Category: Casino News

Casino executives in Atlantic City continue to plead poverty (to a dwindling amen corner) when it comes to poisoning their employees with secondhand smoke. In the meantime, they’re pocketing business hand over fist. Last month saw a 43% catapult over February 2021. And even when compared to supercharged 2019, casino revenues were still 8% higher. The Boardwalk grossed $212.5 million, $154 million of that from slots on 7% higher coin-in than three years ago. Table games contributed $57 million, and both slot and table winnings accelerated from January.

Except for the Tropicana ($17 million, +8%), all casinos were up by double digits from last year. Borgata was business as usual: $53 million and a 43% jump. As one would expect, the biggest percentage gainers were Hard Rock Atlantic City ($37.5 million, +58.5%) and Ocean Casino Resort ($30 million, +58%) but Bally’s Atlantic City posted strong comparisons too ($11 million, +54%), despite being in last place. It lagged the Golden Nugget ($13 million, +48%) and Resorts Atlantic City ($13 million, +44%) among the grind joints.

Continue reading Atlantic City, Massachusetts make big gains; Hotel misery

OK, so New York State sports betting “slowed slightly” last month. Big deal. After all, there weren’t five weekends of NFL action, for starters. What’s more newsworthy is the $1.5 billion in handle that Empire State online sports betting whipped up. Admitted PlayUSA‘s Mike Mazzeo, “As big as the Super Bowl is, it is still just one game. And a slowdown in the immediate aftermath of the game is to be expected everywhere.” Besides, PlayUSA is already predicting $3 billion in nationwide wagers on March Madness, so the minor lull will be brief. New Yorkers bet online at a $54.5 million per day clip, and out of a $82.5 million gross, books kept $40.5 million (less promotions) as the state racked up $42 million in taxes … although Assemblyman Gary Pretlow (D) is making noises about a tax cut, which might actually enable New York OSB operators to post a profit.

DraftKings was second in handle ($387.5 million) but first in revenue with $30 million. FanDuel flipped the stats with handle of $568 million but only $23 million in winnings. Former leader Caesars Sportsbook took a tumble, with handle of $323.5 million and revenue of $20 million, a big comedown from January’s $59 million.

Continue reading New York $tate of mind; DraftKings gets rabies

Customer bucks continued flowing big-time in Missouri casinos last month, up 19% over 2021. The total gross was $146 million as customers spent 2.5% more per visit and came in 16% greater numbers. Almost casinos were revenue-positive (some spectacularly so) with two Caesars Entertainment exceptions, including Lumiere Place, down 3% to $11 million. Let’s hope that the Horseshoe rebranding comes with some capex reinvestment. Ameristar St. Charles (pictured) easily remained the top dog, up 5% to $23 million. Hollywood St. Louis leapt 47% to $17.5 million while sibling property River City jumped 46% to $19.5 million.

Continue reading Bounty in Missouri, penury in Macao

Pressure to end smoking in New Jersey casinos continues to ramp up on legislators. Said former governor Richard Codey (now a state senator), “When I was governor, we passed smoke-free legislation that covered almost all of our state. Restaurants complained their businesses would suffer, but, in fact, the opposite happened — customers loved the smoke-free environment. The same will happen with the casinos.” The latter, of course, are resorting to Chicken Little tactics that have little basis in reality. Heck, industry publisher Roger Gros will be happy to tell you how much gaming executive complain (privately) about the costs, especially in wear and tear on their properties, caused by smoking. But in public they tie themselves to the mast of a sinking ship.

Continue reading Boardwalk bulletin; George gesture from Apollo