Category Archives: TV

Hard Rock: No end of trouble on Paradise

Posted on December 28, 2010 by David McKee

Once again the blogosphere has caught the MSM napping. Report On Vegas informs readers that the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is having a rough time meeting its bills (this was the augury of doom for Barrick Gaming‘s short-lived stewardship … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Don Barden, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Lake Tahoe, Morgans Hotel Group, Pennsylvania, Sports, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tribal, TV | 3 Comments

Oh little casino of Bethlehem

Posted on December 24, 2010 by David McKee

There’s a little something extra in the stockings of Pennsylvania casinos … a rather big something extra, actually. Keystone State casinos grossed 22% more than last November. Throw in a $15 million month at SugarHouse (below) and it’s a 31.5% … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Harrah's, International, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off on Oh little casino of Bethlehem

The Gossy 500

Posted on December 23, 2010 by David McKee

If you’re not watching heavy amounts of ESPN you may have missed this … … because nothing says “NASCAR” quite like a pallid British crooner in a slouch hat and tuxedo. Christmas in Vegas: Regarding that travel advice I gave … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Marketing, Sports, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 1 Comment

Cosmo: the morning after; “Sinatra” too sexy?

Posted on December 16, 2010 by David McKee

Although I’m still feeling somewhat the worse for wear from last night’s Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas opening-night bacchanalia, a quick observations are in order. Filled with people, Cosmo’s virtues are magnified, its vices minimized (with one glaring exception to which … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Encore, Entertainment, Macau, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Steve Wynn, TV | 5 Comments

Atlantic City’s future: “Bleak”

Posted on December 10, 2010 by David McKee

Such is the prognosis from J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff after the November revenues rolled in from the Boardwalk. Basically, the double-edged sword that was table games in Pennsylvania and a casino in Philadelphia has swung, and lopped 12.5% off … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Cretins, Current, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Marketing, Morgans Hotel Group, Movies, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, TV, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Good news, bad news in Atlantic City; Feinstein: “Stay on the rez!”; Buffalo Bill’s rides again

Posted on December 2, 2010 by David McKee

For once, however, it’s mostly good. Almost entirely good, in fact. The headline item is that Dennis Gomes‘ purchase of Resorts Atlantic City has cleared licensing, sweeping out the disastrous Colony Capital era. Gomes and financier Morris Bailey say $31.5 … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, California, Colony Capital, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Harry Reid, Herbst Gaming, M Resort, Marketing, Mississippi, Morgans Hotel Group, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, TV | 4 Comments

Big Brother is watching you …

Posted on November 2, 2010 by David McKee

… and his name is Gary Loveman. While the Harrah’s Entertainment CEO hasn’t left a paper trail, several of his top lieutenants — including veeps Jan Jones (governmental affairs), Rick Mazer (boss of the Flamingo, Harrah’s Las Vegas, Imperial Palace, … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Politics, The Strip, TV | 13 Comments

Wynndia?

Posted on November 2, 2010 by David McKee

What do you do if you’re Steve Wynn and you blew it in Singapore? Leapfrog to feeder market India and plant the idea of ‘integrated resorts’ there, what else? Below is the feature-length (45 minutes) version of the interview, which … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Internet gambling, Macau, Steve Wynn, Tourism, TV | Comments Off on Wynndia?

Murren: I heart CityCenter; Wynn: I heart China; Angle: I heart Latinos … plus Boyd’s new fragrance

Posted on October 29, 2010 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International and old ball and chain Dubai World have consummated a deal to extend $1.8 billion in CityCenter loans, a reworking that MGM CEO Jim Murren calls “a capital structure that’s much more … in keeping with a … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, CityCenter, Columbia Sussex, Current, Dubai, Economy, Election, Environment, Harrah's, Macau, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, TV, Wall Street | 6 Comments

Reality check

Posted on October 29, 2010 by David McKee

My wife and I have stopped answering the phone due to a deluge of robocalls on behalf of various candidates. (Please stop ringing us up, President Obama, and that goes for “Jack” at American Crossroads, too. Hit the road.) The … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, history, Marketing, TV | 1 Comment

