Category Archives: Isle of Capri

From the mailbag: Florida

Posted on February 8, 2012 by David McKee

From the Sunshine State comes this dispatch from one of S&G‘s far-flung network of reader correspondents. This player is obviously quite familiar with the state of gambling in the great State of Florida … Mardi Gras Casino opened with $100 … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Florida, Genting, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Marketing, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Epic failure in Florida; Epic blowhard in Vegas

Posted on February 3, 2012 by David McKee

Neither the very conspicuous efforts of Genting Berhad and Las Vegas Sands nor the quieter ones of Wynn Resorts and Caesars Entertainment were sufficient to overcome entrenched conservatism in the Florida Legislature. State Rep. Erik Fresen (R) waved the surrender … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Genting, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Florida: How much is too much?; Sheldon Adelson, ventriloquist

Posted on January 20, 2012 by David McKee

Those $2 billion megaresorts mooted for Florida will have a much easier time making their nut if state Rep. Erik Fresen (R, left) holds sway. In an attempt to woo recalcitrant conservatives, Fresen is proposing various restraints on gambling’s growth … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Election, Florida, Fontainebleau, Genting, International, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Macau, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Tourism | 1 Comment

Meet Virginia McDowell, Part II: Tales of Trump

Posted on January 18, 2012 by David McKee

In terms of turning around Isle’s financial performance, do you feel the full 180 degrees have been achieved yet? We’ve had a couple off different priorities over the last few years, as far as our strategic initiatives. One was to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Harrah's, history, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Kentucky, Marketing, Missouri, Tourism, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Meet Virginia McDowell, Part I

Posted on January 13, 2012 by David McKee

What are your plans for Nemacolin Woodlands Resort, in Pennsylvania? We’re still waiting for the appeal process to wind its way through the courts. The original plan called for to build on an existing facility on the Nemacolin property, which … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Florida, G2E, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Marketing, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Station Casinos, Taxes, Technology, Texas, Tourism, Tribal | 3 Comments

Sheldon Adelson, wuss; MGM pounces; Slipper-y logic; Enter whining

Posted on January 12, 2012 by David McKee

What manner of fool spends $5 million to disseminate a film that he’s never seen and whose content he claims not to endorse? Sheldon Adelson, that’s who. After his latest political favorite got clobbered in the New Hampshire primary, Adelson … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Ameristar, Cordish Co., Dan Lee, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Jack Binion, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Movies, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, TV | Comments Off on Sheldon Adelson, wuss; MGM pounces; Slipper-y logic; Enter whining

Belated Christmas presents, Midwest edition

Posted on January 11, 2012 by David McKee

To quote Stephen Sondheim, everything’s coming up roses … or close enough, anyway. Last Friday, strong numbers out of Iowa — of a non-caucus ilk — showed the state’s casinos rebounding to the tune of 16% (on a $121 million) … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Dan Lee, Don Barden, Donald Trump, Economy, Environment, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Kentucky, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Taxes, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Hans Klok, come back!

Posted on January 6, 2012 by David McKee

Sometimes one experiences an experience so awful that its sheer awfulness is awfully far beyond the power of words to describe. That’s what happened last night at the premiere of Vegas Magic Theatre at Gold Coast. (How bad was it? … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, Downtown, Entertainment, Florida, Isle of Capri, The Strip | 1 Comment

‘Grimm’ reaper; Marathon ordeal; Last call for queries

Posted on December 12, 2011 by David McKee

Las Vegas made the Sunday funny pages this week. One could get all irate about Mike Peters‘ dig at gambling and the Strip. However, if he wanted to equate casinos with fleapits, he could have chosen more wisely than he … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Environment, Florida, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 1 Comment

Ask Virginia!

