Category Archives: MGM Mirage

Coming (not so) soon: Wynn Singapore?!?!

Posted on June 20, 2011 by David McKee

Steve Wynn‘s next big project won’t be in Japan … or Philadelphia … or Boston. According to the tycoon, his “next goal in life” will be to open a Singapore megaresort. Yeah, the same Singapore out of which Wynn bailed … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Genting, George Maloof, Harrah's, International, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, North Las Vegas, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tourism, Transportation | 1 Comment

This is interesting …

Posted on June 20, 2011 by David McKee

A congressional candidate from Nevada has launched his campaign with this Red Scare-style (and somewhat jingoistic) blast at the nation upon whom some of the state’s largest employers — Las Vegas Sands, Wynn Resorts and MGM Resorts International — depend … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Election, Harrah's, International, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Michael Gaughan, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on This is interesting …

Quote of the Day

Posted on June 16, 2011 by David McKee

“Recent events call for a special sticker on the July cover. Look for it on newsstands.” — Hugh Hefner (no introduction needed), on the epic fail of his engagement to three-generations-younger Crystal Harris. That July Playboy cover’s going to enter … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Kasich wins, Caesars caves

Posted on June 13, 2011 by David McKee

Why is this man smiling? Because Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert and partner Caesars Entertainment just displayed all the backbone of a wet noodle, conceding to unspecified annual fee payments, so that they can get on with their Cleveland and … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, Iowa, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Planet Hollywood, The Strip, Tourism | 3 Comments

F-blew, Sahara solved

Posted on June 9, 2011 by David McKee

Hey, Carl Icahn and Sam Nazarian! Got an old casino — or maybe a new failsino — that needs demolition? Why settle for the few seconds’ thrill of an implosion? Bring Robosaurus to town, set up some bleachers, charge admission … Continue reading →

Posted in Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Cloverfield monster, Entertainment, Florida, Fontainebleau, MGM Mirage, Movies, Sahara, The Strip | 2 Comments

Illinois: How much worse can it get?

Posted on June 8, 2011 by David McKee

OK, the 9% dropoff in Illinois gambling dollars last month looks worse than it is because it mainly reflects the flood-enforced closure of Harrah’s Metropolis (left, -77%). All other casinos were down an aggregate 3%, and it didn’t much matter … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Bally Technologies, Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, International, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Technology, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 8 Comments

Loveman: Norton, you’re not the greatest; Another seesaw in Macao

Posted on June 3, 2011 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment Chief Marketing Officer David Norton, developer of Total Rewards, got his walking papers yesterday. The old “pursuing other interests” excuse was deployed; familiar industry code for “Don’t let the doorknob hit you on the way out.” Publicly, CEO … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Current, Economy, Harrah's, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn | 1 Comment

The ‘hot’ list that’s not; Grumpy old Fulton; A threat from Quinn

Posted on June 3, 2011 by David McKee

A sudden barrage of commissions has been getting between me and S&G. At the very least, I can get a few quick hits in before the weekend. For instance … Earth to Vegas.com … while I realize that Las Vegas … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Movies, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, TV | 3 Comments

Actual celebrity to be sighted in Vegas

Posted on May 25, 2011 by David McKee

After scraping not just the bottom of the barrel but the underside of the barrel with the likes of Levi Johnston (evidently getting a famous person’s daughter knocked up makes you a celeb, in which case America has officially run … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Don Barden, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta | 2 Comments

Atlantic City on the mend; Trump: Fish or cut bait?; Mike Ensign’s woes

Posted on May 25, 2011 by David McKee

My apologies for attenuated bloggery today but a swarm of deadlines presses upon me, including coverage of the demise of 104-year-old Huguette Clark, daughter of Sen. William A. Clark, from whom Clark County takes its name. You’ll find a lengthy … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Charity, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Current, Dan Lee, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Election, Environment, Harrah's, history, Isle of Capri, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Your moment of Carmen Electra; Don Barden, R.I.P.

