Category Archives: history

Boulder Station goes union; Neon Museum sets records

Posted on September 7, 2016 by David McKee

Having finally bowed to management’s stipulation of a secret ballot election, as opposed to a card check, the Culinary Union can belatedly claim a victory in its long-running war with Station Casinos. Employees at Boulder Station, under the oversight of … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, California, Charity, Cordish Co., Culinary Union, Downtown, history, Lucky Dragon, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, North Las Vegas, Palms, Regulation, Station Casinos, Tribal | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 29, 2016 by David McKee

“Everything I built — the Golden Nugget, Mirage, Treasure Island, Wynn-Encore, were because of him. You name the buildings, including UNLV, and Parry Thomas’ fingerprints are everywhere in this valley.” — Steve Wynn, eulogizing banker and power-broker Thomas, who revolutionized the Nevada … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, history, MGM Mirage, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

New ally for Mashpee; Adelson: My way or the highway

Posted on August 26, 2016 by David McKee

In the latest twist of the Project First Light saga, the Justice Department has interceded on behalf of the Mashpee Wampanoag. It has asked a federal judge to revisit his ruling that the Mashpee lacked standing and that the Interior … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Downtown, Environment, Galaxy Entertainment, Harrah's, history, Internet gambling, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Oklahoma, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Station Casinos, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off on New ally for Mashpee; Adelson: My way or the highway

So long, Riviera

Posted on August 17, 2016 by David McKee

For those of us who couldn’t be there, this was the scene as the remaining vestiges of the Riviera swooned gracefully into a pile of debris. You can see spectators scurrying to evade the dust cloud, as it threatens to … Continue reading →

Posted in history, LVCVA, MGM Mirage, Riviera, The Strip | Comments Off on So long, Riviera

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 15, 2016 by David McKee

“Truly, I think the brand is so powerful, that when other people would have maybe went under, I think that helped carry us because people are very loyal to the Binion brand. I think if we could survive the bad … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, history, Terry Caudill | 2 Comments

Hooters’ inspirational initiative; New York legalizes DFS

Posted on August 15, 2016 by David McKee

Plucking General Manager Michael Storm from the executive ranks of The D and the Golden Gate and installing him at Hooters Casino Hotel is proving to be one of the best ideas that property’s had in a long time. Storm’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Charity, Harrah's, history, Hooters, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, LVCVA, Riviera, The Strip | Comments Off on Hooters’ inspirational initiative; New York legalizes DFS

Station tries to shed excess baggage; Steve Wynn’s big ape

Posted on August 8, 2016 by David McKee

Back in 2004, when euphoria ran high in the casino industry, Station Casinos got carried away and spent nearly $34 million on the dilapidated Castaways, at the north end of the Boulder Strip. Despite commissioning a design from Ed Vance for … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Entertainment, history, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Slot routes, Sports, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 1 Comment

Isaacs moves on; 50 years of Laughlin

Posted on August 5, 2016 by David McKee

Gavin Isaacs will be taking it easy, the CEO of Scientific Games is moving up to vice chairman, his CEO’s chair to be filled by former Norwegian Cruise Line executive Kevin M. Sheehan. If anybody’s earned the right to take … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Australia, Bally Technologies, Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, Harrah's, history, Illinois, Laughlin, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, North Las Vegas, Philippines, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, Shuffle Master, Slot routes, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Isaacs moves on; 50 years of Laughlin

Nevada’s oldest casino turns 85; Flynt doubles down on Lucky Lady

Posted on August 2, 2016 by David McKee

Contrary to the impression of many, yours truly included, the oldest operating casino in Nevada isn’t the Golden Gate but the 85-year-old Railroad Pass, just outside of Boulder City. It even still has its original vault. New owner Joe DeSimone … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Boulder Strip, California, Entertainment, Galaxy Entertainment, history, International, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off on Nevada’s oldest casino turns 85; Flynt doubles down on Lucky Lady

Mashpee casino blocked; Wynn: Doing more with less

Posted on August 1, 2016 by David McKee

Carcieri v. Salazar and the Indian Reorganization Act have come back to bite the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe in the hindquarters. U.S. District Judge William G. Young has ruled against a Taunton casino project, siding with the contention of a group … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Charity, Eldorado Resorts, Foxwoods, Genting, Harrah's, history, International, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal | Comments Off on Mashpee casino blocked; Wynn: Doing more with less

