Category: Casino News

See that fella? It’s certified Bad Guy Sen. Mike Crapo (R) and he’s grinning because he stuck it to you big time and looks to get away with it. To steal from Vital Vegas author Scott Roeben, Crapo has the perfect last name for someone who gleefully took a big, steaming dump on the gambling public. He’s the evil genius behind the OBBBA tax hike on gamblers, which got passed because most of Crapo’s colleagues were too clueless to study the bill … and because they were under heavy White House pressure to move the damn thing.

Continue reading Good Guys & Bad Guys

Penn Entertainment opens its new, $185 million Hollywood Joliet tomorrow. It could use the boost. Land-based casinos continue to perform for Penn, despite CEO Jay Snowden‘s dubious competence. Its much-vaunted digital strategy is another matter. Online return on investment just got reduced 25%, meaning that Penn will lose $200 million on sports betting and iGaming this year, not a mere $160 million.

Continue reading No Hope for ESPN Bet?

After months of the bow planes being locked in “Dive,” the submersible U.S.S. Las Vegas Strip finally righted itself, at least for June. Gambling grosses nudged upward 1%, nabbing $765 million. Slots carried the freight, as the one-armed bandits took 10% more, year/year. Baccarat wasn’t the usual disaster but it was down 7%, while all other table games slumped 9.5%. So score one for the low rollers, who saved Las Vegas‘ bacon … and damned little gratitude can they expect for it.

Continue reading Strip Snaps Slump

We promised to stay on the case of the phantom rebranding of the Tropicana Atlantic City. Above you see the official evidence. There’s nothing sinister afoot. Caesars Entertainment simply got caught with its marketing pants down. It is a bit funny that the Roman Empire would change its Atlantic City letterhead but simply forget to rename the casino. Assuming that’s what was going on. And you know what happens to those who assume.

Continue reading Smoking Gun; Motown Mayhem

Take a long look at that rendering for Bally’s Bronx. You might never see it again. The project got smothered in the crib by the New York City‘s governing council, which voted 26-9 to deny it rezoning from Bally Links. Without that, the $4 billion pipe dream is as good as gone. Gone too are Donald Trump‘s increasingly faint hopes for $115 million “gaming event fee” should Bally’s grab the brass ring. But, contrary to Bally’s Chairman Soo Kim‘s borderline paranoia, the fatal blow was struck from the right, by Councilwoman Kristy Marmorato (R). She was against the project and brought 25 other votes with her. Hard cheese, Soo. The Bally’s boss was thunderstruck by the outcome and has said virtually nothing since that City Council shockeroo.

Continue reading Then There Were 7 …