Category Archives: California

Pennsylvania rebounds; Mega-jottings

After grappling with the effects of gaming saturation for several months, Pennsylvania flexed its muscles in September, up 9% from 2019. The gross was $283 million. On a same-store basis (i.e., discounting the effects of new casinos), the Keystone State … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Culinary Union, DraftKings, Drugs, FanDuel, Florida, FoxBet, Genting, Greenwood Racing, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Lotteries, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Rush Street Gaming, Scientific Games, Seminole Tribe, Singapore, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, Tribal | 1 Comment

Business comeback fuels Strip; Massachusetts fumbles sports betting

Las Vegas Strip room rates continue to demonstrate sustained strength through October and, get this, midweek traffic is driving the bus. Overall, weekday prices are up 22% versus 17% on weekends. MGM Resorts International is the pace car, +24% midweek … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Card rooms, Connecticut, Derek Stevens, Economy, Fontainebleau, Health, IGT, International, Japan, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Resorts World LV, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Wall Street meets Vegas, likes what it hears

JP Morgan analysts, led by Joseph Greff, are touring Las Vegas ahead of Global Gaming Expo and seem to like what they’re hearing. For instance, they met with Station Casinos CFO Steven Cootey and were told that demand continues to … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, California, Canada, China, Conventions, Economy, Health, Internet gambling, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, M Resort, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Las Vegas, Palms, Penn National, Problem gambling, Resorts World LV, Singapore, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, Texas, Tribal, Wall Street, Westgate LV | 3 Comments

Balmy August in Indiana; The coming crisis in Vegas; MGM talks up prospects

There are signs that the regional gaming recovery is cooling (Missouri was up just 1% last month) but Indiana‘s August numbers, while not as hot as July’s, were a balmy 10% higher than 2019 as casinos grossed $203 million. Horseshoe … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Bally, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Conventions, Cosmopolitan, Downtown, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, G2E, Hard Rock International, Health, Indiana, Internet gambling, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, Peninsula Pacific, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Politics, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Sports betting, Technology, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

FanDuel gets up all up in your grille; Tahoe casinos: Fire? What fire?

What will sports-betting advertising be like once football season starts? Our prediction is for overkill, followed by backlash. As though to prove our point, FanDuel is unleashing a national ad blitz with a minute-long TV spot called “Anthem.” It’s so … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Arizona, Atlantic City, Bally, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, California, DraftKings, Election, FanDuel, Florida, G2E, Health, International, Lake Tahoe, Marketing, Mississippi, North Carolina, Paragon Gaming, PointsBet, Politics, Seminole Tribe, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, Tribal, TV, William Hill | 1 Comment

Competitive vitality in Pennsylvania; The politics of casinos

Pennsylvania was late to the casino-recovery party but it’s finally arrived, up 1% in July over 2019 for a gross of $310 million, of which $223 million was won at the slots. The good news may be short-lived, in that … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Atlantic City, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Card rooms, Centaur Gaming, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Derek Stevens, DraftKings, Economy, Entertainment, FanDuel, FoxBet, Greenwood Racing, Health, Indiana, Internet gambling, Japan, Law enforcement, Marketing, Michael Gaughan, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Politics, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, South Korea, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tamares Group, Taxes, Texas, Tribal, TV, Wall Street, West Virginia, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Atlantic City catches up; MGM confronts Covid; AAA salutes Circa

It took a while but the Boardwalk is finally even with 2019 numbers. July saw a gambling gross of $277 million, flat with two years ago. Slot win was up 6% on 2% more coin-in but tables declined 14% on … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, California, Derek Stevens, Dining, Downtown, DraftKings, FanDuel, FoxBet, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Resort fees, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, The Strip, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 5 Comments

Florida compact sneaks into effect; DraftKings buys out Fertitta

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland has jumped the shark. Her department has wisely-washily neither confirmed nor denied the controversial Seminole Tribe compact with the state of Florida, one that gives the Seminoles control over sports betting in the state. … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, BetMGM, California, Culinary Union, DraftKings, FanDuel, Florida, Golden Nugget, Health, Internet gambling, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Texas, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Station hits records, drops hints; Strip suffers mild setback

Station Casinos announced 2Q21 earnings yesterday and “blows through” previous peaks, according to Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli. Despite expiration of the management contract at Graton Rancheria, Station recorded record levels of net revenue ($426.5 million) and cash flow ($210 … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, Las Vegas Raiders, M Resort, MGM Resorts International, Ocean Resort, Palms, Reno, Sports, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Real estate frenzy on the Strip; Barrack busted; Masks redux

Setting foot inside Aztec Inn Casino is not for the faint of heart. But its owners think they’re sitting on a gold mine. It and a gaggle of properties that includes Golden Skull Tattoo and Diversity Tattoo is on the … Continue reading

Posted in BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, California, Colony Capital, Donald Trump, DraftKings, Fontainebleau, Health, International, Law enforcement, MGM Resorts International, Phil Ruffin, PointsBet, Real Estate, Reno, Sports, Sports betting, Steven Witkoff, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Massachusetts stumbles, Louisiana cruises; Big blunder at Circa

