Category Archives: Tourism

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 14, 2013 by David McKee

“[W]hat you and I and most decent people consider vulgar, depraved and perverted” — Las Vegas Sands attorney Charles McCrea Jr.’s description of The Act, the sex show inside Palazzo that closed last weekend. Vulgarity? Depravity? Perversion? Aren’t those the … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Freeman flunks; Casino insecurity; Between a Hard Rock and a good deed

Posted on October 8, 2013 by David McKee

It’s a good thing that American Gaming Association President Geoff Freeman hightailed it to Barcelona this week to give a speech. During Global Gaming Expo, his signature achievement was to stake the AGA’s credibility on a Justin Timberlake movie. Freeman … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Charity, Delaware, Economy, Election, G2E, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Indiana, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Movies, New York, Penn National, Regulation, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Freeman flunks; Casino insecurity; Between a Hard Rock and a good deed

Big fellow on the Strip

Posted on October 8, 2013 by David McKee

I’m definitely feeling the love for MGM Resorts International, for its role in helping to save O.D., a giant sea turtle, by bringing him to Las Vegas. It’s feel-good story that will linger in your heart, whether or not it … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Big fellow on the Strip

N.Y. casino expansion in danger; Macao: Full to bursting

Posted on October 3, 2013 by David McKee

A poll on Proposition One, conducted by Parkside Group, shows casino expansion in New York State enjoying a bare majority of 51%. If that doesn’t galvanize Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) and other supporters into action, it ought to — especially … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Election, Macau, New York, Politics, Station Casinos, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on N.Y. casino expansion in danger; Macao: Full to bursting

Florida: State of frustration

Posted on October 2, 2013 by David McKee

Given its mix of climate, tourism and geographic isolation from other U.S. casinos, Florida has always seemed a natural for casino expansion. Yet it remains — unless you’re the Seminole Tribe — a stubbornly disappointing market. That perception is unlikely … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Florida, Genting, Ohio, Tourism, Tribal | 1 Comment

Bad day for Tomato King and Wynn

Posted on September 25, 2013 by David McKee

While the City of Philadelphia is officially neutral on who should get the last gambling license for the area, it’s not above giving the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board a not-so-gentle-nudge. At a hearing led by Deputy Mayor Alan Greenberger, two … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cordish Co., Cosmopolitan, International, Macau, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, Tomato King Procacci, Tourism | Comments Off on Bad day for Tomato King and Wynn

Wall Street comes to the Strip, meets the big boys

Posted on September 24, 2013 by David McKee

Investment firms like J.P. Morgan and Deutsche Bank have been sending emissaries to Las Vegas this week, to meet with all the major gaming firms during Global Gaming Expo. Since the latter is being held at Sands Expo Center, perhaps … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, G2E, Isle of Capri, Japan, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Wall Street comes to the Strip, meets the big boys

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 20, 2013 by David McKee

“Las Vegas Sands, which owns the Venetian, is aware of the tourist grumblings. After all, it’s Sin City, where adults are supposed to be able to regress to a boozy infancy, with every need and desire accommodated.” — Hannah Dreier, of … Continue reading →

Posted in Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Better late than never in A.C.

Posted on August 21, 2013 by David McKee

Under the leadership of the Atlantic City Alliance, the Boardwalk is finally getting its act together. (Makes you feel like a proud papa, doesn’t it?) Now through 2016, the ACA will offer $1 million in annual subsidies to conventions. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Florida, Macau, Racinos, Revel, Tourism | 1 Comment

Another reason to hate Allegiant; Fertitta gets an “F”

Posted on August 21, 2013 by David McKee

That airline that charges you for checking bags, then floated the idea of charging you for not checking bags has found yet another way to screw its customers, as a planeload of them discovered last weekend in Las Vegas. Yes, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Downtown, Laughlin, Mississippi, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Transportation | 4 Comments

Boston briefs: Caesars gets the vote out, etc.

Posted on August 19, 2013 by David McKee

In the face of iffy local support for its Suffolk Downs project, Caesars Entertainment has surrogates going door to door in East Boston, selling voters on the proposal’s virtues. Given the Latino majority among Easties, that’s where Caesars is targeting … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Politics, Tourism, Transportation | 3 Comments

Mother’s Days

Posted on August 7, 2013 by David McKee

My mother, Rev. Linda Maloney (seen here with the best mascot in all of sports) is in town for the next 36 hours, so I’ll be powering down S&G for a day or so. Never having seen Hoover Dam up … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Tourism | Comments Off on Mother’s Days

LV in June: The house lost big-time

Posted on August 2, 2013 by David McKee

Despite only a minor dip in visitation, Las Vegas casinos got hammered in June. Players kept their wallets shut and the cards weren’t turning in the house’s favor. The amount of money played on the Las Vegas Strip was off … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Downtown, Economy, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, North Las Vegas, Reno, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Vegas: Remembrance of revenues past; Making the grade in Massachusetts

Posted on August 1, 2013 by David McKee

“I think we are having a limp-wristed sort of crawl out of a hole, but a recovery is a more robust word,” the one and only Steve Wynn said earlier this week. The numbers bear him out, as tourism continues … Continue reading →

Posted in Cordish Co., Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Racinos, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Vegas: Remembrance of revenues past; Making the grade in Massachusetts

A tale of two cities …

Posted on July 30, 2013 by David McKee

… and both of them are Las Vegas. Last week, Sheldon Adelson pitched a fit about how he thought MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment were driving down his room rates (as though it were the job of Jim Murren … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Dining, Economy, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on A tale of two cities …

One Angry Man; MGM expansion bodes well

Posted on July 25, 2013 by David McKee

Y’know, if I was reporting a 120% profit increase in 2Q13, I might stop and enjoy the moment. I certainly wouldn’t choose that moment to be a dick. Obviously, I am not Sheldon Adelson. Proffering evidence that his second infancy … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Harrah's, International, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tourism, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Gold strike in Maryland; Ghost train; ‘Sell’ order on Sands; Wynn cleared

Posted on July 8, 2013 by David McKee

That elastic band which is American consumers’ gambling budget may have tightened in Illinois and gone slack in Ohio, but it’s expanding nicely in Maryland, now that table games are part of the mix. Sayeth the Maryland Lottery, revenues for … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Cordish Co., Current, Economy, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tourism, Transportation, Wall Street | Comments Off on Gold strike in Maryland; Ghost train; ‘Sell’ order on Sands; Wynn cleared

It’s douchebag season in Vegas

Posted on July 3, 2013 by David McKee

Siegel Group‘s off-street boutique hotel Rumor wants you to know that if you want to hang out with classy people … go someplace else. Doesn’t this make you glad you’re too old for this kind of shit anymore? Yes, DWMs … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Tourism | 1 Comment

SkyVue kaput?; Wowing them in Massachusetts

Posted on July 3, 2013 by David McKee

That’s the unavoidable conclusion, despite the increasingly comical protestations of local developer Howard Bulloch‘s sidekicks. Caesars Entertainment‘s rival Ferris wheel may be in a terrible location, it may be progressing slowly but — but — it is progressing. SkyVue has … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Current, Economy, Genting, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Deal or no deal?; Two-face Trump; Good news for Adelson

Posted on July 3, 2013 by David McKee

This just in: Poker Stars has announced an agreement to offer Internet gambling in New Jersey via Mohegan Sun-run Resorts Atlantic City. This enables Rational Group to get a U.S. foothold without the inconvenience of buying a physical casino. Colony Capital … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Internet gambling, Macau, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Tourism, Tribal | 1 Comment