Category Archives: Harrah's

If LV simply *must* have a pos…

Posted on January 29, 2010 by David McKee

If LV simply *must* have a poster boy, better Goss than Gosselin.

Posted in Entertainment, George Maloof, Harrah's, The Strip | Comments Off on If LV simply *must* have a pos…

Food for thought

Posted on January 28, 2010 by David McKee

“[Matt] Goss also would bring back some of Sinatra’s bygone sensibilities, chief among them being loyalty to friends.” That’s an interesting remark, considering that the singer began talks with Caesars Palace President Gary Selesner a month after Palms owner George … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, George Maloof, Harrah's, Marketing, The Strip, TV | Comments Off on Food for thought

From the mail bag

Posted on January 20, 2010 by David McKee

“How is that nobody seems to be giving (dis)credit where it’s due regarding the failure of the Monorail? It’s pretty simple — the damn thing is too far from the Strip. If you’re standing on the corner in front of … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | Comments Off on From the mail bag

Loveman lays down the law

Posted on January 20, 2010 by David McKee

You can do whatever you like at a Harrah’s Entertainment property … provided it’s legal. CEO Gary Loveman explains, albeit with an uncharacteristic degree of opacity:

Posted in Harrah's | 4 Comments

Case Bets: Net Bets, Harrah’s money grab & why China matters

Posted on January 20, 2010 by David McKee

Mark Juliano, CEO of Trump Entertainment Resorts, has been all over the papers lately. First, he came out in support of a massive taxpayer subsidy (backed by two unions) that would forgive Revel 75% of its room and sales taxes … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes, The Strip | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 16, 2010 by David McKee

“The Rio is the most tired and used up looking 20 year old I know, hands down.” — from the Twitter feed of Hunter Hillegas.

Posted in Current, Harrah's | 3 Comments

Gunplay at the Four Queens

Posted on January 15, 2010 by David McKee

Neither the Las Vegas Sun nor the Las Vegas Review-Journal can be bothered to report it on their Web sites but there was a shooting in the wee hours of Friday morning at the Four Queens, downtown. After having to … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Downtown, Harrah's, Macau, MGM Mirage, The Strip | 9 Comments

Planet Ho abdicates to Harrah’s

Posted on January 15, 2010 by David McKee

Sheraton Operating Corp. is bugging out of Planet Hollywood Resort — which has already lost some of its top management — and handing the keys to Harrah’s Entertainment. The latter will have something of a challenge filling the nearly 2,500 … Continue reading →

Posted in Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Economy, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, International, Marketing, Penn National, Planet Hollywood, The Strip, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Happy ending for “Aztar”

Posted on January 15, 2010 by David McKee

Here’s a feel-good story to help ring out the week. The Indiana Gaming Commission has approved Tropicana Entertainment as a suitable owner-operator for the Casino Aztar riverboat, berthed in Evansville. There are a number of contingencies, primarily the plunking down … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, Indiana, Labor, Louisiana, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

This just in …

Posted on January 13, 2010 by David McKee

A colleague writes … “Aliante Station is currently charging more than Caesars Palace for rooms???* No wonder Station Casinos are in trouble! What kind of a “special offer” is $135/night?!” (* … and only $4 less than Vdara.)

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Economy, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, North Las Vegas, Station Casinos, The Strip | 1 Comment

From the S&G Twitter feed …

Posted on January 12, 2010 by David McKee

For those of you who aren’t following it, here’s what you’ve been missing: • Station [Casinos] shuts Cherry @ Red Rock [Resort], ends flirtation w. Strip-ish nightlife. In Summerlin? Right casino, wrong place. http://tinyurl.com/ye36uqm • @IOC_Brand Jim Perry, Virginia McDowell … Continue reading →

Posted in California, CityCenter, Current, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Florida, Harrah's, IGT, International, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Lyle Berman, Mississippi, Politics, Regulation, Station Casinos, Technology, TV | Comments Off on From the S&G Twitter feed …

Big payoff for Pennsylvania

Posted on January 12, 2010 by David McKee

Gov. Ed Rendell (D) and other state leaders have got to be feeling the love for the Keystone State‘s budding casino industry, which generated over $1 billion in tax revenue last year. That boffo return was achieved without table games … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, Economy, Harrah's, IGT, Indiana, Kentucky, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Technology, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, TV | 2 Comments

Back to normal

Posted on January 12, 2010 by David McKee

For starters, let’s just write off 2006-7 as an aberration. While dancing in the streets is premature, Nevada‘s casino revenues from November ($873 million) at least give us an excuse to breathe a sigh of relief — especially when other … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Current, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Lake Tahoe, Missouri, North Las Vegas, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Sheldon the Barbarian & other news

Posted on January 11, 2010 by David McKee

Amid reports of vastly improved attendance at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show comes news of a typical overreaction by Las Vegas Sands. I know of one company that was doing off-site demos and fortunately wasn’t among the vendors turfed out … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Carl Icahn, Colorado, Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Indiana, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | 5 Comments

It could be worse … couldn’t it?

Posted on January 8, 2010 by David McKee

That’s what passes for optimism these days when confronted by ledgers like those posted by casinos in Illinois and Indiana for December. While the former’s 5% decline hardly looks like cause for celebration, it at least suggests the Land of … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Don Barden, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

2.5 Cheers for Harrah’s

Posted on January 8, 2010 by David McKee

As erratically as it has been run since the departure of Phil Satre, they still get some things right at Harrah’s Entertainment … and not in the sense that a stopped watch is correct twice a day. For instance, Harrah’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Planet Hollywood, Station Casinos, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 5 Comments

From the S&G Twitter feed …

Posted on January 5, 2010 by David McKee

Whilst I try to decipher my notes from the New Year’s Day performance by Carlos Mencia, here’s what you’ve been missing if you don’t follow the S&G Twitter feed (Twitter handle: @stiffsgeorges): • Pittsburgh‘s Rivers Casino sacks exec team, brings … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cordish Co., Current, Entertainment, Florida, Harrah's, International, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Racinos, Riviera, Singapore | Comments Off on From the S&G Twitter feed …

An open letter from Fred Frazzetta

Posted on January 5, 2010 by David McKee

Most of you, I’m certain, remember Fred Frazzetta, a heroic Nevadan who essentially sacrificed his career to blow the whistle on Harrah’s Entertainment‘s cavalier attitude toward building regulations (and, one might add, customer safety). He sent S&G the following, in … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Harrah's, Pennsylvania, The Strip | 6 Comments

Hail Caesars!

Posted on January 5, 2010 by David McKee

We saw this sign during an overnight stay at the Augustus Tower, several months back. If more casino venues implemented rules like these, Las Vegas would be a little easier on the eyes. Don’t forget to vote in our newest … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Harrah's, Pets, The Strip | 1 Comment

Damsel in distress

Posted on January 4, 2010 by David McKee

Until 2005, when Harrah’s Entertainment devoured Park Place Entertainment, its flagship property in Las Vegas was The Rio. Since then the lady has fallen upon hard times. During the period 2007-09, while Harrah’s CEO Gary Loveman blew hundreds of millions … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Penn National, Regulation, Wall Street, World Series of Poker | 4 Comments