Category Archives: The Strip

MGM courts Japan; More Strip land hits the market

Posted on September 5, 2014 by David McKee

Taking a veiled stab at Las Vegas Sands and Wynn Resorts, MGM Resorts International President William Hornbuckle said that a MGM megaresort in Japan would be “uniquely Japanese, not a copy of an integrated resort from Las Vegas or Singapore.” It … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Downtown, Entertainment, history, James Packer, Japan, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Riviera, Singapore, Station Casinos, The Strip | Comments Off on MGM courts Japan; More Strip land hits the market

Sold down the river; Wynn makes critical offer

Posted on September 5, 2014 by David McKee

For sale: One casino riverboat, heavily used. Penn National Gaming asked for — and received — dismissal of a bankruptcy petition, opting to sell the Belle of Sioux City on the open market. You might think it would be difficult … Continue reading →

Posted in Derek Stevens, Dining, Downtown, Entertainment, Iowa, Massachusetts, Penn National, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Sold down the river; Wynn makes critical offer

Revel: A quiet death

Posted on September 3, 2014 by David McKee

“Gaming in Atlantic City isn’t dead, but it has to go on a crash diet to survive.” That’s the coroner’s verdict of the Newark Star-Ledger, in which former Atlantic Club worker Bill Terrigino adds his voice to the chorus that … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Atlantic City, Illinois, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Revel, Sam Nazarian, Slot routes, The Strip, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 3 Comments

The fees that ate Las Vegas

Posted on September 3, 2014 by David McKee

 First, the good news. Harrah’s Las Vegas casino floor, one of the most claustrophobic and unpleasant in town is getting a makeover. And, while they’re at it, Caesars Entertainment is converting the space formerly occupied by The Cafe at Harrah’s and … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Harrah's, International, Maryland, Ohio, Phil Ruffin, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Singapore, The Strip | Comments Off on The fees that ate Las Vegas

Narrow race in Massachusetts; Boffo biz in Alabama

Posted on September 2, 2014 by David McKee

No state that has ever approved casino gambling has repealed it in over 80 years. That being said, casinos are polling weakly in Massachusetts — with support hovering at 50% — and the opposition is getting cocky. A perversely worded … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Architecture, Economy, Election, Florida, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Regulation, Rhode Island, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Big Apple, smaller bites; Checkmate on the Strip

Posted on September 2, 2014 by David McKee

“There will never be another Mohegan Sun. That’s the way the market has shifted.” So says Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority CEO Mitchell Grossinger Etess on the smaller, economy-sized casinos he and his fellows will have to build in New York … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Harrah's, Mohegan Sun, New York, Planet Hollywood, The Strip | Comments Off on Big Apple, smaller bites; Checkmate on the Strip

Archon under fire again

Posted on September 2, 2014 by David McKee

Sue Lowden is back in the news, not for her political activities but as secretary and public face of Archon Gaming, whose 27 acres atop the Strip are a hot property again, following the opening of SLS Las Vegas. Dissident investor … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Economy, Laughlin, Ohio, Penn National, Sam Nazarian, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Archon under fire again

Showboat, 1987-2014; Paris, 1999-????

Posted on September 2, 2014 by David McKee

In the end, the Showboat Atlantic City had a good run of it, lasting almost three decades on the Boardwalk. It succumbed, in part, to wounds inflicted by owner Caesars Entertainment, which cut into its customer base by building Harrah’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Harrah's, New York, Pennsylvania, Revel, Sam Nazarian, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Strangest story of the year

Posted on August 29, 2014 by David McKee

Steve Wynn‘s Encore is making news in a way its owner would probably prefer it didn’t (and not for the first time this year). Bryanna Warren, Trinity Kennard and Charmella Triggs picked up a couple of guys in an Encore bar … Continue reading →

Posted in Cretins, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal, TV | Comments Off on Strangest story of the year

Recovery in Vegas? It depends on where you stand

Posted on August 28, 2014 by David McKee

July was a mixed blessing for Nevada. Gambling revenue was up 5% along the Strip, down 4% among locals and essentially flat statewide. Strip casinos won big at baccarat, with player losses increasing 16% on 24% heavier play. Non-Strip baccarat play … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Downtown, Isle of Capri, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Macau, MGM Mirage, Missouri, North Las Vegas, Reno, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Wisconsin | Comments Off on Recovery in Vegas? It depends on where you stand

