Category Archives: The Strip

Sheldon Adelson, quitter; A Grand goof

Posted on May 22, 2012 by David McKee

This just in: It was pretty clear that Sheldon Adelson was cool toward his home state of Massachusetts and he officially called it quits today. His excuse? Three casinos and a slot parlor will “dilute the market.” In other words, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Current, Florida, Genting, Harrah's, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, New York, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, The Strip | 5 Comments

Dump that Trump!; Caesars takes big British bath; F-blew claims another victim

Posted on May 21, 2012 by David McKee

What took them so long? That has to be the operative question now that Trump Entertainment Resorts owner Marc Lasry and CEO Robert Griffin have belatedly put Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino on the market, at an undisclosed price. (Probably … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Donald Trump, Election, Fontainebleau, International, Internet gambling, Planet Hollywood, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

SLS Las Vegas: Pretty pictures and propaganda

Posted on May 18, 2012 by David McKee

To celebrate the first anniversary of his cold-blooded, premeditated murder of the Sahara, nightclub owner Sam Nazarian trotted out freshly hired casino boss Rob Oseland, along with some models (no, not of the runway ilk) and even a rendering that … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Archon Corp., Boyd Gaming, California, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Encore, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Plaza, Sahara, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 4 Comments

Boyd takes Peninsula, punts Echelon (again)

Posted on May 17, 2012 by David McKee

Ever since a highly quixotic and even nonsensical attempt to take over most of Station Casinos, the cards have been played very, very close to the vest at Boyd Gaming. However, like another second-tier major, Ameristar Casinos, it’s showing renewed … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

One Vegas castastrophe, slightly used

Posted on May 16, 2012 by David McKee

If you’ve got a spare $1,450 handy, you can be the proud owner of the London Clubs marquee that formerly adorned Planet Hollywood‘s façade back when it was still the Aladdin, plus one baccarat chip, shipping and handling not included. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Harrah's, history, Planet Hollywood, The Strip | 5 Comments

Casino codependency, Chris Christie’s cowardice & other Case Bets

Posted on May 15, 2012 by David McKee

It’s too bad Steve Friess isn’t here to write this next story, because it’s right up his alley. What do you do if your big-name headliner badmouths your casino and CEO on opening night? You re-hire him, what else? Like … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Current, Donald Trump, Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, Internet gambling, LVCVA, Marketing, New York, Ohio, Politics, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, Taxes, The Strip, TV | 2 Comments

Canada to Caesars: “Bonehead!”; What’s (hidden) in a logo?

Posted on May 14, 2012 by David McKee

You can’t ask for a better diagnosis of what might be loosely called Caesars Entertainment‘s business plan than this anonymous comment from a Las Vegas Review-Journal reader: “Right now, their strategy for getting out of the hole appears to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Harrah's, history, Horseracing, International, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | 3 Comments

St. Louis: Penn in, Harrah’s out

Posted on May 8, 2012 by David McKee

A ways back, the news broke that Caesars Entertainment — being well and truly on its uppers — was trying to shop as many as 10 Southern and Midwest casinos. The goal was to raise at least $500 million to … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Current, Election, Florida, Harrah's, Illinois, International, Iowa, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Steve Wynn’s better half

Posted on May 7, 2012 by David McKee

In the unlikely event that Steve Wynn is abducted by aliens and thrown into a Chinese political prison, Wynn Resorts need look no farther than ex-wife Elaine Wynn for continuity of vision. (And, make no mistake, there isn’t a discernible … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Election, Encore, Fontainebleau, history, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 3 Comments

People’s Republic of Steve; Sahara Sam’s big score

Posted on May 3, 2012 by David McKee

Although I was only joking when I suggested that Steve Wynn‘s long-sought Cotai Strip land grant would come in on May Day, some Communist Party bureaucrat wasn’t. After many false alarms, the 51 acres were finally ‘gazetted’ on May 1. … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Current, Dining, Economy, Encore, Fontainebleau, Harry Reid, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 2 Comments

A good start …

Posted on May 1, 2012 by David McKee

Now if only they’d kept on going to the right and taken out Imperial Palace while they were at it.

