Category Archives: Transportation

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

Why is this man smiling?; The daffy world of Glenn Straub

Posted on September 19, 2014 by David McKee

“Restructure! Restructure! Restructure! That’s all he ever does because that’s all he can do!” That was a friend of mine, speaking in exasperation of Donald Trump. However, today the remark could be updated to refer to Gary Loveman. The CEO … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, IGT, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Revel, Transportation, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Boston: Wynn takes a stand

Posted on September 16, 2014 by David McKee

Friday will go down as the day Steve Wynn told the Massachusetts Gaming Commission where it could get off. In a letter to the commissioners, Wynn “said Wynn Resorts would not alter the design of their proposed 27-story hotel tower in … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, history, Maine, Marketing, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Transportation | Comments Off on Boston: Wynn takes a stand

Wynn battles Boston

Posted on September 12, 2014 by David McKee

Despite leading Mohegan Sun on points, Steve Wynn seems far from a TKO for a Boston casino. (For the full monty on both projects, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission provides heavy detail.) For one thing, Mayor Martin Walsh‘s administration appears to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Horseracing, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Rhode Island, Steve Wynn, Transportation | Comments Off on Wynn battles Boston

He came to buy Atlantic City

Posted on September 12, 2014 by David McKee

Just when you thought Atlantic City had shed several casinos, they’re coming right back. Would-be Revel buyer Glenn Straub would include casino gambling in his larger strategy for the property but make it incidental to other “hobbies.” “Who in the hell … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Politics, Regulation, Revel, Sports, Taxes, Transportation, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 2 Comments

Macao’s loss is Vegas’ gain

Posted on September 12, 2014 by David McKee

There is discernible evidence that the anti-corruption crackdown in China is redounding to Las Vegas‘ benefit. According to a report by Deutsche Bank‘s Carlo Santarelli, “we do see a relatively compelling empirical case that supports the view that anti-corruption crackdowns … Continue reading →

Posted in Detroit, Economy, Macau, MGM Mirage, Ohio, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal | Comments Off on Macao’s loss is Vegas’ gain

Boston: Another agonizing delay; Loveman: Don’t worry, be happy

Posted on September 11, 2014 by David McKee

Just when it looked like the suspense would be ended over who’d get the Boston-area casino, the slow-moving Massachusetts Gaming Commission imposed another week’s delay on the process. Basically, commissioners want Wynn Resorts to do better than it has in … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Architecture, Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Genting, Harrah's, history, Marketing, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Transportation | Comments Off on Boston: Another agonizing delay; Loveman: Don’t worry, be happy

Loveman’s big score; Slots come to Dayton

Posted on August 28, 2014 by David McKee

“You’re in Baltimore, baby, it says so right there, in big gray block letters on a smokestack at the trash plant just past the entrance.” Caesars Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman, long celebrated as the wizard of database market, also finds … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Cordish Co., Genting, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Marketing, Maryland, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, The Strip, Transportation, Vietnam | Comments Off on Loveman’s big score; Slots come to Dayton

Cali Tribe goes rogue and other Case Bets

Posted on August 19, 2014 by David McKee

Legislative inaction be damned, the Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel is going ahead with Internet poker. It’s already got a free play site but plans to go live with the real deal perhaps as early as next week. Isn’t that … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, California, Dining, Election, Entertainment, International, MGM Mirage, Transportation, Tribal | 1 Comment

Thinking the unthinkable

Posted on July 21, 2014 by David McKee

Could Nevada casino floors go genuinely smoke-free? That’s the idea floated by Deutsche Bank analyst Andrew Zarnett. Although Nevada voters have exempted casino floors from smoking bans, Zarnett thinks that state of affairs could change by 2016 or so, at … Continue reading →

Posted in Delaware, Economy, Environment, Florida, Illinois, Macau, Mississippi, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Transportation | 2 Comments

Steve Wynn’s right-hand woman

Posted on July 10, 2014 by David McKee

Considered by many the logical successor to Steve Wynn, his envoy to Macao, Linda Chen, is more spoken of than seen. CNN offers us a rare glimpse of the woman who may well be calling the shots at Wynn Resorts … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, Macau, Mississippi, Penn National, Regulation, Reno, Steve Wynn, Tilman Fertitta, Transportation | 1 Comment

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

Atlantic City: Game over?

Posted on June 23, 2014 by David McKee

Atlantic City‘s last, best hope — sports betting — was swatted away by the U.S. Supreme Court. While keeping mum on its reasoning, the Supremes let stand a federal ban on sports wagering. Found at a charity softball game, Gov. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Mohegan Sun, Sports, Tourism, Transportation | Comments Off on Atlantic City: Game over?

Restarting the clock in Massachusetts; Atlantic City, international destination?

Posted on June 13, 2014 by David McKee

It looks like it’s back to Square One for Massachusetts‘ southeastern region. No host community agreements have been executed. No referendums have been held (with a mid-July deadline looming). And, although the cutoff date has passed, new candidates want to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Foxwoods, Harrah's, International, Massachusetts, Ohio, Regulation, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal | 1 Comment

Sin City Serenade; Empire State frenzy

Posted on May 5, 2014 by David McKee

It’s probably between Dallas and Las Vegas for the 2016 Republican convention. Quite a study in contrasts (except for the summer heat). Social-issues conservatives are coming out hard against Sin City, surprise, surprise. Never mind casinos: 64 pages of ads … Continue reading →

Posted in LVCVA, Marketing, New York, Politics, The Strip, Transportation | Comments Off on Sin City Serenade; Empire State frenzy

Paint them black; New ideas for Atlantic City

Posted on April 11, 2014 by David McKee

“Fortunately for police, the chips floated.” That was the undoing of casino cheat Vuong Q. Truong, who tried to hide the better part of $150,000 worth of forged casino chips at the bottom of a lake. No go. The ongoing Truong … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Entertainment, Harrah's, Illinois, International, Marketing, Maryland, Missouri, New York, Penn National, Transportation, West Virginia | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 7, 2014 by David McKee

“That slogan was the worst thing that ever happened to the front-line staff at casinos. Tourists think that everything is off the table. They think that they have free rein to drink until they’re falling down stupid and it’s OK … Continue reading →

Posted in Marketing, Transportation | 1 Comment

Gentlemen, place your bids

Posted on March 31, 2014 by David McKee

Today, New York State starts taking bids on the four casinos it will soon be licensing upstate. At yet, there is no mechanism in place for determining licensing fees or whether the surrounding communities want the casinos or not. In … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Entertainment, Genting, Harrah's, Massachusetts, New York, Regulation, The Strip, Transportation | Comments Off on Gentlemen, place your bids

O little metropolis of Bethlehem; MGM on the move

Posted on March 31, 2014 by David McKee

Indiscriminate dissemination by Sands Bethlehem of $45 free-play slot cards is having some interesting effects on Bethlehem itself. It’s brought about an influx of largely Chinese-American players but not all are there to play. Some pay $15 for a round-trip … Continue reading →

Posted in Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Transportation | Comments Off on O little metropolis of Bethlehem; MGM on the move

Case Bets: ‘Net-bet wrangle; Showdown on Fremont Street; New England update

Posted on March 17, 2014 by David McKee

Get your tickets now for next week’s  iGaming North America 2014 conference, to be held at Planet Hollywood. The thought of a keynote speech by Ultimate Poker‘s Tom Breitling doesn’t get our pulses racing — but one of the marquee events … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Foxwoods, Internet gambling, Maine, Mohegan Sun, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Transportation | 1 Comment