Category Archives: Marketing

Good and bad ideas in marketing; Small is beautiful, Vegas

Posted on April 18, 2013 by David McKee

Break out a flagon of whatever Derek Stevens is drinking and put it on my tab, lads. To commemorate the first leg of the Triple Crown, he’s holding a May 3-4 Sigma Derby tournament. Buy-in starts at $50, so starting … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Current, Derek Stevens, Detroit, Downtown, Economy, Goldman Sachs, Harry Reid, history, Horseracing, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Pennsylvania, Sam Nazarian, Sports, Station Casinos, The Strip | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 18, 2013 by David McKee

“Like the travel industry, gaming is a complex industry.” — newly elected American Gaming Association President Geoff Freeman, making the understatement of the year. Only 38 and with 16 years in the travel industry already behind him, Freeman (pictured) is … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Marketing, Politics | Comments Off

Goodbye Western, hello SLS … ?

Posted on March 22, 2013 by David McKee

Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than right: When Tamares Group made an indiscriminate splurge on downtown Las Vegas real estate in 2004, it was banking on a construction boom that never took place. It also found itself with several … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Dining, Downtown, Economy, M Resort, Marketing, Maryland, Ohio, Penn National, Sahara, Sam Nazarian, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Exit Drai’s, enter Gansevoort

Posted on March 19, 2013 by David McKee

Although East Coast-based Gansevoort Hotel Group isn’t a household name around Las Vegas, it soon could be, if a planned collaboration with Caesars Entertainment comes to fruition. The latter had briefly planned to re-do Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon as … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, Marketing, Michael Gaughan | 1 Comment

“Someone needs to burn this place to the ground”

Posted on March 8, 2013 by David McKee

It seems potentially very funny … but isn’t Bradley Cooper getting rather dark and tragic for this sort of thing? He looks like a Quentin Tarantino protagonist who’s been parachuted into a Disney picture.

Posted in Marketing, Movies, The Strip | Comments Off

North Strip: SLS yes, F-blew no, Riviera maybe

Posted on March 7, 2013 by David McKee

S&G contributor JeffInOKC returns from a too-long absence with some thoughts on one of our favorite topics, the North Strip … It is common for us to hear the term “Too Big to Fail,” but I think the true story … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Fontainebleau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Riviera, Sahara, Sam Nazarian, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism | 4 Comments

Revel goes bust

Posted on February 19, 2013 by David McKee

In the most inevitable headline of 2013, Revel has — brace yourselves — filed for bankruptcy. It will become the latest in a long string of casinos that are owned and run by banks: Two-thirds of outstanding debt will be … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Marketing, Revel, Wall Street | 6 Comments

Case Bets: Binion’s redux; Dr. Doom; Everybody goes to Caesars

Posted on February 15, 2013 by David McKee

Today’s top story is the rumor, first aired on LasVegasAdvisor.com that Binion’s Gambling Hall & Hotel will close in July, lock, stock and million-dollar display. This dovetails with an earlier report that a detailed makeover is in the works. So … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, California, Dan Gilbert, Derek Stevens, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Marketing, Massachusetts, Ohio, Oscar Goodman, Palms, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Racinos, Slot routes, Taxes, Technology, Terry Caudill, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal | 3 Comments

December in Vegas: The house won; Sheldon of La Mancha

Posted on February 8, 2013 by David McKee

There are gambling markets … and then there’s Las Vegas. Players opened their wallets — oh, did they ever — and lost big. Casino winnings on the Las Vegas Strip were up 13.5% and Nevada casinos overall did 10% better … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Current, International, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Marketing, Mesquite, North Las Vegas, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Christie: Oops, he did it again; Maryland: Take my casino, please

Posted on February 7, 2013 by David McKee

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) loves to veto Internet gambling bills so much that he’s just done it for a second time. There was incremental progress: In punting the ball to the Legislature’s one-yard line, Christie endorsed the idea … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Economy, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

Santarelli bails on SGMS; Blasts from the recent past

Posted on February 5, 2013 by David McKee

Scientific Games has lost the faith of Deutsche Bank‘s Carlo Santarelli. The analyst put out a “sell” recommendation this morning on SGMS stock, issuing a new target price of $6/share, down from $7. (Scientific was trading at $9.49 at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Marketing, Scientific Games, The Strip, Wall Street, WMS Industries | 1 Comment

Panic time at Caesars; Penn’s Ohio strategy a botch; Where in the world is Robert Earl?

