Category Archives: The Strip

Flat at the Strat and other Case Bets

Posted on November 18, 2014 by David McKee

What a difference a year makes for American Casino & Entertainment Properties. Twelve months ago it was losing $9 million. In 3Q14, it posted a $600K profit. The reversal was achieved, in part, by squeezing customers with higher room rates … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boulder Strip, Columbia Sussex, Kentucky, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, North Las Vegas, Reno, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off

The Philadelphia experiment; Wynn mellows

Posted on November 17, 2014 by David McKee

We’re on the eve of the day the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board is expected to issue the fifth license for the Philadelphia area. It has to be awarded by a convoluted process called a “qualified majority,” whereby all four legislative … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cordish Co., Economy, Genting, Harrah's, James Packer, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off

Silver breaks ranks; Is NHL a done deal for Vegas?

Posted on November 14, 2014 by David McKee

In a bold, if not completely surprising move, NBA Commission Adam Silver took to the op-ed pages of the New York Times to advocate the nationwide legalization of sports betting. “Times have changed … Gambling has increasingly become a popular and … Continue reading →

Posted in Dotty's, George Maloof, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Taxes, The Strip | Comments Off

Hope on the Boardwalk

Posted on November 13, 2014 by David McKee

Down four casinos and counting, Atlantic City suffered a 9% dip last month but a 14% gain on a same-store basis. A 13% fall in slot win and a 12% decline in coin-in seems to have driven the slippage: In … Continue reading →

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

Quack Pack attack

Posted on November 13, 2014 by David McKee

Since it’s the altar on which A&E recently sacrificed Longmire, I don’t have warm feelings about Duck Dynasty, although the network itself goes one better, depicting Phil Robertson and his clan as bizarre backwoods cretins. With a pedigree like that, … Continue reading →

Posted in Cretins, Entertainment, Harrah's, The Strip, TV | Comments Off

Caesars: How do they do it?

Posted on November 11, 2014 by David McKee

This just in: Working with “key senior creditors,” Caesars Entertainment Operating Co. is reported to be arranging a prepackaged bankruptcy, with a target date of Jan. 14. How does Gary Loveman keep his job? If he were a cat, he’d … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Harrah's, Macau, Ohio, Regulation, The Strip, Wall Street, World Series of Poker | Comments Off

Brainless in Connecticut; Jobless in Las Vegas

Posted on November 10, 2014 by David McKee

What do you do when your slot revenues are declining? Build more casinos, of course! That’s the idea Mohegan Sun is pushing in Connecticut, with the help of a few well-placed lawmakers. It’s a no-brainer … as in, you’d have … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Foxwoods, Genting, Hard Rock International, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New York, Sam Nazarian, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Wisconsin | Comments Off

Showman Steve; Who’ll take Bucharest?

Posted on November 6, 2014 by David McKee

Rather than hire out entertainment for his Wynncore showroom (the one not occupied by Le Reve), Steve Wynn has taken a DIY approach. He’s producing and co-writing Showstoppers, a revue of some of the most iconic songs from Broadway musicals. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Columbia Sussex, Cordish Co., Current, Entertainment, Genting, Harrah's, International, Kentucky, Maryland, Penn National, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off

Linking to The Linq; Tribal Internet push

Posted on November 4, 2014 by David McKee

After an unhappy interregnum as The Quad, the former Imperial Palace officially becomes The Linq today. (What was up with that Quad nonsense anyway?) It might as well be called “The Millennial,” given the number of amenities targeted to that … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Dining, Donald Trump, Environment, GTECH, Harrah's, IGT, Internet gambling, Technology, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

Boyd impresses the Street, MGM disappoints

Posted on October 31, 2014 by David McKee

Boyd Gaming pleased Wall Street with its 3Q14 results, of which Joseph Greff of J.P. Morgan said “margin improvement was notable and impressive.” He noted modest growth in the Las Vegas locals and downtown segments and better-than-expected regional numbers, as … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Current, Downtown, Economy, Environment, Genting, Hawaii, Macau, MGM Mirage, Reno, Sam Nazarian, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Friday Case Bets

