Category Archives: Transportation

Baccarat hamstrings the Strip

Posted on August 28, 2019 by David McKee

July would have been a good month for the Las Vegas Strip were it not for a wipeout at baccarat: down 26% on 15% less wagering, so luck was definitely not with the house. Overall, Strip revenues were up 1.5% … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Churchill Downs, Downtown, Illinois, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Raiders, Laughlin, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Racinos, Reno, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Wall Street | Comments Off on Baccarat hamstrings the Strip

A Majestic idea; MGM’s Springfield angst

Posted on August 28, 2019 by David McKee

Anyone remember the Greek Isles? Anybody want to? Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the Greek Isles site will midwife the $850 million Majestic Las Vegas, designed by Paul Steelman after the style of Paul Revere Williams. It will have … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Arizona, Caesars Entertainment, CityCenter, Connecticut, Dining, Economy, Foxwoods, LVCVA, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New York, Security, Technology, The Strip, Transportation, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Two trains running

Posted on August 28, 2019 by David McKee

In a flurry of recent developments, Las Vegas has gone from no viable prospects for train service to two. And since they would use different tracks, they are not mutually exclusive. One project that appears to be dead and buried … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Florida, Harry Reid, North Las Vegas, Politics, Tamares Group, The Strip, Transportation | Comments Off on Two trains running

IGT deal puts R.I. guv in the hot seat

Posted on August 22, 2019 by David McKee

A sweetheart deal for International Game Technology—a no-bid, 20-year, $1 billion contract to supply the state lottery has landed Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo (D) in hot water. The state Ethics Commission has voted to investigate the deal and, more … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, IGT, Massachusetts, Nevada, Politics, Rhode Island, Scientific Games, Transportation, Twin River | Comments Off on IGT deal puts R.I. guv in the hot seat

Gaming and its discontents

Posted on August 19, 2019 by David McKee

Iowa, Nebraska and Council Bluffs continue to have their collective ass kicked in court by the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska. The latest drubbing occurred in federal district court. The plaintiffs filed motions arguing that, since Judge Stephanie Rose had asked … Continue reading →

Posted in Cambodia, Connecticut, Cordish Co., Foxwoods, Genting, Iowa, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Money laundering, Nebraska, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Like a Virgin; Chicago casino kaput?

Posted on August 18, 2019 by David McKee

The soon-to-be-ex Hard Rock Hotel is taking an enormous gamble. Instead of trying to operate during the rebranding-and-renovation phase from which it will emerge as Virgin Las Vegas, it is going to close down completely. You read that right. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Economy, Genting, Hard Rock Hotel, Illinois, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Transportation, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Like a Virgin; Chicago casino kaput?

Tribes brush off Stitt; MGM riles Jewish community

Posted on July 29, 2019 by David McKee

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt‘s proposal to levy higher exclusivity fees on the Sooner State’s 134 tribal casinos continues to go over like a lead balloon. The guv finds himself in receipt of a letter from all of the state’s gaming-enabled … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, California, history, International, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Ohio, Oklahoma, Phil Ruffin, Sports, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal, TV | 1 Comment

Encore cleared of cheating charge; Linq goes green

Posted on July 19, 2019 by David McKee

Score one for Encore Boston Harbor. Its slot-payout and blackjack rules were upheld by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. That’s a win for 6:5 blackjack and a loss for players. “There exists a ‘6 to 5 blackjack variation,’ which is a particular … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Environment, Massachusetts, Regulation, Scientific Games, Technology, The Strip, Transportation, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Touring Vegas; Bus to Nowhere; So long, Sammy

Posted on July 5, 2019 by David McKee

Paste Magazine is having one of those love/hate moments with Las Vegas that seem de rigeur for glossy publications. After a few preliminary digs at the Las Vegas Strip, it settles into a survey of the best places to go … Continue reading →

Posted in Cretins, Dining, Downtown, Entertainment, history, MGM Resorts International, Reno, Sahara, Sam Nazarian, Station Casinos, Terry Caudill, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | 1 Comment

Genting’s been working on the railroad; California solons pitch sports betting

Posted on July 3, 2019 by David McKee

Genting Group evidently hasn’t given up on its casino aspirations in south Florida. The company is teaming with BYD Motors of China to propose a monorail between downtown Miami and Miami Beach. Genting owns waterfront real estate in Miami it has … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Florida, Genting, Japan, Macau, Pokergeddon, Politics, Problem gambling, Security, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, TV, World Series of Poker, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Genting’s been working on the railroad; California solons pitch sports betting

