Category Archives: Hard Rock International

If you can’t beat ’em, cheat ’em; Fun & games

No, this isn’t about politics. Or maybe it is. Either way, it’s another chapter in the crony-capitalism, juiced-in deal Washington, D.C.’s puppet government made with Intralot. Along with the Washington D.C. Lottery, Intralot is parent of that malign progeny GamebetDC. … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Caesars Entertainment, Cordish Co., Cretins, Culinary Union, Dining, Economy, Election, G2E, Hard Rock International, Health, history, International, Jim Murren, MGM Resorts International, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Politics, Problem gambling, Silverton, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on If you can’t beat ’em, cheat ’em; Fun & games

Atlantic City rebounds; Sibella dumped; NFL suspicions

Casinos in Atlantic City were up 2% in August, reaching $280 million. Slot winnings were 3% higher, on a commensurate increase in coin-in. The gambling halls weren’t so lucky at the tables, where 5% higher wagering translated into flat win. … Continue reading

Posted in Alaska, Animals, Atlantic City, Bally, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, DraftKings, Dubai, Fanatics, FanDuel, Genting, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, IGT, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Raiders, Law enforcement, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Movies, Ocean Resort, Palms, Problem gambling, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Technology, The Mob, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Atlantic City rebounds; Sibella dumped; NFL suspicions

MGM crippled; Illinois & Indiana report; Bally’s shaky in Chi

Different day, same story for MGM Resorts International, brought to its knees by a cbyer-assault of still-unknown provenance. The FBI has been brought in although, per standard operating procedure, the G-Men aren’t commenting on what went down. MGM is daintily … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, Churchill Downs, Dan Lee, DraftKings, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Law enforcement, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Technology, Wall Street | 2 Comments

MGM paralyzed; DraftKings debacle; Mount Airy wins

In a new kind of September 11 attack, MGM Resorts International was felled by a massive cybersecurity breach. From disabling digital room keys to kneecapping credit card systems (forcing transactions to be made in cash), it sent MGM back to … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, China, Connecticut, Cosmopolitan, Cretins, DraftKings, Dubai, Florida, Hard Rock International, Health, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Ocean Resort, Ohio, Pansy Ho, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

New York: Trump out, Bally’s in; North Carolina Lege flops

New York City will be stuck with failed casino owner Donald Trump‘s name on an overpriced public golf course until 2035 … unless Bally’s Corp. can swing a deal to buy the obstreperous mogul out of his lease with the … Continue reading

Posted in Apollo Management, Atlantic City, Bally, Chicago, Colorado, Cordish Co., Culinary Union, Dining, Donald Trump, Hard Rock International, Health, history, MGM Resorts International, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Real Estate, Regulation, Security, Sexual misconduct, Sports betting, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Virginia, William Hill, Wisconsin | 2 Comments

Labor Day odds & ends

Casino revenue in Ohio dipped 2% in July, reaching $203.5 million. Before anyone goes all Chicken Little on us, that’s 25% higher than gambling win in 2019. So Ohio’s is a nice problem to have. MGM Northfield Park waxed the … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, DraftKings, Fanatics, FanDuel, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Jack Entertainment, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Labor Day odds & ends

Hot July in Vegas; GLPI’s Illinois big gulp; Mega-Jottings

How impressive was the Las Vegas Strip‘s July performance? Pretty damned impressive, considering that it hit a best-ever record on only 1% higher visitation than last year and 4% less than in the halcyon year of 2019. Hotel occupany ran … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Charity, Churchill Downs, Conventions, Economy, Election, Failsinos, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Hawaii, Health, Illinois, New Hampshire, Palms, Problem gambling, Real Estate, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, The Strip, Tribal, Virginia, Wall Street, Wisconsin | Comments Off on Hot July in Vegas; GLPI’s Illinois big gulp; Mega-Jottings

Bellagio sold again; Atlantic City sob story; Trump busted

It’s getting very difficult to tell the players without a scorecard in the game of the REIT-ification of the Las Vegas Strip. Case in point, Bellagio, which now has three owners. There’s MGM Resorts International, which holds a token 5% … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Donald Trump, Foxwoods, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Iowa, Law enforcement, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Movies, Nebraska, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Racinos, Real Estate, Regulation, Security, Slot routes, Sports betting, Taxes, Technology, The Strip | 1 Comment

Gambling returns to normality; Boyd’s low-cost charity

Gambling revenues have been so overheated since the pandemic that some kind of market correction was overdue. The much-vaunted recession having failed to manifest itself, the gloom-and-doom crowd on Wall Street must content itself with small retreats in casino winnings. … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Arizona, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Cretins, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Florida, Golden Nugget, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Hawaii, Health, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New York, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Phil Ruffin, Resort fees, Rush Street Gaming, Silverton, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, WInd Creek, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Gambling returns to normality; Boyd’s low-cost charity

Macao powers Wynn; Indiana down, Missouri flat

Sounding pleased with Wynn Resorts (“Upside across the board”), J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff lauded its 2Q23 performance as “solid,” without budging from his “Overweight” rating or $142/share price target. That’s despite Wynn blowing past Greff’s cash-flow estimates for Macao, … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Century Casinos, Dining, DraftKings, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, Genting, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, New York, Penn National, PointsBet, Problem gambling, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Macao powers Wynn; Indiana down, Missouri flat

