Category Archives: Baseball

Sands impresses; Trump’s new Mob pal; Boardwalk blotter; Mega-Jottings

Wall Street was in a sunny mood this week after Las Vegas Sands‘ 4Q22 earnings presentation. As Credit Suisse analyst Ben Chaiken summarized, “two large takeaways in our view were strength in Singapore and what we felt was a positive … Continue reading

Posted in Animals, Atlantic City, Bally, Baseball, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Charity, China, Colorado, Cretins, Derek Stevens, Dining, Donald Trump, Entertainment, FanDuel, Florida, history, IGT, Indiana, Iowa, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Marijuana, Marketing, Massachusetts, Movies, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Singapore, South Korea, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Technology, Texas, The Mob, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, TV, Vici Properties, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Wynn cools Massachusetts; China: “Dance, monkey, dance!”

Casinos in Massachusetts mostly did well last month, especially by pre-pandemic standards (+24%). Unfortunately, none of that lift came from Encore Boston Harbor, which had a disappointing October, down 1% and grossing $62 million. By contrast, MGM Springfield (above) impressed … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Baseball, California, China, Galaxy Entertainment, Genting, Hard Rock International, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Ocean Resort, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Sports betting, Tribal, Wall Street, Wisconsin, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

DraftKings tumbles big-time; Big Gaming bets on red

“It’s kind of fun to do the impossible,” said Walt Disney. For the leadership of DraftKings, “the impossible” would include finding a path to near-term profitability. DKNG reported 3Q22 numbers late last week and J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff called … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Barstool Sports, Baseball, BetMGM, Brazil, Caesars Entertainment, Crown Resorts, Donald Trump, DraftKings, Economy, Election, FanDuel, Jim Murren, Kansas, Las Vegas Raiders, Macau, Mattress Mack, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Phil Ruffin, Problem gambling, Regulation, South Carolina, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 3 Comments

MGM, Penn disappoint, Golden droops; Tilman’s gambit

Dragged down the golden albatross that is Macao, earnings of MGM Resorts International missed analysts’ projections by a whopping $1.61 per share for a 3Q22 loss of $1.39/share. More’s the pity, as MGM did so many things right. Wall Street … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, Baseball, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, California, China, CityCenter, Conventions, Cosmopolitan, Detroit, DraftKings, Economy, Election, Full House Resorts, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Health, Illinois, Internet gambling, Iowa, Japan, Laughlin, M Resort, Macau, Maryland, Mattress Mack, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Singapore, Slot routes, South Korea, Sports, Sports betting, The Rio, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Caesars Strip-tease; Slot flea swatted; Biden targets resort fees

In the end, all that talk of Caesars Entertainment selling a Las Vegas Strip asset was just a sham. The company probably couldn’t find any takers for the Flamingo at CEO Tom Reeg‘s preposterous asking price (ditto his equally preposterous … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Bally, Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, Churchill Downs, Conventions, Cordish Co., Hard Rock International, Indiana, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Real Estate, Resort fees, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Virginia, Wall Street, Washington State | 4 Comments

Bullish for Boyd; Abbott does Texas two-step; D.C. remorse

Bad economy? Not if you’re Boyd Gaming. The regional giant significantly improved third-quarter income, from $843 million in 3Q21 to $877 million this year. Said CEO Keith Smith, “Continuing into October, customer spending has been very consistent with the trends … Continue reading

Posted in Alabama, Barstool Sports, Baseball, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Downtown, Economy, Election, Hard Rock International, Hawaii, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Louisiana, Mattress Mack, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sports betting, Texas, Tourism, Tribal, Virgin Hotels, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Vegas scores own-goal; Housing slowdown begs casino growth

In their rush to book a Formula One racing event, Las Vegas city fathers have intentionally or otherwise conducted a 20,000-person human sacrifice in the form of a forfeited convention. Congratulations, Sin City, you’ve just lost the 2023 NAR NXT, … Continue reading

Posted in Baseball, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Conventions, Economy, Election, Genting, LVCVA, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Nebraska, Nevada, Resorts World LV, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip | 2 Comments

Voyage to Vegas, Part Two

Today we conclude our review of Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli‘s recent field trip to Las Vegas. We resume with Station Casinos, which seems to be accelerating its development timetable. Once it gets Durango Station up and running, it will … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Bally, Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, California, Canada, Economy, Golden Gaming, Las Vegas Sands, Laughlin, Macau, Maryland, Maverick Gaming, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Money laundering, Nevada, Phil Ruffin, Scientific Games, Slot routes, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, TV, Wall Street, Washington State, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Gaming levels off at high altitude; More Chicago shenanigans

Casino receipts are in for a quartet of states and they tell a similar tale: That gamblers are reining in their 2022 spending … but are still wagering (and losing) way more than three years ago. Hardly a picture of … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Baseball, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, Churchill Downs, Dan Lee, DraftKings, Full House Resorts, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Iowa, Jack Entertainment, Kansas, Louisiana, Macau, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, North Las Vegas, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Sports betting, Station Casinos, TV | 4 Comments

Sports betting doomed in California?; Much heat, light at G2E

We wouldn’t have believed it but it appears that both California sports-betting ballot initiatives could go down to defeat in November. While we favor sports betting, on principle, we don’t have a dog in this fight. Both Proposition 26 (tribal) … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Bally, Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, California, Century Casinos, Economy, Election, G2E, Georgia, Golden Gaming, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, International, Japan, Law enforcement, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, Politics, Regulation, Reno, Singapore, Slot routes, South Korea, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Vici Properties, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Vegas insanity; Penn’s bad boy; Lake Mead in peril