Posted on November 22, 2011 by David McKee

Following in the footsteps of Alex Yemenidjian and Anthony Marnell IIII, the CEO of Isle of Capri Casinos, Virginia McDowell, has agreed to take questions from S&G readers early next month. So here’s your shot: Sharpen those pencils and dream … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Current, Economy, Isle of Capri, Mississippi, Ohio, Penn National | 1 Comment

Election update: Evening the score; A Wynn-Winn situation

Posted on November 21, 2011 by David McKee

It’s five o’clock in Shreveport … or soon will be. Voters in Bossier Parish handed the casino industry a belated 2011 “win,” balancing the ledger in an otherwise disappointing electoral cycle. A Margaritaville-branded casino (employing a Lake Charles boat purchased … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Current, Dining, Election, Entertainment, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Marketing, Pinnacle Entertainment, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | 5 Comments

Going home again; Hotel Hell: The sequel

Posted on November 1, 2011 by David McKee

Here’s a casino-development story with several personal angles. When I lived in Minneapolis and wrote from the since-defunct Twin Cities Reader, my publisher was R.T. Rybak. Now he’s mayor of the city and is trying to hold onto the perennially … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Culinary Union, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Genting, Harrah's, Herbst Gaming, Isle of Capri, Lyle Berman, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism | 4 Comments

Domino effects

Posted on October 31, 2011 by David McKee

“Prior to the official opening, a 60-minute opening ceremony was held outside of the main entrance to the casino, where local and state politicians patted each other on the back for finally getting the casino opened, a mere 10 years … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Culinary Union, Current, Detroit, Economy, Election, Florida, Harrah's, Horseracing, Isle of Capri, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Singapore, Slot routes, Taxes, Tourism, Tribal | 1 Comment

Mojito Pointe: Why MGM did it

Posted on October 25, 2011 by David McKee

Maybe they were just charmed by Dan Lee‘s babyish face (left) but leadership at MGM Resorts International can cite of plenty of other reasons for throwing in on Lee’s Mojito Pointe project … which may be rechristened with an MGM … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Dan Lee, Horseracing, International, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, M Resort, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Steve Wynn, Texas, The Strip | 1 Comment

What if they gave a casino and no one came?

Posted on October 18, 2011 by David McKee

Such been the plight of Maryland, a state that’s experienced the curious predicament of having more casino licenses than applicants. It’s much the same as Kansas, where things have gone awful quiet. Now, Kansas is like a corn-fed Macao: You … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Current, Donald Trump, Economy, G2E, Harrah's, International, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Macau, Maryland, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes, West Virginia | 1 Comment

The King of Palm Beach

Posted on October 14, 2011 by David McKee

Florida‘s seven struggling, casino-enabled parimutuels could become eight, with the entry of a new player … While the courts have now made it possible for Don King to make an end-run around Palm Beach County voters, if necessary, by taking … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Florida, G2E, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal | 2 Comments

More Trop troubles; Adelson’s wins & losses

Posted on October 12, 2011 by David McKee

Update: The Trop has been hit with yet another defection — and it’s a biggie. A bit shy of two years into his tenure as president of the Tropicana Las Vegas, veteran executive Tom McCartney has given his notice. While … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Culinary Union, Harrah's, history, International, Isle of Capri, Macau, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | Comments Off on More Trop troubles; Adelson’s wins & losses

The great riverboat robbery; Pusateri’s revenge; Gaming’s top 12

Posted on September 21, 2011 by David McKee

Increased funding for education is always the big selling point whenever gambling laws in Missouri are liberalized. This week, schools are finding out what sort of Indian givers their casino benefactors are. Schools are among the public services that stand … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Bally Technologies, Boyd Gaming, Current, George Maloof, Harrah's, IGT, Isle of Capri, Macau, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Morgans Hotel Group, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, Warner Gaming, WMS Industries | 3 Comments

Gaming is on the march

Posted on September 9, 2011 by David McKee

Add Kentucky to the states that have casino-style gambling, at least temporarily. Owners of Kentucky Downs found a loophole in Bluegrass State law and galloped through it. “Instant Racing” is the sort of VLT game you might find at a … Continue reading →

Posted in Cannery Casino Resorts, Current, Economy, Election, Genting, Harrah's, Horseracing, Isle of Capri, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Warner Gaming | 6 Comments

Thaw in Massachusetts? Hilton has left the building

Posted on August 25, 2011 by David McKee

After screwing the pooch in the previous legislature, it looks as though Gov. Deval Patrick (D-MA) and state lawmakers are finally on the same page regarding casino expansion in the Bay State. Analyst Joseph Greff rates the solons’ chances of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, Colony Capital, Current, Economy, Genting, Horseracing, IGT, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Marketing, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Singapore, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Warner Gaming, WMS Industries | 2 Comments