Category Archives: California

New gambling ban in Britain; Casinos face uncertain Georgia future

Great Britain continues to crack down on gambling. As of April 14, Britons will no longer be able to bet with their credit cards. (Lottery tickets are exempted from the fatwa.) This comes on the heels of a reduction in the … Continue reading

Posted in Aristocrat, Boyd Gaming, California, Cosmopolitan, Cretins, Diversity, G2E, Georgia, International, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Taxes, Technology, Tribal | 3 Comments

California scheming; Exploitation in Cambodia

Don’t hold your water but lawmakers in California have gone so far as to hold an actual, living, breathing, preliminary hearing (emphasis on “preliminary”) on the issue of sports betting. The endgame here is not to legalize sports betting via the … Continue reading

Posted in California, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Election, Fontainebleau, International, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Palms, Politics, Regulation, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Steven Witkoff, The Strip, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on California scheming; Exploitation in Cambodia

Card-room smackdown; CES not high on weed

What happens when a casino doesn’t have enough cash on hand to cover all the chips on the floor? If you’re California card room Magnolia House Casino, in Rancho Cordova, you get shut down by the state. The card room … Continue reading

Posted in California, Conventions, Marijuana, MGM Resorts International, Regulation, Scott Butera, Sports betting, Technology, Transportation | Comments Off on Card-room smackdown; CES not high on weed

End-of-Year Case Bets

In a retrospective mood, the American Gaming Association has chosen the top eight gaming stories of the past year, ranked here in descending order. They are: The Caesars Entertainment takeover by Eldorado Resorts. ‘Nuff said. Allegations that Encore Boston Harbor is … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Canada, Carl Icahn, Donald Trump, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Harrah's, Japan, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Raiders, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Lucky Dragon, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Money laundering, Oklahoma, Problem gambling, Resort fees, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

“It’s not an issue of jobs. It’s an issue of the law. It’s like saying, ‘Yes, meth is a terrible drug, but think of all the jobs that are created in the emergency rooms, and if we stop it, those … Continue reading

Posted in California, Regulation | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Georgia solons mull gambling; DraftKings’ big deal

“I do think there’s momentum for something to happen this session,” state Sen. Brandon Beach (R, below) said of legalizing gambling in Georgia, although solons remain undecided on whether to add sports betting to the package they’ll be proposing. “We … Continue reading

Posted in California, DraftKings, Economy, Entertainment, Georgia, Horseracing, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, Neil Bluhm, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Georgia solons mull gambling; DraftKings’ big deal

Tribal gambling rampant in Oklahoma?; Penn National gets swindled

Could “casinos and smoke shops soon begin popping up on every corner of downtown Tulsa?” So wondered Indian Country Today about a Supreme Court case that could dramatically alter the complexion of tribal gaming in Oklahoma. (Serves Kevin Stitt right.) The … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, Churchill Downs, Culinary Union, Eldorado Resorts, Galaxy Entertainment, Genting, Illinois, Japan, Las Vegas Raiders, Law enforcement, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Oklahoma, Pansy Ho, Penn National, Regulation, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports, Sports betting, The Rio, Tribal, World Series of Poker, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Tribal gambling rampant in Oklahoma?; Penn National gets swindled

Encore dominates Boston; President Xi visits Macao

Encore Boston Harbor continues to lap the field in Massachusetts with 60% of market share and daily revenue of $1.6 million. Encore is definitely cutting into slot business at Plainridge Park, still impressive at $305/win/slot/day—but down from $357/slot a year … Continue reading

Posted in California, China, International, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Sports betting, Tribal, Wall Street, Wisconsin, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Encore dominates Boston; President Xi visits Macao

Stitt, tribes going to the wire; California card rooms slammed

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) is escalating his rhetoric in his war with the Sooner State’s casino tribes. He says they’ll be operating gambling “illegally” starting on New Year’s Day. But his verbal volley wasn’t aimed at tribes so much as … Continue reading

Posted in California, Downtown, Japan, Law enforcement, Maryland, Money laundering, Oklahoma, Politics, Regulation, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off on Stitt, tribes going to the wire; California card rooms slammed

Duterte socks it to casinos; Sports betting battle in California

This is an effective promotional tool. Why aren’t other companies doing it? (We’re looking at you, Caesars Entertainment.) * Philippine strongman Rodrigo Duterte is punching out at Philippines offshore gaming operators (POGOs) over delinquent taxes. He asserted that they had paid … Continue reading

Posted in California, Cosmopolitan, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Galaxy Entertainment, Genting, Hard Rock International, International, Internet gambling, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, Philippines, Politics, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Sports betting, The Rio, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Duterte socks it to casinos; Sports betting battle in California

