This post is syndicated by the Las Vegas Advisor for the 888 casino group. Anthony Curtis comments on the 888 article introduced and linked to on this page.
Continue reading Successful Video Poker Play Differs from Slot PlayEast Coast report; “Best growth story in gaming” is who?
As we rummage through our mailbag, we find a number of dispatches from our East Coast correspondent, who recently helped prop up the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City with a three-night stay. He was drawn by a giveaway at Ocean Casino Resort (above): “They were having this odd gift of an ‘outdoor folding stool.’ Of course we had to have one. This week Boscov‘s (regional department store) had this ad showing the true value of the item: $4.99, with making a $15 purchase. I never knew the Illitch Family was so generous.” Throw in a mingy $30 of free play and it’s still not a George offer. That’s not how you get to number-one status, Ocean.
Speaking of promotions, Bally’s Atlantic City is touting “another free dinner at Guy Fieri’s, and a ‘meet and greet’ with someone from the Godfather film with drinks and prizes, including five violin-shaped vodka bottles.” That throws down the gauntlet to the Nugget, which is responding with “a ‘cocktail party’ with drinks and prizes (but no food). I can understand with the high price of food and ‘supply chain issues’. Perhaps Tilman Fertitta could ask Golden Nugget’s employees to go to some ‘food pantries’ and try and get some food for Nugget’s Elite level players.”
Continue reading East Coast report; “Best growth story in gaming” is who?Do APs Cheat?
At the recent World Game Protection seminars, casino expert Sal Piacente said: “Advantage players don’t want to cheat and aren’t doing anything illegal, but instead use their minds to beat the game, whether watching to see if a dealer exposes a hole card or by card counting.”
I’m not so sure.
Continue reading Do APs Cheat?A Dream deferred; Lost Virginity; Tennessee tax trouble
Don’t look now, Las Vegas but we may have another failsino on our hands. Construction has ground to a total halt on Dream, the south-Strip resort project that looked like a sure thing not so long ago. Developer Bill Shopoff is as much as $30 million in hock, stalling work on Dream. Shopoff is evidently renegotiating with his principal lender, for reasons undisclosed. (Cost overruns?) With a budgetary cap of $575 million, Dream has been proceeding so far from cash on hand, leaving it $400 million-plus short of the finish line. That’d require a “bridge loan” big enough to span Long Island Sound.
Continue reading A Dream deferred; Lost Virginity; Tennessee tax troublePennsylvania up; Arizona blunder; Über-Mega-Jottings
At $277 million, Pennsylvania casinos were 2% higher in February than last year, although a 12% declivity from go-go 2019 is further indication of a slowing recovery in gaming. Then again, after having reached record altitudes last year, how much higher can the industry go? Sports betting activing was flat at $599.5 million handle, which boiled down to $62 million in revenue, $43 million after promotional giveaways. As measured by handle, BetMGM is getting the least bang for its buck, spending 7% of handle for a 7% market share. Most efficient was Barstool Sports, laying out 2.5% of handle for a 6% share, closely followed by Caesars Sportsbook. Internet gambling was way up (29%) to $131.5 million. The catchall Hollywood Casino license, embracing three providers, brought in $56.5 million. BetRivers accounted for $26 million, surpassed by FanDuel‘s $27.5 million.
Continue reading Pennsylvania up; Arizona blunder; Über-Mega-JottingsAtlantic City up, Louisiana down; Steve Wynn’s revenge
Gambling revenues inched upward in New Jersey, plus 1% statewide, mainly driven by Internet casinos (+9%). In Atlantic City, slot winnings rose 3.5% to ($159 million) on 4% more coin-in but tables slipped 4.5% to $54 million as wagering dipped 1%. The comp-sweating Golden Nugget tumbled 14% to $11 million, tightening its stranglehold on last place, well behind Bally’s Atlantic City ($12 million and an impressive +14%) and Resorts Atlantic City ($12.5 million, -2%). Borgata put even more distance between itself and the competition, up 9% to $57.5 million. Hard Rock Atlantic City was flat and way back at $37.5 million. Ocean Casino Resort slid 11.5% to $26 million. Does the Illitch Family still fantasize about having the top casino in A.C.? That leaves the Caesars Entertainment triumvirate, led by Harrah’s Resort‘s $21.5 million (+8%), lagged by Caesars Atlantic City ($19 million, +1.5%) and the Tropicana Atlantic City with $17 million, flat in February.
Continue reading Atlantic City up, Louisiana down; Steve Wynn’s revengeBobby Vegas’ Vegas
[Editor’s Note: This post is written by Bobby Vegas, who’s proud to call himself a “scuffler,” someone who uses every advantage in casino gambling: trip planning with airline points, promotions, MRB and other coupons to improve his edge, discover new venues, lower food costs, get discount or free rooms, etc. Over 60 trips to Vegas in the past 25 years, Bobby’s first choice video poker, followed by a form of advantage play at roulette using Non-Linear Recurrence Theory and other AP techniques applied to sports betting and craps. “Diverse games and strategies allow for the most fun, at the least risk, for as long as time will allow,” he says. He’ll be writing about specific experiences, how he employs all the tools of the trade to his advantage and profit. Bobby, you have the floor.]
Continue reading Bobby Vegas’ VegasMassachusetts soars; The Strip meets The Street
Gambling win in Massachusetts shot up 14.5% in February, reaching $98 million. Market leader, of course, was Encore Boston Harbor with $63 million (+14.5%). MGM Springfield leapt 17% to $23 million and Plainridge Park climbed 10% to $12 million. Wynn Resorts, Penn Entertainment and MGM Resorts International were among the companies represented at the J.P. Morgan Gaming & Lodging Forum and you can read our takes on most of them at CDC Gaming Reports. As for the others …
Continue reading Massachusetts soars; The Strip meets The StreetSmoke and Mirrors
I’ve written two recent blogs about a drawing in Reno that was supposed to take place in early March. It was cancelled due to weather, and re-scheduled for the end of June, nearly four months later. Normally writing continually about a promotion that is of interest to a relatively small percentage of my readers doesn’t make sense. But this time, several of you asked me how this change would affect my “go-or-not-go” calculus. So, I’m writing again.
Continue reading Smoke and MirrorsGambling revenues still looking up; Mega-Jottings
Maryland aside, gambling revenues continue to trend upward. Even in Iowa, where they nudged only 1% higher from last year (undoubtedly due to new competition from Nebraska) but were high heavens (+38%) over 2019, aka the good old days. Indiana’s gain was also a modest 1% from 2022 for a $199 million haul. Hard Rock Northern Indiana surged 9% to $34.5 million, while Horseshoe Hammond‘s decline slowed to 1.5%, bagging $28 million. Ameristar East Chicago slid 8% to $16.5 million and Blue Chip was up 4.5% to $11 million. To the south, Horseshoe Indianapolis galloped 8% faster, winning $26 million, while Harrah’s Hoosier Downs cantered +1.5% to $17.5 million.
Best of the non-racinos (other than Horseshoe Hammond) was Caesars Southern Indiana, grossing $21.5 million for a 9.5% gain. Bally’s Evansville peaked at $14 million and a couple of its competitors got hit hard. Rising Star fell 20.5% to $3 million and Hollywood Lawrenceburg tumbled 14% to $13 million. Belterra Resort rounded out the unfortunates, down 7.5% to $6.5 million. French Lick Resort climbed 8.5% to $6.5 million, enabling us to end on a positive note.
Continue reading Gambling revenues still looking up; Mega-Jottings