Category Archives: International

The Death Ray goes global

Posted on October 4, 2010 by David McKee

One of the most reliably entertaining news sites is Hong Kong-based NMA World Edition, which covers current events in a manner so imaginative and — shall we say — unrestrained by good taste that it makes Fox News look as … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Current, Election, Harry Reid, International, MGM Mirage, TV, Vdara Death Ray | 2 Comments

What becomes a Hellmouth most? Gary Loveman’s hostage drama

Posted on September 30, 2010 by David McKee

Perhaps it’d be exiting the World Series of Poker Europe must faster and with far less bombast than he entered it. Muddled metaphor? Compared to the 1990s, the casino industry’s image problems really aren’t that bad, especially when you consider … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, G2E, Harrah's, International, World Series of Poker | 3 Comments

Musical chairs at Trump (again)

Posted on September 29, 2010 by David McKee

High-ranking executive jobs at Trump Entertainment Resorts aren’t for “lifers.” Having steered Trump through yet another bankruptcy, CEO Mark Juliano is exiting stage right, “leaving to pursue other opportunities” — the latest executive to be purged. Nobody stays long atop … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Harrah's, International, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Marketing, Maryland, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal | 2 Comments

Jump le sharque: Cirque bombs in Macao

Posted on September 28, 2010 by David McKee

After sinking a reported $150 million into Cirque du Soleil‘s Zaia, Las Vegas Sands may find itself in possession of a very expensive “loss leader.” According to The Australian, “attendances [sic] have been poor and tickets have been heavily discounted.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cirque du Soleil, Current, Detroit, Economy, Entertainment, International, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Jump le sharque: Cirque bombs in Macao

Barrack 1, Bankers 0; Criminal stupidity

Posted on September 24, 2010 by David McKee

A skirmish over the fate of the Atlantic City Hilton ended in victory for Colony Capital. A Superior Court judge decided there were too many unresolved issues in the dissolution of Colony’s East Coast casino portfolio to warrant taking the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Lake Tahoe, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sports, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

11 Lady Gagas … and Phil Hellmuth

Posted on September 24, 2010 by David McKee

If James Bond were hosting a poker tournament it may look like the World Series of Poker Europe,” WSOP commissar Jeffrey Pollack once told Pokerlistings.com. It may. Then again, it may not. If you’re Phil “Hellmouth” Hellmuth and lack a … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Harrah's, International, World Series of Poker | 2 Comments

Live, naked girls

Posted on September 23, 2010 by David McKee

Every few days brings a story pitch from some long-suffering PR professional. Today’s mail finds this plea on behalf of IAM Corp.: Since the beginning of online gaming, every other market has flocked to Live Dealer Casinos, but the US … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Current, Downtown, Dubai, Economy, Election, Genting, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Marketing, New York, Plaza, Politics, Tamares Group, The Strip | 2 Comments

Sin City, look to thy laurels!

Posted on August 27, 2010 by David McKee

Warning: Adult content; viewer discretion advised. Boy, wouldn’t the Nevada Gaming Control Board go into apoplexy if, say, the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino took a page or 12 from Casino Victoria, in Minsk. At least everybody seems to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, International, Morgans Hotel Group, Regulation | 1 Comment

Reid wusses out; Sucker bets, Sheldon & strippers

Posted on August 26, 2010 by David McKee

UIGEA repeal? Forget about it. Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) has chickened out again. Pressed on the issue, he said he’d support the legalization of online poker but faintheartedly drew the line there. That still wasn’t good enough for some independent … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, CityCenter, Current, Dubai, Election, Entertainment, Harrah's, Harry Reid, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Politics, Regulation, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, World Series of Poker | 3 Comments

Case Bets: Global Cash’s Access, Cosmo, Riviera, Oscar, Oregon & Banditry

Posted on August 25, 2010 by David McKee

Excessive Access? The casino industry gets closer and closer to the day when it simply hooks up a suction hose to your bank vault. While Global Cash Access doesn’t want to interface bank cards with slot machines — it would … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Cosmopolitan, Current, Election, Environment, Harrah's, International, Marketing, New York, Oscar Goodman, Problem gambling, Regulation, Riviera, Technology, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, TV | 8 Comments

