Category Archives: Caesars Entertainment

“Crisis” greed spreads; All that glitters is Golden

When we first heard about a Las Vegas Strip restaurant tacking an “optional” Covid-19 fee onto its diners’ checks we knew that A) this was the beginning of a bad thing and B) it would spread like a virus. So … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Dining, Economy, Golden Gaming, Health, Indiana, Las Vegas Raiders, Laughlin, Maryland, Resort fees, Slot routes, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on “Crisis” greed spreads; All that glitters is Golden

‘Net casinos boom; Indiana sports books struggle

Here is the kind of story American Gaming Association President Bill Miller doesn’t want us to write. Costa Rica-based PayPerHead software provider is quantifying the upsurge in Internet gambling that took off with Covid-19. Not only did online casinos benefit … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, DraftKings, FanDuel, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Marketing, Penn National, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, Tourism, Transportation | Comments Off on ‘Net casinos boom; Indiana sports books struggle

MGM revving up on Strip; The Skull returns

Allowing for the context that one’s hotels fill up faster when only 25%-50% of the rooms are being rented, MGM Resorts International seems to be enjoying a honeymoon with its customer base. Its Las Vegas Strip resorts are reopening, in … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Colony Capital, Dining, Downtown, Dubai, Economy, Entertainment, Golden Gaming, Golden Nugget, International, MGM Resorts International, Minnesota, New Jersey, Resorts World LV, The Mob, The Strip | Comments Off on MGM revving up on Strip; The Skull returns

MGM changes mind on Aria; No appetite for deals?

Having told its entire Aria staff to look for new jobs, MGM Resorts International finds itself in the position of saying, “Never mind.” In an interview last weekend, CEO Bill Hornbuckle floated the possibility of reopening Aria by July 4, followed … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, CityCenter, Conventions, Current, Derek Stevens, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Hawaii, Health, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, LVCVA, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Money laundering, Resort fees, Sahara, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Terry Caudill, The Rio, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, TV, Virginia, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Station reopens bullishly; Who was that masked man, anyway?

On the eve of today’s reopening, Station Casinos hosted a conference call with JP Morgan analysts and was pretty darn confident that its base of Baby Boomers and retirees would flock back. So confident is that Station “has not been … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Caesars Entertainment, Cirque du Soleil, Crown Resorts, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Entertainment, Health, Las Vegas Sands, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Palms, Planet Hollywood, Real Estate, Resort fees, Station Casinos, Steven Witkoff, Tamares Group, Terry Caudill, The Rio, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 3 Comments

California Lege mulls sports betting; Mega-Jottings

Gaming analysts may be getting a little ahead of themselves but they’re estimating that California could generate $30 billion a year in sports-betting handle, $2 billion in revenue and $300 million in taxes. That’d be pretty good news for a … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Downtown, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, International, Lotteries, New Jersey, Politics, Regulation, Rhode Island, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Twin River | 2 Comments

AGA tackles IRS; Stevens picks up the tab

Perhaps emboldened by its success with the Small Business Administration, the American Gaming Association is tackling an even bigger, more formidable foe: the Internal Revenue Service. Specifically, the AGA is taking aim at the $1,200 “IRS lockdown,” the threshold at which … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Caesars Entertainment, Derek Stevens, Eldorado Resorts, Health, Louisiana, MGM Resorts International, Racinos, Regulation, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Transportation, Virginia | 1 Comment

Nevada casinos to reopen; Ruffin stiffs workforce

Pending a decline in Coronavirus cases over this past weekend, Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) is expected to announce a reopening of Silver State casinos, effective June 4, which should give them time to get their paperwork filed with the … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Cirque du Soleil, Culinary Union, Downtown, Economy, Hawaii, Health, history, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Phil Ruffin, Resort fees, Sahara, The Rio, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Westgate LV, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

New cop on the beat; Are we ready for some football?

