Category Archives: Alex Yemenidjian

Adios, Tropicana?; New York sports betting tops $1 billion easily

Visit the Tropicana Las Vegas while yet you can. Why? Because Bally’s Corp. Chairman Soo Kim is seriously weighing the possibility of “knocking it down and starting over.” Yes, Kim would rebrand the place as Bally’s Las Vegas and then … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Bally, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, Columbia Sussex, Conventions, DraftKings, e-sports, Economy, Election, FanDuel, GLPI, Health, history, Laughlin, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Peninsula Pacific, Penn National, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Sahara, Sports betting, Taxes, Texas, The Strip, Virginia | Comments Off on Adios, Tropicana?; New York sports betting tops $1 billion easily

Las Vegas recovery: A definite maybe; Woe at Sands

First, the bad news. Las Vegas emerged from a December that was just plain awful, as discretionary income continues to dry up. Las Vegas Strip win plummeted 51% to $292 million. Statewide, gambling revenue toppled 35.5% for $684 million, an … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Alex Yemenidjian, Arizona, Boulder Strip, Caesars Entertainment, California, China, Conventions, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Economy, Health, Internet gambling, Japan, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Sands, Laughlin, LVCVA, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Mesquite, Mohegan Sun, New York, North Las Vegas, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, South Korea, Sports betting, Texas, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Wall Street, Wendover, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Trouble at the Trop; Liberace resurgence in Vegas

After a methodical — or at least slow-moving — investigation, FBI agents dropped the hammer on Tropicana Las Vegas‘ resident illusionist, Jan Rouven. The latter is accused of felony child pornography, having allegedly had myriad violent child-porn images and videos … Continue reading

Posted in ABBA, Alex Yemenidjian, Economy, Entertainment, history, Law enforcement, Penn National, Riviera, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wayne F. Newton | Comments Off on Trouble at the Trop; Liberace resurgence in Vegas

Those tight slots; A birthday for Horseshoe

When one reads that casino revenues were up in, say, Indiana, despite lower foot traffic, you’ve got to wonder how its done. Applied Analysis has the answer: Slot holds are at “all-time highs,” meaning that some of the economic recovery … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Baseball, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Indiana, Maryland, Penn National, Regulation, Tamares Group, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street, WMS Industries | 5 Comments

Penn “upbeat” about future; Connecticut tribes closer to new casino

Penn National Gaming CEO Tim Wilmott recently broke bread with J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff, who found Penn management “positive and primarily focused on PENN’s robust development pipeline,” which it thinks will produce improved cash flow even before the Tropicana … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, California, Florida, Foxwoods, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Racinos, Rhode Island, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Penn “upbeat” about future; Connecticut tribes closer to new casino

New life for the Trop?; Paragon’s latest trophy

David G. Schwartz muses on the brave, new world at the Tropicana Las Vegas — soon with 100% more Penn National Gaming. He assesses it as a win for both parties. Penn gets a foothold at a strategic crossroads on … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Baseball, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Hard Rock Hotel, history, M Resort, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Riviera, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Station Casinos, The Strip, Transportation, Westgate LV | Comments Off on New life for the Trop?; Paragon’s latest trophy

Penn nabs the Trop; Smog City

After years of hinting, feinting and fanning the flames of speculation, Penn National Gaming went out and bought its long-desired Strip casino: Tropicana Resort & Casino. The old gal has had difficulties keeping up with the times but Union Gaming … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Carl Icahn, Environment, Fontainebleau, GLPI, M Resort, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Tomato cans KO S&G

As a growing anticipation of mob violence grips Las Vegas in advance of the “Pretty Boy Floyd” Mayweather/Manny Pacquiao fight, I’m at work on a feature about fight security. That’s taken me away from S&G duty but I’ll back soon, … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Penn National, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Tomato cans KO S&G

JFK returns to Vegas, poker comes to Philly

Tourist attractions just haven’t been clicking for the New Tropicana Las Vegas. But it’s trying again with “The JFK Exhibition,” announced today. Although John F. Kennedy‘s connections to Las Vegas were part of the seamy underside of Camelot, that only … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Downtown, Environment, Harrah's, history, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Oscar Goodman, Pennsylvania, The Strip | Comments Off on JFK returns to Vegas, poker comes to Philly

