Category Archives: California

Strip sux but locals steadfast; Virgin LV loses its virginity

Things simply have to get better on the Las Vegas Strip. Not even a Feb. 15 capacity increase saved some casinos from perdition. Let’s hope February represented a bottoming-out of gaming revenues, as tourists starting flocking back this month. Strip … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Dining, Downtown Grand, Economy, Entertainment, Illinois, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Raiders, Laughlin, Mesquite, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Regulation, Reno, Technology, The Strip, Virgin Hotels, Wendover | 1 Comment

Demand, prices way up on the Strip; Big casino push in Texas

Emboldened by a combination of new, 50% capacity limits in Nevada and $1,400 stimulus checks, visitors poured into Las Vegas and resorts were quick to profiteer, er, monetize the nascent demand. The Strat more than tripled room rates, from $50/night … Continue reading

Posted in Alabama, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, China, Cordish Co., Cosmopolitan, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Golden Gaming, Harry Reid, Health, history, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Lotteries, Macau, Marketing, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Rush Street Gaming, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, Taxes, Tennessee, Texas, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Virginia, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Las Vegas: Are happy days here again?; Sands dibs NYC

As we’ve often said, when the American economy gets the flu (literally, in this case), Las Vegas catches pneumonia. During the depths of the Covid-19 pandemic, unemployment in Vegas levitated to 34%. Today it is a still-unhealthy 10.5%. Nonetheless, the … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Australia, Bally, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Churchill Downs, CQ Holdings, Crown Resorts, Economy, Entertainment, Florida, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, Indiana, Internet gambling, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Penn National, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Vegas’ Dream is TSA’s nightmare; MGM disses Chicago

Part Two of our survey of analyst reports on Vegas-based casino companies will have to wait a day, given a bevy of breaking news. First up, a major setback for the planned Dream Las Vegas on the south Strip. Airlines … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Arizona, Atlantic City, Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Cosmopolitan, Cretins, Dining, Diversity, Economy, Entertainment, Failsinos, Full House Resorts, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Indiana, Las Vegas Sands, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Michael Gaughan, New York, Penn National, Rush Street Gaming, Security, Spectacle Entertainment, Station Casinos, Texas, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Wall Street meets Las Vegas, Part I

JP Morgan analysts conducted a pilgrimage to Las Vegas to meet with the top brass of Big Gaming. First up was MGM Resorts International, represented by CEO Bill Hornbuckle, CFO Jonathan Halkyard and BetMGM CEO Adam Greenblatt. They see positive … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Barstool Sports, Caesars Entertainment, California, Conventions, Detroit, DraftKings, Economy, Illinois, Indiana, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Reno, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, Texas, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, TV, William Hill | 2 Comments

New Yorkers want more casinos; More death on the Strip

While the last round of casino expansion in New York State was no better than a succes d’estime, Empire Station residents are still behind a planned 2023 enlargement that would bring three new resorts. Given the choice of casinos, higher … Continue reading

Posted in California, DFS, DraftKings, Genting, Georgia, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Politics, Racinos, Scientific Games, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, Technology, Tennessee, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Unite-Here, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on New Yorkers want more casinos; More death on the Strip

Hope in the Roman Empire; DraftKings rules

Although it tried to flash Wall Street some ankle yesterday, Caesars Entertainment’s 4Q20 numbers failed to surprise analysts. In a reverse image of the rest of the industry, better-than-expected cash flow on the Strip (cost-cutting?) was “more than offset” by … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, China, Colorado, Conventions, DraftKings, Economy, Health, Illinois, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Movies, Real Estate, Sports, Sports betting, Tamares Group, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Hope in the Roman Empire; DraftKings rules

BetMGM saves company’s bacon; Whither the Palms?

Seesawing between the effects of closures and capacity restrictions, Detroit casinos were down 28% last month. They grossed $87 million, led by MGM Grand Detroit with $34 million (-32%). Breathing down MGM’s neck is MotorCity‘s $33 million haul (-21%), while … Continue reading

Posted in California, Card rooms, Colorado, Conventions, Cordish Co., Detroit, Dining, Economy, Health, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Palms, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tennessee, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Welcome to Less Vegas

Caesars Entertainment, aka Eldorado Resorts, has become possessed by the evil spirit of spare-every-expense Columbia Sussex. In one of the most odious of recent cutpurse moves, bartenders have been ordered to short-pour liquor: The ‘new normal’ is .75 ounces per … Continue reading

Posted in Alabama, Arizona, Barstool Sports, Caesars Entertainment, California, Canada, Columbia Sussex, Connecticut, Conventions, Cretins, DraftKings, Election, FanDuel, Florida, Health, Kansas, Lotteries, Massachusetts, Maverick Gaming, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Penn National, PointsBet, Politics, Racinos, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, United Kingdom, Wall Street, Washington State | 1 Comment

Wynn surprises few; Maryland stabilizes, Iowa impresses

It’s earnings-report time for Wynn Resorts and JP Morgan analyst, Joseph Greff, for one, is feeling blasé about the numbers. “Overall, we’d characterize the quarter as in line with investors’ recent expectations, and its earnings conference call outlook commentary as … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, China, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Dining, DraftKings, Entertainment, FanDuel, Golden Gaming, Health, International, Internet gambling, Iowa, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, The Strip, Wall Street, West Virginia, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Wynn surprises few; Maryland stabilizes, Iowa impresses

Las Vegas recovery: A definite maybe; Woe at Sands

First, the bad news. Las Vegas emerged from a December that was just plain awful, as discretionary income continues to dry up. Las Vegas Strip win plummeted 51% to $292 million. Statewide, gambling revenue toppled 35.5% for $684 million, an … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Alex Yemenidjian, Arizona, Boulder Strip, Caesars Entertainment, California, China, Conventions, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Economy, Health, Internet gambling, Japan, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Sands, Laughlin, LVCVA, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Mesquite, Mohegan Sun, New York, North Las Vegas, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, South Korea, Sports betting, Texas, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Wall Street, Wendover, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Flynt winning in California; Caesars S.I. to Cherokee?

Larry Flynt continues to be the de facto leader of California‘s card room industry. He’s fighting in court against a Golden State law that prevents card room owners from holding stakes in out-of-state casinos. (Flynt in Las Vegas? Imagine!) When … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Card rooms, Cordish Co., Indiana, Macau, MGM Resorts International, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Tribal | 1 Comment

Covid cramps casino revenues; Trop LV in play … again

Now that the smartest man in the room has left the building permanently, we continue to wait for Wall Street‘s reaction to Sheldon Adelson‘s demise. Hearing none, we move on to varying degrees of decline in regional gaming, once thought … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Carl Icahn, Century Casinos, Conventions, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, GLPI, Health, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Penn National, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports betting, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, William Hill | 1 Comment

Cuomo all-in on New York sports betting; Playoff fever begins

There’s nothing like a budgetary dose of Covid-19 to bring some people to reality. Case in point, New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D). He has been against mobile sports betting for years—much to the state’s detriment—but will embrace it … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Churchill Downs, Donald Trump, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, history, Las Vegas Raiders, Marijuana, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, New York, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Vegas scraping bottom; Caesars fined big-time

Rising numbers of Covid-19 cases “pressured visitation” to Las Vegas last month and a total absence of conventions didn’t help either, according to JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff. Tourism was down 57%, which drove a devastating 70% decline in revenue … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Colorado, Economy, Health, International, LVCVA, MGM Resorts International, Money laundering, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, William Hill | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

“The wagering restriction on colleges and universities within the state follows a path of interesting logic vis a vis the logic to legalize sports betting in general. The typical argument forwarded by the advocates of sports wagering suggests that making wagering legal … Continue reading

Posted in California, Election, Politics, Sports betting | 1 Comment

Wall Street crowns DraftKings; Hsieh: Grey Goose vs. cold turkey

Credit Suisse analyst Ben Chaiken is initiating coverage of DraftKings but not getting carried away. He’s put a “neutral” rating on the heavily hyped stock, with a $48 price target that mirrors its recent trading range. “We believe there is … Continue reading

Posted in Barstool Sports, Caesars Entertainment, California, China, Colorado, Culinary Union, DFS, DraftKings, e-sports, FanDuel, Health, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Marketing, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Politics, Prostitution, Tony Hsieh, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, William Hill | Comments Off on Wall Street crowns DraftKings; Hsieh: Grey Goose vs. cold turkey

Las Vegas: First, the bad news …

It’s no wonder October was a bad month for the Las Vegas Strip and Downtown. Visitation to Sin City fell 49.5% and room revenue tumbled 61%. Caesars Entertainment CEO Tom Reeg could, for the sake of argument, be right that … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Cirque du Soleil, Conventions, Derek Stevens, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Internet gambling, Jim Murren, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Sands, Movies, Real Estate, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | 1 Comment

New rules, green shoots on the Strip; Mixed messages in Michigan

Casinos in Nevada will take a gut punch tomorrow when new state restrictions go into effect. They’ll have to reduce players on the floor to 25% of capacity, and the same holds true for bars and restaurants. Citing “wildfire” levels … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Colorado, Cordish Co., Detroit, DraftKings, Entertainment, FanDuel, Golden Nugget, Health, Illinois, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Cirque sacrifies “Zumanity”; Gaming recovery vs. Covid

Covid-19 has claimed its first Cirque du Soleil casualty. Zumanity has gone permanently dark at New York-New York. We’ll miss the sexually charged show, which logged 7,700 performances in 17 (!) years. “We’re grateful to the cast, crew and team … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Arkansas, California, Cirque du Soleil, Derek Stevens, Economy, Entertainment, Health, Internet gambling, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | 1 Comment