Category Archives: Boyd Gaming

End of an era; Boyd needs to do better

Posted on October 11, 2013 by David McKee

Family owned casinos continue to become a thing of the past. Latest casualty: John Ascuaga’s Nugget, an icon of the Reno-Sparks market. The Ascuagas are giving way to out-of-state owner Husky Finance and operator Global Gaming & Hospitality, whose principals include the … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cretins, Current, Economy, Reno | Comments Off

Atlantic City: It’s that time again

Posted on October 10, 2013 by David McKee

Since the next two months of 2013 involve comparisons to Hurricane Sandy, they won’t really count as measurements of Atlantic City‘s financial health. So here’s a last look-in for a while now. The market as a whole dropped 13% with … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Donald Trump, Harrah's, Mohegan Sun, Revel, Wall Street | 2 Comments

And the winner is … Borgata; Black eased out; Kudos to Sands

Posted on October 10, 2013 by David McKee

Leading the field, Borgata received New Jersey‘s first Internet-gambling license and will begin test play on Nov. 21. Congratulations to Boyd Gaming and partner bwin.party for having their ducks in a row. Understated Borgata prexy Tom Ballance, “It’s always nice … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Mesquite, Michael Gaughan, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal | Comments Off

Indiana: Worse than expected?

Posted on October 9, 2013 by David McKee

Despite per-patron spending that was up 7% last month, a 16% falloff in admissions more than negated it. Depending on whether one counts tax-deductible free play or not, Indiana was anywhere from 9.5% to 11% down last month. Tight consumer … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Economy, Harrah's, Indiana, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Illinois’ blues; G2E revisited; Ohio, one year later

Posted on October 7, 2013 by David McKee

Illinois‘ casinos got kicked in the pants last month, as revenues and foot traffic were down 9% each. The lone bright spot was Caesars Entertainment, which beat expectations, up 1%. True, Harrah’s Metropolis was off 22% but strong numbers at … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Economy, G2E, Harrah's, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Penn National | Comments Off

Learning to love the Boardwalk again

Posted on October 4, 2013 by David McKee

In a surprising — but not unwelcome — turn of events two Philadelphia casino investors are looking at getting into Atlantic City. It’s amazing the effect legalized Internet betting can have. Business partners George Miller and Kevin Flynn own 0.5% … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Dining, Donald Trump, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Pennsylvania, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta | 2 Comments

Massachusetts: Victory in Leominster; Mazer makes waves

Posted on September 25, 2013 by David McKee

Cordish Gaming crushed the opposition in Leominster yesterday, winning approval for a slot parlor with 61% of the vote. The campaign was notable for the personal participation of David Cordish, who went door-to-door to drum up support. The whippet-thin senior … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Cordish Co., Election, Harrah's, IGT, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, New Hampshire, Penn National, Regulation, Rhode Island, Technology, Tilman Fertitta | 1 Comment

Penn, Boyd take the hot seat

Posted on September 25, 2013 by David McKee

Continuing its series of “fireside chats,” Deutsche Bank‘s Carlo Santarelli met with Penn National Gaming executives. They reported that high-end play was pretty much normal but that small-fry players (who represent a quarter of their database) are wagering less these … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Internet gambling, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Wall Street | Comments Off

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 21, 2013 by David McKee

“The fourth [Manila] project, Resorts World Bayshore, is backed by Genting, a gambling giant with global ambitions (it is also planning to buy an ailing casino in Vegas). — from The Economist. Planning? Genting’s closed the deal. And what’s this … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Genting, International, The Strip | Comments Off

Another Borgata first; Ohio is “george”; Adelson’s waiting game

Posted on September 20, 2013 by David McKee

In what could be a harbinger of good things for Atlantic City, the final events of the World Poker Tour are being held at Borgata. It’s to promote the legalization of online poker in New Jersey, but anything that brings … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Environment, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Ohio, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn | 2 Comments

(Almost) Everybody wins in Louisiana

Posted on September 19, 2013 by David McKee

First the good news: Louisiana was up 14% last month. Now the less-good news: Take away the two new riverboats and the market was up 1%. L’Auberge Baton Rouge and Margaritaville, in Shreveport, were getting the job done, in essence, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Economy, Louisiana, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off

Dangerous complacency in New York

Posted on September 16, 2013 by David McKee

Casino advocates and New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) are making a risky wager regarding November’s ballot question that would dramatically expand gambling in upstate New York. They’re playing it cool, keeping most of their chips off the table. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Election, Foxwoods, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off

Trouble in paradise; Eight isn’t enough

Posted on September 14, 2013 by David McKee

That rising clamor you hear along the Strip isn’t just from weekend picketers at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. No, the Culinary Union has significantly ratcheted up the rhetoric against Strip operators MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment, and against … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Tribal, Wisconsin | Comments Off

Revel resurgent; MGM, Sands to Japan

Posted on September 10, 2013 by David McKee

For all the flack that it’s taken for its misleading “refund” on losses promotion, Revel Resort continues to woo customers back. Its revenues rose 2% in August, pushing the megaresort ahead of Showboat and into the middle tier of Atlantic … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Donald Trump, Harrah's, International, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Tropicana Entertainment | 3 Comments

Linq looking good & other Case Bets

Posted on September 5, 2013 by David McKee

You can’t drive around the Vegas Valley these days without having a clear view of the Las Vegas High Roller, the Ferris wheel that is Caesars Entertainment‘s would-be tourism magnet, which seems to grow overnight. It’s an impressive sight, one … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Entertainment, Environment, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Revel, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | 2 Comments

On the lighter side

Posted on September 3, 2013 by David McKee

Add Cedar Rapids to the list of cities offering a “Las Vegas flavor” to their citizens — at least if Cedar Crossing Casino goes through as planned, which will include a management team of Peninsula Gaming execs rendered homeless by … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Dining, Entertainment, Harrah's, Iowa, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off

Atlantic City: Half-full or half-empty?; Crosby tips his hand

Posted on August 23, 2013 by David McKee

It depends on which newspaper you read. The Press of Atlantic City took the half-full route, focusing on the profits made by eight of the city’s dozen casinos. The Associated Press pointed to the narrowing margin of aforesaid gross-operating profitability. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, Economy, Foxwoods, Harrah's, International, James Packer, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 1 Comment

Better late than never in A.C.

Posted on August 21, 2013 by David McKee

Under the leadership of the Atlantic City Alliance, the Boardwalk is finally getting its act together. (Makes you feel like a proud papa, doesn’t it?) Now through 2016, the ACA will offer $1 million in annual subsidies to conventions. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Economy, Florida, Macau, Racinos, Revel, Tourism | 1 Comment

Revel’s mixed reviews; All systems ‘go’ in Massachusetts

Posted on August 15, 2013 by David McKee

That controversial “You Can’t Lose” promotion being fielded by Revel Resort is a hit with players even as it’s been panned by pundits. “Whoa, Smarty Jones. Not so fast,” cracked one.) The complexity of the deal is even being credited … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Illinois, International, Marketing, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes | 2 Comments

Hope for Caesars; Dopes at Boyd

Posted on August 15, 2013 by David McKee

Perhaps the best thing yet to happen for Caesars Entertainment‘s Suffolk Downs project was a gift from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. The latter’s chairman, Stephen Crosby, said that surrounding-community agreements would play an important role in choosing which operator gets … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Entertainment, Harrah's, International, Macau, Maryland, Mississippi, The Strip | Comments Off