Category Archives: James Packer

Packer’s pickle; Sands, MGM, Wynn lauded

Posted on January 28, 2020 by David McKee

Crown Resorts, under investigation in New South Wales, evidently decided it could no longer afford to half-ass it without a CEO (a position that had gone unfilled for three years) and elevated CFO Ken Barton to the job. Congratulations … … Continue reading →

Posted in Indiana, James Packer, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Sexual misconduct, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Packer’s pickle; Sands, MGM, Wynn lauded

XFL bets taken; Mohegan Sun, Hard Rock clash; Straub arrested

Posted on January 24, 2020 by David McKee

New Jersey has allowed betting on the XFL, the sixth state to do so. But does anybody care? The league hopes that sports betting will spark fan interest in the games. MGM Resorts International already got burned by the Alliance … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Glenn Straub, Hard Rock International, International, James Packer, Law enforcement, Lawrence Ho, Lotteries, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Money laundering, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Sports, Sports betting | Comments Off on XFL bets taken; Mohegan Sun, Hard Rock clash; Straub arrested

Power play in Springfield; Packer faces impeachment

Posted on January 22, 2020 by David McKee

We had a gut feeling this was coming. MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren has given the sack to MGM Springfield President Michael Mathis, replacing him with MGM Northfield Park prexy Chris Kelly. Northfield Park hasn’t missed a step since … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, China, Connecticut, Crown Resorts, International, James Packer, Japan, Law enforcement, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Money laundering, New Jersey, Ohio, Stanley Ho, The Crown 18, The Mob | Comments Off on Power play in Springfield; Packer faces impeachment

This and that

Posted on October 7, 2019 by David McKee

Restaurant checks nationwide rose 3% last year but that didn’t keep Las Vegas out of WalletHub‘s #6 spot for foodies (cue operatic outrage from Sin City restaurant critics). Las Vegas hit the #1 spot for “affordability and accessibility of highly … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Downtown, Downtown Grand, James Packer, Steve Wynn, Terry Caudill, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Hooters out, Oyo in?; Crown in hot water

Posted on August 5, 2019 by David McKee

Hooters Hotel Casino, the brand that should have worked in Las Vegas but didn’t, may finally be on the way out. VitalVegas reports that hotelier Highgate may be rechristening Hooters with its Oyo brand. Highgate already operates hotels in the … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, Australia, Crown Resorts, Detroit, Diversity, Environment, Hooters, Illinois, James Packer, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Money laundering, Paragon Gaming, Penn National, South Carolina, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip | 2 Comments

More Ho, less Packer at Crown; Wynn pays the piper

Posted on June 3, 2019 by David McKee

More Lawrence Ho at Crown Resorts means less James Packer, as the publishing heir sold down his stake to 25%, spinning the decision thusly: “I am still vitally interested in Crown’s success as a world-class resort and gaming business. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Cosmopolitan, Crown Resorts, Derek Stevens, Dining, Downtown, James Packer, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Massachusetts, Nevada, Politics, Regulation, Sports betting, The Strip, Wall Street, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on More Ho, less Packer at Crown; Wynn pays the piper

Melco nabs Crown; Scientific promotes diversity

Posted on May 30, 2019 by David McKee

Stick a fork in that Wynn Resorts takeover of Crown Resorts, which was already on life support. Melco Resorts & Entertainment just bought a 20% stake in Crown, giving Lawrence Ho a sizable footfall in Australia. The transaction will cost … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Caesars Entertainment, Crown Resorts, Entertainment, James Packer, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Problem gambling, Scientific Games, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Melco nabs Crown; Scientific promotes diversity

Feds scrutinize Pinnacle sale; Diamond Jacks gets prominent supporter

Posted on March 26, 2018 by David McKee

As the big continue to get bigger, Penn National Gaming is two steps closer to becoming a 20-state, 41-casino mammoth. West Virginia and Pennsylvania‘s regulatory bodies have signed off on its absorption of Pinnacle Entertainment. Penn, however, is not counting … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Derek Stevens, Galaxy Entertainment, GLPI, James Packer, Louisiana, Mississippi, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Regulation, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street, West Virginia, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 26, 2018 by David McKee

“I was at a low point in my personal life. She was kind, exciting and fun. Mariah is a woman of substance. But it was a mistake for her and a mistake for me.” — James Packer on ex-fiancée Mariah Carey, who collected … Continue reading →

Posted in James Packer | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Steve Wynn has left the building; Packer out, too

