screens that run the horizontal length of the piano and display images and patterns to compliment the digital screen behind [Elton] John and band. He’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, The Strip | Comments Off

“The Paddy Factor”

Posted on September 29, 2011 by David McKee

(For film buffs: “The Paddy Factor” was the working title of what became the classic gangster movie, The Long Good Friday … and the rest was history.) A new “Paddy factor” got flung into the Vegas equation this week when … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Movies, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Technology, The Strip | 1 Comment