Category Archives: Arkansas

Massachusetts jumps; Bally’s sags; Century flees

Defying a larger trend, Massachusetts closed out 2022 with strength, its casino revenues up 8% to $103 million. The big dog, Encore Boston Harbor, leapt 10% to a boffo $68.5 million, beating Wall Street expectations. MGM Springfield‘s gain was more … Continue reading

Posted in Arkansas, Bally, Century Casinos, Dining, Indiana, International, James Packer, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Penn National, Regulation, Resort fees, Singapore, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Massachusetts jumps; Bally’s sags; Century flees

Illinois, Ohio still firm; Daffy bill in N.Y.; Raiders collapse

November was good for casinos in Ohio and Illinois, both of which posted strong numbers, modestly ahead of last year but—in Ohio’s case—still high heavens above 2019. Fresh off its October dethroning of MGM Northfield Park, rival Hollywood Columbus slipped … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Arkansas, Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, DraftKings, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Horseracing, Illinois, Jack Entertainment, Japan, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Rush Street Gaming, Service, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Illinois, Ohio still firm; Daffy bill in N.Y.; Raiders collapse

Atlantic City notes; MGM Singapore?; Mega-Jottings

Ocean Casino Resort has unveiled its pricey new sports book and our Atlantic City correspondent deems it nothing short of “spectacular! In the center is a circular bar, surrounded by TV screens. There is a set of steps (and elevator) … Continue reading

Posted in Arkansas, Atlantic City, Bally, Detroit, Dining, Entertainment, Genting, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Illitch Family, Las Vegas Sands, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nebraska, New York, Penn National, Racinos, Real Estate, Singapore, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal, Unite-Here, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Atlantic City surges; Barstool’s Portnoy problem resurfaces

Casino revenue leapt 24% in Atlantic City from last April 2021, pulling in $253 million. Slot revenue rose 21% on 18% more coin-in, easily offsetting a 3% decline in table revenue on flat wagering. Borgata lapped the field, catapulting 60% … Continue reading

Posted in Arkansas, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Colorado, CQ Holdings, Cretins, DraftKings, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mohegan Sun, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Siegel’s Strip scheme; Tilman’s Rocky Mountain high

Siegel Group got a steal of a deal on the north Las Vegas Strip: 10 acres for $75 million. The vacant land used to be occupied, in part, by the La Concha Motel (pictured). It was also once destined for … Continue reading

Posted in Arkansas, Churchill Downs, Colorado, Dan Lee, Full House Resorts, Genting, Golden Nugget, Greenwood Racing, Health, history, Illinois, Indiana, Japan, Law enforcement, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Real Estate, Spectacle Entertainment, Taxes, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta | 2 Comments

Ohio, Illinois ebullient; MGM expects good things; Scandal in NFL

Ohio casino revenues were up 13% from 2021, yielding $179 million in player losses. Slots-only MGM Northfield Park posted a $22.5 million haul, up 17%, while Jack Cleveland vastly expanded its table game inventory and saw table play rise 24.5%. … Continue reading

Posted in Arkansas, Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Conventions, DraftKings, Economy, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Internet gambling, Jack Entertainment, Japan, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, United Kingdom, Vietnam, Virginia | 1 Comment

Bally’s we hardly knew ye; IGT bets big on lotteries

Shares of Bally’s Corp. sprang to $36.76 apiece yesterday on the news that the company’s largest stockholder wants to take Bally’s private for $2 billion. Hedge fund Standard General—founded by Bally’s Chairman Soo Kim—is offering $38/share for the mini-major and … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Arkansas, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, DraftKings, Economy, Entertainment, FanDuel, Hard Rock International, Hawaii, IGT, International, Japan, Lotteries, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Ocean Resort, Regulation, Rhode Island, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Super-spreader event at Caesars nixed; Mega-jottings

Caesars Entertainment must have decided it was poor optics to be hosting a convention of anti-vaxxers at brand-new Caesars Forum as Coronavirus cases spike. Or maybe it blanched at the potential deep-cleaning costs after the event. Either way, QAnon-espousing “Patriot … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Architecture, Arizona, Arkansas, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Canada, Charity, Cirque du Soleil, Conventions, Cordish Co., Cosmopolitan, Dining, DraftKings, Entertainment, FanDuel, Foxwoods, Golden Nugget, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Health, Horseracing, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Raiders, M Resort, Marijuana, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, North Carolina, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Sahara, South Dakota, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Virginia, Wynn Resorts, Wyoming | 2 Comments

Illinois springs to life while Ohio erupts; Mohegan Sun jilted twice over

Stop the presses! Illinois casinos actually outperformed 2019 last month by 4%. That’s downright miraculous. They grossed $120 million, led by Rivers Casino Des Plaines‘ $47.5 million, a 28% vault. Harrah’s Joliet was a distant second with $14.5 million (-1%), … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Arizona, Arkansas, Bally, BetMGM, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Century Casinos, Churchill Downs, DraftKings, G2E, Genting, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Internet gambling, Jack Entertainment, Japan, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, The Rio, The Strip, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 4 Comments

Cirque sacrifies “Zumanity”; Gaming recovery vs. Covid

Covid-19 has claimed its first Cirque du Soleil casualty. Zumanity has gone permanently dark at New York-New York. We’ll miss the sexually charged show, which logged 7,700 performances in 17 (!) years. “We’re grateful to the cast, crew and team … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Arkansas, California, Cirque du Soleil, Derek Stevens, Economy, Entertainment, Health, Internet gambling, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | 1 Comment

Caesars postpones casino sale; D.C. sports betting bombs

One Caesars Entertainment casino of many on the Las Vegas Strip remains theoretically for sale … but put your checkbooks away for the time being. While new CEO Tom Reeg has to make good on his promise to realize hundreds … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Arkansas, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Election, Full House Resorts, Genting, Health, history, Las Vegas Sands, Mississippi, Movies, Ocean Resort, Oklahoma, Penn National, Real Estate, Regulation, Reno, Sahara, Singapore, Sports betting, Tribal, Unite-Here | 1 Comment

“Green shoots” in gaming; Mega-Jottings

According to the American Gaming Association, 82 of 989 casinos in the United States have reopened, many of them in Louisiana starting today. But don’t take our word for it. Use the AGA’s Coronavirus tracker, which keeps you abreast of casino … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Conventions, Detroit, Dining, GLPI, Golden Nugget, Health, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, LVCVA, M Resort, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Penn National, Politics, Resort fees, Singapore, South Dakota, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Politics as unusual; Macao stocks ailing

A pro-casino group in Pope County, Arkansas, may have committed an electoral no-no. Pope County Majority is accused of making in-kind contributions to two candidates and of making political endorsements, in effect becoming a PAC. PCM, which is trying to … Continue reading

Posted in Arkansas, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Election, Health, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Politics, Regulation, The Strip, Virginia, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Politics as unusual; Macao stocks ailing

Marching through Georgia; Stevens’ grand vision

“Wynn and MGM are going to Atlanta,” said Georgia state Rep. Al Williams (D), trying allay hopes/fears that megaresorts are going to be sprinkled across the Peachtree State. State Rep. Ron Stephens (R) is particularly bullish, projecting six casinos throwing … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Arkansas, China, Derek Stevens, Downtown, e-sports, Environment, G2E, Georgia, International, Internet gambling, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Resorts International, Oklahoma, Politics, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Marching through Georgia; Stevens’ grand vision

Next stop, Hempfield!

Cordish Gaming has broken ground on its Hempfield Township satellite casino in Pennsylvania. The $150 million property will have 750 slots and 30 table games, as well as a 445-seat sports book. The casino will fill the space left by … Continue reading

Posted in Arkansas, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Cordish Co., Dining, Downtown, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Golden Gaming, history, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Regulation, South Korea, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Doldrums, hope in Baton Rouge; AGA inducts three

It’s 25 years ago this month that casino gambling came to Baton Rouge. The mood, however, is far from celebratory as the city’s riverboats remain mired in a two-year slump, thanks to the Baton Rouge smoking ban. Some also blame … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Arkansas, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, GLPI, history, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sports betting, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Doldrums, hope in Baton Rouge; AGA inducts three

Sports betting: Survey says …

Trying to help the gaming industry get its arms around the onslaught of sports betting, Eilers & Krejcik Gaming did a consumer survey of the newly legitimate recreation. “For all of the hype surrounding the spread of regulated sportsbooks, there’s … Continue reading

Posted in Arkansas, DFS, Environment, Lotteries, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Sports betting, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Sports betting: Survey says …

MGM Springfield plays rope-a-dope; Big break for Cordish

With MGM Springfield well short of revenue projections (and cutting jobs), President Michael Mathis was sent out to do PR damage control. “I feel good about the trajectory,” he claimed. He blamed Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun for the shortfall: We … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Arkansas, Cordish Co., Delaware, Dining, Economy, Election, Foxwoods, Iowa, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Rhode Island, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Arkansas casino a ladder out of poverty; Rodio confesses resort-fee addiction

Arkansas‘ evolution into a casino state is coming with surprisingly few growing pains. Which is not to say there isn’t a burden of expectations on the new properties. $350 million Saracen Casino Resort will be expected to alleviate the woes … Continue reading

Posted in Animals, Arkansas, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Florida, Illinois, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Resort fees, The Strip, Tribal, Wisconsin | Comments Off on Arkansas casino a ladder out of poverty; Rodio confesses resort-fee addiction

California: Child brides and gambling don’t mix

One of the weirdest gaming stories ever is playing out in California. Both Ted Kingston and Joseph Kingston, 95% owners of Lake Elsinore Casino, are tied to the Kingston Group, a polygamist sect that the Southern Poverty Law Center has … Continue reading

Posted in Arkansas, California, Florida, Law enforcement, Nevada, New Jersey, Sports, Sports betting, The Mob | 1 Comment