Category Archives: Steve Wynn

Casinos continue to thrive; Crooks, liars and losers

There’s no “supply chain” issue when it comes to dollars flowing into American casinos. Take Missouri, for instance. Casino revenue sprang 15.5% over 2019 last month, for a statewide take of $145.5 million. Actual visitation was down 2o% but per-visitor … Continue reading

Posted in Apollo Management, Bally, Bally Technologies, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Century Casinos, Churchill Downs, Cretins, DraftKings, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Indiana, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Maryland, Mattress Mack, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Nevada, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Regulation, Reno, Rush Street Gaming, Scientific Games, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal, WInd Creek, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Venetian: The fix was in

As usual when billions are on the line, regulators dove under the table regarding the sale of Venelazzo to an unholy alliance of Apollo Management and Vici Properties. Although the Nevada Gaming Control Board cried foul—and rightly so—at the sexual … Continue reading

Posted in Apollo Management, Architecture, Caesars Entertainment, California, Canada, Card rooms, Conventions, Culinary Union, DraftKings, Economy, Election, FanDuel, Florida, IGT, Las Vegas Sands, Massachusetts, Peninsula Pacific, Politics, Real Estate, Regulation, Reno, Sexual misconduct, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Virginia, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Mirage sold; Big win for Las Vegas; Bluhm, Reinsdorf clash in Chicago

In a billion-dollar coup, MGM Resorts International has sold the operations of The Mirage to Hard Rock International, a huge markup on Steve Wynn‘s 1989 creation—and Hard Rock isn’t even getting the underlying land! All this for 17X EBITDA, an … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, Cordish Co., Downtown, DraftKings, Economy, Hard Rock International, Health, Japan, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Scott Butera, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, TV, Virgin Hotels | 4 Comments

Seminoles to feds: “F*** off”; Strip casinos drive down employment

In a big “up yours” to the federal judiciary, the Seminole Tribe—after momentarily pausing—has resumed taking sports bets and is effectively daring the courts to do something about it. If that weren’t nervy enough, the Seminoles have asked Judge Dabney … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Economy, Florida, history, Seminole Tribe, Sexual misconduct, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Wynn drops bombshells; Portnoy’s complaint

Wynn Resorts CEO Matt Maddox is leaving the building, effective Jan. 31. This shockeroo, which inspired a banner headline in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, was trundled out just minutes before the 3Q21 earnings call. Maddox will be succeeded by veteran … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Arizona, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, China, Diversity, Economy, GLPI, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Movies, New York, Ocean Resort, Oklahoma, Penn National, Politics, Sexual misconduct, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

DraftKings, MGM play chicken, MGM wins; Highway robbery in N.Y.

As we’ve written elsewhere, this was supposed to be The Year of Sports Betting … before the Covid-19 Delta variant reared its ugly head (and that was before Coronavirus knocked us out of Global Gaming Expo). But sports betting could … Continue reading

Posted in Alaska, Bally, DraftKings, Economy, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, MGM Resorts International, New York, Politics, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Illinois springs to life while Ohio erupts; Mohegan Sun jilted twice over

Stop the presses! Illinois casinos actually outperformed 2019 last month by 4%. That’s downright miraculous. They grossed $120 million, led by Rivers Casino Des Plaines‘ $47.5 million, a 28% vault. Harrah’s Joliet was a distant second with $14.5 million (-1%), … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Arizona, Arkansas, Bally, BetMGM, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Century Casinos, Churchill Downs, DraftKings, G2E, Genting, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Internet gambling, Jack Entertainment, Japan, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, The Rio, The Strip, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 4 Comments

Steve Wynn, international man of mystery

“Foreign agent.” That’s who Steve Wynn is, according to the Justice Department, which is prepared to sue the disgraced casino mogul if he doesn’t register as an aegis of Red China‘s government. Seems that Steve was carrying water for the … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, Canada, Card rooms, Century Casinos, China, Cretins, Detroit, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Health, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, LVCVA, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, North Carolina, Ocean Resort, Phil Ruffin, PointsBet, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wisconsin, Wynn Resorts | 4 Comments

MGM revisited; Mixed month for Indiana

Today it was Credit Suisse analyst Ben Chaiken‘s turn to weigh in on MGM Resorts International‘s 4Q20 numbers and he found even more to like than did Joseph Greff yesterday. Leading with Macao, Chaiken saw MGM China capturing more of … Continue reading

Posted in Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Colorado, Dan Lee, Donald Trump, DraftKings, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, Galaxy Entertainment, Genting, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Japan, Jim Murren, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Movies, New York, Penn National, Regulation, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, The Mob, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Washington State, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Case Bets

