Category Archives: Sheldon Adelson

Making the grade

Posted on September 17, 2013 by David McKee

Congratulations to the following casino industry figures for making it onto the Forbes 400 … #11: Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson. He’s richer than you are. #18: Fontainebleau owner Carl Icahn #27: Scientific Games lead owner Ron Perelman #36: … Continue reading →

Posted in Carl Icahn, Donald Trump, Fontainebleau, MGM Mirage, Phil Ruffin, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | Comments Off on Making the grade

Dangerous complacency in New York

Posted on September 16, 2013 by David McKee

Casino advocates and New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) are making a risky wager regarding November’s ballot question that would dramatically expand gambling in upstate New York. They’re playing it cool, keeping most of their chips off the table. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Election, Foxwoods, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Dangerous complacency in New York

Gomes out, Adelson in, Japan on the fence

Posted on September 16, 2013 by David McKee

Take a good look at that flapper-era costume. It’s not long for Resorts Atlantic City. Now that the Mohegan Gaming Authority has well and truly taken the reins of the property, the late Dennis Gomes‘ Prohibition Era theming is on … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Dennis Gomes, International, Louisiana, Marketing, Mohegan Sun, Sheldon Adelson, Wall Street | Comments Off on Gomes out, Adelson in, Japan on the fence

Trouble in another paradise; Sheldon’s sex shoppe

Posted on September 14, 2013 by David McKee

Overruling Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley (D), a Bay State court has issued an injunction allow signature-gatherers to keep collecting voters’ John Hancocks on a petition to repeal 2011’s casino-enabling legislation. Considering the land purchases, to say nothing of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Rhode Island, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Trouble in another paradise; Sheldon’s sex shoppe

Revel resurgent; MGM, Sands to Japan

Posted on September 10, 2013 by David McKee

For all the flack that it’s taken for its misleading “refund” on losses promotion, Revel Resort continues to woo customers back. Its revenues rose 2% in August, pushing the megaresort ahead of Showboat and into the middle tier of Atlantic … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Donald Trump, Harrah's, International, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Tropicana Entertainment | 3 Comments

Adelson’s new BFF; Icahn’s pricey purchase; Fertitta out of A.C.?

Posted on September 4, 2013 by David McKee

Politics making strange bedfellows and all that, S&G woke up to find Sheldon Adelson enjoying connubial bliss with President Barack Obama. Both are pushing for military intervention in Syria, swimming against the tide of American public opinion. And to think … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Current, International, Internet gambling, Missouri, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Tilman Fertitta | Comments Off on Adelson’s new BFF; Icahn’s pricey purchase; Fertitta out of A.C.?

On the lighter side

Posted on September 3, 2013 by David McKee

Add Cedar Rapids to the list of cities offering a “Las Vegas flavor” to their citizens — at least if Cedar Crossing Casino goes through as planned, which will include a management team of Peninsula Gaming execs rendered homeless by … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Dining, Entertainment, Harrah's, Iowa, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on On the lighter side

Party at Sheldon’s place; Backlash in Ohio

Posted on September 3, 2013 by David McKee

I didn’t know what “cocaine dancers” are but the Las Vegas Review-Journal says Palazzo’s nightclub, The Act, has them. (It seems to involve far more snorting than dancing.) Sheldon Adelson‘s peeps would like the “simulated drug use, bestiality and exotic … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Current, Internet gambling, Ohio, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | Comments Off on Party at Sheldon’s place; Backlash in Ohio

Foxwoods: Mo’ money; Hard Rock brings it on; Wishful thinking at Cosmo

Posted on September 3, 2013 by David McKee

Caved, shaken down, outfoxed: Take your choice of term as Foxwoods Massachusetts has seemingly capitulated to Milford selectmen and raised its downpayment from $18 million to $34 million. All it took was a few grumblings from the aforementioned selectmen and … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Hard Rock International, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Foxwoods: Mo’ money; Hard Rock brings it on; Wishful thinking at Cosmo

More turmoil at Sands; Pensions want a bigger slice of Caesars

Posted on September 3, 2013 by David McKee

David Sisk, the COO of Sands China, has resigned — the latest casualty of high executive turnover in Sheldon Adelson‘s fiefdom. You’d think that such instability in the upper ranks would give Wall Street an ulcer. But when Sands is … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Macau, Rhode Island, Sheldon Adelson, Wall Street | Comments Off on More turmoil at Sands; Pensions want a bigger slice of Caesars

