Category Archives: International

Fear of flying

Posted on December 5, 2008 by David McKee

There may have been more to James Packer‘s inability to attend his scheduled Nevada Gaming Control Board appearance than not having a plane ticket (which was more or less the official excuse). Today’s Sydney Morning Herald reports that Packer’s Crown … Continue reading →

Posted in Cannery Casino Resorts, International, James Packer, Macau, Regulation | Comments Off on Fear of flying

Collapse in Kansas; Herbst is toast

Posted on December 5, 2008 by David McKee

And then there was one. A Cordish Co./Kansas Speedway joint venture has pulled the chicken switch on a $400 million casino project. This leaves avionics firm Butler National Service Corp., with its Dodge City concession, as the only company with … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Economy, G2E, Harrah's, Herbst Gaming, Horseracing, International, Kansas, Macau, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation | Comments Off on Collapse in Kansas; Herbst is toast

Case Bets: Hooters; Defection at Borgata; Yung vs. Butera

Posted on November 25, 2008 by David McKee

"All of the economists who gave us information predict 2007 is going to be a year where the economy slows throughout the country and Nevada. Then we will see a pickup in 2008-09." — Deborah Pierce, CFO, Hooters Hotel, Las … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Columbia Sussex, Economy, International, Regulation, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Case Bets: Hooters; Defection at Borgata; Yung vs. Butera

Case Bets: Ho Tram, Shuffle(d) Master, Ameristar

Posted on November 18, 2008 by David McKee

Tout le monde may be at G2E (albeit 10% less le monde than last year, I’m told) but the big news is happening elsewhere. MGM Mirage has emerged as the “angel” for the Ho Tram Strip in Vietnam. It’s a … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Current, Economy, Harrah's, International, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Pinnacle Entertainment, Shuffle Master | Comments Off on Case Bets: Ho Tram, Shuffle(d) Master, Ameristar

Fire sale at Harrah's, MGM?

Posted on November 17, 2008 by David McKee

That was one of the bombshells dropped this morning at Global Gaming Expo. According to a member of a "state of the industry" panel of G2E's Casino Design track, Harrah's Entertainment has several unprofitable properties that were for sale. "Now … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, California, Donald Trump, Economy, G2E, Harrah's, International, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Fire sale at Harrah's, MGM?

Buddy, can you spare six billion?

Posted on October 7, 2008 by David McKee

Chuck Monster of VegasTripping.com is a man of few words, but he doesn't miss much (and his Dodgers are four wins shy of the World Series). He's run the numbers on Dubai World's purchase of MGM Mirage stock and found … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Fontainebleau, International, MGM Mirage, Tamares Group, The Strip | Comments Off on Buddy, can you spare six billion?

Lamest casino promotion. Ever

Posted on July 29, 2008 by David McKee

Not long ago, I received an oversized postcard in the mail from Eastside Cannery Casino Hotel (or E-Can, in LVA parlance). They want me to go to www.cannerycasinos.com and sign up for a players’ card. And what do I get … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, International, Michael Gaughan | Comments Off on Lamest casino promotion. Ever

Turnaround for Lady Luck?

Posted on June 20, 2008 by David McKee

A reliable source sees some light at the end of the Lady Luck tunnel: “CIM took ownership of the timeshare property last Oct. as LL Timeshare. Just this month they’re doing the individual deed assignments.” Don’t get your hopes up … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, International, James Packer, Macau, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off on Turnaround for Lady Luck?

Blasts from the past

Posted on June 18, 2008 by David McKee

Snuggled inconspicuously in a recent El Cortez press release was the disclosure that the newly reconfigured ownership will include one Lonny Zarowitz. The aforesaid Zarowtiz figures briefly in John L. Smith's Running Scared: The Life and Treacherous Times of Las … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Harrah's, International, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip, TV | Comments Off on Blasts from the past

Coming soon: Venetian Baghdad?

Posted on May 5, 2008 by David McKee

It’s not quite so crazy at it sounds. Well, OK, it does sound off-your-rocker crazy, at least while mortar shells continue to drop on the Green Zone: A $5 billion commercial development in the heart of the world’s most, um, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, International, Politics, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Coming soon: Venetian Baghdad?

A call to action

Posted on May 1, 2008 by David McKee

Remember that editorial about construction safety (or the obvious lack thereof) that I said the Las Vegas Sun ought to be writing — as opposed to printing a jeremiad about the Miley Cyrus photo flap? Well, it’s been written … … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, International, The Strip | Comments Off on A call to action

A good question

Posted on April 17, 2008 by David McKee

Math was always my worst subject, so it’s a good thing I’ve got sharp-eyed readers who keep me honest. One of them asks how MGM Mirage is going to save $75 million (later restated by the company as $200 million) … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Taxes, Wall Street | Comments Off on A good question

The Westin scandal …

Posted on April 4, 2008 by David McKee

… is growing legs. No, not these kind of legs. (Well, that too.) It’s also unearthed another strange-but-true story of business as usual at Columbia Sussex. That $25/bedbug bounty at the Trop is unwontedly generous by ColSux standards — a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Downtown, Harrah's, International, Labor, Politics, The Strip, TV | Comments Off on The Westin scandal …

Neon Museum on hold

Posted on February 19, 2008 by David McKee

From the pages of the Las Vegas Sun … For want of $1.5 million, work on the long-awaited Neon Museum has ground to a halt. Mind you, this is a museum that would preserve many of the most evocative relics … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Current, International, Sports | Comments Off on Neon Museum on hold