Category Archives: Caesars Entertainment

Gaming levels off at high altitude; More Chicago shenanigans

Posted on September 9, 2022 by David McKee

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

Jottings for the weekend

Posted on September 2, 2022 by David McKee

Aside from the launch of sports betting in Kansas—spearheaded by Hollywood Casino and Kansas Star—it’s been a slow news week. Casino gambling is headed the wrong way in Alabama, where employee-owned GreeneTrack Class II casino was forced to shut down, … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Australia, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Connecticut, Crown Resorts, Detroit, DraftKings, Florida, history, Kansas, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Mohegan Sun, Money laundering, Nebraska, Penn National, Racinos, Seminole Tribe, Singapore, Sports betting, Taxes | 1 Comment

PILOT overboard!; Black Book bust; A spark for Sparks

Posted on August 31, 2022 by David McKee

“There is no evidence to suggest that casinos could not meet their PILOT obligations.” With those words Judge Michael Blee tossed New Jersey‘s current Payment In Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT) special-status tax program for casinos, which has lost round after … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Derek Stevens, DraftKings, FanDuel, Gary Goett, Golden Nugget, Law enforcement, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, Reno, Rush Street Gaming, Taxes, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Strip slows in July, Downtown flops; Mega-Jottings

Posted on August 30, 2022 by David McKee

Inflation and depleted discretionary income seem finally to have caught up with the Las Vegas Strip. July’s gambling win was 2.5% from the year previous (while locals casinos slipped 3%). The diñero, especially on the Strip, is so elevated from … Continue reading →

Posted in Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Downtown, DraftKings, Economy, Environment, FanDuel, Genting, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Iowa, Kansas, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Sands, Laughlin, Louisiana, Macau, Mesquite, MGM Resorts International, North Las Vegas, Peninsula Pacific, Philippines, PointsBet, Regulation, Reno, Singapore, The Strip, Tourism, Virginia, Wall Street, Wendover | 1 Comment

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

Posted on August 26, 2022 by David McKee

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

Posted on August 22, 2022 by David McKee

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

Sharp decline in Detroit; Biden backs Seminoles, DeSantis

Posted on August 19, 2022 by David McKee

Motown casinos grossed $106 million last month, off 8.5% from July 2021 (and way down from 2019, excepting stellar MGM Grand Detroit). MGM led with $51 million, MotorCity followed with $35 million and, as always, Hollywood Detroit brought up the … Continue reading →

Posted in Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Detroit, DraftKings, FanDuel, Florida, FoxBet, Hard Rock International, Illitch Family, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Penn National, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Seminole Tribe, Sports betting, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Pennsylvania: Parx back on top; Gov’t milks problem gambling

Posted on August 18, 2022 by David McKee

Despite a 12.5% dropoff in revenue from July 2021, Parx Casino outpaced the rest of the Pennsylvania pack last month, booking $51 million in revenue. The only other casino to come close was Wind Creek Bethlehem, riding a 13.5% surge … Continue reading →

Posted in Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Centaur Gaming, China, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Donald Trump, DraftKings, FanDuel, FoxBet, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Health, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Mohegan Sun, Money laundering, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Tribal | 2 Comments

Atlantic City burgeoning; Posthumous Adelson scandal

Posted on August 17, 2022 by David McKee

Revenues on the Boardwalk jumped 8% last month from July 2021, reaching $299 million on the nose. Slot winnings were good, up 5.5% on 6.5% more coin-in but table win was even better, growing 16% on only 4% higher wagering. … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Bally, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, California, CityCenter, Donald Trump, DraftKings, Environment, FanDuel, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, history, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, Ocean Resort, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Sports betting | 2 Comments

Tidal Wave in Atlantic City; FanDuel hits paydirt

Posted on August 15, 2022 by David McKee

Is Ocean Casino Resort‘s new leadership sweating comps? Our East Coast correspondent tried to score two for a Boz Scaggs concert, couldn’t, but paid anyway. What did he see? “The concert was far from being sold out. Do you think … Continue reading →

Posted in Apollo Management, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Downtown, DraftKings, Election, Entertainment, FanDuel, Genting, Georgia, Golden Nugget, Health, Illinois, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Nebraska, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Transportation, Tribal, Virginia, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

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

Posted on August 12, 2022 by David McKee

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

Playing the China card in Vegas; Fresh scandal in N.Y.