Caesars Cincinnati? Invaders repulsed at Gettysburg (again)

Posted on August 18, 2010 by David McKee

Here at S&G, we think the Caesars brand is more than worthy of the Queen City. Others don’t share our enthusiasm. Using the Horseshoe hoofprint doesn’t make sense, given that Harrah’s Entertainment rather expensively deployed that just downriver in Evansville. … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, history, Illinois, International, Kansas, Lyle Berman, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Regulation, Tribal | 6 Comments

New shakeup at Melco; Adelson goes tropical

Posted on August 13, 2010 by David McKee

Those of you for whom Melco Crown Entertainment has been a bumpy ride are about to experience additional turbulence. CFO Simon Dewhurst has stepped down and MPEL board has — rather late in the day — decided “to find a … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Current, International, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Case Bets: New Jersey; A lucky guy; Genting’s good fortune

Posted on August 9, 2010 by David McKee

Garden State Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.) may have excluded sports betting as a new revenue source for the state’s besieged casino industry. As expected, state Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D, left) tuned the governor out and continues to pursue legalization of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Cordish Co., Current, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Genting, Harrah's, International, Macau, New York, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Singapore, Sports, Tamares Group, Tourism | 1 Comment

Rising Sun; At Harry’s mercy

Posted on August 9, 2010 by David McKee

It’s not news that Japan has been mulling casino gambling for the umpteenth time. What is news is that the Diet — or rather, the General Assembly of International Sightseeing Industry Development Diet Member Association — has gotten very serious … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Harrah's, Harry Reid, International, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal | 3 Comments

The Tamares shuffle

Posted on August 4, 2010 by David McKee

Musical chairs continue at Tamares Group‘s downtown Las Vegas collection of crumbling casinos. Bobby Ray Harris is out as casino manager and Anthony F. Santo is in. Otherwise, it was the same old song and dance. $20 million worth of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Current, Downtown, Harrah's, history, International, Regulation, Station Casinos, Tamares Group, Transportation, Tropicana Entertainment | 2 Comments

Business is booming … overseas

Posted on August 3, 2010 by David McKee

At some point, Peking may decide that Macao is overheated but for the moment it’s simply red-hot. Revenues vaulted 70% last month, to the tune of $2 billion U.S. dollars (or $25,435,856,924 Zimbabwean), the second-best number in Macanese history. Wynn … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Current, Economy, Genting, International, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Movies, Pansy Ho, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Technology, Tourism, Transportation, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Adelson fires Sands China CEO; Kenny Guinn, 1936-2010

Posted on July 23, 2010 by David McKee

It’s getting rather slippery on the tiled floors of Venelazzo and its Macao offshoots, what will the frequent bloodbaths that are becoming a hallmark of Sheldon Adelson‘s reign as creator and CEO of Las Vegas Sands. The victim sent over … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Harrah's, history, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Monte Carlo fire, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Atlantic City: Christie’s coup d’etat

Posted on July 21, 2010 by David McKee

Last week, I tried to work up a piece entitled, “Atlantic City, R.I.P.” After all, the Boardwalk had just come off a catastrophic June, impacted by table games in Delaware. Since table games were in process of sweeping Pennsylvania, from … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, Horseracing, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Stanley Ho, Taxes, The Mob, Tourism | 6 Comments

What’s that smell at Red Rock?

Posted on July 20, 2010 by David McKee

No, it’s not the ethical stench of the Station Casinos‘ LBO/bankruptcy/reorganization process. It’s the hazmat situation brought on by the careless handling of chemicals. Chlorine was pumped into an acid tank, causing respiratory irritation, a few hospitalizations — a no … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Current, Environment, International, Macau, Marketing, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism | 1 Comment

Galaviz hearts Singapore — with caution

Posted on July 19, 2010 by David McKee

Analysts continue to do a 180 from their cautious outlook on Singapore five years ago. Among those raining plaudits on the early performance of the city-state’s two megaresorts is Jonathan Galaviz of Galaviz & Co. He estimates that Singapore will … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Genting, International, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Tourism, Wall Street | 1 Comment