Category Archives: Sports

Case Bets: New Jersey; A lucky guy; Genting’s good fortune

Posted on August 9, 2010 by David McKee

Garden State Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.) may have excluded sports betting as a new revenue source for the state’s besieged casino industry. As expected, state Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D, left) tuned the governor out and continues to pursue legalization of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Cordish Co., Current, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Genting, Harrah's, International, Macau, New York, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Singapore, Sports, Tamares Group, Tourism | 1 Comment

Chrome Dome

Posted on August 5, 2010 by David McKee

Last weekend, as I ploughed into a pile of analyst reports, court filings, etc., I came across a Clark County Commission planning report on Christopher Milam, Paul & Sue Lowden‘s proposed Silver State Arena. As you can see, it would … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Baseball, Current, Economy, LVCVA, MGM Mirage, Riviera, Sahara, Sports, Taxes, The Strip, Transportation, TV | 8 Comments

Adelson fires Sands China CEO; Kenny Guinn, 1936-2010

Posted on July 23, 2010 by David McKee

It’s getting rather slippery on the tiled floors of Venelazzo and its Macao offshoots, what will the frequent bloodbaths that are becoming a hallmark of Sheldon Adelson‘s reign as creator and CEO of Las Vegas Sands. The victim sent over … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Harrah's, history, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Monte Carlo fire, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Wynn Beantown?; Adelson likes it rough; “Chico Station,” etc.

Posted on July 15, 2010 by David McKee

“Two can play this game.” That’s the message coming from Steve Wynn. Since his former Philadelphia partners are now playing footsie with Harrah’s Entertainment, Wynn is turning his back on the City of Brotherly Love and shifting his gaze to … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Environment, George Maloof, Harrah's, Horseracing, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, TV | Comments Off on Wynn Beantown?; Adelson likes it rough; “Chico Station,” etc.

Margaritaville on the rocks

Posted on July 15, 2010 by David McKee

Long-serving — and long-suffering — Biloxi Mayor A.J. Holloway has lost patience with Harrah’s Entertainment. He is convinced that the metamorphosis of Grand Casino Biloxi into Margaritaville Casino is kaput and that Harrah’s will tear down what little it has … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Animals, Archon Corp., Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Charity, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Encore, Environment, Fontainebleau, George Maloof, Harrah's, Holy Cow, Indiana, International, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Movies, Pennsylvania, Pets, Phil Ruffin, Planet Hollywood, Plaza, Riviera, Sahara, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, TV, Wall Street | 5 Comments

S&G hither & yon

Posted on July 12, 2010 by David McKee

Last weekend’s usual barrage of errands, veterinary appointments, etc., was interrupted long enough for Yr. Humble Blogger to guest-host another edition of The Strip Podcast. In it, I reveal my shameful ignorance of televised poker (something I literally tuned out … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Architecture, Cannery Casino Resorts, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Missouri, North Las Vegas, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Technology, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, TV, Wall Street, World Series of Poker | 1 Comment

“I’m not dead yet!”

Posted on July 8, 2010 by David McKee

Taking its cue from Monty Python‘s interpretation of the death of Mary, Queen of Scots, management of the Riviera refuses to roll over and die. Its latest enhancement is somewhat out of the box as far as Strip watering holes … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Current, Dining, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, MGM Mirage, Phil Ruffin, Riviera, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, TV | 4 Comments

“Project Linq”

Posted on July 1, 2010 by David McKee

I’m not sure anybody but Gary Loveman could come up with such a preposterous handle as “Project Linq” (alas, not “Linc,” as in Clarence Williams III on the Mod Squad, although that would be pretty cool) for Harrah’s Entertainment‘s street … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Current, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Marketing, Massachusetts, Politics, Sports, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, World Series of Poker | 6 Comments

The casino Angle

Posted on June 29, 2010 by David McKee

Nevada senatorial aspirant Sharron Angle got off to an odd start a few weeks back by warning balefully of “unwarranted influence” from the casino industry. (Which is, after all, one of the Silver State’s two primary sources of revenue.) Then … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Election, Harry Reid, Politics, Sports, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip | 6 Comments

