Category Archives: Tourism

Macao: Pressure for change; Stanley Ho into South Korea?

Posted on December 22, 2014 by David McKee

Despite having only one-tenth as many hotel rooms as Las Vegas, the enclave of Macao is feeling the pressure to develop a more tourism-oriented business model. China’s president, Xi Jinping visited Macao last weekend and dropped a few strong hints. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Harrah's, International, Macau, Marketing, New York, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, South Korea, Stanley Ho, Tourism | Comments Off on Macao: Pressure for change; Stanley Ho into South Korea?

The genius of Wynn; Wilmot charges ahead

Posted on December 19, 2014 by David McKee

Steve Wynn doesn’t wrap his hotels in bronze glass just because he likes the color. No, he has determined that the light passing through it makes his guests look more attractive “in rooms that have warmer light … One of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Entertainment, LVCVA, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Tourism | Comments Off on The genius of Wynn; Wilmot charges ahead

Vegas hits the jackpot & other Case Bets

Posted on December 17, 2014 by David McKee

We don’t know how much they’ve spent yet and how much of a blockbuster year this will be for Las Vegas but we know one thing for certain. We’ve finally broken the 40 million mark in annual visitation, a Holy … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Downtown, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, Sports, Tourism | 1 Comment

Fixing Foxwoods, Perryville

Posted on December 16, 2014 by David McKee

Felix Rappaport continues to unveil a new strategy for Foxwoods Resort & Casino. Operations weren’t predecessor Scott Butera‘s strong suit, by the latter’s own profession. So, the restructuring having been done, enter Rappaport to commence the rebranding. Of oncoming competition … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Economy, Foxwoods, Internet gambling, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Regulation, Tourism, Tribal | 2 Comments

Case Bets

Posted on November 20, 2014 by David McKee

A California tribe is getting into Internet gambling in a somewhat roundabout way. The Pala Indians are beta-testing PalaCasino.com, which will be run off the online platform of … Borgata. (Casinos in Atlantic City can host as many as five … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Cosmopolitan, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Internet gambling, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Regulation, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off on Case Bets

Everybody’s doing it

Posted on November 19, 2014 by David McKee

Building conference centers in Atlantic City, it seems. Add Resorts Atlantic City to the brief list of casino trying to diversify their appeal by going for the meeting business. It won’t be as grand as the one as Harrah’s Resort … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Mohegan Sun, Revel, Sports, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Everybody’s doing it

Sheldon steps in it again and again

Posted on November 10, 2014 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson‘s love of authoritarianism has made him another enemy. At the latest Israel American Conference, Adelson rhapsodized, “God talked about all the good things in life. He didn’t talk about Israel remaining as a democratic state, otherwise Israel isn’t going to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Genting, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Macau, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Tourism | 1 Comment

Wynn confounded; Sands gets tough

Posted on October 29, 2014 by David McKee

During yesterday’s call with gaming analysts, Steve Wynn admitted to being “confused” by a Macao gaming market where revenues in October could fall 20%-23%. “The new regulations in smoking, the turmoil in Hong Kong lately, in the month of October, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Macau, Massachusetts, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Wynn confounded; Sands gets tough

Tying the knot in Vegas and other diversions

Posted on October 16, 2014 by David McKee

Nevada‘s constitutional ban on gay marriage having been deemed unconstitutional, wedding chapels are kicking into high gear to prepare for a wave of same-sex nuptials. How is the casino industry responding to this sudden $50 million (projected) jackpot? Both Caesars … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Economy, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Japan, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Tying the knot in Vegas and other diversions

Ivey loses & sundry Case Bets

Posted on October 9, 2014 by David McKee

Phil Ivey won’t be edge-sorting cards anytime soon. A British judge has ruled that, whether he knew it or not, Ivey was cheating when he won $12 million at Crockfords, a Genting Group casino in London. “He gave himself an advantage … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Columbia Sussex, Election, Genting, Indiana, International, Japan, Lake Tahoe, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Station Casinos, Taxes, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Warner Gaming | Comments Off on Ivey loses & sundry Case Bets

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 1, 2014 by David McKee

“Boston’s a destination educationally, in terms of research, in terms of medical research and technology research. Boston is a little bit like Silicon Valley, and it’s a financial centre of major international proportions. Boston has got museums. It’s a serious … Continue reading →

Posted in Macau, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Technology, Tourism | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

USA Today: Those evil casinos!

Posted on September 26, 2014 by David McKee

With the gaming industry temporarily exhausted from over-expansion and saturation, USA Today has chosen this moment to pounce with an anti-gambling editorial. The graybeards on the USA Today editorial board clearly haven’t been paying close attention — racinos in Delaware, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Cretins, Delaware, Downtown, Economy, Geoff Freeman, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Neil Bluhm, North Las Vegas, Pennsylvania, Reno, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on USA Today: Those evil casinos!

Wretched excess; Caesars’ good deeds

Posted on September 24, 2014 by David McKee

As long as Las Vegas casinos continue to provoke untrammeled, excessive behavior at their pool parties, they’re going to make the police blotter. It seems that one MGM Grand guest got an unwelcome surprise when he passed out in a restroom. … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Arizona, Cretins, Entertainment, Environment, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Tourism, Transportation | Comments Off on Wretched excess; Caesars’ good deeds

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

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 25, 2014 by David McKee

“We have reached a point in the state of Nevada where our current laws governing gay and lesbian marriage have made our most vital industry, tourism, uncompetitive.” — Wynn Resorts Senior Vice President of Marketing Michael Weaver, on Nevada’s gay-marriage … Continue reading →

Posted in Steve Wynn, Tourism | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

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

When the punishment doesn’t fit the crime

Posted on August 21, 2014 by David McKee

Matthew Eisenberg is no Jean Valjean. Still, that’s no excuse for levying upon him a fine that is 375 times the amount he stole ($200 in chips) from Rivers Casino. The fault lies not with Rivers but with Pennsylvania laws. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Genting, Harrah's, International, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Tourism | Comments Off on When the punishment doesn’t fit the crime

Hard Rock rocks Sioux City; Chris Christie’s mighty pen

Posted on August 11, 2014 by David McKee

Lost in the loud death rattle of Argosy Belle Sioux City was the opening of its successor — some would say usurper — Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. And, contrary to what naysayers would have you believe, it’s bringing a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, history, Iowa, Oscar Goodman, Penn National, Politics, Sports, The Mob, Tourism, Warner Gaming | Comments Off on Hard Rock rocks Sioux City; Chris Christie’s mighty pen

Atlantic City: And then there were nine …

Posted on July 14, 2014 by David McKee

Scarcely had Gary Loveman opined that a few casinos in Atlantic City needed to close than they began toppling like dominoes — some by his own hand. Headed to the casino graveyard alongside the Atlantic Club and the Showboat is Trump … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Donald Trump, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Mississippi, Penn National, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street | 2 Comments

For sale: One casino, slightly used

Posted on July 9, 2014 by David McKee

Having walked into a PR buzzsaw with its announced closure of the Showboat, in Atlantic City, owner Caesars Entertainment is trying to salve the wound. “We’re willing to sell if we receive a reasonable offer from a responsible buyer,” said company … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Macau, New York, Revel, Tourism, Transportation | 1 Comment