Category Archives: Election

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

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

Another Apollo scam; MUD-slinging

Since taking over Venelazzo, new owner Apollo Management has been behaving itself, with none of the shenanigans that characterized its ill-fated co-ownership of Caesars Entertainment. That, however, does not mean that Apollo has learned to straighten up and fly right. … Continue reading

Posted in Apollo Management, Australia, Churchill Downs, Culinary Union, Donald Trump, Election, Philippines, Politics, Star Entertainment, Station Casinos, Taxes, Virginia | Comments Off on Another Apollo scam; MUD-slinging

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

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

Bally’s all-but-done deal; Meruelo trashed

So long, Tropicana Las Vegas. Say hello, National Basketball Association and Major League Soccer. And let’s not forget lacrosse and badminton. Since there is no stadium deal for which the Nevada Lege will not bend over and grab its ankles, … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Bally, Baseball, Colorado, Election, GLPI, Health, Louisiana, Nevada, Politics, Problem gambling, Prostitution, Real Estate, Sahara, Sports, Station Casinos, Taxes | Comments Off on Bally’s all-but-done deal; Meruelo trashed

Atlantic City doldrums; Black Tuesday; Culinary wins one

Our man in Atlantic City has posted a flurry of dispatches, mainly concerning his new stomping ground, Harrah’s Resort. What you see above is the indoor pool, which doubles as a nightclub. When last visited, there was a (short) line … Continue reading

Posted in Animals, Atlantic City, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, Cretins, Culinary Union, Dining, DraftKings, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Fanatics, Hard Rock International, Health, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Palms, PointsBet, Politics, Regulation, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Virginia, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Under Southern skies; Presidential casino players

Truist Securities analyst Barry Jonas took a swing through Dixie casinos last month and had quite a bit to report. He hit the New Orleans, Lake Charles, Baton Rouge and Biloxi markets, his primary takeaway being that operators are consistent … Continue reading

Posted in Apollo Management, Architecture, Aristocrat, Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, Economy, Election, Golden Nugget, Louisiana, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, Penn National, Slot routes, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Big month for Strip; Miller’s rapid response; Titus time

Gambling grosses were ultra-boffo on the Las Vegas Strip last month, up 19% over the year previous and leaving 2019 in the dust, +25%. Locals casinos didn’t fare too badly, either if not as spectacularly as their Strip brethren: up … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Bally, Baseball, Boulder Strip, Caesars Entertainment, California, Charity, Downtown, Election, Jack Binion, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Lotteries, Marketing, Mesquite, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Reno, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, United Kingdom, William Hill | Comments Off on Big month for Strip; Miller’s rapid response; Titus time

Atlantic City up, Louisiana down; Steve Wynn’s revenge

Gambling revenues inched upward in New Jersey, plus 1% statewide, mainly driven by Internet casinos (+9%). In Atlantic City, slot winnings rose 3.5% to ($159 million) on 4% more coin-in but tables slipped 4.5% to $54 million as wagering dipped … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Chicago, China, Churchill Downs, Columbia Sussex, Conventions, CQ Holdings, DraftKings, Election, FanDuel, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Illitch Family, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Law enforcement, Louisiana, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Penn National, PointsBet, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Slot routes, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Unite-Here, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Atlantic City up, Louisiana down; Steve Wynn’s revenge

Boyd buoyed; Penn damned with faint praise; Mega-Jottings

It was a good day yesterday for Boyd Gaming as it trotted out its 4Q22 numbers. Cash flow healthily overshot Wall Street expectations and was powered by, among other things, better-than-2019 visitation by that Boyd mainstay, players from Hawaii. Wrote … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Canada, Churchill Downs, Cretins, Dining, Downtown, DraftKings, Election, Failsinos, FanDuel, Georgia, Hard Rock International, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, M Resort, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off on Boyd buoyed; Penn damned with faint praise; Mega-Jottings

MGM: Change partners and dance; 888 TKO’d

It’s Blackstone Group out, Vici Properties in at MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay, as Vici exercised its option over the half (OK, 49.9%) that it didn’t already own. Blackstone is $2.8 billion richer as a result, including $700 million in … Continue reading

Posted in Alabama, Arizona, Atlantic City, Bally, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Canada, Conventions, DraftKings, Economy, Election, FanDuel, Florida, Genting, Golden Nugget, Internet gambling, Iowa, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Michael Gaughan, Nebraska, Politics, Puerto Rico, Racinos, Real Estate, Regulation, Sports betting, Taxes, Texas, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tribal, Vici Properties, Virginia, Wall Street, WInd Creek | Comments Off on MGM: Change partners and dance; 888 TKO’d

Atlantic City slideshow & sideshow; Mega-Jottings

Something different today from the Boardwalk: A first glimpse of new-look Caesars Atlantic City. That $400 million in capex reinvestment didn’t go to waste. There’s now a Nobu (above) and a Hell’s Kitchen (below), “both high-quality work and high prices,” … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, Bally, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Cordish Co., Dining, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Lotteries, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Sports | 2 Comments

Wynn impresses; Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb; Culinary bombs

Wall Street analysts were across-the-board upbeat on Wynn Resorts‘ 3Q22 performance, as high-end casinos in Las Vegas continue to flourish. Although he categorized himself as “neutral,” given the evolving situation in Macao, analyst Joseph Greff of J.P. Morgan encapsulated third-quarter … Continue reading

Posted in Apollo Management, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Century Casinos, China, Culinary Union, Economy, Election, Failsinos, history, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Massachusetts, Mattress Mack, Missouri, New York, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Election Special: Gaming, tribes lose big

Although only 41% of all precincts have reported, it’s clear that both tribal and private-sector gaming suffered a stunning defeat in California last night. Both the tribes’ Proposition 26 and Big Gaming’s Proposition 27 are losing—and by wider margins than … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Caesars Entertainment, California, Card rooms, Culinary Union, Election, Genting, Georgia, Hard Rock International, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Sports betting, Texas, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Bread and circuses

Inflation or no, there is one quantifiable, incontestable fact about the American consumer. He or she is spending more—way more—on gambling than before Covid-19 and more than last year, when they had stimulus money to burn. So if there are … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Dan Lee, DraftKings, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Full House Resorts, Golden Gaming, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Jack Entertainment, Kentucky, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, The Strip, Tribal, Virginia | 2 Comments

DraftKings tumbles big-time; Big Gaming bets on red

“It’s kind of fun to do the impossible,” said Walt Disney. For the leadership of DraftKings, “the impossible” would include finding a path to near-term profitability. DKNG reported 3Q22 numbers late last week and J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff called … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Barstool Sports, Baseball, BetMGM, Brazil, Caesars Entertainment, Crown Resorts, Donald Trump, DraftKings, Economy, Election, FanDuel, Jim Murren, Kansas, Las Vegas Raiders, Macau, Mattress Mack, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Phil Ruffin, Problem gambling, Regulation, South Carolina, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 3 Comments

MGM, Penn disappoint, Golden droops; Tilman’s gambit

Dragged down the golden albatross that is Macao, earnings of MGM Resorts International missed analysts’ projections by a whopping $1.61 per share for a 3Q22 loss of $1.39/share. More’s the pity, as MGM did so many things right. Wall Street … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, Baseball, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, California, China, CityCenter, Conventions, Cosmopolitan, Detroit, DraftKings, Economy, Election, Full House Resorts, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Health, Illinois, Internet gambling, Iowa, Japan, Laughlin, M Resort, Macau, Maryland, Mattress Mack, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Singapore, Slot routes, South Korea, Sports, Sports betting, The Rio, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Atlantic City beat; MGM Cotai padlocked; Adelson buys Abbott

“Did Bally’s open a casino in Atlantic City and forget to tell anyone about it?” So asks our East Coast correspondent. “This is Bally’s yesterday (Sunday). A few casinos here would have more customers during a snow storm than this.” … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Chicago, China, Dining, Election, Entertainment, Golden Nugget, Health, Illinois, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Texas, United Kingdom, Vermont | 2 Comments