Category Archives: China

Atlantic City disappoints, Internet gambling doesn’t

We’re going to have revise our prediction that Atlantic City would recover from Covid-19 faster than Las Vegas. Not at the rate things are going. March casino win was down 17% from 2019, coming in at $185 million. The Caesars … Continue reading

Posted in Alabama, Arizona, Atlantic City, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, China, DraftKings, FanDuel, Florida, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, Internet gambling, Lotteries, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, New York, Ocean Resort, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Politics, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Vegas hears wedding bells; Sahara upscales; Mega-Jottings

All-important Baby Boomer customers are ‘trickling‘ back to Las Vegas, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. That’s the latest positive augury for Sin City. Better still, the destination-wedding biz is “bursting,” per Forbes, and what place is more synonymous with … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, China, Dining, Downtown, DraftKings, Economy, Entertainment, FanDuel, Greenwood Racing, Health, Illinois, Japan, Macau, Maryland, Mohegan Sun, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Real Estate, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, The Rio, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Maryland has best month ever; Rio reopens

Even with capacity restrictions still in place at MGM National Harbor and Horseshoe Baltimore, the Free State enjoyed an epic March with casinos posting an all-time-record $169 million. On March 12, MGM and Horseshoe were bumped up to 50% capacity … Continue reading

Posted in Aristocrat, Caesars Entertainment, China, Churchill Downs, Connecticut, Cordish Co., Economy, Entertainment, Golden Gaming, Health, International, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Politics, Shuffle Master, Sports betting, The Rio, West Virginia | Comments Off on Maryland has best month ever; Rio reopens

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

A cautionary tale

Las Vegas, be warned: This could be you. We’re referring to the chaos in Miami, where an 8 p.m.-6 a.m. curfew has been imposed by police in response to widespread hooliganism. The out-of-control situation in the streets was brought on … Continue reading

Posted in China, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Florida, Health, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Macau, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | 3 Comments

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

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

Life after Adelson; Super Bowl odds revealed

Taking a business-as-usual approach, Las Vegas Sands reported 4Q20 earnings and JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff wasn’t blown away, writing that “we, like most investors, see the quarter and any outlook commentary offering little in the way of positive developments … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, China, Dining, Encore, Entertainment, Health, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Michigan, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Virginia, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Sports betting impresses in Iowa; Harness racing resumes

Sports betting in Iowa crossed the $100 million threshold in handle last month and that was without some key players like BetMGM, which launched earlier this month. Wagers are expected to vault now that Gov. Kim Reynolds‘ stay on mobile … Continue reading

Posted in Alabama, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, China, Cordish Co., Health, Iowa, MGM Resorts International, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Sports betting, Tribal | 1 Comment

Maryland craters; MGM ‘snow’ job; Mob Museum in your ear

It’s pretty clear that the casino industry is entering its second recession in 10 months and too soon to know if the ‘skinny’ stimulus will bring a January boost. One of the most reliable markets in the U.S., Maryland plunged … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, China, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Economy, Golden Gaming, history, Japan, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Oscar Goodman, Pansy Ho, Penn National, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, The Mob, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off on Maryland craters; MGM ‘snow’ job; Mob Museum in your ear

Adelson, Packer canoodle & other news

While America burns, Sheldon Adelson is fiddling in the French Caribbean, aboard his mega-luxury yacht. The vessel was moored next to that of James Packer, who welcomed Adelson as guest for his lavish New Year’s Eve celebration. This meeting of … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, China, Crown Resorts, Detroit, Dining, Economy, Hawaii, Health, International, Internet gambling, Iowa, James Packer, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, South Dakota, Taxes, Tribal, Virginia | Comments Off on Adelson, Packer canoodle & other news

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

Quote of the Day

“We learned a lot from our Macao experience. I think we took that impending pandemic a little bit more seriously than some people who didn’t have the same experience that we had. We knew from the Macao experience, and the … Continue reading

Posted in China, Health, Macau, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Station, DraftKings, Macao all looking up

So much news … where to begin? Station Casinos got a thumbs-up from analysts at JP Morgan who met with the Fertitta Brothers and CFO Stephen Cootey. “We come away impressed with [Station’s] resolve in maximizing free cash flow at … Continue reading

Posted in Canada, China, Dining, DraftKings, Economy, Health, history, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, Palms, Phil Ruffin, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Macao gets a boost; Sisolak’s October surprise

“Encouraging” isn’t what you usually say about a 75% plunge in revenue. But in Macao, where casino win has been virtually nonexistent this year it’s cause for dancing in the streets. To be pedantic, revenues were down 72.5% but an … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Caesars Entertainment, China, Economy, G2E, Hard Rock International, Health, International, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Real Estate, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Macao gets a boost; Sisolak’s October surprise

Sands: “Awful and apathetic”; Sheldon’s deep pockets

Despite ” taking into account a slower than anticipated rebound during the Golden Week period earlier this month and a generally slow visitation boost and revenue recovery from the (still early) resumption of the” Individual Visa Scheme in Macao, analysts at … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, China, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, International, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Politics, Singapore, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 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

Sports betting lifts Illinois; Packer in a pickle

It was sagacious of Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (whose family used to co-own the Grand Victoria casino in Elgin) to temporarily suspend his state’s rule requiring in person registration for sports betting. Last month, the Land of Lincoln saw $140 … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Boyd Gaming, China, Churchill Downs, Colorado, Crown Resorts, DraftKings, FanDuel, Health, Illinois, Indiana, Law enforcement, Lawrence Ho, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, The Crown 18, The Mob | 1 Comment

Vegas’ mixed message; China puts the squeeze on Macao

Is the Las Vegas Strip coming back? Yes and no, to judge by hotel rates for the October 18-24 period. They’re 50% 0ff last year’s but with a severe dichotomy between weekdays and weekends. For instance, Las Vegas Sands (even … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Barstool Sports, Caesars Entertainment, China, Conventions, Economy, Health, Kazuo Okada, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Problem gambling, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Virgin Hotels, Wall Street, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment