Category Archives: Harrah's

Terry the Casino Slayer

Posted on March 24, 2011 by David McKee

When Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R) was campaigning to reclaim his old office from Chet Culver (D), he argued against Culver’s casino-expansion plan, arguing that it was economically inadvisable. With the Iowa casino market not so much saturated as waterlogged, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Current, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Herbst Gaming, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Penn National, Politics, Stanley Ho, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off on Terry the Casino Slayer

More fun with geography; Langford & The Man; Caesars’ rough week

Posted on March 18, 2011 by David McKee

What’s in a mile? A lot more than you might think, especially if you’re a Maine legislator. Confronted with a pesky requirement that gambling venues in the Pine Tree State must have 100-mile exclusivity zones, some would redefine a “mile” … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Don Barden, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, Indiana, Macau, Maine, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Old wine, new bottles

Posted on March 16, 2011 by David McKee

“[W]e’re not selling a shoe or a bottle of water. We’re selling an experience,” says Isle of Capri Casinos Vice President of Brand Marketing — and friend of S&G — Julia Carcamo (left). Those words should be engraved on certain … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Dining, Economy, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Marketing, Missouri, Morgans Hotel Group, Sahara, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 2 Comments

The second coming

Posted on March 16, 2011 by David McKee

To follow the local media, you’d think Jesus Christ was returning to Earth at Caesars Palace. Instead, it’s Céline Marie Claudette Dion, who owns a just slightly smaller fanbase. Back when her first Caesars residency was announced, at a time … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Current, Economy, Encore, Harrah's, history, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 8 Comments

What $45 gets you in Vegas

Posted on March 15, 2011 by David McKee

As Dr. David G. Schwartz has more or less said, why drop $39/night at the SahaRiviCircus when the folks at Caesars Entertainment can fix you up with a Go Room and a Strip view for $45? (A friend of mine … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Current, Harrah's, Marketing, Sahara, Technology, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on What $45 gets you in Vegas

Good news from an unexpected source

Posted on March 10, 2011 by David McKee

Atlantic City hit the big 3-0 in February: 30 straight months on revenue declivity, says J.P. Morgan (31, according to Wells Fargo). However, the rate of decline (1.4%) was the smallest since April of last year. With Genting Bhd‘s racino … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Current, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Economy, Genting, Harrah's, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Station, Greenspuns part company

Posted on March 10, 2011 by David McKee

For quite a while the relationship between Station Casinos and Greenspun Corp. has been in the “Can This Marriage Be Saved?” category, as the two bickered over the ownership and management of their casino joint ventures. Today they’re Splitsville and … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, Marketing, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Station Casinos, Wall Street | 1 Comment

This just in: NV ponders ‘Net bets

Posted on March 10, 2011 by David McKee

While certain politicians and even casino executives continue to keep a finger in the dike that protects Americans from — gasp! — gambling online, the dike is fast crumbling around them. Nevada is the latest state to join the jailbreak. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Economy, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Iowa, Politics, Regulation, Taxes | Comments Off on This just in: NV ponders ‘Net bets

Wynn hearts Pinnacle; Harrah’s demands aesthetic restraint

Posted on March 9, 2011 by David McKee

Now that former Mirage Resorts CFO Dan Lee is long gone from Pinnacle Entertainment, too, former Lee boss Steve Wynn seems to have changed his opinion about Pinnacle. While I (erroneously) thought that Pinnacle CEO Anthony Sanfilippo‘s erstwhile ties to … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Current, Dan Lee, Harrah's, Indiana, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Marketing, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 1 Comment

“V”

Posted on March 8, 2011 by David McKee

That’s about the extent and substance of the campaign of Las Vegas mayoral aspirant Victor Chaltiel, a suddenly ubiquitous, Peter Lorre-like figure who has manifested himself as major civic figure as suddenly as if he’d been beamed down from space. … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Boyd Gaming, Current, Don Barden, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, International, Marketing, North Las Vegas, Pennsylvania, Politics, Station Casinos, The Strip, TV, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Banzai, Caesar!

