Category Archives: Macau

U.S.S. Adelson lost at sea

Posted on May 2, 2012 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson‘s presidential campaign officially sank today. It was preceded to Davey Jones’ Locker by $21.5 million in Adelson family money (or $10.75 million per primary victory). It’s been a brief voyage but one revelatory of Sheldon’s inner workings. For … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Election, Entertainment, Florida, Internet gambling, Macau, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, TV | 5 Comments

Polished Nugget, burnished Wynn

Posted on April 27, 2012 by David McKee

In what might be called The Era of Deferred Maintenance, Landry’s Restaurants CEO Tilman Fertitta still believes in spending money to make money. That’s why he poured $150 million into the former Trump Marina and, consequently, the Golden Nugget Atlantic … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Mississippi, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Sauce for the goose; Wall Street hearts LVS, MGM & Melco

Posted on April 23, 2012 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson must have great and abiding faith in the American legal system … at least some of the time. He’s counting on it to cover his butt over in Macao, where erstwhile partners Asian American Entertainment have filed suit … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Economy, International, Isle of Capri, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Gilbert, Caesars hit Ohio speed bump; Maple Leaf misadventure; Rearranging deck chairs on the WesCas

Posted on April 20, 2012 by David McKee

Rub a dub-dub, three companies in a tub called Rock Ohio Caesars. In emulation of Nevada‘s built-first-license-later system, the Ohio Casino Control Commission is just getting around to mulling the bonafides of Horseshoe Casino Cleveland‘s shareholders. Little-publicized minority partner Lyle … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Current, Detroit, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Iowa, Kansas, Lyle Berman, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Stanley Ho, The Strip, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Macao: Crossed fingers at Wynn; Confrontation at Melco

Posted on April 19, 2012 by David McKee

According to the Jornal Tribuna de Macau, by the end of the month, Wynn Resorts and the government of Macao “may sign” the long-awaited land tender upon which the fate of $2.7 billion Wynn Cotai rests. It “could be” a … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Current, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, Hooters, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 2 Comments

The continuing adventures of Sheldon Adelson, Harry Reid and the GSA

Posted on April 14, 2012 by David McKee

First, the good news. Business is off and running at brand-new Sands Cotai Central, whose Himalaya casino (372 tables, 600 slots) opened last Wednesday. In total square footage, it overtakes Venetian Macao for status as the world’s largest casino (30% … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Current, Economy, Election, Florida, Genting, Harrah's, Harry Reid, history, International, Macau, Massachusetts, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Stanley Ho, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, TV, Wall Street | 5 Comments

Sheldon Adelson, super villain

Posted on April 13, 2012 by David McKee

“Where’s the white cat,” asked an S&G reader when photos from the grand opening of Sands Cotai Central showed Sheldon Adelson doing a superb impersonation of Ernst Stavro Blofeld, “crumpets” in attendance. You can just imagine him sitting there, brainstorming … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Massachusetts, Movies, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism | 7 Comments

Illinois: Visit more, spend less; Harrah’s breaks losing streak

Posted on April 9, 2012 by David McKee

Although recent investor presentations by the major casino and game-making companies would leave one feeling pretty sanguine about the economy, “pallid” is the word for the industry’s performance in Illinois last month. Attendance at casinos rose 21% but spending was … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Macau, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Worst operator of 2011; GSA’s wrong amount of wrong

Posted on April 4, 2012 by David McKee

Worst of the year? That’d be Grand Station Casino, a former Harrah’s riverboat in Vicksburg, and its owners, Delta Development & Investments. They managed to parlay a $3.25 million steal of a casino that could have gone for $35 million … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, Culinary Union, Current, Economy, Harry Reid, M Resort, Macau, Marketing, Mississippi, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism | 2 Comments

Singapore: Many called, two chosen; Tunica catches a break

Posted on March 22, 2012 by David McKee

VIP junket operators are coming to Singapore, J.P. Morgan stock analysts reported. Actually, they’re already there in the form of “shadow junkets,” according to Singaporean media. And if Las Vegas Sands or Genting Berhad are knowingly dealing with illegal junketeers, … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Current, Economy, Florida, Genting, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Pokergeddon, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, South Carolina, Stanley Ho, Taxes, Technology, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Investor Week: The slot makers speak; More Ohio expansion

