Category Archives: Oscar Goodman

“In the beginning was The Mob …”

Posted on March 30, 2011 by David McKee

Following several delays and even more advance hoopla, the Las Vegas Mob Experience is open. And it’s, as my wife said, “a mob scene” (pun intended). At last night’s grand gala, a PR guy was overheard saying that — for … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Dining, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, MGM Mirage, Movies, Oscar Goodman, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, TV | 3 Comments

Caesars steals Riv’s thunder; Trouble in Adelsonia

Posted on March 24, 2011 by David McKee

Obviously, the headline from today will be approval by the Nevada Gaming Commission of a partnership between Caesars Entertainment and Israeli-owned, Gibraltar-based 888 Holdings. Since it is simultaneously getting permission to shack up with Internet casino operator 888 and opposing … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Downtown, Election, Florida, Harry Reid, Hawaii, International, Internet gambling, Iowa, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Oscar Goodman, Politics, Regulation, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Tamares Group, Wall Street | Comments Off on Caesars steals Riv’s thunder; Trouble in Adelsonia

Sheldon Adelson, Man of La Mancha

Posted on February 17, 2011 by David McKee

Life’s being pretty good these days to Las Vegas Sands, thanks in part to better-than-expected convention traffic at Marina Bay Sands (offsetting tepid meeting/expo biz in Macao). In addition to eyeballing Florida, Texas, Massachusetts and Japan, CEO Sheldon Adelson has … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Current, Downtown, Economy, Florida, Genting, International, Macau, Massachusetts, Oscar Goodman, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Texas, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 2 Comments

Betting on crime; Anniversary in Indiana

Posted on December 21, 2010 by David McKee

Last week’s big chip heist at Bellagio may have left MGM Resorts International with a smidgen of egg on its face but it’s not as though others in the gambling industry have failed to see the opportunity to make money. … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Horseracing, Indiana, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, New York, Oscar Goodman, Racinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | 2 Comments

Lower gaming taxes in Nevada?

Posted on October 21, 2010 by David McKee

It’s conceivable. And, if former Nevada Gaming Commission Chairman Brian Sandoval (left) gets his wish, it’s justifiable. So let S&G be first to put that idea into play. Since Sandoval’s “home rule” proposal would address Nevada‘s budget deficit by simply … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Economy, Election, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Oscar Goodman, Politics, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 19, 2010 by David McKee

“Hell, Bob, I’ll scuba dive in that thing.” — Oscar Goodman to restaurateur Robert Ansara, when asked to top off the world’s largest margarita (to promote breast-cancer awareness). As for the TV spot above, it’s pretty clear that the wrong … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Current, Election, Marketing, Oscar Goodman | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

The Plaza’s $56 million question

Posted on September 15, 2010 by David McKee

Back in 2005, Mayor Oscar Goodman told a reporter — that’d be me — with “a local business publication,” formerly known as the Las Vegas Business Press — that he hoped to see the Plaza Hotel imploded to make room … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Downtown, Entertainment, Oscar Goodman, Tamares Group | 4 Comments

Western Passage & the new Rat (Rod) Pack

Posted on September 8, 2010 by David McKee

Let’s try this again … Today’s guest blog hails from the keyboard of reader Jeff_in_OKC who recently paid not one, not two but three (brave man!) visits to the Western Hotel, on the fringe of downtown Las Vegas. The Western … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Archon Corp., Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Current, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, Laughlin, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Michael Gaughan, Oscar Goodman, Sahara, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | 12 Comments

Case Bets: Global Cash’s Access, Cosmo, Riviera, Oscar, Oregon & Banditry

Posted on August 25, 2010 by David McKee

Excessive Access? The casino industry gets closer and closer to the day when it simply hooks up a suction hose to your bank vault. While Global Cash Access doesn’t want to interface bank cards with slot machines — it would … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Cosmopolitan, Current, Election, Environment, Harrah's, International, Marketing, New York, Oscar Goodman, Problem gambling, Regulation, Riviera, Technology, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, TV | 8 Comments

Lights, camera, Mafia!

