Category Archives: Vdara Death Ray

At long last, Circa; Las Vegas Strip, empty city

Posted on October 29, 2020 by David McKee

Yesterday was Circa Day, the opening of the most-anticipated Las Vegas casino in a long time (yes, even before Aria). Much of that buzz was due to owner Derek Stevens‘ canny mastery of PR but a spiffy new Downtown casino … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Derek Stevens, Donald Trump, Downtown, Downtown Grand, DraftKings, Economy, Entertainment, FanDuel, Golden Nugget, Health, Illinois, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sports betting, Terry Caudill, The Strip, Tourism, Vdara Death Ray, Wall Street | 1 Comment

The Drew makes bold promises; GLPI gleeful

Posted on November 1, 2019 by David McKee

Steven Witkoff buried the lead when announcing that Bobby Baldwin had been called out of retirement to become CEO of The Drew. Witkoff’s PR peeps said that the project was in “final preparations for construction,” which is the first movement … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Caesars Entertainment, California, CityCenter, Detroit, DFS, Dining, Fontainebleau, G2E, GLPI, history, Las Vegas Sands, Lotteries, Louisiana, Macau, Maryland, Michigan, Politics, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Vdara Death Ray, Wall Street | Comments Off on The Drew makes bold promises; GLPI gleeful

Arkansas to vote on casinos; Baldwin leaves MGM

Posted on October 16, 2018 by David McKee

Driving Arkansas Forward, the ballot initiative to legalize casinos in Arkansas, will continue to proceed now that the Arkansas Supreme Court has slam-dunked two challenges to the referendum. Religious group Ensuring Arkansas Future claimed that the ballot language was too ambiguous … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, CityCenter, Culinary Union, Election, Entertainment, Galaxy Entertainment, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Neil Bluhm, Politics, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Tribal, Vdara Death Ray, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Arkansas to vote on casinos; Baldwin leaves MGM

Resorts World a ‘go’; House of Blues a ‘drag’

Posted on October 19, 2017 by David McKee

With a great sigh of relief, we note that Resorts World Las Vegas has gone from being just a logo and some nifty renderings to becoming a living, breathing construction project (video here). Genting Group has hired a construction manager and … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Entertainment, Genting, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Station Casinos, Technology, The Strip, Vdara Death Ray, Westgate LV | Comments Off on Resorts World a ‘go’; House of Blues a ‘drag’

Shamelessness at Suffolk Downs

Posted on May 15, 2014 by David McKee

In a ludicrous reversal, the owners of Suffolk Downs offered to end horseracing at the track if the Massachusetts Gaming Commission would, pretty please with cream on top, give them a casino license. Up to that point, Suffolk Downs has … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Cretins, Horseracing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Vdara Death Ray, World Series of Poker | Comments Off on Shamelessness at Suffolk Downs

Pinnacle: The cost of the deal

Posted on May 30, 2013 by David McKee

Pinnacle Entertainment finds itself in an interesting pickle today: It’s awfully far into its Federal Trade Commission-blocked purchase of Ameristar Casinos to blow it up by, say, selling three or more Ameristar properties or otherwise triggering a fallout. And if … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, CityCenter, Current, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Penn National, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Vdara Death Ray, Wall Street, World Series of Poker | Comments Off on Pinnacle: The cost of the deal

Happy days: Here again?; DIY Vdara Death Ray

Posted on May 6, 2013 by David McKee

America‘s casino officially emerged from the doldrums with the release of the American Gaming Association‘s yearly survey, showing a 5% increase in private-sector casino revenue, just $200 million shy of 2007’s record amount. Mind you, we have quite a few … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Atlantic City, Cannery Casino Resorts, Current, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Penn National, Politics, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Vdara Death Ray | 1 Comment

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? … 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?

