Category Archives: Churchill Downs

Life’s good if you’re Boyd; Caesars fire sale threatened

Posted on February 21, 2020 by David McKee

Boyd Gaming‘s share price got a bump from JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff, who wrote “We continue to believe BYD is well positioned in both U.S. regional gaming markets as well as the LV Locals market.” Since Boyd is ahead … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Conventions, Downtown, Eldorado Resorts, Election, GLPI, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | 1 Comment

MGM’s past distinguished, future cloudy; Broken Winds

Posted on February 14, 2020 by David McKee

Yesterday, while noting MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren‘s impending departure, we were remiss in noting some of his accomplishments. On Murren’s 2008-20 watch, the company became synonymous with diversity, environmentalism, LEED certification and community outreach. With becoming modesty, Murren … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Churchill Downs, Connecticut, Dining, Diversity, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, Foxwoods, Japan, Kentucky, Macau, Marijuana, Maverick Gaming, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Sports betting, Tribal, Wall Street, Washington State, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Politicians play casino games

Posted on February 13, 2020 by David McKee

Crusty Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D) eked out a victory on sports betting when a veto-override vote in the Maine House of Representatives fell short of a two-thirds majority. The prudish Mills changed her message from an anti-gambling one to … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill Downs, Culinary Union, Donald Trump, Election, Galaxy Entertainment, Genting, Health, International, Iowa, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Macau, Maine, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, Penn National, Politics, Problem gambling, Singapore, Sports betting | Comments Off

Boom in the Rust Belt

Posted on February 10, 2020 by David McKee

You’d be forgiven if you did a double take upon seeing the latest casino-revenue numbers out of the Midwest. Business is up—to sometimes-unprecedented degrees. Take Ohio, for instance. It’s always a casino-friendly state … but a 19% upsurge in revenue? … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Dan Gilbert, DraftKings, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Indiana, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Rush Street Gaming, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports betting | 2 Comments

DFS dealt major setback; Mills is grist

Posted on February 10, 2020 by David McKee

Daily fantasy sports was dealt a major setback when a New York State court ruled it unlawful. It was deemed that the Lege had exceeded its remit by classifying DFS as a game of skill, not of chance. New York … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Churchill Downs, Connecticut, Crown Resorts, Detroit, DFS, Diversity, DraftKings, FanDuel, Foxwoods, International, Las Vegas Sands, Lotteries, Maine, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Penn National, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sports betting, Technology | Comments Off

Tramway to Encore; Pennsylvania pony pennies pinched

Posted on February 7, 2020 by David McKee

A gondola ride from Everett City Hall to Encore Boston Harbor? It could happen. Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria has applied for a $200,000 study grant so that the city can look into the feasibility. He’s picking up the ball from Wynn … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, DraftKings, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Greenwood Racing, Horseracing, Indiana, Iowa, Massachusetts, Movies, Nevada, New Jersey, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sports betting, Taxes, Transportation, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

MGM, Cordish boom in Maryland; Here come the robots

Posted on February 6, 2020 by David McKee

Turns out the Maryland market hasn’t quite been saturated, after all. January saw 6% growth in gambling revenue, led by MGM National Harbor‘s $58.5 million (+4%). Slots at MGM were up 10% but table win down 2%. MGM had 40% … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, China, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Entertainment, Golden Gaming, Japan, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Movies, Ohio, Penn National, Planet Hollywood, Technology, The Strip, West Virginia | Comments Off

Springfield: The boss hits town

Posted on January 17, 2020 by David McKee

After a worst-month-ever December at MGM Springfield, company CEO Jim Murren has apparently had enough. He flew into Springfield today to put a bit of stick about, as the Brits would say. His ostensible purpose is to hang out with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, GLPI, history, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Movies, Penn National, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip | Comments Off

Churchill Downs, Eldorado power Illinois; Atlantic City upgraded

Posted on January 8, 2020 by David McKee

Santa Claus was generous to Illinois casinos. Despite ever-increasing competition and an unfavorable calendar (one less weekend day) their receipts rose 5.5% last month. The gross was $124 million, with most of that ($94 million) coming from the state’s northern … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Spectacle Entertainment, Wall Street | 5 Comments

Maryland maxed out; Adelson’s $40 million lesson

Posted on January 7, 2020 by David McKee

Casino revenues in the Free State continue to be flat. Maryland gambling houses grossed $149 million last month. MGM National Harbor‘s $62.5 million—a 4.5% gain—led the state. Slots were down 2% at MGM but table win up 12%, a development … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Downtown, Environment, Golden Gaming, Harry Reid, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, Terry Caudill | Comments Off

