Category Archives: Louisiana

How big is Deepwater Horizon?; How solvent is Archon?

Posted on May 28, 2010 by David McKee

This weekend, millions are fleeing a disaster of biblical proportions — I speak not of the epochal Deepwater Horizon spill but of Sex and the City 2. However, while we’re on the subject, Gulf Coast casinos can take at least … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Current, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Environment, Laughlin, Louisiana, Mississippi, Movies, Politics, Station Casinos, Technology, The Strip | 4 Comments

While Atlantic City burns …

Posted on May 7, 2010 by David McKee

While Atlantic City burns, Gov. Chris Christie fiddles. After coming into office saying the right things about helping the state’s casino industry, Christie has spent most of first months in office dithering uselessly. Having waited until A) the Revel project … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Atlantic City, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Current, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Environment, Harrah's, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 4, 2010 by David McKee

“[Steve] Wynn does business in Las Vegas, where Gaming Inc. pays a 6.75 percent tax rate and casino bosses bray like thunderstruck donkeys when someone reminds them Mississippi casinos pay 8 percent, Atlantic City casinos contribute 9[%], and Louisiana riverboats … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Louisiana, Macau, Mississippi, Steve Wynn, Taxes | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 30, 2010 by David McKee

“It is certainly time that we openly recognize that when a limited number of gambling licenses are up for bid, the winners will be the applicants who promise the state the most money, in upfront fees, massive construction projects and … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Missouri, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 16, 2010 by David McKee

“This is new CEO Anthony Sanfilippo’s first major (at least public) decision and one that, in our opinion, shows strong and rational capital allocation decision-making.” — J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff, lauding Pinnacle Entertainment‘s decision to scuttle its Sugarcane Bay … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Louisiana, Pinnacle Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Case Bets: Pinnacle’s new CEO; Mr. Bit

Posted on March 15, 2010 by David McKee

S&G congratulates Anthony Sanfilippo, new president and COO of Pinnacle Entertainment. A former regional overseer for Harrah’s Entertainment (prexy of its Central and Western divisions), he’s familiar with the ground on which Pinnacle’s battles will be fought, including Lousiana, Missouri … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Current, Harrah's, Indiana, Louisiana, Missouri, Pets, Pinnacle Entertainment | 2 Comments

Pennsylvania: Give Adelson a break; Harrah’s latest excuses

Posted on March 9, 2010 by David McKee

While principle dictates that Las Vegas Sands ought to be held to the terms of its agreement with the State of Pennsylvania, recent developments give one pause. Namely, why should Steve Wynn get favorable treatment enjoyed by no other casino … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Columbia Sussex, Economy, George Maloof, Harrah's, Illinois, Louisiana, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Adieu, Bourbon Street

Posted on February 5, 2010 by David McKee

Kitty-korner from Bally’s Las Vegas is the former site of Bourbon Street, long since imploded by Harrah’s Entertainment and not the least bit missed. It had a skanky reputation and the tightest slots you ever did play. After it was … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Louisiana, The Strip, Wayne F. Newton | 5 Comments

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

Pelican State blues

Posted on December 15, 2009 by David McKee

November numbers are in for Louisiana and it’s the Pelican State’s worst gaming month in five quarters. Only the independent Eldorado Shreveport riverboat and Fair Grounds racino near New Orleans reported revenue growth. All major operators took it on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Columbia Sussex, Harrah's, International, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Maryland, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Regulation | Comments Off on Pelican State blues

Case Bets: Pinnacle, Macao, Sahara & Mirage

Posted on December 15, 2009 by David McKee

No trouble in River City: The opening of Pinnacle Entertainment‘s River City casino complex has leapt forward from May to March. Bully for Pinnacle, if this means that the project is going to be finished ahead of schedule. If this … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Herbst Gaming, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, The Strip | 4 Comments

F-bleau: It’s Icahn’s … or is it?

