Category Archives: Harrah's

Harrah’s to Philly: “We’re back!”; MGM tries something new

Posted on January 11, 2011 by David McKee

Or so Ed Snider‘s Philadelphia Entertainment & Development Partnership claims in a new petition to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control, asking for its license back. Snider’s group says that it now has $275 million in seed money sown up and would … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Current, Dubai, Economy, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Pets, Regulation, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Deal ’em up in Cleveland

Posted on January 11, 2011 by David McKee

A Las Vegas dealer moving to Cleveland to teach prospective casino employees? That’s putting the blackjack shoe on the other foot. Used to be that people came to Vegas in pursuit of their dreams.

Posted in Current, Harrah's, Ohio, TV | Comments Off on Deal ’em up in Cleveland

Upsizing Illinois

Posted on January 7, 2011 by David McKee

Or would “capsizing” be the right word? Late Thursday, Wells Fargo released a study of the effects on Illinois‘ casino market if a massive expansion backed by state Democrats goes through. They’re under the gun, since the whole issue gets … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Boyd Gaming, Current, Don Barden, Economy, Harrah's, IGT, Illinois, Indiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Wall Street, WMS Industries | 6 Comments

Sheldon: I’ll take Florida

Posted on January 7, 2011 by David McKee

It’s amazing what a transformative effect a night’s stay at Venelazzo will have. After stopping by Sheldon Adelson‘s little pied-a-terre, Florida Gov. Rick Scott (left) has done a 180 on casino expansion in Florida. Now Scott, refreshed by an evening’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Election, Florida, Genting, Harrah's, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 1 Comment

Palms: Maloof out, Loveman in?

Posted on January 6, 2011 by David McKee

Now that Las Vegas has fallen about as far as it can, private equity firms are picking over the city like vultures sampling carrion. Don’t get me wrong: It’s a much smarter strategy than those PE bozos who bought in … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Current, Donald Trump, George Maloof, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Regulation, The Strip, TV, Wall Street | 9 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 5, 2011 by David McKee

“Suppose Prohibition of alcohol had just been repealed. The hypothetical owner of the first and only liquor store in a state would make a fantastic return on investment. But soon, if there were no government controls, there would be liquor … Continue reading →

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

Happy New Year?

Posted on December 30, 2010 by David McKee

Since Las Vegas is looking at a 3.5% increase in visitation from New Year’s Eve 2009 and 98% occupancy, the answer is “Yes.” Thank God, because it hopefully means that an equivocal recovery on the Strip is finally gaining traction, … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Charity, CityCenter, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Tribal, Wall Street | 5 Comments

Hard Rock: No end of trouble on Paradise

Posted on December 28, 2010 by David McKee

Once again the blogosphere has caught the MSM napping. Report On Vegas informs readers that the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is having a rough time meeting its bills (this was the augury of doom for Barrick Gaming‘s short-lived stewardship … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Don Barden, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Lake Tahoe, Morgans Hotel Group, Pennsylvania, Sports, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tribal, TV | 3 Comments

Ruffin on the prowl; Penn’s blown opportunity

Posted on December 28, 2010 by David McKee

So much for the conventional wisdom that Phil Ruffin was just hanging onto Treasure Island for a few years to help MGM Resorts International through a rough patch. Seems he’s subsequently made offers for The Mirage (whose infrastructure is symbiotic … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, International, Kansas, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Steve Wynn, Tribal | 6 Comments

From the mailbag

Posted on December 28, 2010 by David McKee

It’s but 9:07 a.m. and two big pieces of news have fallen over the cyber-transom. An S&G reader informs me that leaderless Greektown Casino will have new — and good — management soon, in the form of a GM who’s … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Current, Detroit, Harrah's, Marketing, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Let it (not) snow!; BP screws casinos

Posted on December 27, 2010 by David McKee

With Atlantic City currently in white-out mode, casino executives must be studying next weekend’s forecast and hoping that it holds true. A few days of above-freezing temperatures ought to give the Boardwalk a chance to melt and shovel its way … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Current, Dennis Gomes, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, Harrah's, Macau, Marketing, Mississippi, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment | 2 Comments

For sale: One casino license, slightly used

Posted on December 27, 2010 by David McKee

Legislators are pressing for a free-market solution to debacle that was Foxwoods Philadelphia. Typical of Pennsylvania‘s overhasty implementation of casino gambling, nobody bothered to codify A) what to do with licenses that get revoked or B) whether to refund or … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos | 4 Comments

Oh little casino of Bethlehem

Posted on December 24, 2010 by David McKee

There’s a little something extra in the stockings of Pennsylvania casinos … a rather big something extra, actually. Keystone State casinos grossed 22% more than last November. Throw in a $15 million month at SugarHouse (below) and it’s a 31.5% … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Harrah's, International, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off on Oh little casino of Bethlehem

‘Twere the Case Bets before Christmas

Posted on December 23, 2010 by David McKee

In the casino industry, everything was stirring, including the mice. Cordish’s revenge. It’s a dish best served by opening Cordish Gaming‘s controversial Arundel Mills gambling hall late next year with a temporary, one-year casino. That means karma comes early for … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Animals, Cordish Co., Current, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, G2E, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Singapore, The Mob, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on ‘Twere the Case Bets before Christmas

Pea soup in Vegas; Robosaurus attacks the wrong target

Posted on December 22, 2010 by David McKee

If you’re thinking of coming to Las Vegas for Christmas, I have one word of advice: Don’t. For the past week, Sin City has been steadily blanketed in rain, with no end in sight. It’s just miserable. (Instead of trying … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wayne F. Newton | 1 Comment

Morning in Vegas? Karma 2, Penn Nat’l 0

Posted on December 21, 2010 by David McKee

Having been burned by a few too many “false positives” in terms of economic recovery, S&G is loath to get anyone’s hopes up. (And some remain skeptical.) However, another room-rate survey from J.P. Morgan provides license for optimism. As you … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Ohio, Penn National, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Horseshoe Philadelphia goes into deep freeze

Posted on December 17, 2010 by David McKee

After four interminable years, that on-again/off-again casino project on the Philadelphia waterfront has been put out of its misery. Comcast‘s Ed Snider, his fellow juiced-in investors and putative savior Caesars Entertainment had the rug yanked from beneath them in a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Charity, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tribal | Comments Off on Horseshoe Philadelphia goes into deep freeze

Ameristar: No Sale; Bad news for Caesars

Posted on December 15, 2010 by David McKee

It’s back to business as usual for Ameristar Casinos, whose board decided “a sale is not in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders at this time.” Which is a nice way of saying there’s no bidding war … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Harrah's, Iowa, Kansas, Macau, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Penn National, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off on Ameristar: No Sale; Bad news for Caesars

D-Day for Philadelphia

Posted on December 13, 2010 by David McKee

Investors in the stymied Foxwoods Philadelphia riverfront casino project have a date with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board on Thursday. That’s where they’ll make their last-ditch pitch to retain custody of the project. State legislators and other officials have voiced … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, LVCVA, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Vdara Death Ray | 1 Comment

Atlantic City’s future: “Bleak”

Posted on December 10, 2010 by David McKee

Such is the prognosis from J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff after the November revenues rolled in from the Boardwalk. Basically, the double-edged sword that was table games in Pennsylvania and a casino in Philadelphia has swung, and lopped 12.5% off … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Cretins, Current, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Marketing, Morgans Hotel Group, Movies, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, TV, Wall Street | 1 Comment