Posted on May 24, 2011 by David McKee

It’s not purely gratuitous. Ms. Electra, late of MGM Grand’s Crazy Horse Paris, has defected to Planet Hollywood. On June 4, she’ll participate in the inaugural performance at Pussycat Dolls Burlesque Saloon. Hopefully it will be at least as exciting … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Detroit, Dining, Don Barden, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 5 Comments

Herbst Gaming: new name, familiar faces

Posted on May 23, 2011 by David McKee

No, the company hasn’t been dissolved. But with the various Herbst boys having been run off — plus the negative brand equity created by their eponymous casino firm’s financial collapse — new ownership decided it’s time for a new moniker. … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Boyd Gaming, California, Carl Icahn, Current, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Herbst Gaming, history, IGT, Illinois, International, MGM Mirage, Regulation, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

The wild bunch

Posted on May 23, 2011 by David McKee

There’s no one more depraved than a politician looking to close a revenue shortfall. So we’ve learned from the drive-by shootings hailing from the amoral outlaw band otherwise known as the Nevada Legislature. As sage political pundit Obi-Wan Kenobi observed, … Continue reading →

Posted in Cantor Gaming, Colorado, Economy, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Movies, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Taxes | 2 Comments

Sahara, 1952-2011

Posted on May 17, 2011 by David McKee

UNLV‘s David G. Schwartz pronounces the last rites for the Sahara, whose darkened hulk is Sam Nazarian‘s bequest to the Strip. Plans to strip the property of furnishings are a gloomy portent and SBE didn’t even wait for the end … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Economy, Entertainment, history, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Sahara, The Strip | Comments Off on Sahara, 1952-2011

A tale of three casinos; Explosive night at Monte Carlo

Posted on May 16, 2011 by David McKee

But first … put this in the ‘Told Ya So’ File. The flim-flam man can now resume his fiduciary duties to Trump Entertainment Resorts and doing what he does best: Making delusional claims about his net worth. Three Vegas casinos … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Hard Rock Hotel, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Monte Carlo fire, Morgans Hotel Group, Riviera, Sahara, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 2 Comments

R.I.P., House of Lords; Boyd’s best asset; Poll party

Posted on May 13, 2011 by David McKee

My missus and I were going to make a farewell visit to the Sahara‘s charming fine-dining spot on Sunday. However, our reservation has been canceled because House of Lords will be closing a day early. The reason? They’re running out … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Downtown, Entertainment, history, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Michael Gaughan, North Las Vegas, Station Casinos, Technology, The Strip, TV, Vdara Death Ray | 2 Comments

The doctor will see you now

Posted on May 13, 2011 by David McKee

Although stock blogger Frank Curzio seems to be talking out of one of his lower orifices, his musings are too bizarre not to repeat. He floats the notion that Apple is so flush with cash it might entertain some retail … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Harrah's, International, Lawrence Ho, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on The doctor will see you now

Johnny Casino, thug; Truce at the Trop; The T-Word

Posted on May 13, 2011 by David McKee

Although the Mob may have left Las Vegas, its strong-arm tactics are still in use. Respected casino architect Paul Steelman found that out when he wouldn’t give a job to John Ensign‘s borderline-illiterate former chief of staff, Doug Hampton. Drunk … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Culinary Union, Current, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Kansas, MGM Mirage, Penn National, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Has Illinois finally bottomed out? Trop shakeup; Big markdown on Trump

Posted on May 6, 2011 by David McKee

Sorry to disappoint, but we won’t have the answer until June–August, three straight months with the same number of weekend days as last year. By that point we’ll know whether April‘s 2% increase was the beginning of a trend. Last … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, George Maloof, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | 3 Comments

California bound; M changes hands and style

Posted on May 6, 2011 by David McKee

Yes, MGM Resorts International, Boyd Gaming, Las Vegas Sands, the great state of Illinois and I don’t know who all else have been reporting revenues this week, and Mississippi is under water.. And I’ve not had time to cover any … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Architecture, Boyd Gaming, California, Current, Dining, Environment, Illinois, M Resort, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Movies, Penn National, Pets, Steve Wynn, Transportation, Wall Street | 2 Comments