Posted on November 24, 2009 by David McKee

True to form, Carl Icahn sprang when you least expected him to, sneaking up on Penn National Gaming in bankruptcy court to outbid it for the bankrupt Fontainebleau in the first round of bartering (a process that will drag into … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Carl Icahn, Current, Economy, Fontainebleau, IGT, Louisiana, Morgans Hotel Group, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, The Strip, Wall Street | 6 Comments

Trouble in River City

Posted on November 9, 2009 by David McKee

In a shocking development that’s bound to set tongues a-wagging, Pinnacle Entertainment CEO Dan Lee has “resigned to pursue other business interests” (industry-speak for “Don’t let the doorknob hit you in the butt”). The buzz is that Pinnacle’s strategy was … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, Louisiana, Missouri, Pinnacle Entertainment, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Regulation, Station Casinos | 8 Comments

The evils of bingo; Wynn’s Aqueduct exit

Posted on November 5, 2009 by David McKee

America’s sixth-largest casino is in rural Alabama and it commands hotel prices comparable to CityCenter. Its 6,400 Class II devices mean that VictoryLand (above) is one gargantuan e-bingo hall. Due to the state’s patchwork set of laws, e-bingo is legal … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Cretins, Current, Economy, Harrah's, International, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, New York, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Taxes | 1 Comment

Case Bets: Pinnacle, Pennsylvania, Harrah’s & Sands

Posted on October 30, 2009 by David McKee

Third quarter at PNK: 3Q09 numbers are out for Pinnacle Entertainment and the comparisons cover the spectrum from very good (Lumiere Place up 19%), good (+5% at L’Auberge du Lac) and lousy (-13% aboard Boomtown New Orleans). Once a free-spending … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Current, Detroit, Economy, Harrah's, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Case Bets: ColSux, Wynn, Agassi, Lake LV, ‘Vega$’

Posted on October 30, 2009 by David McKee

Proverbial “flu-like symptoms” have me feeling light-headed and rather woozy (a delayed reaction to Wayne Newton?), for which the doctor prescribes a dosage of Case Bets … Another ColSux sale: Struggling hotelier Columbia Sussex has, for the not-inconsiderable sum of … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Current, Dining, Downtown, Encore, Iowa, Lake Las Vegas, Louisiana, Oscar Goodman, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, TV | 3 Comments

Boyd: A waiting game

Posted on October 27, 2009 by David McKee

That’s the economic forecast of J.P. Morgan analysts after Boyd Gaming came in slightly under its cash-flow projections for the third quarter. Borgata remained a bright spot, reaching record levels of market share in Atlantic City (a staggering 19%) in … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Current, Downtown, Economy, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Morgans Hotel Group, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pennsylvania, Racinos, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 6 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 15, 2009 by David McKee

"In a lot of places along the coast it looks like the hurricane hit yesterday." — NBC reporter Charles Hadlock, reporting today on the condition of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, four and a half years after Hurricane Katrina.

Posted in Current, Economy, Louisiana, Mississippi | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Case Bets: Corzine, Penn vs. MTR, Pinnacle, Manilow & strippers

Posted on October 7, 2009 by David McKee

Forbidden by New Jersey law from directly contributing to political campaigns, casino companies are making an end run through Virginia. Harrah’s Entertainment, Boyd Gaming and IGT are among those funneling campaign cash into a reverse version on the Underground Railroad. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Harrah's, Horseracing, IGT, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Regulation, The Strip | Comments Off on Case Bets: Corzine, Penn vs. MTR, Pinnacle, Manilow & strippers

Crime doesn't pay; Wyden wimps out

Posted on September 25, 2009 by David McKee

Five dimes worth of damage, $40,000 bail — and all to wrest a measly two grand from some vending machines at Harrah’s Atlantic City. That’s the losing bet made by two security guards. Couple this with the floormen who destroyed … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, Wall Street | Comments Off on Crime doesn't pay; Wyden wimps out