Category Archives: The Strip

It’s a new day at the Cosmo; Atlantic City’s fate in Borgata’s hands

Posted on February 8, 2016 by David McKee

“The bottom line is you have a casino. Instead of downplaying that, let’s celebrate it.” That’s Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas CEO Bill McBeath outlining the besetting sin of his predecessors, ignoring the central role of gambling as the Cosmo’s revenue … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment, Illinois, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Slot routes, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on It’s a new day at the Cosmo; Atlantic City’s fate in Borgata’s hands

Illinois beats the odds; MGM goes au naturel

Posted on February 8, 2016 by David McKee

Well, here’s a novel piece of news out of Illinois, where it always seems that gloom and doom hold sway. Gaming revenues were up 2% last month. That’s even more impressive when you consider that it’s being measured against a … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Culinary Union, Entertainment, Environment, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Nevada, Penn National, Technology, The Strip, Transportation, Wall Street | Comments Off on Illinois beats the odds; MGM goes au naturel

Penn: Glass nearly full

Posted on February 4, 2016 by David McKee

Prior to its conference call with analysts, Penn National Gaming shared some earnings guidance and hints of what is to come. Perceptions of the performance of Plainridge Park Casino have become something of a sore point with Penn execs. While … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Dining, Marketing, Massachusetts, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Penn: Glass nearly full

MGM’s brass balls; Seminoles dream big

Posted on February 3, 2016 by David McKee

Las Vegans are still in an uproar over MGM Resorts International‘s new pay-for-parking policy. And yet MGM had the gall to issue a press release calling the added fees part of a “strategy to provide significant improvements.” Yes, because paying more … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Florida, MGM Mirage, Seminole Tribe, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal | Comments Off on MGM’s brass balls; Seminoles dream big

Atlantic City omnibus

Posted on February 2, 2016 by David McKee

If Carl Icahn has his way, executives at Trump Taj Mahal may have to start updating their resumes. Tropicana Atlantic City President Anthony Rodio is expected to add the Taj to his portfolio as well. It’s well past time that inept … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Economy, Macau, MGM Mirage, Politics, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street | Comments Off on Atlantic City omnibus

Strip’s illusory Christmas present; A.C. Trop antes up

Posted on January 29, 2016 by David McKee

Las Vegas Strip gaming revenues were up 8% last month but Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli is calling that headline “misleading,” the increase “purely optical.” Volume of table play was down 11% and slot coin-in was 2% less. But increased … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Economy, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on Strip’s illusory Christmas present; A.C. Trop antes up

Wynn, Walsh make peace; Borgata ups the ante

Posted on January 28, 2016 by David McKee

In the end, it was all about the money. In return for an extra $400,000 per year for the next 15 years, plus reimbursement of $750,000 in legal fees, Boston Mayor Martin Walsh dropped his efforts to block Wynn Everett. “We fought … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Lucky Dragon, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Wynn, Walsh make peace; Borgata ups the ante

Quote of the Day

Posted on January 28, 2016 by David McKee

“The Las Vegas Strip is a uniquely American landmark, an amalgamation of public square and private space, famous around the world for projecting bounty to all comers. [MGM Resorts International] has for decades benefited from being part of that, but now … Continue reading →

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

Meet the candidates; Even when Adelson loses, he wins

Posted on January 28, 2016 by David McKee

One of the many first-ever things that Geoff Freeman has done to remake the American Gaming Association in his image is compile a voting guide for industry workers, walking them through the primary and caucus processes in their states, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Election, Geoff Freeman, Macau, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Meet the candidates; Even when Adelson loses, he wins

Christie’s bum rap; New partner for Packer?; Casino chicanery in Maine

Posted on January 26, 2016 by David McKee

“The people involved in this, if you took a thimble and put their knowledge of Atlantic City in it, it wouldn’t fill it,” says Thomas Carver, former policy czar for the resort town, who lost his job when he displeased … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Cosmopolitan, Economy, Election, Internet gambling, James Packer, Maine, Melco Crown Entertainment, New Hampshire, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Revel, Taxes, The Strip | Comments Off on Christie’s bum rap; New partner for Packer?; Casino chicanery in Maine