Posted on March 23, 2018 by David McKee

Wynn Resorts now has 100% less Steve Wynn now that the mogul has sold his entire stake in the company. At first blush this looks like a passive-aggressive lashing out at a firm that is now moving forward. However, Wynn … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Boyd Gaming, Crown Resorts, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Galaxy Entertainment, James Packer, Kazuo Okada, Massachusetts, Regulation, Reno, Sexual misconduct, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Adelson subsidizes foreign policy; Packer’s comeback

Posted on February 23, 2018 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson‘s at it again. This time, in the cause of escalating Mideast tensions, he’s putting his money where his mouth is. The toupee-crowned supermogul is reported to be offering to foot the bill for at least some of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Atlantic City, Australia, Donald Trump, Glenn Straub, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Lucky Dragon, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Crown 18, The Strip | Comments Off on Adelson subsidizes foreign policy; Packer’s comeback

Revel bought? Straub says no; R.I.P., Keely Smith

Posted on December 19, 2017 by David McKee

Revel/Ten may have yet another name soon, now that wannabe buyer Bruce Defik has done what Glenn Straub wouldn’t: apply for a New Jersey gaming license. Straub continues to assert that there is no deal in place but “a court … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, California, Detroit, Dining, Entertainment, Glenn Straub, history, Internet gambling, James Packer, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Revel, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Revel bought? Straub says no; R.I.P., Keely Smith

Wynn’s new frontier

Posted on December 14, 2017 by David McKee

Wynn Resorts made it official last night: It had paid just under $335 million for the old New Frontier site, which it is taking over from James Packer. The deal makes a fool of Packer, who paid $570 million for … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cretins, Current, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Donald Trump, Florida, Genting, Hard Rock International, James Packer, Lucky Dragon, LVCVA, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Riviera, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Wynn’s new frontier

Alon: Packer out, Wynn in; Expert: Millennials suck

Posted on December 7, 2017 by David McKee

We guess Steve Wynn couldn’t stand looking at a vacant lot across from Wynncore any longer. The former Alon site will now be Wynn’s Next-But-One Great Thing. Back when it was still the Plaza site, Wynn publicly mulled building a … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, James Packer, Marketing, Palms, Plaza, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 24, 2017 by David McKee

“It did rock my world. Reading in every newspaper around the world that Crown [Resorts] was a bad corporate citizen shook me to the core because I had put in so much effort over so many years to ensure Crown … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Cosmopolitan, Crown Resorts, James Packer, Macau, The Crown 18, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Abe, casinos win; Tournament of Rose

Posted on October 23, 2017 by David McKee

In a snap election, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Liberal Democratic Party posted big gains. The mandate was sufficiently huge to give the LDP outright control over every committee in the Diet. This is a big boost to … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Crown Resorts, e-sports, Election, Harrah's, James Packer, Japan, Macau, Regulation, Sports, The Crown 18 | 1 Comment

Crown in hot water again; Wynn and whimsy

Posted on October 20, 2017 by David McKee

Crown Resorts just can’t stay out of trouble. On the first anniversary (roughly) of the arrest of the Crown 18 in China, the casino giant stands accused of rigging video poker machines. Parliamentary lone wolf and anti-gambling crusader Andrew Wilkie … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Australia, Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, James Packer, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Crown 18, Tilman Fertitta | 2 Comments

Icahn’s big score

Posted on August 31, 2017 by David McKee

Did Carl Icahn just take Steven Witkoff to the cleaners? It sure looks that way. Witkoff and his associates paid, according to Bloomberg, $22 million an acre for Fontainebleau. Yes, $22 million. That figure is so dazzling I had to … Continue reading →

Posted in Carl Icahn, Fontainebleau, Genting, Internet gambling, James Packer, Maine, Marketing, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Politics, Steven Witkoff, The Strip | 1 Comment

#5,001

Posted on August 14, 2017 by David McKee

Yes, this is the 5,001st Stiffs & Georges post and let me start with a big  thank-you to all of you, the readers, for making it possible. If it weren’t for your support I’d probably have hung it up long … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Georgia, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, James Packer, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sam Nazarian, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, SLS Las Vegas, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 5 Comments

Play dirty; Ayre beats the rap

Posted on July 24, 2017 by David McKee

One of the great things about Nevada‘s gambling industry is that it’s a free market. If you’ve got the capitalization and qualify for a license, any number can play. (Actually, some have gotten licensed only to be exposed as empty … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Crown Resorts, Culinary Union, Donald Trump, Genting, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Law enforcement, Nevada, Regulation | Comments Off on Play dirty; Ayre beats the rap