Loveman’s big score; Slots come to Dayton

Posted on August 28, 2014 by David McKee

“You’re in Baltimore, baby, it says so right there, in big gray block letters on a smokestack at the trash plant just past the entrance.” Caesars Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman, long celebrated as the wizard of database market, also finds … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Cordish Co., Genting, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Marketing, Maryland, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, The Strip, Transportation, Vietnam | Comments Off on Loveman’s big score; Slots come to Dayton

Holy Grail achieved at MGM; Greed and gouing

Posted on August 25, 2014 by David McKee

While all the media hoo-ha was focused on SLS Las Vegas‘ opening last Friday, a comparably historic event took place at the other end of the Strip. New Hampshire resident Walter Misco hit the jackpot on MGM Grand‘s famously stingy … Continue reading →

Posted in Dan Gilbert, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, New Hampshire, Ohio, Regulation, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Holy Grail achieved at MGM; Greed and gouing

Party poopers

Posted on August 25, 2014 by David McKee

Those losers at Al-Qaeda are fixating on Las Vegas. In their fanzine, Palestine, they urge their followers to build car bombs and target Sin City. Nightclubs and casino floors are the high-impact targets of opportunity. (Real geniuses, these terrorist folk.) Both … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Florida, Harrah's, International, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Party poopers

The contradictions of Sam Nazarian

Posted on August 19, 2014 by David McKee

Is Sam Nazarian becoming a legend in his own mind? You have to wonder when you read that he’s had a statue of himself erected in the front of SLS Las Vegas. Sure, Bob Stupak did the same thing at … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment, Florida, Genting, International, Japan, Marketing, MGM Mirage, New York, Pennsylvania, Sahara, Sam Nazarian, The Strip, Wall Street | 3 Comments

The return of the Strip; Panic over Macao

Posted on August 18, 2014 by David McKee

Las Vegas‘ recovery from the Great Recession is all but official. To be truthful, a number of us — myself in particular — thought we were being played for suckers when Sam Nazarian closed the Sahara and promised to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Carl Icahn, Fontainebleau, Genting, International, James Packer, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Sam Nazarian, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street, Westgate LV | 4 Comments

Pacifism in Alabama; Flop in Florida

Posted on August 18, 2014 by David McKee

There’s nothing that trumps ideology like the need for tax dollars. Such is the case in Alabama, where budget shortfalls are bringing state government around to the idea of a gaming compact with Poarch Band of Creek Indians. No negotiations … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Dubai, Florida, MGM Mirage, Politics, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 18, 2014 by David McKee

“MGM [Resorts International] remains the most compelling way for investors to play a Vegas recovery paired with growth in Macao. With Las Vegas back in vogue, investors should turn to MGM as the best way to play this theme.” — Credit … Continue reading →

Posted in Macau, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Exit Revel, eight days early

Posted on August 18, 2014 by David McKee

Labor Day has taken on a cruel, new meaning in Atlantic City, where it will mark the closure of Revel‘s hotel. (The casino will stay open until dawn on Sept. 2.) This takes away eight days of employment that soon-to-be-jobless … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Delaware, Economy, Harrah's, Maryland, Racinos, Revel, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 1 Comment

Tightening the screws in China; Comeback at Cosmo

Posted on August 15, 2014 by David McKee

  In view of the outflux of currency from China, the country’s symbol seems not so much a Great Wall as a giant sieve. This was symbolized recently by the attempt to control UnionPay cash transfers masquerading as purchases in … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Macau, MGM Mirage, Regulation, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Tightening the screws in China; Comeback at Cosmo

Las Vegas: From China, with money

Posted on August 13, 2014 by David McKee

As China pays closer scrutiny to VIP play — and where the money is coming from — it’s driven down the high-end action in Macao … and redirected it toward Las Vegas. Said Telsey Advisory Group analyst Chris Jones, “One thing … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, International, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Las Vegas: From China, with money