Category Archives: Macau

Fear of flying

Posted on December 5, 2008 by David McKee

There may have been more to James Packer‘s inability to attend his scheduled Nevada Gaming Control Board appearance than not having a plane ticket (which was more or less the official excuse). Today’s Sydney Morning Herald reports that Packer’s Crown … Continue reading →

Posted in Cannery Casino Resorts, International, James Packer, Macau, Regulation | Comments Off on Fear of flying

Collapse in Kansas; Herbst is toast

Posted on December 5, 2008 by David McKee

And then there was one. A Cordish Co./Kansas Speedway joint venture has pulled the chicken switch on a $400 million casino project. This leaves avionics firm Butler National Service Corp., with its Dodge City concession, as the only company with … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Economy, G2E, Harrah's, Herbst Gaming, Horseracing, International, Kansas, Macau, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation | Comments Off on Collapse in Kansas; Herbst is toast

Five years ago today …

Posted on November 6, 2008 by David McKee

 … Columbia Sussex came to town. Considering that CEO William J. Yung III purchased a dead, disreputable hotel-casino and put $90 million into reworking it into an attractive property (people whose judgment I trust swear by the comfiness of its … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Economy, Election, Macau, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, The Strip | Comments Off on Five years ago today …

Adelson's megaphone muted

Posted on October 22, 2008 by David McKee

If Sen. John McCain pulls off the Nov. 4 comeback he’s predicting, it won’t be any thanks to Sheldon Adelson, who puts his mouth where his money is. (Hence those queasy-making odes to Chinese totalitarianism: “People seem to be living … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Election, Kentucky, Macau, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Adelson's megaphone muted

Macao: Not so fast?

Posted on October 3, 2008 by David McKee

Here’s a how-de-do, to paraphrase Gilbert & Sullivan. The head of the Travel Industry Council of Macau appears to confirm a report that many Chinese citizens will now be restricted to visiting the former Portugese colony on a quarterly basis. … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Kansas, Macau, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off on Macao: Not so fast?

Macao: Not so fast?

Posted on October 3, 2008 by David McKee

Here’s a how-de-do, to paraphrase Gilbert & Sullivan. The head of the Travel Industry Council of Macau appears to confirm a report that many Chinese citizens will now be restricted to visiting the former Portugese colony on a quarterly basis. … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Kansas, Macau, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off on Macao: Not so fast?

Sands: More is sometimes less

Posted on August 6, 2008 by David McKee

One of the advantages of availing oneself of Las Vegas' public-transit system is that affords me plenty of time to read corporate filings. Such was the case this morning, when I spent some quality time belatedly curling up with Las … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Don Barden, Downtown, Harrah's, Macau, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Sands: More is sometimes less

Ameristar spurned, Wynn rewarded

Posted on July 11, 2008 by David McKee

What’s worse than being jilted? Being told you’re too ugly to to even date. That’s about what happened to Ameristar Casinos, which just got blown off by Crown Ltd. Then again, look at James Packer’s American holdings and pending acquisitions … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, James Packer, Macau, MGM Mirage, Movies, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Ameristar spurned, Wynn rewarded

Vegas Right Now = Bargain Country

Posted on July 2, 2008 by David McKee

While the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority may blanch from peddling bargain-oriented messages, we don’t. While it wasn’t that long ago that some of us were mourning the apparent demise of on-Strip bargains — or redefining said bargains as … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Harrah's, LVCVA, Macau, MGM Mirage, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Vegas Right Now = Bargain Country

Turnaround for Lady Luck?

Posted on June 20, 2008 by David McKee

A reliable source sees some light at the end of the Lady Luck tunnel: “CIM took ownership of the timeshare property last Oct. as LL Timeshare. Just this month they’re doing the individual deed assignments.” Don’t get your hopes up … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, International, James Packer, Macau, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | Comments Off on Turnaround for Lady Luck?

This just in …

Posted on May 30, 2008 by David McKee

So Tropicana Atlantic City trustee Justice Gary Stein wants to toss the existing bids for the property … possibly because better ones are being dangled before him. As a consequence, he wants to restart the clock, which would push the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Detroit, Donald Trump, Macau, MGM Mirage, Regulation | Comments Off on This just in …

Harrah's: Digging to China

Posted on May 23, 2008 by David McKee

Given the recent freeze-out on new casino operators in Macao, executives at Harrah’s Entertainment might as well be sporting T-shirts that read, “I spent $577.7 million in Macao and all I got was this lousy golf course.” And, in light … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Harrah's, Macau, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pennsylvania, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Harrah's: Digging to China

Stumped by a reader

Posted on April 29, 2008 by David McKee

For those of you who don't click on the "Comments" link, my last update on the casino freeze in Macao prompted a response that left me, momentarily, at a loss for an answer (other than "I'd hate to pass up … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Macau | Comments Off on Stumped by a reader

A good question

Posted on April 17, 2008 by David McKee

Math was always my worst subject, so it’s a good thing I’ve got sharp-eyed readers who keep me honest. One of them asks how MGM Mirage is going to save $75 million (later restated by the company as $200 million) … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Taxes, Wall Street | Comments Off on A good question

Double whammy in Atlantic City

Posted on April 10, 2008 by David McKee

Casinos made a bad bet in Atlantic City. They wagered that the City Council didn’t have the resolve to ban smoking altogether (except in what promise to be hellish little cells). So they dragged their feet when it came to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Harrah's, James Packer, Macau, Stanley Ho | Comments Off on Double whammy in Atlantic City

Case Bets: Macao, California

Posted on February 4, 2008 by David McKee

According to Bear Stearns, higher VIP play and increased tourism pushed Macao's December gambling revenues above the $1 billion mark for the month — a 38% increase from last December. California may be too close to call for Super Tuesday … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Election, Kansas, Macau | Comments Off on Case Bets: Macao, California