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 death for the company that carries $19.9 billion in debt. CEO Gary Loveman “could look to execute transactions that Fitch views as a default,” wrote a Fitch analyst. Or, it could try to build a life raft in the form of an IPO or spinoff of Caesars Interactive, which includes the World Series of Poker. The Motley Fool, however, thinks the short-term gains are far outweighed by the long-term sacrifice. Yours truly thinks the domestic revenue prospects from online gambling are 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

Insufficiently “Awesome”

Posted on September 5, 2012 by David McKee

After seemingly endless previews (months of them, I believe), Sirc Michaels Productions has folded its second V Theater show, Awesome 80s Prom. Actually, to call it a “show” would be a misnomer. It was more of a semi-scripted “happening,” at which one was encouraged to “[mingle] with characters from their favorite 80s movies like The Breakfast Club and Pretty in Pink. You will dance and sing along to the ‘gnarliest’ hits of the decade like ‘Wake Me up Before You Go-Go’ and ‘Jessie’s Girl’ and more!” Did you hear that? You will dance, tourist monkeys! It is commanded of you!

As will happen with any vortex of suckage and ‘meh’ whose basic elements include le cinema de John Hughes, plus Rick Springfield and Wham!, Awesome 80s Prom collapsed like an unstable wormhole. I could explain why … but Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Colony Capital, Current, Entertainment, Marketing, Movies, The Strip, Tourism | 3 Comments

Programming note

Posted on September 4, 2012 by David McKee

For reasons unknown (Red Chinese hackers?), Internet access last Thursday and Friday came in three forms: slow, slower and nonexistent. Hence, no S&G for two days. (My outdated Mac at home no longer supports the home page either.) So for those of you — and there have been quite a few — petitioning for an S&G take on Prince Harry‘s butt-naked exploits at Wynncore, my apologies. As for my prediction of puckering sphincters at the Las Vegas Review-Journal in the wake of the New Orleans Times-Picayune wipeout, Nostradamus McKee has  Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip | 1 Comment

Our long national nightmare has ended

Posted on September 4, 2012 by David McKee

Last week, in fulfillment of the wishes of both New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) and myself, the “reality” series Jersey Shore was mercifully canceled after six seasons (i.e., seven too many). In commemoration of the historic moment at which the Snookification of America was at least temporarily halted, we dip into the vaults of The Jimmy Kimmel Show and combine the talents of Gary Oldman with the surrealism that passed for life in the Garden State.

Posted in Atlantic City, history, TV | 1 Comment

Pinnacle’s cockeyed optimist

Posted on August 29, 2012 by David McKee

Call me Nostradamus: As Hurricane Isaac essentially sits parked on the Louisiana and Mississippi coastlines, I am again given cause to wonder what in Heaven’s name made Pinnacle Entertainment CEO Anthony Sanfilippo think he could hold the L’Auberge Baton Rouge ‘dry run’ today (postponed from earlier this week). Isaac is in no particular hurry to get to Red Stick, en route to Memphis and points northward. If L’Auberge gets to test-drive its slots and table games by this weekend, it’ll be a miracle. One could blame it on Pinnacle’s choice of Las Vegas as its corporate headquarters — but unless Sanfilippo hasn’t paid Continue reading →

Posted in Cretins, Current, Environment, Louisiana, Mississippi, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Tourism, TV | Comments Off on Pinnacle’s cockeyed optimist

Non-quote of the day; After Harmon, what next?

Posted on August 28, 2012 by David McKee

As Hurricane Isaac forced the closure of 18 casinos in Louisiana and Mississippi (including the Silver Slipper [left]) and casino-expansion measures in Illinois and Michigan came to a head, what story did the American Gaming Association deem its highest priority today? You’ll never guess. “Fifth Street to Manage Two Siegel Group Casinos.” Yes, a rinky-dink management deal covering 300 slot machines and a smattering of table games trumped all other news of the morning … at least from the AGA’s screwy point of view. Pressing news from the Gulf Coast and from Illinois, among other places, was buried halfway down the page. Nice sense of urgency there, AGA.

