Category Archives: history

MGM: No robots here; Resort fees fester

Posted on March 8, 2019 by David McKee

Our post yesterday about “robot” bartenders coming to MGM Resorts International properties on the Las Vegas Strip struck a nerve in the lion’s den. Understandably concerned with the mental image of customers expecting to get their drinks from a Cylon, … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Culinary Union, Downtown, Economy, history, M Resort, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Resort fees, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

SJM Fok-ed up; Virginia approves casinos

Posted on February 28, 2019 by David McKee

Lucina Laam may be the most important person in Macao‘s turbulent casino history. As Wife #2 of Stanley Ho she bore Daisy Ho, Pansy Ho, Lawrence Ho and two other daughters not involved in the gaming biz. Now, in an … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, DFS, Donald Trump, Downtown Grand, Environment, history, International, Las Vegas Sands, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, New York, Pansy Ho, Pennsylvania, Politics, Singapore, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Stanley Ho, Technology, Tribal, Virginia | Comments Off on SJM Fok-ed up; Virginia approves casinos

MGM, Eldorado, Churchill Downs looking up

Posted on February 28, 2019 by David McKee

Credit Suisse‘s Cameron McKnight flew out to San Francisco to meet with MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren. The biggest headline item would be the eccentricity of Murren choosing to meet in Frisco rather than at MGM HQ in Las … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, DFS, Eldorado Resorts, history, Horseracing, Illinois, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, MTR Gaming, Neil Bluhm, Ocean Resort, Resort fees, Rush Street Gaming, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Wynn Resorts walloped

Posted on February 27, 2019 by David McKee

We’ve been down for a day and half for maintenance but S&G is back now with a doozy of a news dispatch: The good news for Wynn Resorts is that it gets to keep its Nevada gaming license. The bad … Continue reading →

Posted in Cantor Gaming, Culinary Union, Donald Trump, history, Massachusetts, Politics, Prostitution, Real Estate, Regulation, Sports, Steve Wynn, Transportation, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Wynn Resorts walloped

A change of heart on loco weed; Miller briefs Congress

Posted on February 11, 2019 by David McKee

In a development certain to make Nevada resort owners grind their teeth in envy, cannabis is predicted to be this year’s wellness trend. As you know, Nevada gaming regulators have hung a “Do Not Enter” sign on the recreational-marijuana industry … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, AGA, Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Geoff Freeman, history, Japan, Marijuana, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Taxes | 2 Comments

Super Bowl hits and misses; Sigma Derby rides again

Posted on February 4, 2019 by David McKee

Super Bowl LIII is over and viewers are left to ponder such existential questions as “Is Julian Edelman a Hall of Famer?” and “Why are all NFL kickers bald?” The New England Patriots did the most important thing, i.e. covering the … Continue reading →

Posted in Derek Stevens, Downtown, Entertainment, history, International, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Paragon Gaming, Sigma Derby, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, TV | Comments Off on Super Bowl hits and misses; Sigma Derby rides again

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 31, 2019 by David McKee

“Progress then and now comes from the collision of powerful forces within the hearts of those who strive for it. Anger and charity, love and hate, pride and shame, broken down and reassembled in an igneous process that yields a … Continue reading →

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Aguilera to hit the Strip; Arizona mulls sports betting

Posted on January 29, 2019 by David McKee

It’s a big week for announcements at Caesars Entertainment. While I admit I’d completely forgotten who Christina Aguilera is, she’s got enough pop-culture cachet to justify a Las Vegas residency, starting May 31 at the Zappos Theater (an improvement on … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Caesars Entertainment, Entertainment, history, International, Japan, Planet Hollywood, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Aguilera to hit the Strip; Arizona mulls sports betting

Super Bowl generates heavy action; Hard Rock marquee finds retirement home

Posted on January 28, 2019 by David McKee

$325 million. That’s the legal handle that PlayUSA.com is predicting will be wagered on Super Bowl LIII. Nevada will have the plurality of bets, some $160 million, with New Jersey seeing $100 million in action, including online wagers. The nascent … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Arizona, CityCenter, Entertainment, Hard Rock Hotel, history, International, Internet gambling, Mississippi, Movies, New Jersey, New Mexico, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Sports, Sports betting, Tourism, West Virginia | Comments Off on Super Bowl generates heavy action; Hard Rock marquee finds retirement home

Tunica blues; Monticello racino folds early

Posted on January 24, 2019 by David McKee

“An aquatic center? A practice soccer field? They could have reconstructed this entire neighborhood.” So says Tunica resident Larry James of the misguided priorities that are leaving the county high and dry as the casino boom implodes. It certainly seems … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Economy, Genting, Harrah's, history, Horseracing, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Tribal | 1 Comment

AFL goes to A.C.; Majestic Star coming ashore?

Posted on January 22, 2019 by David McKee

In keeping with the new and hard-won sense of prosperity in Atlantic City, the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority hopes to bring arena football to the Boardwalk, specifically to Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall. The early talk is a of three-year public/private partnership … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, DFS, Economy, history, Indiana, Law enforcement, Macau, Majestic Star, Politics, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes | Comments Off on AFL goes to A.C.; Majestic Star coming ashore?

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 21, 2019 by David McKee

“The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.” — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

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FanDuel fumbles; Cuomo beats Senecas

Posted on January 10, 2019 by David McKee

“It has been a dominant season for the Crimson Tide and our traders have seen enough.” With those words, FanDuel proceeded to pay out $400,000 to University of Alabama bettors, even though the national collegiate championship game had not yet … Continue reading →

Posted in history, MGM Resorts International, New York, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on FanDuel fumbles; Cuomo beats Senecas

Reid rages against the dying of the light; Michigan nixes Net bets

Posted on January 4, 2019 by David McKee

Nevada‘s most famous gaming regulator is dying. Harry Reid has pancreatic cancer and we’d say he’s throwing verbal restraint to the winds now that he has nothing to lose — but that has always been Reid’s style. The New York … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Caesars Entertainment, Donald Trump, Harry Reid, history, Internet gambling, Japan, Massachusetts, Politics, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Sports, Sports betting, Tourism, Transportation, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Reid rages against the dying of the light; Michigan nixes Net bets

Death and debauchery

Posted on January 3, 2019 by David McKee

by Jessica Kane, special to Stiffs & Georges Nicknamed the City of Sin, Las Vegas is no stranger obscene behavior. Only, not all guests are satisfied by the usual debauchery. Read along to learn about six shocking crimes committed in … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Law enforcement, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Resorts International, Security, Station Casinos, Westgate LV | 1 Comment

Dover Downer; Pilgrims rally to Wampanoags’ side

Posted on December 26, 2018 by David McKee

With an audible “Bah, humbug!”, Dover Downs became the first Delaware racino to operate on Christmas Day. While CEO Denis McGlynn claimed “This was not something we’ve been pushing hard for,” in his negotiations with the state, he didn’t hesitate to … Continue reading →

Posted in Delaware, history, International, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Politics, Racinos, Rush Street Gaming, Scientific Games, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off on Dover Downer; Pilgrims rally to Wampanoags’ side

Merry Christmas!

Posted on December 25, 2018 by David McKee

As my sister taught me, it’s not Christmas without Nat King Cole. The vocalist par excellence was the subject of one of Sin City’s more infamous contract riders: He was forbidden to make eye contact with the (white) women in … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, history | Comments Off on Merry Christmas!

Xi caught in the act; Vegas economy looking up

Posted on December 13, 2018 by David McKee

If Donald Trump wants to get tough on Chinese President Xi Jinping, he may just have been handed an excuse courtesy of Starwood. Indeed, White House retaliation may already be teed up like a golf ball at Mar-A-Lago. According to … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Donald Trump, Economy, history, International, Law enforcement, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Case Bets

Posted on December 3, 2018 by David McKee

Taking its own sweet time, Hard Rock Atlantic City will finally have a sports book in early 2019. Malta-based Gaming Innovation Group has been tapped to handle the nuts and bolts. The lack of sports betting in what should be … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, Centaur Gaming, Hard Rock International, history, Indiana, Macau, Majestic Star, New Mexico, Sports betting, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal | Comments Off on Case Bets

Churchill Downs aims for Nashville; Goodbye, Sigma Derby

Posted on November 19, 2018 by David McKee

Late last week, Churchill Downs was awarded a racing license in Oak Grove, Kentucky, putting CHDN within an hour’s drive of the Nashville market. The plan is to invest $150 million in a racing oval, a hotel and — most … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Entertainment, Genting, Georgia, history, Kentucky, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments