Category Archives: Barstool Sports

Gambling revenues still looking up; Mega-Jottings

Posted on March 14, 2023 by David McKee

Maryland aside, gambling revenues continue to trend upward. Even in Iowa, where they nudged only 1% higher from last year (undoubtedly due to new competition from Nebraska) but were high heavens (+38%) over 2019, aka the good old days. Indiana’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, Baseball, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Century Casinos, Cretins, DFS, DraftKings, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, Genting, Georgia, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Indiana, Iowa, Marketing, Massachusetts, Missouri, Movies, New York, Penn National, Politics, Reno, Sports betting, Tribal, United Kingdom, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Atlantic City in winter; Ohio rebounds; Lightfoot booted

Posted on March 1, 2023 by David McKee

Given a slow news day, let’s finally catch up with our East Coast bureau and see what’s been happening on the Boardwalk. First off, demerits to Ocean Casino Resort for contributing in its own small way to climate change by … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, Churchill Downs, DraftKings, Entertainment, FanDuel, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Jack Entertainment, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Ocean Resort, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Sports betting, Taxes | 1 Comment

Caesars hedges on NYC; Buyer’s remorse in Ohio

Posted on February 22, 2023 by David McKee

Although he currently has the frontrunner for a Manhattan casino, Caesars Entertainment CEO Tom Reeg is waffling a bit. Potentially ceding momentum to deep-pocketed rivals like Wynn Resorts and Las Vegas Sands, Reeg said Caesars wouldn’t get into an “arms … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, Detroit, DraftKings, FanDuel, Illitch Family, Indiana, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mattress Mack, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Texas, The Strip, Virginia, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

How the mighty have fallen; Pennsylvania saturated

Posted on February 20, 2023 by David McKee

Pity poor fellow Kelsey Grammer. The superb actor (Boss) and Shakespearean leading man has been reduced to tending bar at an Atlantic City casino. And not some prestigious Boardwalk gambling hall but last-place Golden Nugget. As our East Coast correspondent, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Dining, DraftKings, Entertainment, FanDuel, Golden Gaming, Greenwood Racing, Internet gambling, Iowa, Mohegan Sun, Movies, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, United Kingdom, Virginia, WInd Creek | 1 Comment

Atlantic City leaps; DraftKings beats The Street

Posted on February 17, 2023 by David McKee

Gambling revenues in Atlantic City defied the cold last month, surging 15% to $212 million. Borgata, naturally, led the market with $58.5 million, a 20.5% vault. Next up was Hard Rock Atlantic City with $36 million, a 3.5% nudge, followed … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Churchill Downs, CQ Holdings, DraftKings, FanDuel, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Louisiana, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Ocean Resort, Ohio, Penn National, Wall Street | Comments Off

Big Bally’s shakeup; Smoking swatted; Mega-Jottings

Posted on February 13, 2023 by David McKee

Back on Jan. 25, we wrote that Bally’s Corp. CEO Lee Fenton was “possibly laying the groundwork for his own exit,” when he said, The pandemic boosted our business and we continued to hire at full pelt. I now can … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, Cretins, DFS, Dining, Donald Trump, DraftKings, FanDuel, Genting, Health, Horseracing, International, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Minnesota, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, New York, Penn National, PointsBet, Politics, Real Estate, Regulation, Rhode Island, Rush Street Gaming, South Korea, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, TV, United Kingdom, Vici Properties, Virginia, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Sports betting backlash; Indiana, Missouri rebound

Posted on February 10, 2023 by David McKee

When we were penning the editor’s note for the February issue of Casino Life, we predicted that overkill in sports betting marketing was ripe to bring a backlash. But it happened sooner than we ever expected. Now we don’t know … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Bally, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Century Casinos, DraftKings, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Marketing, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, Penn National, PointsBet, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, The Strip | Comments Off

Boyd buoyed; Penn damned with faint praise; Mega-Jottings

Posted on February 3, 2023 by David McKee

It was a good day yesterday for Boyd Gaming as it trotted out its 4Q22 numbers. Cash flow healthily overshot Wall Street expectations and was powered by, among other things, better-than-2019 visitation by that Boyd mainstay, players from Hawaii. Wrote … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Canada, Churchill Downs, Cretins, Dining, Downtown, DraftKings, Election, Failsinos, FanDuel, Georgia, Hard Rock International, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, M Resort, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off

Bluhm blows smoke; Detroit declines; Bally’s sheds jobs

Posted on January 25, 2023 by David McKee

No, that isn’t a new big-box retail outlet (which its entrance rather resembles) but Rivers Portsmouth, the first permanent casino to open in Virginia. On hand were Allen Iverson, a marching band, a gaggle of local politicians … and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Detroit, Diversity, DraftKings, FanDuel, Greenwood Racing, Hawaii, Health, Illitch Family, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Penn National, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Technology, United Kingdom, Virginia, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Pennsylvania soft; Gray Lady panics; Smooth criminal

Posted on January 19, 2023 by David McKee

Gambling revenues in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania slipped just a bit last month, as 2022 continued to go out mostly quietly. The $298 million haul was 1% off December 2021’s pace. While there was some softening of the market, we … Continue reading →

Posted in Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., DraftKings, FanDuel, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Marketing, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, WInd Creek | 2 Comments

Solid finish in Atlantic City; Tough love elsewhere

Posted on January 18, 2023 by David McKee

Casinos closed out 2022 up 2% in December in Atlantic City. Before any gaming bosses start wringing their hands over higher costs, let it be known that this is 3% better than December 2019, before the latest collective-bargaining agreement. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Diversity, DraftKings, FanDuel, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, Internet gambling, Macau, Maine, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Ocean Resort, Palms, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Sports betting, The Strip | Comments Off

