Category Archives: Riviera

Adelson, master manipulator?; MGM REIT launched

Is Sheldon Adelson the secret string-puller behind Kelden Engel‘s petition drive to have part of the Riviera preserved? John L. Smith hints at that in this morning’s edition of Adelson’s Las Vegas Review-Journal. “If he’s carrying the water for someone who … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Entertainment, Illinois, LVCVA, MGM Mirage, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Adelson, master manipulator?; MGM REIT launched

Internet gaming backstops Atlantic City; Swordplay in Vegas

Traditional casino revenue fell 2% last month in Atlantic City but online winning were up 18%. The entry of PokerStars wasn’t immediately felt, as Resorts Digital‘s market share stood at 12%. behind Borgata ($4 million, 28%), Caesars Interactive (20%), Golden … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, history, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, PokerStars, Reno, Revel, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Internet gaming backstops Atlantic City; Swordplay in Vegas

Sexcapade case closed; GLPI/Pinnacle deal a certainty

Followers of jurisprudence will be denied one of the more prurient evidentiary hearings in history now that Vegas High Roller sexpot Chloe Scordianos has decided to plead guilty to disorderly conduct rather than face trial for committing sex acts in … Continue reading

Posted in Ameristar, Architecture, Entertainment, Environment, GLPI, Harrah's, history, Illinois, Law enforcement, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Riviera, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Sexcapade case closed; GLPI/Pinnacle deal a certainty

Unhappy Easter in Illinois; Money-laundering mess in Sparks

Easter, if you can believe it, is being blamed for a 2% decline in Illinois casino revenues last month. Argosy Belle continued to be the problem child of the state, down 13% (to $5 million). Slot-route competition continued to do … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Dan Gilbert, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Laughlin, Law enforcement, Macau, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Riviera, The Strip, Tourism | 1 Comment

Complications at the Riviera; PokerStars a hit in New Jersey

Implosion of the Riviera could occur as early as June, so doesn’t hesitate to have your  picture taken in front of it. However, the timeline could be extended by a number of complications. Now that a demolition firm has been … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Internet gambling, LVCVA, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Oklahoma, Penn National, Regulation, Riviera, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Complications at the Riviera; PokerStars a hit in New Jersey

That impersonal touch; Big day for MGM

What is almost completely missing from this commercial? Caesars Entertainment guests are lengthily shown drinking, dining, riding the High Roller (which could use the traffic) and — as a very brief afterthought — gambling. So the company’s definitely on the … Continue reading

Posted in California, CityCenter, Detroit, Dubai, Genting, Harrah's, International, LVCVA, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Penn National, Regulation, Riviera, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

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

The ubiquitous Packer; The 27% solution

James Packer has already missed his 2015 deadline for breaking ground on Alon and once again he is taking his eye off the Las Vegas ball. He and his Nobu co-investor, Robert DeNiro, have cut a deal with Antigua and … Continue reading

Posted in Colorado, Dan Gilbert, Economy, Full House Resorts, International, James Packer, Kentucky, MGM Mirage, Politics, Racinos, Riviera, The Strip | Comments Off on The ubiquitous Packer; The 27% solution

Up and down the Strip

SLS Las Vegas is finally doing better, if by “doing better” you mean losing only $39 million in a full 3Q15 as opposed to the $46 million lost in the truncated (five-week) 3Q14. Stockbridge Capital Partners continues to have to … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Cosmopolitan, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Economy, Fontainebleau, Genting, Harrah's, James Packer, Lucky Dragon, LVCVA, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Riviera, Sam Nazarian, Sheldon Adelson, SLS Las Vegas, Tamares Group, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Mirage sold?; Cosmo post-mortem; Ivey counterattacks

Our crackerjack research department at LVA is hot on the trail of a report that MGM Resorts International is going to shuck one of its signature properties, The Mirage, lock, stock and volcano. A sale of the megaresort that changed … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cosmopolitan, Idaho, International, MGM Mirage, North Las Vegas, Riviera, Steve Wynn, Tamares Group, Technology, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

SLS: House of Pain

Former Revel President Scott Kreeger, now running SLS Las Vegas, must feel like he’s gone from the frying pan into the fire. An unusually trenchant Howard Stutz column lays out the problems facing the new casino, a hipster joint sitting … Continue reading

Posted in California, Carl Icahn, Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Florida, Fontainebleau, Genting, Marketing, MGM Mirage, New York, Reno, Riviera, Sam Nazarian, SLS Las Vegas, Wall Street | 1 Comment

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

Illinois’ news bad even when it’s good

Illinois‘ casino lobby hopes to stave off (potentially disastrous) expansion, currently working its way through the state house. Unfortunately, last month’s results didn’t give it much ammunition. Revenues were down only 1%, which in any other context would be relatively … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Derek Stevens, Downtown, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, Kansas, Neil Bluhm, Oscar Goodman, Penn National, Riviera, Slot routes, Sports, Wall Street | Comments Off on Illinois’ news bad even when it’s good

Crystals for sale again; Hit-and-run Sheldon

MGM Resorts International isn’t hurting for cash, having just posted a $170 million profit for 1Q15, far outstripping analysts’ projections (and despite an 11% falloff due to Macao). However, its Crystals shopping mall is back on the market, carrying a $1 … Continue reading

Posted in Economy, history, Macau, MGM Mirage, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, SLS Las Vegas, Sports, The Strip, Westgate LV | Comments Off on Crystals for sale again; Hit-and-run Sheldon

Quote of the Day

“The amazing thing about Las Vegas is how soon it forgets itself because it keeps reinventing itself.” — Splash choreographer Jeff Kutash on the closing of the Riviera, which took place at noon yesterday.

Posted in history, Riviera, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

The perils of Pence; Court prods Caesars

Indiana‘s casinos are now officially at the mercy of Gov. Mike Pence (R). The Hoosier State’s General Assembly passed a compromise bill that has something for the casinos (transplanting to terra firma) and something for Pence, namely a five-year moratorium on … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Entertainment, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Racinos, Riviera, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on The perils of Pence; Court prods Caesars

Quote of the Day

“Outside the cabaret now called Le Bistro Lounge, however, the Riviera looked seedy, its decor suggesting that Jimmy Carter was still in the White House: pinball machines, worn carpet, old men in wheelchairs and oxygen masks joylessly playing the slot … Continue reading

Posted in history, Riviera, The Strip | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Whither McCartney?; Distress at Caesars

Earlier this week, Vegas Tripping reported the departure of Thomas McCartney from The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. In its press release, the Cosmo went beyond the neutral sort of verbiage reserved for such pronouncements, saying that “Mr. McCartney did not … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Cosmopolitan, Delaware, Genting, Harrah's, Illinois, James Packer, New York, Riviera, SLS Las Vegas, Station Casinos, The Strip, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 1 Comment

Honeymoon over in Atlantic City; Resistance in Connecticut

All the gains Atlantic City casinos had been making from the downsizing of the market came to an abrupt end last month. Gambling revenues dove 16% and same-store revenues fell 2% (yes, even the Borgata‘s). Luck simply was not on … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, Boyd Gaming, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Riviera, Scientific Games, Shuffle Master, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street, WMS Industries | 1 Comment

Las Vegas’ robust January; Measles in a casino

January was good for the State of Nevada (+8%) but especially powerful for the Las Vegas Strip, up 15%. The casinos played lucky, with baccarat winnings up 68.5%, despite 13.5% less being wagered. Strip slot revenues were up 4%, even … Continue reading

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Economy, Environment, Fontainebleau, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, MGM Mirage, New York, North Las Vegas, Riviera, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Las Vegas’ robust January; Measles in a casino