Category Archives: The Strip

Stratosphere bucks consumer trend; New way to bet coming to Nevada

Posted on August 12, 2016 by David McKee

Better slot play, stronger restaurant business and greater hotel occupancy (which drove up rates) conspired to improve American Casino & Entertainment Properties‘ revenue and profitability in 2Q16. Net revenue — i.e., not profit — is on a 10-month upward roll, … Continue reading →

Posted in ACEP, Animals, Boulder Strip, Laughlin, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Technology, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off

Case Bets: Wynn Boston Harbor, sports betting, cockfighting and a fire

Posted on August 11, 2016 by David McKee

There’s big money to be made at Wynn Boston Harbor. Primary contractor Suffolk Construction is hoping to entice subcontractors with a bundle of bids valued at $1 billion for services and supplies. That’s almost half the construction budget for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, CityCenter, Geoff Freeman, Law enforcement, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

New vibe for Venetian; Atlantic City workers flee to D.C.

Posted on August 9, 2016 by David McKee

For the first time in 17 years, The Venetian is using TV advertising. We’re not only impressed by the length of the abstention but also by the fact that Las Vegas Sands has done so well without the assistance of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cosmopolitan, Election, Entertainment, Environment, Harrah's, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, TV | Comments Off

Station tries to shed excess baggage; Steve Wynn’s big ape

Posted on August 8, 2016 by David McKee

Back in 2004, when euphoria ran high in the casino industry, Station Casinos got carried away and spent nearly $34 million on the dilapidated Castaways, at the north end of the Boulder Strip. Despite commissioning a design from Ed Vance for … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Entertainment, history, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Slot routes, Sports, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 1 Comment

Murren minces few words; Wynn Boston Harbor sets opening date

Posted on August 5, 2016 by David McKee

Commiting truth isn’t as rare in the casino business as in politics but MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren was startlingly candid in yesterday’s earnings call, crediting a surge in Las Vegas summer business to a Zika virus outbreak in Florida, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Carl Icahn, Entertainment, Florida, Foxwoods, International, Internet gambling, LVCVA, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Riviera, Singapore, South Korea, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Unite-Here, Wall Street | Comments Off

Wynn Boston Harbor breaks ground; MGM modestly beats expectations

Posted on August 4, 2016 by David McKee

Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone has apparently thrown in the towel in his opposition to Wynn Boston Harbor, with the consequence that construction will have begun by this time tomorrow. The $2.1 billion project’s endurance is a tribute to Bostonian Steve Wynn‘s … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Environment, Geoff Freeman, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, South Korea, Sports, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Transportation, Wall Street | Comments Off

Nevada’s oldest casino turns 85; Flynt doubles down on Lucky Lady

Posted on August 2, 2016 by David McKee

Contrary to the impression of many, yours truly included, the oldest operating casino in Nevada isn’t the Golden Gate but the 85-year-old Railroad Pass, just outside of Boulder City. It even still has its original vault. New owner Joe DeSimone … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Boulder Strip, California, Entertainment, Galaxy Entertainment, history, International, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off

June in Vegas: The house won; Wynn gets spanked in Macao

Posted on July 29, 2016 by David McKee

While a 10% increase in June gambling revenues on the Las Vegas Strip fell short of some Wall Street analysts’ projections, it was a healthy month nevertheless. Slot winnings were up 10% ($253 million) on only 1% higher coin-in. Luck … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boulder Strip, Downtown, Economy, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Macau, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Regulation, Reno, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Analysts: Buy Penn!; Veteran columnist calls it quits

Posted on July 28, 2016 by David McKee

According to J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff, “meaningful contributions” from the Tropicana Las Vegas, Plainridge Park Casino and Illinois slot route Prairie State Gaming drove a 14.5% improvement in Penn National Gaming‘s cash flow last quarter. M Resort hit a … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, California, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Illinois, M Resort, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Strip still catching up; Nevada taking bets on the Olympics

Posted on July 21, 2016 by David McKee

While gaming companies on the Las Vegas Strip are fairly sanguine about 2016, a new report by Alex Bumazhny of Fitch Ratings takes a somewhat gloomier view. For one, he notes that revenue per available room “growth during the recovery … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Dining, Economy, Election, Geoff Freeman, Macau, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sports, The Strip, Westgate LV | 2 Comments