Opening tonight!; DIY Vdara Death Ray

Posted on August 10, 2012 by David McKee

Hoping to join Evil Dead The Musical and Best Little Whorehouse in Texas in the progression of locally produced musicals to casino showrooms is Summer Camp! The Musical, which opens tonight at the Onyx Theatre, near what used to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Current, Downtown, Entertainment, Environment, Harrah's, Planet Hollywood, Sahara, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tourism, TV, Vdara Death Ray | Comments Off on Opening tonight!; DIY Vdara Death Ray

Illinois: Not cricket; Boyd’s not going to like *this*: Death Ray: The sequel

Posted on January 25, 2012 by David McKee

Hardly had the outlines for a gaming-expansion compromise been leaked from the Illinois governor’s mansion when state Speaker of the House Michael Madigan (D, right) nixed the idea — or at least the prospect of a deal getting done in … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Current, Election, Environment, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Vdara Death Ray | 3 Comments

R.I.P., House of Lords; Boyd’s best asset; Poll party

Posted on May 13, 2011 by David McKee

My missus and I were going to make a farewell visit to the Sahara‘s charming fine-dining spot on Sunday. However, our reservation has been canceled because House of Lords will be closing a day early. The reason? They’re running out … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Downtown, Entertainment, history, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Michael Gaughan, North Las Vegas, Station Casinos, Technology, The Strip, TV, Vdara Death Ray | 2 Comments

D-Day for Philadelphia

Posted on December 13, 2010 by David McKee

Investors in the stymied Foxwoods Philadelphia riverfront casino project have a date with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board on Thursday. That’s where they’ll make their last-ditch pitch to retain custody of the project. State legislators and other officials have voiced … Continue reading →

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, LVCVA, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Vdara Death Ray | 1 Comment

Dr. Loveman on the case; Death Ray designer stays mum

Posted on October 15, 2010 by David McKee

Confronted with an anemic patient — i.e., the Las Vegas Strip — attending physician Gary Loveman, Ph.D, has been prescribing a series of stimuli. (Possibly the only “economic stimulus” that all Americans can support.) Since customers are spending more selectively, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Riviera, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Vdara Death Ray | 7 Comments

Kerkorian’s mixed message; Winners & Losers

Posted on October 13, 2010 by David McKee

Earlier this week, Hudson Securities analyst Robert LaFleur — something of a maverick in the gaming sector — voiced doubts about MGM Resorts International‘s ability to sustain its debt covenants. With an overhang of $13 million in debt, few properties … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Current, Detroit, Economy, Harrah's, International, Louisiana, M Resort, Macau, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Vdara Death Ray, Wall Street | 4 Comments

The whales of August

Posted on October 8, 2010 by David McKee

Nevada had another big casino bounce — $944.5 million, its largest since February’s $947 million. However, some of the positive auguries are real and some are misleading. To get the big one out of the way, Strip slot revenues were … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Kansas, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Louisiana, North Las Vegas, Regulation, Reno, The Strip, Tourism, Vdara Death Ray, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Ask Anthony?

Posted on October 6, 2010 by David McKee

Former Harrah’s Entertainment veep and Santo Gaming founder Anthony F. Santo is six days into his stewarship of Tamares Group‘s downtown Las Vegas casinos. But he’s not putting all his eggs in Tamares’ basket. His company was handed the reins … Continue reading →

Posted in CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Current, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Reno, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tourism, Vdara Death Ray, Wall Street | 6 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

Uncle Carl’s Computer Barn?

Posted on October 1, 2010 by David McKee

Thanks to the Vdara Death Ray, the big-ass garage sale Carl Icahn is holding at Fontainebleau has dropped off the news pages. But one blogger asks, What about those iMacs in every F-blew hotel room? To which I might add: … Continue reading →

Posted in Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Current, Fontainebleau, Technology, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, TV, Vdara Death Ray | 4 Comments

DIY Global Warming at Vdara

Posted on September 30, 2010 by David McKee

Vdara‘s newly infamous “Death Ray” has become the hot spot felt ’round the world: You can tell that Brian Williams is a nice guy because he says MGM Resorts International is “rushing to fix the problem.” If he were snarky, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Current, Environment, MGM Mirage, The Strip, TV, Vdara Death Ray | 3 Comments

CityCenter gets a visitor, deploys Vdara Death Ray

Posted on September 28, 2010 by David McKee

He’s not just any sightseer but the type of East Coast tastemaker MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren hoped to impress: New Yorker architecture critic Paul Goldberger. Heretofore, Goldberger’s most memorable pronouncement in re Vegas came 13 years ago, when … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Cretins, Current, Encore, Fontainebleau, George Maloof, history, Marketing, MGM Mirage, The Strip, Tribal, TV, Vdara Death Ray, Wall Street | 4 Comments