Posted in Current, Harrah's, The Strip | Comments Off

New York State of mind; Atlantic City peace of mind; O’Shea’s, a piece of …

Posted on April 30, 2012 by David McKee

If the question of casino expansion were put to Empire State voters this November, the outcome would probably be adverse. That’s the conclusion of a Benenson Group survey. If the fact that Benenson is President Barack Obama‘s pollster of preference … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Entertainment, Genting, Harrah's, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Midnight Jim Gibbons, New York, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off

Polished Nugget, burnished Wynn

Posted on April 27, 2012 by David McKee

In what might be called The Era of Deferred Maintenance, Landry’s Restaurants CEO Tilman Fertitta still believes in spending money to make money. That’s why he poured $150 million into the former Trump Marina and, consequently, the Golden Nugget Atlantic … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Mississippi, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Get over it, Vegas; Fat City

Posted on April 27, 2012 by David McKee

Some local businessmen busted out the crying towels last weekend and threw themselves a pity party in the pages of the Los Angeles Times. Now, the wipeout of the Las Vegas economy is — or should be — old news … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Economy, Encore, Environment, MGM Mirage, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism | 4 Comments

Big Brother is triangulating you; Dark days for LVH, Riv; Pinnacle’s Lone Star play

Posted on April 26, 2012 by David McKee

Just to make sure you’re not piggybacking onto its mobile-gambling systems, Cantor Gaming is partnering with Locaid to provide “geo-fencing” for its pocket casinos, which can now be played damn near anywhere on a casino property. (The real endgame, however, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cantor Gaming, Colony Capital, Colorado, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Goldman Sachs, Hooters, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Texas, The Strip, TV, Wall Street | 2 Comments

MGM: Riding the crazy train; Rendering unto Caesars

Posted on April 25, 2012 by David McKee

If somebody loaned you a few hundred million, unsecured, you want to come to Las Vegas and lay some big wagers, right? MGM Resorts International has been there, done that. So it’s looking elsewhere to place its bets. And why … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, CityCenter, Donald Trump, Economy, Florida, Genting, Harrah's, International, M Resort, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, New York, Penn National, Singapore, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, TV, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Sauce for the goose; Wall Street hearts LVS, MGM & Melco

Posted on April 23, 2012 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson must have great and abiding faith in the American legal system … at least some of the time. He’s counting on it to cover his butt over in Macao, where erstwhile partners Asian American Entertainment have filed suit … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Economy, International, Isle of Capri, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 2 Comments

“Relic Hunter” Live?

Posted on April 23, 2012 by David McKee

Now that Dancing with the Stars‘ satellite show is off and hoofing at the Tropicana Las Vegas, PR people keep proffering interviews with guest star Tia Carrere. Yes, the Relic Hunter herself. This is — or might be — all … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Entertainment, The Strip, TV | 1 Comment

“Less-than-Best Little Whorehouse”

Posted on April 20, 2012 by David McKee

Last night, fledgling SFS Productions rolled out The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas at the Plaza Las Vegas and, true to its subject matter, it’s a emotionless copulation — to borrow a Pauline Kael line, it’s a practiced hooker with … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Current, Downtown, Entertainment, Environment, MGM Mirage, Riviera, Tamares Group, Technology, Texas, The Strip, Tourism | 6 Comments

Gilbert, Caesars hit Ohio speed bump; Maple Leaf misadventure; Rearranging deck chairs on the WesCas

Posted on April 20, 2012 by David McKee

Rub a dub-dub, three companies in a tub called Rock Ohio Caesars. In emulation of Nevada‘s built-first-license-later system, the Ohio Casino Control Commission is just getting around to mulling the bonafides of Horseshoe Casino Cleveland‘s shareholders. Little-publicized minority partner Lyle … Continue reading →

Posted in Columbia Sussex, Current, Detroit, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Iowa, Kansas, Lyle Berman, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Stanley Ho, The Strip, Wall Street | 2 Comments