Category Archives: Harrah's

Days of Reckoning

Posted on October 5, 2010 by David McKee

Pinballing between projects, I’ll try to carom off the “blogging” bumper for a moment here … 1,075. That’s the magic number of feet below which Lake Mead cannot drop lest Hoover Dam should become inoperable — plunging Clark County into … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Downtown, Economy, Environment, Harrah's, history, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism | 5 Comments

What becomes a Hellmouth most? Gary Loveman’s hostage drama

Posted on September 30, 2010 by David McKee

Perhaps it’d be exiting the World Series of Poker Europe must faster and with far less bombast than he entered it. Muddled metaphor? Compared to the 1990s, the casino industry’s image problems really aren’t that bad, especially when you consider … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, G2E, Harrah's, International, World Series of Poker | 3 Comments

Musical chairs at Trump (again)

Posted on September 29, 2010 by David McKee

High-ranking executive jobs at Trump Entertainment Resorts aren’t for “lifers.” Having steered Trump through yet another bankruptcy, CEO Mark Juliano is exiting stage right, “leaving to pursue other opportunities” — the latest executive to be purged. Nobody stays long atop … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Harrah's, International, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Marketing, Maryland, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal | 2 Comments

Inside Icahn’s F-bleau rummage sale

Posted on September 29, 2010 by David McKee

Hmmmm … I hear tell Pinnacle Entertainment just upped the budget* on its Baton Rouge casino. Maybe it can amortize that increase by bargain-shopping at Uncle Carl’s Honkin’ Big Hotel Furniture Emporium (aka “Hot Carl’s Fabulous Fontainebleau Garage Sale”) right-cheer … Continue reading →

Posted in Carl Icahn, Economy, Harrah's, Penn National, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, TV | 2 Comments

Barrack 1, Bankers 0; Criminal stupidity

Posted on September 24, 2010 by David McKee

A skirmish over the fate of the Atlantic City Hilton ended in victory for Colony Capital. A Superior Court judge decided there were too many unresolved issues in the dissolution of Colony’s East Coast casino portfolio to warrant taking the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Lake Tahoe, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sports, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

11 Lady Gagas … and Phil Hellmuth

Posted on September 24, 2010 by David McKee

If James Bond were hosting a poker tournament it may look like the World Series of Poker Europe,” WSOP commissar Jeffrey Pollack once told Pokerlistings.com. It may. Then again, it may not. If you’re Phil “Hellmouth” Hellmuth and lack a … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Harrah's, International, World Series of Poker | 2 Comments

Live, naked girls

Posted on September 23, 2010 by David McKee

Every few days brings a story pitch from some long-suffering PR professional. Today’s mail finds this plea on behalf of IAM Corp.: Since the beginning of online gaming, every other market has flocked to Live Dealer Casinos, but the US … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Current, Downtown, Dubai, Economy, Election, Genting, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Marketing, New York, Plaza, Politics, Tamares Group, The Strip | 2 Comments

Fertitta to rescue A.C. Hilton?

Posted on September 22, 2010 by David McKee

Tilman Fertitta, that is. The Landry’s Restaurants CEO has sussed out a bargain on the Boardwalk, in the form of the unprofitable Atlantic City Hilton. No doubt Fertitta’s interest has not a little something to do with the fact that … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Current, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Laughlin, Macau, MGM Mirage, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | 7 Comments

Snooki Nation

Posted on September 17, 2010 by David McKee

Like it or not, this is the new Las Vegas, folks. If you don’t want to be trampled by the douchebagerie, you probably shouldn’t come here. Last night, Encore‘s casino floor and hallway looked like a Jersey Shores casting call. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cretins, Current, Election, Encore, Entertainment, Harrah's, Morgans Hotel Group, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism | 4 Comments

Plaza postscript; exit Liberace; Teller spooks!

Posted on September 16, 2010 by David McKee

One of my conjectures in regard to yesterday’s disclosure that the Plaza Hotel was tentatively scheduled to be sold at foreclosure auction on Oct. 1 was that a postponement of the auction from Sept. 1 betokened an in-progress renegotiation of … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, Regulation, The Strip | 3 Comments

Would you buy a used casino from this man?