Dems court Culinary vote; Scandal in Austria

Democratic presidential candidates are hardly taking the Nevada caucuses for granted. Sen. Kamala Harris (D) has already been once to Las Vegas (in vain) as has Joe Biden. The latter probably endeared himself to Culinary Union members by having a contretemps with … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Canada, China, Culinary Union, Derek Stevens, Election, Foxwoods, International, Japan, Law enforcement, Macau, Michigan, Movies, New York, Penn National, Politics, Singapore, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off on Dems court Culinary vote; Scandal in Austria

‘Sharp’ criticism of Congress; MGM a popular stock pick

Newly elected National Congress of American Indians President Fawn Sharp wasted no time in opening a can of whup-ass on the U.S. Congress. Speaking to the House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States Oversight, Sharp … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Culinary Union, Derek Stevens, Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Hard Rock International, Japan, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Politics, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street, Washington State, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on ‘Sharp’ criticism of Congress; MGM a popular stock pick

Small thinking big in Oklahoma; Smoke gets in their lungs

In Oklahoma, Council of Public Affairs President Jonathan Small went to the mat for Gov. Kevin Stitt (R), backing Stitt’s demand for higher—much higher—exclusivity fees. To his credit, Stitt has put sports betting on the table as an incentive. Small … Continue reading

Posted in California, Connecticut, Environment, Florida, Hard Rock International, Las Vegas Sands, Nevada, Oklahoma, Palms, Problem gambling, Sports betting, Taxes, Technology, Tribal, Virginia | Comments Off on Small thinking big in Oklahoma; Smoke gets in their lungs

Quote of the Day

“I cannot think of another president who sustained a political jihad against a specific state.”—Barry Rabe, a public policy professor at the University of Michigan, on Donald Trump‘s California fixation.

Posted in California, Donald Trump, Environment | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Going for the gold in California; Vegas tops sin survey

It’s not quite as pre-apocalyptic as dogs and cats living together but California Native American tribes are joining with private-sector racetracks to push for sports betting in the Golden State, surely the ripest market in the U.S. The coalition wants … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, Donald Trump, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Entertainment, history, Illinois, Japan, Louisiana, Regulation, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Caution on Scientific, Golden; VIPs passé in Macao

Scientific Games must have been less than thrilled with Credit Suisse analyst Ben Combes‘ report on their third quarter. It was headlined, “Solid Quarter, But Leverage Concerns Keep Us on the Sidelines.” Cash flow of $344 million beat the Wall … Continue reading

Posted in California, Canada, China, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Genting, Golden Gaming, Greenwood Racing, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Raiders, Lotteries, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Resort fees, Rush Street Gaming, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Caution on Scientific, Golden; VIPs passé in Macao

Cordish bully on Philly

We’ll soon find out if the Philadelphia market can sustain five casinos when Cordish Gaming‘s Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia opens, next door to Citizens Bank Park (baseball) and close to Lincoln Financial Field (football) and Wells Fargo Center (basketball and … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, Charity, Cordish Co., Dan Gilbert, DFS, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Florida, Las Vegas Raiders, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sahara, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

The Drew makes bold promises; GLPI gleeful

Steven Witkoff buried the lead when announcing that Bobby Baldwin had been called out of retirement to become CEO of The Drew. Witkoff’s PR peeps said that the project was in “final preparations for construction,” which is the first movement … Continue reading

Posted in Ameristar, Caesars Entertainment, California, CityCenter, Detroit, DFS, Dining, Fontainebleau, G2E, GLPI, history, Las Vegas Sands, Lotteries, Louisiana, Macau, Maryland, Michigan, Politics, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Vdara Death Ray, Wall Street | Comments Off on The Drew makes bold promises; GLPI gleeful

Churchill Downs in expansive mood; Cannery security faulted

Churchill Downs‘ third-quarter cash flow of $88 million was $7 million shy of Wall Street‘s expectation. The shortfall extended across all segments of CHDN business, although increased casino competition in Maine was one of the contributing factors. In terms of … Continue reading

Posted in Baseball, Boyd Gaming, California, Churchill Downs, Kentucky, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Maine, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Rush Street Gaming, Security, Sports betting, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Churchill Downs in expansive mood; Cannery security faulted

Biden lobbies Station; Important victory for Flynt, casinos

George GOP donor Frank Fertitta III is unlikely to put missives from Joe Biden at the top of his in-box. Thus it was more of a theatrical gesture than a substantive negotiation when Biden wrote to the Fertitta, in an open … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Cretins, Culinary Union, Dining, Election, Entertainment, Konami, Lake Tahoe, Law enforcement, Maryland, Massachusetts, Palms, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Technology, The Mob, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment