Pity poor fellow Kelsey Grammer. The superb actor (Boss) and Shakespearean leading man has been reduced to tending bar at an Atlantic City casino. And not some prestigious Boardwalk gambling hall but last-place Golden Nugget. As our East Coast correspondent, who adeptly spotted this ad, puts it: “Guess he didn’t save enough money for retirement, and/or he has a really bad agent that can’t get him better gigs at casinos.” True that.
Moving one state west, we find results in Pennsylvania that—were they any softer—would be squishy. Basically, the Keystone State has added too many casinos … and is considering slot routes, which would be even more dilutive. Compared to 2019, before the onslaught of satellite casinos, the $282 million statewide gross was 6% negative. Comparisons with last year were considerably more flattering. Parx Casino was way in the lead with $50.5 million, a 10% improvement (hopefully the smoking ban is finally paying dividends), rivaled only by Wind Creek Bethlehem‘s $43.5 million (+18%). Philadelphia-area casinos were otherwise led by Philadelphia Live ($22 million), catapulting 64.5% from a comatose $13 million last year. Rivers Philadelphia gained 41% but had to settle for $20 million. Harrah’s Philadelphia (below) missed out on the fun, down 6.5% to $13.5 million, while Valley Forge Resort ceded 1,5% to $11.5 million.
Rivers Pittsburgh grossed $28 million, a 3% bump, while Hollywood Meadows galloped +14% to $15.5 million and Pittsburgh Live sped up 21.5% to $10 million. Mohegan Pocono Downs accelerated 13.5% to $18 million, Presque Isle Downs gained 10% to $8 million, Mount Airy leapt 27% to $15 million, Hollywood Penn National was up 5.5% to $15.5 million and luckless Lady Luck Nemacolin‘s $1.5 million represented an 8% decline. As for the other satellites, Hollywood York (below) grossed $8.5 million, a 30.5% vault, Hollywood Morgantown jumped 26% to $6 million and Parx Shippensburg posted an impressive $500,000 in its first five days of operation.
Internet gambling brought in $133 million, up 23%. The catchall Hollywood Casino license generated $55 million of that, followed by $28 million for BetRivers. Sports betting operators grossed $58 million but gave $19 million of that away in promotional offers, BetMGM being the most flagrant offender against fiscal common sense. (Handle was $772 million.) FanDuel was predominant with a 41% market share, trailed by DraftKings (26%), BetMGM (7%), Barstool Sports (6%) and Caesars Sportsbook (5%).
Mad dogs and Englishmen decide the BAFTAs. We rarely vote with our feet but walked out of the wretched Netflix remake of All Quiet on the Western Front, which enjoyed an inexplicable seven-BAFTA sweep yesterday, including Best Picture. This might be of interest to you in the five U.S. states where Academy Awards betting is allowed, as All Quiet‘s Oscar chances improved markedly. Betting lines moved it to +900 for Best Picture, past saber-rattling Top Gun: Maverick (+1000), and closed with self-important Women Talking (-200) for Best Adapted Screenplay (+150). It’s a metaphysical lock for Best International Film at -4000. It’s also expected to take home Best Cinematography (-400). The charming Kerry Condon of The Banshees of Inisherin won a BAFTA and improved her Oscar odds to +190, narrowing the line with Angela Bassett (-300). And, for a Las Vegas connection, Austin Butler‘s BAFTA Best Actor for Elvis leapfrogged him past Colin Farrell (+500) into a +120 vs. -120 heat with Brendan Fraser of The Whale.
Jottings: In the topsy-turvy Virginia Lege, Petersburg is SOL for a casino license, undoubtedly much to the chagrin of Cordish Cos., but Richmond could be back in. Residents of the capital city will get a do-over vote … The Pass casino is adding a hotel in downtown Henderson. Prospects for the hotel are considered favorable now that nearby Fiesta Henderson has been torn down … Guy Fieri is coming to Iowa, courtesy of Harrah’s Council Bluffs. When it’s done, the casino floor will be expanded … Wannabe online casino Betty has raised $55 million toward its launch. While most Internet casinos target white men, Betty will be aimed at women and will debut in Ontario.
With the Fox Business TV series he narrates and this “Faith American Brewing” company, I am wondering if his beer is going to be more conservative than the Coors family brews?