There’s a new sheriff in town. Credit Suisse analyst Benjamin Chaiken made his debut today, issuing a sweeping series of reports, covering a number of tourism sectors. Let’s cut to the chase: “This is an unprecedented time for the sector, … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Health, IGT, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Real Estate, Scientific Games, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Go to the Convention Center, get a test; Station faces tough recovery

In a win for the Culinary Union, a wide swath of Las Vegas casinos have agreed to test all their employees for Coronavirus before they reopen. University Medical Center, the Culinary Health Fund and the Las Vegas Convention Center are all … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Culinary Union, Dining, Economy, Health, Indiana, Jim Murren, Louisiana, LVCVA, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Palms, Real Estate, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Technology, Tribal | 1 Comment

Wynn vs. Covid-19; Louisiana casinos reopen with a bang

Are high-rollers immune to Covid-19? Guess so. They’re the only ones who’ll be allowed to play craps when Wynncore and Encore Boston Harbor reopen. Truth to tell, blowing on dice seems kind of creepy in the age of Coronavirus, even … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, DraftKings, Economy, Entertainment, FanDuel, Greenwood Racing, Health, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, South Dakota, Sports betting, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Wynn vs. Covid-19; Louisiana casinos reopen with a bang

“Green shoots” in gaming; Mega-Jottings

According to the American Gaming Association, 82 of 989 casinos in the United States have reopened, many of them in Louisiana starting today. But don’t take our word for it. Use the AGA’s Coronavirus tracker, which keeps you abreast of casino … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Conventions, Detroit, Dining, GLPI, Golden Nugget, Health, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, LVCVA, M Resort, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Penn National, Politics, Resort fees, Singapore, South Dakota, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

July resumption for Mass casinos; Room rates rebound

Casinos in Massachusetts now know when they can reopen … more or less. Gov. Charlie Baker (R) has laid out of one of the toughest reopening regimens in the U.S. It will proceed in four phases, each phase—beginning today—lasting three weeks. … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Health, Las Vegas Sands, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Oscar Goodman, Penn National, Politics, Real Estate, Regulation, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on July resumption for Mass casinos; Room rates rebound

Cosmo to Hard Rock?; Caesars dwarfs Eldorado

VitalVegas is a veritable font of Las Vegas Strip scuttlebutt. Among its recent rumor-chases was the tantalizing hint that Planet Hollywood was going to go smoke-free. (Official word from Caesars Entertainment: “Untrue.” End of story.) Also, author Scott Roeben is … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Hard Rock International, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Penn National, Planet Hollywood, Real Estate, Seminole Tribe | Comments Off on Cosmo to Hard Rock?; Caesars dwarfs Eldorado

Vegas casinos can reopen, sorta; Hard Rock returns

Want to go back to a Las Vegas casino? Now you can. In a well-meant directive that seems to be sowing a certain amount of confusion, the Nevada Gaming Control Board stated that during the current Phase I, casinos could … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Cosmopolitan, Cretins, Dining, Economy, Georgia, Hard Rock International, Lotteries, Maryland, Massachusetts, Movies, Oregon, Penn National, Real Estate, Sahara, Steven Witkoff, The Strip, Virgin Hotels | 2 Comments

Rodio steps up; A kinder, gentler restart

Unlike some leaders in our federal government, Caesars Entertainment CEO Anthony Rodio has the stones to be seen wearing a health mask in public, as he does in a new video message to Caesars customers. Without going into the exhaustive … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Health, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | 4 Comments

Adelson quits Japan; Caesars vague on relaunch

Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson has come through the Covid-19 crisis with two things most of us don’t have: A) a boatload of cash and B) a desire to acquire other businesses. The rumor mill says he has his … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Crown Resorts, Current, Georgia, Health, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Lotteries, MGM Resorts International, Philippines, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Vietnam, Wall Street, World Series of Poker, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

MGM’s seven steps; Culinary throws tantrum

Add MGM Resorts International to the roster of Las Vegas companies announcing reopening protocols. (Earth to Caesars Entertainment, come in Caesars … ) The company calls it a “comprehensive, multi-layered approach resulting from months of consultations and guidance from public … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Conventions, Culinary Union, Dining, Donald Trump, Hard Rock International, Health, International, Japan, Macau, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Sports, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Play ball!; Wall Street hearts casinos

Handwaving questions about maintaining player safety and how to recompense their employees, Major League Baseball rolled out a plan for belatedly starting the 2020 season around the traditional All-Star Break. The owners are not without their priorities: The sacred Designated … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Entertainment, Health, Japan, Las Vegas Raiders, Resort fees, Sports, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Barrack screws up (again); Boyd reopens … somewhat

Colony Capital CEO Tom Barrack is back in the news and, as usual, not in a good way. His REIT has defaulted on $3.2 billion in loans secured by 157 hotel and healthcare properties. That’s three-quarters of his holdings. Prior to … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Colony Capital, Downtown, Economy, Health, history, North Carolina, Penn National, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 4 Comments