Category Archives: Politics

Exonerating Adelson

Posted on March 17, 2010 by David McKee

While Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson might approve of Gary Kreep‘s recent PAC-tivities, inasmuch as they redound to the detriment of competitor MGM Mirage, he’s not behind them. Or, to put it another way, if Adelson’s been involved it … Continue reading →

Posted in California, CityCenter, Current, Dubai, Election, Florida, Macau, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho | 5 Comments

CityCenter: Guilty by association

Posted on March 15, 2010 by David McKee

This new attack ad, fired today, represents the latest salvo in what might be called The War Over CityCenter. Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV), not having been shy to take credit for CityCenter’s completion, is fair game. Where the ad may … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Colony Capital, Current, Dubai, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Harrah's, Harry Reid, International, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Regulation, Riviera, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip | 2 Comments

Bad PR for gaming

Posted on March 12, 2010 by David McKee

Mike Ensign‘s 96 dimes of hush money to his son’s mistress’ pimp daddy (aka Doug Hampton) and “Casino Jack” Abramoff make cameo appearances in this attack ad (found via @RalstonFlash). Throw in the heavy-handed meddling in casino affairs of Gov. … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Iowa, Marketing, New York, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Reno, Sahara, TV | Comments Off on Bad PR for gaming

Who’s crazier: Adelson or Florida?

Posted on March 12, 2010 by David McKee

Pay no attention to the over-budget, behind-schedule megaresort in the background. Six casinos at $2 billion apiece. No joking, that’s what a Sheldon Adelson flunky is proposing in Florida. (I guess the white-out of Atlantic City isn’t the only snow … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Economy, Macau, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Taxes, The Strip | 4 Comments

First, the good news …

Posted on March 11, 2010 by David McKee

Congratulations to MGM Mirage for being named, for the fourth time in five years, to DiversityInc‘s “Top 50 Companies for Diversity.” Like predecessor J. Terrence Lanni, not only does CEO Jim Murren say the right things (“As long as I … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, New York, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on First, the good news …

Harrah’s monster month & other matters

Posted on March 11, 2010 by David McKee

So big it’s practically an island unto itself, Horseshoe Hammond had another blockbuster month, dominating all Indiana casinos with $47 million in revenue — a 7% increase. Excepting a 4% upturn aboard Don Barden‘s beleaguered Majestic Star II, that was … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Cirque du Soleil, Don Barden, Entertainment, Harrah's, Indiana, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off on Harrah’s monster month & other matters

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 10, 2010 by David McKee

“Political pundits cast aspersions on candidates and incumbents by labeling their policies and beliefs ‘communist’ or ‘socialist. I have noticed many of these exchanges recently and wanted to bring them to light in a humorous way by placing them here … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Current, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Movies, Politics, The Mob, The Strip, TV | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Wynn on the defensive

Posted on March 10, 2010 by David McKee

Steve Wynn hasn’t done his homework on the tortured history of Foxwoods‘ vagabond casino project and if his aides at Wynn Resorts tried to bring him up to speed, they’ve obviously failed miserably. Still — and quite understandably — chafing … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Pennsylvania, Politics, Steve Wynn, Tribal, TV | 4 Comments

Pennsylvania: Give Adelson a break; Harrah’s latest excuses

Posted on March 9, 2010 by David McKee

While principle dictates that Las Vegas Sands ought to be held to the terms of its agreement with the State of Pennsylvania, recent developments give one pause. Namely, why should Steve Wynn get favorable treatment enjoyed by no other casino … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Columbia Sussex, Economy, George Maloof, Harrah's, Illinois, Louisiana, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Did my eyes deceive me …

Posted on March 8, 2010 by David McKee

… or was that the skeleton of Echelon which was used to illustrate Nevada’s economic woes in the TV spot that Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) is running this week? That’s no outrage in and of itself: Echelon was a casualty … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Current, Economy, Election, Harry Reid, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, TV | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 5, 2010 by David McKee

“… only 36,000 people lost their jobs today, which is really good.” — Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV). Um, “really good” for whom, might we ask?

