Category Archives: The Strip

Louisiana gets hammered; Three states legalize DFS

Posted on June 20, 2016 by David McKee

As we’ve noted before, May was hard on Midwest casino operators, nowhere more so than in Louisiana, where gambling revenue was down 13%. This marks seven months of same-store decline for the Pelican State, an exceptional slump, with the usually … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, Churchill Downs, Colorado, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sports, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Little relief for Caesars; Atlantic City braces for labor strife

Posted on June 17, 2016 by David McKee

It’s out of the frying pan and straight into the fire for Caesars Entertainment. Federal bankruptcy court has put a temporary halt on litigation against the casino giant, giving it until Aug. 29 to cut a new deal with bondholders. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Donald Trump, Eldorado Resorts, Geoff Freeman, Harrah's, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Slot routes, Sports, Taxes, The Mob, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Unite-Here | Comments Off on Little relief for Caesars; Atlantic City braces for labor strife

Atlantic City goes to pot; MGM, Boyd, Pinnacle, Red Rock Resorts meet The Street

Posted on June 17, 2016 by David McKee

We’ve come a long way from the days of Reefer Madness. Latest case in point: Atlantic City, where Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D) is pushing recreational “tea” as a cure to the city’s penurious condition. Weed would be legalized on the Boardwalk and … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, CityCenter, Economy, Georgia, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Missouri, Palms, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Reno, Scientific Games, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Atlantic City goes to pot; MGM, Boyd, Pinnacle, Red Rock Resorts meet The Street

NHL picks Las Vegas; Borgata carries Atlantic City

Posted on June 14, 2016 by David McKee

It’s not been officially confirmed and it’s not a final decision, but The Associated Press is reporting that the NHL‘s executive committee has chosen Las Vegas businessman Bill Foley‘s proposal to create an expansion franchise in Sin City. In a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Harrah's, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, PokerStars, Sports, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Penn has big plans for Trop; DFS sites feel the heat

Posted on June 14, 2016 by David McKee

High rollers aren’t spending as much as they used to at Penn National Gaming casinos, reports JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff, after meeting with CEO Tim Wilmott. Overall, Penn says its springtime revenues have been tracking with its expectations. Greff … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Colorado, Dining, Economy, Election, Florida, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Stanley Ho, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Riviera goes down

Posted on June 14, 2016 by David McKee

Of all the implosions I’ve watched in Las Vegas since 1999, I can’t remember one being prefaced with three minutes of fireworks. Here’s the whole shebang of the demolition of the Riviera‘s Monaco Tower, marred only by an unfortunate change … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, history, LVCVA, Riviera, The Strip | Comments Off on Riviera goes down

Trump: How to make out like a bandit; Big plans for Station

Posted on June 13, 2016 by David McKee

To give the devil his due, if you visit Trump Taj Mahal and are dismayed because “carpets are frayed and dust-coated chandeliers dangle above the few customers there to play the penny slot machines,” you are not entirely witnessing the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, Harrah's, IGT, MTR Gaming, Palms, Regulation, Riviera, Station Casinos, Technology, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Transportation, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Straub forges ahead; Caesars bankruptcy stymied

Posted on June 8, 2016 by David McKee

Glenn Straub still doesn’t have a new name for Revel but that’s not stopping him from reopening the casino — and on schedule, too. He expects to have 40% of the casino floor operational within a week. Straub will reopen … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Dining, Entertainment, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Revel, The Strip, Unite-Here | Comments Off on Straub forges ahead; Caesars bankruptcy stymied

This just in …

Posted on June 8, 2016 by David McKee

An LVA source tips the Fertitta Brothers as the mystery buyers of Fontainebleau. They have at least two of the prerequisites: a “presence” in gaming and access to capital (Wall Street loves it some Red Rock Resorts these days). But … Continue reading →

Posted in Fontainebleau, Reno, Station Casinos, The Strip | 1 Comment

The end of an era; Aquinnah tribe beats the odds

Posted on June 7, 2016 by David McKee

Free parking on the Las Vegas Strip bit the dust yesterday, as MGM Resorts International starting charging for the privilege of using its casino-hotels, starting with Aria, Vdara, Monte Carlo and New York-New York. Today, parking fees hit the low-rollers … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Columbia Sussex, Kentucky, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal | 1 Comment

