So where’s that recession? January revenues from Maryland casinos are in and the $167 million gross is a 9% improvement on 2022. None of the six gambling halls were revenue-negative. MGM National Harbor led the pack with $72 million, an 8% gain, while Maryland Live was up 6.5% to $58 million. Horseshoe Baltimore jumped 9% to $17.5 million and Ocean Downs catapulted 41% to $7 million. Hollywood Perryville also grossed $7 million, up 6.5% and Rocky Gap Resort grew 17% to $5 million, to round out an impressive month.
Nearby, in Philadelphia, the normally useless mayor of Atlantic City, Marty Small (D) did a great thing, saving the lives of an elderly couple at a Philadelphia Eagles game. Reports our East Coast bureau, “As he was going to the top of the escalator, there was a jammed-up crush of people with an elderly couple trapped in the mess. He got to the couple, and told them to hang onto him, then he yelled and pushed his way through the crowd. As a former college athlete, he said he did his best ‘Jason Kelce‘ and got them through. They asked his name, he told them and the 78-year-old woman kissed him. Last week, they sent a cookie tray and a note of thanks for saving their lives.” That’s sweet.
In news from Atlantic City proper, the marketing acumen of Bally’s Atlantic City continues unabated. It’s offering a “Disney DJ” night that’s off-limits to anyone under 21. Adults-only Disney? What’s wrong with this picture? As for the invitation for “evil queens, and fairy godmothers,” that should bring out a hefty drag contingent, especially now that George Santos has made it fashionable. Elsewhere along the Boardwalk, Borgata President Travis Lunn sat down with us for a lengthy interview in which he discussed the resort’s secret to staying on top and his plans for its future.
Further west, in Illinois, casino revenues soared 28% from January 2022. Visitors spent 5.5% less on average but flocked to casinos in drove (+36% foot traffic). The disproportionate beneficiary was Rivers Des Plaines, which owns 40% of the statewide market and saw revenues catapult 53.5% to $45.5 million. The gnashing sound you hear is the teeth of Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D), consumed with envy. The second-best performer was Grand Victoria (+8%), way back at $12 million. Caesars Entertainment properties underperformed the statewide average on the whole, with Harrah’s Joliet up 12.5% to $11 million and Harrah’s Metropolis gaining 16% to $5 million. However, customers practically avoided Hollywood Aurora, the least-improved of the casinos at +3% for a gross of $8 million. Hollywood Joliet fared much better (+17%) for $7.5 million but things are going to get pretty rough for Penn Entertainment when American Place opens in Waukegan.
Hard Rock Rockford rocketed 49% to $5 million while Par-A-Dice (above) jumped 20%, also to $5 million. Other one-offs and outliers included Bally’s Quad Cities ($4.5 million, +25.5%), Argosy Belle ($3 million, +39%) and DraftKings Casino Queen ($6.5 million, +12.5%). Outstanding work all around, guys. How pleasant it is to report a month in the Land of Lincoln in which everyone is revenue-positive!
Jottings: What’s Station Casinos got in store at Durango Casino and why is it not “Durango Station”? Property boss David Horn answers all those questions and more … Speaking of Station, is it stalking its employees? The Culinary Union says “yes” and has devoted a Web site to covering this “lurking.” “It’s awkward when headquarters has people looking down from a window or lurking behind a bush,” explains Culinary spokeswoman Bethany Khan … REITs continue to look upon casinos as a reliable investment. The question is, With 102 casinos already agglomerated between Gaming & Leisure Properties and Vici Properties, is there room left for anyone else? … Opponents of smoking in New Jersey casinos will finally get their day in the Lege on Feb. 13, when solons will hear testimony on the issue. An actual vote on it has been punted into the hazy yon …
Rest assured, MGM Grand remains the world’s biggest hotel. It has been certified thusly by the World Record Academy. While it doesn’t lead the world in sheer hotel rooms (that’d be the Malaysian First World Resort with 7,351), it has Clark County‘s largest casino floor and we can vouch for that, having walked its vastness more times than we’d care to … Gambling revenue in Macao hit $1.4 billion last month, its best in three years. The previous benchmark was $2.7 billion in 2020. “We’re more than break-even and into very positive territory,” exulted Las Vegas Sands CEO Rob Goldstein … Resort fees are again in President Joseph Biden‘s cross-hairs, as his administration called for Congress to get a move on. However, his goal has retreated from eliminating the noxious surcharges to merely mandating their up-front disclosure. Boo!
