Category Archives: history

So long, Moulin Rouge; Golden merger green-lit

Posted on October 6, 2017 by David McKee

It just got a lot cheaper to buy the Moulin Rouge. The last vestiges of the original complex were pulled down yesterday after yet another suspicious fire ravaged through what once upon a time was Las Vegas‘ first integrated casino. … Continue reading →

Posted in ACEP, Fontainebleau, Genting, Golden Gaming, history, Moulin Rouge, Movies, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, The Strip | Comments Off on So long, Moulin Rouge; Golden merger green-lit

A modest proposal; Boyd on the prowl

Posted on October 3, 2017 by David McKee

Warning: You’re probably not going to like this post. That being said, the catastrophe at Mandalay Bay demands a more proactive response from the casino industry. There is always a certain element of risk in life, but we can ameliorate … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, G2E, Geoff Freeman, history, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Palms, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on A modest proposal; Boyd on the prowl

Mass murder at Mandalay Bay

Posted on October 2, 2017 by David McKee

I’m angry today. Angry because, for whatever reason, Las Vegas has become the site of the biggest incident of domestic terrorism in U.S. history, as gunman Stephen Paddock  killed at least 50 people (subsequently updated to 58) at a Mandalay Bay concert … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, history, Hooters, Law enforcement, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Mesquite, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Transportation | 1 Comment

A picture worth 1,000 words

Posted on September 25, 2017 by David McKee

Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Jackie Robinson, exercising their First Amendment rights,

Posted in history | 1 Comment

Hall of Fame game

Posted on September 21, 2017 by David McKee

Inductees to the American Gaming Association‘s Gaming Hall of Fame have sometimes been questionable (mobbed-up Clifford Perlman, for one) but this year’s foursome are unlikely to stir controversy. In a family affair, Paragon Gaming CEO Diana Bennett joins her late father … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Entertainment, Geoff Freeman, history, Hooters, International, Lake Tahoe, MGM Mirage, North Las Vegas, Paragon Gaming, Riviera, Sahara, Sam Nazarian, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Mob, The Strip, Westgate LV | Comments Off on Hall of Fame game

MGM Bridgeport … ?!?; Battle lines drawn in Maine

Posted on September 20, 2017 by David McKee

Poor MGM Springfield. It’s not even finished and MGM Resorts International is already off on a snipe hunt in Connecticut. Like Steve Wynn many years ago, it is proposing a casino for Bridgeport. MGM says it is prepared to invest … Continue reading →

Posted in e-sports, Economy, Election, Foxwoods, history, Maine, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, Politics, Regulation, TV | Comments Off on MGM Bridgeport … ?!?; Battle lines drawn in Maine

F-blew: Here we go again; Trop makes Hoosier history

Posted on September 19, 2017 by David McKee

Steven Witkoff hasn’t closed on the Fontainebleau sale yet, never mind receiving a gaming license, and he’s already being cast as the savior of the Las Vegas Strip. However, there are some dark clouds on Fontainebleau’s horizon. Despite the $1.3 … Continue reading →

Posted in Carl Icahn, Eldorado Resorts, Fontainebleau, Genting, history, Indiana, Internet gambling, LVCVA, Marketing, Massachusetts, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Reno, Steven Witkoff, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 15, 2017 by David McKee

“I know that he always wanted to be referred to as mayor because of his love for the city. Our leaders today have to follow Jim’s way and take risks. He made things better for the residents of Atlantic City and … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, history | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 12, 2017 by David McKee

“40 Wall Street actually was the second-tallest building in downtown Manhattan, and it was actually, before the World Trade Center, was the tallest—and then, when they built the World Trade Center, it became known as the second-tallest. And now it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, history, New York | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Freeman takes on SCOTUS; Golden Gate expands

Posted on September 6, 2017 by David McKee

No big surprise, the American Gaming Association has submitted an amicus brief in Christie v. NCAA et. al. The brief makes some normative arguments that are unlikely to sway the Supreme Court, which will undoubtedly take a narrow view in … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Downtown Grand, Geoff Freeman, history, International, Louisiana, Movies, Sports, Tribal | Comments Off on Freeman takes on SCOTUS; Golden Gate expands