Imagine an 8.5-mile Las Vegas Strip. You may not have to because “experts” say “it’s in the cards.” What’s the cause of this crazed optimism? No, it’s not the economy. The prospect of a baseball stadium at Sahara Avenue and … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Bally, Barstool Sports, Baseball, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Cambodia, Card rooms, Churchill Downs, CityCenter, CQ Holdings, Economy, Election, Environment, Everi, Failsinos, Golden Nugget, Louisiana, M Resort, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Money laundering, Nebraska, Pansy Ho, Penn National, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, Star Entertainment, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, United Kingdom | 3 Comments

Big Gaming’s boffo biz; Bay State buttinski; Trop’s doom sealed

Amidst all the gloom-and-doom talk about the U.S. economy, one sector is doing better than ever: gambling. 2Q22 was an industry-best and the year is on track to be the biggest in history (despite curtailments in international play). The American … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, Baseball, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Columbia Sussex, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Indiana, Internet gambling, Laughlin, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, PointsBet, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Vici foresees blue skies; Ruffin + Athletics?; Phil the Shill

Vici Properties is sanguine about the U.S. economy, at least as it pertains to gambling. It can afford to be. Vici owns the real estate of 11 Las Vegas Strip casinos, which are sitting pretty these days. True, Vici lost … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Colorado, Donald Trump, DraftKings, Economy, Horseracing, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, Phil Ruffin, Real Estate, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, Star Entertainment, The Strip, Tourism, Vici Properties, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Vici foresees blue skies; Ruffin + Athletics?; Phil the Shill

Atlantic City casinos avert crisis; Congressional absurdity

It was eyeball-to-eyeball and Big Gaming blinked. Faced with probable, heavy losses of business, Borgata—the casino with the most to lose—was first to come to terms with Local 54 of Unite-Here. Terms with most of the majors were reached an … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Arizona, Atlantic City, Bally, Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, California, Carl Icahn, Chicago, Dining, DraftKings, Entertainment, GLPI, Hard Rock Hotel, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, MGM Resorts International, Ocean Resort, Politics, Real Estate, Rhode Island, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Unite-Here, West Virginia | 1 Comment

A’s juiced into Vegas; Greed at the top; Study: Casinos blowing smoke; Industry endorses Hochul

Given that Oakland is well and truly fed up with the sorry Oakland Athletics, and with their pinchpenny ways, relocation to Las Vegas may be just what the doctor ordered. However, the manner in which the exit ramp is being … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Baseball, California, Charity, Economy, G2E, Genting, Hard Rock International, Health, International, Kazuo Okada, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Palms, Philippines, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, The Strip, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Steve Wynn, Commie stooge?; Resorts World LV jumps shark

If there’s one thing Steve Wynn loves almost as much as money (and women to whom he is not married) it’s the Red Chinese. He’s been warbling sweet nothings about them ever since he got a gig in Macao as … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, Baseball, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, China, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Donald Trump, DraftKings, Economy, Entertainment, Failsinos, FanDuel, Florida, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, history, Internet gambling, Macau, Michigan, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Real Estate, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, The Strip, WInd Creek, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

George of the Year; Kansas ayes sports betting, Missouri not

It’s only May but we have to give the nod to The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Outgoing owner Blackstone Group graced all employees with $5,000 bonuses, an incredibly generous gesture. Blackstone certainly didn’t have to do it but they did … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Bally, Baseball, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, Cosmopolitan, Crown Resorts, Full House Resorts, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Kansas, Kazuo Okada, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Philippines, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Security, Slot routes, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, Star Entertainment, Virginia | Comments Off on George of the Year; Kansas ayes sports betting, Missouri not

Chicago blew it; Times Square, anyone? Monday Mega-Jottings

Even as Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) blunders forward with her megaresort campaign, more voices are being raised in criticism of how the Second City is going about the process. A Crain’s Business analysis determined that “Each location appears to … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Aristocrat, Atlantic City, Australia, Bally, Baseball, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, China, Crown Resorts, Derek Stevens, Election, Entertainment, Environment, FanDuel, Galaxy Entertainment, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, International, Kansas, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Real Estate, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, United Kingdom, Virginia | 1 Comment

Barley’s leaves a bad taste; Woe is Star; Mega-Jottings

When a casino is named Barley’s Brewing Co. you’d expect to get a decent glass of suds there. Not so. Las Vegan Lon Enwright is $8 million richer—but physically damaged beyond price—after being served cleaning fluids instead of beer (the … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Baseball, Boulder Strip, Charity, China, Conventions, Crown Resorts, Derek Stevens, history, Japan, Kentucky, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Money laundering, Movies, New Jersey, Politics, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, Star Entertainment, Station Casinos, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street, Wisconsin | Comments Off on Barley’s leaves a bad taste; Woe is Star; Mega-Jottings

Penn’s Portnoy problem; Unexpected winners, losers in Pennsylvania; Mega-Jottings

That ongoing bromance between Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy and Penn National Gaming CEO Jay Snowden is prompting regulatory scrutiny in Indiana and even Nevada, especially as Penn girds its loins for a full Barstool buyout. That would bring the … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Barstool Sports, Baseball, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Detroit, DraftKings, FanDuel, Greenwood Racing, Horseracing, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Marketing, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, New York, Ocean Resort, Oklahoma, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sexual misconduct, Sports betting, Taxes, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, WInd Creek | 2 Comments