In a recent blog post I wrote:
Another factor that is true for me that isn’t universally true for other players is that I have the ability to figure out and master strategies, and I enjoy doing so. Thinking about, writing about, studying, and playing video poker occupies a much larger part of my waking hours, even after about 30 years of doing this, than these things occupy in the lives of most other players.
Continue reading How Special Is It?
Big Gaming having gotten into bed with one ultra-despotic regime (Red China), why not go for broke? That’s the impression left by the widely reported news that the United Arab Emirates has rolled out its first-ever General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority, inevitably to be followed by the promulgation of casino and lottery regulations themselves. By all appearances, the Emirates are serious about doing it right. They’ve tapped former Gaming Labs International counsel Kevin Mullally to be CEO of the new authority. In addition to 39 years of legal and PR experience overall, Mullally can boast of three decades in the gaming industry, including leading Missouri to its first self-exclusion program for problem gamblers whilst executive director of the Missouri Gaming Commission.
Continue reading Arabian nights; New York stasis of mind; Eataly targeted
Casino revenue in Ohio dipped 2% in July, reaching $203.5 million. Before anyone goes all Chicken Little on us, that’s 25% higher than gambling win in 2019. So Ohio’s is a nice problem to have. MGM Northfield Park waxed the competition, garnering $27 million and gaining 6.5%. The only other revenue-positive properties were Jack Thistledown ($16 million, +1.5%) and Hollywood Dayton ($13 million, +2%). Best of the rest was Hollywood Columbus, flat at $23 million. Jack Cleveland continues to impress with $22 million, despite a 3.5% slippage. Hard Rock Cincinnati (pictured) slid 5% but still grossed a respectable $21 million. Bunched together were Miami Valley Gaming ($20 million, -2%), Scioto Downs ($20 million, -5%) and Hollywood Toledo ($20 million, -3.5%).
Continue reading Labor Day odds & ends
First is the Super Bowl, one of the greatest sports, cultural, and marketing spectacles ever.
Then there’s experiencing the Super Bowl in Vegas: sports betting to the moon, celebrities, whales, celebrity whales, best of the best getting down, awesome parties everywhere, prices through the roof.
Then there’s experiencing the Super Bowl, actually happening in Vegas, at Allegiant Stadium.
Continue reading Book the Super Bowl NOW
How impressive was the Las Vegas Strip‘s July performance? Pretty damned impressive, considering that it hit a best-ever record on only 1% higher visitation than last year and 4% less than in the halcyon year of 2019. Hotel occupany ran at 85% citywide, in a market whose inventory had increased 2% (151,718 rooms) since four years ago. The record was set without notable help from conventioneers, who were 17% fewer in number than last year and 46% fewer than in 2019. There were only 17 conventions in July against 23 in 2022. Room rates edged up 2%, whilst remaining well below 2019 levels. Not only were weekday occupancies strong (82%), weekend ones were 92.5%. Although road traffic at the Nevada/California border was off 5%, airline passenger loads rose 2%. All in all, a formula for success, although we’re keeping an eye on those drive-in numbers.
Continue reading Hot July in Vegas; GLPI’s Illinois big gulp; Mega-Jottings
Here’s a new bar bonus in an unlikely place.
On Mondays at El Dorado Cantina (8349 W. Sunset), there’s a play-$20-get-$20 at the bar. Why is that unlikely? Because El Dorado is a restaurant, part of a trio of El Dorados; its predecessors are located adjacent to the Sapphire gentlemen’s club and in the Tivoli shopping district. The Sunset El Dorado is different, however, as it was formerly a bar called No Regrets and the bar area has been retained with the restaurant added on.
Continue reading El Dorado Cantina — Two Bonuses and Good FoodLast month, we wrote about the $2-per-oyster happy hour in the Proper Eats food hall at Aria. At the conclusion of that review, we lamented the rising price of oysters, even in specials (what happened to the $1-oyster specials that were ubiquitous not so long ago?), and said we’d look around.
Continue reading Oysters (South Point)
Fueled by a record July at Reid International Airport, casinos on the Las Vegas Strip surged 8% in July, hitting $835 million. This was the highest single-month haul on the Strip ever, surpassing December 2022 by $20 million. Slot win ($420.5 million) was up 7.5% on an equal surge in coin-in. However, the luck of the house did not carry over to non-baccarat table games, which saw a 9% plunge in revenue, despite a heavier volume of wagering. Fortunately for the casinos, baccarat win rocketed over 40% to $56 million, even though betting was down 1%. The casinos recorded some of their best-ever hold at the game: 24%. Higher holds were also exclusively responsible for an upsurge in locals-derived revenue, up 6% despite 1% lower wagering.
Continue reading Nevada’s mixed forecast; The mystery of the Playboy chips
We gamblers and advantage players. We’re complicated.
We’re smart, obsessive, and we make great stories. The greatest of all was Kerry Packer.
I know it’s ironic: A coupon scuffler let’s-get-it-for-free guy like me is fascinated by the biggest whale of all time. Sure, it’s goofy, but the question remains, what can we learn from them?
When Packer’s father died in 1974, Kerry inherited a $100 million Australian media and casino empire. He was apparently dyslexic, a poor student in some ways and clearly brilliant in others.
Continue reading A Whale of a StoryI had a conversation with a strong player, and he posed a series of ethical questions. He estimated that if I asked this question in a crowd of people, at least 75% of players would claim they would do the right thing in each situation. But if nobody else were around, less than 50% would actually do the right thing.
I’m not sure about his percentages, but they sound approximately right, more or less. So, let’s look at the questions.
Continue reading What Would You Do?