Category Archives: Technology

Musical chairs; Perry’s hypocrisy

Posted on August 26, 2011 by David McKee

Those who go around, come around. The newly unveiled management team for the Margaritaville Casino in Biloxi has a distinct aura of déja vu. CEO Tom Brosig used to be Lyle Berman‘s right-hand man at Grand Casinos, whose Biloxi casino … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, International, Louisiana, Lyle Berman, Mississippi, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Oklahoma, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Station Casinos, Technology, Texas, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism | 4 Comments

Spinmeister Santo

Posted on August 8, 2011 by David McKee

Remember how the Union Plaza used to be on track for a “grand soft reopening” (love that phrase!) on August 24? Somewhere along the way, that target date fell by the wayside. Solution? Generate a blizzard of stories like this … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Carl Icahn, Current, Downtown, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Herbst Gaming, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Tamares Group, Technology, Tourism | Comments Off on Spinmeister Santo

Casino Cacophony

Posted on August 4, 2011 by David McKee

As my growing freelance workload continues to limit my S&G time, I’m happy to yield the floor to University of South Carolina journalism professor — and frequent Vegas visitor — Augie Grant, who has another guest contribution to make. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Colony Capital, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment, Technology, The Strip | 3 Comments

Anthony Marnell III answers your questions

Posted on July 6, 2011 by David McKee

Anonymous: What happened to the self-serve soda fountains? [They] actually became a Health Department issue. They’re very expensive to maintain and the public had basically worn them out. There were lots of problems with the syrup and things falling down … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, M Resort, Marketing, Penn National, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Ask Anthony!

Posted on June 28, 2011 by David McKee

Scarcely had I flayed the Las Vegas Sun‘s Anthony Marnell III interview in S&G than I was most graciously contacted by M Resort, offering the chance to ask the questions the Sun didn’t. More to the point, this is your … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Economy, M Resort, Penn National, Technology | 4 Comments

Three inflatable objects …

Posted on June 27, 2011 by David McKee

… at the Flamingo Las Vegas pool area, last Saturday. One is a beach ball and the other two belong to Absinthe headliner Angel Porrino. Thank you, Caesars Entertainment, for giving me nightmares. My wife thinks the bikini top is … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Entertainment, Harrah's, Louisiana, Mississippi, Technology, Texas, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | 3 Comments

Shopping spree: Boyd, Melco, Sands; Trouble in Adelsonia

Posted on June 16, 2011 by David McKee

For those of you waiting for Boyd Gaming to do something with all its undrawn credit, the moment has arrived. Having surveyed the chips on the board, Boyd has pounced upon … IP Casino Resort Spa (née Imperial Palace Biloxi) … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Cretins, Current, Economy, Florida, Harrah's, history, International, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Shopping spree: Boyd, Melco, Sands; Trouble in Adelsonia

Illinois: How much worse can it get?

Posted on June 8, 2011 by David McKee

OK, the 9% dropoff in Illinois gambling dollars last month looks worse than it is because it mainly reflects the flood-enforced closure of Harrah’s Metropolis (left, -77%). All other casinos were down an aggregate 3%, and it didn’t much matter … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Bally Technologies, Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, International, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Technology, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 8 Comments

R.I.P., House of Lords; Boyd’s best asset; Poll party

Posted on May 13, 2011 by David McKee

My missus and I were going to make a farewell visit to the Sahara‘s charming fine-dining spot on Sunday. However, our reservation has been canceled because House of Lords will be closing a day early. The reason? They’re running out … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Downtown, Entertainment, history, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Michael Gaughan, North Las Vegas, Station Casinos, Technology, The Strip, TV, Vdara Death Ray | 2 Comments

The doctor will see you now

Posted on May 13, 2011 by David McKee

Although stock blogger Frank Curzio seems to be talking out of one of his lower orifices, his musings are too bizarre not to repeat. He floats the notion that Apple is so flush with cash it might entertain some retail … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Harrah's, International, Lawrence Ho, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on The doctor will see you now

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 11, 2011 by David McKee

“If publishers really hope to expunge the ‘original sin’ of giving away content free online, they may be best positioned to do so not on the computers where they first gave away their wares, but on mobile devices that offer … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Marketing, Technology | 1 Comment

Steve, Steve, what gives?

Posted on May 3, 2011 by David McKee

Dear Steve Wynn: No this really isn’t about that truly unfortunate (to put it gently) wedding video that Wynn Las Vegas put on YouTube last Monday. Although, as Hunter Hillegas posted on Twitter, “That video kinda freaks me out. Also, … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cretins, Donald Trump, Dubai, Economy, Entertainment, history, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Mirage, Pokergeddon, Politics, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Technology, The Strip | 4 Comments

Boyd exits Florida; Mixed messages from the Riv; The revenge of Adelson

Posted on May 2, 2011 by David McKee

Regardless of whether or not resort casinos are voted into law in Florida, one company that won’t be in the running is Boyd Gaming. The firm threw in the towel on the Miami market today. The Sunshine State “no longer … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Florida, Genting, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, M Resort, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Riviera, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Ensign to China?

Posted on April 27, 2011 by David McKee

While U.S. coverage — including ours — of Las Vegas Sands COO Michael Leven‘s recent “fireside chat” tended to focus on his backward-thinking tirade about those confounded new social media, Macau Daily Times zeroed in on the continued vacuum at … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Donald Trump, history, Macau, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Technology | 1 Comment

Meet $2 Million Mike; The Big Easier

Posted on April 25, 2011 by David McKee

Casino podcasts (MGM Resorts International‘s in particular) have been razzed in the past for a lack of content. No such gripes about Las Vegas Sands‘ latest offering, 10 minutes in the company of COO Michael Leven (who derives his nickname … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Florida, Harrah's, International, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Macau, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 20, 2011 by David McKee

“I didn’t know the R-J had TV — thought it was just another thing they didn’t believe in.” — a reader’s reaction to the Review-Journal‘s bizarre Web telecasts, providing your daily minimum requirement of ‘WTF?‘

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

Low-rolling at Aria; MGM ups China ante; That doggone Desert Xpress

Posted on April 14, 2011 by David McKee

A SoCal-based player kindly shared this image from the latest Aria/M life offer: My friend ran an experienced eye over the chips on the rail and concluded that it “must be the lowest-minimum craps table Aria has ever seen,” as … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Cantor Gaming, CityCenter, Current, Harry Reid, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Movies, Pansy Ho, Problem gambling, Regulation, Stanley Ho, Technology, The Strip, Transportation, Wall Street | Comments Off on Low-rolling at Aria; MGM ups China ante; That doggone Desert Xpress

Cantor’s new brand: Slots for tots

Posted on April 6, 2011 by David McKee

Other than as a medium for sports betting, mobile-gambling devices have resolutely failed to catch on in Las Vegas casinos. Provider/operator Cantor Gaming has made a few inroads but mostly at one-off properties like M Resort and the Hard Rock … Continue reading →

Posted in Cantor Gaming, Cirque du Soleil, Cosmopolitan, Cretins, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, Internet gambling, M Resort, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Technology, The Strip | 2 Comments

Programming note …

Posted on April 1, 2011 by David McKee

As of now, the S&G “Comments” feature is working again. It mysteriously conked out last week, although it took me several days to cotton onto the problem. I just figured nobody was reading my shit. (The two scenarios are not, … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Sports, Technology | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 22, 2011 by David McKee

“For example, it has been alleged, and in one case confirmed by Righthaven’s counsel, that it brought at least two separate cases before this court against the wrong party. Using assembly-line litigation methods coupled with inadequate jurisdictional and factual due … Continue reading →

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