Maryland: First, the good news; Here, kitty, kitty

Maryland casinos hit another monthly record — $82 million — boosted by Horseshoe Baltimore. Revenues at Maryland Live fell 10%, to $45.5 million — boosted by 50,000 customers over the Labor Day weekend — and Horseshoe raked in $22 million. … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Cordish Co., Entertainment, Harrah's, Maryland, Riviera, The Strip | Comments Off on Maryland: First, the good news; Here, kitty, kitty

Revel: A quiet death

“Gaming in Atlantic City isn’t dead, but it has to go on a crash diet to survive.” That’s the coroner’s verdict of the Newark Star-Ledger, in which former Atlantic Club worker Bill Terrigino adds his voice to the chorus that … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Atlantic City, Illinois, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Revel, Sam Nazarian, Slot routes, The Strip, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 3 Comments

Megaflop at the Trop

Whatever the hold Mamma Mia! exerted over Las Vegas audiences, it’s gone — and so will be the show, closing Aug. 3 after an abortive, three-month run. It doesn’t figure: A previous incarnation at Mandalay Bay (which Mandalay Resort Group … Continue reading

Posted in ABBA, Alex Yemenidjian, Downtown, Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Movies, The Strip | Comments Off on Megaflop at the Trop

Loveman’s latest dice throw; Delicate talks in Boston

In one of 2014’s least surprising stories, Caesars Entertainment has had to restructure debt. It will replace $1 billion in near-term indebtedness with $1.75 billion in longer-term notes. Bond analysts have been predicting this move for a long time, even … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Harrah's, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Slot routes, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Loveman’s latest dice throw; Delicate talks in Boston

Through a looking glass, brightly

So much for my crystal ball. Two projects that I openly doubted are now close to fruition and a third is showing fitful signs of life. (Another, Howard Bulloch‘s Ferris wheel, appears to be being dismantled.) Yesterday, SLS Las Vegas … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Cannery Casino Resorts, Entertainment, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Planet Hollywood, Sahara, Sam Nazarian, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Transportation | Comments Off on Through a looking glass, brightly

As the Trop turns …

While I was out of town, Alex Yemenidjian sprang another big-ass remake of the Tropicana Las Vegas upon local media. Now, most of A-Yem’s big, shiny ideas have had tragically short lives. (Anyone remember Bagatelle Beach Club? Wayne Newton: Once … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Entertainment, Sahara, Sam Nazarian | 1 Comment

What’s Steve Wynn thinking?; Best news of the week

If Steve Wynn is trying to talk himself out of contention in Massachusetts, he’s doing a good job of it. Yesterday, he told the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, “We’re scared to death — not that you won’t pick us, but that … Continue reading

Posted in ABBA, Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Election, Entertainment, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, New York, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 2 Comments

Freeman flunks; Casino insecurity; Between a Hard Rock and a good deed

It’s a good thing that American Gaming Association President Geoff Freeman hightailed it to Barcelona this week to give a speech. During Global Gaming Expo, his signature achievement was to stake the AGA’s credibility on a Justin Timberlake movie. Freeman … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Charity, Delaware, Economy, Election, G2E, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Indiana, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Movies, New York, Penn National, Regulation, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Freeman flunks; Casino insecurity; Between a Hard Rock and a good deed

What did Lee Amaitis know and when did he know it?

According to the Wall Street Journal, the founder of Cantor Gaming — Lee Amaitis (left) — is under federal scrutiny for an alleged role in illegal sports wagering. Already one Cantor exec, Michael Cantor, has copped a plea for facilitated the … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Cantor Gaming, Entertainment, Massachusetts, Penn National, Regulation, The Strip | Comments Off on What did Lee Amaitis know and when did he know it?

“Mob” exits Trop; Goretorium exiting Vegas?; Adelson keeps losing

Having served its purpose in getting the (rather soporific) Mob Attraction off the ground — including forgiving some lease payments — the Tropicana Las Vegas finds itself kicked to the curb. The Attraction will move to a new site (reputedly … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, Macau, Phil Ruffin, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | Comments Off on “Mob” exits Trop; Goretorium exiting Vegas?; Adelson keeps losing

Ditched, dumped, divorced, dud; Mob Attraction on the move?

Once again, the Las Vegas Hotel & Casino has been the place where shows go to die. Tedious demi-musical The D* Word is going dark for good on Sept. 1. You’d never guess this self-ripoff from the author of Menopause … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Current, Entertainment, The Mob, The Strip | 1 Comment