Posted on October 31, 2014 by David McKee

America‘s second-largest casino market, Pennsylvania, has truly hit the jackpot, according to a new study by Oxford Economics. It addition to engendering 18,000 direct-employment jobs, casinos have generated economic impact of $6.2 billion and paid $2.4 billion in taxes, not to mention … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Economy, Harrah's, Pennsylvania, Station Casinos, The Strip, TV | Comments Off

NHL maybe, NBA not so much

Posted on October 30, 2014 by David McKee

“Preliminary talks” could mean relatively nothing but when one of the principal parties is MGM Resorts International, you have to take them seriously … especially when MGM is building an arena intended for major-league sports. Still, there don’t appear to … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Sports, The Strip | 1 Comment

Clashing views on MGM; Shotgun wedding in Pennsylvania

Posted on October 30, 2014 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International‘s third quarter was “better than expected” if you were J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff and “disappointing” if you are Deutsche Bank‘s Carlo Santarelli. It’s a matter of how MGM performed relative to analyst forecasts. While the Las Vegas Strip … Continue reading →

Posted in Cannery Casino Resorts, CityCenter, Detroit, GLPI, Harrah's, Macau, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

The village idiot; Knuckle-dragging in Maryland

Posted on October 29, 2014 by David McKee

Every city has its cross to bear. In the case of Las Vegas, it’s former steroid user, baseball player and serial dumbass Jose Canseco. He obviously skipped firearm-safety class the day they told you to make sure your gun is … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Cretins, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, Maryland, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off

Fighting on in New Jersey; One-armed banditry

Posted on October 28, 2014 by David McKee

Monmouth Park may have been stayed from offering NFL and World Series bets, among others, but state Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D) isn’t giving up fighting the good fight, describing it as “the last hurrah.” Describing an Atlantic City that’s devoid … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Harry Reid, Illinois, Macau, Mohegan Sun, Racinos, Sports, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off

Players take Vegas to the cleaners

Posted on October 28, 2014 by David McKee

Baccarat players stayed home or played smaller last month. The Strip’s most important revenue driver dropped 30% on 12.5% less play. So luck and players’ wallets were both working in the casinos’ disfavor. Despite a 2% increase in coin-in, slot … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Cannery Casino Resorts, Downtown, Economy, Laughlin, Macau, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off

N.Y.: Accentuate the negative; Sheldon’s change of heart

Posted on October 27, 2014 by David McKee

“The economy is so depressed around here, anything is a plus. That’s how bad it is around here.” With that backhanded endorsement, the owner of Pepe’s Bar-B-Q in Binghamton, N.Y., gave his blessing to casinos in the area. In order to … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Economy, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, The Strip | Comments Off

Wild, wild East; Fertitta remembered

Posted on October 24, 2014 by David McKee

Imagine a Las Vegas in which to play you were required to lay out at least $65 … and where the average minimum bet was $270, maybe even $320. You’d have Macao, whose players dwarf Vegas’ ($20 average minimum bet) … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, history, International, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Macau, Michael Gaughan, Singapore, Station Casinos, The Strip, Warner Gaming | 1 Comment

Reading Loveman’s tea leaves

Posted on October 23, 2014 by David McKee

Gary Loveman has made a lot of mistakes as Caesars Entertainment CEO but building a convention center in Atlantic City wasn’t one of them. In fact, it’s been one of his better ideas. While he was in town to put … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 22, 2014 by David McKee

“I think this area south of Charleston [Boulevard] and north of Sahara [Avenue] is up and coming though, and some of that attention Fremont East is getting will turn here. If there were more residential development, something in the middle … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Economy, Sam Nazarian, The Strip | Comments Off