More than 23 million Americans are expected to bet legally or otherwise on the Super Bowl, according to the American Gaming Association, which predicts $4.3 billion in handle. 7.5 million punters will be doing their wagering online, 63% more than … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, Cordish Co., DFS, Diversity, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, history, Illinois, International, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Problem gambling, Real Estate, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 3 Comments

Wynn, loopy attorney in legal feud; Philly goes Live

Steve Wynn is back in the news again. His former attorney, L. Lin Wood, is suing Wynn for alleged defamation, the ex-casino mogul supposedly having told Donald Trump that Wood was several fries short of a Happy Meal. The falling … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Connecticut, Conventions, Cordish Co., Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, FanDuel, Foxwoods, Health, IGT, International, Marijuana, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Steve Wynn | 2 Comments

Tribute to a bad man

Sheldon Adelson‘s Horatio Alger success story came to an abrupt end today, when the Boston Globe broke the news of his death from lymphoma at age 87. Adelson had a good run in the industry, longer than most, and his … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Alabama, Architecture, Conventions, Culinary Union, Donald Trump, Election, Florida, Galaxy Entertainment, Health, history, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, LVCVA, Macau, Marijuana, Movies, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Texas, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Pigskin parade

In spite of high hold percentages and no brick-and-mortar venues, Tennessee sports books came out of the blocks at a blinding pace. November handle was $131.5 million, the most for any first month in any state, ever. (Indiana debuted at … Continue reading

Posted in DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Indiana, Las Vegas Raiders, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, Sports, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Tennessee, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 4 Comments

Wynn zapped again; Canada boosts DraftKings

“Most of the time we can’t even be honest with ourselves.”—The Commoner in Akira Kurosawa‘s Rashomon. If at first they don’t give you a casino in Massachusetts, litigate. And when that doesn’t work, re-litigate. That’s what pouting Suffolk Downs owner … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Canada, DraftKings, Economy, Election, Las Vegas Raiders, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Pets, Politics, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Texas, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Wynn zapped again; Canada boosts DraftKings

Biden, vaccine give tourism hope; Cirque du Soleil in crisis

With as many as three Covid-19 vaccines on the way (Pfizer‘s seems to be the favorite horse in the race) and a new presidency two months away, things are looking up, according to people in the tourism industry. “I honestly … Continue reading

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Donald Trump, Economy, Elaine Wynn, Election, Entertainment, Health, MGM Resorts International, Problem gambling, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Sisolak victimizes the vulnerable

During the Great Recession, then-Gov. Jim Gibbons (R, above) committed a depraved act by raiding Nevada‘s problem-gambling fund to plug some holes in the state budget. Not to be outdone, Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) is following in Midnight Jim’s footsteps. … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, California, Card rooms, Culinary Union, Genting, Health, history, Internet gambling, Jim Murren, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Nevada, Politics, Problem gambling, Real Estate, Regulation, Scientific Games, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Tribal | 2 Comments

Case Bets

Rather than have a Vegas-only policy, MGM Resorts International has chosen to make face masks mandatory for customers at all its properties nationwide. It might cost them a little bit of business but it’s the right thing to do. This … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, Dining, Health, International, Las Vegas Sands, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Palms, Steve Wynn, Steven Witkoff | 2 Comments

‘Net bets carry Atlantic City; Clubs face crisis

Internet casinos are in New Jersey to stay. They grossed $86 million last month, their highest amount ever. That’s 135% more than a year ago. Golden Nugget was tops with $29 million, followed by Resorts Digital ($18 million) and Borgata … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Downtown, DraftKings, Economy, Entertainment, Florida, Golden Nugget, Health, Horseracing, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, LVCVA, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Morris Bailey, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Resorts World LV, Seminole Tribe, Sports, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Midwest: Casinos, interrupted

For some arcane reason, Illinois has not reported casino revenue for March. But we have a couple of neighboring states’ data and can conclude with reasonable certainty that it tracks with the Land of Lincoln. After a March 17 closure … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, DraftKings, Economy, Elaine Wynn, Eldorado Resorts, Galaxy Entertainment, Internet gambling, Iowa, Macau, Missouri, Movies, Oregon, Pansy Ho, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Technology | 1 Comment

Las Vegas is closed

America‘s favorite 24-hour town has finally caved to the inevitable and done what neither Sept. 11 nor the Great Recession made it do. It has turned out the lights and hung the “Closed for business” sign in the window. Finally … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Canada, Cosmopolitan, Culinary Union, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Election, Golden Gaming, Health, Illinois, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Phil Ruffin, Real Estate, Regulation, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Las Vegas is closed