Category Archives: Illinois

Go ask Alex

Posted on September 23, 2009 by David McKee

Without further ado, we present S&G‘s much-hyped interview with Tropicana Las Vegas CEO Alex Yemenidjian, a trim, nattily attired man of impeccable manners and refreshing directness, as you will see. I led off with questions from the readership … Nelson … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Dining, Entertainment, Illinois, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, TV | 1 Comment

Can John Ensign disown his dad?

Posted on September 16, 2009 by David McKee

Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) finally has achieved distinction within the Senate — albeit in a manner of which he’s surely never dreamt. Citizens for Ethics & Responsibility in Government* has named Johnny Casino to its Most Corrupt Members of Congress … Continue reading →

Posted in Detroit, Illinois, Kansas, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Taxes, Technology | Comments Off on Can John Ensign disown his dad?

No more "free" play?; Sahara sleaze; Donny & Tina; Criss F. Angel

Posted on August 31, 2009 by David McKee

In a decision that could have wide-ranging implications, Foxwoods Casino Resort and Mohegan Sun have been ordered to count (and pay taxes on) “free play” coupons as though they were revenue. This isn’t a sock-it-to-the-players move like the one the … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Current, Dining, Entertainment, Harrah's, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Sahara, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, TV | Comments Off on No more "free" play?; Sahara sleaze; Donny & Tina; Criss F. Angel

Illinois does it again; Storm over CityCenter

Posted on August 20, 2009 by David McKee

A new law in Illinois that legalizes video poker statewide may have some unforeseen consequences. Namely, video gambling at truck stops throughout the Land of Lincoln. This represents a much bigger expansion than was originally sold to the public. Whenever … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Illinois, Iowa, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Wall Street | Comments Off on Illinois does it again; Storm over CityCenter

Saving money? Buy the Trop!

Posted on August 14, 2009 by David McKee

If you're looking for a bargain on the Strip, what about buying the Tropicana Las Vegas? The Las Vegas Review-Journal found that Onex Corp. got $440 million worth of equity (or a 61% share) for a Filene's Basement price of … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Phil Ruffin, Pinnacle Entertainment, The Strip | Comments Off on Saving money? Buy the Trop!

Saving money? Buy the Trop!

Posted on August 14, 2009 by David McKee

If you're looking for a bargain on the Strip, what about buying the Tropicana Las Vegas? The Las Vegas Review-Journal found that Onex Corp. got $440 million worth of equity (or a 61% share) for a Filene's Basement price of … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Phil Ruffin, Pinnacle Entertainment, The Strip | Comments Off on Saving money? Buy the Trop!

Strange happenings at Penn Nat'l, Harrah's

Posted on July 29, 2009 by David McKee

While everybody's been focusing on the implosion of Station Casinos, the analysts at J.P. Morgan snuck out one of the more unusual (and entertaining) reports I've ever come across. They pored over Penn's 2Q09 filing and had some tales to … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Station Casinos, Wall Street | Comments Off on Strange happenings at Penn Nat'l, Harrah's

A Trop by any other name

Posted on July 27, 2009 by David McKee

Icahn Capital, which purchased the Tropicana Atlantic City for $54 million, effectively, is projecting a conservative course for the property. Any sort of expansion is being ruled out for now, due to skepticism about “green shoots” of economic recovery. Speaking … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Problem gambling, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on A Trop by any other name

More Midwest notes

Posted on July 14, 2009 by David McKee

Continuing a trend of lower-than-projected returns across the Midwest, Iowa's riverboats were flat last month and racinos saw a 5% decline. All major operators lost ground but something is very wrong at Ameristar Casinos, whose Council Bluffs boat was way … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Bally Technologies, Detroit, Economy, IGT, Illinois, Iowa, MGM Mirage, WMS Industries | Comments Off on More Midwest notes

Rough trade

Posted on July 13, 2009 by David McKee

May wasn't great for Las Vegas, to say the least, with hotel occupancy -6%, a figure somewhat amplified by the presence of 3% more hotel rooms. The local ADR of $96.96 would have been regarded as real money back in … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Regulation, Slot routes, The Strip | Comments Off on Rough trade

Case Bets: Isle exits U.K.; no room at the Trop; Carlino channels Astaire, etc.