Posted on June 10, 2010 by David McKee

Mel McGowan of bizarrely named Visioneering Studios sketches the broad outlines of an “immersive, interactive, experiential, multi-sensory journey.” (What you talkin’ about, Willis?) If the following is a demonstration of the technology that’s to be employed … … I fear … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, history, Oscar Goodman, Technology, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism | 4 Comments

Dead governor walking

Posted on June 9, 2010 by David McKee

After three and a half years that felt more like three centuries, Nevadans gave the pink slip to Gov. Jim Gibbons. In a fitting end to a thoroughly incompetent tenure, Midnight Jim got an ignominious drubbing — a 28-point annihilation, … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Election, Midnight Jim Gibbons, North Las Vegas, Oscar Goodman, Politics, Regulation | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 5, 2010 by David McKee

“There was a time where I wouldn’t walk in there for fear of getting a secondary lung disease. Now, it’s as cool and neat as a place as there is in the entire downtown.” — Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Downtown, Oscar Goodman | 4 Comments

An arena in every pot

Posted on April 7, 2010 by David McKee

A scrum of casino owners and would-be owners is swarming the Clark County Commission with proposed arenas. The Las Vegas City Council may be able to get into the act, as Cordish Cos. is studying the feasibility of a stadium … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Cordish Co., Current, Downtown, Dubai, Economy, Entertainment, Gary Goett, Harrah's, Michael Gaughan, Oscar Goodman, Sports, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | 1 Comment

Big love

Posted on February 3, 2010 by David McKee

This latest tempest in a teaspoon has inspired a yawningly predictable reaction amongst Nevada politicians. The lone witty note was struck by Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority President Rossi Ralenkotter, who deployed irony in lieu of indignation: “While we … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Detroit, Economy, Harry Reid, LVCVA, Macau, MGM Mirage, Movies, Oscar Goodman, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | 3 Comments

Jace Radke sez Tamares sold to…

Posted on February 1, 2010 by David McKee

Jace Radke sez Tamares sold to Forest City Dev., not LV, which gets Oscar off the hook. Ya gotta credit Tamares w. turning crud into money.

Posted in Current, Downtown, Oscar Goodman, Tamares Group | Comments Off on Jace Radke sez Tamares sold to…

Garth: That’s the way it is

Posted on January 28, 2010 by David McKee

Amid all the ink that’s been spilled about the phenomenon that is Garth Brooks at Wynncore, we have a winner. No review is more eloquent, detailed or well-observed than the one newly penned by my estimable CityLife colleague Mike Prevatt. … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Economy, Election, Encore, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Oscar Goodman, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Wayne F. Newton | 1 Comment

‘Tis the season

Posted on December 23, 2009 by David McKee

Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson cuts the ribbon on Boot Hill Casino. The gentleman at the rear in the red tie is the Kansas Lottery’s Ed Van Petten, taking time out from carrying water for Mike Ensign. Having been on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Archon Corp., Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Don Barden, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Environment, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Jack Binion, James Packer, Kansas, M Resort, Macau, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Oscar Goodman, Penn National, Pets, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 8 Comments

Case Bets: ColSux, Wynn, Agassi, Lake LV, ‘Vega$’

Posted on October 30, 2009 by David McKee

Proverbial “flu-like symptoms” have me feeling light-headed and rather woozy (a delayed reaction to Wayne Newton?), for which the doctor prescribes a dosage of Case Bets … Another ColSux sale: Struggling hotelier Columbia Sussex has, for the not-inconsiderable sum of … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Current, Dining, Downtown, Encore, Iowa, Lake Las Vegas, Louisiana, Oscar Goodman, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, TV | 3 Comments

From the mailbag #9

Posted on October 22, 2009 by David McKee

One reader asks, regarding senatorial aspirant Sue Lowden‘s esteemed Pioneer Hotel & Gambling Hall: I’m confused (as usual, but…) – Isn’t the Pioneer NOT a gambling hall now, its shell hosting an ABC convenience store & various other small shops? … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Archon Corp., Downtown, Entertainment, Harry Reid, Laughlin, Oscar Goodman, Tamares Group, Tourism, TV | Comments Off on From the mailbag #9

Case Bets: Reid, Goodman, Madison (Holly) & a kegger

Posted on October 12, 2009 by David McKee

As they say on Dancing with the Stars, in no particular order … Eight against Harry: For a speedy primer on the myriad challengers to Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), you can't go wrong with Jon Ralston's droll and speedy primer. … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Environment, Harry Reid, Oscar Goodman, Politics, Steve Wynn, Technology, TV | Comments Off on Case Bets: Reid, Goodman, Madison (Holly) & a kegger