Posted on September 10, 2010 by David McKee

Donald Trump has even more reason to scowl and squint today. His old buddy Richard Fields — to my complete non-surprise — walked away from his interminably protracted attempt to buy Trump Marina at ever-lower prices. (He’s got a point: … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, MGM Mirage | 1 Comment

Off to the races

Posted on September 10, 2010 by David McKee

Several gubernatorial jousts have serious implications for casino expansion in this great U.S. of A. In Ohio, Gov. Ted Strickland (D and once tipped as a possible vice-president) is trailing former Rep. John Kasich (R), based on poll results aggregated … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Atlantic City, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Texas, Tribal | 1 Comment

Harrah’s does it again (and again … and again)

Posted on September 9, 2010 by David McKee

Hey, Gary Loveman, don’t let the doorknob hit you in the butt as you skedaddle out of Kansas for the second time.  Ever-fickle, Harrah’s Entertainment turned tail and ran from the Sunflower State on the very date its Wichita-area proposal … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, California, Current, Economy, Encore, Entertainment, Harrah's, Kansas, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Shuffle Master, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 6 Comments

Western Passage & the new Rat (Rod) Pack

Posted on September 8, 2010 by David McKee

Let’s try this again … Today’s guest blog hails from the keyboard of reader Jeff_in_OKC who recently paid not one, not two but three (brave man!) visits to the Western Hotel, on the fringe of downtown Las Vegas. The Western … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Archon Corp., Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Current, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, Laughlin, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Michael Gaughan, Oscar Goodman, Sahara, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | 12 Comments

Reid wusses out; Sucker bets, Sheldon & strippers

Posted on August 26, 2010 by David McKee

UIGEA repeal? Forget about it. Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) has chickened out again. Pressed on the issue, he said he’d support the legalization of online poker but faintheartedly drew the line there. That still wasn’t good enough for some independent … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, CityCenter, Current, Dubai, Election, Entertainment, Harrah's, Harry Reid, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Politics, Regulation, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, World Series of Poker | 3 Comments

Early returns are in

Posted on August 26, 2010 by David McKee

Not electionwise but with regard to Penn National Gaming‘s racino in Charles Town, W.V., and its Hollywood Casino in Pennsylvania. The introduction of table games is buoying revenues nicely. The overall result in especially impressive in Charles Town. Not only … Continue reading →

Posted in Cannery Casino Resorts, Current, Harrah's, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal, West Virginia | Comments Off on Early returns are in

Old cats, new tricks

Posted on August 26, 2010 by David McKee

After one near-eviction, followed by a lengthy reprieve, magician Dirk Arthur and his big cats got the heave-ho from the Tropicana Las Vegas. Where’s tiger-loving illusionist to go? In Arthur’s case, it’s to the Strip’s biggest litter box, O’Shea’s Casino, … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Animals, Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, The Strip | Comments Off on Old cats, new tricks

Case Bets: Global Cash’s Access, Cosmo, Riviera, Oscar, Oregon & Banditry

Posted on August 25, 2010 by David McKee

Excessive Access? The casino industry gets closer and closer to the day when it simply hooks up a suction hose to your bank vault. While Global Cash Access doesn’t want to interface bank cards with slot machines — it would … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Cosmopolitan, Current, Election, Environment, Harrah's, International, Marketing, New York, Oscar Goodman, Problem gambling, Regulation, Riviera, Technology, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, TV | 8 Comments

Last Resorts? Colony wins one

Posted on August 25, 2010 by David McKee

It still looks like Resorts Atlantic City is the casino most likely to close in that market, on pace to lose nearly $22 million this year. That’s the monumental challenge facing prospective new owner Dennis Gomes. In unadjusted dollars, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Economy, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, Pennsylvania, Regulation, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Mothers of invention; Fernwood 2night

Posted on August 24, 2010 by David McKee

“Stacked” casino floors are a rarity in Las Vegas, usually necessitated by a limited footprint. That’s certainly the case with the Cosmopolitan, jimmied into a narrow slot just north of CityCenter (and often mistaken for part of that complex). However, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Architecture, Cannery Casino Resorts, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Missouri, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism | 3 Comments