Category Archives: Boyd Gaming

Super Bowl hits Vegas jackpot; Hope for Caesars overseas

Posted on February 3, 2014 by David McKee

“It was embarrassing, humiliating and unbearable,” but when the Super Bowl was over, Nevada sports books had cleaned up … except for that safety on the first play from scrimmage, costly for the Denver Broncos and the books alike. Heavy … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Atlantic City, Bally Technologies, Boyd Gaming, Harrah's, International, LVCVA, MGM Mirage, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off

Buoyancy in Vegas, contentment at Wynn

Posted on January 31, 2014 by David McKee

Despite somewhat less money being dropped on the Las Vegas Strip, revenue was up 13% last December, closing out a strong 4Q13. Statewide, revenue was up 10%, slightly over a billion dollars. Tighter slot hold on the Strip helped fuel … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Economy, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Macau, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Racinos, Reno, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

All stories lead to Massachusetts

Posted on January 24, 2014 by David McKee

Since it faces no competition in western Massachusetts, it was mostly theater when MGM Resorts International CEO James Murren presented the project to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. The latter will have months in which to mull the enormous volume of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off

Winter of discontent

Posted on January 17, 2014 by David McKee

It’s been a grim December for regional casino markets. Even Pennsylvania, once a bastion of strength, ended 2013 with a slight year/year decline. In Connecticut, a 15% revenue decline was reported at Foxwoods Resort Casino, with handle off 21%. Mohegan … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Economy, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Louisiana, Marketing, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Taxes, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off

Online gambling is …

Posted on January 15, 2014 by David McKee

… a success, according to Seeking Alpha. On the other hand, Telsey Advisor Group projects New Jersey to flop, eventually only grossing $90 million, not the half-billion envisioned by some. Bloomberg Businessweek reports “mildly disappointing” numbers and that Internet wagering … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Revel, Tourism, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off

A tale of two cities

Posted on January 15, 2014 by David McKee

On Jan. 21, at 9 p.m., Bloomberg Television will be airing this documentary. Based on the trailer, I’m not impressed, as it yokes together an Atlantic City betting spree with unrelated — and hardly new — scenes of Las Vegas‘ … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Steve Wynn, TV | Comments Off

Frigid winter for Midwest casinos

Posted on January 10, 2014 by David McKee

Blame it on brutal weather or whatever your like but Midwest casino revenues have been dismal in December and it’s my doleful duty to report them. Missouri dipped 11%. Positive performers, like Pinnacle Entertainment‘s River City (+6%) were few. Of … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Indiana, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Toxic overconfidence at Wynn; Persistence in Kentucky

Posted on January 8, 2014 by David McKee

Whoops. It seems like Wynn Resorts was a little coy (or careless) about how it intended to clean up a toxic-waste site (home to “volatile organic compounds, petroleum hydrocarbons, PCBs, and evidence of sulfuric acids and other substances“) in Everett. Bostonians … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Environment, Internet gambling, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes | 2 Comments

Illinois freezes; Concierges outsourced

Posted on January 8, 2014 by David McKee

“Dec regional gaming revs should be coming out from the states this week and next and it won’t be pretty.” So warns Todd Jordan, aka @HedgeyeSnakeye. Case in point, Illinois, where revenues tumbled 13%. Even market leader Rivers Casino was … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Penn National, The Strip | Comments Off

Is Revel in play?; James Packer: Wanted man

Posted on November 11, 2013 by David McKee

I never would have believed it after a recent change of CEOs and a major redirection of Revel Resort‘s marketing efforts, but the casino could be put up for sale. The bottom having fallen out of the resale market for … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Animals, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Downtown, International, James Packer, Taxes, Technology, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts | Comments Off

Indiana up and down; Garber agonistes

Posted on November 8, 2013 by David McKee

Casinos in Indiana grossed 3% less last month but still far outperformed ($193 million) neighboring Illinois and Ohio. Patron traffic was 9% down but visitor spend rose 7%. Penn National Gaming‘s Hollywood Lawrenceburg got absolutely hammered by new competition from … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Charity, Cordish Co., Current, Economy, Harrah's, Indiana, Internet gambling, Japan, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Station Casinos, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Penn overboard!; Macao’s zenith

Posted on November 7, 2013 by David McKee

First the good news about Ohio: Gambling revenue was up 47% last month. Now, the bad news. One a same-store basis it was down 2% year/year. Who knew the Buckeye State would get saturated so quickly? The statewide gross was … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Dan Gilbert, Delaware, Economy, Harrah's, Illinois, Internet gambling, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Missouri, MTR Gaming, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Station Casinos, Tourism, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Caesars to Empire State; Colony to Chapter 11

Posted on November 7, 2013 by David McKee

When Caesars Entertainment made a discreet donation to the pro-casino campaign in New York State, we should have known that something was up. Sure enough, state Sen. John Bonacic (R) says Caesars is interested in a Sullivan County casino. Then … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Dan Lee, Donald Trump, Foxwoods, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, New York, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Wall Street | 1 Comment

CityCenter 1.5; Casinos vs. Atlantic City, Round Two

Posted on November 5, 2013 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International and Anschutz Entertainment Group have unfurled the big- and small-picture details of their 12-acre, 20,000-seat arena. For an in-depth description, I direct you to Alan Snel‘s excellent account. The announcement refuels speculation that AEG (operator of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Current, Economy, Hard Rock International, International, Japan, Macau, MGM Mirage, Politics, Sports, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Wisconsin | Comments Off

Penny Lane is in your ears and in your eyes

Posted on November 4, 2013 by David McKee

Although I don’t play them, I’m well aware of the appeal of penny slots. In hopes of upping play and helping customers find their favorite machines, Boyd Gaming has created “Penny Lane.” It seems like good slot-floor strategy … and … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Marketing, TV | Comments Off

Big win for Wynn; Murren in the spotlight; Lies, damned lies and Sheldon Adelson

Posted on November 1, 2013 by David McKee

In a disappointing but entirely predictable result, the Nevada Supreme Court ruled that Nevada law permits employers to confiscate and redistribute tips received by employees (euphemistically referred to as “tip sharing”). Now, if a I stuck a gun in your … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Election, Florida, Harrah's, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, New York, Palms, Pennsylvania, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Mob, Tourism | 3 Comments

Breaking Boyd

Posted on October 31, 2013 by David McKee

Boyd Gaming missed Wall Street expectations last quarter, posting negative earnings of eight cents a share, compared to the $0.01/share profit the Street was anticipating. Deutsche Bank‘s Carlo Santarelli blamed “softer-than-expected net revenues … below the low-end of management’s guidance.” Las … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Current, Downtown, Environment, Greenwood Racing, history, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Wall Street | Comments Off

Boyd gets ‘F’ on report; Disney’s double gamble

Posted on October 28, 2013 by David McKee

“Boyd is a highly leveraged casino play that has no exposure to high growth Asian markets.” With those words, Seeking Alpha concludes a severe assessment of Boyd Gaming, an investment upon which it frowns, despite being at a five-year high. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Florida, New York | Comments Off

Santa Claus smiles upon Borgata; No reprieve for Suffolk

Posted on October 22, 2013 by David McKee

Christmas came early for Boyd Gaming and Kris Kringle wore the judicial robes of the Tax Court of New Jersey. “A silver lining to Atlantic City‘s fall from grace for casino operators: the tax bills are lighter when the going gets … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Taxes, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Atlantic City ‘Net betting gathers speed; Render unto Loveman

Posted on October 17, 2013 by David McKee

Three more casinos have been green-lit to take Internet wagers along the Boardwalk. As you know, Borgata had already been approved. The second license went to the Golden Nugget, which is running its own site, with assistance from Bally Technologies. … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Harrah's, IGT, Internet gambling, Revel, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wisconsin | 1 Comment