Category Archives: LVCVA

Why the Riviera deal stinks

Posted on February 18, 2015 by David McKee

Occasional S&G contributor Jeff in OKC shares some blunt sentiment about this week’s biggest story: the planned sale and demolition of the Riviera, the most venerable casino on the Las Vegas Strip: I’m 56. A 100% pure Baby Boomer, born in 1958. … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Derek Stevens, Economy, history, LVCVA, Riviera, Tourism | 8 Comments

Riviera’s fate sealed

Posted on February 17, 2015 by David McKee

… or soon will be. On Friday, the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority is holding a board meeting at which the future of the venerable hotel-casino will be decided. On the table is a $182.5 million purchase, which values … Continue reading →

Posted in Fontainebleau, LVCVA, Movies, Riviera, Technology, The Strip, Westgate LV | Comments Off

Adieu, Riviera?

Posted on February 16, 2015 by David McKee

Is Las Vegas‘ oldest Strip casino facing a date with the wrecking ball? Last week, LVA broke the news that — at least according to one of our sources — the Riviera was being sold to the Las Vegas Convention … Continue reading →

Posted in Internet gambling, LVCVA, New Hampshire, PokerStars, Politics, Riviera, The Strip | 2 Comments

Cuomo’s New York mess thickens

Posted on January 14, 2015 by David McKee

Bowing to pressure from New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), the Gaming Facility Location Board is starting the clock on a new round of bidding for casinos in the state’s thinly populated Southern Tier. It didn’t draw much interest last … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, International, James Packer, LVCVA, New York, Philippines, Regulation, South Korea, Sports, Technology, The Strip, Transportation | Comments Off

New day at the AGA; Illinois casinos feel the slot-route squeeze

Posted on January 14, 2015 by David McKee

For the first time, a Native American gaming enterprise has become part of the American Gaming Association, as Seminole Hard Rock Gaming has cracked what had been the lobbyist equivalent of a whites-only country club. It’s part of an image … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Economy, Geoff Freeman, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Illinois, LVCVA, Missouri, Penn National, Slot routes, Tribal | 1 Comment

The genius of Wynn; Wilmot charges ahead

Posted on December 19, 2014 by David McKee

Steve Wynn doesn’t wrap his hotels in bronze glass just because he likes the color. No, he has determined that the light passing through it makes his guests look more attractive “in rooms that have warmer light … One of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Entertainment, LVCVA, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Tourism | Comments Off

Wynn wins again; LVH sale near

Posted on June 24, 2014 by David McKee

Steve Wynn‘s $19 million libel award against sleazebag Joe Francis, former purveyor of Girls Gone Wild, has been upheld. The appeals court also imposed a gag order on Francis, enjoining him from ever repeating his claims that Wynn threatened to … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, Illinois, LVCVA, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Full House’s busted flush; GLPI’s big play

Posted on May 14, 2014 by David McKee

In further evidence of saturation in the gaming industry (if more were needed), Full House Resorts wants to be released from a commitment to buy Fitzgerald’s Casino, in Tunica. Seems that Full House can’t find banks who’ll underwrite the deal. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cannery Casino Resorts, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Harrah's, LVCVA, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Penn National, Racinos, Wall Street | Comments Off

Sin City Serenade; Empire State frenzy

Posted on May 5, 2014 by David McKee

It’s probably between Dallas and Las Vegas for the 2016 Republican convention. Quite a study in contrasts (except for the summer heat). Social-issues conservatives are coming out hard against Sin City, surprise, surprise. Never mind casinos: 64 pages of ads … Continue reading →

Posted in LVCVA, Marketing, New York, Politics, The Strip, Transportation | Comments Off

Super Bowl hits Vegas jackpot; Hope for Caesars overseas

Posted on February 3, 2014 by David McKee

“It was embarrassing, humiliating and unbearable,” but when the Super Bowl was over, Nevada sports books had cleaned up … except for that safety on the first play from scrimmage, costly for the Denver Broncos and the books alike. Heavy … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, Boyd Gaming, Harrah's, International, LVCVA, MGM Mirage, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off

