Category Archives: Bally

Atlantic City slumps, as does Pennsylvania; Culinary kabuki theatre

Casinos along the Boardwalk continue to be impervious to the economic recovery that is prevalent in the gaming industry. Atlantic City was down 8% last month compared to 2019, grossing $262.5 million. Sports betting brought in $52 million (+32% from … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., CQ Holdings, Culinary Union, DraftKings, Entertainment, FanDuel, Florida, FoxBet, Golden Nugget, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Washington State, Wayne F. Newton, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

China kicks sand in Big Gaming’s face; Penn lobbies for special status

You could say that getting into bed with Red China was a devil’s bargain and Satan has come to collect. Or that Beijing has finally decided to show everyone who’s boss. Either way, the central government played Big Gaming for … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Australia, Bally, China, Crown Resorts, G2E, Galaxy Entertainment, Health, Illinois, Louisiana, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Rhode Island, Taxes, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on China kicks sand in Big Gaming’s face; Penn lobbies for special status

Balmy August in Indiana; The coming crisis in Vegas; MGM talks up prospects

There are signs that the regional gaming recovery is cooling (Missouri was up just 1% last month) but Indiana‘s August numbers, while not as hot as July’s, were a balmy 10% higher than 2019 as casinos grossed $203 million. Horseshoe … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Bally, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Conventions, Cosmopolitan, Downtown, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, G2E, Hard Rock International, Health, Indiana, Internet gambling, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, Peninsula Pacific, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Politics, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Sports betting, Technology, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Illinois, how could you?; 888 is Caesars’ lucky number

Count on Illinois to disappoint in an otherwise balmy August. True, it grossed a not-shabby $108 million but it was 8.5% down from 2o19, as business slipped 10% from July’s level. (We don’t want to say the gaming recovery is … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, Baseball, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, CityCenter, Cretins, DraftKings, Dubai, FanDuel, Harry Reid, Illinois, International, Lake Tahoe, MGM Resorts International, Paragon Gaming, Penn National, PointsBet, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, William Hill | 2 Comments

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

FanDuel gets up all up in your grille; Tahoe casinos: Fire? What fire?

What will sports-betting advertising be like once football season starts? Our prediction is for overkill, followed by backlash. As though to prove our point, FanDuel is unleashing a national ad blitz with a minute-long TV spot called “Anthem.” It’s so … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Arizona, Atlantic City, Bally, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, California, DraftKings, Election, FanDuel, Florida, G2E, Health, International, Lake Tahoe, Marketing, Mississippi, North Carolina, Paragon Gaming, PointsBet, Politics, Seminole Tribe, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, Tribal, TV, William Hill | 1 Comment

Ida hits coastal casinos; Case Bets

Gulf Coast casinos are currently weathering Hurricane Ida and can be optimistic—at least in Mississippi—that it will not be a replay of Hurricane Katrina, now that all the coastal casinos are onshore. However, garages are flooding and casino doors are … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Bally, BetMGM, Churchill Downs, Crown Resorts, DraftKings, FanDuel, Genting, Golden Nugget, James Packer, Japan, Melco Crown Entertainment, Mississippi, Ocean Resort, Oregon, Penn National, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Westgate LV, William Hill, Wisconsin, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Atlantic City catches up; MGM confronts Covid; AAA salutes Circa

It took a while but the Boardwalk is finally even with 2019 numbers. July saw a gambling gross of $277 million, flat with two years ago. Slot win was up 6% on 2% more coin-in but tables declined 14% on … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, California, Derek Stevens, Dining, Downtown, DraftKings, FanDuel, FoxBet, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Resort fees, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, The Strip, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 5 Comments

Has Japan jumped the shark?

That in essence is the question posed today by Global Gaming Business, in an excellent article by Marjorie Preston. And if GGB is querying the viability of the Nipponese casino market you know things are bad. Even normally bullish Brendan … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Arizona, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, Baseball, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Cordish Co., CQ Holdings, DraftKings, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, Genting, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, Indiana, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Peninsula Pacific, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Taxes, TV, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

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

Maryland goes, goes, goes; Penn flips out; SEC scrutinizing DraftKings

We Americans sure do love us some gambling. Maryland‘s July numbers just came in and it’s 20.5% (!) ahead of 2019. Casinos won $180 million and two extra weekend days obviously helped the tally. MGM National Harbor led with $72 … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., DraftKings, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Kansas, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pahrump, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, Tribal, TV, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off on Maryland goes, goes, goes; Penn flips out; SEC scrutinizing DraftKings

