Category Archives: California

Horseshoe boosts St. Louis; U.K. gaming reform slowed

Gambling continues to prosper in Missouri, where August receipts ($161 million) were 5.5% above last year’s. Visitation was actually down 5% but per-player spending rose 11%, inflation be damned. Ameristar St. Charles was out front with $26.5 million, leaping 9%. … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Century Casinos, Derek Stevens, DraftKings, Election, FanDuel, Missouri, New York, Penn National, Philippines, Regulation, Sports betting, United Kingdom | 3 Comments

Crimes and misdemeanors

Whoever killed reporter Jeff German may not be too terribly smart. Las Vegas Metro released photos of its prime suspect, dressed in “a bright orange reflective long-sleeve shirt, a pair of jeans and a straw hat that covered much of … Continue reading

Posted in California, Election, International, Kansas, Kazuo Okada, Law enforcement, Lotteries, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Scientific Games, Sexual misconduct, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Crimes and misdemeanors

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Boyd outperforms; Vegas airport sets record, joblessness drops

“No gaming consumer slowdown, at least not yet.” That was the headline of JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff‘s appraisal of Boyd Gaming‘s 2Q22 earnings call. Loyalty players and core customers remain steadfast, as Boyd grew revenues 4% “despite a tough … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Boyd Gaming, California, Downtown, Economy, Internet gambling, Kansas, Louisiana, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Reno, Resort fees, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Boyd outperforms; Vegas airport sets record, joblessness drops

Jottings for a Tuesday

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

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

Insolvency in Macao; Sports betting everywhere

Prior to the current Covid-19 lockdown, casinos in Macao were already engaged in a $600 million/month cash burn, thanks to the China‘s zero-tolerance policy on the disease. That will only get worse now that access to customers has been shut … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, California, China, DraftKings, Economy, Election, FanDuel, Hard Rock International, Health, history, Illinois, Macau, Maryland, Ohio, PointsBet, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, Tourism, TV, Westgate LV | 1 Comment

California Dems rebuff Big Gaming; Icahn irate; Mega-Jottings

California‘s Democratic Party has officially taken sides in the sports-betting ballot race and effectively come down on the side of a tribal/racetrack-driven initiative, going on the record as opposing a rival measure backed by most of the big names in … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, California, Card rooms, Carl Icahn, Election, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, New York, Politics, Real Estate, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Tribal, Virginia | Comments Off on California Dems rebuff Big Gaming; Icahn irate; Mega-Jottings

Ohio shows fatigue; Macao seizes hotels; Abe assassinated

Since it has been outperforming the broader U.S. market for some time now, perhaps we should not be unduly concerned that Ohio casino revenues are down for three months in a row. Indeed, compared to go-go 2019, they’re still arguably … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, California, Churchill Downs, Downtown, Economy, Hard Rock International, Health, Jack Entertainment, Japan, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sexual misconduct, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, Virginia | 1 Comment

Atlantic City casinos avert crisis; Congressional absurdity

It was eyeball-to-eyeball and Big Gaming blinked. Faced with probable, heavy losses of business, Borgata—the casino with the most to lose—was first to come to terms with Local 54 of Unite-Here. Terms with most of the majors were reached an … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Arizona, Atlantic City, Bally, Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, California, Carl Icahn, Chicago, Dining, DraftKings, Entertainment, GLPI, Hard Rock Hotel, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, MGM Resorts International, Ocean Resort, Politics, Real Estate, Rhode Island, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Unite-Here, West Virginia | 1 Comment

Strip carries Nevada; Atlantic City casinos play chicken

Nevada gambling revenues continued to climb in May, up 6% from last year, hitting $1.3 billion. The results were bifurcated, with tourist-dominated markets up and locals ones somewhat down. The Las Vegas Strip was the most obvious beneficiary, jumping 11.5% … Continue reading

Posted in Animals, Bally, Boulder Strip, Caesars Entertainment, California, Card rooms, Chicago, Churchill Downs, Downtown, Economy, Georgia, GLPI, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Horseracing, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Law enforcement, Maryland, Mesquite, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Money laundering, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Ocean Resort, Real Estate, Regulation, Reno, Rhode Island, Sports betting, The Strip, Unite-Here, Wendover | Comments Off on Strip carries Nevada; Atlantic City casinos play chicken

A’s juiced into Vegas; Greed at the top; Study: Casinos blowing smoke; Industry endorses Hochul

Given that Oakland is well and truly fed up with the sorry Oakland Athletics, and with their pinchpenny ways, relocation to Las Vegas may be just what the doctor ordered. However, the manner in which the exit ramp is being … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Baseball, California, Charity, Economy, G2E, Genting, Hard Rock International, Health, International, Kazuo Okada, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Palms, Philippines, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, The Strip, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Massachusetts upbeat; Station defiant; Atlantic City stalemate

Casinos in the Bay State clocked $91 million in revenue last month, a 5% improvement on last year. Encore Boston Harbor led the tiny pack with $58 million, growing 9.5%. Next up was MGM Springfield, performing surprisingly well. It was … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, California, Churchill Downs, Derek Stevens, Economy, Election, Galaxy Entertainment, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, North Carolina, Ocean Resort, Peninsula Pacific, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Slot routes, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Unite-Here, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Atlantic City booms on eve of strike; Louisiana not so lucky

Staring down a seemingly inevitable strike on July 1 by Unite-Here, casinos in Atlantic City could at least take solace in a May that saw gaming revenues leapfrog 9% over last year. The total gross was $233 million, as slot … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Australia, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., CQ Holdings, Crown Resorts, Dining, Downtown, DraftKings, FanDuel, FoxBet, Golden Nugget, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mohegan Sun, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Tamares Group, Texas, Tourism, Tribal, TV, Unite-Here | 1 Comment

Special Edition

So we leave on vacation (I checked into the Westin O’Hare and didn’t leave the building for three and half days) and all hell breaks loose in Big Gaming. The breaking story was MGM Resorts International‘s decision to shuck Gold … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Century Casinos, Cordish Co., Crown Resorts, DraftKings, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, Gary Goett, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, Oklahoma, Penn National, PointsBet, Rush Street Gaming, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, Tribal, Unite-Here | 2 Comments

Maryland weaker, Illinois stronger; Mickelson in denial

Even as playing levels normalize from last year, gambling revenues continue their upward tread. Maryland, for instance, was 4% higher in May than a year ago (and 17.5% above 2019). Had there not been one fewer weekend day than in … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Chicago, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., DFS, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Genting, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Tribal, Virginia, Washington State | 1 Comment