Category Archives: Wall Street

When money talks, few are deaf

Posted on October 12, 2012 by David McKee

When addressing the subject of Sheldon Adelson (must we?), the extent to which he has stolen Wynn’s thunder and lightning was made manifest by a lengthy Politico.com profile. Adelson (right, ca. 1998), who can often behave like a colicky infant, … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tourism, TV, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Some Wynn, some of the time

Posted on October 12, 2012 by David McKee

Having been eclipsed both as a political mover and shaker, and — dare I say it? — casino developer by Sheldon Adelson, the suddenly ubiquitous Steve Wynn appears to be trying to regain the spotlight. His recent KSNV-TV marathon landed … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Current, International, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Strip, TV, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Revenue roundup: Ohio, Maryland, Missouri & Indiana; Mohegan Sun snow job

Posted on October 11, 2012 by David McKee

Let’s start with the new kid on the block … Ohio: September saw Ohio‘s two casinos and one racino rake in an aggregate $50 million. The ‘novelty factor’ has waned, along with vacation time, since June’s $58 million haul, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Current, Dan Gilbert, Don Barden, Economy, Election, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, MTR Gaming, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Taxes, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street, West Virginia | 2 Comments

Hail, Bill’s!; Trump slump; Back in the fold

Posted on October 10, 2012 by David McKee

In a typically ludicrous Gary Loveman brainstorm, Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall & Saloon is to become — wait for it — Caesars Drai’s. (Yeah, ‘WTF?’ and all that.) Although you’d have to be either masochistic or insane to loan money to … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Current, Detroit, Donald Trump, Florida, Harrah's, Illinois, International, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Hail, Bill’s!; Trump slump; Back in the fold

Black man frightens Steve Wynn, Part Two; MGM: Time to forget Harmon?

Posted on October 10, 2012 by David McKee

As Yahoo‘s Jeff Macke cuttingly puts it, he “found a real, live businessman who creates jobs,” thereby providing a Steve Wynn-to-sanity translation, courtesy of CIO Advisors‘ Hugh Johnson. If Wynn were truly being honest, he’d cut to the quick: He’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cantor Gaming, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Cosmopolitan, Cretins, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Fontainebleau, Goldman Sachs, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, history, International, Louisiana, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, North Las Vegas, Politics, Sports, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Technology, TV, Wall Street | 2 Comments

And Columbus makes three …

Posted on October 9, 2012 by David McKee

Fittingly, Penn National Gaming chose Columbus Day to open its newest casino, in the Ohio city that bears the name of the man who didn’t quite discover America in 1492. With 3,000 slots and 100 tables, it’s loaded for bear. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Current, Dan Gilbert, Dining, Economy, Harrah's, Indiana, M Resort, Missouri, MTR Gaming, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Station Casinos, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, TV, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Freudian slip and fall; Loveman’s shabby show

Posted on October 3, 2012 by David McKee

One week after he became S&G‘s Casino Owner of the Year for his “george” treatment of Green Bay Packer fans, Derek Stevens stepped on a PR banana peel. His Golden Gate and The D casinos are holding monthly drawings whose … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Ohio, Sports, The Strip, Wall Street | 6 Comments

Doing the right thing, with a “D”

Posted on September 26, 2012 by David McKee

As in The D and its owner Derek Stevens, who is refunding bets made on the Green Bay Packers last Monday, when victory was literally stripped from their hands by nincompoop NFL scab referees. They’ve been likened to Foot Locker … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Derek Stevens, Downtown, history, Sports, The Strip, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Hicks is back; Sheldon Adelson, misery broker

Posted on September 19, 2012 by David McKee

Give Caesars Entertainment for making a good call this week. It’s inked a one-year residency deal with American Idol winner Taylor Hicks to return to Bally’s, starting Oct. 17. Prices will still begin at a wallet-friendly $40/seat and, in light … Continue reading →

Posted in Colony Capital, Current, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Florida, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, International, Movies, Planet Hollywood, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Sunny summer in Pennsylvania; Stanley Ho seen!

Posted on September 18, 2012 by David McKee

Except for a 4% slippage in July, the motto around Pennsylvania might be, “Cannibalization? What cannibalization?” The Keystone State has shrugged off new competition from Ohio, from New York City, from Revel in Atlantic City, and even from within the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Dan Gilbert, Harrah's, Macau, Neil Bluhm, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Sunny summer in Pennsylvania; Stanley Ho seen!