Posted on March 7, 2011 by David McKee

Although it will be putting its noble name to on the soon-to-be-ex-Centurion Tower at sprawling Caesars Palace, Nobu Hospitality will only pony up an (unspecified) portion of the (unspecified) cost. Actually, the Associated Press and Las Vegas Review-Journal differ on … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Harrah's, International, The Strip, Transportation, TV | 2 Comments

Loveman 1, Atlantic City 0

Posted on March 3, 2011 by David McKee

After much Hamlet-like deliberation, Gov. Chris Christie (R) put his ixnay on a bill that would have made Internet gambling legal within New Jersey. Citing constitutional issues, he said legislators ought to put the issue to popular vote … a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Florida, Harrah's, Illinois, Internet gambling, Iowa, New York, Politics | 1 Comment

Warm February in Philly; “Lion King” hungry

Posted on March 3, 2011 by David McKee

After a pretty lackluster January, gaming revenues in Pennsylvania bounced back at the slots.  The statewide February average was a 10% increase year/year, with Sands Bethlehem right on that button ($22 million) and Harrah’s Chester Downs down 2% ($24 million). … Continue reading →

Posted in Cannery Casino Resorts, CityCenter, Current, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Case Bets: Ferris wheel fetishists; Rail fail; “Aerotropolis” now?

Posted on March 2, 2011 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment better get a move on with that Ferris wheel it wants to build out back of O’Shea’s. A rival project, slated for problematic (and fairly blighted) land opposite Mandalay Bay received approval from Clark County. Then again, getting … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, California, Dubai, Entertainment, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, history, International, MGM Mirage, Phil Ruffin, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Silverton, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | 5 Comments

Seminoles’ big payday; ‘Net-bet stampede: It’s on

Posted on March 2, 2011 by David McKee

After a full year of Class III gambling, the Seminole Tribe has grossed $2 billion. Depending on how considerably that amount ramps up, the State of Florida will enjoy at least a $1 billion “rake” by the end of Gov. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Current, Florida, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Kentucky, MGM Mirage, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | 4 Comments

Power shift at Ameristar

Posted on February 28, 2011 by David McKee

No longer will the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation be calling the shots at Ameristar Casinos. The financial needs of the nonprofit have led Ameristar Chairman Ray Neilsen to liquidate 83% of the foundation’s stake in ASCA for an above-market $17.50. … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Harrah's, Indiana, Kansas, Marketing, Missouri, Penn National, Planet Hollywood, The Strip, Transportation, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Hooters in default; Rio robbed; Morgans out, Warner in?

Posted on February 24, 2011 by David McKee

From the “Could mean something, could mean nothing” File comes a Notice of Default, filed by the Bank of New York against Hooters Casino Hotel. The lenders are calling in a $130 million note on the 332-room hotel (arguably making … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Detroit, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Massachusetts, Morgans Hotel Group, Station Casinos, Tamares Group, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, TV, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Back from Chicago

Posted on February 24, 2011 by David McKee

My apologies to everyone who got tired of looking at Stanley Ho‘s wizened mug. S&G was on a brief, unannounced hiatus, as yours truly ventured to the cold but wondrous place that is Chicago, home to the greatest architecture in … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Illinois, Michael Gaughan, Penn National, Politics, Steve Wynn | 6 Comments

Gary Loveman, not so visionary

Posted on February 18, 2011 by David McKee

Here’s a hypothesis for why the lenders holding the note on Colony Capital‘s underwater (more like submerged in Davey Jones’ Locker), market-lagging Atlantic City Hilton believe they can get as much as $75 million for the old place. If state … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Internet gambling, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Technology | 7 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 17, 2011 by David McKee

“[Y]esterday Celine Dion showed up and Vegas groveled at her feet. When she first came here in 2003, people wondered about her ability to sell tickets at prices that sailed as high as her irritating voice. Now she is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Ohio, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day