Now that Harmon Hotel has a date certain with the wrecking ball, what will arise in its place? Phil Hevener provides a strong hint in the latest edition of Gaming Today (Motto: “News That You Can Bet On!”). MGM Resorts International, Hevener reports, “has big plans … that will provide improved visibility” for CityCenter, “where first time visitors sometimes find it difficult to tell one front door from another.” (True that.) He then segues into an amusing encounter with a Vegas newbie who, seeking CityCenter, went to The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas by mistake. Inexplicably tenured Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Detroit, Downtown, Environment, Illinois, Louisiana, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Slot routes, The Strip, Tourism, Vdara Death Ray | Comments Off on Non-quote of the day; After Harmon, what next?

Isaac: Flood waters hit Beau Rivage

Posted on August 28, 2012 by David McKee

First, the good news: Since thousands of people are being adversely affected by Hurricane Isaac, still gathering strength, one of them is Donald Trump. The bloated bloviator has been promising another of his shocking revelations — too shocking to be revealed! — but might be bumped from precious TV time by the furies of the storm. With characteristic Trump imbecility, The Donald was already in Florida, then flew to New York City, where he now finds himself stranded, the poor dear. However, this didn’t prevent him from loosing a hurricane of protectionist nonsense. What a joke.

Turning from buffoonery to the blasts of Isaac, four more Louisiana casinos are calling it a day. Boyd Gaming and Penn National Gaming joined the flotilla of operators who have shut down. Boyd’s Treasure Chest riverboat and Peninsula Gaming‘s Amelia Belle both went dark at midnight, and Hollywood Casino Baton Rouge followed suit in the wee hours of this morning. One racino, Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, has also been shuttered for the time being. (It will be interesting to see if storm damage to Peninsula’s Louisiana assets throws a monkey wrench into Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Election, Environment, Florida, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, TV | 1 Comment

The hottest ticket in Vegas

Posted on August 28, 2012 by David McKee

Seriously, you cannot get tickets to the Poor Richard’s Players production of David Mamet‘s November, starring Benjamin Loewy and directed by Lysander Abadia, for love or money. The pure brilliance of these viral videos surely has much to do with this runaway success. Las Vegas Little Theatre has scheduled two extra performances and even that might not be enough to accommodate demand. Hopefully, another venue can be found where Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Election, Entertainment, Maryland | Comments Off on The hottest ticket in Vegas

Batten down the hatches!

Posted on August 27, 2012 by David McKee

Tropical Storm Isaac is charting a path across the Gulf of Mexico and, with aspirations to “hurricane” status, is on a collision course with New Orleans, the City That Couldn’t Catch a Break. So far, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) — who skipped a chance to hang out with fellow casino opponents in Tampa in order to deal with the crisis — is displaying far greater alacrity than his deer-in-the-headlights predecessor, Kathleen Blanco (D). “Party conventions are interesting, but there’s no time for politics here in Louisiana,” wrote Jindal, in one of history’s most pertinent Tweets.
A combination of lower winds (‘only’ 95 miles per hour) and post-Katrina infrastructure improvements is expected to dull Isaac’s blow to The Big Uneasy. The Mississippi casino markets of Biloxi, Gulfport and Bay St. Louis could also bear the brunt of Isaac’s wrath. However, most of the gambling houses there have less to fear from Isaac, thanks to former Gov. Haley Barbour (R). He expended considerable political capital to have Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Dining, Environment, Harrah's, history, International, Louisiana, Mississippi, Politics, Regulation, Technology, TV | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 27, 2012 by David McKee

“To me, the American Dream today seems like nothing more than sitting back and being entertained.” — Neil Armstrong (1930-2012), war hero, test pilot, astronaut and first man to set foot on the Moon, quoted in 2007. No less a chronicler of events than Norman Mailer described the serene Armstrong as “apparently in communion with some string in the universe others did not think to unravel.” For those of us who saw the Moon landing as it happened, a not-so-small part of ourselves died last weekend.

