Category Archives: MGM Mirage

More Trop turmoil; Adelson’s new enforcer; Hart vindicated

Posted on July 24, 2013 by David McKee

That Alex Yemenidjian! He just can’t keep the Tropicana Las Vegas out of the headlines — and not in a good way. It’s kicking The One Group out, taking over Bagatelle Beach Club and converting into a by-invitation-only venue for … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Entertainment, IGT, International, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off on More Trop turmoil; Adelson’s new enforcer; Hart vindicated

Hail, Caesars; Some roads lead to Foxwoods; Bluhm disappoints

Posted on July 18, 2013 by David McKee

It’s not every day that Caesars Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman has a good idea. But when he does, it’s a real brainwave. Such has proven to be the case with Caesars’ purchase of social-gaming Web firm Playtika. The latter has … Continue reading →

Posted in Hard Rock International, Harrah's, IGT, Illinois, Internet gambling, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Pansy Ho, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Stanley Ho, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Mob, Transportation, Tribal | Comments Off on Hail, Caesars; Some roads lead to Foxwoods; Bluhm disappoints

Springfield: MGM wins again; Barton: Congressman or con artist?

Posted on July 17, 2013 by David McKee

As predicted, voter turnout was low but a victory is a victory, and MGM Resorts International went home a winner yesterday. Springfield voters ratified an agreement between MGM and the city, 58% to 42%. Scarcely had the last vote been … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Environment, Harrah's, Harry Reid, International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal | 1 Comment

Missouri misery; Revel inches upward

Posted on July 10, 2013 by David McKee

Sometimes I feel Gary Loveman‘s pain — and that of Anthony Sanfilippo, Virginia McDowell, Peter Carlino … When they look at the kind of numbers states like Missouri are generating, they must want to shake a fist and say, “Gamble, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Revel, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Massachusetts: It’s where the action might be; Where there’s smoke, there’s Sheldon

Posted on July 9, 2013 by David McKee

Update/Correction: I’m reliably informed that dog racing (see below) is illegal in Massachusetts and will remain so, praise be. Also, Neil Bluhm is now wooing Millbury for a slot-parlor site. Except for Raynham Park, all slot-parlor applicants are under the … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Architecture, Colony Capital, Cordish Co., Current, Economy, Environment, history, International, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Neil Bluhm, Oklahoma, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | 1 Comment

Indiana: Half-full or half-empty?; ‘Priscilla’ faints

Posted on July 9, 2013 by David McKee

That’s the operative question after a contrariwise June in Indiana. The state’s casinos saw 17% less foot traffic, but those fewer players were spending more (up 6%). Even so, the Hoosier State’s racinos, casinos and riverboats were down 12% for … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cordish Co., Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Revel gets forgiveness; Illinois gets hammered

Posted on July 8, 2013 by David McKee

You’ve heard about the “Gamblers Wanted” marketing campaign at Revel that refunds slot refunds over $100 — if you’re a member of the players’ club. There’s another catch: You don’t get a cash refund but additional free play, doled forth … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Revel, Slot routes | 1 Comment

Accord in Kentucky; Atlantic City on the move; James Packer’s comeback

Posted on July 5, 2013 by David McKee

But there are still some stirrings of activity on the casino front. For starters, Bwin.Party has agreed to fork over $15 million to Kentucky. According to the company the payment “resolves the only remaining litigation … that stems from our … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Cirque du Soleil, Colony Capital, Current, Entertainment, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Kentucky, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Accord in Kentucky; Atlantic City on the move; James Packer’s comeback

SkyVue kaput?; Wowing them in Massachusetts

Posted on July 3, 2013 by David McKee

That’s the unavoidable conclusion, despite the increasingly comical protestations of local developer Howard Bulloch‘s sidekicks. Caesars Entertainment‘s rival Ferris wheel may be in a terrible location, it may be progressing slowly but — but — it is progressing. SkyVue has … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Current, Economy, Genting, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Station 2, Caesars 0; Death in Vegas

