Category Archives: Riviera

Signs of the Times

Posted on July 22, 2009 by David McKee

Caesars Palace's jumbotron was hawking a poker "tournement [sic]" as of last night. Having an ex-Harvard boffin at the helm evidently doesn't raise a company's I.Q. level. You half-expect that sort of spelling gaffe on the marquee at Terrible's; at … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Herbst Gaming, Riviera, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta | Comments Off on Signs of the Times

Penn finally makes a move

Posted on July 14, 2009 by David McKee

Well, let's not get all excited yet. Penn National has bought a puny stake in Morris Goldstein & Assoc., a slot distributor. It's a bit of kabuki theatre whereby Penn and executives CEO Peter Carlino, President Tim Wilmott, CFO Bill … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Internet gambling, Macau, Penn National, Regulation, Riviera, Tourism | Comments Off on Penn finally makes a move

House of wax

Posted on July 3, 2009 by David McKee

I call your bluff, comrade. As you may have heard, casinos in Russia can stay open by converting to poker rooms. A tip of the fedora goes to reader mike_ch for pointing out this story, which delineates some of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, International, Penn National, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, TV | Comments Off on House of wax

Loveman in denial

Posted on June 15, 2009 by David McKee

Harrah’s Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman continues his media-availability tour. In today’s installment, he grants an audience to the Las Vegas Business Press and insists that not only is everything as right as rain at Harrah’s but that the LBO he … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Riviera, Technology, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street, WMS Industries | Comments Off on Loveman in denial

"Peepshow" buys a clue

Posted on May 18, 2009 by David McKee

"Peepshow" prime donne Kelly Monaco & Mel. B By now it's old news that Planet Hollywood's new resident spectacle, Peepshow, has gone topless for real. Though some question the move, to me it always seemed retrogressive and counter-intuitive to present … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Entertainment, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Riviera, The Strip | Comments Off on "Peepshow" buys a clue

Hooters vs. Riviera

Posted on March 31, 2009 by David McKee

It's a race to Chapter 11 now, with Riviera Holdings in the lead. Its glandular-themed rival down the street is opting out of an interest payment and drawing down the last of its credit, never a promising sign. However, Riviera … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Economy, Harrah's, Riviera, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Hooters vs. Riviera

Colorado casinos: Four votes, four wins

Posted on January 21, 2009 by David McKee

After a statewide vote approved 'round-the-clock operation at Colorado's non-tribal casinos (along with a 20X increase in betting limits and a wider repertory of games), the measure wasn't home and dry. It had to be voted through in Cripple Creek, … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Colorado, Election, Isle of Capri, Penn National, Regulation, Riviera | Comments Off on Colorado casinos: Four votes, four wins

Buyback at Isle

Posted on January 14, 2009 by David McKee

As reader Bill Jones pointed out, Isle of Capri is making a first-come, first-served offer to retire 28% of senior debt at 55 cents on the dollar. (Official version here.) Wall Street wasn't impressed, with Isle stock -16% as of … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Isle of Capri, Riviera | Comments Off on Buyback at Isle

Is Peter Carlino crazy?

Posted on October 24, 2008 by David McKee

Now I know that Penn National is all a-flush with cash these days and CEO Peter Carlino is probably feeling bullish. Still, in a recent visit to Vegas to assess possible casino acquisitions, he's alleged to have acted like he … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Downtown, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Riviera, Sahara, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Is Peter Carlino crazy?

Boyd Has Brass Balls

Posted on August 1, 2008 by David McKee

Yesterday, I got a hint that Something Big was going to be announced in today’s Boyd Gaming earnings report. Little did I suspect it would be the completely unprecedented (in my recollection) step of halting a megaresort project in mid-stream … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Morgans Hotel Group, Riviera, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Boyd Has Brass Balls

Vegas Right Now = Bargain Country

Posted on July 2, 2008 by David McKee

While the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority may blanch from peddling bargain-oriented messages, we don’t. While it wasn’t that long ago that some of us were mourning the apparent demise of on-Strip bargains — or redefining said bargains as … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Harrah's, LVCVA, Macau, MGM Mirage, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Vegas Right Now = Bargain Country