Posted in Current, history | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

“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 Dead The Musical, which I have, but not in its V Theater incarnation. Last night was spent at a photo shoot, the fruits of which include:

So if you’re in Vegas somewhere during 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

Living here can be hazardous to your health; “Summer Camp!” and Shakespeare in Sin City

Posted on August 23, 2012 by David McKee

We live in a fair city where a trip to the nearest Dairy Queen means being in mortal peril of being attacked with a whacking great sword. Also, you’ll get to learn more about Commercial Center than you probably want to know (including where the swingers’ club is). Then you get some brand-new musical theater that hopes to follow in the footsteps of Evil Dead The Musical … with a side order of S&M retail.

Here are snippets of two of Summer Camp!‘s funniest songs. First, “We’re Getting Laid,” featuring Joe Hynes and Tony Blosser … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Entertainment, Planet Hollywood, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Living here can be hazardous to your health; “Summer Camp!” and Shakespeare in Sin City

Tilman Fertitta, Indian giver; Meet Charles S. Weinberg

Posted on August 21, 2012 by David McKee

When he took over the Golden Nugget and its Laughlin sibling, Landry’s Restaurants CEO Tilman Fertitta quickly developed a reputation among employees as a skinflint and micromanager. Whether or not the micromanagement has gone by the boards as Fertitta’s Nugget-branded empire expands, the alleged pettiness seems intact. Fertitta bought packs of cards from Kansas City-based Gemaco on the promise that they were pre-shuffled. Fertitta’s people assumed Gemaco’s vow was as good as gold … and we all know what happens when we assume, don’t we?

Sure enough, Golden Nugget Atlantic City pit bosses had the (unshuffled) card decks loaded into the shoe in ‘as received’ sequence. Consequently, mini-baccarat players were dealt a $1.5 million winning streak. Now Tilman, this is why your casinos have Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cretins, Current, Donald Trump, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Mob, Tilman Fertitta | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 21, 2012 by David McKee

“I must have missed that lecture in school.” — Rep. Joe Heck (R-NV) on senatorial aspirant Todd Akin‘s curious theories of reproduction. Dr. Heck, it should be noted is not only an M.D. but a battlefield surgeon who has tended to our wounded in Iraq. We need more like him. As for Akin’s self-professed friendship with another American hero, John Paul Jones (1747-1792), that would make the outgoing Missouri congressman a spry 230 years old, at minimum. His AARP discounts must be awesome!

Posted in Cretins, Current, history | 1 Comment

Pure bull in Las Vegas

Posted on August 21, 2012 by David McKee

Other cities have major-league sports teams for distraction and entertainment. Las Vegas has Clark County Commissioner Tom Collins (D). The latter has been much in the headlines of late. First, per the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Collins was “was drinking and shooting on his North Las Vegas property on the night of July 3″ … because nothing mixes quite so well with alcohol as live ammo and firearms. This peccadillo that didn’t make news until Aug. 15, when double-barreled misdemeanor charges surfaced. A bit fired up — and more than a little liquored up — from Independence Day celebrations, Collins did what any reasonable person would after consuming several cams of Coors and a bottle of whiskey: He took a chain saw to a cedar tree in the dark of night and — when the arbor proved recalcitrant — he busted a cap in its ass. Seven, actually, and a nearby post also sustained flesh wounds. “Allegedly,” y’know. Given their neighbor’s volatility, several witnesses understandably refused to give testimony. The cops did confiscate Collins’ pistol which, perhaps in emulation of the commissioner himself, was loaded.

North LV residents already had reason to be nervous, what with rampaging chimpanzees having gotten out and about not once, but twice. (The survivor was subsequently exiled to Oregon.) Well, ol’ Tom musta thought, “I’ll see you those chimps and raise you some livestock, pardner.” On Aug. 17, Continue reading →

Posted in Cretins, Current, Election, Entertainment, Midnight Jim Gibbons, North Las Vegas, TV | Comments Off on Pure bull in Las Vegas

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 20, 2012 by David McKee


It’s history in the (un)making: The fastest transition from winner to “loser” in the American epoch. Even Sheldon Adelson‘s associates at Crossroads GPS are getting the hell out of Dodge.

