Category Archives: MGM Mirage

D-Day for Philadelphia

Investors in the stymied Foxwoods Philadelphia riverfront casino project have a date with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board on Thursday. That’s where they’ll make their last-ditch pitch to retain custody of the project. State legislators and other officials have voiced … Continue reading

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, LVCVA, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Vdara Death Ray | 1 Comment

Case Bets: Caliendo, ColSux & Sixty Votes’ latest

After 14 months on the job as Monte Carlo‘s resident headliner, Frank Caliendo is calling it quits, effective some time next spring. The impressionist and Fox Sports regular cited having to spend time away from his family and the rigors … Continue reading

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Election, Entertainment, history, Kentucky, Lake Tahoe, MGM Mirage, Politics, Sahara, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Cosmo: The curious case of “the curious class”

It seems like David G. Schwartz is everywhere today. Las Vegas’ resident casino expert has not one but two stories out on The Cosmopolitan. From what he writes, Cosmo execs have convinced themselves they’ve reinvented the casino. It hinges upon … Continue reading

Posted in CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Donald Trump, G2E, Harry Reid, International, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Nevada: “Cautious optimism”

That’s how UNLV‘s gaming guru, Prof. David G. Schwartz, describes his reaction to the October revenue numbers, released today. The 11% autumnal bounce may be less notable for the fact that the Strip was up 16% than the fact that … Continue reading

Posted in Animals, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Current, Downtown, Economy, history, International, Marketing, Mesquite, MGM Mirage, Pets, Regulation, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Case Bets: Adelson vs. China; Cirque du Avatar? Indiana wallops Illinois

In a lengthy Asia Times dispatch, the reliable Muhammad Cohen runs through various scenarios about why the government of Macao would pull back two Cotai Strip™ sites from a ‘george’ investor like Las Vegas Sands. Since the acreage will probably … Continue reading

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Cirque du Soleil, Colony Capital, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Macau, MGM Mirage, Movies, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Tribal | 3 Comments

Old Sixty Votes folds again; Butera’s blunder

Hey, Harry Reid, the casino industry called. It wants its money back. In all-too-predictable collapse, Old Sixty Votes threw in the towel on efforts to explicitly legalize online poker in the U.S. Since the issue is now dead for two … Continue reading

Posted in Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, Current, Election, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Horseracing, IGT, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Cosmo rides the wave; Old Sixty Votes rides again

It may be $1.9 billion over budget and 2.5 years behind schedule but The Cosmopolitan appears to be hitting the market with perfect timing. That’s good news for the 5,000 employees who are furiously getting acclimated with the new megaresort. … Continue reading

Posted in CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Harry Reid, history, International, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

2014 is the new 2007; Good news from Pennsylvania, Detroit

It will take Las Vegas seven years to return to its former prosperity. Or so concludes a new report from consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, which sees casino revenue improving in late 2011 (in line with a Moody’s Investor Service report that … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Current, Detroit, Economy, Harrah's, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Plaza, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | 5 Comments

Illinois: No end in sight; Boyd gets some love

“So much for a [gross gaming revenue] stabilization,” sighed analyst Joseph Greff in a J.P. Morgan investor note, after Illinois‘ casino revenues dropped 7% in November. Whenever you think the Land of Lincoln’s casinos have hit bottom, they sink lower … Continue reading

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Current, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Taxes | 3 Comments

It’s beginning to look a lot like Crystmas

It’s that time of year again at Crystals, the place America shops when it has a sudden impulse to buy a Pucci handbag or some Balenciaga shoes. This month, The Island of Misfit Shops promises three new retailers (Stella McCartney, … Continue reading

Posted in CityCenter, Economy, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, The Strip | 1 Comment

Cosmo attempts suicide; a big (Para)bounce?

Maybe Union Gaming analyst Bill Lerner knew something the rest of us didn’t when he predicted the opening of The Cosmopolitan (aka “Osmopo”) would improve business for other high-end hotels on the Strip. After all, what could send New Year’s … Continue reading

Posted in CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Entertainment, George Maloof, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | 9 Comments

Macao smacks down Adelson

So the Chinese government was just bluffing, huh? Talk about taking land back was merely political posturing, was it? Once again, Wall Street and hubristic casino barons alike have been given a sharp reminder just who’s calling the shots over … Continue reading

Posted in Current, Economy, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Isle’s comeback continues; What’s in a Mystic?

Congratulations to Isle of Capri Casinos, winner of Missouri‘s 13th and final casino license. This morning, the Missouri Gaming Commission voted in favor of Isle’s $125 million Cape Girardeau project. Although all rival projects were budgeted higher, favorite-son Isle’s standing … Continue reading

Posted in Ameristar, Boulder Strip, CityCenter, Current, Dubai, Economy, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | 3 Comments

Pinnacle sees Kasich, raises him $45 million

Pinnacle Entertainment pushed $45 million worth of chips into the middle of the poker table that is Ohio last week. Buying River Downs is a seven-figure wager that Gov.-elect Jon Kasich will resume outgoing Gov. Ted Strickland‘s push for VLTs … Continue reading

Posted in Economy, Election, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Tribal | Comments Off on Pinnacle sees Kasich, raises him $45 million

‘Net betting: Wait til 2013 … or 2015 … or 2017 … or …

That was the consensus of a G2E panel that featured former California legislator Lloyd Levine, CNIGA Director of Government Affairs Jerome Encinas and Harrah’s Entertainment‘s top lobbyist, Jan Jones. With HR 2267 still several steps shy of passage and its … Continue reading

Posted in California, Current, Election, Florida, G2E, Harrah's, Harry Reid, International, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | 3 Comments

Steelman: Small is profitable

Before he got elbowed aside in favor of ‘starchitects,’ Paul Steelman was one of the go-to designers on the Las Vegas Strip. He’s also one of the very few people who can say they’ve worked — without repercussion — for … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, CityCenter, Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, IGT, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | 5 Comments

M-G-M vs. $MGM

There’s been much confusion involving the (actual) insolvency of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer vs. the (urban legend) bankruptcy of MGM Grand Mirage Resorts International, so The Onion gets in on the act. Let’s not forget all the overseas players the Green Monster scared … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, International, MGM Mirage, Movies, The Strip | 1 Comment

What if they held an implosion and nobody came?

Tropicana Las Vegas CEO Alex Yemenidjian has played the publicity game very astutely of late. So it’s hard to imagine what he was thinking when he decided to implode a wing of low-rise hotel rooms in the dead of night … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Ohio, The Strip | 4 Comments

Sheldon Adelson, beard

Last week, S&G unearthed a contribution from self-professed “too liberal” Sheldon Adelson to flaming homophobe Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN). Turns out, she’s not the only apostle of intolerance with whom Adelson has crept under the covers. Last Sunday, the Las … Continue reading

Posted in Election, Harrah's, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn | 8 Comments

G2E bargain at Station; analysts split on Sands

If you’re looking for an affordable room in Las Vegas during Global Gaming Expo, try Expedia‘s German site (“.de”). A European-based S&G source reports finding rooms at Boulder Station going for €57 and Fiesta Rancho asking €59 — or $79 … Continue reading

Posted in Current, Economy, Florida, G2E, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Texas, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 3 Comments