So long, Sue, and thanks for playing

Posted on June 9, 2010 by David McKee

It’s back to her day job for Archon Corp. Secretary-Treasurer Sue Lowden, whose political aspirations experienced an embarrassing meltdown that some would call karmic,  redefining “epic fail.” Now she can focus on repairing a corporate image which The Newspaper That … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Boyd Gaming, Current, Downtown, Economy, Election, Harry Reid, history, Laughlin, MGM Mirage, Michael Gaughan, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Movies, North Las Vegas, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Regulation, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Mob, The Strip, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Harrah’s still pining for Macao

Posted on June 8, 2010 by David McKee

While we’re on the subject of white elephants today, Harrah’s Entertainment still has a little boondoggle in Macao in the form of a $577 million golf course. Cornered by a reporter at G2E Asia, Harrah’s Asian viceroy, Michael Chen, conceded … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Dining, Economy, G2E, Harrah's, history, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Movies, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sports, The Strip, TV | 2 Comments

“The CityCenter shuffle”; Atlantic City saved … for now

Posted on June 3, 2010 by David McKee

That’s what subcontractors are calling the maze of paperwork they’ve had to negotiate while laboring on MGM Mirage‘s $8.5 billion metaresort. When it comes to real estate and construction coverage in Las Vegas, there’s Tony Illia and then there’s everybody … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Atlantic City, CityCenter, Economy, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Politics, Sports, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 1 Comment

When bad things happen to bad people … plus Cher

Posted on June 2, 2010 by David McKee

Two of the three casinos that say they were stiffed for $822,000 by ex-Boston Celtic Antoine Walker are now owned by Harrah’s Entertainment. The unlucky third is Red Rock Resort. Back “in the olden days” (a Sue Lowden-ism that’s quite … Continue reading →

Posted in Cretins, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Movies, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Sports, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 31, 2010 by David McKee

“So the deuces are all over the place: two and two, with two out, the score tied 2-2 and two pitchers 22 [years old] each.” — Vin Scully, calling Sunday’s Los Angeles Dodgers/Colorado Rockies, demonstrating yet again that when it … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Sports, TV | 2 Comments

Case Bets: Macao, Maryland, Internet casinos

Posted on May 24, 2010 by David McKee

April was a bonny month for Macao, where overall visitation rose 13% and mainland Chinese tourism rose 17%. Now if only Peking would take its hand off the spigot known as visa quotas, we might have some honest-to-god year/year comparisons … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Cordish Co., IGT, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Macau, Maryland, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Tourism | 2 Comments

Good grief!

Posted on May 20, 2010 by David McKee

Some day, in the not-so-distant future, MILF-y Archon Corp. underboss Sue Lowden may make a distinguished addition to the U.S. Senate. As the secretary-treasurer of a casino company (one that aspires to build a sports arena on the Strip), she’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Election, Harrah's, Politics, Sports, The Strip, Transportation | 4 Comments

Nevada: No recovery yet

Posted on May 11, 2010 by David McKee

“We hit the bottom and are slowly climbing out,” contends Nevada Gaming Control Board analyst Frank Streshley, trying to put the best spin on a flat March. There were definitely some silver linings. Who’da thunk Laughlin (2.5%), Reno (5%) and … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, California, CityCenter, Current, Downtown, Economy, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, LVCVA, Marketing, Mesquite, MGM Mirage, Reno, Sports, The Strip | 10 Comments

An arena in every pot

Posted on April 7, 2010 by David McKee

A scrum of casino owners and would-be owners is swarming the Clark County Commission with proposed arenas. The Las Vegas City Council may be able to get into the act, as Cordish Cos. is studying the feasibility of a stadium … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Cordish Co., Current, Downtown, Dubai, Economy, Entertainment, Gary Goett, Harrah's, Michael Gaughan, Oscar Goodman, Sports, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | 1 Comment

Now this is different …

Posted on March 29, 2010 by David McKee

Conventional wisdom in Las Vegas held that big fights drove big business. But who ever heard of a marquee boxing match being offered as a loss leader. That’s how MGM Mirage is promoting “The Rivals: Hopkins vs. Jones.” I’m not … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Economy, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Sports, The Strip, Tourism | 4 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 17, 2010 by David McKee

“[I]t kind of brings people together. It gets people involved, and it’s nice if you’re new and you don’t know a lot of people. It can be positive if you do it right.” — Republican National Congressional Committee staff member … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Sports | Comments Off on Quote of the Day