[Your casino here]

Posted on October 28, 2010 by David McKee

As I find myself in frantic catch-up mode, one of the tasks confronting me is about 40 pages of Wall Street analysis on Las Vegas Sands‘ third quarter. (Hint: It was extremely good.) In honor of Sheldon Adelson, here’s the … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Marketing, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, TV, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Galaxy Cotai postponed; MGM stages a comeback

Posted on October 25, 2010 by David McKee

It’s not official but, seeing as two top executives at the Macao megaresort (including its COO) just got the chop, it appears pretty likely. A project that was expected to open in late March of next year now looks as … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Harry Reid, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Pansy Ho, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Tropicana Entertainment, TV, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Fellini comes to Vegas

Posted on October 18, 2010 by David McKee

Here’s the one-minute version of Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas‘ surrealistic new teaser ad. I’m not sure who the target market is — the vibe is decidedly upscale but perhaps too arty, over the heads of the Speidi wannabes who frequent … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Cosmopolitan, Current, Marketing, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 5 Comments

Harrah’s on new spending spree

Posted on October 18, 2010 by David McKee

As predicted and dreaded by skeptical bond analysts, proceeds from Harrah’s Entertainment‘s semi-IPO of 17% of the company, it has been officially disclosed, will be rolled into retail therapy for CEO Gary Loveman. An anticipated $575 million will be used … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, George Maloof, Harrah's, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, The Strip, TV, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 18, 2010 by David McKee

“I think that you’re misinterpreting those commercials. I’m not sure that those are Latinos in that commercial.” — Sharron Angle, one-woman ‘Quote of the Day’ machine, referring to the image above (which depicts Mexican citizens … in Mexico).

Posted in Current, Election, International, Marketing, TV | 6 Comments

Glass menagerie

Posted on October 15, 2010 by David McKee

In this absolutely brand-new video clip, Encore designer Roger Thomas provides a backstory on the inspiration and fabrication for the chandeliers in the casino. The follow-up video ought to be Steve Wynn explaining why the Macao-style division of the casino … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Current, Encore, Movies, TV | 3 Comments

Plaza gets an infusion of F-blew

Posted on October 12, 2010 by David McKee

(Editor’s note: Since I found this state-of-the art version of the previous Tex & Edna Boil video, I’ve replaced the old one with another in which Tex & Edna get into the curio-barn business … sort of like Carl Icahn, … Continue reading →

Posted in Carl Icahn, Downtown, Fontainebleau, Tamares Group, Tilman Fertitta, TV | 6 Comments

Cantor’s been a naughty boy

Posted on October 11, 2010 by David McKee

There’s a certain whiff of desperation to this Cantor Gaming spot, pimping their casino-in-one gaming devices (which, in addition to their cutting-edge technology, apparently make chicks find you totally hot). The gadgetry and software, which were legalized five years ago, … Continue reading →

Posted in M Resort, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Technology, TV | 4 Comments

Ameristar’s altruism … and so much more

Posted on October 6, 2010 by David McKee

Gaming regulators in Missouri got a little unsolicited advice from Ameristar Casinos as to where to put Casino License #13. Ameristar Vice President of Government Relations & Public Affairs Troy Stremming commissioned a study on the matter. Its shocking conclusion: … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Arizona, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Colony Capital, Cretins, Current, Dennis Gomes, Economy, Genting, Harrah's, Horseracing, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Missouri, New York, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tourism, Tribal, TV, West Virginia | 5 Comments

The Death Ray goes global

Posted on October 4, 2010 by David McKee

One of the most reliably entertaining news sites is Hong Kong-based NMA World Edition, which covers current events in a manner so imaginative and — shall we say — unrestrained by good taste that it makes Fox News look as … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Current, Election, Harry Reid, International, MGM Mirage, TV, Vdara Death Ray | 2 Comments