I’ve been to Vegas something like 60 times and in this post I reveal, right now, for free, no strings attached, the single-most important rule to absolutely assure you have a good time in Vegas. Ready? Drink … a lot … of water.
Really? That’s it? Yes!
Continue reading The Ultimate Secret to a Good Time in VegasThis 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 HOW TO PLAY YOUR HANDS AGAINST A DEALER’S 9 UPCARDThe following is a true story, other than the names of the gamblers. It happened at Harrah’s Atlantic City a number of years ago. Since I’ve played little at this particular casino, and always as a tourist rather than a local, I might have some of the details wrong. But the gist of this story is accurate and might provide fodder for thought and discussion.
Amy and Bo lived not too far away from Atlantic City, and drove to visit this casino perhaps three weekends a month — except when they were on cruises (which they enjoyed a lot) or were otherwise busy. They played single-line $1 Double Double Bonus mostly, but sometimes went for the $2 game or perhaps $1 Triple Play.
Continue reading There’s a Reason
Although terrestrial casino revenue dipped 2.5% last month, New Jersey casinos made out like bandits online, with i-gambling up 19% and sports betting leapt 33.5%. In Atlantic City the gross was $227 million at traditional casinos, as a sharp decline in table revenue (-8%) pulled the Boardwalk down. Borgata slipped 4.5% but still led the market with $60.5 million. Hard Rock Atlantic City felt a chill, off 6.5%, but banked $39 million nonetheless. Ocean Resort was the usurper, jumping 17% to $30 million. Among the Caesars Entertainment flotilla, only Tropicana Atlantic City held its ground, flat at $21.5 million. Harrah’s Resort ceded 10% to fall to $19 million whilst volatile Caesars Atlantic City slid 9.5% to $18 million—not a good look for a high-roller joint. Everybody else was bunched way to the back, trailed by the Golden Nugget with $12.5 million (-1%), as Resorts Atlantic City made $13.5 million (-5%) and Bally’s Atlantic City managed $13 million on a 4% gain.
Continue reading All Atlantic City, all the time; Gone to the dogs; Mega-Jottings
Now that the fix is in for the Oakland Athletics to get a vanity stadium in Las Vegas, the bosses of the Tropicana Las Vegas are losing no time in getting what’s really important: Imploding the old girl. Of course, they could be jumping the gun. Not a word has been breathed about how the A’s, who have consistently pled poverty to excuse their craptastic product, intend to come up with their share of the stadium money, which totals $1.1 billion. We expect some tin-cup rattling to occur once the state, Clark County and Vici Properties are too fully committed to back out. If Nevada gets off with a $380 million subsidy, it will be lucky.
Continue reading Trop’s fate sealed; Massachusetts up, Louisiana down
Congratulations, Las Vegas Golden Knights. For the second time in a year, Las Vegas has announced itself as a major-league city by bringing home a championship trophy. First it was the Las Vegas Aces of the WNBA, now the Knights, who slammed the door last night on the outmatched Florida Panthers, 9-3. (Nothing says “hockey” like Florida against Nevada.) Even better, they did it on the home ice, clinching a 4-1 Stanley Cup triumph—the second time the Knights have been in the cup finals in their six years of existence. No NHL team has won Lord Stanley’s cup so quickly. Now the pressure is on the dysfunctional Las Vegas Raiders to do more than merely appear in a playoff game. They’ll get eight prime-time TV slots next season. Let’s hope they do Sin City proud.
Continue reading Case BetsBonnie and I have been married nine years now, and she turned 80 years old June 3. From the get-go, she knew I was a professional gambler, and it became clear to me early on that she had no potential to understand advantage gambling. But she enjoys the meals, cruises, and other traveling that my profession brings me, and my life works better with her in it.
One of the things we did early on was to insulate her from the gambling swings. The bulk of each of our assets are not commingled and file taxes separately. She had some assets of her own coming in — as had I. Our wills are set up that she gives her money to her heirs, and I give money to mine. We have a “Bob and Bonnie account” for household expenses and we each contribute to it.
Continue reading I Almost Threw It Away
Indiana has joined the growing litany of states with disappointing May casino receipts. The statewide gross of $196.5 million represented a 7% drop-off from last year at this time. Only two casinos defied the trend. French Lick Resort leapt 14.5% to $7.5 million and tribal Caesars Southern Indiana rose 7% to $22 million. Not even Hard Rock Northern Indiana was immune to the blahs. It slipped 7% to a still-impressive $34 million. Horseshoe Hammond couldn’t take advantage, plummeting 15% to $24.5 million, while nearby Ameristar East Chicago plunged 15% to $15 million. Blue Chip got slammed -16% to $10 million. Down south, Bally’s Evansville (above) slid -7% to $13.5 million.
Continue reading Indiana, Missouri down; Mega-JottingsThis 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 CASINO MONEY MATH
Mr. & Mrs. America’s torrid, post-pandemic love affair with casino gambling is finally cooling. It’s not cause for alarm, as we knew this was coming—in fact, it was expected to happen much sooner. And while players are dropping less at regional casinos, the picture is still quite roseate. Maryland gaming receipts slipped 5% last month, reaching $169.5 million, 11% better than 2019. MGM National Harbor was off 5.5% to $72 million. Reliable runner-up Maryland Live was good for $59 million, albeit down 6%. Horseshoe Baltimore turned in its usual $17.5 million, flat over last year, while Hollywood Perryville grossed $7.5 million for a 7.5% tumble. Ocean Downs plunged 8% but brought home $8.5 million while Rocky Gap Resort also fell 8% to $5 million. Given the circumstances, we’d say the relative stability of Horseshoe counts as a doggone moral victory. Thanks to strong slot play, West Virginia was actually 1% up last month, despite weak table play (-7%). Hollywood Charles Town outperformed the state, +4%, again buoyed by a good month (+6%) at the one-armed bandits.
Continue reading Maryland droops; Boardwalk bulletin; Barstool blunder