Category Archives: Labor

Harrah’s $1.5B Bratislava bet; Marina Bay Sands booms; Falcons swoop upon Hilton, etc.

Posted on June 2, 2010 by David McKee

With almost no exception other than The Newspaper That Shall Remain Nameless, a $1.85 billion Metropolis project headed up by Harrah’s Entertainment has flown completely under the radar of the U.S. media ever since its announcement last October. Oh, some … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Current, Economy, Environment, Genting, Harrah's, International, James Packer, Labor, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Tribal, TV, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Politics, gaming getting hopelessly muddled

Posted on June 2, 2010 by David McKee

Primary day in Nevada is less than a week away and that’s far too long for my taste. If I had a dollar for every robo-call I’ve received and every expensive-looking flier that’s found its way into my mailbox (and … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Current, Economy, Election, Labor, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, TV, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Murren snubs Gibbons, goes to Peking

Posted on May 27, 2010 by David McKee

Even Gov. Jim Gibbons has realized the futility of his ill-conceived attempt to play The Great Mediator in the MGM Mirage vs. Perini Building war. As a courtesy, CityCenter CEO Bobby Baldwin met with Midnight Jim, to basically tell him … Continue reading →

Posted in California, CityCenter, Current, Economy, International, Labor, Macau, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, The Strip | Comments Off on Murren snubs Gibbons, goes to Peking

More political football at CityCenter

Posted on May 18, 2010 by David McKee

Due to the Las Vegas Review-Journal‘s bizarre campaign to secede from the Internet, we dare not even link to an excellent Howard Stutz rundown of MGM Mirage‘s attempt to gain the high ground in the fractious “Who screwed up CityCenter” … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Archon Corp., Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Current, Economy, Election, Harry Reid, Labor, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Movies, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 3, 2010 by David McKee

“Their counter argument, that it’s unwieldy to interject a third party into the relationship between worker and employee, is generally akin to a highwayman lamenting the intrusion of a beat cop into the relationship between mugger and victim.” — CityLife … Continue reading →

Posted in Labor | 4 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 26, 2010 by David McKee

“Ever since banks lent all that money to Columbia Sussex to buy my hotel, my paycheck is smaller, I don’t qualify for health insurance anymore, and my co-workers are laid off.” — Baltimore Sheraton laundress Mary Lee Hinant. Her hotel … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Current, Labor, Maryland, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

This is getting nasty

Posted on March 11, 2010 by David McKee

Update: S&G sends its condolences to Sen. Reid after his wife and daughter were severely injured in an automobile accident this afternoon. Back when Archon Corp. Treasurer Sue Lowden (left) threw her hat into the 2010 U.S. Senate race, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., CityCenter, Current, Economy, Election, Harry Reid, Labor, Laughlin, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, TV | 1 Comment

Case Bets: Sands in Singapore, casinos in Hawaii, Foxwoods’ prophecy

Posted on February 16, 2010 by David McKee

What a turnaround: Las Vegas Sands has finally ‘fessed up that India will be a top feeder market for Marina Bay Sands (left). There’s no shame in that — it simply gives S&G the opportunity to remind Sands that we … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Genting, International, Labor, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Taxes, Tribal | 3 Comments

Pawlenty, in real time

Posted on February 4, 2010 by David McKee

As you may have already read, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) is coming to Venelazzo to dole out some markers to the local GOP that he could call in for a 2012 presidential run (native son John Ensign having obligingly … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Election, Internet gambling, Labor, Minnesota, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Tribal | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 4, 2010 by David McKee

“We will lose our competitive edge … and add to the already crushing burden of unemployment in this state. We will lose the ability to train the workforce for the very economy we wish to attract this state.” — Dan … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Labor, Midnight Jim Gibbons | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 1, 2010 by David McKee

“What we’re seeing emerge here in Nevada is an economy that will not repeat the boom-like conditions that we saw just a few short years ago. I doubt very much in my lifetime we’re ever going to see consistent job … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Labor, The Strip | 2 Comments

If you’re not in Vegas today …

Posted on January 18, 2010 by David McKee

… you’re not missing anything, I’m afraid. The skies are battleship gray and likely to remain so the rest of the week, dampening attendance at CityCenter‘s pocket park. On the other hand, that’s perfect weather to stay indoors and gamble, … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Current, Entertainment, Labor, Pets, The Strip | Comments Off on If you’re not in Vegas today …

Happy ending for “Aztar”

Posted on January 15, 2010 by David McKee

Here’s a feel-good story to help ring out the week. The Indiana Gaming Commission has approved Tropicana Entertainment as a suitable owner-operator for the Casino Aztar riverboat, berthed in Evansville. There are a number of contingencies, primarily the plunking down … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, Indiana, Labor, Louisiana, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 31, 2009 by David McKee

“What [Steve] Wynn forgets is that his tired old trickle-down-and-deregulate song-and-dance is exactly what got us into this fine mess in the first place.” — Las Vegas CityLife Managing Editor Andrew Kiraly, on Wynn’s reinvention as a political pundit. CityLife … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Entertainment, Labor, Politics, Regulation, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

From the mailbag #7

Posted on September 30, 2009 by David McKee

Presumably foiled once again by the Comment-Eating Server, reader kerr_mudgeon writes: From the article about the A.C. contract settlement: "In his praise of the deal, Don Marrandino, the Eastern Division president of Harrah's, appeared to refer indirectly to tortured negotiations … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Horseracing, Kentucky, Labor | Comments Off on From the mailbag #7

ColSux gets smacked (again)

Posted on September 25, 2009 by David McKee

In case you've wondered whether Columbia Sussex's endgame in its interminably protracted — and often preposterous — negotiations with the Culinary Union was to provoke a strike at the Tropicana Las Vegas, the company's actions elsewhere leave little doubt. (I … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska, Columbia Sussex, Economy, Labor, The Strip | Comments Off on ColSux gets smacked (again)

From the mailbag #5

Posted on September 23, 2009 by David McKee

Our Comment-Eating Server has been at it again, so here are a few reader remarks that got devoured in cyberspace (where no one can hear you scream at your computer) … With regard to “Gambling Scandal Ensnares Eight More“: This … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Donald Trump, Environment, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Labor, Regulation, The Mob, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on From the mailbag #5

Worst Trend Yet

Posted on September 17, 2009 by David McKee

This is the sort of bottom-feeding move you'd expect from Columbia Sussex but not from Hyatt. Suffice it to say that if casino-hotels try this cheapjack number in Atlantic City, Detroit or Las Vegas, there will be holy hell to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Current, Detroit, Economy, Entertainment, Labor, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Worst Trend Yet

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 22, 2009 by David McKee

“I have been pleasantly surprised by the tremendous reservoir of good will that exists in our work force … Considering how previous administrators have neglected the property, neglected the operations and neglected the employees, it was very refreshing to find … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Columbia Sussex, Labor, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Case Bets: Ohio, Trump, Fahrenkopfian outrage

Posted on August 6, 2009 by David McKee

With racinos a done deal in Ohio, a suddenly frisky Harrah’s Entertainment is shopping around for a Cleveland-area track. If anything, I’m surprised competing companies haven’t beaten Harrah’s to the punch, but it seems to have sucker-punched its rivals. Good … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Donald Trump, Harrah's, Labor, Maryland, Ohio, Wall Street | Comments Off on Case Bets: Ohio, Trump, Fahrenkopfian outrage