Posted in Current, Economy, Election, Harry Reid, Politics | 3 Comments

The good, the bad & the very ugly photo

Posted on March 2, 2010 by David McKee

For perhaps the first time in his career, Steve Wynn is being called “cheesy.” It’s in connection with his new Philadelphia casino project, the erstwhile Foxwoods. (If, has been mooted, it’s just called “S.W.“, that would be pretentious but not … Continue reading →

Posted in Cannery Casino Resorts, Economy, Harrah's, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Wall Street | 10 Comments

Chronicle of a Black foretold; River City looking good

Posted on March 2, 2010 by David McKee

Randy Black, that is. The CEO who ran the Mesquite market straight into the ground (with a sizable assist from the Nevada Gaming Control Board and Gaming Commission) and turned the former Si Redd’s Oasis into a slot route — … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Boyd Gaming, Current, Don Barden, Election, Harry Reid, IGT, Mesquite, Michael Gaughan, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Pinnacle Entertainment, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, TV, Wall Street, WMS Industries | 1 Comment

Sue Lowden, socialist?

Posted on March 2, 2010 by David McKee

Archon Corp. Treasurer Sue Lowden has been called unflattering things in her life (mostly by the Culinary Union) but I’ll bet my soul “socialist” was never among them. Until now. Rival Danny Tarkanian flung the “S word” at her yesterday, … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Election, Entertainment, Harry Reid, Politics, The Strip | 2 Comments

Macao’s big ass-month

Posted on March 1, 2010 by David McKee

Casinos in Macao blew way past expectations, raking in $1.6 billion last month (a 70% increase). Stanley Ho‘s SJM widened its lead on Las Vegas Sands, although the latter had more market share (20%) than MGM Grand Macau and Galaxy … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Economy, Environment, Florida, Genting, Harrah's, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Macao’s big ass-month

Sands backslides, backpedals in Pennsylvania

Posted on March 1, 2010 by David McKee

Wow, there’s nothing like the rumor of an in-progress sale to light a fire under Las Vegas Sands to restart its desultory Sands Bethlehem. Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson tries to imply that resumption of the hotel is contingent upon getting … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Lake Las Vegas, Macau, Massachusetts, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Strip | 6 Comments

Case Bets: “Viva Elvis,” Loveman in Macao, Icahn in A.C., etc.

Posted on February 24, 2010 by David McKee

Viva Elvis vs. Love. The Sun‘s John Katsilometes pivots it to a question of “Whose music is better?” I’m not going there but I think he really nails why one show seemed right up Cirque du Soleil‘s alley while the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Current, Don Barden, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Indiana, International, Isle of Capri, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | 5 Comments

Case Bets: Boyd speaks, Kansas stalls & problem gamblers get the shaft

Posted on February 23, 2010 by David McKee

Boyd Gaming CEO Keith Smith weighs in on the subject of emerging markets. Significant by its omission: Florida. Boyd got its fingers burnt down there and knows better than some in the industry that it’s not the Land of Opportunity … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Detroit, Economy, Florida, Kansas, Lyle Berman, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Tamares Group, Tribal | Comments Off on Case Bets: Boyd speaks, Kansas stalls & problem gamblers get the shaft

“The worst riverboat casino in the world”

Posted on February 23, 2010 by David McKee

That’d be the President, symbolic flagship of Pinnacle Entertainment‘s fleet. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch has an excellent story, laying out the complexities surrounding the Missouri Gaming Commission‘s legally dubious move to shut the old ship down. There are no heroes … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Current, Missouri, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Regulation | 4 Comments

Buy a Vegas condo, get a political donation

Posted on February 15, 2010 by David McKee

A piquant news item, cobbled together from two @RalstonFlash tweets: “This is embarrassing: George Maloof, tapped to host POTUS for DNC fundraiser this week in LV, gave $2,400 to [Sen. Harry] Reid foe [Danny] Tarkanian in Sept. Maloof gave to … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Election, George Maloof, Harry Reid, Politics | 2 Comments