Category Archives: Churchill Downs

“Extreme” pessimism in Las Vegas; The D pisses for safety

Writing off the 2Q20 results as “less than relevant,” JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff was guardedly optimistic about Las Vegas Sands, even though management’s conference call “shed little light on the path of recovery in Macau SAR, Singapore or Las … Continue reading

Posted in China, Churchill Downs, Derek Stevens, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Health, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Maine, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Up in Louisiana, down in Pennsylvania; Close Las Vegas?

It’s an extraordinary circumstance when a 19.5% drop in gambling revenue is a cause for celebration. But it happened in Louisiana, suggesting a stronger-than-expected comeback from the casino shutdown. Given that there was one fewer weekend day last month, the … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Donald Trump, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, FanDuel, Golden Nugget, Health, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Tribal | Comments Off on Up in Louisiana, down in Pennsylvania; Close Las Vegas?

Louisiana sees fewer, richer players

Gambling re-started in Louisiana May 18, albeit with some significant casualties. Harrah’s New Orleans and Fair Grounds racino weren’t able to wade in until the end of the month and Diamond Jack’s is kaput. Despite mad business early in reopening, … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Detroit, DraftKings, Eldorado Resorts, FanDuel, GLPI, Golden Nugget, Greenwood Racing, Health, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Michigan, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Louisiana sees fewer, richer players

Upbeat at Churchill Downs

JP Morgan analysts met virtually with Churchill Downs brass, including CEO Bill Carstanjen. The news was good to great. First things first, the Kentucky Derby is expected to be run with spectators (CHDN execs are keeping an eye on what … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Churchill Downs, Dan Lee, Delaware, Dining, e-sports, Full House Resorts, Horseracing, Illinois, Kentucky, Macau, Maine, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Rhode Island, Sports, Sports betting, Steven Witkoff, Taxes, The Strip, Twin River, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Churchill Downs curbs plans; Murren’s big payday

In its 1Q20 earnings call Churchill Downs announced some significant retrenchments. Although the company is comfortably liquid ($701 million in the kitty) it’s put four expansions on hold: Rivers Casino Des Plaines, an enlargement of Miami Valley Gaming, a $300 … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Economy, Health, Horseracing, Illinois, Internet gambling, Jim Murren, Las Vegas Sands, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Fauci on sports; Churchill Downs “on track”

Bad news, sports bettors. Given the absence of widespread testing for Coronavirus, Dr. Anthony Fauci is backpedaling on his projections that professional sports could resume this year. (As Fauci has said elsewhere, a model is just a model; when you … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Baseball, Churchill Downs, Crown Resorts, Economy, GameCO, Health, International, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Lawrence Ho, Lotteries, Marijuana, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Missouri, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Scientific Games, Sports, Technology, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Boyd doing well; What price Vegas?

Boyd Gaming posted net revenues of that were down 18% for 1Q20, reflective of mid-March casino closures. JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff termed the results ones “that reflected relatively strong trends in the first two months of the quarter.” Since … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, Churchill Downs, Cosmopolitan, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Economy, Hard Rock International, Health, Horseracing, Las Vegas Sands, LVCVA, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Resort fees, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Carnage in Louisiana; Documentary slams MGM

Louisiana casinos grossed $97 million last month, having been closed on March 17. April appears to be a dead loss. Surprisingly, the Baton Rouge market was the least hard-hit although at -58% everything is relative. The 61% statewide plunge compares … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Churchill Downs, Dining, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Resorts International, Movies, Penn National, Sahara, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta | Comments Off on Carnage in Louisiana; Documentary slams MGM

Ohio, Indiana slammed; Station is ‘george’

Loss of half a month in Ohio meant a 61% plunge in casino/racino revenues, to $72 million. Although there were two fewer weekend days in the month that was as nothing compared to Coronavirus. (The calendar is neutral this month, … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Dan Gilbert, DraftKings, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Full House Resorts, Hard Rock International, Indiana, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports betting, Station Casinos | 3 Comments

Maryland craters; Penn takes Trop loss

Free State Gov. Larry Hogan (R) having closed casinos on March 16, revenue results were predictably dire, down 58%. That’s a measly $69 million gross. MGM National Harbor booked $26 million, a 58.5% slide, with slots down 62% and tables … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Detroit, Donald Trump, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Health, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Politics, Real Estate, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, The Strip, Wall Street, West Virginia, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Boyd opens its wallet, stringency at Scientific, improvidence at MGM

Boyd Gaming, which had previously been reported to be giving two weeks pay (misreported as one week by the Las Vegas Review-Journal) to employees idled in Las Vegas by the one-month casino shutdown, has gotten “george” and extended the hardship pay … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, China, Churchill Downs, Economy, Health, Illinois, Japan, Jim Murren, Kentucky, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Neil Bluhm, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

The cost of not doing business

Saying “This is not the time to look for loopholes,” Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) doubled down on his quarantine order, threatening nonessential business that remain in business in defiance of his directive (and there have been some) to close … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Cirque du Soleil, Dining, Downtown, DraftKings, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Florida, Golden Gaming, Health, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Seminole Tribe, Station Casinos, TV, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on The cost of not doing business

Explosive month in Indiana, elsewhere

Hoosier State casinos were raking it in hand over fist last month, as casino receipts shot 14.5% upward. The $192 million gross included $7 million from still-novel table games at Indiana Grand and Hoosier Downs. Yes, there was an extra … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Century Casinos, Churchill Downs, Dan Gilbert, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Full House Resorts, Hard Rock International, Indiana, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports betting | Comments Off on Explosive month in Indiana, elsewhere

Butler rips Lamont; Tribe supplicates Trump

Sports betting could die in Connecticut, thanks to a stalemate between Gov. Ned Lamont (D, pictured) and the state’s gaming tribes. Speaking for the latter, Mashantucket Pequot Chairman Rodney Butler accused the governor of a “take-it-or-leave-it” negotiating stance. Butler and … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Connecticut, Donald Trump, DraftKings, FanDuel, Foxwoods, Genting, IGT, Illinois, International, Kentucky, Konami, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Lotteries, Louisiana, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, New York, Politics, Rhode Island, Sports betting, Technology, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Vegas vs. virus II; Illinois, Maryland rally

Two presumed cases of coronavirus have been reported in Nevada. What’s the over/under on when panic sets in? Me, I’m contemplating a trip back to Las Vegas in the near future, so I’m working on my sangfroid. As one tourist … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Churchill Downs, Donald Trump, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Health, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, West Virginia, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Caudill casinos recovering; Slick Rick strikes again

It now appears that Terry Caudill‘s two casinos were the victim of a “ransomware” hack that crippled the slot floor, among other debilities. It wrecked last weekend’s business and “scattered outages” were still seen as of Monday. The Nevada Gaming … Continue reading

Posted in Churchill Downs, Downtown, Economy, Health, Illinois, International, Japan, Maverick Gaming, Nevada, Oregon, Penn National, Regulation, Slot routes, Sports betting, Technology, Terry Caudill, Tribal, Washington State | 1 Comment

Vegas vs. virus; Tribe puts $1 billion on table

Las Vegas is 20,000 attendees poorer now that Adobe Summit 2020 has pulled the plug on its convention. Although Sin City has been spared from coronavirus fears so far, withdrawals of this magnitude are at least as bad as a … Continue reading

Posted in Alabama, China, Churchill Downs, Conventions, Donald Trump, Election, Health, International, Lotteries, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Real Estate, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Vegas vs. virus; Tribe puts $1 billion on table

Gaming exempt from Wall Street love; Harry-come-lately

Gaming stocks responded indifferently to yesterday’s Wall Street rally. Wynn Resorts was up and down but ultimately flat, MGM Resorts International ticked up 2%, Las Vegas Sands was flat and Melco Resorts & Entertainment slipped a percentage point. So much … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, China, Churchill Downs, Conventions, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Entertainment, Harry Reid, Health, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Oregon, South Korea, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Gaming exempt from Wall Street love; Harry-come-lately

Caution at Churchill Downs doesn’t impress Wall Street

Churchill Downs‘ stock reacted adversely to a cautious 4Q19 revenue report, as investors worried about the impact of coronavirus on the running of the Kentucky Derby, slated for May 2. JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff, although one of those staying … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Churchill Downs, Dining, Health, Horseracing, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Macau, Money laundering, Regulation, Resort fees, Scientific Games, Slot routes, Sports betting, Taxes, The Mob, The Strip, Virginia, Wall Street, William Hill | Comments Off on Caution at Churchill Downs doesn’t impress Wall Street

More Stitt double talk; Tribes try again for Maine casinos

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) continues to bake over $130 million/year in tribal-casino exclusivity fees into his next two budgets, despite A) contending that the state’s Native American casinos are operating illegally and B) raiding those exclusivity fees to pay … Continue reading

Posted in Cambodia, China, Churchill Downs, Economy, Internet gambling, Maine, Oklahoma, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off on More Stitt double talk; Tribes try again for Maine casinos