Posted on August 11, 2022 by David McKee

In an escalation of its not-so-cold war with Resorts World Las Vegas, Local 501 of the Operating Engineers is deploying the Commie card against Genting Group. The latter has been playing dirty pool in Local 501’s attempt to organize at … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, China, Election, Genting, Georgia, Health, history, International, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Peninsula Pacific, Pets, Politics, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Sports betting, Virginia | 2 Comments

Missouri up, Ohio down; Wynn hits records; Station flexes

Posted on August 10, 2022 by David McKee

After a somnolent Tuesday, all heck has erupted in the gaming universe and we’ll try to cram at least some of it into today’s dispatch. Gaming revenues continue to flicker here and there, while remaining high heavens above 2019’s outstanding … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Century Casinos, China, Churchill Downs, Economy, Hard Rock International, Health, International, Internet gambling, Jack Entertainment, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Real Estate, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Industry waffles on Sisolak; Illinois ekes upward

Posted on August 8, 2022 by David McKee

Cynicism, thy name is Big Gaming. Whereas its chips were all in with Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) the last time around, now it has a dampened finger held upwards, testing which way the wind is blowing. The Las Vegas … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Culinary Union, DraftKings, El Cortez, Election, Ellis Island, FanDuel, Genting, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Las Vegas Sands, Nevada, New York, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, PointsBet, Resorts World LV, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Cosmic quarter at MGM; New name, same old Penn

Posted on August 5, 2022 by David McKee

“No Recession yet, just all time records,” reported Truist Securities analyst Barry Jonas of MGM Resorts International‘s 2Q22 earnings call. Better-than-ever Las Vegas Strip and regional revenues beat the pants off Wall Street‘s expectations, outweighing “weakness” in Macao, where gaming … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Chicago, China, Churchill Downs, Conventions, Cordish Co., Cosmopolitan, DraftKings, FanDuel, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, history, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, M Resort, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Scott Butera, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Virginia, Wall Street, Wyoming | 1 Comment

Flamingo sale? Forget it!; Mega-Jottings

Posted on August 3, 2022 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment formally took the Flamingo off the sale block yesterday, at least for the foreseeable future. CEO Tom Reeg cited ‘market conditions‘ (odd when the Las Vegas Strip keeps breaking records). There is also the complication that Vici Properties … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Colorado, Conventions, Cretins, Dan Lee, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Full House Resorts, Illinois, Indiana, Lake Las Vegas, Louisiana, Maine, Marketing, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Regulation, South Carolina, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Rio, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, William Hill | 4 Comments

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

Posted on August 2, 2022 by David McKee

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

Peace in Atlantic City; Storm over Vegas

Posted on July 29, 2022 by David McKee

Along with Resorts Atlantic City, the Golden Nugget (seen above in its Trump Marina days) has inked a new labor pact with Unite-Here, bringing to an end any uncertainty about a strike on the Boardwalk. Workers get substantial pay increases, … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Atlantic City, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Churchill Downs, Cretins, Current, Derek Stevens, Dining, Downtown, Entertainment, Environment, Gary Goett, Genting, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Singapore, The Strip, Unite-Here, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Jottings for a Tuesday

Posted on July 26, 2022 by David McKee

You know it’s a slow news week when today’s front-and-center lead story in the Las Vegas Review-Journal is that a Lotus of Siam will open in a refreshed Red Rock Resort. With nothing of pressing urgency in the press these … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Bally, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, California, Card rooms, Cirque du Soleil, Cordish Co., Dining, DraftKings, Economy, Election, Entertainment, FanDuel, Hard Rock International, Pennsylvania, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Jottings for a Tuesday

Louisiana plummets; Cool front disrupts summer gaming

Posted on July 22, 2022 by David McKee

A “cruel, cruel summer” for regional casinos was predicted by Truist Securities analyst Barry Jonas and it’s already arrived in Louisiana, where gambling revenues fell 10% last month. It’s not even keeping pace with go-go 2019 any longer. The statewide … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Chicago, Churchill Downs, Conventions, CQ Holdings, Dining, Economy, Environment, Golden Gaming, Golden Nugget, Health, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Louisiana plummets; Cool front disrupts summer gaming