Sands pays The Man; Brothel bargains; Caesars goes to Boston

Posted on August 28, 2013 by David McKee

Uncle Sam is $47 million richer today after collecting an eight-figure settlement from Las Vegas Sands. Seems the latter had been operating on the outer fringes of legality when handling large sums of moolah from Zhenli Ye Gon. The latter, … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, Massachusetts, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Sands pays The Man; Brothel bargains; Caesars goes to Boston

How much sin in Sin City is too much?; Woe and Ho

Posted on August 27, 2013 by David McKee

Wearing a strap-on dildo seems to be the outer limit of decency in Las Vegas. Any casino that hosts a nightclub is playing with fire to some extent but Las Vegas Sands well and truly burned its fingers with The … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Harrah's, International, Macau, Ohio, Penn National, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, The Strip | 2 Comments

Atlantic City: Half-full or half-empty?; Crosby tips his hand

Posted on August 23, 2013 by David McKee

It depends on which newspaper you read. The Press of Atlantic City took the half-full route, focusing on the profits made by eight of the city’s dozen casinos. The Associated Press pointed to the narrowing margin of aforesaid gross-operating profitability. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, Economy, Foxwoods, Harrah's, International, James Packer, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 1 Comment

St. Louis: Pinnacle out, Icahn in; Cosmo’s death wish

Posted on August 19, 2013 by David McKee

After fielding several offers, Pinnacle Entertainment has liquidated Lumiere Place Casino and its affiliated Four Seasons hotel to … Carl Icahn. Uncle Carl spent $260 million to close the deal. Considering that the book value of Lumiere Place is $401.5 … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Cantor Gaming, Carl Icahn, Cosmopolitan, Culinary Union, Missouri, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Wall Street | 2 Comments

This land is their land; Tight money in Pennsylvania

Posted on August 16, 2013 by David McKee

Tribal casinos aren’t just for reservations anymore and it’s becoming a coast-to-coast phenomenon. California legislators already approved one off-reservation casino, to be managed by Station Casinos. The Enterprise Rancheria of the Estom Yumeka Maidu would like to be second. They … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Current, Economy, Foxwoods, Harrah's, history, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Revel’s mixed reviews; All systems ‘go’ in Massachusetts

Posted on August 15, 2013 by David McKee

That controversial “You Can’t Lose” promotion being fielded by Revel Resort is a hit with players even as it’s been panned by pundits. “Whoa, Smarty Jones. Not so fast,” cracked one.) The complexity of the deal is even being credited … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Illinois, International, Marketing, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes | 2 Comments

Murren disses Adelson; Caesars bows out of Macao; Clerical choler

Posted on August 12, 2013 by David McKee

“Maybe because he’s rich he thinks people care about what he has to say. It’s obvious we know Las Vegas better than he does.” With those wordsMGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren laid a surprisingly blunt smackdown on Las Vegas … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Florida, Harrah's, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Cosmo plunges again; Nevada signals surrender

Posted on August 5, 2013 by David McKee

Would somebody please sack the so-called casino management and marketing staff at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Everything at the Cosmo is improving except the gambling floor, which took a 20% nosedive in 2Q13, to $31 million. Losses were 25% … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Mob, The Strip | 5 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 4, 2013 by David McKee

“China: A backward country with no minimum wage, safety and environmental regulations, civil rights, or workers’ rights … which the United States should start imitating as soon as possible. Not really Communist any more (see Business Friendly).” — very true and … Continue reading →

Posted in Macau, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Seller’s market in A.C.?; Adelson’s new opportunity

Posted on August 1, 2013 by David McKee

According to a certain Pinky Kravitz, two new suitors are afoot on the Boardwalk. One of them is Neil Bluhm‘s SugarHouse Casino, which evidently covets the Atlantic Club (a surprisingly downmarket move for Bluhm). It may have to go up … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Environment, Foxwoods, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Wall Street | Comments Off on Seller’s market in A.C.?; Adelson’s new opportunity