One pig, slightly perfumed; Loveman’s fire sale

Posted on September 17, 2012 by David McKee

Having waited too long and spent too much to ever get around to his long-rumored teardown of the Imperial Palace, the CEO/CFO/COB and prexy of Caesars Entertainment, one Gary Loveman, now finds himself perfuming a pig. Despite having more brand … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Florida, Hard Rock Hotel, history, Internet gambling, Iowa, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Ohio, Racinos, Reno, The Strip, Wall Street, World Series of Poker | 3 Comments

Atlantic City: Revenues up, Seminoles out, Mohegans in

Posted on September 17, 2012 by David McKee

Stick a fork in the Dennis Gomes legacy at Resorts Atlantic City. Son Aaron Gomes is not only leaving but going halfway around the globe, to team up with former Borgata exec Larry Mullin and reboot Jupiters Gold Coast Casino, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, Marketing, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Revel, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Trump’s brand equity hits new low

Posted on September 17, 2012 by David McKee

… as in so deep you can’t reach it without the services of a bathysphere. S&G has argued for a long time, with demonstrable evidence, that Trump Entertainment Resorts has nothing to lose by dumping the Trump name from its … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Donald Trump, Election, International, Marketing, Sheldon Adelson, TV, Wall Street | 2 Comments

“Zark-who”?

Posted on September 14, 2012 by David McKee

If you’ve been wondering where the pre-opening buzz for Aria‘s new Cirque du Soleil show, Zarkana, is … you’re not alone. I Get Paid for This author Rick Lax is puzzled by the strange, stealthy run-up to a show that … Continue reading →

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Current, Entertainment, Marketing, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on “Zark-who”?

Emperor Loveman’s new clothes

Posted on September 7, 2012 by David McKee

When I said a Caesars Entertainment bankruptcy was a matter of when, not if, little idea did I have how soon that might be. Earlier this week, Fitch Ratings Service lowered Caesars’ bond rating to “negative,” a veritable kiss of … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Dan Gilbert, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street, World Series of Poker | 7 Comments

“Eaten” by Las Vegas; Icahn’s hard bargain

Posted on August 24, 2012 by David McKee

Today is being spent at home, buried ‘neath page proofs for Eating Las Vegas 3.0 (with assistance from sibling kitties Leona and Rascal, the latter incredibly well-named). Tonight brings Tournament of Kings — which I’ve never seen — and Evil … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Current, Dining, Fontainebleau, George Maloof, MGM Mirage, Pets, Phil Ruffin, Planet Hollywood, The Strip, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Speed: The Ride … found!; Dueling Ferris wheels and Caesars’ wonderful life

Posted on August 17, 2012 by David McKee

Remember all those rumors that had the Sahara‘s now-vanished Speed: The Ride packed up and headed for Circus Circus? Not so! The good folks and inquiring minds at VegasChatter.com were sussing out some dormant South Strip developments and discovered … … … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, California, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Movies, New York, Racinos, Rhode Island, Sahara, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Wall Street | 2 Comments

A hard dose of truth

Posted on August 14, 2012 by David McKee

Every so often, when the economy fails to do their bidding, Wall Street analysts speak wistfully of “pent-up demand” among players. This unicorn-like phenomenon mostly romps in their collective imagination, although occasionally a gaming CEO or two falls into the … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Marketing, Wall Street | 6 Comments

Nevada: We’re skewed!; Dark Side of the Force

Posted on August 9, 2012 by David McKee

I always hate doing Nevada gaming numbers because A) it’s redundant with the coverage in the local dailies and B) almost every month you have to trot out the caveat that — as was the case in June — the … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Cosmopolitan, Current, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Lake Tahoe, Marketing, Mesquite, Movies, North Las Vegas, Reno, Tourism, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off on Nevada: We’re skewed!; Dark Side of the Force

Ch-ch-ch-changes at the Riv

Posted on August 4, 2012 by David McKee

CEO Andy Choy‘s makeover of the Riviera may be slowed by skepticism in the bond market but it keeps moving ahead. My Desert Companion profile of the Strip dowager has made print and, despite the long lead time, we were … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Dining, Entertainment, Marketing, Riviera, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 6 Comments