MGM does the right thing; Killer chipmunks in Lake Tahoe

In a very george move, MGM Resorts International is donating two acres of Strip land to be the site of a memorial to the victims of the Mandalay Bay Massacre. The acreage, at the corner of Reno Avenue and Giles … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Bally, Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Crown Resorts, Dining, Economy, GLPI, Health, Iowa, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Resorts International, Minnesota, North Carolina, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Virginia, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Masks back on, Las Vegas!; All’s right with the REITs

Mincing few words, MGM Resorts International CEO Bill Hornbuckle sent a letter to all employees, urging them to quit dithering and get their Covid-19 vaccinations, if they haven’t already. He pleaded, “In addition to the heart-wrenching thought of more illness … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, BetMGM, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Churchill Downs, Conventions, Delaware, Derek Stevens, Dining, Economy, GLPI, Health, history, Indiana, Kentucky, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Sands, Laughlin, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Real Estate, Resorts World LV, Singapore, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Caesars massacres table games, renames Superdome; Bally’s boffo

At the risk of flogging a deceased equine, the emperor at Caesars Entertainment has yet again showed himself to be without clothes. The latest Eldorado-ization of the Roman Empire is the wholesale slaughter of table games along the Las Vegas … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, Crown Resorts, Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Fontainebleau, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Jack Entertainment, Louisiana, Macau, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Taxes, The Strip, Virginia, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 5 Comments

‘ElDiablo’ rides again; Sports betting on the verge in Massachusetts

Last week, Vegas Message Board hosted a lengthy, detailed and impassioned screed from a self-professed Seven Stars member about a recent trip to Las Vegas and stay with Caesars Entertainment. First, the good news: the player host was extremely obliging, … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Georgia, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Massachusetts, Penn National, Politics, Slot routes, Sports betting, Taxes, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Las Vegas flirting with disaster; Pennsylvania sickly

With the exception of brave outliers Las Vegas Sands and Westgate Las Vegas, most casinos in Sin City are reacting to the resurgence of Covid-19 by doing … nothing. There’s a ‘been there, done that‘ attitude toward crisis-period measures like … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Bally, Barstool Sports, Baseball, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, FoxBet, Genting, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Health, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Singapore, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Westgate LV | 3 Comments

Atlantic City plays catch-up; Pennsylvania, Michigan flex online muscles

Casinos in Atlantic City are having trouble catching a wave from the Great Reopening. Last month’s brick-and-mortar revenues were $214.5 million, 9% down from 2019. Slot win ($154 million) was 8% lower on 11% less coin-in and luck wasn’t with … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Cordish Co., Culinary Union, Derek Stevens, Dining, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, FoxBet, Golden Nugget, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Health, Internet gambling, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street, Westgate LV, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Indiana, Missouri stay strong; Mixed feelings about buffets

Casino winnings in Indiana came up just a few increments short of $200 million last month, a 13% gain on 2019. Hard Rock Gary came out of the blocks fast, grossing $26 million, although Horseshoe Hammond climbed 7% to retain … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Dining, DraftKings, Entertainment, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, Health, Indiana, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Michael Gaughan, Missouri, New Jersey, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Philippines, PointsBet, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Torrid summer in Ohio; Kiddies for sports betting

We’ve been a busy bee of late. You can read our interview with Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment‘s Pacific viceroy, Bobby Soper, see our preview of Resorts World Las Vegas or look back on 2020, the year that wasn’t in gaming. … Continue reading

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cosmopolitan, DraftKings, FanDuel, Florida, Foxwoods, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Jack Entertainment, Law enforcement, Lotteries, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Politics, Resorts World LV, Rush Street Gaming, Seminole Tribe, South Korea, Sports betting, Technology, Wall Street, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Unlucky Lucy; Las Vegas “vibrant;” Secret plan for Atlantic City

No executives? No financing? No problem, right? Big problem! Just ask the nonentities behind a proposed Terre Haute casino. They just got turned down for a license. This almost never happens in “gold standard” Nevada, not because casino projects have … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Conventions, Cordish Co., Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Hard Rock International, Horseracing, Illinois, Indiana, Law enforcement, Macau, MGM Resorts International, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Politics, Real Estate, Regulation, Slot routes, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Spectacle Entertainment, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Virginia | 2 Comments