Category Archives: Problem gambling

Jason lives … at Station Casinos

Posted on June 4, 2010 by David McKee

Jason Voorhees (well, one of the many) is Station Casinos‘ general manager for the tribally owned Thunder Valley Casino, near Sacramento. No, I’m not making this up. Uncle Sheldon says … that convention business will be “80% of normal” in … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Current, International, Macau, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Oklahoma, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 3 Comments

More political football at CityCenter

Posted on May 18, 2010 by David McKee

Due to the Las Vegas Review-Journal‘s bizarre campaign to secede from the Internet, we dare not even link to an excellent Howard Stutz rundown of MGM Mirage‘s attempt to gain the high ground in the fractious “Who screwed up CityCenter” … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Archon Corp., Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Current, Economy, Election, Harry Reid, Labor, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Movies, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | 1 Comment

Case Bets: Maryland, Foxwoods, problem gambling

Posted on March 23, 2010 by David McKee

It’s not even been 18 months since Maryland voters gave their assent to slot houses — a time in which the state has to erect a regulatory apparatus, vet applicants, and then wait for the latter to get up and … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Current, Economy, Kansas, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes, Tribal | 1 Comment

Case Bets: Loveman & ladies’ shoes, CityCenter, Singapore, the Palms and Wayne Newton

Posted on February 26, 2010 by David McKee

Naptime in the casino. If American casinos are less frenetic than those of, say, Macao, the gambling culture in Singapore is very relaxed indeed. Fancy a catnap at your slot machine? No problem! Oh, to see the expression on Sheldon … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, CityCenter, Current, Entertainment, Genting, George Maloof, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, The Strip, TV, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 24, 2010 by David McKee

“Hong Kong teen leaves granny in morgue after gambling funeral cash” — link (defunct, unfortunately) on GamingFloor.com.

Posted in Current, International, Problem gambling | 2 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

Skin(less) City

Posted on February 19, 2010 by David McKee

Before we get into the good (?) stuff, I should mention that S&G has been nominated as part of Las Vegas CityLife‘s “Best of the Valley” poll. I probably should have pimped this a week ago, when the poll went … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Current, Detroit, Economy, Entertainment, International, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Problem gambling, Regulation, Technology, The Strip | 5 Comments

“YCMIU”

Posted on February 12, 2010 by David McKee

As I learned earlier today, that’s PDA shorthand for “You can’t make it up.” (It was used by Jon Ralston in reference to a certain governor’s claim to 11-plus years of celibacy … but I digress.) Actually, maybe you can … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Massachusetts, Politics, Problem gambling, Taxes | Comments Off on “YCMIU”

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 11, 2010 by David McKee

“We will have to eliminate programs and services which make some people feel good, but which we simply can no longer afford.” — Gov. Jim Gibbons (R-NV), proposing to zero-out — among other things — the state’s $1.8 million in … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Politics, Problem gambling | 1 Comment

Case Bets: Laughlin postmortem, Newton grounded, Gibbons robs problem gamblers

Posted on February 4, 2010 by David McKee

It’s an S&G Special Austerity Edition (i.e., no pictures) … Three grand. That’s the value of a human life in Nevada. The Washingtonian who crashed his car into Laughlin‘s Edgewater casino, killing two and injuring seven, is out on $6,000 … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Current, Detroit, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, IGT, Laughlin, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Movies, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Reno, Transportation, TV, Wall Street, Wayne F. Newton | Comments Off on Case Bets: Laughlin postmortem, Newton grounded, Gibbons robs problem gamblers

Case Bets: The Wayner, G2E, Packer & Kerzner

Posted on December 8, 2009 by David McKee

Say what you like about Wayne Newton‘s Once Before I Go at the Tropicana Las Vegas, it has the biggest band you’ll see on the Strip: 20 strong, plus backup singers. Most Strip headliners have to make do with one-third … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Australia, Carl Icahn, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, G2E, Genting, International, James Packer, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Problem gambling, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Case Bets: The Wayner, G2E, Packer & Kerzner

Case Bets: Pinnacle, Pennsylvania, Harrah’s & Sands

Posted on October 30, 2009 by David McKee

Third quarter at PNK: 3Q09 numbers are out for Pinnacle Entertainment and the comparisons cover the spectrum from very good (Lumiere Place up 19%), good (+5% at L’Auberge du Lac) and lousy (-13% aboard Boomtown New Orleans). Once a free-spending … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Current, Detroit, Economy, Harrah's, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

'Show Me' no stinkin' IDs

Posted on July 27, 2009 by David McKee

"We don't want them in there," huffs Ameristar Casinos' Troy Stremming (left) with regard to pathological gamblers. Stremming's high dudgeon rings a mite hollow now that the Missouri ballot initiative he crafted and shepherded to victory last fall is providing … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Missouri, Penn National, Problem gambling, Regulation, Taxes | Comments Off on 'Show Me' no stinkin' IDs

A Trop by any other name

Posted on July 27, 2009 by David McKee

Icahn Capital, which purchased the Tropicana Atlantic City for $54 million, effectively, is projecting a conservative course for the property. Any sort of expansion is being ruled out for now, due to skepticism about “green shoots” of economic recovery. Speaking … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Problem gambling, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on A Trop by any other name

'Show Me' no stinkin' IDs

Posted on July 27, 2009 by David McKee

"We don't want them in there," huffs Ameristar Casinos' Troy Stremming (left) with regard to pathological gamblers. Stremming's high dudgeon rings a mite hollow now that the Missouri ballot initiative he crafted and shepherded to victory last fall is providing … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Missouri, Penn National, Problem gambling, Regulation, Taxes | Comments Off on 'Show Me' no stinkin' IDs

Packer steps in it again

Posted on July 24, 2009 by David McKee

After frequent demurrals, the Victoria government has ‘fessed up that it was on the receiving end of ham-fisted lobbying by Crown Casino owner James Packer. A delicate quid pro quo (higher taxes in return for more table games) was being … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Economy, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Packer steps in it again

Harrah's goes to the dogs

Posted on June 30, 2009 by David McKee

Harrah’s Entertainment is poking its snout into the prospect of obtaining a management contract at bankrupt Twin River Casino, a dog track with VLTs in Rhode Island. The paraphrase of the explanation given by Harrah’s senior veep Jan Jones seems … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Colony Capital, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Politics, Problem gambling, Taxes | Comments Off on Harrah's goes to the dogs

Case Bets: California, Packer pickle, Macao pix, Holy Cow!, Singapore, RoboPoker, etc.

Posted on June 25, 2009 by David McKee

Editor’s note: An item involving Crown Ltd. contained factual errors, which have been corrected (as you’ll see). I apologize for the misinformation. My thanks to the reader who pulled my head out of my @$$. California gamblers stay and play … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, California, Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Entertainment, G2E, Genting, Harrah's, Holy Cow, International, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Louisiana, Macau, New York, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Case Bets: California, Packer pickle, Macao pix, Holy Cow!, Singapore, RoboPoker, etc.

The Unlucky Club & other Case Bets

Posted on March 26, 2009 by David McKee

Did somebody build the inaptly named Lucky Club  (above) over an Indian burial ground? A deprivation of access is but the latest indignity suffered by this North Las Vegas grind joint. While it was still the Speedway Casino, it was … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Current, Economy, Encore, Entertainment, Lake Las Vegas, Marketing, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on The Unlucky Club & other Case Bets

Plaza still a "go", Tropicana gets new boss, Gibbons still irrelevant

Posted on March 20, 2008 by David McKee

It's Day Five of the "Hell No, We Won't Go" crisis and Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners members Drs. Daniel McBride and Javaid Anwar continue to thumb their noses at Gov. Jim Gibbons. As does board Executive Director Tony … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Donald Trump, Harrah's, Indiana, Marketing, Movies, Politics, Problem gambling, The Strip | Comments Off on Plaza still a "go", Tropicana gets new boss, Gibbons still irrelevant