Category Archives: The Strip

Pansy Ho on the campaign trail; Connecticut tribes optimistic

Posted on April 13, 2015 by David McKee

MGM China would probably prefer that its co-chairwoman, Pansy Ho, stay out of the headlines, considering the negative publicity she’s generated over the years. But she opened up to the media this week, specifically the newspaper of which she is … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Hooters, Internet gambling, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Movies, Palms, Pansy Ho, Pennsylvania, Regulation, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Pansy Ho on the campaign trail; Connecticut tribes optimistic

Reid-Adelson lovefest; Massachusetts meddling

Posted on April 7, 2015 by David McKee

Now that he’s no longer standing for reelection, Sen. Harry Reid (D) has flung himself fully into the arms of Sheldon Adelson, calling for a ban on online gambling that might even extend to Nevada‘s fledgling I-poker industry (although Reid’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Harry Reid, Illinois, Internet gambling, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Rhode Island, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Reid-Adelson lovefest; Massachusetts meddling

The Strip: February disappoints

Posted on March 31, 2015 by David McKee

Las Vegas Strip casino revenues fell 4% in February, in a month that was mildly positive on a statewide basis, up 1%. Blame baccarat: Play was down 22%, although players took the house to the cleaners, with casino win down … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Cosmopolitan, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Lake Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, Reno, The Strip, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off on The Strip: February disappoints

Reid’s heavy hand; Staying the course in Macao

Posted on March 26, 2015 by David McKee

Financing of SLS Las Vegas was made a little easier when Sen. Harry Reid (D) intervened on behalf of some of Sam Nazarian‘s all-important EB-5 visa investors. The inspector general of the Department of Homeland Security has identified four SLS … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Election, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Movies, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, The Strip | Comments Off on Reid’s heavy hand; Staying the course in Macao

War of words at Wynn; Resorts World a ‘go’

Posted on March 25, 2015 by David McKee

Efforts by the local press to cover the Wynn vs. Wynn scrum were pretty well obliterated this week by a one-two punch from the New York Times. Behind the “no girls allowed” treehouse mentality of the Wynn Resorts board lurks … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Fontainebleau, Genting, James Packer, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on War of words at Wynn; Resorts World a ‘go’

Caesars: Total Rewards value is zilch

Posted on March 20, 2015 by David McKee

You and I might think that Total Rewards is Caesars Entertainment‘s prize asset — so much so that Chairman Gary Loveman built his reputation on it. However, in the current bankruptcy proceeding, Caesars is attributing no equity value to it. That’s one … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Marketing, South Korea, The Strip, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Whither McCartney?; Distress at Caesars

Posted on March 19, 2015 by David McKee

Earlier this week, Vegas Tripping reported the departure of Thomas McCartney from The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. In its press release, the Cosmo went beyond the neutral sort of verbiage reserved for such pronouncements, saying that “Mr. McCartney did not … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Cosmopolitan, Delaware, Genting, Harrah's, Illinois, James Packer, New York, Riviera, SLS Las Vegas, Station Casinos, The Strip, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 1 Comment

Adelson lackey denounces gambling; Scientific’s stumble

Posted on March 16, 2015 by David McKee

In a surprising display of petulance, Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R) hung up the phone on members of the National Governors Association when they had the temerity to object to his Restoration of America’s Wire Act bill, which would criminalize state … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Marketing, New York, Politics, Regulation, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | Comments Off on Adelson lackey denounces gambling; Scientific’s stumble

Honeymoon over in Atlantic City; Resistance in Connecticut

Posted on March 13, 2015 by David McKee

All the gains Atlantic City casinos had been making from the downsizing of the market came to an abrupt end last month. Gambling revenues dove 16% and same-store revenues fell 2% (yes, even the Borgata‘s). Luck simply was not on … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, Boyd Gaming, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Riviera, Scientific Games, Shuffle Master, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street, WMS Industries | 1 Comment

The clock is running in Japan, Florida, Connecticut

Posted on March 11, 2015 by David McKee

Major casino companies are beginning to lose patience with Japan‘s impotent government and are casting their eyes toward South Korea. “This will take leadership. At some point someone is going to have to say ‘this is important to us, let’s push this … Continue reading →