Adelson’s troubles mount; Rage at Wynncore

Posted on June 5, 2013 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands has been losing one court case after another, whether in Macao or at home in Las Vegas. But the sands really hit the fan today with the revelation that Sheldon Adelson‘s company is under the scrutiny by … Continue reading →

Posted in Cretins, Current, International, LVCVA, Macau, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 1 Comment

Back at my post

Posted on June 25, 2012 by David McKee

Barring enormous dissatisfaction in McLean, Virginia, the USAT travel guides are off my desk for the time being, which means slightly more leisure to ponder such matters as what the rise to power of the Islamic Brotherhood in Cairo (albeit … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Harrah's, International, LVCVA, Politics, Sheldon Adelson | 2 Comments

Casino codependency, Chris Christie’s cowardice & other Case Bets

Posted on May 15, 2012 by David McKee

It’s too bad Steve Friess isn’t here to write this next story, because it’s right up his alley. What do you do if your big-name headliner badmouths your casino and CEO on opening night? You re-hire him, what else? Like … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Current, Donald Trump, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, Internet gambling, LVCVA, Marketing, New York, Ohio, Politics, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, Taxes, The Strip, TV | 2 Comments

Choy challenges Vegas

Posted on March 28, 2012 by David McKee

This is the conclusion of a two-part interview with Riviera boss Andy Choy in which he answers questions submitted by S&G readers. Can the Riv survive if nothing is done with the Sahara, Fontainebleau or Echelon sites for another five … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Culinary Union, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, LVCVA, Marketing, Plaza, Riviera, Sahara, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 3 Comments

Sands’ new strategy: Blame Genting; Big Gaming backs Romney

Posted on February 15, 2012 by David McKee

First, the good news. Las Vegas Sands is signaling that it is not going to take its ball and come home from Florida, regardless of what lobbyist Nick Iarossi said last week. However, Sands’ emissary to the Sunshine State, Andy … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Current, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Election, Florida, Genting, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, LVCVA, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 17, 2012 by David McKee

“To see Vegas through the eyes of a CES attendee is to stare into the loudest, brightest, most colour-saturated nook of hell. With 200,000 people — mainly men — crowded into an area just a few miles square, the city … Continue reading →

Posted in LVCVA | Comments Off

What’s said in Vegas …

Posted on October 18, 2011 by David McKee

Confronted with a bunch of mossbacked codgers (the Las Vegas Review-Journal editorial board) and a backwater newspaper whilst warming up for his Venetian gig tonight, Mitt Romney must have figured he had the luxury of thinking aloud. What happens here, … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Election, G2E, Lake Las Vegas, LVCVA, Sheldon Adelson, Tourism, TV | 2 Comments

Scent of a douchebag

Posted on September 29, 2011 by David McKee

Too bad R&R Partners and the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority didn’t think up this ad first. It’s actually captures the spirit of roaming-herd and mating-ritual behaviors seen every weekend on the Las Vegas Strip and now manifesting themselves … Continue reading →

Posted in Cretins, Downtown, Entertainment, LVCVA, Marketing, Morgans Hotel Group, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off

Marriott’s master plan?; Cosmo blows?

Posted on April 20, 2011 by David McKee

Last week, we were discussing United Coin‘s assertion that a Marriott-branded hotel-casino may be erected on the acre formerly occupied by the old Sport of Kings gambling parlor. I recently had a chance to scope out United’s Little Acre and … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, LVCVA, Sahara, Tourism | 4 Comments

Marriott moots LV casino

Posted on April 8, 2011 by David McKee

Offering Sin City a slim reed of hope, Marriott International has let it be known — through “trailer station” operator United Coin — that it hopes to build a 3,500-room casino-hotel directly opposite the Las Vegas Convention Center. Considering the … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Current, Florida, Harrah's, history, LVCVA, Mississippi, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | 5 Comments