Category Archives: Atlantic City

Fertitta moves on Lake Charles; Sexism triumphs at Boyd; Rhythm City blues

Earlier today, Pinnacle Entertainment announced that it had agreed with Golden Nugget to sell Ameristar Casinos‘ unfinished Lake Charles project at cost ($214 million and climbing). As Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli noted, “We view this as a firm positive … Continue reading

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Harrah's, Iowa, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Texas, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Wynn checkmated in Everett?; Cordish sees Penn, raises ante

As we all would agree, Suffolk Downs doesn’t have the capitalization, the track record or the leadership that Wynn Resorts does. However, Richard Fields and Harvard homeboy Gary Loveman have a big something going for them: juice. I expected their … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Current, Dining, Election, Foxwoods, Genting, Harrah's, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

“I’m looking at it as a huge positive for the city. It shows that we are looking like the resort destination that everyone wants us to be. Although gaming revenue keeps the lights on in these buildings, this shows that … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Economy | 1 Comment

Springfield: MGM wins again; Barton: Congressman or con artist?

As predicted, voter turnout was low but a victory is a victory, and MGM Resorts International went home a winner yesterday. Springfield voters ratified an agreement between MGM and the city, 58% to 42%. Scarcely had the last vote been … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Environment, Harrah's, Harry Reid, International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal | 1 Comment

Missouri misery; Revel inches upward

Sometimes I feel Gary Loveman‘s pain — and that of Anthony Sanfilippo, Virginia McDowell, Peter Carlino … When they look at the kind of numbers states like Missouri are generating, they must want to shake a fist and say, “Gamble, … Continue reading

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Revel, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Revel gets forgiveness; Illinois gets hammered

You’ve heard about the “Gamblers Wanted” marketing campaign at Revel that refunds slot refunds over $100 — if you’re a member of the players’ club. There’s another catch: You don’t get a cash refund but additional free play, doled forth … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Revel, Slot routes | 1 Comment

Accord in Kentucky; Atlantic City on the move; James Packer’s comeback

But there are still some stirrings of activity on the casino front. For starters, Bwin.Party has agreed to fork over $15 million to Kentucky. According to the company the payment “resolves the only remaining litigation … that stems from our … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Cirque du Soleil, Colony Capital, Current, Entertainment, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Kentucky, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Accord in Kentucky; Atlantic City on the move; James Packer’s comeback

Buyer’s market on the Boardwalk

An East Coast spy for S&G has had his ear to the ground and reports that a veritable horde of prospective purchaser are descending upon Atlantic City. Casino prices having fallen about as low as they can go, “buy” appears … Continue reading

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Current, Economy, Louisiana, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Revel | 1 Comment

Deal or no deal?; Two-face Trump; Good news for Adelson

This just in: Poker Stars has announced an agreement to offer Internet gambling in New Jersey via Mohegan Sun-run Resorts Atlantic City. This enables Rational Group to get a U.S. foothold without the inconvenience of buying a physical casino. Colony Capital … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Internet gambling, Macau, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Tourism, Tribal | 1 Comment

Station 2, Caesars 0; Death in Vegas

My expectation that Caesars Entertainment, leveraging its World Series of Poker brand, would outstrip Station Casinos‘ online-gaming offerings is looking unduly optimistic. Caesars Interactive hasn’t been able to get out of the driveway while Ultimate Gaming has gone virtually coast-to-coast. … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cirque du Soleil, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, history, Illinois, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Slot routes, Station Casinos, The Strip | 1 Comment

Revel gets the memo; Sheldon Adelson knows what’s good for you

Wall Street really hates it when casinos buy business with “promotional allowances” (read: comps) but sometimes — and especially when you’re Revel Hotel-Casino — there’s no choice. In marketing policies as new as its expanded nomenclature, Revel is acknowledging its … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Cantor Gaming, Current, Economy, Environment, Harry Reid, International, Internet gambling, Marketing, Politics, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | 1 Comment

Tilman Fertitta, stiff; PokerStars’ desperation; Parrotheads in Shreveport;

I can visit the Fremont Street Experience anytime I want, for free. So can guests at any Downtown hotel … except the Golden Nugget. In a vile new variation on the “resort fee” phenomenon, owner Tilman Fertitta is now tacking … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Current, Downtown, Indiana, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment | 2 Comments

Don’t tell Sheldon!; East Coast misadventures

As EuroVegas appears on the verge of collapse, recent bulletins pile another indignity upon Sheldon Adelson. When Barcelona‘s BCN World wanted to add a casino, it reached 3/4 of the way around the globe to recruit … Melco Crown Entertainment … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Marketing, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Taxes, Transportation, Tribal | 2 Comments

New Maryland casino a hit; Casino lobbying a flop; Next: Sands Markham?

A thousand people waiting to get into a casino on opening day would be nothing at all in Las Vegas. But at Maryland‘s penultimate casino, Rocky Gap Resort, it’s a positive omen, especially since the mini-sino has but 10 tables … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, International, Internet gambling, Lyle Berman, Marketing, Maryland, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports, Tribal | Comments Off on New Maryland casino a hit; Casino lobbying a flop; Next: Sands Markham?

Woody in Milford; Revel out of Chapter 11; Isle: Pay to play

Foxwoods Resort Casino CEO Scott “Woody” Butera didn’t close the sale with Milford voters earlier this week, but they didn’t slam the door on him either. Rather than prejudice the issue with a town-meeting vote, local sentiment favors a city-wide … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Current, Downtown, Economy, Isle of Capri, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Revel, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Woody in Milford; Revel out of Chapter 11; Isle: Pay to play

PokerStars blows it; Wynn woos Philadelphia

Score one for Colony Capital: It took Rational Group to the cleaners to  the tune of $11 million and there’s nothing Rational can do about it. A New Jersey court ruled that the PokerStars parent company had no one to … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Current, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Marketing, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Revel, Steve Wynn, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | 2 Comments

Nevada: The recovery continues; Elsewhere: Not so much

After a boffo February, the Silver State also posted extraordinary numbers in March. As Deutsche Bank headlined its report, “Different Month, Same Tune.” Analyst Carlo Santarelli cautioned, “we believe the underlying trends are not as strong as the headline would … Continue reading

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Dan Lee, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Marketing, Missouri, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Reno, Revel, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Retrenchment at Caesars; New brooms at Revel

It was one of the stupefying follies of the Caesars Entertainment LBO that CEO Gary Loveman believed the company could take on $30 billion in debt and continue to expand. Even as he tries to reshuffle old assets into new … Continue reading

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Current, Economy, Florida, Harrah's, Iowa, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Ohio, Revel, Tourism, Warner Gaming | 1 Comment

PokerStars: Sell … or else!

What do you do if you’ve got a purchase agreement with Colony Capital and the latter allegedly reneges on you? If you’re Rational Group, which thought it had a $15 million deal in place to purchase the Atlantic Club Hotel, … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Current, Donald Trump, Internet gambling, Regulation, Tilman Fertitta | 1 Comment

Happy days: Here again?; DIY Vdara Death Ray

America‘s casino officially emerged from the doldrums with the release of the American Gaming Association‘s yearly survey, showing a 5% increase in private-sector casino revenue, just $200 million shy of 2007’s record amount. Mind you, we have quite a few … Continue reading

Posted in Animals, Atlantic City, Cannery Casino Resorts, Current, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Penn National, Politics, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Vdara Death Ray | 1 Comment