Category Archives: Atlantic City

‘Net bets carry Atlantic City; Clubs face crisis

Internet casinos are in New Jersey to stay. They grossed $86 million last month, their highest amount ever. That’s 135% more than a year ago. Golden Nugget was tops with $29 million, followed by Resorts Digital ($18 million) and Borgata … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Downtown, DraftKings, Economy, Entertainment, Florida, Golden Nugget, Health, Horseracing, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, LVCVA, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Morris Bailey, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Resorts World LV, Seminole Tribe, Sports, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Park MGM goes smokeless?; Excalibur returns

Resuming business in mid-pandemic, the casino industry finds itself at a nodal point unlike few in its history. The question: To smoke or not to smoke? Leaving aside our (negative) feelings about tobacco and its side effects, if the casino … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Arizona, Atlantic City, California, Environment, Health, Jim Murren, MGM Resorts International, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Washington State | 3 Comments

Atlantic City gets good news; Stanley Ho canonized

July 4 could spell independence for Atlantic City casinos, judging by recent statements from New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D). In a radio interview he said, “It’s probably still too early to give you a very specific answer but there’s a … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Derek Stevens, Health, International, Internet gambling, Iowa, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, New Jersey, Ohio, Problem gambling, Regulation, Stanley Ho, Twin River, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Nevada ekes out slim April; Pansy Ho takes charge

Yes, Virginia, there was gaming revenue in Nevada last month, although the casinos were closed. Mobile sports wagering and online poker did the trick, plus expired slot tickets, although the amount realized from the latter is described as “immaterial.” Most … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Culinary Union, Downtown, Economy, Health, Jim Murren, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Pansy Ho, Regulation, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, Stanley Ho, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Wendover | 2 Comments

Case Bets

Unlike Las Vegas, casinos in Atlantic City aren’t being proactive in preparing for a mid-pandemic reopening. Ergo, the public sector is stepping into the void, in the form of state Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D, right). Gov. Phil Murphy (D) … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Colorado, Dining, Health, Internet gambling, Marketing, Regulation | 2 Comments

Sisolak gets sick; Stanley Ho dies; Culinary discontent

Yesterday’s big announcement about casino reopenings was postponed and the off-the-cuff reaction must have been something like ‘Uh-oh. Coronavirus cases are up again.’ Not hardly. According to Gov. Steve Sisolak (D), “we continue to see a consistent and sustainable downward … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Culinary Union, Hawaii, Health, history, Macau, MGM Mirage, New Jersey, Pansy Ho, Regulation, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Stanley Ho, The Mob | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

“I’ve taken time to stop and smell the flowers … decide what is really important in life. Suddenly, spending time in a casino playing a penny slot machine with an 85 percent return doesn’t seem like a remotely interesting pastime—especially when … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Entertainment, Health | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

“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

MGM’s seven steps; Culinary throws tantrum

Add MGM Resorts International to the roster of Las Vegas companies announcing reopening protocols. (Earth to Caesars Entertainment, come in Caesars … ) The company calls it a “comprehensive, multi-layered approach resulting from months of consultations and guidance from public … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Conventions, Culinary Union, Dining, Donald Trump, Hard Rock International, Health, International, Japan, Macau, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Sports, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Boston buoys Wynn, Penn leans on Barstool

Wynn Resorts was one of three biggies to report 1Q20 results late last week and the Las Vegas Strip was the least of its problems. Wynn Las Vegas and Encore had net revenue of $324 million, down 19% from last … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, CityCenter, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Florida, Golden Gaming, history, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Maine, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

“The virus does not take weekends off. From the standpoint of Atlantic City, the virus is not observing Memorial Day.”—Spectrum Gaming Group Managing Director Michael Pollock, on when to reopen the Boardwalk.

Posted in Atlantic City, Health | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Strip clocked, locals stronger; Montana reopens first

Nevada casinos won $618 million in a Covid-19-truncated March, with the Las Vegas Strip leading the plunge with a 46% fall to $300 million. Las Vegas locals play was remarkably strong under the circumstances, down only 20.5%, although that number may … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Election, Golden Gaming, Health, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Mesquite, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Reno, The Strip, Wall Street, Wendover, William Hill | Comments Off on Strip clocked, locals stronger; Montana reopens first

Twin River advances, Maverick retreats; Sands optimistic

Twin River Holdings is now a player in Atlantic City. It must have driven a hard bargain, too, picking up lowly Bally’s for $25 million, mere pocket change. It had Caesars Entertainment and Eldorado Resorts over a barrel, as keeping … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Health, history, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, Maverick Gaming, Regulation, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Twin River, Virginia | 1 Comment

New opening for ‘Net bets; Goodman still under fire

With gaming reeling—and tax revenues along with it—Internet gambling may start looking more attractive to states that have previously scorned it. Sports betting has taken the lead, with Colorado poised to enter that fray. However, Morgan Stanley analyst Thomas Allen … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Colorado, Culinary Union, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Health, Internet gambling, Morris Bailey, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Penn National, Real Estate, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, TV, Unite-Here, Wall Street, Wisconsin | Comments Off on New opening for ‘Net bets; Goodman still under fire

Sands shakes off doldrums; MGM sitting pretty

Las Vegas Sands posted a Covid-19 impacted 1Q20. Room rates nudged upward year/year from $263 to $266, at 87% occupancy, resulting in a decline in revenue per available room from $249 to $199. Sands was modestly down at the tables, … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Baseball, CityCenter, Economy, Health, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Real Estate, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Internet saves Atlantic City; Hope for sports bettors

On March 16, both Atlantic City and Detroit closed their casinos, but the Boardwalk had it somewhat worse, down 62% in the truncated month. (The numbers suggest that visitation may have been tailing off prior to the shutdown.) Atlantic City … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Detroit, DraftKings, Eldorado Resorts, FanDuel, Hard Rock International, Health, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Sports, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Union: Where there’s a will, there’s a way

Discontent with casino management is spreading from Las Vegas to the Gulf Coast and beyond. In a Unite-Here teleconference, local union President Marlene Patrick Cooper expressed the general sentiment, saying, “This is a disaster that’s 10 times worse than Katrina. They chose … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, China, Derek Stevens, Dining, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Health, Herbst Gaming, Mississippi, Movies, Nevada, Regulation, The Strip, Unite-Here, Wall Street | 1 Comment

“Scary” times for casinos; Hotel rates swoon

Donald Trump wants to reopen America for business May 1, come hell or high water. Former Atlantic City casino executive Robert Ambrose acknowledges that “going past 30 days [quarantine] is scary for the entire industry.” According to Ambrose, it ought … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, Crown Resorts, Economy, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Health, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Las Vegas: What next and when?

While everyone from Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman up to the highest ranks of the federal government trying to rush people back to work, we’re forced to consider what Sin City will look like after the Coronavirus pandemic … and when … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Dining, Economy, Health, Lotteries, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Resort fees, Sports, Station Casinos, Steven Witkoff, Technology, The Strip | 3 Comments

Wynn sitting pretty; Trump Plaza damned, doomed

Wynn Resorts can sit out a Coronavirus crisis lasting 1.4 years. That’s how much cash ($3 billion) it’s sitting upon. First-quarter revenues took a 43% hit and are expected to come in somewhere in the $912 million-$969 million range. The … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Carl Icahn, Genting, Health, James Packer, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Massachusetts, Politics, Regulation, Rhode Island, Singapore, Tribal, Twin River, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment