Category Archives: Station Casinos

Super-screwed at Santana

Posted on June 1, 2009 by David McKee

Morgans' gradual obliteration of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino continues apace, in this February photo. Actually, this was one of the few flattering angles to be found. Ever since Morgans Hotel Group plunged into the Las Vegas market, first … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Entertainment, George Maloof, Morgans Hotel Group, Station Casinos | Comments Off on Super-screwed at Santana

Station: Unleash the hounds!

Posted on May 28, 2009 by David McKee

So Station Casinos is kicking the tires of dog-racing tracks in Massachusetts (as is Boyd Gaming)? Greyhound races will soon — but not soon enough — be illegal in Massachusetts, although the Bay State Lege just gave them a two-year … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Economy, Massachusetts, Station Casinos | Comments Off on Station: Unleash the hounds!

Surrender in Atlantic City?

Posted on May 20, 2009 by David McKee

Yesterday, I mis-reported New Jersey state Sen. James Whelan's proposal for downsizing the state's regulatory apparatus. He didn't call for elimination of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission in favor of the Division of Gaming Enforcement, merely an unspecified removal … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Station Casinos | Comments Off on Surrender in Atlantic City?

"Another one bites the dust"

Posted on May 15, 2009 by David McKee

That’s how a reader informed me of Las Vegas-based Golden Gaming‘s decision to bail on Wyandotte County in Kansas. Considering that you’ve got Harrah’s Entertainment, Ameristar Casinos, etc. firmly entrenched across the state line in Kansas City, Mo., and Isle … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Current, Economy, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Penn National, Regulation, Station Casinos, Wall Street | Comments Off on "Another one bites the dust"

Station ixnays expansions

Posted on April 20, 2009 by David McKee

Stick a fork in Castaways Station — the forlorn patch of Fremont Street land is on the block … albeit at a considerable markup. Station Casinos, according to The Associated Press, is asking for $39.5 million on a vacant 30-acre … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Station Casinos, Transportation | 1 Comment

First, some good news

Posted on April 16, 2009 by David McKee

In a refreshing change of pace comes news of a casino that’s on schedule for its opening. OK, so it’s in Dodge City, Kansas, but we’ll take good news wherever we can get it these days. Whoever thought avionics firm … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Herbst Gaming, Kansas, Labor, LVCVA, Marketing, Mesquite, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, The Strip | Comments Off on First, some good news

Case Bets: Seminoles, Iverson, Harrah's, PartyGaming, Station's luck, etc.

Posted on April 15, 2009 by David McKee

Down in Florida, the tide may be turning in favor of the Seminole Tribe. Both the Florida Retail Federation and Restaurant Lodging Association have thrown their support behind the status quo, as represented by Gov. Charlie Crist‘s Class III casino … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Detroit, Don Barden, Florida, Harrah's, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Reno, Sports, Station Casinos, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Case Bets: Seminoles, Iverson, Harrah's, PartyGaming, Station's luck, etc.

A delicate balance

Posted on April 7, 2009 by David McKee

Another day, a little more movement in the CityCenter situation. Well, it's that or talk about tourism and gaming revenue numbers that are too depressing to contemplate for long. Time was that the American banking industry was practically giving away … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Current, Detroit, Economy, James Packer, M Resort, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on A delicate balance

Case Bets: Station Casinos, CityCenter, Pittsburgh, James Packer

Posted on April 3, 2009 by David McKee

Credit-default swaps, some of those financial instruments that have played hob with the U.S. economy, are making a cameo appearance in the tortured saga of Station Casinos. If you insured Station's debt, that insurance is worth more than the paper … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Don Barden, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Station Casinos, Wall Street | Comments Off on Case Bets: Station Casinos, CityCenter, Pittsburgh, James Packer

