Well, here’s a novel piece of news out of Illinois, where it always seems that gloom and doom hold sway. Gaming revenues were up 2% last month. That’s even more impressive when you consider that it’s being 
measured against a January 2015 that saw an 8.5% boost in casino winnings. Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli reports that foot traffic was down 2% but player spending rose 4.5%. The worst blotch on the ledger was Argosy Belle, down 25% on a $4 million gross. It was a rough month along the Mississippi River, with Harrah’s Metropolis (above) reporting a 9.5% decline ($6.5 million).
Smaller declines were seen at Boyd Gaming‘s Par A Dice (-4%, $7 million) and Penn National Gaming‘s Hollywood Aurora (-2%, $10 million). Otherwise it was all sunshine and roses. Rivers Casino banked $35 million (up 3%), MGM
joint venture Grand Victoria Elgin rose 3% ($14 million) and
Gaming & Leisure Properties‘ Casino Queen, up 8%, to $9 million. Harrah’s Joliet had a breakout month, up 13% on the strength of a $17 million gross. Penn salvaged some pride at Empress Joliet, up 4% on $10 million, while Jumer’s Casino Rock Island‘s $6 million gross was good for a 2%. Results like these give one hope that casinos in the Land of Lincoln can yet stave off competition from slot routes.
Now hiring. Former Tropicana Las Vegas owner Onex Corp. struggled to get into the “daylife” scene. Now, new owner Penn National is going to give it a try. Penn promises a “summertime party vibe with bikini-clad bottle service, two luxury pools, VIP cabanas, a DJ booth and two bars. With an emphasis on delivering interactive experiences for guests 21+, Sky Beach Club will feature a robust entertainment lineup to include A-list celebrity hosts, top live music acts, beer pong and live table games.” The Trop is taking job applications, so if you’ve got a bikini bod, hop on over.
Home grown. So much of the Strip is derivative of places that have nothing to do with Nevada that it’s practically revolutionary that MGM Resorts International is creating a desert-oasis environment in The Park. Expect a lot of acacia and honey mesquite trees. Designer !melk studied the Mojave Desert. ” Their approach was to eschew the Vegas tradition of creating illusions of something else and instead create a place that is directly and authentically inspired by the city’s context, history and landscape,” says the company. If you’re an amateur botanist, be on the lookout for pink hesperaloes, yellow damianitas and purple salvias, chosen to make The Park colorful all year ’round.
Until then, MGM would like you to know that its corporate limo fleet runs on enviro-friendly compressed natural gas.
Speaking of technology, the Culinary Union won’t like this one bit if it comes to Vegas.