Posted on March 21, 2012 by David McKee

Themes! Themes! Themes! That was the promise made by WMS Industries, which plans to introduce no fewer than 55 of them between now and year’s end. I’d thought we were past the era in which slot manufacturers indiscriminately licensed every … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, Cordish Co., Current, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Harrah's, IGT, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Maryland, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Shuffle Master, Slot routes, Technology, Wall Street, WMS Industries | 1 Comment

Ides of March: Caesars, MGM, Wynn court Wall Street

Posted on March 21, 2012 by David McKee

Evidently J.P. Morgan‘s Gaming, Lodging & Leisure Management Access Forum, being held this week at Wynncore, isn’t sufficiently important to merit the attendance of Big Gaming’s CEOs. If Steve Wynn couldn’t make the stroll from his office to Encore’s meeting … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Current, Detroit, Economy, Encore, Entertainment, Harrah's, Illinois, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, World Series of Poker | 2 Comments

Adelson minions visit Encore: Big Gaming courts Wall Street

Posted on March 20, 2012 by David McKee

There will be Ice Capades in Hell before Sheldon Adelson sets foot in Encore, I should expect. However, with J.P. Morgan holding an investor conference at Wynncore, it would be poor form of Las Vegas Sands — currently the darling … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Current, Detroit, Economy, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Kansas, Louisiana, M Resort, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off

One born every minute

Posted on March 16, 2012 by David McKee

Wall Street‘s appetite for risk knows no bounds. True, year-end numbers from MGM Resorts International contain cause for confidence, including 8% higher domestic gambling revenue and 10% improved room revenues. However, MGM’s still sitting atop a $13.5 billion powder keg … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Culinary Union, Current, Dubai, G2E, Harrah's, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Racinos, Taxes, Wall Street | Comments Off

Wynn vs. Okada: Shooting the messenger; Ship of fools

Posted on March 8, 2012 by David McKee

Stung by accusations from Wynn Resorts that erstwhile Shareholder #1 Kazuo Okada had been greasing palms at PAGCOR, prompt action was taken by the Philippines House Committee on Games & Amusements. It promptly banned … Steve Wynn. This comical, “circle … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Bally Technologies, Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, Harrah's, International, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Penn National, Regulation, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Vegas gets its groove back; “Zarkana” comes to Aria

Posted on March 7, 2012 by David McKee

In terms of quantity, quality and proximity, the Los Angeles Times is the closest thing Las Vegas has to a major metropolitan daily. (Hell, the Sacramento Bee puts the Las Vegas Review-Journal to shame.) Indeed, the LAT treats Sin City … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Architecture, Arizona, Boyd Gaming, California, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Donald Trump, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, Macau, MGM Mirage, Movies, Phil Ruffin, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off

Gaughan expands empire … and sundry other Case Bets

Posted on March 7, 2012 by David McKee

Having already taken charge of the hotel operations of the JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa (for historical purposes, best known as The Resort at Summerlin) last summer, Michael Gaughan Jr. will now extend his operational control to its … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Dining, Entertainment, Georgia, Harrah's, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Michael Gaughan, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Tourism | Comments Off

Wynn vs. Okada: The appraisal; Mob Experience returns … like you cared

Posted on February 22, 2012 by David McKee

Wall Street analysts are weighing in on Wynn Resorts‘ preemptive strike against Kazuo Okada last weekend. Surprisingly, J.P. Morgan‘s Joseph Greff rates it as a positive in re Steve Wynn‘s ambitions for expansion into Japan and says it doesn’t hurt … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Cosmopolitan, Current, Election, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, Macau, Movies, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Mob, The Strip, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off

Wynn vs. Okada: Payback Time

Posted on February 20, 2012 by David McKee

Looks like Kazuo Okada brought a knife to a gunfight with Steve Wynn. The latter has spent the last year having former FBI boss Louis Freeh and sundry investigators check up on Okada — and what a lot of dirt … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Florida, Genting, International, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Las Vegas: What’s next?

Posted on February 16, 2012 by David McKee

If I had a crystal ball for Las Vegas’ future, I’d be a wealthier man. Not having one, I consulting some fellows far more perspicacious than myself. In no particular order they include Dennis Conrad, scholars Bill Eadington, Eugene Moehring … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, history, Macau, MGM Mirage, Movies, New York, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tribal | 4 Comments