Maryland down, Illinois up; NFL hypocrisy; Bally’s biz

Gaming industry bears are going to latch onto a 4% drop in Maryland gambling earnings as evidence of an impending recession. Thankfully, J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff puts it in context by pointing out that the $174 million haul is … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., DraftKings, Election, Entertainment, Full House Resorts, Golden Gaming, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Politics, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Virginia, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off on Maryland down, Illinois up; NFL hypocrisy; Bally’s biz

Ohio up; Golden struggles; Bay State blunders

Continued strength in casinos was shown by Ohio, which posted $193.5 million in gambling revenue in June. That’s 2% higher than already-strong last year and a whopping 20% over 2o19, which was none too shabby either. Hollywood Columbus came out … Continue reading

Posted in Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Churchill Downs, DraftKings, FanDuel, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Jack Entertainment, Japan, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, United Kingdom, Wall Street | Comments Off on Ohio up; Golden struggles; Bay State blunders

Silence of the ponies; New boss for Virgin, new Mirage hope

Kentucky Derby fallout continues to reverberate around Churchill Downs, leading to a 2Q23 earnings miss. A mass die-off of horses during the Run for the Roses caused the flagship track to be closed and races shifted to Ellis Park. Cash … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, Century Casinos, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Fontainebleau, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock Hotel, Hard Rock International, Health, history, Horseracing, Kentucky, Louisiana, Marketing, Maryland, Mohegan Sun, North Carolina, Politics, South Korea, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Virgin Hotels, Virginia, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Atlantic City, Massachusetts up, Illinois down; Crime fails to pay

Atlantic City rebounded nicely in June, up 5.5% to $241.5 million. Table game winnings were flat, despite 3.5% larger wagering than last year (so the players made out well) and slot win jumped 7% on a commensurately higher amount of … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Crown Resorts, Dan Lee, DraftKings, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Kazuo Okada, Law enforcement, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Philippines, Sports betting, Taxes, Technology, Virginia, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Atlantic City, Massachusetts up, Illinois down; Crime fails to pay

F-blue, Rio approved; Indiana down again; Biden smoked

Fontainebleau owner Jeffrey Soffer and top exec Brett Mufson are certain to be approved after their audition for the Nevada Gaming Control Board. And why not? Aside from an ancient tax issue involving the Town Square mall, there’s nothing untoward … Continue reading

Posted in Animals, Architecture, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, DraftKings, Entertainment, Environment, FanDuel, Fontainebleau, Genting, Hard Rock International, Health, history, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Kazuo Okada, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Movies, New York, North Carolina, Ocean Resort, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Seminole Tribe, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, The Rio, Tribal, Virgin Hotels, Virginia, Wall Street, Washington State, Wynn Resorts | 4 Comments

A big win for DeSantis; Churchill Downs fired; Mega-Jottings

Private-sector gambling operators got some very bad news from the District of Columbia Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals. The latter, in a very broad construal of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, ruled that the Seminole Tribe—and by implication, … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Arizona, Atlantic City, Australia, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Churchill Downs, Dining, Donald Trump, DraftKings, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, FanDuel, Florida, Fontainebleau, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Internet gambling, Jack Entertainment, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Real Estate, Regulation, Reno, Rush Street Gaming, Seminole Tribe, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, TV, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

All Atlantic City, all the time; Gone to the dogs; Mega-Jottings

Although terrestrial casino revenue dipped 2.5% last month, New Jersey casinos made out like bandits online, with i-gambling up 19% and sports betting leapt 33.5%. In Atlantic City the gross was $227 million at traditional casinos, as a sharp decline … Continue reading

Posted in Animals, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, DraftKings, El Cortez, Election, Entertainment, FanDuel, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Movies, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Ocean Resort, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Politics, Reno, Rhode Island, Rush Street Gaming, Slot routes, Sports betting, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal, Vermont, Vici Properties, Virginia, Wall Street, West Virginia, WInd Creek, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Indiana, Missouri down; Mega-Jottings

Indiana has joined the growing litany of states with disappointing May casino receipts. The statewide gross of $196.5 million represented a 7% drop-off from last year at this time. Only two casinos defied the trend. French Lick Resort leapt 14.5% … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Canada, Century Casinos, Downtown, DraftKings, Election, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, Galaxy Entertainment, Genting, Hard Rock International, Indiana, International, Kentucky, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, New York, Penn National, PointsBet, Regulation, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Sports betting, Star Entertainment, Tamares Group, Tribal, Virginia, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Indiana, Missouri down; Mega-Jottings

Maryland droops; Boardwalk bulletin; Barstool blunder

Mr. & Mrs. America’s torrid, post-pandemic love affair with casino gambling is finally cooling. It’s not cause for alarm, as we knew this was coming—in fact, it was expected to happen much sooner. And while players are dropping less at … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, Baseball, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., DraftKings, Fanatics, Full House Resorts, Golden Gaming, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, LVCVA, Marijuana, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Penn National, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, West Virginia | 5 Comments

Ohio cools a bit; On the Boardwalk; Regulatory fist-shaking

Casino revenues are finally cooling off around the country, later than Wall Street expected. Ohio was down 5% last month, reaching $204.5 million—yet still 28% higher than pre-Covid April 2019. So the sky is definitely not falling. Two racinos defied … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Arizona, Atlantic City, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Dining, Donald Trump, DraftKings, Economy, Entertainment, FanDuel, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, history, Hooters, International, Internet gambling, Jack Entertainment, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Sports, Sports betting, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off on Ohio cools a bit; On the Boardwalk; Regulatory fist-shaking