Category Archives: Sheldon Adelson

IGT quits Japan; Vdara goes bargain-friendly; Singapore opens

Posted on February 11, 2010 by David McKee

After losing $21 million in Japan last year, IGT is saying a not-so-fond farewell to the Land of the Rising Sun. Its sales of pachislot machines had been in decline and were nowhere near the volume needed to reach break-even. … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Genting, IGT, International, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Macao even more profitable than previously thought

Posted on February 10, 2010 by David McKee

If the Chinese government isn’t handing free money to casino operators in Macao, they’re getting the next best thing: free land. Due to the exceptionally slow-moving nature of Macanese governmental paperwork, casino developers have been able to build on their … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes | 4 Comments

Pawlenty, in real time

Posted on February 4, 2010 by David McKee

As you may have already read, Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) is coming to Venelazzo to dole out some markers to the local GOP that he could call in for a 2012 presidential run (native son John Ensign having obligingly … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Election, Internet gambling, Labor, Minnesota, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Tribal | 1 Comment

See Laughlin and die

Posted on February 3, 2010 by David McKee

It’s standard industry practice to jam slot machines up as close to the front door as humanly possible. Hell, if they could put them out on the street, they would. (Casino Royale actually has machines on the Strip, but they’re … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Entertainment, Laughlin, Macau, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Station Casinos, The Strip, TV | 8 Comments

Feast or famine

Posted on February 3, 2010 by David McKee

While we in Las Vegas struggle to reconcile long nightclub lines and (depending on which casino you visit) full gaming floors with but smallish increases in revenue and visitation, it’s one big-ass Christmas over in Macao. Revenue skyrocketed 63% last … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Harry Reid, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Feast or famine

Big love

Posted on February 3, 2010 by David McKee

This latest tempest in a teaspoon has inspired a yawningly predictable reaction amongst Nevada politicians. The lone witty note was struck by Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority President Rossi Ralenkotter, who deployed irony in lieu of indignation: “While we … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Detroit, Economy, Harry Reid, LVCVA, Macau, MGM Mirage, Movies, Oscar Goodman, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 27, 2010 by David McKee

“Once visiting Oceanus, one can see why it is not having a negative impact on Sands [Macao] (the quality of properties are vastly different).” — J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff, politely dissing Stanley Ho‘s newest gambling den, built in a … Continue reading →

Posted in Macau, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Wall Street | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

More from the mailbag …

Posted on January 22, 2010 by David McKee

Here’s some inside insight into what was happening during the most recent Consumer Electronics Show, during which Las Vegas Sands tossed some exhibitors from their Venelazzo suites because they were conducting product demos off the show floor. A show attendee … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, The Strip, Tourism | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 18, 2010 by David McKee

“It’s like a a giant mess hall.” — fellow Las Vegan’s description of the casino floor at Palazzo.

Posted in Architecture, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | 1 Comment

Money quote

Posted on January 12, 2010 by David McKee

“Even so, some experts say that it might be a blessing in disguise that Macau wasn’t overly reliant on entertainment-related revenue during the downturn. Analysts point out that one reason Las Vegas casinos have yet to recover is that U.S. … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Economy, Entertainment, International, Macau, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Money quote

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

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 8, 2010 by David McKee

“With table games, Sands Bethworks, which is an hour outside of Manhattan, should be able to draw a more lucrative customer. We believe Las Vegas Sands will now move forward with adding more nongaming amenities.” — Steven Wieczynski, of Stifel … Continue reading →

Posted in New York, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 5, 2010 by David McKee

“Wall Street analysts upgraded the prospects of two Las Vegas-based casino operators based on the companies’ holdings in Macau. Simultaneously, Macau media reported gaming revenue in the Chinese gambling market jumped 48 percent in December.” — Howard Stutz, of the … Continue reading →

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

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

Stanley Ho vs. MGM Mirage

Posted on December 31, 2009 by David McKee

Whose casino would you rather visit … … Stanley Ho‘s Oceanus at Jai Alai or … … MGM Mirage‘s CityCenter? I’ll bet you’ve never heard a megaresort described as a “campus” before. True, CityCenter has Henry Moore and Maya Lin … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Macau, Mesquite, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Stanley Ho, The Strip | 3 Comments

Good news, bad news

Posted on December 30, 2009 by David McKee

Analysts at J.P. Morgan report that rates for mid-January (1/17-23) are +7% from the same period last year, mostly on the strength of better midweek ADRs. Unfortunately, this increase comes against a prior-year period when rates tumbled 38% … but … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Harrah's, Sheldon Adelson, Wall Street | Comments Off on Good news, bad news

‘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