Pennsylvania: Parx back on top; Gov’t milks problem gambling

Despite a 12.5% dropoff in revenue from July 2021, Parx Casino outpaced the rest of the Pennsylvania pack last month, booking $51 million in revenue. The only other casino to come close was Wind Creek Bethlehem, riding a 13.5% surge to $48 million. As for Parx’s competitors in the Philadelphia market, only Valley Forge Casino Resort was revenue-positive with $12 million (+2%). Rivers Philadelphia and Philadelphia Live were both in free fall, with Rivers having the worst of it, plunging 26% to $17 million, while Live dove 16.5% to $18 million. Harrah’s Philadelphia, despite an 11% tumble, actually found itself within striking distance of the downtown casinos with its $15 million.

In the Pittsburgh market, Rivers Pittsburgh led easily with $32 million (-3%), lapping Hollywood Meadows‘ $17.5 million (-2%) and Pittsburgh Live‘s $10 million (flat). Penn Entertainment did better at The Meadows than at Penn National Race Course, which flopped -20.5% to $15.5 million. Despite a 5% decline, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs led all non-metropolitan casinos with $19 million. Followers included Presque Isle Downs ($10 million, -15%), Mount Airy ($19 million, -5.5%) and Lady Luck Nemacolin ($2 million, -12.5%). It’s too soon for year-over-year comparisons at pint-sized Hollywood York ($8 million) and Hollywood Morgantown ($5 million).

Sports betting operators garnered $33 million in win (less $8 million in promos) on $336.5 million of handle. FanDuel, with nearly half of market share, grossed $12 million. Then came DraftKings ($4.5 million), BetRivers ($2.5 million), Barstool Sports ($2 million) and BetMGM ($1 million). Insignificant amounts were made by Caesars Sportsbook, Parx and FoxBet. Internet casinos were more remunerative—$98.5 million—led by the Hollywood Casino conglomerate ($38.5 million) and BetRivers with $25 million. FanDuel was also in there swinging with $17.5 million.

You know the golf courses and family clubs that members of the U.S. Armed Forces enjoy on-base? Guess who pays for them out of their own pocket? The men and women who serve in arms. This $100 million-a-year racket is paid for by the money that G.I. Joe & Jane put into on-base slot machines, Uncle Sam being too cheap to pick up the tab. It’s not just in the U.S. but as far away as Diego Garcia. This scandal-worthy policy was rescinded during the Richard Nixon administration but reinstated under Donald Trump.

You may be too young to gamble in Nevada but on Diego Garcia you can pull on 52 one-armed bandits. In short, Uncle Sam is getting them hooked while they’re young, funding army and naval amenities out of gambling-hooked service members (an above-average 4% prevalence rate). Sens. Steve Daines (R) and Elizabeth Warren (D) have tried to curb this baneful program but have met with little sympathy on Capitol Hill. Call your senator and ask them to do something to either unplug the slots or at least stop freeloading off our military members.

Speaking of degenerates, former state senator Brent Waltz (R) has a date with the slammer, sentenced to 10 months for his role in an Indiana gambling scandal. Waltz was found guilty of lying to the FBI and of funneling $40,000 in illegal campaign contributions into his futile congressional campaign. The sub rosa money came courtesy of scandal-plagued Centaur Entertainment, a company so gamey it no longer exists. Waltz will have to repay the $40K with another $500 on top. Amazingly, for somebody who was caught with his hand in the cookie jar, Waltz said his biggest regret was the damage to his reputation. While bending over for the soap, he’ll meet a familiar face in Centaur shyster John Keeler, already doing a short stretch for his role in the conspiracy. We hope Waltz uses his time in the pen to ponder whether breaking the law was worth it to finish fourth in a five-candidate race.

Jottings: Surprise! Sky River Casino in California opened yesterday, completely by stealth and weeks sooner than anticipated. A grand opening will be held next month but the dead-of-night debut was publicized via social media. The $500 million, big-box casino was built by Boyd Gaming. Of the sneaky-Pete launch, Wilton Rancheria Chairman Jesus Tarango said, “That’s what you get when you get a good partner with Boyd Gaming. They’ve been in the game; they know how to do it.” Evidently so … Across the country, questions are being raised whether Hard Rock Bristol is still on schedule. Even so, the temporary casino took in $12 million last month … Another Hard Rock casino, Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, has added a water park. Bring the kiddies when you gamble … Sands China—whose Londoner megaresort is seen above—is reeling from Covid-19, having racked up $760 million in losses in the first six months of the year. By contrast, the same period in 2021 was ‘only’ $381 million in the red. Said Sands gloomily, “The timing and manner in which our casinos, restaurants and shopping malls will resume operating at full capacity is currently unknown. We cannot predict the manner in which governments will react as the global and regional impact of the COVID-19 pandemic changes over time, which could significantly alter our current operations.” Hell of a time to be being squeezed by Peking for still-bigger capital commitments … If you live in Ohio, pretty soon you’ll be able to have a flutter when you shop at Kroger. The grocery giant has applied for 42 sports-betting kiosks across the Buckeye State. Not to be left behind, Acme Fresh Market is applying for 17 of its own. The kiosks would go live Jan. 1.