Category Archives: history

Busted!

Posted on July 13, 2018 by David McKee

Former New York Knicks great Charles Oakley fouled out big-time at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. The veteran roundballer, who made $46 million during his playing career, wound up in the clink over a $100 casino chip. Oakley tried to … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Culinary Union, Florida, Fontainebleau, Genting, history, Law enforcement, Macau, New York, Penn National, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sports, The Strip | 1 Comment

Casa Shenandoah closes; Culinary escalates tactics

Posted on July 12, 2018 by David McKee

Call it a day for another Wayne Newton business venture. Mr. Las Vegas is closing Casa Shenandoah to the public, no reason given (although a recent break-in might have influenced the decision). “It is the Applicant’s intent that the property revert … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Culinary Union, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Downtown Grand, Election, history, Horseracing, Idaho, Indiana, Minnesota, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Regulation, SLS Las Vegas, Sports betting, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wayne F. Newton, Westgate LV | 1 Comment

Indian giver; Casinos in India?

Posted on July 11, 2018 by David McKee

We’ve warned against turning the tribal-recognition process over to Congress and a bill singling out a California tribe for special treatment would seem to be an object lesson in the “Why.” Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R) wants to reinstate Ruffey Rancheria, … Continue reading →

Posted in California, history, International, Internet gambling, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off on Indian giver; Casinos in India?

MGM: Time to buy; Arkansas casinos one step closer

Posted on July 11, 2018 by David McKee

As of today, Hard Rock Rocksino, in Ohio, is official part of MGM Growth Properties. However, until MGP finds a new tenant, Hard Rock International will continue to run the place. It’s a win-win for Hard Rock and MGP. For … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Atlantic City, Dining, Election, Genting, Hard Rock International, history, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Ohio, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on MGM: Time to buy; Arkansas casinos one step closer

Sheldon snuggles up to Commies; Elaine tests her clout

Posted on July 10, 2018 by David McKee

If toupée-collecting Sheldon Adelson were offered the chance to build Venetian Tehran he’d immediately become a peacenik regarding Iran, a country he lusts to nuke. Instead of making nice with mullahs, he’s doing the next best thing, warbling sweet nothings to Kim … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Elaine Wynn, Galaxy Entertainment, history, Illinois, International, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Nevada, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Sheldon Adelson, South Korea, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Unite-Here, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Sheldon snuggles up to Commies; Elaine tests her clout

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 6, 2018 by David McKee

“Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction.” — Blaise Pascal

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Quote of the Day

Posted on July 5, 2018 by David McKee

“By hating Hitler and trying to fight back, Jews are only increasing the severity of his policies against them. If Jews throughout the world try to instill into the mind of Hitler and his supporters recognition of the ideals for which … Continue reading →

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Quote of the Day

Posted on July 4, 2018 by David McKee

“The gambling known as business looks with austere disfavor on the business known as gambling.” — Ambrose Bierce

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High Sierra; This and that

Posted on June 25, 2018 by David McKee

If you want to get away from it all and gamble at the same time, head north — way north — to tiny and isolated Jarbidge, Nevada. That is the home of the Silver State’s newest casino license, that of … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, history, Horseracing, International, Macau, Nevada, New York, Racinos, Slot routes, Sports, Taxes | Comments Off on High Sierra; This and that

A sad day

Posted on June 20, 2018 by David McKee

The casino industry has lost Felix Rappaport, CEO of Foxwoods Resort Casino. The longtime industry veteran was taken from us while staying in a Foxwoods suite that he maintained while away from his family home in Las Vegas. This news … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Geoff Freeman, history, MGM Mirage, Station Casinos, The Strip | 1 Comment

Canary in the coal mine

Posted on June 15, 2018 by David McKee

Is Las Vegas headed for another 2008-style bubble? That was my thought after seeing this headline. Fitch Ratings posits that homes in the Vegas area are overvalued by 20% to 24%. That would make them the most overpriced domiciles in … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Economy, history, Nevada, Wall Street | Comments Off on Canary in the coal mine

Strip land values skyrocket; Second chance for Margaritaville

Posted on May 24, 2018 by David McKee

In a deal not seen since the giddiness of 2007, someone is expected $34 million an acre for Strip land, for a grand total of $540 million. The property in question is a collection of parcels wedged between Planet Hollywood to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Foxwoods, history, IGT, Mississippi, Planet Hollywood, Technology, The Strip, Transportation | 3 Comments

Strike!; Memo to Congress

Posted on May 23, 2018 by David McKee

If any casino owners were thinking that the Culinary Union might get complacent or fragment in the face of a good Las Vegas economy, they got a rude wakeup call yesterday. Some 99% of Culinary members voted to authorize a … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Current, Downtown, Economy, Geoff Freeman, Harrah's, history, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sports, Taxes, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off on Strike!; Memo to Congress

Smashing concept at Palms; Strike vote today

Posted on May 22, 2018 by David McKee

Station Casinos is firing up the marketing machine for the rollout of its $620 million re-do of the Palms. The new ad campaign is branded “From Dust to Gold” and is heavy on the smashing of glitzy objects. Whether gleeful … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Current, Economy, George Maloof, history, Internet gambling, LVCVA, Marketing, Mississippi, Sports, Station Casinos, The Strip | Comments Off on Smashing concept at Palms; Strike vote today

Adversity at Sands; Paging Katniss Everdeen

Posted on May 21, 2018 by David McKee

Some are blaming bad weather for two months of substantially reduced table-games winnings at Sands Bethlehem. But could casinos in the Catskills finally be having an effect? It’s hard to say, although one suspects the answer is “yes.” Sands Bethlehem tumbled … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, California, Churchill Downs, CityCenter, Entertainment, Environment, Genting, Hard Rock International, history, International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, New York, Pennsylvania, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Transportation, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Adversity at Sands; Paging Katniss Everdeen

Hard Rock and Ocean Resort: Two much?

Posted on May 11, 2018 by David McKee

“If Ocean Resort opens up and has the same difficulty as Revel did last time, do they get desperate and start throwing marketing money at the wall, and make everyone else have to do it, and margins go down, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, Economy, Entertainment, Glenn Straub, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, history, Resort fees, Rhode Island | 2 Comments

Culinary girds for battle; Let’s get it on

Posted on May 10, 2018 by David McKee

Collective-bargaining-agreement talks between the Culinary Union and 34 casinos must not be going well. The Culinary fired off an e-mail blast yesterday, publicizing the fact that it will hold a strike vote May 22 and, should it pass, will hit … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Culinary Union, Current, Dining, Downtown, Entertainment, Florida, Harrah's, history, MGM Mirage, Politics, Seminole Tribe, Sexual misconduct, Taxes, The Strip | 1 Comment

Park MGM to eclipse Bellagio?; Cleveland does not rock

Posted on May 9, 2018 by David McKee

Park MGM isn’t even open yet and Bloomberg has already drunk its bathwater. Think I’m exaggerating? A fluff piece declares that the casino-in-progress will “steal attention from MGM’s highest-end hotel, the Bellagio, as well as the most recent hotel to … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Dan Gilbert, Dining, history, Law enforcement, Lucky Dragon, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

MGM sets Springfield date; Adelson hits pay dirt

Posted on April 26, 2018 by David McKee

Even as it’s using MGM Springfield as a catspaw to potentially land Wynn Boston Harbor, that didn’t prevent MGM Resorts International from announcing a date certain for the Springfield opening. Mark August 24 on your calendars, for that is the day … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Churchill Downs, Detroit, Dining, Donald Trump, Entertainment, history, Horseracing, International, Japan, Louisiana, Macau, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Singapore, South Korea, Sports, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on MGM sets Springfield date; Adelson hits pay dirt

New era at Wynn; Resorts turns 40

Posted on April 11, 2018 by David McKee

Kudos to Wynn Resorts CEO Matt Maddox for tacitly acknowledging that women were second-class citizens at the company. He’s created a department to promote diversity — better late than never. Wynn might say it’s not conceding anything but were there … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, PokerStars, Sexual misconduct, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment