Category Archives: Regulation

Mohegan Sun in Kansas: D'oh!

Posted on September 22, 2008 by David McKee

A reader in Oklahoma City points out an obvious reason — one which I somehow managed to completely overlook — why the Kansas Lottery‘s casino-selection panel didn’t go with Mohegan Sun, which I foolishly thought to be a prohibitive favorite. … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Kansas, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off

A "character" responds

Posted on September 17, 2008 by David McKee

You may recall that, some time back, in an item entitled "Blasts from the Past," I discussed an anomaly in the transfer of the El Cortez from Jackie Gaughan to an ownership group that included various longtime associates — and … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Regulation | Comments Off

Headless owner in topless bar

Posted on September 8, 2008 by David McKee

“It is amazing how people get religion once they want a gaming license,” said then-Nevada Gaming Control Board member Brian Harris, back in December ’98, in one of the all-time-great casino-related quotes. Harris’ statement came in connection with the license-application … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Election, Regulation, The Strip | Comments Off

Trop to Eldorado: "Never mind"

Posted on August 25, 2008 by David McKee

In the strongest sign to date that company owner William J. Yung III has been banished to the doghouse, Tropicana Entertainment formally reneged on its sale of Casino Aztar to Reno-based Eldorado Resorts. The latter could walk away with as … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Harrah's, Indiana, Kansas, Regulation | Comments Off

Donald Trump: ass; David Snow: hero

Posted on July 28, 2008 by David McKee

Don't you wish you lived in whatever parallel universe is inhabited by Donald J. Trump? If you did, you could claim that your 60%+ unoccupied Trump International — which just sacked 20% of its workforce — is an incredible success. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, MGM Mirage, Regulation, The Strip | Comments Off

Good riddance at Boyd

Posted on July 18, 2008 by David McKee

Former Nevada Athletic Commission chairman. Former Boyd Gaming director. Member of the 197-person "Midnight Jim" Gibbons transition team. Out-and-out disgrace. That'd be Luther Mack, who walked the plank at Boyd Gaming last week, not (as I speculated at the time) … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Mississippi, Regulation | Comments Off

Court smacks down ColSux; Pinball and Dragons

Posted on July 1, 2008 by David McKee

This just in: The legal appeal by Columbia Sussex of its New Jersey license denial has been ashcanned by an appellate court. In a 44-page ruling, the court sided with the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, writing — in part … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, MGM Mirage, Regulation, The Strip | Comments Off

Tripped up by Trop

Posted on July 1, 2008 by David McKee

State-appointed conservator Justice Gary Stein continues to trip over his shoelaces in his efforts to sell the Atlantic City Tropicana. Amazingly, the New Jersey Casino Control Commission still backs him, even though Stein has given commission members precious little reason … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Regulation | Comments Off

Quagmire at the Trop

Posted on June 23, 2008 by David McKee

So the feckless — and costly — Tropicana conservatorship of Justice Gary Stein is to drag on still further. Let’s see: Bids that were supposedly “unreasonably lower” but which Stein refuses to share with the public. A wholesale chucking-out of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Donald Trump, Regulation, The Strip | Comments Off

Blasts from the past

Posted on June 18, 2008 by David McKee

Snuggled inconspicuously in a recent El Cortez press release was the disclosure that the newly reconfigured ownership will include one Lonny Zarowitz. The aforesaid Zarowtiz figures briefly in John L. Smith's Running Scared: The Life and Treacherous Times of Las … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Harrah's, International, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip, TV | Comments Off

Good news for the Boardwalk

Posted on June 11, 2008 by David McKee

May 2008 was only the fourth-best May in Atlantic City’s 30-year history of casino gambling, but it was good enough to qualify as cause for celebration. The New Jersey Casino Control Commission has the full breakout, from which a few … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Pennsylvania, Regulation | Comments Off

This just in …

Posted on May 30, 2008 by David McKee

So Tropicana Atlantic City trustee Justice Gary Stein wants to toss the existing bids for the property … possibly because better ones are being dangled before him. As a consequence, he wants to restart the clock, which would push the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Detroit, Donald Trump, Macau, MGM Mirage, Regulation | Comments Off

The Alystra is toast

Posted on May 14, 2008 by David McKee

OK, so it was a derelict that's been closed for 10 years and unlikely ever to reopen. But the Alystra is now officially "a total loss." Too bad. It was an attractive building that happened to sit in a sort … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boulder Strip, Election, Harrah's, Penn National, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson | 1 Comment

Not smoking stunts your (revenue) growth

Posted on May 7, 2008 by David McKee

Let's get one thing clear: Smoking is a noxious habit that's likely to kill you and certain to alienate other people, in my opinion. (I had two grandparents who smoked until the air turned blue, then smoked some more, which … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Harrah's, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off

‘Luxoricana’?; When unions attack (each other)

Posted on April 22, 2008 by David McKee

Labor unions aren’t very popular these days but sometimes even the mere threat of one is enough to effect improvements. Such seems to be the case at Luxor, where the International Union of Security, Police & Fire Professionals of America … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Kentucky, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | Comments Off

Columbia Sussex sinks to new low

Posted on April 2, 2008 by David McKee

Let’s say you’re Columbia Sussex, owner of the Westin Casuarina and notorious for your pinch-penny ways. What do you do if a convention organizer can’t pay up on its $50,000 tab? Why simply — and sneakily — bill it to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Indiana, Louisiana, LVCVA, Regulation | Comments Off

Columbia Sussex loses one, wins another

Posted on March 31, 2008 by David McKee

Where to start? Well, Gov. Steve Beshear is about to throw in the towel on his casinos-for-Kentucky push, having decided he couldn’t get it past the House. And remember: That was supposed to be the easy part; the state Senate’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Indiana, Regulation | Comments Off

Elvis has already left this building

Posted on March 27, 2008 by David McKee

Two days ago, VegasTodayandTomorrow.com broke out the specifics of FX Real Estate & Entertainment‘s Elvis-themed resort, set for the southeast corner of Harmon Avenue and the Strip, gleaned from an SEC filing. Among the principals is Paul Kanavos, previously involved … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Politics, Regulation, The Strip | Comments Off

That wacky Columbia Sussex

Posted on March 25, 2008 by David McKee

According to The Press of Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex is countersuing its bondholders, which it contends are trying to force the company into bankruptcy or seize an ownership in the Atlantic City Tropicana Casino & Resort. 'ColSux,' you will remember, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Columbia Sussex, Regulation | Comments Off

Looking for trouble

Posted on March 21, 2008 by David McKee

Seems that somebody, getting into the spirit of our increasingly Orwellian society, has been doing a few “sneak and peek” searches on the passport records Sens. Clinton and Obama. Those of you with long memories will recall that Bush I … Continue reading →

Posted in Cloverfield monster, Election, Regulation | Comments Off