“Baz” in my bonnet; Moulin Rouge back in play

Posted on July 14, 2016 by David McKee

Palazzo is currently hosting the second coming of Baz: Star-Crossed Love, a song-and-dance mishmash of iconic moments from such Baz Luhrmann epics as Gatsby, Moulin Rouge and Romeo + Juliet. (What, nothing from Australia? Awwwww.) There’s even a passing nod … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Entertainment, Moulin Rouge, Movies, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | Comments Off

Poker hands across the ocean; New offer in Caesars bankruptcy

Posted on July 13, 2016 by David McKee

Spurning Nevada and Delaware, the state of New Jersey is exploring an online-poker compact with the United Kingdom. The deal, if consummated, would allow the two entities to share players and liquidity. “Even when you discount children and non-gamblers, it gives … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Iowa, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Revel, Technology, The Strip, Transportation, Warner Gaming | Comments Off

Station trumps stadium selection

Posted on July 8, 2016 by David McKee

Station Casinos has vaulted to the forefront of the parties vying to host an NFL-size stadium on their property. While Station’s vast real estate bank has long been viewed as the ace up its sleeve, the company has had difficulty … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Lucky Dragon, MGM Mirage, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, SLS Las Vegas, Sports, Station Casinos, The Strip, Transportation | Comments Off

Rumor du jour

Posted on July 7, 2016 by David McKee

Does imminent doom hover over Excalibur? An S&G source says MGM Resorts International is talking about imploding it and replacing it with a “higher-end resort.” The alleged motivation is to keep up with Steve Wynn and his Wynn Paradise Park … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Dining, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 2 Comments

Trump’s tribal treachery

Posted on July 5, 2016 by David McKee

As the press continues to dig into Donald Trump‘s past, it’s uncovering activity that is vile even by Trump’s debased standards. Such is the case in his race-baiting campaign against the casino application of the St. Regis Mohawks. Not man … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Donald Trump, Genting, Hard Rock International, International, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Lawrence Ho, Minnesota, New York, PokerStars, Regulation, The Mob, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Vegas: Weak on Strip, robust in locals play

Posted on June 30, 2016 by David McKee

One less weekend and a tough comparison with last year’s Mayweather-Pacquiao charade translated into a weak May for both the Las Vegas Strip, down 12%, and Nevada casinos in general, 4.5% off the pace. There were some sort of bright … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Macau, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Pansy Ho, Pennsylvania, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Riviera site to become a stadium?; Cordish, MGM face off in Maryland

Posted on June 28, 2016 by David McKee

It’s anything but certain that the [your city here] Raiders are coming to Las Vegas, but our civic leaders are moving ahead as though it were a done deal. The preferred site for a Las Vegas Sands-backed stadium, on Tropicana … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Cordish Co., Entertainment, Harrah's, International, Louisiana, LVCVA, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Can Atlantic City withstand a strike?; Cosmo gets a complete makeover

Posted on June 27, 2016 by David McKee

While Atlantic City waits to see how long it takes Glenn Straub to get Revel reopened (we’re now at D-Day Plus Twelve and counting), Local 54 of Unite-Here is girding itself for a strike. It’s amassed a war chest and … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, The Strip, Unite-Here | Comments Off

Tipping point in Pennsylvania near; Cirque du NFL

Posted on June 23, 2016 by David McKee

“I think gaming expansion money in one form or another is necessary for this budget process to be complete,” spoke Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Dave Reed (R). With Gov. Tom Wolf (D, right) having given way on sales-tax and income-tax … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Economy, International, Internet gambling, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Sports, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

NHL makes it official; Isle opens new casino

Posted on June 23, 2016 by David McKee

Fortunately, it looks like we won’t have to worry about our NHL-franchise-to-be playing under a cliched name like “Las Vegas Gamblers.” Says majority owner Bill Foley, speaking of the league, “They’d prefer we don’t go in that direction.” Also, Foley seems … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Election, Entertainment, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Maryland, MGM Mirage, New York, Rhode Island, Sports, The Mob, The Strip, Westgate LV | Comments Off