Posted on July 2, 2013 by David McKee

My expectation that Caesars Entertainment, leveraging its World Series of Poker brand, would outstrip Station Casinos‘ online-gaming offerings is looking unduly optimistic. Caesars Interactive hasn’t been able to get out of the driveway while Ultimate Gaming has gone virtually coast-to-coast. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cirque du Soleil, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, history, Illinois, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Slot routes, Station Casinos, The Strip | 1 Comment

Case Bets: Crystals, Baltimore, Mohegan Sun, Macao

Posted on June 27, 2013 by David McKee

Somebody’s finally found a good use for Crystals: as a museum. Daniel Liebeskind‘s design of the property would be more conducive to viewing art than to shopping and it never has trouble drawing lookie-lous. (Customers, eh, not so much.) Somebody … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 2 Comments

Shifting Sands; Happy birthday, Hollywood Aurora

Posted on June 25, 2013 by David McKee

(Update: J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff vented frustration to investors over yet another “self-inflicted negative headline,” while remaining upbeat on LVS stock. He did not relate Kay’s departure to “any negative event … We note that Mr. Kay worked for … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Macau, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn | 1 Comment

Wynn wins big; Foxwoods and Mohegans try harder

Posted on June 24, 2013 by David McKee

As expected, voters in Everett, Massachusetts, went to the polls, expressed their approval of Wynn Resorts‘ proposed resort — and it wasn’t even close. Opposition was obliterated, 86% to 14%. Where the burghers of tony Foxborough had turned up their … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Election, Entertainment, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, New Hampshire, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tourism, Tribal | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 18, 2013 by David McKee

“It reminds me of an Applebee’s.” — remark overheard during the media rollout of Pub 1842, newest restaurant at MGM Grand, a Michael Mina “gastropub.“ Whoever’s in charge of the myriad TVs needs to be told that there are other … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Dining, MGM Mirage, The Strip | 3 Comments

Nazarian’s secret weapon?; Vegas still equals value

Posted on June 17, 2013 by David McKee

It’s Monday, so it must be time for another worshipful Sam Nazarian profile in the Los Angeles Times. Sure enough. If you can endure the usual LAT fawning, one will glean some useful facts and inferences — plus a reminder … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Current, Entertainment, Genting, MGM Mirage, New York, Politics, Racinos, Sam Nazarian, The Strip, Tourism | 1 Comment

Macao: Light and darkness

Posted on June 17, 2013 by David McKee

If you read Bloomberg News last week, Macao is tantamount to Disneyland, at least if you visit Venetian Macao, which is “home to a fake grand canal, crooning gondoliers and brands from McDonald’s to Dior.” The amenity-laden style of Sheldon … Continue reading →

Posted in Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Mob, Tourism | 1 Comment

Pinnacle: First the good news …; Cuomo strikes again

Posted on June 13, 2013 by David McKee

Pinnacle Entertainment has lined up $2.9 billion in financing for its takeover of Ameristar Casinos. (Wouldn’t it have been awkward if Wall Street had said, “No thanks”?) In case you’re wondering, the deal values Ameristar at 8X cash flow, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Current, Harrah's, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, New York, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

For sale: One mall, slightly used; Sheldon’s big buyback

Posted on June 6, 2013 by David McKee

Buried at the bottom of a J.P. Morgan analyst rep0rt on meetings with MGM Resorts International executives was a real corker: “[W]we would not be surprised to see MGM look to monetize some of CityCenter’s asset base, for example Crystals, … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Economy, Entertainment, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on For sale: One mall, slightly used; Sheldon’s big buyback

Penn: Start making sense!; Casinos clean up in Lege

Posted on June 4, 2013 by David McKee

Casinos in Ohio have not been living up to revenue expectations. Given such a fallow market, what has Penn National Gaming decided to do? Break ground on two racinos, of course! One is in the Dayton area, the other — … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Dan Gilbert, Economy, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Mirage, MTR Gaming, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Stanley Ho, Station Casinos, World Series of Poker | 1 Comment

Bad day for Okada; Good month for Macao

Posted on May 30, 2013 by David McKee

It’s back to the starting point for Kazuo Okada, controversial former business partner of Steve Wynn and CEO of Universal Entertainment Corp. The latter’s attempt to enter the Philippines casino market (left) fell apart along with a deal with Robinsons … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, International, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Bad day for Okada; Good month for Macao