Category Archives: Station Casinos

Illegal casino bucks mar NV governor’s race

Posted on January 27, 2010 by David McKee

OK, with a candidate field that includes scandal-prone incumbent Midnight Jim Gibbons, you might ask, “What’s there to mar?” Well, how ’bout illegal overseas campaign cash funneled to former North Las Vegas Mayor Michael Montandon (left) by the reclusive owners … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Boyd Gaming, Election, Harry Reid, International, Midnight Jim Gibbons, North Las Vegas, Politics, Station Casinos | 2 Comments

From the S&G Twitter feed …

Posted on January 14, 2010 by David McKee

• Fertittas sell 10% of UFC to Abu Dhabi, new LV sugar daddy, presumably to stave off [Boyd Gaming] takeover of [Station Casinos]. http://tinyurl.com/yzhbmv2 • [Penn National Gaming] gets deadline extension in [Kansas]. http://tinyurl.com/yawfuqk • Aria room rates continue to … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Current, Entertainment, Florida, International, Kansas, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal, TV | 5 Comments

This just in …

Posted on January 13, 2010 by David McKee

A colleague writes … “Aliante Station is currently charging more than Caesars Palace for rooms???* No wonder Station Casinos are in trouble! What kind of a “special offer” is $135/night?!” (* … and only $4 less than Vdara.)

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Economy, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, North Las Vegas, Station Casinos, The Strip | 1 Comment

From the S&G Twitter feed …

Posted on January 12, 2010 by David McKee

For those of you who aren’t following it, here’s what you’ve been missing: • Station [Casinos] shuts Cherry @ Red Rock [Resort], ends flirtation w. Strip-ish nightlife. In Summerlin? Right casino, wrong place. http://tinyurl.com/ye36uqm • @IOC_Brand Jim Perry, Virginia McDowell … Continue reading →

Posted in California, CityCenter, Current, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Florida, Harrah's, IGT, International, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Lyle Berman, Mississippi, Politics, Regulation, Station Casinos, Technology, TV | Comments Off on From the S&G Twitter feed …

2.5 Cheers for Harrah’s

Posted on January 8, 2010 by David McKee

As erratically as it has been run since the departure of Phil Satre, they still get some things right at Harrah’s Entertainment … and not in the sense that a stopped watch is correct twice a day. For instance, Harrah’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Planet Hollywood, Station Casinos, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 5 Comments

Isle of Capri is back

Posted on January 6, 2010 by David McKee

While I was taking a cat to the vet, Isle of Capri was throwing a spanner into the Boyd Gaming works. Its bold move complicates Boyd’s proposed takeover of Station Casinos … or does it? Should Boyd succeed, it will … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Isle of Capri, Station Casinos | 5 Comments

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

Mutiny!

Posted on December 31, 2009 by David McKee

One of the dirty little secrets of the “cruise to nowhere” business is that these vessels are crewed with seamen imported from foreign countries. (Americans, despite being citizens of one of the preeminent seafaring nations, apparently aren’t good enough.) So … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Current, Economy, Florida, Harrah's, International, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Riviera, Sahara, Station Casinos, The Strip | Comments Off on Mutiny!

Case Bets: Casino Jack, Harrah’s, Trump, Recovery?

Posted on December 30, 2009 by David McKee

It’s another sad chapter, in the tattered and disgraceful saga of Sun Cruz Casinos. As you recall, this now-idled cruises-to-nowhere fleet was briefly owned by Jack Abramoff, by dint of a tiny bit of fraud. That’s one of the many … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Florida, Harrah's, Laughlin, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Station Casinos, The Mob, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Case Bets: Casino Jack, Harrah’s, Trump, Recovery?

‘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

CityCenter: succes d’estime

Posted on December 18, 2009 by David McKee

Enough procrastination! Such is the immensity and information overload that is CityCenter, that it may be some time before this spectator can fully wrap his brain around what is — for better or worse — the Strip’s equivalent to that … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Current, Detroit, Dining, Encore, IGT, International, MGM Mirage, Movies, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 7 Comments

CityCenter giblets

Posted on December 17, 2009 by David McKee

While I’m gathering my thoughts — and notes — from yesterday’s Orgy o’CityCenter (and trying to maintain a Cone of Deafness, as far as other commentators), here are a few stray tidbits: Even MGM Mirage CEO Jim Murren can’t hide … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Cosmopolitan, Current, Donald Trump, Dubai, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, TV | 3 Comments

That’s a mouthful

Posted on December 11, 2009 by David McKee

To wit, the Wild Wild West is soon to be rebaptized as Days Inn – Las Vegas at Wild Wild West Gambling Hall. (Uff da!) Which kicks the prospect of “Viva” years further down the road. I mean, you know … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Current, International, Maryland, Regulation, Station Casinos | 2 Comments

Blast from the past

Posted on December 8, 2009 by David McKee

In this case, it’s a blast of hot air from the pages of the defunct and dreadful Liberty Watch magazine, whose back numbers still adorn the Web, but whose ink-and-paper incarnation has devolved into a loose smattering of blogs. Let’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, Indiana, Macau, MGM Mirage, Michael Gaughan, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Who’s better for F’bleau: Icahn or Penn?

Posted on December 8, 2009 by David McKee

That’s the unspoken question hanging over a lengthy piece in yesterday’s Las Vegas Sun. While Penn National Gaming is willing to commit $1.5 billion or more to finishing Fontainebleau, lead bidder Carl Icahn may be able to do the job … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Fontainebleau, Kansas, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Aria, Vdara discounting already

Posted on December 3, 2009 by David McKee

In its discussions with J.P. Morgan analysts, MGM Mirage has regularly been boasting that Aria’s room rates are running higher (very, very slightly higher) than Bellagio. Being a skeptical fellow by nature, my instinct was that Aria was being propped … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Columbia Sussex, Current, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, George Maloof, Harrah's, Herbst Gaming, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Silverton, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tourism | 6 Comments

We *are* Dubai

Posted on December 2, 2009 by David McKee

“If anywhere is emblematic of the debt-fuelled extravagance of the past decade, it is surely [X], which strove to have the tallest, the biggest and the best of everything.” They’ve just got to be talking about Las Vegas, right? No, … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dubai, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, James Packer, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Plaza, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, TV, Wall Street | 6 Comments

Now *this* is a scandal

Posted on November 24, 2009 by David McKee

During the early years of tribal gaming expansion, Native Americans had to go to Malaysia and South Africa for their startup capital — and it came at a hefty cost. Now Mohegan Sun is reeling from the delayed effects of … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Economy, Harrah's, International, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, New York, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 3 Comments

Case Bets: Cullotta’s moll, squeeze on Sands, gay old UFC

Posted on November 17, 2009 by David McKee

Local radio chatterbox Heidi Harris recently set her pants on fire attempting to rewrite history about a Mob terror campaign against then-Nevada Gaming Commissioners (one of whom went on to become Sen. Harry Reid [D-NV]). The evidence seems pretty unambiguous … Continue reading →

Posted in Harry Reid, International, Macau, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports, Station Casinos, The Mob, TV, Wall Street | 6 Comments

What a difference four years makes; Lowden follies

Posted on November 13, 2009 by David McKee

In the course of correcting the record about former North Las Vegas mayor — and current gubernatorial aspirant — Michael Montandon (R) on a different Web site, I had to cause to dust off an old press clipping. Back when … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Boyd Gaming, Economy, Election, Gary Goett, North Las Vegas, Politics, Station Casinos | 1 Comment