Category Archives: Pets

Sports betting a ‘go’ in Rhode Island; Reefer gladness in Vegas

Posted on November 16, 2018 by David McKee

Getting a leg up on Massachusetts, casinos in Rhode Island will start taking sports bets in a week or so. Workers are putting the finishing touches on Twin River Casino‘s new sports book. Tiverton Casino Hotel will follow at some … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, Dining, Election, International, Marijuana, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pets, Rhode Island, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, TV | Comments Off

My executive assistant

Posted on August 9, 2018 by David McKee

Posted in Animals, Pets | 2 Comments

Culinary loses sense of decency; Inhumanity in Macao

Posted on July 27, 2018 by David McKee

Terry Caudill and the Culinary Union have come to terms on labor pacts for Binion’s Gambling Hall and the Four Queens. The agreement awaits ratification by the 650 employees affected. In the meantime, the Culinary stepped way over the line … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Architecture, Culinary Union, Downtown, Election, Internet gambling, Macau, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Pets, Philippines, Regulation, Station Casinos, Terry Caudill, Tribal, Washington State | Comments Off

Spike 2002-2018

Posted on June 29, 2018 by David McKee

“Until one has loved an animal a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” — Anatole France Part of Jennifer’s and my soul was unawakened until we adopted Spike last Nov. 25. He was discovered through an online ad in the Augusta … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Current, Pets | 3 Comments

Japan sets casinos up for failure; Renegade card room in California closed

Posted on August 18, 2017 by David McKee

About the nicest thing Jim Murren had to say about Japan‘s casino market is that it’s “unclear at the moment.” Casino developers are bracing themselves for delivery of a 130-page report from the Expert Committee, laying out proposed regulations for megaresorts. … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, California, Cretins, Donald Trump, Election, history, Internet gambling, Japan, Maine, MGM Mirage, Pets, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Transportation, Virginia | Comments Off

Trump Taj: Everything must go; Vegas looking better than ever

Posted on July 12, 2017 by David McKee

Somehow Trump Taj Mahal just wouldn’t be ‘Trump’ if it didn’t go out with an episode of farce. An Atlantic City resident put the liquid into “liquidation” when he decided to take an impromptu shower in one of the vacant … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Atlantic City, California, Donald Trump, Economy, Hard Rock International, Nevada, Pets, Transportation | Comments Off

Exit SLS, enter Sahara; Seminoles reach Florida accord

Posted on July 7, 2017 by David McKee

Collectors, start gathering those SLS-branded souvenirs while you can. The auguries continue to accumulate that the beloved Sahara identity will be returning to the venerable hotel-casino. The latest sign is the changeover of the loyalty program to Club 52 (from … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Cordish Co., Florida, history, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Pets, Politics, Sahara, Sam Nazarian, Seminole Tribe, SLS Las Vegas, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

Thank you …

Posted on September 6, 2016 by David McKee

… to everyone who wrote in to S&G (or contacted me privately) to condole my wife and I on the loss of Rascal. Your good wishes have contributed to the healing process more than you’ll ever know. Also, we’ll be … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Georgia, Pets | Comments Off

Rascal, 2004-2016

Posted on September 1, 2016 by David McKee

Yesterday, my wife and I said goodbye to our beloved cat Rascal. He had contracted a very malignant and aggressive cancer of the mouth, and had quickly wasted away. Finally, it reached the point where he could no longer eat … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Current, Pets | 6 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 28, 2016 by David McKee

“Of all God’s creatures, there is only one that cannot be made slave of the leash. That one is the cat.” — Mark Twain

Posted in Animals, Pets | Comments Off

Japan: Keep moving, nothing to see here; Crisis at Studio City

Posted on October 26, 2015 by David McKee

Despite much chumming of the waters by Union Gaming Securities Asia‘s Grant Govertson, it’s the same old same-old in Japan, where casino legalization has been delayed yet again and probably should be under a news blackout until substantial progress is achieved. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Election, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Mississippi, Pets, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off

Back from vacation

Posted on August 26, 2015 by David McKee

My wife and I have just returned from four days’ vacation in Kanab, Utah. We spent our time there volunteering at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, where we washed dishes, folded laundry, picked up poop, fed the inhabitants and socialized with

Posted in Animals, MGM Mirage, Pets, The Strip | 2 Comments

Pit bosses think their job is the pits; One-hoss Hsieh

Posted on July 20, 2015 by David McKee

PayScale.com has been researching the most and least meaningful jobs, and some of it reflects unfavorably on our casino industry. Table game supervisors “report that they do not find their jobs meaningful, 20% actually believe their jobs make the world … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Environment, Macau, Pets | Comments Off

Rock in Rio flops; Tighter slots in Maryland?

Posted on June 17, 2015 by David McKee

According to Vital Vegas, the first Strip outing of Rock in Rio might be its last, as the music festival may have lost as much as $28 million. Vital Vegas puts attendance at a dreadful 130,000 (out of a possible … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Cordish Co., Current, Entertainment, Florida, Harrah's, International, Japan, Macau, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Pets, Philippines, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Singapore, South Korea, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off

IGT: Don’t cry for them Argentina

Posted on April 23, 2014 by David McKee

A 66% drop in profits for International Game Technology was one of yesterday’s headline events. Net revenues were off 15%. That $30 million in workforce cuts didn’t come soon enough to save the quarter, evidently. Wall Street analysts were remarkably … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Cosmopolitan, IGT, International, Internet gambling, Pets, Technology, Wall Street | Comments Off

Imbalances of power; Vegas to Israel?

Posted on December 6, 2013 by David McKee

It was another bonny month for Maryland, whose casino revenues grew 55% in November, up to $67 million. It’s not an apples/apples comparison, since neither Rocky Gap Casino nor table games were in play a year ago. Tables were responsible … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Cordish Co., Economy, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Illinois, Macau, Maryland, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pets, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn | Comments Off

“Eaten” by Las Vegas; Icahn’s hard bargain

Posted on August 24, 2012 by David McKee

Today is being spent at home, buried ‘neath page proofs for Eating Las Vegas 3.0 (with assistance from sibling kitties Leona and Rascal, the latter incredibly well-named). Tonight brings Tournament of Kings — which I’ve never seen — and Evil … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Current, Dining, Fontainebleau, George Maloof, MGM Mirage, Pets, Phil Ruffin, Planet Hollywood, The Strip, Wall Street | 3 Comments

The face of LVA; Local man curses electricity

Posted on June 28, 2012 by David McKee

Reports of return (by me) have been greatly exaggerated. After knocking off two travel guides, a feature story and a book review over the last week, I’m practically having to prop my eyes open with toothpicks. And then there are … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Dining, Internet gambling, Pets, Steve Wynn, TV | 1 Comment

It’s payback time

Posted on November 10, 2011 by David McKee

… or maybe not. Dealers at Wynn Las Vegas won a rare victory when Clark County District Judge Kenneth Cory (pictured) spiked Labor Commissioner Michael Tanchek‘s longstanding position vis-a-vis the tip-confiscation policy at the Strip resort. Asking for a third … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Pets, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off

ColSux: They’re outta here!; Accord in Motown; Murren changes course

Posted on October 20, 2011 by David McKee

Those last few remnants of Columbia Sussex CEO William J. Yung‘s former casino empire continue to topple about him. The Kentucky-based oligarch, whose properties are notorious for their poor working conditions and even worse maintenance, has been reaping a gargantuan … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Culinary Union, Dan Lee, Detroit, Donald Trump, Economy, Environment, G2E, Harrah's, International, Lake Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe, Louisiana, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Pets, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Sports, Texas, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off