Category Archives: Harry Reid

Programming note

Due to a mysterious fatigue, my doctor has put me on bed rest for the remainder of the week. That means no S&G. Fortunately, it’s been a glacially slow news week, unless you count the passing of former gaming regulator … Continue reading

Posted in Harry Reid, history, The Mob | 3 Comments

Illinois, how could you?; 888 is Caesars’ lucky number

Count on Illinois to disappoint in an otherwise balmy August. True, it grossed a not-shabby $108 million but it was 8.5% down from 2o19, as business slipped 10% from July’s level. (We don’t want to say the gaming recovery is … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, Baseball, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, CityCenter, Cretins, DraftKings, Dubai, FanDuel, Harry Reid, Illinois, International, Lake Tahoe, MGM Resorts International, Paragon Gaming, Penn National, PointsBet, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, William Hill | 2 Comments

Caesars looking good; Amtrak covets Vegas; Bally’s underwhelms

Joseph Greff and his fellow JP Morgan analysts looked at recent trends in Las Vegas and any place not named Atlantic City, and liked what they saw, raising their price target on the stock five bucks to $101/share. Positive factors … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, California, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Economy, Golden Nugget, Harry Reid, Health, Indiana, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Nevada, Oklahoma, Regulation, Reno, Station Casinos, Technology, Texas, The Rio, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street, William Hill, World Series of Poker, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Demand, prices way up on the Strip; Big casino push in Texas

Emboldened by a combination of new, 50% capacity limits in Nevada and $1,400 stimulus checks, visitors poured into Las Vegas and resorts were quick to profiteer, er, monetize the nascent demand. The Strat more than tripled room rates, from $50/night … Continue reading

Posted in Alabama, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, China, Cordish Co., Cosmopolitan, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Golden Gaming, Harry Reid, Health, history, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Lotteries, Macau, Marketing, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Rush Street Gaming, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, Taxes, Tennessee, Texas, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Virginia, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

F-blue returns from the grave; Caesars socks it to you

The Thing That Wouldn’t Die, aka Fontainebleau, is back again. Former owner Steven Witkoff has sold it to Koch Real Estate Investments for an undisclosed price. Considering that Witkoff bought it from Carl Icahn for $600 million and estimated that … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Harry Reid, history, Horseracing, Illinois, Law enforcement, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Planet Hollywood, Racinos, Resorts World LV, Steven Witkoff, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Virgin Hotels, Wall Street | 5 Comments

Station sitting pretty; Missouri booms; All bets off at MGM

Despite fourth quarter revenues that were 28% off the pace ($122 million) in Las Vegas, analysts on Wall Street are liking Station Casinos these days. Native American management fees in 4Q20 were up 21% ($25.5 million) for one thing. JP … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Cretins, Dining, Economy, Harry Reid, history, Law enforcement, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Penn National, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Transportation, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Adelson rolling in grave; Police blotter

It’s a good thing Sheldon Adelson didn’t live to see this. The First Circuit Court of Appeals quashed a 2019 reinterpretation of the Federal Wire Act by the Justice Department, one that broadly applied it to Internet gambling. The federal … Continue reading

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Donald Trump, Economy, Hard Rock International, Harry Reid, Health, Indiana, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, PointsBet, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports betting, Taxes | 1 Comment

Massachusetts’ mixed message; Much ado about Circa

Even if Congress beats the odds and passes another megabuck stimulus bill before the election, it won’t provide more than a short-term shot in the arm for gaming, which saw a bubble of increased discretionary spending but is now backsliding. … Continue reading

Posted in Connecticut, Derek Stevens, DFS, Downtown, DraftKings, e-sports, Economy, Foxwoods, Harry Reid, Health, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Security, Sports betting, TV, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Gaming exempt from Wall Street love; Harry-come-lately

Gaming stocks responded indifferently to yesterday’s Wall Street rally. Wynn Resorts was up and down but ultimately flat, MGM Resorts International ticked up 2%, Las Vegas Sands was flat and Melco Resorts & Entertainment slipped a percentage point. So much … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, China, Churchill Downs, Conventions, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Entertainment, Harry Reid, Health, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Oregon, South Korea, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Gaming exempt from Wall Street love; Harry-come-lately

Quickie caucus summary

Winner: Medicare for All. As reported in the Boston Globe, “As [Sen. Bernie] Sanders piled up wins at precincts inside casinos up and down the Las Vegas Strip, it seemed clear that he had overcome deep opposition from the leadership … Continue reading

Posted in Culinary Union, Election, Harry Reid, Politics, The Strip | Comments Off on Quickie caucus summary

