Category Archives: California

Horseplay in Massachusetts and Monday mega-jottings

At age 86, horse owner Armand Janjigian is as alive and kicking as the thoroughbreds he wants to race in Massachusetts. No, he doesn’t have a track but he’s busily snapping up land for one. He’s also going to need … Continue reading

Posted in California, Card rooms, Churchill Downs, Crown Resorts, Detroit, DFS, DraftKings, Economy, Election, FanDuel, Galaxy Entertainment, Golden Nugget, Health, Horseracing, Illinois, International, Japan, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Sands, Lotteries, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Nebraska, New York, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Scientific Games, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

MGM “unsurprising”; Penn outperforms

Analysts at JP Morgan were blasé about MGM Resorts International‘s 3Q20 report, setting their price target at $22/share. Wrote Joseph Greff, “We remain Neutral rated as we continue to see a slow recovery on the LV Strip, a market that … Continue reading

Posted in California, Charity, Churchill Downs, Colorado, Conventions, Detroit, Dining, Economy, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Slot routes, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Virgin Hotels, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Funny biz at Trump International

With his golf-course-and-hotel empire bleeding cash, Donald Trump needed some quick moolah to juice his 2016 presidential campaign. And where did he get it? From the coffers of Trump International Las Vegas, according to tax documents obtained by the New … Continue reading

Posted in California, Donald Trump, Election, history, Internet gambling, Money laundering, Phil Ruffin, Real Estate, Taxes, The Strip, Transportation | 2 Comments

Kings for a day; Covid’s casino kingpin

As you know, DraftKings is the current darling of Wall Street, its stock hovering around $50/share. Today Credit Suisse analyst Ben Chaiken initiated coverage with an “outperform” rating, putting a $76/share price target on the stock. He even went to … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Brazil, Caesars Entertainment, California, China, Crown Resorts, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Golden Nugget, Health, IGT, Illinois, Internet gambling, Japan, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Lotteries, Louisiana, Macau, Maverick Gaming, MGM Resorts International, Nebraska, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, TV, Twin River, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Kraft cashes out; Foxwoods is tops

Since its IPO, DraftKings stock has rocketed 264% upward. That has prompted some profit-taking on the part of both DraftKings itself and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft. (Maybe Kraft’s windfall will soften the pain of last night’s drubbing at … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, Conventions, Dining, DraftKings, FanDuel, Florida, Foxwoods, Hard Rock International, Las Vegas Raiders, Mohegan Sun, Ocean Resort, Reno, Sports, Sports betting, Tribal, TV, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Hot water in Singapore; Pennsylvania sports books triumph

Faced with evidence of money laundering at Marina Bay Sands, CEO Sheldon Adelson is being proactive and hiring a local firm to investigate $1 billion in fund transfers from high rollers to third parties. It’s frankly in Adelson’s interest to … Continue reading

Posted in Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Card rooms, Dining, Downtown, DraftKings, Election, Environment, FanDuel, Greenwood Racing, Hooters, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Maryland, Mohegan Sun, Money laundering, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, Terry Caudill, TV, William Hill | 1 Comment

Station hearts Reno; Caesars sued

In a speedy flip-flop, Station Casinos has recommitted to the Reno market. Its two parcels in that city (one opposite the convention center) popped up on a real estate-listing site Sept. 5. Less than a week later, Station had yanked … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Boulder Strip, Caesars Entertainment, California, Economy, Health, history, Nevada, New Jersey, Palms, Reno, Station Casinos, Tribal | Comments Off on Station hearts Reno; Caesars sued

Holy Toledo!; Sigma Derby needs you

Ohio casinos didn’t just outperform the Midwest during July, they had their best month ever. What gives? Well, Detroit was still off-limits (redounding to the considerable benefit of Hollywood Toledo) and discretionary capital was clearly plentiful. The four non-racinos hadn’t … Continue reading

Posted in California, Dan Gilbert, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, history, Marketing, North Las Vegas, Ohio, Penn National, Sigma Derby, Transportation, Tribal | 1 Comment

Storm warnings

Our beloved Postal Service has advised people (quietly) that it may not be able to continue as a going concern: “However, the Postal Service remains concerned that this measure will be insufficient to enable the Postal Service to withstand the … Continue reading

Posted in California, Colorado, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Health, Maryland, Sports betting, The Mob, Transportation, TV | 3 Comments

