Category Archives: The Strip

Too much amount of wrong; Big deal in Boston

Posted on July 9, 2014 by David McKee

Ownership at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas has apparently lost its appetite for charmingly off-kilter variety show Vegas Nocturne. The show is not only rumored to be closing at the Cosmo but SLS Las Vegas has been mooted as its … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Sam Nazarian, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off

Feeling Moody’s

Posted on July 7, 2014 by David McKee

Here at S&G, we don’t begrudge anyone their right to build casinos. But, in the larger picture, the evidence suggests that Massachusetts and New York State are sailing into the wind. Moody’s Investors Service surveyed casinos in 15 states and, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, Massachusetts, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

What’s in a name?

Posted on July 1, 2014 by David McKee

Quite a lot apparently, if you’re Wynn Boston and you’re going up against local favorite Mohegan Sun. A poll taken by the Center for Policy Analysis at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth found voters split between 48% in favor of Mohegan … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colorado, Delaware, Detroit, Economy, Election, Foxwoods, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, New York, Pennsylvania, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 1, 2014 by David McKee

“For Las Vegas, the route to growth and success is doing events as opposed to more slot machines. For a number of years, it will make a great opportunity to have events and then somebody it’s going to be a … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, MGM Mirage, The Strip | Comments Off

Gearing up for fights in Massachusetts, California and Arkansas

Posted on June 30, 2014 by David McKee

Expect a deluge of dollars to be spent opposing or supporting a casino-repeal ballot question in Massachusetts. Unlike political campaigns, ballot questions have no spending limitation attached to them. So far, the biggest amount spent on a ballot question in … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Bally Technologies, California, Election, Entertainment, Internet gambling, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Shuffle Master, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Boffo May in Vegas; The power of convenience

Posted on June 27, 2014 by David McKee

Wall Street was pleasantly surprised by May’s gambling numbers from Nevada and especially the Las Vegas Strip, which was up 17%. Statewide, revenues rose 8%, reflecting the dilutive effect of an 8% decline in locals gaming revenue. A 3% dip … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Downtown, Economy, Election, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Illinois, Laughlin, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, North Las Vegas, Ohio, Penn National, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Slot routes, The Strip, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Wynn wins again; LVH sale near

Posted on June 24, 2014 by David McKee

Steve Wynn‘s $19 million libel award against sleazebag Joe Francis, former purveyor of Girls Gone Wild, has been upheld. The appeals court also imposed a gag order on Francis, enjoining him from ever repeating his claims that Wynn threatened to … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, Illinois, LVCVA, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Goodbye, Harmon, we never knew ye

Posted on June 23, 2014 by David McKee

It’s that long-awaited time: The demolition of the Harmon Hotel, which holds the ignominious distinction of the first Strip hotel demolished without ever hosting a single guest. This $11.5 million sidewalk show will leave an awkward void next to Crystals. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, MGM Mirage, The Strip | Comments Off

Et tu, Thrillist?; Bed-hopping in N.Y.

Posted on June 23, 2014 by David McKee

Poor Sam Nazarian. He’s still two months away from opening SLS Las Vegas and Thrillist has gone and jumped the gun. It’s crowned The Cromwell “already Vegas coolest hotel.” Not even an unfinished parking garage could dampen their enthusiasm, motivated … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Iowa, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Racinos, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

Atlantic City courts the LGBT dollar; Indiana casinos court anybody’s dollar

Posted on June 17, 2014 by David McKee

Formerly a gay getaway, Atlantic City lost its LGBT-friendly image when the casinos came in 1978, or so the history goes. “When the casinos came, people were quick to bulldoze whatever they had to sell for millions, and we lost … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Harrah's, Illinois, Kansas, Marketing, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Sam Nazarian, Slot routes, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

Caesars charged with default; LVH on the block again

Posted on June 9, 2014 by David McKee

It was bound to happen sooner or later: Holders of second-lien bonds ($3.7 billion worth) have charged Caesars Entertainment with default. They cited the offloading of Caesars New Orleans and other high-value properties, as well as the removal of guarantees … Continue reading →

Posted in Harrah's, Hooters, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Case Bets for a Monday morning

Posted on June 2, 2014 by David McKee

Because Vegas is starved for retail along the Strip (ha!), Caesars Entertainment has been beavering away busily on Grand Bazaar Shops, in front of Bally’s Las Vegas. Vital Vegas has been sussing out the progress of the mall and it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Culinary Union, Derek Stevens, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Mohegan Sun, Revel, The Strip | Comments Off

Adelson vs. Loveman: Splitting the difference

Posted on May 30, 2014 by David McKee

“One of the things I’ve learned in this industry is we are extraordinarily competent at shooting at one another.” So said American Gaming Association President Geoff Freeman after getting caught in the crossfire over Internet gambling. So, as the industry … Continue reading →

Posted in Geoff Freeman, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, The Strip, Warner Gaming, World Series of Poker | 1 Comment

Beso of death; Atlantic Club reborn

Posted on May 30, 2014 by David McKee

Eva Longoria‘s SHE byMorton’s (formerly Beso) has closed for the second — and presumably final — time. This time we can only put so much blame on Longoria and focus instead on owner Tilman Fertitta. This rare misstep by Fertitta … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Dining, Harrah's, Illinois, Politics, The Strip | Comments Off

Pacquiao impact punchless

Posted on May 29, 2014 by David McKee

April’s gaming numbers from Nevada were received with varying degrees of gloom. Not even a Manny Pacquiao fight could drive up the revenue figures, generally speaking. Baccarat, it goes without saying, was a different story, with 40% more revenue and … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Downtown, Economy, Laughlin, North Las Vegas, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Wisconsin | Comments Off

Internet gaming: More light than heat; Fieri in your face

Posted on May 27, 2014 by David McKee

“We are absolutely shocked by the slowness of the market.” Those are the words of 888.com CEO Brian Mattingley, with regard to Internet gambling in New Jersey. How slow is it? So much that 888 is shifting ad dollars from … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Dining, Economy, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Marketing, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | 1 Comment

Leven leaving, Adelson staying

Posted on May 23, 2014 by David McKee

In a less-than-shocking turn of events, Las Vegas Sands President Michael Leven has announced his retirement, effective the end of this year. Let the speculation over his successor commence! President of Global Gaming Operations Rob Goldstein would seem the obvious choice … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Harrah's, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off

Gunga Geoff; Massachusetts split

Posted on May 21, 2014 by David McKee

Some casino industry bigwigs continue to view Macao as a Chinese-flavored version of Las Vegas, an industry fallacy you would think had been outgrown. Take American Gaming Association President Geoff Freeman, who told a Macanese audience that their city needs … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Entertainment, Geoff Freeman, Macau, Massachusetts, Regulation, The Strip | Comments Off

After Adelson … what then?; Hope in Springfield

Posted on May 20, 2014 by David McKee

One of the issues that has buzzed around Las Vegas Sands like a shoo-fly is the lack of a line of succession. President/COO Michael Leven was superannuated when he took the job at, at age 76, isn’t getting younger. According … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Detroit, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip | Comments Off

Keeping with the times; Inside Bally’s palace coup

Posted on May 20, 2014 by David McKee

For people like myself, whose formative experiences of Las Vegas took place 10-plus years ago, it’s important to go with the flow. For instance, the ever-burgeoning and remunerative nightclub business. When SLS Las Vegas opens Life, bottle service will be … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Election, Entertainment, Harrah's, Rhode Island, Sam Nazarian, Shuffle Master, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off