Fontainebleau plans take shape; Newton blitzes sports books

Posted on September 5, 2017 by David McKee

Fontainebleau continues to make news. First off, lead investor Steven Witkoff and his partners plan to re-name the unfinished resort. Good idea, as “Fontainebleau” brings nothing but bad karma and negative associations to anyone who frequents the Las Vegas Strip. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, Environment, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, history, Lawrence Ho, Macau, MGM Mirage, Sports, Station Casinos, Steven Witkoff, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

F-blew sale rumored; New Jersey legitimizes DFS

Posted on August 28, 2017 by David McKee

According to VitalVegas, Carl Icahn finally has finally hooked a big one and the upshot will be a long-delayed sale of Fontainebleau for $650 million. Uncle Carl has long since recouped his bargain-basement purchase price by selling off everything wasn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Derek Stevens, Donald Trump, Downtown, Fontainebleau, Genting, GLPI, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, history, Internet gambling, Lucky Dragon, LVCVA, M Resort, MGM Mirage, North Las Vegas, Palms, Penn National, Politics, SLS Las Vegas, Station Casinos, Taxes, Terry Caudill, The Strip, Wall Street, Westgate LV | 1 Comment

Culinary frets over Hard Rock; Puck jilts Caesars for MGM

Posted on August 24, 2017 by David McKee

What does Bethany Khan know that we don’t? Although Brookfield Asset Management has said nothing overt about selling the Hard Rock Hotel, the Culinary Union is obviously convinced that a sale is imminent and is ringing the alarm bell. In … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Culinary Union, Dining, Drugs, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, history, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 22, 2017 by David McKee

“If people’s complaint is that tearing down statues erases history, then certainly having an absence of statues of people, other figures in history is ignoring it altogether. So I think the goal should be to tell the true, correct, fact-based story … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, history | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Murren blasts hate groups; 21st century strippers

Posted on August 22, 2017 by David McKee

Reverberations from Charlottesville were felt on the Las Vegas Strip last week when MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren wrote to all employees, saying in part, “You have my commitment that we will vigorously and zealously continue to reject hate speech … Continue reading →

Posted in Cretins, Culinary Union, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, GLPI, history, MGM Mirage, North Dakota, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Technology | Comments Off on Murren blasts hate groups; 21st century strippers

Japan sets casinos up for failure; Renegade card room in California closed

Posted on August 18, 2017 by David McKee

About the nicest thing Jim Murren had to say about Japan‘s casino market is that it’s “unclear at the moment.” Casino developers are bracing themselves for delivery of a 130-page report from the Expert Committee, laying out proposed regulations for megaresorts. … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, California, Cretins, Donald Trump, Election, history, Internet gambling, Japan, Maine, MGM Mirage, Pets, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Transportation, Virginia | Comments Off on Japan sets casinos up for failure; Renegade card room in California closed

McCarran under siege; Japan to ban poker?

Posted on August 17, 2017 by David McKee

Sen. Pat McCarran (D) is making more posthumous news. State Sen. Tick Segerblom (D) is renewing his push to rename McCarran International Airport. Since the real–life McCarran was a racist, xenophobe and anti-Semite, the urge to efface his name is understandable. … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Foxwoods, Harry Reid, history, Horseracing, Japan, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Taxes, Transportation, Wall Street | Comments Off on McCarran under siege; Japan to ban poker?

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 17, 2017 by David McKee

“Freedom is never really won. You earn it and win it in every generation. That is what we have not taught young people, or older ones for that matter. You do not finally win a state of freedom that is … Continue reading →

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Mickey Mouse comes to Sin City; Unrest at MGM

Posted on August 3, 2017 by David McKee

Locals might cringe every time the “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” cliché is trotted out — in part because what happens there usually finds its way to YouTube within hours, if not minutes. However, the staying power of … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Culinary Union, e-sports, Economy, history, LVCVA, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Taxes, The Strip, Transportation | Comments Off on Mickey Mouse comes to Sin City; Unrest at MGM

Palace coup; India: No Goa

Posted on July 26, 2017 by David McKee

While Station Casinos still hasn’t made up its mind whether to add a new hotel tower to Palace Station (with 606 rooms spread over 27 stories), it’s filed plans with the City of Las Vegas, just in case it decides … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, history, International, Internet gambling, Palms, Regulation, Station Casinos | 1 Comment