Shazam! Massachusetts casino revenues for June were $84 million, 67% higher than 2019. But wait … as Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli points out, Encore Boston Harbor wasn’t operational two years ago (it debuted on June 23, 2019), so on … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Century Casinos, Churchill Downs, CQ Holdings, Derek Stevens, DFS, DraftKings, Economy, Golden Gaming, Health, Internet gambling, Laughlin, Louisiana, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Nevada, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sports, Sports betting, TV, Westgate LV, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Big Trouble in Little China; The thieving nun

Carrying a 20-year-long grudge, businessman Marshall Hao is suing Las Vegas Sands for $12 billion, claiming it wronged him when it jilted his Asian American Entertainment Corp. in favor of a (short-lived) partnership with Galaxy Entertainment to get into Macao. … Continue reading

Posted in Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, California, Churchill Downs, Cretins, Culinary Union, DraftKings, FanDuel, Illinois, Kentucky, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Macau, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Penn National, PointsBet, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, William Hill, Wyoming | 2 Comments

Steve Wynn, international man of mystery

“Foreign agent.” That’s who Steve Wynn is, according to the Justice Department, which is prepared to sue the disgraced casino mogul if he doesn’t register as an aegis of Red China‘s government. Seems that Steve was carrying water for the … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, Canada, Card rooms, Century Casinos, China, Cretins, Detroit, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Health, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, LVCVA, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, North Carolina, Ocean Resort, Phil Ruffin, PointsBet, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wisconsin, Wynn Resorts | 4 Comments

Louisiana advances, Pennsylvania recedes

Casino revenues in Louisiana enjoyed a big bounce last month, up 18% to $236 million, a substantial increase over 2019 levels. Mind you, that number was achieved without two casinos that were operational in 2019, Diamond Jacks and Isle Grand … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Barstool Sports, Baseball, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., CQ Holdings, Detroit, Dining, Donald Trump, DraftKings, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, FanDuel, Golden Nugget, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Louisiana, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New York, North Carolina, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Station: No more buffets, less free play; Covid? What Covid?

Said JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff “not to worry, money losing buffets are not coming back” to Station Casinos. We can take this as gospel, since he got it from CEO Frank Fertitta III, Vice Chairman Lorenzo Fertitta and CFO … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, California, Colorado, Crown Resorts, Dining, DraftKings, Drugs, Economy, Entertainment, FanDuel, Health, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Lotteries, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Palms, Penn National, Real Estate, Regulation, Reno, Silverton, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, Tribal | 3 Comments

DraftKings’ mixed results; Penn waxes, Iowa wanes

DraftKings exceeded analysts’ expectations with its 1Q21 revenues, leading Credit Suisse‘s Ben Chaiken to boost his 2021 revenue projection by $100 million, to $1.1 billion, in part “reflecting strength in new states such as Michigan.” Wall Street anticipated $239 million … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Arizona, Barstool Sports, Baseball, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Derek Stevens, Diversity, DraftKings, FanDuel, Golden Gaming, Illinois, Internet gambling, Iowa, Marketing, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, Tribal, Virginia, Wall Street, William Hill, Wynn Resorts, Wyoming | 1 Comment

Palms brings $650 million; Murphy flirts with smoking ban

Earlier today, Station Casinos finally confirmed the worst-kept secret in town. It has sold the Palms Casino Resort to a subsidiary of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians in an all-cash, $650 million transaction. Thus closes a fairly disastrous … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Churchill Downs, Colorado, Cordish Co., Culinary Union, Dining, DraftKings, Golden Nugget, Health, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Raiders, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, Palms, Penn National, Real Estate, Station Casinos, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Palms brings $650 million; Murphy flirts with smoking ban

BetMGM “very credible”; Recovery at Sands “gradual”

That’s how JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff described an evidently persuasive virtual meeting with BetMGM covering the latter’s recent results and strategic objectives. “To us, this was a credible presentation (particularly with its customer acquisition and retention objectives and operating … Continue reading

Posted in Alabama, Atlantic City, Bally, California, Canada, China, Cosmopolitan, Culinary Union, Dotty's, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Illinois, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ocean Resort, Politics, Regulation, Singapore, Slot routes, Texas, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on BetMGM “very credible”; Recovery at Sands “gradual”

Caesars looking good; Amtrak covets Vegas; Bally’s underwhelms

Joseph Greff and his fellow JP Morgan analysts looked at recent trends in Las Vegas and any place not named Atlantic City, and liked what they saw, raising their price target on the stock five bucks to $101/share. Positive factors … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, California, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Economy, Golden Nugget, Harry Reid, Health, Indiana, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Nevada, Oklahoma, Regulation, Reno, Station Casinos, Technology, Texas, The Rio, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street, William Hill, World Series of Poker, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Massachusetts gaming a success; Cuomo gains upper hand in NY

A University of Massachusetts Amherst panel led by respected academic Rachel Volberg has been studying casino gambling in Massachusetts and likes most of what it finds. It concluded that Bay State dollars had been significantly repatriated from neighboring states (the … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Arizona, Barstool Sports, Baseball, California, Cordish Co., Derek Stevens, Diversity, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Georgia, Health, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Problem gambling, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments