It was a good day yesterday for Boyd Gaming as it trotted out its 4Q22 numbers. Cash flow healthily overshot Wall Street expectations and was powered by, among other things, better-than-2019 visitation by that Boyd mainstay, players from Hawaii. Wrote J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff, “The growth in Locals was driven by destination business (tourists and out-of-towners) and non-gaming operations (we note that these trends have to be very positive for Red Rock Resorts who has yet to report) and continued strength in play from its core customers.” Despite softness in Louisiana and Mississippi, Boyd improved its numbers in the Midwest and South, helped along by strength in the online segment and by performance-based management fees from successful, new Sky River Casino near Sacramento.

Here’s one for those of you who believe gambling is facing a recession: Revenue in Ohio fell 2% last month (yes, it took the Buckeye State until February to report December’s numbers). The haul was $193 million, which was still 14% better than the end of 2019, if that’s any consolation. MGM Northfield Park maintained its market-leading status with $24 million, up 5.5%. But there was a surprise challenger: Jack Cleveland, close behind with $23.5 million, an 8.5% gain. Other racinos that were revenue-positive (like MGM Northfield) were Scioto Downs, up 2% to $19.5 million and doughty Hollywood Mahoning Valley, up 3% to $13 million. Miami Valley Gaming was flat at $19 million.

No, that isn’t a new big-box retail outlet (which its entrance rather resembles) but Rivers Portsmouth, the first permanent casino to open in Virginia. On hand were Allen Iverson, a marching band, a gaggle of local politicians … and the noxious odor of tobacco smoke. Comments harvested by Americans for Nonsmokers Rights included such gems as “This is just not OK” and “I will never come here again.” That’s not what Rush Street Gaming execs want to hear, less stil, “I think it’s backwards, archaic, disgusting and I won’t come here ever again.” Opined player Beth Grimes, “I hadn’t even sat down yet to play a game. I’m leaving. I’ve been in this building 30 minutes walking around, and all of a sudden, as more people have come in and sat down, they’re smoking, smoking, smoking.” Also irked was Norfolk resident David Spry: “I finally quit and I’m not going to be putting myself into a position where I’m going to get second-hand smoke.” Nor should he.