Category Archives: The Strip

Japan sets casinos up for failure; Renegade card room in California closed

Posted on August 18, 2017 by David McKee

About the nicest thing Jim Murren had to say about Japan‘s casino market is that it’s “unclear at the moment.” Casino developers are bracing themselves for delivery of a 130-page report from the Expert Committee, laying out proposed regulations for megaresorts. … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, California, Cretins, Donald Trump, Election, history, Internet gambling, Japan, Maine, MGM Mirage, Pets, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Transportation, Virginia | Comments Off on Japan sets casinos up for failure; Renegade card room in California closed

MGM changes Macao strategy; Protest at the Hard Rock

Posted on August 17, 2017 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International isn’t counting on the whales to make ends meet at its Cotai Strip™ casino. “Our business model is not predicated on the VIP business. Our strategic plan is built on catering to this tremendously emerging more-affluent Chinese customer, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Arizona, Culinary Union, George Maloof, Hard Rock Hotel, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Macau, Marketing, Marnell Gaming, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal | 3 Comments

This just in: Cotai hot, Macao not; Seminoles thrash Gilbert

Posted on August 15, 2017 by David McKee

In today’s dog-bites-man story, a Wall Street analyst has belatedly concluded the obvious: that the casinos on Cotai will sap business from Macao proper. Global Market Advisors analyst Andrew Klebanow wrote, “What the industry can expect to see is a pattern … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Atlantic City, Australia, Dan Gilbert, Georgia, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Politics, Racinos, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on This just in: Cotai hot, Macao not; Seminoles thrash Gilbert

Case Bets: Cosmo, Penn, California, Caesars, Boyd, etc.

Posted on August 15, 2017 by David McKee

It’s reinvention time at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, where management is investing $100 million-plus into upgrades of most of its rooms. If you don’t constantly reinvest in your resort project, you end up with Imperial Palace, er, Linq. (Given … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, Cordish Co., Cosmopolitan, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Indiana, International, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Technology, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Culinary boycotts beer; Wynn stock upgraded on Macao strength

Posted on August 15, 2017 by David McKee

Along with Organizing Beyond Barriers, the Culinary Union is calling upon Trader Joe’s to stop carrying Gordon Biersch beer labels Josephsbrau, Black Toad Ale, and Stockyard Oatmeal Stout. Why? Because the “principals are Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta, controlling owners of the Las … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Culinary Union, Donald Trump, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Lucky Dragon, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street | Comments Off on Culinary boycotts beer; Wynn stock upgraded on Macao strength

Cuomo’s experiment disappoints; Caesars sweet on Japan

Posted on August 14, 2017 by David McKee

Whatever marketing studies drove the conclusion that upper New York State was ripe for gambling expansion have proven to be have been seriously off the mark. Gov. Andrew Cuomo‘s three-casino addition to upstate gaming options are disappointing Albany with their … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Genting, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Japan, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, TV, Vietnam | 1 Comment

#5,001

Posted on August 14, 2017 by David McKee

Yes, this is the 5,001st Stiffs & Georges post and let me start with a big  thank-you to all of you, the readers, for making it possible. If it weren’t for your support I’d probably have hung it up long … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Georgia, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, James Packer, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, SLS Las Vegas, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 5 Comments

House of Bamboo; Adelson beats The Street

Posted on August 9, 2017 by David McKee

It seems frivolous to be discussing casinos when the Korean peninsula could go up in radioactive flames at any moment, but we do what we must. While legalizing casinos in Japan was a slow and agonizing process, they could fade … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, GameCO, Genting, Georgia, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Macau, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on House of Bamboo; Adelson beats The Street

Slippage in Illinois; MGM carries Maryland

Posted on August 7, 2017 by David McKee

One less weekend day than last year proved costly for casinos in Illinois, where gaming revenue fell 2.5% in July. (It had been flat in 2016.) True, the creeping effect of slot routes may have played a role but speculation … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cordish Co., GLPI, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Illinois, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Racinos, The Strip, Tourism, West Virginia | Comments Off on Slippage in Illinois; MGM carries Maryland

Mickey Mouse comes to Sin City; Unrest at MGM

Posted on August 3, 2017 by David McKee

Locals might cringe every time the “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” cliché is trotted out — in part because what happens there usually finds its way to YouTube within hours, if not minutes. However, the staying power of … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Culinary Union, e-sports, Economy, history, LVCVA, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Taxes, The Strip, Transportation | Comments Off on Mickey Mouse comes to Sin City; Unrest at MGM

Adelson: I did it my way

Posted on July 28, 2017 by David McKee

Despite Las Vegas numbers that were deemed disappointing by Las Vegas Sands execs, the company still managed to haul in $3 billion-plus in 2Q17, driven in part by the opening of Parisian in Macao. “I think you know this quarter was … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Illinois, Macau, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Adelson: I did it my way

The allure of Brazil; DraftKings blows a gasket

Posted on July 27, 2017 by David McKee

Jan Jones Blackhurst has really been racking up the frequent-flier miles on behalf of Caesars Entertainment, having made multiple trips to Brazil to assess the potential for casinos down there. She’s narrowed down the possible sites to Brasilia, Sao Paulo, Salvador … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Brazil, Economy, GameCO, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Oklahoma, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on The allure of Brazil; DraftKings blows a gasket

Of clowns and hackers

Posted on July 25, 2017 by David McKee

  If you miss the old Boardwalk Casino on the Las Vegas Strip (which died so that CityCenter could live; they don’t call it “City Cemetery” for nothing) and have $900,000 under the sofa cushions, do we have a deal … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, history, Nevada, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off on Of clowns and hackers

Mohegan Sun rules; Conflict over e-sports

Posted on July 25, 2017 by David McKee

Executives at Mohegan Gaming Entertainment can take a victory lap this morning. Readers of USA Today voted Mohegan Sun the finest casino in America, edging out Caesars Palace for the top spot. Bracketing Caesars was another tribal casino, Pechanga Resort … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, California, Downtown, e-sports, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Iowa, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | 2 Comments

Wynn: The inevitable happens; Tribes have boffo year

Posted on July 20, 2017 by David McKee

We knew this day had to come: Wynn Resorts is going to charge for self-parking at Wynncore, starting August 7. The fee structure is very much like those of other Strip casinos that have gone the self-parking route, although offering … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Harrah's, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Wynn: The inevitable happens; Tribes have boffo year

Cromwell re-do planned; The other Sin City

Posted on July 17, 2017 by David McKee

While the contest to re-name the Cromwell (perhaps as something less puritanical) has gone down the memory hole, that doesn’t mean the boutique casino is off Caesars Entertainment‘s radar. Far from it. The company has announced a fleet of changes … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Dining, Entertainment, Harrah's, history, Kentucky, Law enforcement, Sports, The Mob, The Strip, TV | 1 Comment

Revel up for grabs?; So long, O.J.

Posted on July 14, 2017 by David McKee

Glenn Straub could theoretically never do a damned thing with Revel and still turn a tidy profit. A New York-based private equity firm is reported as willing to pay him $200 million for the shuttered megaresort, which Straub picked up for … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Genting, Glenn Straub, history, New York, Regulation, Revel, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Revel up for grabs?; So long, O.J.

Exit SLS, enter Sahara; Seminoles reach Florida accord

Posted on July 7, 2017 by David McKee

Collectors, start gathering those SLS-branded souvenirs while you can. The auguries continue to accumulate that the beloved Sahara identity will be returning to the venerable hotel-casino. The latest sign is the changeover of the loyalty program to Club 52 (from … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Cordish Co., Florida, history, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Pets, Politics, Sahara, Sam Nazarian, Seminole Tribe, SLS Las Vegas, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Exit SLS, enter Sahara; Seminoles reach Florida accord

Best Western Stratosphere?; Atlantic City rescued in nick of time

Posted on July 6, 2017 by David McKee

* Golden Entertainment will be facing a fait accompli when it takes over the Stratosphere and Aquarius Casino Resort from American Casino & Entertainment Properties. Outgoing owner ACEP has inked a pact with Best Western to manage the two flagship … Continue reading →

Posted in ACEP, Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Economy, Golden Gaming, Goldman Sachs, Hard Rock Hotel, International, Japan, Kazuo Okada, Laughlin, Lawrence Ho, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Philippines, Politics, The Strip | 1 Comment

National Harbor cleans up; A peek inside Resorts World Las Vegas

Posted on July 6, 2017 by David McKee

MGM National Harbor drove a 40% increase in Maryland gambling revenues last month. The $50.5 million gross at MGM was evenly divided between table games and slots. Since the latter are taxed at a far higher rate, MGM won’t be … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Architecture, Atlantic City, California, Cordish Co., Economy, Entertainment, Genting, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Racinos, The Strip, Tribal, West Virginia | 1 Comment