Category Archives: The Strip

Wayne Newton’s peacock peril

Posted on November 15, 2016 by David McKee

If you live near Casa de Shenandoah, look out: The neighborhood is being terrorized by roaming peacocks who make their base of operations at the mansion/museum of Mr. Las. Vegas himself, Wayne Newton. The latter’s people are trying to have … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Dining, Massachusetts, Penn National, The Strip, Wayne F. Newton | 1 Comment

Trump, Adelson make a deal; Brazil moves toward casinos

Posted on November 14, 2016 by David McKee

Donald Trump may have sold his soul to the Las Vegas Review-Journal and cheaply at that. Pro-Trump Global Gaming Business is reporting that the mogul promised not to oppose Sheldon Adelson‘s anti-Internet gaming legislation if only the R-J would endorse … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Donald Trump, Election, Entertainment, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Politics, Stanley Ho, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off

Riviera: Now they tell us!; Paddy Power’s bad electoral bet

Posted on November 10, 2016 by David McKee

Turns out there was more contaminated soil at the Riviera site than originally estimated … 23 times more. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, what was originally estimated to be 430 tons of toxic dirt turned out to be 9,980. … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Donald Trump, Election, Florida, Internet gambling, LVCVA, Movies, Racinos, Riviera, Seminole Tribe, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

LV Monorail lives; MGM shatters expectations

Posted on November 7, 2016 by David McKee

Whether or not you consider the Las Vegas Monorail a while elephant, its trunk is going to grow a bit longer. Clark County is diligently pursuing the permits that would enable it to extend the Monorail to Mandalay Bay, where … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Detroit, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, The Strip, Transportation, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Paris goes dark; A Bennett returns

Posted on November 4, 2016 by David McKee

In the first major Strip power outage in 12 years — the last was at Bellagio in 2004 — players at Paris-Las Vegas saw the entire casino resort go dark before their very eyes. Not even the auxiliary power kicked … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Harrah's, Hooters, International, Lake Tahoe, Paragon Gaming, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Westgate LV | Comments Off

Turnaround in Macao; Trop claims another victim

Posted on November 1, 2016 by David McKee

There’s finally solid ground for optimism with regard to Macao, admittedly a good market to be in even at the worst of times. October gaming revenues surged 9%. Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli took the numbers with a couple of … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Entertainment, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 1 Comment

They messed with Texas; Strip hotels have boom month

Posted on October 28, 2016 by David McKee

Tribal casinos are normally pretty tight-lipped about their financial performance. Not so the Alabama Coushatta Tribe of Texas. “It’s a quaint little spot and we’re pretty proud of it,” a tribal member told Houstonia magazine, speaking of Naskila Gaming, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, California, Economy, G2E, history, IGT, Marketing, Penn National, Regulation, Texas, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Strip beats the odds; DFS settlement in New York

Posted on October 27, 2016 by David McKee

Not even a 26% decline in baccarat wagers could put a damper on a strong September on the Las Vegas Strip. The house played lucky, experiencing only 8% less baccarat winnings. Table gaming wagering was down 9% overall — and … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Downtown, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, New York, North Las Vegas, Reno, The Strip | 1 Comment

Adelson in trouble again; Trop buoys Penn National numbers

Posted on October 27, 2016 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands is under the regulatory magnifying glass again. It’s been alleged that the company tried to make an end run around anti-money-laundering laws by permitting Chinese whales to use front men to place bets on their behalf. Lawyers … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Dining, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Marketing, Mississippi, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

New player in Moulin Rouge saga; Jersey casino backers try to save face

Posted on October 14, 2016 by David McKee

There’s another entrant in the perpetual sweepstakes to redevelop the Moulin Rouge site. This time it’s British firm Psi Key Entertainment. It is proposing a 1,288-room hotel for the acreage. However, Psi Key’s redevelopment plans have to be taken with … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Dining, Downtown, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Hooters, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Marketing, Missouri, Moulin Rouge, Palms, Politics, Station Casinos, The Strip, Westgate LV | 1 Comment