Wynn disses douchebags; Showboat sails again

Posted on June 7, 2016 by David McKee

In a characteristic about-face, former nightlife enthusiast Steve Wynn is belittling Millenials (“sort of short on brains”), social media (“dim-witted time”), while conceding the importance of non-gaming revenue to today’s Las Vegas. Said Wynn of the nightlife generation, “we’re doing well … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Cretins, Economy, Entertainment, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, history, Macau, Maryland, Penn National, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Wynn disses douchebags; Showboat sails again

High-stakes legal challenge in Florida; Free-for-all in New York

Posted on June 7, 2016 by David McKee

A relatively obscure dispute in the Florida panhandle could have huge ramifications for the state’s casino industry. Four years ago, voters in Gadsden County approved slot machines for Gretna Racing, a joint venture of two Tallahassee lobbyists and the Poarch Bank … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Delaware, Economy, Election, Florida, Genting, Harrah's, Horseracing, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Nevada, New York, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | Comments Off on High-stakes legal challenge in Florida; Free-for-all in New York

Hard May in Illinois; Buyer found for F-blew?

Posted on June 7, 2016 by David McKee

Casino patrons in Illinois are spending a bit more these days but there were 8% fewer of them last month, leading to a 6% revenue decline, partly due to one fewer weekend this year. On an individual basis, casinos tended … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Derek Stevens, Detroit, Downtown, Fontainebleau, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Slot routes, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Transportation, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on Hard May in Illinois; Buyer found for F-blew?

Monte Carlo, meet Park MGM; Wynn, Adelson, Barrack help Trump

Posted on June 3, 2016 by David McKee

In the end, MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren couldn’t decide between “The Park” and “The Park at MGM Grand” as the new name for Monte Carlo, so he dubbed it Park MGM, which sounds like someplace you leave your … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Colony Capital, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Environment, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Michael Gaughan, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Transportation | Comments Off on Monte Carlo, meet Park MGM; Wynn, Adelson, Barrack help Trump

Raiders to Vegas? Don’t bet against it

Posted on June 2, 2016 by David McKee

The boulder that is Mark Davis‘ and Sheldon Adelson‘s attempt to move the [your city here] Raiders to Las Vegas is gaining momentum as it rumbles downhill. The growing support among NFL owners is not unconditional. Sin City would be one … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, history, LVCVA, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Oklahoma, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Unite-Here, Wall Street | Comments Off on Raiders to Vegas? Don’t bet against it

Lucky Dragon forges ahead; Calm urged in Macao

Posted on May 31, 2016 by David McKee

By this point, it’s hardly news that Lucky Dragon Casino is on track to open in December, breathing some additional life into the north Strip (we hope). However, Lucky Dragon execs continue to argue that they should have received tax-increment … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, International, Lucky Dragon, Macau, Marketing, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Lucky Dragon forges ahead; Calm urged in Macao

Straub: Name my casino!; RAWA breathes its last … for now

Posted on May 27, 2016 by David McKee

Glenn Straub has either thrown up his hands over the task of renaming Revel or is feeling the spirit of democracy. Either way, he’s taking suggestions from the Twitterverse as to potential new monikers, with a $10,000 for the winning … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Charity, Downtown, Election, Entertainment, Glenn Straub, history, Internet gambling, Iowa, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Revel, Sports, Tamares Group, Taxes, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal | 1 Comment

Lean April in Las Vegas; Boyd stands pat

Posted on May 27, 2016 by David McKee

April saw mixed fortunes the Las Vegas Strip. Although overall gambling revenue was only up 1.5%, winning percentages tended to favor the house by considerable amounts. For instance, although baccarat players wagered 21% more but house win was up 10%. “While … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Downtown, Economy, Election, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Law enforcement, North Las Vegas, Reno, Sports, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Lean April in Las Vegas; Boyd stands pat

Sheldon’s big surprise; AGA attacks NFL silliness

Posted on May 25, 2016 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson is feeling bullish on the Las Vegas market these days. Undeterred by the debut of T-Mobile Arena, he is proposing a 17,500-seat concert venue, to be built on underutilized land behind Venelazzo. Adelson has formed a consortium with … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, California, Downtown, Entertainment, Geoff Freeman, history, Hooters, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Texas, The Strip | Comments Off on Sheldon’s big surprise; AGA attacks NFL silliness

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 24, 2016 by David McKee

“I believe that art is an essential element of quality of life. I believe that all people regardless of their level of interest, education in the arts or even inclination has a visceral positive experience when they are enriched visually. That … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, MGM Mirage, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day