Category Archives: Macau

“Wow”

Posted on May 27, 2010 by David McKee

No, that’s not the sound of the Las Vegas Review-Journal‘s Jennifer Robison going weak in the knees at the sight of CityCenter again. It’s J.P.Morgan‘s analysts getting turned on by early numbers from Marina Bay Sands. So excited were they … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Genting, International, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on “Wow”

When in doubt, attack

Posted on May 26, 2010 by David McKee

With New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie waffling and threatening to sidle over to the horsey set, granting them their long-held wish for racinos, former Atlantic City mayor and current state Sen. James Whelan (below) launched a preemptive strike. He wants … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Horseracing, Macau, Politics, Racinos | 1 Comment

Shel & Bill, together again; Coup for HRH

Posted on May 25, 2010 by David McKee

As though yoked by karma, Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson and former sidekick William Weidner — the Jon & Kate Gosselin of the casino industry — seem destined to remain unwillingly chained together through eternity. Most recently, they’ve been … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Downtown, Economy, Genting, Harrah's, Herbst Gaming, M Resort, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, Morgans Hotel Group, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Texas, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Shel & Bill, together again; Coup for HRH

Case Bets: Macao, Maryland, Internet casinos

Posted on May 24, 2010 by David McKee

April was a bonny month for Macao, where overall visitation rose 13% and mainland Chinese tourism rose 17%. Now if only Peking would take its hand off the spigot known as visa quotas, we might have some honest-to-god year/year comparisons … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Cordish Co., IGT, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Macau, Maryland, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Tourism | 2 Comments

Paging Gary Loveman …

Posted on May 19, 2010 by David McKee

When it comes to bankruptcy, the Fertitta Brothers are pikers compared to magician Steve Wyrick, whose eponymous “entertainment complex” went “Poof!” last Dec. 10. At the time, Wyrick harangued LVA for announcing the closure, saying his return was imminent. We’re … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Current, Election, Entertainment, Harrah's, Macau, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Mob, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Paging Gary Loveman …

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 13, 2010 by David McKee

“The original Lisboa project marks a rare occasion that SJM subscribed to the build-it-and-they-will-come theory of development that drives most of its rivals. The tactic usually involves spending borrowed money like a drunken sailor in an attempt to lead the … Continue reading →

Posted in Macau, Marketing, Stanley Ho | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Illinois’ results are good, Sands’ are better

Posted on May 7, 2010 by David McKee

Praise be! Casino revenues in Illinois were actually flat (+0.5%) last month. It’s mainly a consequence of Penn National‘s Empress Joliet being back in the fray, raking in $40 million. (You’ll recall that, a year ago, its pavilion was but … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Harrah's, Macau, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, The Strip | Comments Off on Illinois’ results are good, Sands’ are better

Adelson does it again

Posted on May 6, 2010 by David McKee

Despite vigorous attempts by Singapore to discourage its own citizens from gambling, it’s not working. Even a $72 admission charge isn’t keeping them out. Better still, VIP junketeers are encountering smoother access than was expected. (Junket scrutiny in Singapore is … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Genting, International, Macau, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore | 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

Macao’s best month ever

Posted on May 3, 2010 by David McKee

Pace T.S. Eliot, April was not the cruelest month for Macao. Quite the contrary: The protectorate posted gambling revenues of $1.72 billion, a single-month record. Galaxy Entertainment (whose new Cotai Strip™ pleasure palace is pictured, above) brought up the rear, … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, International, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Macao’s best month ever

Sheldon’s smokin’ (something)

Posted on April 30, 2010 by David McKee

If any other gaming CEO than Sheldon Adelson opened the most expensive casino ever ($5.5 billion) and projected it would recoup its tab in five years — requiring a return on investment well above 20% when you take operating costs … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, International, Macau, Marketing, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Station Casinos, Wall Street, World Series of Poker | 2 Comments

Sickness, health & Shakespeare

Posted on April 30, 2010 by David McKee

No sooner was the S&G software restored to working order than Yr. Humble Blogger was laid low by either A) too much indulgence in Harrah’s Entertainment‘s “Buffet of Buffets” or B) my worst fibromyalgia attack in years. Given Vegas’ recent … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Dining, Entertainment, Harrah's, Macau, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 1 Comment

Steve Wynn may take his ball …

Posted on April 22, 2010 by David McKee

… and move to Macao. Or so he says. Given Steve Wynn‘s long track record of thinking aloud, I’d assign a low probability to this trial-balloon idea. Besides, in the U.S. the mogul can pop off at the government without … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Economy, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, TV | 1 Comment

Massive defeat for Patrick in Mass.

Posted on April 15, 2010 by David McKee

Lawmakers in Massachusetts ran roughshod over Gov. Deval Patrick (D), overwhelmingly approving a four-racino, two-casino formula the governor opposes. They also resisted the urgings of those who would put the two, $500 million casino resorts out in the boonies, giving … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Macau, Massachusetts, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, The Mob, Tribal | 2 Comments

Harrah’s robbing Peter to buy Paul

Posted on April 15, 2010 by David McKee

When executives of Harrah’s Entertainment credit “hard-nosed” negotiating tactics for their success is reducing the company’s preposterous debt level, one suspects that threats of default and bankruptcy serve as the rhetorical equivalents of the rubber hose and brass knuckles. It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Current, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Mississippi, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Regulation, Riviera, The Strip, Wall Street, World Series of Poker | Comments Off on Harrah’s robbing Peter to buy Paul

MGM pre-reports

Posted on April 14, 2010 by David McKee

Aria: Nice rooms; anybody there? First, the good news: A managerial shakeup at MGM Grand Macau yielded a $54 million swing in operating income, turning what had been a modest loss last year into a considerable profit in 1Q10. Also, … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Detroit, Economy, Illinois, Macau, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Stanley Ho, The Strip, Wall Street | 8 Comments

Blast from the past

Posted on April 13, 2010 by David McKee

Ever wonder what the then-Portugese enclave was like before Stanley Ho came along and built a casino empire that would change the visage of Macao irrevocably and beyond recognition, potentially eclipsing Las Vegas itself? Here are some vignettes circa 1960.

Posted in Current, Macau, Stanley Ho | 4 Comments

Betting on Adelson

Posted on April 13, 2010 by David McKee

Analysts at J.P. Morgan are downright bullish on Las Vegas Sands, raising their stock price target by over 25% (to $29/share). Their ebullience is motivated in large part by expectations for Marina Bay Sands, which they estimate will garner 55% … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, CityCenter, Economy, Indiana, Kansas, Lyle Berman, Macau, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 13, 2010 by David McKee

“This is a Nevada variation of ‘too big to fail.’ The big growth market is Asia, and if you want to be in the gaming business you need to be in Asia. Therefore, you have to do things the way … Continue reading →

Posted in International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Mob | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

A “sudden malady” it was

Posted on April 12, 2010 by David McKee

Last week, when pondering the largely (in the case of the Las Vegas Review-Journal) or completely (in the instance of the Las Vegas Sun) botched coverage of the simultaneous Macao scandals afflicting Las Vegas Sands and MGM Mirage, I puzzled … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Macau, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Technology | 3 Comments