Category Archives: Transportation

Sheldon Adelson, wuss; MGM pounces; Slipper-y logic; Enter whining

Posted on January 12, 2012 by David McKee

What manner of fool spends $5 million to disseminate a film that he’s never seen and whose content he claims not to endorse? Sheldon Adelson, that’s who. After his latest political favorite got clobbered in the New Hampshire primary, Adelson … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Ameristar, Cordish Co., Dan Lee, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Jack Binion, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Movies, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, TV | Comments Off on Sheldon Adelson, wuss; MGM pounces; Slipper-y logic; Enter whining

Bus ride of the damned

Posted on September 28, 2011 by David McKee

After hearing horror stories like this one, is it any wonder that would-be Las Vegas tourists choose to claw their way up and down I-15 by car rather than trust themselves to the tender mercies of mass transit? This just … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Current, Dining, Marketing, Pets, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 28, 2011 by David McKee

“I left the toothpaste at home. Every time I’ve tried to put a tube in my bag, alarms go off, and I get body searched, and I have to take everything out of my bag — and then they ask … Continue reading →

Posted in Tourism, Transportation | 2 Comments

Gaming is on the march

Posted on September 9, 2011 by David McKee

Add Kentucky to the states that have casino-style gambling, at least temporarily. Owners of Kentucky Downs found a loophole in Bluegrass State law and galloped through it. “Instant Racing” is the sort of VLT game you might find at a … Continue reading →

Posted in Cannery Casino Resorts, Current, Economy, Election, Genting, Harrah's, Horseracing, Isle of Capri, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Warner Gaming | 6 Comments

After the deluge

Posted on September 6, 2011 by David McKee

Although it cost casino owners a couple of days’ business, the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee inflicted scarcely any damage compared to Hurricane Katrina. (Safety measures taken in post-Katrina years helped.) Since the Louisiana casino market has been in an … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Environment, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Tourism, Transportation | 1 Comment

Caruso sings, Lerner hallucinates

Posted on August 29, 2011 by David McKee

Since I had one foot out the door en route to Albany when Caesars Entertainment held its Rick Caruso-led media blitz on Project Linq, I’m a bit late to the party. Some of my early reactions can be heard on … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Current, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Sahara, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Atlantic City: The morning after

Posted on August 28, 2011 by David McKee

Damage from Hurricane Irene wasn’t as bad as feared in Atlantic City, although it ripped up beach facilities pretty good. Casinos were even able to maintain power through the wee hours of Sunday morning. Borgata‘s Water Club tower sustained some … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Environment, Tilman Fertitta, Transportation | Comments Off on Atlantic City: The morning after

Blast from the past

Posted on July 13, 2011 by David McKee

Thanks go out to reader Greg Askins for putting me onto this evocative TWA travel poster from 1965. Some of you might get a kick out of going back to a time when Yr. Humble Blogger was in short pants … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, history, Marketing, North Las Vegas, Station Casinos, Tourism, Transportation | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 7, 2011 by David McKee

“Separating drivers from their cars would be like forcing Mickey and Minnie Mouse to divorce.” — New York Times reporter Eric Lipton, on the difficulties facing mass transit in the U.S.

Posted in Transportation | 1 Comment

Three inflatable objects …

Posted on June 27, 2011 by David McKee

… at the Flamingo Las Vegas pool area, last Saturday. One is a beach ball and the other two belong to Absinthe headliner Angel Porrino. Thank you, Caesars Entertainment, for giving me nightmares. My wife thinks the bikini top is … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Entertainment, Harrah's, Louisiana, Mississippi, Technology, Texas, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | 3 Comments

Coming (not so) soon: Wynn Singapore?!?!

Posted on June 20, 2011 by David McKee

Steve Wynn‘s next big project won’t be in Japan … or Philadelphia … or Boston. According to the tycoon, his “next goal in life” will be to open a Singapore megaresort. Yeah, the same Singapore out of which Wynn bailed … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Genting, George Maloof, Harrah's, International, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, North Las Vegas, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tourism, Transportation | 1 Comment

The Strip in April: Down and yet up; Gettysburg: The south loses again

Posted on June 9, 2011 by David McKee

According to the Nevada Gaming Control Board, casino revenue in the state was down 2% in April … except that it wasn’t. Since the month ended on a Saturday, slot revenue from the last two days of April got slopped … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, California, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, International, Isle of Capri, Lake Tahoe, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Wall Street | Comments Off on The Strip in April: Down and yet up; Gettysburg: The south loses again

California bound; M changes hands and style

Posted on May 6, 2011 by David McKee

Yes, MGM Resorts International, Boyd Gaming, Las Vegas Sands, the great state of Illinois and I don’t know who all else have been reporting revenues this week, and Mississippi is under water.. And I’ve not had time to cover any … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Architecture, Boyd Gaming, California, Current, Dining, Environment, Illinois, M Resort, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Movies, Penn National, Pets, Steve Wynn, Transportation, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 4, 2011 by David McKee

“They should have captured Bin Laden alive and made him continually go through airport security for the rest of his life.” — V Theatre hypnotist-in-residence Marc Savard, on his Facebook page.

Posted in Current, Entertainment, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Meet $2 Million Mike; The Big Easier

Posted on April 25, 2011 by David McKee

Casino podcasts (MGM Resorts International‘s in particular) have been razzed in the past for a lack of content. No such gripes about Las Vegas Sands‘ latest offering, 10 minutes in the company of COO Michael Leven (who derives his nickname … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Florida, Harrah's, International, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Macau, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Oaf of Office III

Posted on April 22, 2011 by David McKee

… an occasional series. S&G keeps referring to Donald Trump‘s glass jaw — an obvious liability to his phony/delusional political aspirations. Obligingly, The Donald served up a characteristic hissy fit after Caesars Palace headliner Jerry Seinfeld canceled an appearance at … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Charity, Cretins, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Marketing, Oscar Goodman, Politics, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Tourism, Transportation, TV | 3 Comments

Low-rolling at Aria; MGM ups China ante; That doggone Desert Xpress

Posted on April 14, 2011 by David McKee

A SoCal-based player kindly shared this image from the latest Aria/M life offer: My friend ran an experienced eye over the chips on the rail and concluded that it “must be the lowest-minimum craps table Aria has ever seen,” as … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Cantor Gaming, CityCenter, Current, Harry Reid, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Movies, Pansy Ho, Problem gambling, Regulation, Stanley Ho, Technology, The Strip, Transportation, Wall Street | Comments Off on Low-rolling at Aria; MGM ups China ante; That doggone Desert Xpress

Quote of the Day

Posted on April 6, 2011 by David McKee

“Weather at our destination is 50 degrees with some broken clouds, but we’ll try to have them fixed before we arrive. Thank you, and remember, nobody loves you, or your money, more than Kulula Airlines.” — cheeky in-flight announcement, characteristic of the Johannesburg-based … Continue reading →

Posted in International, Tourism, Transportation | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

If you don’t look like this …

Posted on April 1, 2011 by David McKee

… don’t even think about trying to book a hotel room on the Strip or in Downtown. Las Vegas doesn’t want you, although you might be permitted to stay out on the Boulder Strip or someplace really out of sight … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Current, Regulation, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | 1 Comment

The North Strip Story and Salvation Plan

Posted on April 1, 2011 by David McKee

Guest blogger Jeff in OKC returns, his previous dispatch on Downtown’s Western Casino having proven a smash hit; its fans included Western manager Anthony Santo himself. During his latest visit, he concentrated upon the north end of the Las Vegas … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Boyd Gaming, Cloverfield monster, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Cosmopolitan, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Transportation, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 10 Comments