Hollywood Jamul opens; Hutchinson opposes Arkansas casinos

Posted on October 13, 2016 by David McKee

While the eyes of the industry were focused on the closing of Trump Taj Mahal, there was another long-awaited event on Monday: the opening of Hollywood Casino Jamul, near San Diego. Combine in-progress road construction with a new casino and … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Atlantic City, California, Cannery Casino Resorts, Dining, Election, GLPI, Harrah's, Horseracing, Isle of Capri, New York, Oklahoma, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal | 1 Comment

Taj Mahal: Soon with 100% less Trump?; Sands jams up players

Posted on October 13, 2016 by David McKee

While the last vestiges of Donald Trump‘s ownership of Trump Taj Mahal were liquidated when Carl Icahn took over, it retained the name and continued to buy Trump Water. (The taste of douchebaggery?) What concerns politicians in Trenton is the prospect … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Architecture, Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Charity, Cirque du Soleil, Donald Trump, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Casino moguls get stadium religion; Macao casinos not a Beijing priority

Posted on October 11, 2016 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren has had a come-to-Jesus moment on Sheldon Adelson‘s proposed NFL stadium. After all, MGM stands the most to benefit from proximity to its all-but-certain Russell Road location. Failing to fund the stadium, Murren told … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Macau, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip | 1 Comment

Indiana does well, Missouri does better

Posted on October 11, 2016 by David McKee

Foot traffic at Indiana casinos was down last month but players wagered more freely, 4.5% up from last year, leading to an almost 2% increase in casino revenues. Penn National Gaming was right in line with overall state performance and … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Entertainment, Full House Resorts, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Indiana, Isle of Capri, Majestic Star, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Local is beautiful; Adelson loses partner

Posted on October 10, 2016 by David McKee

Motley Fool columnist Travis Hoium says investors are missing a good bet if they overlook Las Vegas locals operators to focus on the big Las Vegas Strip players. He cites Station Casinos, Boyd Gaming and Penn National Gaming (presumably for … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cosmopolitan, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, history, Law enforcement, M Resort, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Palms, Penn National, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Pittsburgh pleads with Rivers Casino; Strong numbers from Maryland, Illinois

Posted on October 7, 2016 by David McKee

Pittsburgh is essentially saying “Pretty please” to Rush Street Gaming‘s Rivers Casino, begging the latter to keep voluntarily paying $10 million a year to the city, even though Rush Street is no longer under any legal obligation to do so. Pittsburgh Finance … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Cosmopolitan, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Taxes, Technology, The Strip | 6 Comments

Stadium debate heats up; Seminole Tribe ousts boss

Posted on September 30, 2016 by David McKee

While it looked for a moment like the wheels were greased for an NFL stadium on the Las Vegas Strip, financed primarily by hotel-room taxes, there’s a bit less certainty today. For one thing, Sheldon Adelson either assumed or … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Economy, Florida, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Macau, MGM Mirage, Politics, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Taxes, The Strip | 2 Comments

Pennsylvania casinos trounce state; MGM looks to Brazil

Posted on September 30, 2016 by David McKee

Pennsylvania cities and counties could find themselves short of money soon — and legislators have to locate even more cash on short notice, as though the current budget impasse wasn’t trouble enough. The commonwealth has been given three months, tops, by the … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Greenwood Racing, IGT, International, Internet gambling, Japan, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Strip | Comments Off

Live by baccarat, die by baccarat; Donald Trump, Stiff of the Century

Posted on September 29, 2016 by David McKee

With one less weekend this year and weak baccarat volumes, the Las Vegas Strip got hammered, down 15%. Statewide, gross gaming revenues were off by 5%. Late-July slot win that was reported in August softened the blow, contributing to a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, California, Donald Trump, Downtown, Election, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Mesquite, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Reno, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Big Gaming meets the Street

Posted on September 26, 2016 by David McKee

Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli has been in town and conducting a busy schedule of meetings. Pride of place must go to Wynn Resorts, which declared the opening of Wynn Palace “very clean,” with “solid” VIP business. Hotel occupancy is … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, California, Cannery Casino Resorts, Culinary Union, Economy, Glenn Straub, GLPI, Illinois, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Missouri, North Las Vegas, Pinnacle Entertainment, Reno, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off