Las Vegas Advisor

Posted on December 28, 2021August 24, 2023 by Bob Dancer — 9 Comments

How Do You Figure?

A well-financed player, “Hal,” hired me some time ago to teach him 9/6 Triple Double Bonus Poker. This is not a particularly good game (98.15%), but it was the best he could find for the large stakes he wished to play.

I warned him, of course, that the game would likely be very expensive. He didn’t care that much. The excitement of hitting large royals and aces with a kicker (AWAK) would counterbalance any losing sessions he had. Okay. It’s not the way I want to play, but I was happy to teach him.

Posted on December 27, 2021September 14, 2023 by David Mckee — 2 Comments

Borgata behaving badly; Headless body in topless car

On the “george” side of the ledger we find Bally’s Atlantic City, which is offering room rates starting at $29/night through February 28, albeit on “select nights.” Hey, it’s a terrific way to raise awareness of the new-look Bally’s. As for the Stiff of the Week, the winner is Borgata. Let our Atlantic City correspondent tell it: “MGM Borgata is getting cheaper by the day. [My wife] has reservations for a Christmas show this Wednesday night, but we now have a family night out scheduled. When she called MGM yesterday, she was told next week was ‘fully booked’ for comp tickets, and the host she spoke with told her to contact Ticketmaster to buy her own tickets. With 75,000++ tier points (my estimate is somewhere between $7 to $9 per point). She told the host the tickets were only $12 each (seems like a ‘high quality’ show), and she already had tickets for this week. Didn’t matter to them (she doesn’t have any assigned host at MGM).” Bad Borgata!

Posted on December 24, 2021September 18, 2023 by David Mckee — 2 Comments

Fear and loathing in Chicago; All’s well in Macao; Tribe comes back from nonexistence

It wouldn’t be a fight for a Chicago casino if it weren’t down and dirty—and it is. Bally’s Corp. already sounds desperate, throwing a Hail Mary pass in the form of a report that rival bidders Rush Street Gaming and Hard Rock International would effectively get a tax break by diverting business to their nearby casinos in Des Plaines and Gary, respectively: “Granting the Chicago casino license to an operator with an existing operation in the same market runs the risk of revenue being manipulated away from Chicago to the operator’s financial gain, but at the detriment to the city.”

Posted on December 21, 2021September 14, 2023 by David Mckee — Leave a comment

Mixed signals in Pennsylvania; Atlantic City casinos get their wish

Despite fewer weekends than in 2019, Pennsylvania casino revenues nudged up 3% last month, albeit not a same-store comparison, what with three new casinos having opened in the interim (that would make it -9%). Slots won $185.5 million and table games $73.5 million. High hold was good for sports-betting revenues, which came in at $85 million ($64 million after promotional outlays) on handle of $762 million, holding up well in comparison to five-weekend October. Internet gambling brought in another $94 million. Alas, only two casinos were revenue-positive for the month, which will continue to fuel fears of saturation (with slot routes just over the horizon). Valley Forge Resort was up 6% to $11.5 million and Wind Creek Bethlehem grew 5% to $41.5 million. No 2019/21 comparisons are available for Philadelphia Live ($16 million), Pittsburgh Live ($8 million) or Hollywood York ($7 million).

Posted on December 21, 2021September 18, 2023 by Bob Dancer — 6 Comments

Changes in NCL Cruises — Part II of II

A staple of cruising on NCL is the “Washy Washy” people at the entrance of the buffet encouraging everybody to receive a squirt of sanitizer on their hands. On the Bliss, instead of the sanitizer, there were four sinks at each entrance which we were strongly encouraged to use. And they still had the workers singing various songs to get you to cleanse yourself.

A new feature, at least to me, were the self-called “Pastry Girls.” These two ladies, perhaps in their 20s, probably from the Philippines, would go through the breakfast venues singing out, in unison, offering the daily delight of the day. Lemon muffins, chocolate brownies, and banana donuts were three of these. All promised, melodically, to be “Yummy, yummy, to the tummy.” These ladies were infectiously cheerful.

Posted on December 20, 2021September 14, 2023 by David Mckee — Leave a comment

If at first you don’t succeed … sue; Academy Awards odds posted

It’s a tried and true adage of American life that if you can’t get what you want fair and square, take it to court. Case in point: Full House Resorts. Having lost out on the Indiana Gaming Commission‘s selection of a casino developer for Terre Haute, Full House is siccing its lawyers on the IGC, charging it with lawbreaking. And the IGC may have handed Full House a valid case by adjourning in mid-meeting to hold an executive session, something Indiana open-meeting laws expressly forbid. The gist of that secret conclave may never be known but Full House’s proposal went from contender to zero in the interim. Full House’s implication—the fix was in.

