Category Archives: Politics

Big payoff for Pennsylvania

Posted on January 12, 2010 by David McKee

Gov. Ed Rendell (D) and other state leaders have got to be feeling the love for the Keystone State‘s budding casino industry, which generated over $1 billion in tax revenue last year. That boffo return was achieved without table games … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, Economy, Harrah's, IGT, Indiana, Kentucky, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Technology, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, TV | 2 Comments

That casino smell

Posted on January 11, 2010 by David McKee

As you step through the front doors of Aria‘s check-in foyer, a too-heavy musk is jammed up your nostrils. It smells like the same suffocating attar that’s employed in Venelazzo, except maybe heavier. The good news is that if you … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Atlantic City, Baseball, CityCenter, Current, Economy, Florida, Harry Reid, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sports | 4 Comments

Sheldon the Barbarian & other news

Posted on January 11, 2010 by David McKee

Amid reports of vastly improved attendance at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show comes news of a typical overreaction by Las Vegas Sands. I know of one company that was doing off-site demos and fortunately wasn’t among the vendors turfed out … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Carl Icahn, Colorado, Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Indiana, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | 5 Comments

It could be worse … couldn’t it?

Posted on January 8, 2010 by David McKee

That’s what passes for optimism these days when confronted by ledgers like those posted by casinos in Illinois and Indiana for December. While the former’s 5% decline hardly looks like cause for celebration, it at least suggests the Land of … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Don Barden, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Garth Brooks, City Center’s art: the reviews

Posted on January 7, 2010 by David McKee

Much has been made of the $40 million in art lavished upon CityCenter. Virtually all of it is stunning in isolation but how does it work in context? CityLife dispatched me on a mission to evaluate CC’s many installations. As … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Architecture, CityCenter, Current, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Pets, Politics, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 5 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 7, 2010 by David McKee

“PA table game approval a positive for PENN” — headline on this morning’s e-mail blast from J.P. Morgan. Who knew those Wall Street analysts would ever embed a jest like that within a stock recommendation?

Posted in Current, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Wall Street | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Random Downtown observations

Posted on January 5, 2010 by David McKee

On the way back from a fine dinner at the Bay City Diner (good food, better service, plus the $2.99 shrimp cocktail), a few off-the-cuff observations were made. A) Damn few people Downtown, even for midweek. B) The Plaza may … Continue reading →

Posted in Cretins, Current, Downtown, Pennsylvania, Politics, Taxes, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta | 2 Comments

Douchebag of the Year

Posted on January 4, 2010 by David McKee

This is one of Steve Friess‘ brainchildren, but S&G had a chance to get in on the fun. As they say in Chicago, vote early and often! Stripper Poll Who was the biggest douche bag of 2009? (Pick 3) Charlie … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska, Cirque du Soleil, Cretins, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Harry Reid, Illinois, International, MGM Mirage, Politics, Sports, TV | 3 Comments

Case Bets: Mohegan Sun, Alabama, Weidner, Dubai & a big bet on MGM Mirage

Posted on January 4, 2010 by David McKee

Could default or bankruptcy be in the offing for Mohegan Sun? The tribal supercasino’s attempts to get out from under an onerous fee arrangement with Sol Kerzner and Len Wolman are not only facing heavy weather, Mohegan Sun is also … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Carl Icahn, Charity, CityCenter, Current, Dubai, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Riviera, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Macao’s big bounce

Posted on January 4, 2010 by David McKee

Why is this man smiling? Gambling revenue in Macao jumped a whopping 48% last month, as customers left $1.4 billion in casino coffers. No surprise, Stanley Ho‘s casinos continued to maintain their 30% market share, followed by Sands China at … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Macao’s big bounce

Party Pooper of the Year

Posted on December 31, 2009 by David McKee

It seems that 2009 can’t slink quietly away without one more Bible Belt prude attempting to rain on gamblers’ parade. The spoilsport in question is South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster, who is appealing a ruling that poker is more … Continue reading →

Posted in Cretins, Politics, Regulation, South Carolina | 1 Comment

Keep your hands off my slag heap!

Posted on December 30, 2009 by David McKee

If you look up “urban blight,” you’re liable to find images like these, which show the area in which Penn National Gaming wants to build its Columbus, Ohio casino. At present, the casino to be is but a bunch of … Continue reading →

Posted in Ohio, Penn National, Politics | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 24, 2009 by David McKee

“This irresponsible legislation will bankrupt the state of Nevada and leave every working Nevada family out in the cold in the New Year.” — Gov. Jim Gibbons, in familiar Chicken Little mode. The context is irrelevant … this is Midnight … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Harry Reid, Politics | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

‘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

The unkindest cut

Posted on December 23, 2009 by David McKee

And for something totally random … Whilst gathering my thoughts this morning, I was watching a bit of MSNBC coverage of the latest Washington scandal. At the very moment a Roll Call reporter was saying Democratic senators would try “to … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Politics, TV | 3 Comments

Loveman loves him some Macao

Posted on December 22, 2009 by David McKee

By now the saga of Harrah’s Entertainment‘s Macanese golf course is the stuff of legend: a $578 million golden albatross around the company’s neck and a metaphor for the company’s misfortune-prone international strategy. While some of CEO Gary Loveman‘s ventures … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Current, Harrah's, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Maryland, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Earth to Adelson, Earth to Adelson …

Posted on December 21, 2009 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson claims he can finish his two resuscitated Cotai Strip™ casinos (below) and build three more in the next five years. Let the record show that Adelson currently also has casinos in various states of … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cordish Co., Current, Economy, Florida, International, Macau, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Movies, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, The Strip, Tribal | 2 Comments

Pelican State blues

Posted on December 15, 2009 by David McKee

November numbers are in for Louisiana and it’s the Pelican State’s worst gaming month in five quarters. Only the independent Eldorado Shreveport riverboat and Fair Grounds racino near New Orleans reported revenue growth. All major operators took it on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Columbia Sussex, Harrah's, International, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Maryland, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Regulation | Comments Off on Pelican State blues

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 27, 2009 by David McKee

“Cleveland, Toledo, and Cincinnati should not be in a position to make development decisions for Columbus any more than Columbus residents should be weighing in on Cleveland projects.” — Ohio state Sen. David Goodman, on a proposal that would allow … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Ohio, Penn National, Politics | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Case Bets: Cullotta’s moll, squeeze on Sands, gay old UFC

Posted on November 17, 2009 by David McKee

Local radio chatterbox Heidi Harris recently set her pants on fire attempting to rewrite history about a Mob terror campaign against then-Nevada Gaming Commissioners (one of whom went on to become Sen. Harry Reid [D-NV]). The evidence seems pretty unambiguous … Continue reading →

Posted in Harry Reid, International, Macau, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports, Station Casinos, The Mob, TV, Wall Street | 6 Comments