Case Bets: Station Casinos, CityCenter, Pittsburgh, James Packer

Posted on April 3, 2009 by David McKee

Credit-default swaps, some of those financial instruments that have played hob with the U.S. economy, are making a cameo appearance in the tortured saga of Station Casinos. If you insured Station’s debt, that insurance is worth more than the paper … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Don Barden, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Station Casinos, Wall Street | Comments Off on Case Bets: Station Casinos, CityCenter, Pittsburgh, James Packer

The Company That Ate Itself

Posted on April 1, 2009 by David McKee

Perhaps it was with dry irony that the Las Vegas Review-Journal's latest Station Casinos story's subhead read, "Company blames economy, poached customers." And by whom might those customers have been poached? By Station Casinos itself! The company's imperial overreach has … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Cannery Casino Resorts, Colony Capital, Economy, Herbst Gaming, M Resort, Station Casinos, The Strip | Comments Off on The Company That Ate Itself

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

Casino apocalypse

Posted on March 19, 2009 by David McKee

I'm deeply imbedded in other projects today. In the meantime, by way of In Business Las Vegas and GamingFloor.com (source of yesterday's Harrah's Entertainment time warp, too) here's the answer to the question, "How many casino failures can you pack … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, Colony Capital, Cosmopolitan, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Herbst Gaming, James Packer, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Casino apocalypse

Death, taxes and Station Casinos

Posted on March 18, 2009 by David McKee

It’s all but certain that the unenviable steeplechase to be the first major gaming company to declare bankruptcy in 2009 will be won by … Station Casinos!* (On Tax Day, no less.) None of the company’s three rescue scenarios does … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, Economy, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Wall Street | Comments Off on Death, taxes and Station Casinos

Station vs. Boyd IV: This time it's spite

Posted on March 16, 2009 by David McKee

Inside the wacky world that is Station Casinos' executive suite, business judgment is evidently trumped by getting even with your main adversary. How else to explain Station's eight-month push to get zoning approval for Losee Casino Station? The company is … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Politics, Station Casinos | 1 Comment

'M' is for 'mobbed'

Posted on March 16, 2009 by David McKee

Local naysayers have been gleefully predicting the swift demise of M Resort for weeks now. And I’ll admit I even entertained a few doubts as we drove out there yesterday morning. I mean, unless you live well south of Vegas … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Dining, Donald Trump, Gary Goett, Harrah's, M Resort, Station Casinos | Comments Off on 'M' is for 'mobbed'

Nevada Lege sticks it to you

Posted on March 10, 2009 by David McKee

Although a few Democrats in the state Senate toyed with the idea of growing a spine and opposing raising the hotel-room tax, all of them — plus several Republicans — did the easy thing and opted for Plan A: Soak … Continue reading →

Posted in Cannery Casino Resorts, Economy, M Resort, Politics, Station Casinos, Taxes | Comments Off on Nevada Lege sticks it to you

Boyd cuts through the crap

Posted on March 10, 2009 by David McKee

There’s no longer any pretense whatsoever that Boyd Gaming‘s takeover offer for Station Casinos is being pitched to Station management. In its reply to Station CEO Frank Fertitta III‘s trash-talking refusal of Boyd’s offer, the latter posits that “the proposal … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Station Casinos | Comments Off on Boyd cuts through the crap

Scant love for Boyd, big love for M

Posted on March 5, 2009 by David McKee

I guess Fitch Ratings doesn’t have the stomach for Boyd Gaming‘s attempt to take over Station Casinos either. It’s downgraded Boyd, whose bonds sank “further into junk status.” Locals love M Resort, it would appear. The Anthony Marnell III property … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, M Resort, MGM Mirage, Station Casinos | Comments Off on Scant love for Boyd, big love for M

Station vs. Boyd III: This time it's personal

Posted on March 4, 2009 by David McKee

You really have to hand it to Station Casinos CEO Frank Fertitta III. This dude has more lives than a cat. Every time you think his luck has run out, he slips the noose yet again. So it was Tuesday. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Economy, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Station vs. Boyd III: This time it's personal