The big enchilada

“The Biggest Gaming Opportunity Since Riverboats in the Early ’90s.” That’s how JP Morgan gaming analyst Joseph Greff, a man not given to hype, characterized i-gaming and sports betting today. He described them as “as an emerging and exciting area … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Colorado, Cosmopolitan, DraftKings, FanDuel, Golden Nugget, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, MTR Gaming, Palms, Penn National, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Silverton, Sports betting, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street, William Hill | 2 Comments

MGM: No shows for you!; Cromwell aims for the gutter

Yesterday the axe fell on MGM Resorts International‘s sports and entertainment division with the announcement that all shows and events scheduled between now and August 31 were canceled. Worse still, any support personnel for shows canceled after August 31 would … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Cirque du Soleil, Conventions, Economy, Entertainment, Florida, Health, Las Vegas Sands, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Real Estate, Seminole Tribe, The Strip, Tribal, TV | Comments Off on MGM: No shows for you!; Cromwell aims for the gutter

Shopping the Trop; Nobu no-no

An unnamed hotel-casino on the Las Vegas Strip is being quietly advertised on private-equity forums. It’s listed as a “brand name” property that’s been in operation for over 30 years. The age would seem to suggest The Mirage (born 1989) … Continue reading

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, California, CityCenter, Connecticut, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Downtown, Election, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Health, Hooters, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maverick Gaming, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Real Estate, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Station Casinos, The Rio, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal, Twin River, Virgin Hotels, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Shopping the Trop; Nobu no-no

Sisolak victimizes the vulnerable

During the Great Recession, then-Gov. Jim Gibbons (R, above) committed a depraved act by raiding Nevada‘s problem-gambling fund to plug some holes in the state budget. Not to be outdone, Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) is following in Midnight Jim’s footsteps. … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, California, Card rooms, Culinary Union, Genting, Health, history, Internet gambling, Jim Murren, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Nevada, Politics, Problem gambling, Real Estate, Regulation, Scientific Games, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Tribal | 2 Comments

Slot routes feel Sisolak’s wrath

Even after they were ordered to enforce mask-wearing or else, some casinos continue to flout the rules. Clark County conducted 1,600 inspections and found deficiencies at Silverton, an absence of social distancing at the Aria pool and no effort being … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Golden Nugget, Indiana, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Regulation, Silverton, Slot routes, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Unite-Here | Comments Off on Slot routes feel Sisolak’s wrath

Canary in the coal mine

In Asian cultures, safety protocols like wearing a face mask are routine—they’ve dealt with viral outbreaks in the past, it’s not unusual,” gaming consultant Andrew Klebanow told Global Gaming News. And though Covid-19 cases spiked at 17,000 in Singapore, Klebanow’s … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Diversity, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Health, Nevada, Regulation, Singapore, Sports betting, Tourism, Transportation, William Hill | 2 Comments

Chicago compromise effected

Windy City Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) may have won a battle but is still losing the war. The Illinois Lege has passed—and Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) has signed—a ‘relaxation of Chicago‘s 72% casino tax, a burden so onerous it would … Continue reading

Posted in Boulder Strip, Caesars Entertainment, California, Environment, Greenwood Racing, Health, Illinois, Internet gambling, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, North Las Vegas, Oklahoma, Politics, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Chicago compromise effected

Bay State casinos to reopen

Although Massachusetts casinos are eligible to reopen on July 5, it’s looking far likelier that July 12 will be the dawn of a new era in the Bay State. One mandate certain to raise hackles is that players can no … Continue reading

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, Card rooms, Cosmopolitan, Downtown, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Hard Rock International, Health, history, Laughlin, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, Palms, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Station Casinos, Tribal, Twin River, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Case Bets

Rather than have a Vegas-only policy, MGM Resorts International has chosen to make face masks mandatory for customers at all its properties nationwide. It might cost them a little bit of business but it’s the right thing to do. This … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, Dining, Health, International, Las Vegas Sands, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Palms, Steve Wynn, Steven Witkoff | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

“Tribes, racetracks and the card rooms have always been at each other’s throats. The race industry moves slow. The way it’s been presented, with no mobile wagering and no wagering on local college teams, they’re going down the wrong road … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, California, Sports betting | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Tribes in distress

“Gaming for the most part is what we survive on. In a lot of cases, if we don’t have gaming we don’t have dollars. We don’t have a tax base.” So says National Indian Gaming Association Chairman Ernie Stevens Jr. … Continue reading

Posted in California, Card rooms, Economy, GLPI, Golden Nugget, Health, Illinois, Internet gambling, Politics, Regulation, Sports betting, Tribal, Wisconsin | 1 Comment