Since it has been outperforming the broader U.S. market for some time now, perhaps we should not be unduly concerned that Ohio casino revenues are down for three months in a row. Indeed, compared to go-go 2019, they’re still arguably overheated, up 17%. Besides, there was simply so much money that Americans could gamble and lose, and inflationary pressures in non-discretionary areas of the pocketbook cannot be denied. But don’t hit the panic button.
Casinos and racinos in the Buckeye State grossed $189 million last month, 4% lower than the previous June. The pecking order remains pretty much the same, with racino MGM Northfield Park easily out front with $23.5 million (+2%), followed most closely by Jack Cleveland ($22 million, -5%). Hollywood Columbus tumbled 9% but hung onto third place with $21 million, while Hard Rock Cincinnati continues to prosper from its new brand, up 5.5% to $20.5 million. Rounding out the casinos was Hollywood Toledo and its $18 million (-5.5%).
Scioto Downs was 4.5% off its feed but cantered past Toledo to pocket $18.5 million. Not so fortunate was Jack Thistledown, plunging 13% to $15 million, while Miami Valley Gaming grossed $17 million, a 4% slippage. All of the outlying racinos felt a modest pinch. Belterra Park slid 5% to $8 million, while Hollywood Dayton was down 3% to $12.5 million and Hollywood Mahoning Valley ceded 2.5% but still garnered $13 million.
Pandemic restrictions keeping your hotels empty? Not in Macao! The government has already appropriated the Sheraton portion of Sands China‘s franchise, as well as parts of The Londoner as a quarantine facility. (Sheldon Adelson must be spinning in his grave.) Now other concessionaires are having their facilities seized. SJM‘s new Grand Lisboa Palace has been seconded as a Covid-19 isolation ward, as has Melco Resorts & Entertainment‘s Grand Hyatt hotel, supplying 800 rooms between. This is partly a reflection of Macao’s poor public-health infrastructure (one hospital for 600,000 people), as well as a handy way for City Hall to remind the casino bosses who’s really in charge. Remember, you can’t own a casino in Macao. You lease it from the state. (It’s not just casinos that are being overrun; the former Macau Canidrome has been converted to a makeshift ward.) As for the enclave’s restaurant industry, expect it to take a wallop, since it’s been mandated to provide takeout-only service.
Is Bally’s Corp. skimping on staffing? Its pool and fitness center in Atlantic City are “temporarily closed” (at the height of summer, no less), making the only Boardwalk casino without a functioning pool. “Hotel services” and valet parking are “limited.” This parismony isn’t a good optic at a time when Chairman Soo Kim is posturing as a casino titan, ready to take on Chicago, New York City and Las Vegas all at once. Incidentally, a Philadelphia homicide was solved in Atlantic City by dint of a Caesars Rewards card. The shooter, who possessed one, was tracked by his card activity and apprehended at Harrah’s Resort. Kudos, Caesars, on helping justice be served.
Sandra Douglass Morgan, former chairwoman of the Nevada Gaming Control Board, has made history again, this time by becoming the first female African-American president of an NFL team, the troubled Las Vegas Raiders. We hope that she is empowered with a new broom to sweep the organization clean of toxic influences. When your executives can’t get along with Raiders booster Jeremy Aguero, the problem is with the execs, not the capable Aguero, who had a short tenure with the Silver & Black. Perhaps not coincidentally, team owner Mark Davis says “necessary” changes are being made in the front office to address a dysfunctional and sexist culture, one which engendered much unflattering coverage in the press.
At the risk of promoting tokenism, we’d say this of Morgan’s appointment: It’s about damn time. The most vociferous NFL fans we know are female (we’re married to one of them) and in a league dominated by Black players, the lack of African-American representation in front offices and along sidelines is nothing short of scandalous. It’s fitting that the team which hired the league’s first Black head coach (Art Shell) should break the barrier again with Morgan. We wish her well and look forward to the days when one can root for the Raiders with a clean conscience.
Dream Las Vegas is no longer a dream deferred. The $550 million casino-resort breaks ground today, to the southeast of Mandalay Bay. Unlike most Las Vegas construction projects, which seem to take forever and a day, this one is expected to be finished sometime in 2024. Whatever the reason (proximity to Reid International Airport being the most likely), capacity will be restricted to a relatively intimate 531 rooms. Parent company Shopoff Realty Investments hopes that Vegas will be the launching pad for a series of Dream-branded hotels in such citites as Bangkok (where casinos are contemplated), Miami Beach (where they aren’t), Nashville (ditto) and New York City proper (yes, no, maybe). The Sin City flagship has prevailed over opposition from all the major airlines, so if it can surmount that hurdle anything seems possible.
Jottings: The virulent sickness that is political violence has infected Japan, where former prime minister Shinzo Abe has died from a pair of shotgun blasts, received while making a campaign appearance in Nara. Abe, architect of Japan’s casino-legalization program, did not live to see his efforts bear fruit, which they still might not. This is Japan’s first political assassination in 62 years … Station Casinos seems to have found employment for the “portable” license for a hotel-less casino. Its new Wildfire will finally make use of the former site of the Castaways (where Mike Shustek took Station to the cleaners for a near-useless property). It was a pretty rough neighborhood back in the day but we hope Station succeeds in spiffing it up … Hard Rock International‘s temporary casino in Bristol opens today, beating the Virginia competition to the punch. The Wall Street Journal got a sneak peek … Red Hawk Casino has become the official gambling partner of the Sacramento Kings of the NBA. The tribal casino is in the process of building a sports bar—and potential sports book? We can but hope.
I will be out in Las Vegas on the Wednesday and Thursday before Labor Day weekend and a couple of days ago I reserved a two night hotel stay at the Tropicana (which Bally owns). The rooms were advertised at $44 a night but obviously with other fees it would be more.
The Tax Recovery Charges and Services Fees were $43.80 for two nights. Then in fine print it says: What are Tax Recovery Charges and Services Fees? This charge includes the estimated amount we pay the hotel for occupancy related taxes owed by the hotel and any amounts charged to us by resort fees, cleaning fees and other fees. The balance of the charge is a fee we, the hotel supplier and/or the website you booked on, retain as part of the compensation for our and /or their services which varies based on factors such as location, the amount, and how you booked. Since Tropicana Las Vegas – a Double Tree by Hilton Hotel & Resort I would assume this is a resort fee tax by Hilton and then also a small tax by Expedia.
Then it says Additional Fees collected by the property (Ballys) which is the resort fee and that comes out to $41.95 a day and $83.90 total. I would assume this is split by Ballys and Hilton 50/50 or something close. My total for two night is $215.70 which is a good price for two nights on the Strip even though Tropicana has been open for over 60 years.
Anyways the Tropicana does have a nice pool area and since it will be at least around 110 degrees at the end of August hopefully the pool will be open unlike the Ballys inn Atlantic City.