Category Archives: Archon Corp.

Sahara vs. Roeben, Round Two; Colorado sportsbooks boom

Posted on September 24, 2020 by David McKee

Vital Vegas author Scott Roeben made big news over the weekend with a countersuit against the Sahara for attempting to stifle freedom of the press. If you have a few days to spare, you can read the 111-page filing in … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Archon Corp., Caesars Entertainment, CityCenter, Colorado, Conventions, Culinary Union, Downtown, Downtown Grand, Entertainment, Hooters, Law enforcement, Sahara, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tamares Group, Technology, Terry Caudill, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | 4 Comments

Wynn out, MGM in: Is history repeating itself?

Posted on April 9, 2018 by David McKee

Remember when Kirk Kerkorian made Steve Wynn an offer he couldn’t refuse for Mirage Resorts? It looks like history is going to repeat itself with “back-channel approaches” being made by MGM Resorts International to embattled Wynn Resorts. “Wynn Resorts is … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Donald Trump, Elaine Wynn, Galaxy Entertainment, Genting, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Japan, Laughlin, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Culinary frets over Hard Rock; Puck jilts Caesars for MGM

Posted on August 24, 2017 by David McKee

What does Bethany Khan know that we don’t? Although Brookfield Asset Management has said nothing overt about selling the Hard Rock Hotel, the Culinary Union is obviously convinced that a sale is imminent and is ringing the alarm bell. In … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Culinary Union, Dining, Drugs, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, history, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 1 Comment

Warm spring in the Midwest; Vegas Vic gets political

Posted on April 10, 2017 by David McKee

Don’t believe anyone who says the economy is bad: Casino takings are up all across the Midwest. The biggest gain was in Ohio, where casino win rose 7%, even though players continue to blow off Jack Cleveland ($18 million, -8%). … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Ameristar, Animals, Archon Corp., Boyd Gaming, California, Dan Gilbert, Downtown, Eldorado Resorts, Full House Resorts, Harrah's, Indiana, Isle of Capri, Law enforcement, Majestic Star, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, PokerStars, Politics, Racinos, Tropicana Entertainment, Wayne F. Newton | Comments Off

NHL maybe, NBA not so much

Posted on October 30, 2014 by David McKee

“Preliminary talks” could mean relatively nothing but when one of the principal parties is MGM Resorts International, you have to take them seriously … especially when MGM is building an arena intended for major-league sports. Still, there don’t appear to … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Sports, The Strip | 1 Comment

Archon under fire again

Posted on September 2, 2014 by David McKee

Sue Lowden is back in the news, not for her political activities but as secretary and public face of Archon Gaming, whose 27 acres atop the Strip are a hot property again, following the opening of SLS Las Vegas. Dissident investor … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Economy, Laughlin, Ohio, Penn National, Sam Nazarian, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Long siege on the Strip

Posted on January 22, 2014 by David McKee

In one of the more improbable but optimistic auguries the North Strip has seen, a private equity fund is trying to pry land away from Archon Corp. For the past 10 months, Esplanade Capital has been laying siege to Archon, … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

SLS to get oddball neighbor?

Posted on December 24, 2013 by David McKee

Everybody’s entitled to a dream, however implausible. Back when Christopher Milam was plotting to build the Silver State Arena on the former Wet ‘n Wild site, we had a lot of problems with Milam’s concept. However, it seems the essence … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Archon Corp., Sam Nazarian, Sports, The Strip | 2 Comments

Chicken Lady rides again

Posted on July 31, 2013 by David McKee

Responding to the deafening disinterest of a Nevada electorate that has largely forgotten her, Pioneer Hotel & Gambling Hall Treasurer Sue Lowden — touting her casino expertise — has thrown her tiara into the ring in the contest to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Current, Election, Laughlin, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off

Massachusetts loses patience … as do Archon shareholders

Posted on April 19, 2013 by David McKee

As the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe and Gov. Deval Patrick (D, right) continue to try and convince the federal government that their prepackaged arrangement for the Mashpee Wamps to get a casino in southeast Massachusetts isn’t usurious (17% of gross revenues … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Archon Corp., Boyd Gaming, Economy, Laughlin, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Regulation, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