Posted in Current, Election, Sheldon Adelson, TV | 7 Comments

No longer “Crazy” after all these years

Posted on August 20, 2012 by David McKee

Stick a fork in Crazy Horse Paris. After an honorable, 11-year run at MGM Grand, it’s ringing down the curtain for the last time on Oct. 1. No plans for the space have been announced beyond “a surprise new joint venture on the Las Vegas Strip,” which is usually CorporateSpeak for, “We have no frigging idea at this point.” It does strongly imply that Philippe Lhomme (yes, “Philip The Man”) may be taking his production company to a different MGM casino. A “going out of business” two-for-one ticket offer to locals obliquely pinpoints the cause of death: flagging box office.

Deepening the intrigue, MGM Grand President Scott “Undercover Boss” Sibella is quoted thusly, Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, Marketing, MGM Mirage, The Strip | 1 Comment

TV time!

Posted on August 20, 2012 by David McKee

Whilst I’m tinkering with the third edition of Eating Las Vegas by John Curtas, Max Jacobson and Al Mancini, here are a couple of recent episodes from Vegas Video Network. The first features Bally’s Las Vegas lounge singer — and killer performer — Taylor Hicks, of whose Strip residency you have been hearing such good things of late. Kelly Clinton Holmes (Nunsense) hosts, so things should be easy on the eyes. It’s somewhat camp in a Seventies-Vegas way, but perhaps that adds an element of charm. I’ll let you be the judge.

Then, on a more sobering note, Living in Las Vegas takes up the subject of local health and how, frankly, Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Entertainment, Harrah's, The Strip, TV | Comments Off on TV time!

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 …

… our old friend Speed adorning an as-yet-unbuilt shopping mall called Akita Plaza. I have my suspicions about the future of Circus Circus but, one way or another, MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren had better things to do with precious company money than buy another rollercoaster when he already had a perfectly good one at New York-New York, offering a superior Strip view (and a Las Vegas Advisor coupon deal).

VegasChatter and S&G also have a slight difference of opinion regarding the likelihood of Caesars Entertainment finishing its Ferris while out back of what used to be O’Shea’s. While Howard Bulloch‘s erection — officially called SkyVue — makes the more impressive sight, VegasChatter sees modest evidence of activity and, digging more deeply, finds Bulloch to have been rather free and easy with the truth. Also, Bulloch’s satellite map is nearly six years out of date, perhaps more. It still shows Aztar Corp. owning the Tropicana Las Vegas, to say nothing MGM’s eternally mysterious South Strip “Project Z.” An apt choice of initial as, whatever it would have been, it’s dead as a doornail in the company’s current financial state and new, overseas focus. MGM needs another Strip resort like 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

Journos muzzled in Sin City

Posted on August 17, 2012 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson couldn’t do it but Las Vegas Sun Publisher Brian Greenspun could. The hard-money-lending business in Las Vegas is a dodgy, high-risk one at the best of times and close scrutiny of it by Sun-related publications is especially touchy. Months of investigation by yours truly into Vestin Mortgage (which made some duff investments in the gaming industry) were relegated to a bunch of file boxes by nervous Las Vegas Weekly execs. Now the axe has fallen twofold, on Jon Ralston (left) and his longtime and well-respected executive producer Dana Gentry. The duo had the the temerity to probe the money-lending activities of Aspen Financial Services, which shares legal counsel with the Sun and is run by Jeff Guinn. That’s right, the son of sainted former governor Kenny Guinn (subject of a Ralston-penned volume). The Guinns obviously have a lot of pull over at Sun HQ. While neither Gentry nor Ralston was fired, the first was essentially forced out and the latter seems to have followed in a gesture of solidarity. As for Greenspun himself, his real estate and (failed) gaming investments have been a source of public embarrassment, so Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Current, New York, North Las Vegas, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, TV | 4 Comments