Posted on April 24, 2009 by David McKee

Isle of Capri Casinos is coming up for air, literally extricating itself from underneath Ricoh Stadium in Coventry, U.K. As part of CEO James Perry‘s attempt to refocus a company that spread itself too thin under his predecessor, he’s walking … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Current, Detroit, Economy, Florida, Goldman Sachs, Illinois, International, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Regulation, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on Case Bets: Isle exits U.K.; no room at the Trop; Carlino channels Astaire, etc.

Pinnacle: the untold story

Posted on April 21, 2009 by David McKee

Is waxing and buffing the Pinnacle Entertainment limo a prerequisite for scoring an interview with its CEO? This small masterpiece of selective omission is more interesting for what it elides than what it says. The article parrots Dan Lee as … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Ameristar, Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, Entertainment, Harrah's, Illinois, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Pinnacle Entertainment, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Pinnacle: the untold story

Exit, pursued by a bear market

Posted on April 17, 2009 by David McKee

Aside from the occasional murmur by Wynn Las Vegas prexy Andrew Pascal, executives at Wynn Resorts keep a low (read: invisible) profile. Even the most assiduous follower of the casino industry would have trouble naming Wynn’s CFO off the cuff. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Encore, Harrah's, IGT, Illinois, Macau, MGM Mirage, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Exit, pursued by a bear market

MGM Mirage sells family jewels

Posted on April 6, 2009 by David McKee

Desperation has well and truly hit the fan at MGM Mirage. The company’s Strip casinos may not be priced to move … but it’s said to be quite a different story where MGM Grand Detroit and Beau Rivage are concerned. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Current, Detroit, Economy, Illinois, James Packer, Macau, MGM Mirage, Phil Ruffin, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on MGM Mirage sells family jewels

Case Bets: Chicago, Wyndham, Harrah's

Posted on January 16, 2009 by David McKee

Anybody who still frets about "criminal elements" in Las Vegas casinos ought to turn their gaze toward Chicago instead, where such issues continue to dog the state's 10th casino license. The citizens of Waukegan lost their shot at a casino … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, International, Neil Bluhm, Plaza, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Case Bets: Chicago, Wyndham, Harrah's

'Gang' at Encore

Posted on January 15, 2009 by David McKee

Yesterday saw an unusual — but altogether pleasant — change in the Vegas Gang routine, as we taped “on location” from a seventh-floor room in Encore, overlooking Echelon and the increasingly ominous Fontainebleau (so disproportionately massive it looms over its … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cloverfield monster, Current, Detroit, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, Illinois, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Phil Ruffin, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on 'Gang' at Encore

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 15, 2009 by David McKee

"For a casino worker, every day breathing second-hand smoke in the workplace is one too many. Everyone has the right to breathe smoke-free air — regardless of the color of their collar." — Americans for Nonsmokers Rights Executive Director Cynthia … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Illinois, Labor, Regulation | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

'Gang' at Encore

Posted on January 15, 2009 by David McKee

Yesterday saw an unusual — but altogether pleasant — change in the Vegas Gang routine, as we taped "on location" from a seventh-floor room in Encore, overlooking Echelon and the increasingly ominous Fontainebleau (so disproportionately massive it looms over its … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cloverfield monster, Current, Detroit, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, Illinois, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Phil Ruffin, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on 'Gang' at Encore

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 15, 2009 by David McKee

"For a casino worker, every day breathing second-hand smoke in the workplace is one too many. Everyone has the right to breathe smoke-free air — regardless of the color of their collar." — Americans for Nonsmokers Rights Executive Director Cynthia … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Illinois, Labor, Regulation | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 11, 2008 by David McKee

“I won’t quote back some of the things that were said about me. This is a family program, I know.” — President-elect Barack Obama, referring to the thuggish and expletive-laden locutions favored by Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D-IL), whose crimes against … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Illinois | Comments Off on Quote of the Day