Posted in Florida, Foxwoods, Hard Rock International, International, Japan, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New York, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | Comments Off on The clock is running in Japan, Florida, Connecticut

Elaine Wynn prepares for battle; Sunny days in Detroit

Posted on March 11, 2015 by David McKee

“The company’s success has been one of my life’s main passions, and I bring that attitude to my role as a director each and every day.” So wrote Elaine Wynn, as she gears up for a proxy fight to remain … Continue reading →

Posted in Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Economy, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Elaine Wynn prepares for battle; Sunny days in Detroit

Adelson vs. lottery; Big weekend at SLS

Posted on March 11, 2015 by David McKee

Proving that gaming is the only taxable udder on which the Nevada Legislature dares tug, Assemblyman Harvey Munford has proposed a state lottery. The purported use of lottery proceeds would be to help senior citizens and support public education. “The … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Entertainment, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | 1 Comment

Big Gaming speaks

Posted on March 9, 2015 by David McKee

Last week, the great and powerful of the casino industry attended a show-and-tell at the  J.P. Morgan Gaming, Lodging, Restaurant & Leisure Management Access Forum. Here’s what they had to say … Wynn Resorts: The company is looking to make … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Genting, James Packer, Japan, Louisiana, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Problem gambling, Rhode Island, Singapore, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Big Gaming speaks

Fear and loathing in Washington; New goodies at Borgata

Posted on March 4, 2015 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson sock puppet Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R) would be holding his much-ballyhooed hearing on Internet gambling today, had Mother Nature not intervened and forced a postponement. When it happens, it’ll be pretty much the kangaroo court you’d expect. His star witness is rabid and … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Entertainment, Horseracing, International, Internet gambling, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Naughtiness at Las Vegas Sands; Caesars makes bankruptcy plan official

Posted on March 4, 2015 by David McKee

Sands China could have some stateside problems. Judge Elizabeth Gonzalez is mulling whether or not to slap Sands’ wrist for tampering with evidence. The documents in question are part of a wrongful-termination lawsuit brought by former Sands China CEO Steven … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, IGT, International, Macau, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off on Naughtiness at Las Vegas Sands; Caesars makes bankruptcy plan official

Caesars’ wheel of pain

Posted on March 3, 2015 by David McKee

“Loveman ‘fascinated’ by complexities of High Roller,” read one of today’s headlines. Perhaps he ought to be more fascinated by the complexities of Caesars Entertainment‘s bankruptcy, of which he is the undisputed architect. The company announced quarterly earnings yesterday, losing … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Entertainment, Harrah's, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Las Vegas’ robust January; Measles in a casino

Posted on March 2, 2015 by David McKee

January was good for the State of Nevada (+8%) but especially powerful for the Las Vegas Strip, up 15%. The casinos played lucky, with baccarat winnings up 68.5%, despite 13.5% less being wagered. Strip slot revenues were up 4%, even … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Economy, Environment, Fontainebleau, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, MGM Mirage, New York, North Las Vegas, Riviera, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Las Vegas’ robust January; Measles in a casino

Trump wins battle against himself; Riviera’s fate sealed

Posted on February 23, 2015 by David McKee

Perpetual litigant Donald J. Trump has won the first round in his lawsuit against Trump Entertainment Resorts, whose minority shareholders include one Donald J. Trump. A bankruptcy judge in Delaware ruled that the suit can proceed. It contends that Trump … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Genting, James Packer, LVCVA, Riviera, The Strip, Tourism, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Westgate LV | 1 Comment

Building a better Cosmopolitan

Posted on February 20, 2015 by David McKee

Although awash in generalities, Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas CEO Bill McBeath did allow some form of insight into his plans for the resort. Allowing that casino-floor performance was “pretty anemic,” he hopes to make it more attractive to high rollers. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, history, MGM Mirage, Sports, The Strip | Comments Off on Building a better Cosmopolitan

The new Siegel in town; The word on the Strip is “Fore!”

Posted on February 19, 2015 by David McKee

Any article that begins by described the late Star Trek: The Experience as “essentially weird” has one strike against it. (I can’t tell you how many former employees told me it was the best job they ever had.) Such is … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Colony Capital, Entertainment, Japan, MGM Mirage, New York, Politics, Singapore, Sports, The Strip, Westgate LV | 2 Comments