Posted on February 5, 2013 by David McKee

It may have taken time for Gary Loveman‘s chickens to come home to roost but they’re doing it by the flockful. To raise cash, pronto, Caesars Entertainment — which hasn’t turned a profit in over three years — has piled … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Current, Dining, Economy, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Marketing, Massachusetts, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Planet Hollywood, Taxes, The Strip | 1 Comment

Best Casino Ad Ever (Not!); Another Pinnacle boo-boo

Posted on February 1, 2013 by David McKee

If you live in the greater Las Vegas metropolitan area, you’ve probably had a stiff dose of this ad, which is in heavy rotation during the morning news shows. I don’t know whether to be impressed that a grind joint … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Entertainment, Marketing, Pinnacle Entertainment, TV | 1 Comment

Penn lowers sights; Sands’ $3 billion quarter

Posted on January 31, 2013 by David McKee

Penn National Gaming trimmed its 2013 revenue projections today by 3% — not surprising, given the “headwinds” represented by recent tax changes that will eat into Americans’ discretionary income. Sluggish early slot performance in the Columbus and Toledo markets was … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Election, Marketing, Maryland, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Et tu, Dan?

Posted on January 17, 2013 by David McKee

Seems there’s no honor among business partners: While lugging Caesars Entertainment on his back from Cleveland to Cincinnati and thence to Baltimore, mogul Dan Gilbert had a side deal of his own going. He’s buying a majority stake in Greektown … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Harrah's, International, Marketing, Ohio | 3 Comments

MGM Cotai clears final barrier; devil in the Maryland details

Posted on January 9, 2013 by David McKee

Although the government of Macao enjoys nothing better than to make casino owners wait and fidget for their land leases to be “gazetted,” today is MGM Resorts International‘s lucky day. MGM China received final approval for its Cotai Strip megaresort. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, Current, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off

Revel: Slow learning curve ahead; Sheldon spanked in Singapore

Posted on January 8, 2013 by David McKee

By the time Revel CEO Kevin DeSanctis realizes he’s made a mistake, he’s almost always past the point of no return. Although it is my deeply rooted opinion that smoking is a noxious, disgusting habit that invades other people’s space, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Current, Economy, Environment, Genting, International, Maine, Marketing, Maryland, Penn National, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Wall Street | Comments Off

Sorry, Ralph Lamb; Twain spoofed at IP

Posted on December 18, 2012 by David McKee

Las Vegas‘ most famous sheriff (mythologized weekly by Dennis Quaid on Vegas) was the victim of this, er, unfortunate Los Angeles Times gaffe … … which The Atlantic has selected as one of the best typos of 2012. I’ve had … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, Marketing, The Strip, TV | Comments Off

Coming, going, gone …

Posted on December 13, 2012 by David McKee

This just in … One weekend of performances of Peepshow was all that Mrs. Ice-T managed to do before fleeing back to New York City, at least temporarily, according to an S&G source. So if you’ve got Peepshow tickets this … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Marketing, Sheldon Adelson, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism | 7 Comments

B (Dis)Connected

Posted on December 13, 2012 by David McKee

After months upon months of unilateral disarmament, Boyd Gaming has decided to fight back against Station Casinos‘ hugely successful “We Love Locals” TV campaign. (We could discuss why Station felt the need to reassure Las Vegans that it liked them, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Marketing, Station Casinos, TV | 4 Comments