Stitt escalates Oklahoma conflict; The new N-word

Posted on January 6, 2020 by David McKee

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt‘s jihad against the state’s gaming tribes has claimed its first casualty. Secretary of Native American Affairs Lisa Billy resigned, writing that the governor was “committed to an unnecessary conflict … [You have] remained intent on breaking faith with them,” … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill Downs, Connecticut, Genting, Hooters, International, Las Vegas Raiders, Marketing, Massachusetts, Movies, New York, Oklahoma, Problem gambling, Sexual misconduct, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Tribal, TV, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Louisiana stagnant, Michigan a sports-betting go

Posted on December 20, 2019 by David McKee

An extra weekend day didn’t do bupkis for Louisiana, where November gaming revenues ($205 million) were flat with last year’s. The good news is that Baton Rouge, so troubled a market, was incrementally higher than in 2018. Eldorado Resorts‘ Belle … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, China, Churchill Downs, Detroit, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Indiana, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Macau, Michigan, Movies, New Jersey, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sexual misconduct, Sports betting, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Tribal gambling rampant in Oklahoma?; Penn National gets swindled

Posted on December 18, 2019 by David McKee

Could “casinos and smoke shops soon begin popping up on every corner of downtown Tulsa?” So wondered Indian Country Today about a Supreme Court case that could dramatically alter the complexion of tribal gaming in Oklahoma. (Serves Kevin Stitt right.) The … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, Churchill Downs, Culinary Union, Eldorado Resorts, Galaxy Entertainment, Genting, Illinois, Japan, Las Vegas Raiders, Law enforcement, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Oklahoma, Pansy Ho, Penn National, Regulation, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports, Sports betting, The Rio, Tribal, World Series of Poker, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

What gives, Indiana?; Galaxy ousted from Philippines

Posted on December 11, 2019 by David McKee

Despite the excellent November performance of surrounding Midwest states, Indiana casinos were up only 1% last month. Factor in an extra weekend day this year and that’s a pretty underwhelming result. In its last full month of service, riverboat Glory of … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Dan Gilbert, Dining, DraftKings, Eldorado Resorts, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, Galaxy Entertainment, Indiana, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Philippines, Rush Street Gaming, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports, Sports betting, The Mob, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Illinois up, Maryland flat, Palms sued

Posted on December 6, 2019 by David McKee

Enjoy it while it lasts, Illinois. Gaming revenues shot up 8%, a welcome bit of good news. One extra weekend day surely helped although we find it hard to believe that entirely accounts for the variance. The overall gross was … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, CityCenter, Cordish Co., Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, FanDuel, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Illinois, Law enforcement, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Palms, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tilman Fertitta, Virginia, West Virginia | 1 Comment

Smoke gets in Boston’s eyes; Penn receives important award

Posted on November 14, 2019 by David McKee

Shuttles for Encore Boston Harbor are stirring up some local ire, due to the fumes they generate while idling at the Wellington MBTA Station curb. This has generated the threat of a lawsuit from the Conservation Law Foundation. It’s not just … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Churchill Downs, Cosmopolitan, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Encore, Entertainment, Illinois, Japan, Massachusetts, Movies, Penn National, Rush Street Gaming, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Technology, Terry Caudill, The Mob, Transportation, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

A swing through the Rust Belt

Posted on November 13, 2019 by David McKee

What does Ohio‘s economy have that other Rust Belt states do not? We’d really like to know, since Ohio consistently outperforms its brethren when it comes to gaming revenue. Last month, casino win was up 5.5% to $158.5 million. Racinos … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Dan Gilbert, DraftKings, Eldorado Resorts, Full House Resorts, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Pets, Rush Street Gaming, Slot routes, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports betting | Comments Off

MGM Nat’l Harbor takes a hit; Venetian revises restaurant row

Posted on November 6, 2019 by David McKee

Just when MGM National Harbor looked impervious to market forces it hit an October speed bump. Gaming revenues tumbled 18.5% to $60 million. The Free State was down 9% as a whole. MGM got hammered at the tables, plunging 36%, … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Cosmopolitan, Dining, Genting, Golden Gaming, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, South Korea, Sports, The Strip, West Virginia, William Hill | Comments Off

Churchill Downs fights horseracing reform; Mattress Mack doesn’t regret $13M World Series bet

Posted on November 4, 2019 by David McKee

Churchill Downs‘ third-quarter cash flow results were “softer than expected” according to J.P. Morgan analyst Daniel Politzer, who added the “the impact of this was likely mitigated by the company announcing a slew of updates/capital projects which helped placate investors, … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Baseball, Charity, Churchill Downs, Colorado, Culinary Union, Election, Entertainment, Geoff Freeman, Horseracing, Kentucky, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Maine, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, Texas, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Churchill Downs in expansive mood; Cannery security faulted

Posted on October 31, 2019 by David McKee

Churchill Downs‘ third-quarter cash flow of $88 million was $7 million shy of Wall Street‘s expectation. The shortfall extended across all segments of CHDN business, although increased casino competition in Maine was one of the contributing factors. In terms of … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Boyd Gaming, California, Churchill Downs, Kentucky, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Maine, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Rush Street Gaming, Security, Sports betting, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off