Indiana dims; Sands: Make mine Nassau; Mega-Jottings

Posted on January 13, 2023 by David McKee

Gaming revenues dipped last month in Indiana, achieving $204 million, a 3.5% year/year decline. Hard Rock Northern Indiana ($34 million, +4%) continues to ransack its competitors. Horseshoe Hammond was closest, grossing $26 million but down 13.5%, while Ameristar East Chicago … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Architecture, Arizona, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Culinary Union, Dining, DraftKings, FanDuel, Fontainebleau, Full House Resorts, Genting, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Politics, Resorts World LV, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Texas, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Maryland sags; Dustup at Red Rock; Sands’ big NY play; The dangers of Fanatic-ism

Posted on January 6, 2023 by David McKee

Whilst 2022 may have come in like a lion for casinos, it’s going out like a lamb, despite an extra weekend day last month. Revenues in Maryland dipped 4.5% to $165 million statewide in December, still 11% better than the … Continue reading →

Posted in Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Culinary Union, Dining, Diversity, DraftKings, Genting, Golden Gaming, Las Vegas Sands, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Transportation | 2 Comments

No ‘M’ in ‘Penn’; A Royal mystery; See Vegas and die

Posted on December 30, 2022 by David McKee

Scarcely had the hot air cooled on Penn Entertainment‘s announcement that it was doubling the capacity of M Resort than word trickled out—via Vital Vegas—that Penn is in talks too sell the locals-oriented property to MGM Resorts Entertainment. It would … Continue reading →

Posted in Barstool Sports, Conventions, Downtown, Failsinos, Illinois, Las Vegas Raiders, Law enforcement, M Resort, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Ohio, Penn National, Real Estate, Regulation, Sports betting, The Strip | 3 Comments

Christmas wishes

Posted on December 23, 2022 by David McKee

It’s time to reward those who have been nice and offer appropriate gifts to the naughty. So, without further ado, we play Santa Claus to the casino industry …

Posted in AGA, Alabama, Alex Meruelo, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Card rooms, Chicago, China, Crown Resorts, Culinary Union, Dan Lee, Derek Stevens, Downtown, DraftKings, Fontainebleau, Full House Resorts, Genting, Georgia, Hard Rock International, James Packer, Japan, Kazuo Okada, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Massachusetts, Mattress Mack, MGM Resorts International, Michael Gaughan, Missouri, Moulin Rouge, Movies, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Pahrump, Palms, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Real Estate, Regulation, Resort fees, Resorts World LV, Sahara, Scott Butera, Sports betting, Star Entertainment, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Rio, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta | Comments Off

Christmas on the Boardwalk; Miller smacks Gray Lady

Posted on December 22, 2022 by David McKee

We begin today with kudos to a non-casino entrepreneur, Bart Blatstein, who has erected a 150-foot Christmas tree in front of the Showboat. It’s said to be the first large-scale tree in Boardwalk history. Thank you, sir. And to get … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, Caesars Entertainment, Dining, Golden Nugget, Indiana, Politics, Problem gambling, West Virginia | 3 Comments

Penn problems; Maryland sports bets boffo; Oscar pix

Posted on December 21, 2022 by David McKee

Regulators in Massachusetts struck an unsatisfactory compromise with Penn Entertainment. The latter’s Plainridge Park was granted a sports book license, conditional upon a suitability investigation of Barstool Sports founder—and the new face of Penn—Dave Portnoy. “We are very comfortable with … Continue reading →

Posted in Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, DraftKings, FanDuel, Indiana, Kansas, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Movies, New Jersey, Ohio, Penn National, Regulation, Sports betting, Steve Wynn | Comments Off

Pennsylvania, Michigan cool; Cuban covets Texas casino

Posted on December 20, 2022 by David McKee

Heaven be praised for the coming of 2023, not because 2022 was bad (quite the contrary) but because Wall Street is addicted to measuring this year against 2019, not 2021 … which can be quite crazy-making. By that yardstick, Pennsylvania … Continue reading →

Posted in Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Detroit, DraftKings, FanDuel, Florida, Greenwood Racing, Idaho, Illitch Family, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mohegan Sun, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Real Estate, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Texas, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street, WInd Creek, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Atlantic City hops; NV regulators take a dive; Vagina monologue

Posted on December 19, 2022 by David McKee

November was a metaphorically warm month for Atlantic City, whose casino revenues grew 4% from last year, reaching $214.5 million. Spoiler alert, Borgata was way out front with $55 million, leaping 14%. Hard Rock Atlantic City dimmed 5% to a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Brazil, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, CQ Holdings, Donald Trump, DraftKings, FanDuel, Florida, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Indiana, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Lotteries, Louisiana, Macau, Mattress Mack, MGM Resorts International, Michael Gaughan, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, New York, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Puerto Rico, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Seminole Tribe, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tribal, Virginia, Wall Street, Westgate LV, Wisconsin | 2 Comments

Caesars, Penn dimmed; Barstool fined; Card room zinged

Posted on December 15, 2022 by David McKee

Both Caesars Entertainment and Penn Entertainment lost traction yesterday on Wall Street after Bank of America analyst Shaun Kelley downgraded the casino giants. His primary concern was a potential downturn in gaming, due to larger macroeconomic issues, that has yet … Continue reading →

Posted in Barstool Sports, Caesars Entertainment, California, Card rooms, Florida, Illinois, Jack Entertainment, M Resort, Ohio, Penn National, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Sports betting, Wall Street | 1 Comment