Category Archives: Technology

Lost horizon

Posted on October 6, 2010 by David McKee

Even as the window of opportunity is slamming shut, “Casino companies are finally starting to see [Internet gambling] as a possible growth engine for the industry and are hoping for congressional help,” writes Motley Fool columnist Travis Hoium. That’d be … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Internet gambling, Macau, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, The Strip | 3 Comments

Uncle Carl’s Computer Barn?

Posted on October 1, 2010 by David McKee

Thanks to the Vdara Death Ray, the big-ass garage sale Carl Icahn is holding at Fontainebleau has dropped off the news pages. But one blogger asks, What about those iMacs in every F-blew hotel room? To which I might add: … Continue reading →

Posted in Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Current, Fontainebleau, Technology, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, TV, Vdara Death Ray | 4 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 1, 2010 by David McKee

“The Internet’s coupling of anonymity and controversy sparks a chemical reaction that produces plenty of stupidity, with heat as a common by-product. Mean-spirited just doesn’t seem to cover the deplorable viciousness that seems to pour from many comment threads.” — … Continue reading →

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

Singapore keeps on booming; Kudos to WMS, Golden Gaming

Posted on September 9, 2010 by David McKee

While it’s still a stretch that Sheldon Adelson is going to bank an annual $1 billion profit on Marina Bay Sands, as he predicts, he’s making money hand over fist there anyway. J.P. Morgan analysts say Marina Bay is on … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Downtown, Economy, Golden Gaming, Marketing, Morgans Hotel Group, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Technology, Wall Street, WMS Industries | Comments Off on Singapore keeps on booming; Kudos to WMS, Golden Gaming

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 30, 2010 by David McKee

“I am a 70-year-old now housebound veteran with 100 percent service-connected disability. I have no attachable property or attachable income, so let them sue away. Frankly, with congestive heart failure, I did not expect to still be living this long, … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology | 2 Comments

Case Bets: Global Cash’s Access, Cosmo, Riviera, Oscar, Oregon & Banditry

Posted on August 25, 2010 by David McKee

Excessive Access? The casino industry gets closer and closer to the day when it simply hooks up a suction hose to your bank vault. While Global Cash Access doesn’t want to interface bank cards with slot machines — it would … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Cosmopolitan, Current, Election, Environment, Harrah's, International, Marketing, New York, Oscar Goodman, Problem gambling, Regulation, Riviera, Technology, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, TV | 8 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 24, 2010 by David McKee

“It’s like setting a hungry wild pig loose in a china shop to find a piece of bacon. It’ll get the bacon, but it will destroy everything else in the process.” — NORML attorney Marc Randazza, on the Las Vegas … Continue reading →

Posted in Technology | 2 Comments

How green is Vegas?; Harrah’s thinks globally, acts locally

Posted on August 19, 2010 by David McKee

A lot greener than you’d think, says Las Vegas Sustainability Officer (yes, we have one) Thomas Perrigo. Among those companies getting recognition of leading the way in “green” initiatives is Harrah’s Entertainment, which has reduced its energy consumption by vast … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, Florida, Harrah's, Marketing, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 13, 2010 by David McKee

“Blogging is tedious and dumb, and leads to fully formed ideas.” — from the new mock-trailer, Twit Network.

Posted in Current, Technology | 1 Comment

Atlantic City: It could be worse

Posted on August 10, 2010 by David McKee

Considering that table games were up and running in Delaware and gradually rolling out in Pennsylvania, it comes as a pleasant surprise to see that Atlantic City was only down 5% in July. Frankly, I was expecting much worse, especially … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Horseracing, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, New York, Pansy Ho, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Technology, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Wasted … and the 77% solution

Posted on August 10, 2010 by David McKee

Not even the cachet of Carey Hart and occasional appearances by Pink were enough to keep Wasted Space going. The Hard Rock Hotel is calling it quits on the club, bumping it in favor of a race and sports book. … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, CityCenter, Current, Economy, Entertainment, George Maloof, Harrah's, M Resort, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Morgans Hotel Group, Pennsylvania, Riviera, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | 5 Comments

Business is booming … overseas

Posted on August 3, 2010 by David McKee

At some point, Peking may decide that Macao is overheated but for the moment it’s simply red-hot. Revenues vaulted 70% last month, to the tune of $2 billion U.S. dollars (or $25,435,856,924 Zimbabwean), the second-best number in Macanese history. Wynn … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Current, Economy, Genting, International, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Movies, Pansy Ho, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Technology, Tourism, Transportation, Wall Street | 1 Comment

From the mailbag

Posted on July 30, 2010 by David McKee

A mystery illness has debilitated me off and on (more “on” than “off,” sadly) for the past seven days. Fortunately, lively reader debate in the “Comments” threads have kept things ticking over nicely in my absence. Also, I sometimes get … Continue reading →

Posted in Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Current, Dining, Economy, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, IGT, Laughlin, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Riviera, Technology, The Strip, Tourism | 4 Comments

Chris Christie, rock star

Posted on July 22, 2010 by David McKee

New Jersey‘s outspoken governor lays down some righteous grooves at Meadowlands, including telling the horsey set what it needs to hear: “I don’t have the money to be subsidizing failure.” Gov. Chris Christie on New Jersey horseracing: this industry has … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Goldman Sachs, Horseracing, Movies, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Taxes, Technology, Tourism, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Sigma Derby, anyone?; No welcome mat for Wynn

Posted on July 16, 2010 by David McKee

Now from an unpleasant topic to a pleasant one: The oddball casino games that we like to play. For instance, I know we have a few fans of Sigma Derby in the house and MGM Grand obliges us by keeping … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Downtown, Entertainment, Horseracing, Massachusetts, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip | 5 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.

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

Green Monster meets Little Monsters

Posted on July 9, 2010 by David McKee

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy Fans of Lady Gaga (like the missus) got an extended preview of Her Gaganess’ MGM Grand concert (Aug. 13) this morning on the Today show. (Good luck finding … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Technology, The Strip, TV | 1 Comment

Penn’s door prize: toxic waste!

Posted on June 29, 2010 by David McKee

Penn National Gaming got a little something extra when it bought an old General Motors site for its Columbus, Ohio casino: 81 sites’ worth of toxic waste, so much sludge it takes 3,000 pages to catalog. Penn didn’t have to … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Current, Detroit, Election, Entertainment, Environment, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sahara, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, TV | 3 Comments

Back from the North; Requiem for a President

Posted on June 25, 2010 by David McKee

My apologies to S&G readers for the prolonged silence whilst I was on vacation. It seems that wi-fi availability in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is even spottier than I feared (although it makes a good excuse to head down … Continue reading →

Posted in Detroit, Dining, Harrah's, Missouri, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, WMS Industries | Comments Off on Back from the North; Requiem for a President