To park or not to park, that is the question

Posted on January 25, 2016 by David McKee

Jim Murren wants more than our money with MGM Resorts International‘s controversial new parking fees. He wants our gratitude. “I ask them to honestly reflect what it means to be a local and how the tourist economy has improved their … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Culinary Union, Economy, Harrah's, International, MGM Mirage, Sports, The Strip, Transportation | Comments Off on To park or not to park, that is the question

Big contract from Wynn; Parking debate continues

Posted on January 19, 2016 by David McKee

Wynn Resorts bought locally in its search for a Wynn Everett general contractor. It has let the $1 billion construction contract to Suffolk Construction, biggest in Massachusetts. By choosing a Boston company for this seven-figure deal (plus 4,000 jobs), perhaps … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Florida, GLPI, International, Iowa, Lawrence Ho, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal | 2 Comments

Stick ’em up!

Posted on January 15, 2016 by David McKee

Addressing concerns about the quantity and proximity of parking to the T-Mobile Arena, executives at MGM Resorts International are busting out plans for a $54 million parking garage, to be built on the northwest corner of the Excalibur “campus,” cannibalizing … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Technology, The Strip, Transportation, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Atlantic City: Better than expected

Posted on January 13, 2016 by David McKee

As much as one hates the term “rightsizing” or endorsing the closure of four casinos, with all the job losses those entail, the numbers say that Atlantic City‘s casino market has been reduced to optimal size. December’s revenues were down … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Dining, Harrah's, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, PokerStars, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Gaming forecast: Moderately sunny; Adelson + R-J = bad news

Posted on January 12, 2016 by David McKee

Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli hung out along the Las Vegas Strip last week and “found few signs of caution as forward indicators remain favorable in most key areas.” Both New Year’s Eve business and convention calendars for the first … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Harrah's, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Macau, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, The Strip, Transportation | Comments Off on Gaming forecast: Moderately sunny; Adelson + R-J = bad news

Tribal headache for Connecticut; Wynn, Adelson eye New Jersey

Posted on January 8, 2016 by David McKee

Proposed new rules that would make it easier for tribes to gain federal recognition could have a seismic effect on the casino business in Connecticut. Three potentially recognized tribes could vie for as many as four new casinos. One says “four” … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Economy, Foxwoods, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Tribal headache for Connecticut; Wynn, Adelson eye New Jersey

Ground shifts on i-gaming in California; T-Mobile’s new trophy

Posted on January 7, 2016 by David McKee

California took one step forward and one step back in the field of Internet gambling. A bill to legalize online poker was scratched from yesterday’s legislative agenda. If it makes you feel any better, the opposition of six major California … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, PokerStars, Politics, Sam Nazarian, Sports, The Strip | Comments Off on Ground shifts on i-gaming in California; T-Mobile’s new trophy

Hope for Atlantic Club; Boffo month for Maryland

Posted on January 6, 2016 by David McKee

Not so fast, says Endeavor AC about yesterday’s report that its purchase of the Atlantic Club was defunct. The would-be purchaser says it has “a very strong and creditable private equity source to finance the acquisition and development of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Dan Gilbert, Glenn Straub, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Japan, Law enforcement, Maryland, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, SLS Las Vegas, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Hope for Atlantic Club; Boffo month for Maryland

Suffolk Downs fights back; Scrum in New Jersey Lege

Posted on January 5, 2016 by David McKee

Boston Mayor Martin Walsh may well have thrown in the towel in his lawsuit against Wynn Everett (technically against the Massachusetts Gaming Commission) but a quartet of Suffolk Downs workers aren’t letting Judge Janet Sanders‘ dismissal of aforesaid lawsuit go … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Entertainment, Glenn Straub, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 1 Comment

Another day in Adelsonia

Posted on January 5, 2016 by David McKee

After a weeks of ham-handed “managing” of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, controversial executive Michael Schroeder got the heave-ho, the apparent price of having brought unwanted attention to Sheldon Adelson‘s ownership. He was also an ethical cancer on the R-J, having … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Harrah's, Macau, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Mob, The Strip | Comments Off on Another day in Adelsonia