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 20, 2016 by David McKee

“… when a ball bounced into the Trumps’ grassy yard, he would not throw the ball back but instead would yell, ‘I’m going to tell my dad; I’m going to call the police.’” — Laura Manuelidis, on how adolescent Donald Trump prefigured old … Continue reading →

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

Riviera goes down

Posted on June 14, 2016 by David McKee

Of all the implosions I’ve watched in Las Vegas since 1999, I can’t remember one being prefaced with three minutes of fireworks. Here’s the whole shebang of the demolition of the Riviera‘s Monaco Tower, marred only by an unfortunate change … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, history, LVCVA, Riviera, The Strip | Comments Off on Riviera goes down

Wynn disses douchebags; Showboat sails again

Posted on June 7, 2016 by David McKee

In a characteristic about-face, former nightlife enthusiast Steve Wynn is belittling Millenials (“sort of short on brains”), social media (“dim-witted time”), while conceding the importance of non-gaming revenue to today’s Las Vegas. Said Wynn of the nightlife generation, “we’re doing well … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Cretins, Economy, Entertainment, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, history, Macau, Maryland, Penn National, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Wynn disses douchebags; Showboat sails again

Raiders to Vegas? Don’t bet against it

Posted on June 2, 2016 by David McKee

The boulder that is Mark Davis‘ and Sheldon Adelson‘s attempt to move the [your city here] Raiders to Las Vegas is gaining momentum as it rumbles downhill. The growing support among NFL owners is not unconditional. Sin City would be one … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, history, LVCVA, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Oklahoma, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Unite-Here, Wall Street | Comments Off on Raiders to Vegas? Don’t bet against it

Straub: Name my casino!; RAWA breathes its last … for now

Posted on May 27, 2016 by David McKee

Glenn Straub has either thrown up his hands over the task of renaming Revel or is feeling the spirit of democracy. Either way, he’s taking suggestions from the Twitterverse as to potential new monikers, with a $10,000 for the winning … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Charity, Downtown, Election, Entertainment, Glenn Straub, history, Internet gambling, Iowa, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Revel, Sports, Tamares Group, Taxes, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal | 1 Comment

Sheldon’s big surprise; AGA attacks NFL silliness

Posted on May 25, 2016 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson is feeling bullish on the Las Vegas market these days. Undeterred by the debut of T-Mobile Arena, he is proposing a 17,500-seat concert venue, to be built on underutilized land behind Venelazzo. Adelson has formed a consortium with … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, California, Downtown, Entertainment, Geoff Freeman, history, Hooters, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Texas, The Strip | Comments Off on Sheldon’s big surprise; AGA attacks NFL silliness

New era at Trump Taj Mahal; Blasphemous gambling promo spanked

Posted on May 24, 2016 by David McKee

He’s been handed a small budget ($15 million) for the task at hand, but new Trump Taj Mahal boss Anthony Rodio has been charged with undoing the damage inflicted on the property during the Bob Griffin era. This includes “reactivating … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, CityCenter, Dining, history, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Regulation, Sports, Stanley Ho, Station Casinos, Tamares Group, Technology, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here | 1 Comment

Wall Street loves Red Rock; ColSux foiled again

Posted on May 24, 2016 by David McKee

Wall Street analysts are initiating coverage of Red Rock Resorts and they like what they see. JP Morgan‘s Joseph Greff put a $25 price target on the stock, emboldened in part by RRR’s acquisition of the Palms and its growing … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Environment, Harrah's, history, Kentucky, Palms, Reno, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Wall Street loves Red Rock; ColSux foiled again

Station snapping up Palms?

Posted on May 9, 2016 by David McKee

Just when you thought Station Casinos was taking a nap, it up and surprises you. According to LVA sources, Station has purchased the Palms, bringing it nearer the Strip than ever and lending an extra cachet of hipness to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Columbia Sussex, George Maloof, history, North Las Vegas, Palms, Station Casinos, The Strip | Comments Off on Station snapping up Palms?

Wampanoags’ patience rewarded; March Mildness at Vegas sports books

Posted on May 3, 2016 by David McKee

Those who set store by the fable of the tortoise and the hare can take heart from the saga of the Mashpee Wampanoag. It took them a long time to get their act together, federal land-in-trust approval seemed unlikely and … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Economy, history, Massachusetts, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Tribal | Comments Off on Wampanoags’ patience rewarded; March Mildness at Vegas sports books