Posted on December 18, 2021September 14, 2023 by David Mckee — 1 Comment

Chicago dog-and-pony show; Raiders get punted by Covid

All three developers jockeying for a Chicago casino trotted out their proposals Thursday “replete with soaring promises of economic jolts, job creation and jackpots for the city’s future casino tax revenue coffers, which are earmarked for its depleted police and firefighter pension funds.” Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) tried to wax cautious about the glowing promises, which included “an Eiffel Tower for Chicago” but hype was the order of the day-long session. Said Lightfoot afterward, “They look beautiful and they’re saying a lot of things that really, I think, speak to our values, but as you all know, the devil’s in the details and my financial team is going to do a deep scrub to make sure that we understand: Are these projects really viable?”

In an ill-concealed dig at Bally’s Corp. (an acquirer rather than a developer), Neil Bluhm jabbed, “Chicago needs an experienced developer with a steady hand. This is not the time or project for on-the-job training.” The Windy City needs “an experienced team who has done developments like this—exactly like this—before.” Bally’s execs didn’t let that pass. “Yes, we have built casinos from the ground up,” replied Bally’s Chairman Soo Kim testily. Alluding to Rivers Casino Des Plaines, they said they (unlike Bluhm) were free of conflicts of interest in the market. Regardless of which of its two proposals is chosen, Bally’s promised 2,000 permanent jobs and 7,500 construction ones. However, its South Side pitch ran into immediate opposition from Alderwoman Sophia King. Kim promised to be tractable to King’s concerns.

Posted on December 17, 2021September 14, 2023 by David Mckee — 1 Comment

Atlantic City stutters; Shocker in New Orleans; Palms changes hands today

Casinos in Atlantic City grossed $207 million last month, an 8% declivity from 2019, as players tightened their purse strings. Overall, slot revenues were down 1% on a commensurately lower amount of coin-in. The house played unluckily at the tables, falling 22% on 16% less wagering. For Borgata ($48 million) the numbers were a catastrophic 47% plunge at the tables on 30% less betting and looser hold, compounded by 6% less slot win on 6% less coin-in for a total 18% decline. The Caesars Entertainment threesome tumbled 26%, driven by terrible table win (-47% on 33% less betting) and poor slot performance (-17% on 13% less coin-in). Individually, Caesars Atlantic City plummeted 42.5% to $16 million, Harrah’s Resort slipped 12% to $22.5 million and Tropicana Atlantic City slid 21% to $19 million.

Only two casinos were revenue-positive. Hard Rock Atlantic City skyrocketed 59% to $37 million and Ocean Resort soared 46% to $28.5 million. New-look Bally’s Atlantic City was still down 17% to $11 million, Resorts Atlantic City declined 12.5% to $12 million and Golden Nugget grossed $12 million, a 30% falloff.

Posted on December 16, 2021September 14, 2023 by David Mckee — Leave a comment

Slot routes seek legitimacy; FanDuel romps in Michigan

Black-market operators of slot routes in Missouri could achieve legitimacy next year—with the help of two out-of-state providers. Illinois‘ leading slot-route purveyors, J&J Ventures and Accel Entertainment, bitter rivals in the Land of Lincoln have put aside their differences to join forces in a PAC. Its goal is “to funnel campaign contributions to lawmakers who have been unable to agree on a way to legalize Missouri’s current unregulated marketplace.” At least they’re not being coy about it. The entity is called Mo Coalition for Video Lottery PAC. J&J is an old hand at Missouri politics, being a frequent backer of Gov. Mike Parson (R). It’s also been financing the aspirations of other Show-Me State politicians.

Posted on December 15, 2021September 14, 2023 by David Mckee — 1 Comment

Everybody wins in Massachusetts; Makeover for The Mirage

Massachusetts casinos bagged $88 million last month, a 12% boost over 2019. Encore Boston Harbor, predictably, was way, way out in front with $55 million, up 16.5%. Win was fairly even divided between slots ($30 million) and tables ($25 million), in a vindication of Wynn Resorts‘ business plan for the market. Plainridge Park was flat with $11 and MGM Springfield had a good month, grossing $22 million and up 9%. Casino win was down 8.5% from October but we’re discounting that due both to “seasonality” and one fewer weekend when compared to two years ago.

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