Category Archives: Politics

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

Pennsylvania soggy; Epic fail in North Carolina

At first blush, Pennsylvania‘s gambling economy looks all right, up 1% from August of 2019 and 2% from last year. But factor in the plethora of new casinos that have entered the fray and the Keystone State is down 14% … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Detroit, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, FoxBet, Greenwood Racing, Horseracing, Illitch Family, Internet gambling, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mohegan Sun, North Carolina, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Real Estate, Rush Street Gaming, Slot routes, Sports betting, Tribal, WInd Creek, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Pennsylvania soggy; Epic fail in North Carolina

Bally’s opens, Chicago yawns; MGM, tree murderers

Chicago‘s first casino opened to “dozens of people” Saturday. Only dozens? That’s not a good sign for Bally’s Corp. It’ll need to stir up a lot more excitement than that if it’s to make back its nut on $1.7 billion … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Century Casinos, Chicago, Churchill Downs, CityCenter, DraftKings, Dubai, Environment, FanDuel, Genting, history, Japan, Jim Murren, Las Vegas Raiders, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Penn National, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Virginia, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

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

Nevada’s mixed forecast; The mystery of the Playboy chips

Fueled by a record July at Reid International Airport, casinos on the Las Vegas Strip surged 8% in July, hitting $835 million. This was the highest single-month haul on the Strip ever, surpassing December 2022 by $20 million. Slot win … Continue reading

Posted in Boulder Strip, Donald Trump, Downtown, Genting, history, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Massachusetts, Mesquite, Neil Bluhm, New Jersey, North Las Vegas, Politics, Regulation, Reno, The Strip, Tribal, Wendover | Comments Off on Nevada’s mixed forecast; The mystery of the Playboy chips

In case you missed it …

Those of you who still follow us on Twitter, er, X may recall that we promised to share the next Casino Life Editor’s Note with you. Since it’s virtually the only Casino Life content that’s not hyperlinked to the Web, … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Boyd Gaming, Health, Louisiana, New Jersey, Politics, Rhode Island, The Strip | 3 Comments

Mega-Jottings for a Monday

What do to when there’s no news story that simply dominates the headlines? Bust out an extra-large serving of “Jottings,” of course! For instance, Resorts World Las Vegas should turn it around in the latter half of this year, even … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, Cordish Co., ESPN Bet, Genting, Illinois, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Mega-Jottings for a Monday

Horseshoe can’t save Louisiana; Big Brother returns

Despite only grossing $7.5 million last month, Horseshoe Lake Charles was the difference between an unadjusted, 6% decline in gambling revenue for Louisiana and a same-store, 10% declivity (lagging prosperous 2019 by 4%). Even so, the country’s most adverse casino … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, CQ Holdings, Detroit, DraftKings, FanDuel, Golden Nugget, Illitch Family, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Penn National, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, Stanley Ho, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Horseshoe can’t save Louisiana; Big Brother returns

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

Portnoy, Penn splitsville; Full House fire sale?

Like bad sex, the connubial bliss between Penn Entertainment and Barstool Sports ended abruptly. Cretinous Dave Portnoy becomes someone else’s problem child following the second-quarter-earnings revelation that Barstool was being sold back to its founder, jilted in favor of much … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Chicago, Colorado, Connecticut, Cretins, Dan Lee, Donald Trump, DraftKings, FanDuel, Florida, Foxwoods, Full House Resorts, Health, Illinois, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Raiders, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Sports, Sports betting, Tribal, TV, Wall Street, Westgate LV | Comments Off on Portnoy, Penn splitsville; Full House fire sale?

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

Big Apple dream; BetMGM welshes; Dekkers: Mom’s to blame

Developer Larry Silverstein‘s PR peeps released additional renderings of The Avenir over the weekend and they are certainly impressive. Few additional details of the proposed resort have been made available but the striking exterior is the work of veteran casino … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Arizona, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Conventions, Cretins, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Greenwood Racing, IGT, International, Iowa, Law enforcement, Lotteries, New York, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Tribal, United Kingdom, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Big Apple dream; BetMGM welshes; Dekkers: Mom’s to blame

Wall Street: Station soft; DraftKings impresses, Bally’s doesn’t

“If you were surprised you haven’t been paying attention.” So wrote Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli of yesterday’s Station Casinos earnings release. He added, “it should come as no surprise that RRR reported results that were softer than our forecasts,” which were … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, Conventions, Cordish Co., DraftKings, Economy, Entertainment, FanDuel, Galaxy Entertainment, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Politics, Racinos, Real Estate, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Wall Street: Station soft; DraftKings impresses, Bally’s doesn’t

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

Michigan hops, Bally’s flops and Stitt’s in hot water

Detroit casinos continue to be outperformed by their Internet rivals. Last month saw $151 million in online gambling revenue against $102 million from terrestrial, private-sector casinos. Sports betting chipped in $18 million. Revenue for the three Motown casinos was up … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Detroit, Dining, DraftKings, FanDuel, Illitch Family, Internet gambling, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Movies, Oklahoma, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Michigan hops, Bally’s flops and Stitt’s in hot water

Walk of Shame; F-blue aflame; More Stitt stupidity

Shame on the District of Columbia. Its embattled leadership has yanked away $200,000 in funding for treatment of disordered gambling. You’d think that would be a priority item for a city whose government is partly funded by sports betting … … Continue reading

Posted in Cretins, Fontainebleau, Health, International, Japan, MGM Resorts International, Oklahoma, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Walk of Shame; F-blue aflame; More Stitt stupidity

Louisiana still sinking; Insult from the Lege; Japan follies

Horseshoe Lake Charles continues to prop up Louisiana casino revenues, which were down 2% last month compared to -6.5% if Horseshoe is subtracted. The statewide gross was $196 million. Visitation overall was up 3% but gamblers clutched their purse strings, … Continue reading

Posted in Apollo Management, Architecture, Atlantic City, Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Churchill Downs, CQ Holdings, Golden Nugget, IGT, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Kansas, Lawrence Ho, Louisiana, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Technology, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Louisiana still sinking; Insult from the Lege; Japan follies

Casinos boffo everywhere: Unite-Here dumbassery

Beating Wall Street expectations comfortably, Las Vegas Sands reported cash flow of $973 million yesterday. Wall Street had expected $939 million from the second quarter while a more optimistic Joseph Greff of J.P. Morgan had projected $964 million. Macao-derived revenues … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, China, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Cretins, Dining, DraftKings, FanDuel, Greenwood Racing, Health, Illinois, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Singapore, Sports betting, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, TV, Unite-Here, Wall Street, WInd Creek | 1 Comment

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