Saturation hits Connecticut; Culinary waffles on Sanders

So much for Tribal Winds, the satellite casino that was going to counteract MGM Springfield. Its backers are cutting the proposed $300 million investment by one-third. On the plus side, this could be read as a way of saying the … Continue reading

Posted in China, Colorado, Connecticut, Culinary Union, Donald Trump, DraftKings, Economy, Election, Environment, Foxwoods, Harry Reid, Health, history, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Technology | Comments Off on Saturation hits Connecticut; Culinary waffles on Sanders

Culinary defeats itself; Red scare in a blue state

By failing to coalesce behind a rival candidate, the Culinary Union may have gift-wrapped Nevada for Sen. Bernie Sanders [I]. According to the Boston Globe, which noted lingering tensions between Sanders and the Culinary, a recent poll “found Sanders the … Continue reading

Posted in China, Culinary Union, Election, Harry Reid, Marijuana, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, Wall Street | Comments Off on Culinary defeats itself; Red scare in a blue state

Culinary’s candidate is ‘none of the above’

In the political non-event of the year, the Culinary Union announced a media extravaganza to reveal their endorsement in the 2020 presidential election. A press conference was duly held for the Culinary to disclose that it was endorsing … nobody. It … Continue reading

Posted in Culinary Union, Donald Trump, Election, Harry Reid, Politics | Comments Off on Culinary’s candidate is ‘none of the above’

Maryland maxed out; Adelson’s $40 million lesson

Casino revenues in the Free State continue to be flat. Maryland gambling houses grossed $149 million last month. MGM National Harbor‘s $62.5 million—a 4.5% gain—led the state. Slots were down 2% at MGM but table win up 12%, a development … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Downtown, Environment, Golden Gaming, Harry Reid, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, Terry Caudill | Comments Off on Maryland maxed out; Adelson’s $40 million lesson

Two trains running

In a flurry of recent developments, Las Vegas has gone from no viable prospects for train service to two. And since they would use different tracks, they are not mutually exclusive. One project that appears to be dead and buried … Continue reading

Posted in California, Florida, Harry Reid, North Las Vegas, Politics, Tamares Group, The Strip, Transportation | Comments Off on Two trains running

Reid rages against the dying of the light; Michigan nixes Net bets

Nevada‘s most famous gaming regulator is dying. Harry Reid has pancreatic cancer and we’d say he’s throwing verbal restraint to the winds now that he has nothing to lose — but that has always been Reid’s style. The New York … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Caesars Entertainment, Donald Trump, Harry Reid, history, Internet gambling, Japan, Massachusetts, Politics, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Sports, Sports betting, Tourism, Transportation, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Reid rages against the dying of the light; Michigan nixes Net bets

Election Special: Winners and losers

In a victory for the state of Arkansas, voters approved casinos in four locations across the state, 54% to 46%, a convincing mandate by any measure, and a big win for a variety of pro-casino companies that included Warner Gaming and Delaware North. … Continue reading

Posted in Arkansas, Caesars Entertainment, Culinary Union, DFS, Election, Florida, Georgia, Harry Reid, International, Marijuana, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Virginia, Warner Gaming, Wisconsin | Comments Off on Election Special: Winners and losers

Caesars to rebuff Fertitta; No surprise, Culinary endorses Rosen

This just in: Credit Suisse analyst Brian McKnight reports that the Caesars Entertainment board is going to reject Tilman Fertitta‘s reverse-merger offer. However, now that Caesars is in play, McKnight doesn’t think this is the end of the story, mentioning … Continue reading

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Culinary Union, Dining, Election, Harry Reid, Horseracing, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sports, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Reid: The truth is out there; Paddock motive unfathomable

Not only does the Pentagon have its own X-Files unit, there’s a strong Las Vegas angle. The Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program was the brainchild of then-Sen. Harry Reid (D) and (officially) ran from 2007 to 2012. However, according the the … Continue reading

Posted in Donald Trump, Downtown, Florida, Genting, Harry Reid, Law enforcement, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Melco Crown Entertainment, Philippines | Comments Off on Reid: The truth is out there; Paddock motive unfathomable

McCarran under siege; Japan to ban poker?

Sen. Pat McCarran (D) is making more posthumous news. State Sen. Tick Segerblom (D) is renewing his push to rename McCarran International Airport. Since the real–life McCarran was a racist, xenophobe and anti-Semite, the urge to efface his name is understandable. … Continue reading

Posted in Florida, Foxwoods, Harry Reid, history, Horseracing, Japan, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Taxes, Transportation, Wall Street | Comments Off on McCarran under siege; Japan to ban poker?