Category Archives: The Strip

Boyd: Japan or bust

Posted on March 6, 2014 by David McKee

Well, they weren’t that dramatic about it. But Boyd Gaming executives surprised Wall Street analysts by announcing their interest in having a Japanese casino. For all the ongoing success of Borgata, we still think of Boyd as a small-casino company, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Iowa, Marketing, MGM Mirage, New York, Penn National, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Sahara, Sam Nazarian, The Strip | 1 Comment

Vegas: Behind the standoff; Sands: Another one bites the dust

Posted on March 6, 2014 by David McKee

As the Culinary Union heads toward a March 20 strike vote, the culprit behind its stalemate with over a dozen casinos has been identified as the Affordable Care Act. “The biggest hurdle to reaching settlements in Vegas is the new … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Politics, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 1 Comment

Empire State scramble; Stalemate in Kentucky; Too cozy in Ohio?

Posted on March 5, 2014 by David McKee

Casino expansion continues to speed along in New York State, where college president Mark Gearan (right) has been formally installed as New York State Gaming Commission chairman, filling out the five-member body. Prior to taking office, he was presented with some … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Downtown, Entertainment, Horseracing, Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off

Genting’s dog-and-pony show; Ohio, Year One

Posted on March 4, 2014 by David McKee

Back when it was still Echelon, the axiom about the skeleton on the North Strip was that no one would start building anything nearby until Boyd Gaming resumed work. Perhaps the industry got tired of waiting. SLS Las Vegas, which … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Economy, Genting, Harrah's, Ohio, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, The Strip | Comments Off

Caesars sells … to itself

Posted on March 3, 2014 by David McKee

Our friends Big Caesars and Little Caesars are back in the news again. Caesars Growth Partners (Little Caesars) has agreed to spend $2.2 billion to obtain Bally’s Las Vegas, The Cromwell, The Quad and Harrah’s New Orleans. The price includes … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Harrah's, Louisiana, Macau, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tribal, Wisconsin | 2 Comments

Brave new world

Posted on February 26, 2014 by David McKee

We’re still months away from the moment of decision, but Las Vegas has improbably emerged as a frontrunner for the 2016 Republican Party convention, that quadrennial ritual in which Sheldon Adelson tries to purchase the next president of these United … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Environment, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | Comments Off

Nugget strikes gold; Hailing Caesars

Posted on February 25, 2014 by David McKee

One casino’s misery is another’s good fortune. The Golden Nugget in Atlantic City says it’s being swamped with new business ever since Caesars Entertainment and Tropicana Entertainment conspired to the euthanize the Atlantic Club. According to General Manager Tom Pohlman, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Delaware, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Taxes, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

And then there were three; Atlantic City under pressure again

Posted on February 20, 2014 by David McKee

Nevada gaming authorities will have to start reporting the Silver State’s online-gambling revenue now that South Point has entered the lists under its Real Gaming banner. (We won’t get the numbers until late March.) The site ” is offering tournament play … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Election, Entertainment, Florida, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Michael Gaughan, Regulation, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

MGM impresses Wall Street

Posted on February 19, 2014 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International didn’t meet Wall Street‘s consensus for the last quarter of 2013, losing eight cents a share instead of earning $0.07 EPS. But analysts were in a forgiving mood. After all, the company had lost $2.50 a share just … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Economy, Japan, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Wranglers find new home; Riding El Loco

Posted on February 19, 2014 by David McKee

Having been turfed out of The Orleans, the Las Vegas Wranglers hockey team has been bereft of a home. But they’ve paired up with Tamares Gaming in an unusual move. The Wranglers — rink, stands, zamboni and all — will … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally Technologies, Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, New York, Racinos, Sports, Tamares Group, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off

The video poker king of Vegas; Adelson: Whodunit?

Posted on February 17, 2014 by David McKee

On the local video poker scene, it’s an arms race between Golden Gaming and the Dotty’s chain. With twice as many establishments at Dotty’s, Golden can legitimately claim victory. It recently snapped up a couple of Mom-and-Pop slot bars and … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, California, Entertainment, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, The Strip | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 17, 2014 by David McKee

“There was such a home, a personal feeling toward these casinos that were on the Strip like the Silver Slipper, the Dunes, the Sahara—all these places that you grew up with—these were all places that we had. This was our … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Sahara, The Strip | Comments Off

Battle of Sands widens

Posted on February 13, 2014 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands‘ Web sites remain “under maintenance,” as the company reels from a vast and invasive cyber-attack. In addition to the FBI, the Secret Service has taken an interest in the matter. The assault is a boon for third-party … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | Comments Off

Pathbreaker

Posted on February 6, 2014 by David McKee

Las Vegas‘ history is incomplete without any mention of Paul Revere Williams, the pathbreaking ‘architect to the stars’ who designed some of Sin City’s most iconic non-casino buildings.

Posted in Architecture, history, The Strip | Comments Off

Through a looking glass, brightly

Posted on February 6, 2014 by David McKee

So much for my crystal ball. Two projects that I openly doubted are now close to fruition and a third is showing fitful signs of life. (Another, Howard Bulloch‘s Ferris wheel, appears to be being dismantled.) Yesterday, SLS Las Vegas … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Cannery Casino Resorts, Entertainment, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Sahara, Sam Nazarian, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Transportation | Comments Off

Super Blowout

Posted on February 4, 2014 by David McKee

And, no, I don’t mean what happened on the field last Sunday at the Super Bowl. Nevada‘s sports books surpassed last year’s record $99 million handle and it wasn’t even close — $119 million. The nearly $20 million in profit … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Election, Florida, Foxwoods, Harrah's, history, Massachusetts, Regulation, Sports, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

Super Bowl hits Vegas jackpot; Hope for Caesars overseas

Posted on February 3, 2014 by David McKee

“It was embarrassing, humiliating and unbearable,” but when the Super Bowl was over, Nevada sports books had cleaned up … except for that safety on the first play from scrimmage, costly for the Denver Broncos and the books alike. Heavy … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, Boyd Gaming, Harrah's, International, LVCVA, MGM Mirage, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off

Buoyancy in Vegas, contentment at Wynn

Posted on January 31, 2014 by David McKee

Despite somewhat less money being dropped on the Las Vegas Strip, revenue was up 13% last December, closing out a strong 4Q13. Statewide, revenue was up 10%, slightly over a billion dollars. Tighter slot hold on the Strip helped fuel … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Economy, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Macau, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Racinos, Reno, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Bounty at Sands, Caesars

Posted on January 30, 2014 by David McKee

Yesterday wasn’t a bad day to be Las Vegas Sands, which reported a 19% increase in net revenues. Sands Cotai Central (up 61%) led the parade, which also prominently showcased Venetian Macao (+36%) and Venelazzo (up 25%, driven by a … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Current, Harrah's, Macau, Maryland, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

D-Day in Philly; Al Sharpton’s casino-boss buddy; Angst in Maine

Posted on January 27, 2014 by David McKee

It’s death-grapple time in Philadelphia, where five competing proposals will be aired for the final time before the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. Even a supporter of casino expansion in the city, like Jeffries LLC‘s John Maxwell, concedes there will be … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Cosmopolitan, Entertainment, Greenwood Racing, Maine, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, The Strip, Tomato King Procacci, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off