At long last, Encore

Posted on June 28, 2019 by David McKee

After much regulatory spilkes and political infighting, Encore Boston Harbor has come to market and early auguries are good. JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff got one of the first looks at the property and was “impressed. In short, we think it takes … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Environment, Foxwoods, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, New Hampshire, Tourism, Transportation, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on At long last, Encore

Vegas gets first tribal casino

Posted on June 26, 2019 by David McKee

My doctor says it behooves me to take it easy, so that can mean only one thing … news briefs! If you were waiting for Native American tribes to put down roots in Las Vegas, wait no longer. Virgin Hotels … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Animals, Arizona, Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Entertainment, Florida, Hard Rock Hotel, Law enforcement, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Movies, Sahara, SLS Las Vegas, Sports, Tamares Group, The Strip, Transportation | Comments Off on Vegas gets first tribal casino

Don’t bet against Sheldon; Encore Boston says ‘Take the T’

Posted on June 18, 2019 by David McKee

Don’t ever accuse Las Vegas Sands of not thinking big. It’s going to the banks for a $5.9 billion loan, primarily for expansion of Marina Bay Sands. That shouldn’t be much of a risk for financiers because nobody makes good … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Genting, Greenwood Racing, history, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Massachusetts, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, South Korea, Sports betting, Technology, Transportation, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Don’t bet against Sheldon; Encore Boston says ‘Take the T’

Record year for U.S. casinos; Boyd lauded

Posted on June 11, 2019 by David McKee

While the gaming industry seems to be straining at the limits of how far it can expand in the good old U.S. of A. the numbers don’t lie: The casino industry posted a record $41.7 billion last year. That’s a … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Full House Resorts, Illinois, Indiana, Majestic Star, Penn National, Sports, Transportation, Wall Street | Comments Off on Record year for U.S. casinos; Boyd lauded

Plaza gets a refresh; MGM covets Vegas locals

Posted on June 6, 2019 by David McKee

Congratulations to Plaza Hotel CEO Jonathan Jossel. He’s persuaded tight-fisted Tamares Group to invest in a 112-room renovation of the Downtown dowager. The casino is reportedly coming off its best April ever and this has evidently helped Tamares to see its … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Arizona, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Derek Stevens, Dining, Downtown, Dubai, e-sports, Entertainment, Japan, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Tamares Group, Transportation, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Plaza gets a refresh; MGM covets Vegas locals

Station loses another; Musk wins one

Posted on May 23, 2019 by David McKee

Despite a Trump-appointed majority on the National Labor Relations Board, it ruled against Station Casinos, voting unanimously that the company had failed to recognize and bargain with the Culinary Union vis-a-vis the Palms. “By failing and refusing since May 17 to … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, LVCVA, Palms, Station Casinos, Transportation | Comments Off on Station loses another; Musk wins one

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 17, 2019 by David McKee

“We want to give you the experience of aviation without making you hear it.” — TWA Hotel at JFK International Airport Managing Director Erik Palmer on the hotel’s quiet-first retro redesign.

Posted in Architecture, New York, Transportation | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Snakes in a casino & other Case Bets

Posted on May 16, 2019 by David McKee

Well, I’m never setting foot in Binion’s Gambling Hall again. A butt-ugly (but evidently non-poisonous) snake got in and made itself comfy in the roulette wheel. Security merely escorted the reptile inside, so there’s no telling whether there will be … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Economy, Environment, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Nevada, Problem gambling, Real Estate, Technology, Transportation | Comments Off on Snakes in a casino & other Case Bets

Wall Street loves Wynn, Penn, MGM

Posted on May 15, 2019 by David McKee

JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff issued a post-1Q19 bulletin in which he named Wynn Resorts (growth), Penn National Gaming (value for share price) and MGM Resorts International (event-driven revenue) as his top picks in the gambling sphere. Wynn got a … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Caesars Entertainment, DFS, Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Internet gambling, Iowa, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pets, Pinnacle Entertainment, Problem gambling, Racinos, Sports betting, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Transportation, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Wall Street loves Wynn, Penn, MGM

MGM, Adelson tussle for Japan; Wynn pouts over fine

Posted on May 13, 2019 by David McKee

Everybody wants to be in Osaka, now that it’s open for casino development and the Osakanese government strongly covets a casino, one hopefully that would be open in time for the 2025 World Expo. Among the entrants, Las Vegas Sands, … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Galaxy Entertainment, Genting, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Lotteries, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Regulation, Singapore, Sports betting, Transportation, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on MGM, Adelson tussle for Japan; Wynn pouts over fine