Fire island; The Illinois creep

Posted on July 31, 2012 by David McKee

If you drove past Treasure Island this morning and saw a veritable armada of emergency vehicles jammed into an access road and spilling out on Spring Mountain Road, the good news is that things are under control. The bad news … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Dining, Harrah's, Illinois, Monte Carlo fire, Phil Ruffin, Slot routes, The Strip | Comments Off

Atlas stumbled

Posted on June 7, 2012 by David McKee

Warren Buffett likes to say that we’ve already had class warfare in this country and his class won. Whilst laid up, recuperating from an ill-advised meal at Mizumi, I had reason to ponder this in connection with the recent stateside … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Bally Technologies, Culinary Union, Current, Dining, Economy, Election, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | 7 Comments

SLS Las Vegas: Pretty pictures and propaganda

Posted on May 18, 2012 by David McKee

To celebrate the first anniversary of his cold-blooded, premeditated murder of the Sahara, nightclub owner Sam Nazarian trotted out freshly hired casino boss Rob Oseland, along with some models (no, not of the runway ilk) and even a rendering that … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Archon Corp., Boyd Gaming, California, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Encore, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Morgans Hotel Group, Plaza, Sahara, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, TV | 4 Comments

When executives attack: The Quickening

Posted on January 24, 2012 by David McKee

OK, you’ve heard the sound bites, read the correspondence, seen the over-the-top tactics. Now Station Casinos and the Culinary Union have to make their case to a higher authority: Jon Ralston. (Historical footnote: When Ameristar Casinos bought Station out of … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Archon Corp., Boulder Strip, Culinary Union, George Maloof, Missouri, North Las Vegas, Station Casinos, TV | Comments Off

“Michael Jackson™”: Mortal?

Posted on December 5, 2011 by David McKee

As the reviews trickle in from Saturday night’s Las Vegas premiere of Michael Jackson The IMMORTAL World Tour™ we may be seeing an inversion of the Viva Elvis™ phenomenon. In the latter instance, the out-of-towners raved and local critics yawned. … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Cirque du Soleil, Current, Economy, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, The Strip | Comments Off

Blast from the past

Posted on November 14, 2011 by David McKee

Today I’m busy on “Question of the Day,” Desert Companion and CityLife fronts simultaneously. As irrational compensation, here’s the one scene from Ocean’s Eleven that, more than any other, must be preserved for posterity. It’s also a nice look at … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., history, Movies, Sahara, The Strip | Comments Off

Monopoly over Miami

Posted on October 4, 2011 by David McKee

A recent visitor to Las Vegas from the Pacific Rim told me that Sheldon Adelson has worn out his welcome in Macao (which is on pace to eclipse all other gaming markets combined) and is fast doing so in Singapore. … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Current, Economy, Florida, Genting, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Laughlin, Macau, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Wall Street | Comments Off

Station stirrings

Posted on September 30, 2011 by David McKee

It looks as though Station Casinos and Manhattan-based developer Fisher Bros. are trying to put back together some of the pieces of their Humpty Dumpty megaproject along I-15. As you recall, the duo had acquired a swath of land (assembled … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Archon Corp., Current, Economy, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Station Casinos, The Strip | 1 Comment

Sheldon Adelson’s court jester yuks it up

Posted on April 1, 2011 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands-backed mayoral candidate Victor Chaltiel rolled out the following prank ad today … I’m not sure that there’s any percentage in going after the grandmotherly (but hopelessly vague) Carolyn Goodman in the snide fashion that is quickly becoming … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Current, Downtown, Election, Florida, Harrah's, International, Laughlin, Macau, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Mississippi, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Texas, The Strip, TV | 1 Comment

“V”

Posted on March 8, 2011 by David McKee

That’s about the extent and substance of the campaign of Las Vegas mayoral aspirant Victor Chaltiel, a suddenly ubiquitous, Peter Lorre-like figure who has manifested himself as major civic figure as suddenly as if he’d been beamed down from space. … Continue reading →

Posted in Archon Corp., Boyd Gaming, Current, Don Barden, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, International, Marketing, North Las Vegas, Pennsylvania, Politics, Station Casinos, The Strip, TV, Wall Street | 4 Comments