Category Archives: Churchill Downs

Ohio prospers, others don’t; Labor trouble at Eldorado

Posted on July 11, 2019 by David McKee

Maryland continues to show signs of casino saturation. Revenue ($143 million) was down 4% last month. Not even MGM National Harbor ($57 million) was immune, off 4%. Slots were up 10% but table games got walloped, down 19%. Still, MGM … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Culinary Union, Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Florida, Full House Resorts, Indiana, Isle of Capri, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Spectacle Entertainment, Station Casinos, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here, West Virginia | 1 Comment

Cosmo in play; Wynn looking robust

Posted on July 11, 2019 by David McKee

Always a step ahead of the mainstream media, VitalVegas reports that The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas has been sold. No details are available and the story hasn’t made the wire services, but that’s not going to stop us from speculating. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Churchill Downs, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Dan Lee, Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Resort fees, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Rivers Casino’s threefold secret

Posted on July 8, 2019 by David McKee

It can be summed precisely as follows: location, location, location. Not only is Rivers Casino Des Plaines proximate to both Chicago and O’Hare International Airport, it sits at the nexus of two interstate highways, literally within a stone’s throw of … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Illinois, Kazuo Okada, Macau, Penn National, Philippines, Rush Street Gaming, Singapore, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn | Comments Off

Big month for Hard Rock Atlantic City; Sunset Station unionizes

Posted on June 14, 2019 by David McKee

Atlantic City‘s two heaviest hitters had a not-so-merry month of May. Borgata fell 15%, to $52 million, and Tropicana Atlantic City tumbled 18%, landing at $25 million and ceding second place for the first time to Hard Rock Atlantic City … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Culinary Union, Detroit, Eldorado Resorts, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tribal | 1 Comment

Merry month of May in Ohio, Missouri; MGM debuts “Hunger Games”

Posted on June 10, 2019 by David McKee

Casino revenues were booming last month in Ohio, leaping 10.5% to $169.5 million. People flocked to the racinos, which vaulted 13%. Hollywood Columbus gained 2% to $19 million and Hollywood Toledo inched 1% to almost $18 million. As for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Movies, Ohio, Penn National, The Strip | Comments Off

Honeymoon in Illinois; Contraction in Maryland

Posted on June 7, 2019 by David McKee

Illinois lawmakers think casino gambling is a bottomless well of revenue, as witnessed by their recent approval of five new gambling houses and three racinos (just for starters). However, last month’s actual revenues were less than auspicatory. At $118 million, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Illinois, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Rush Street Gaming, West Virginia | Comments Off

Runaway greed in Illinois

Posted on June 3, 2019 by David McKee

Existing operators in Illinois are picking themselves up off the floor following an exponential expansion of casino gambling in the Land of Lincoln, achieved in the waning hours of the legislative session. Caesars Entertainment, Penn National Gaming, Boyd Gaming, Eldorado … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, DFS, Eldorado Resorts, Illinois, International, Penn National, Politics, Taxes, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Casinos, DFS wrangle in Massachusetts; Harrah’s wins in Louisiana

Posted on May 31, 2019 by David McKee

Debate over sports betting in Massachusetts has brought out a ruction between Boston-based DraftKings, representing the forces of online gambling, and brick-and-mortar casinos, which want to be the sole purveyors of Internet sports bets, with maybe five to seven ‘skins’ … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, DFS, Entertainment, Genting, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Problem gambling, Rhode Island, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip | Comments Off

Rough April for Atlantic City; Britney to jilt MGM?

Posted on May 15, 2019 by David McKee

As always, Atlantic City proves to be a good-news/bad-news story. Gaming revenue there was up 8.5% higher last month but the love had to be spread thin, as same-store revenues fell 12%. Casinos grossed $207.5 million with slots up 6% … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Baseball, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta | 2 Comments

Stability in the heartland; The lure of “NashVegas”

Posted on May 9, 2019 by David McKee

Last month’s gaming revenues from Ohio and Illinois were flat year/year. Some would look at that as a bad thing but it shows the states aren’t losing significant play to neighboring states. Ohio casinos grossed $160 million, with MGM Northfield … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Churchill Downs, Crown Resorts, Dan Gilbert, Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Georgia, GLPI, Illinois, Law enforcement, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Solid month for Maryland; Casino sale aborted

Posted on May 7, 2019 by David McKee

Maryland casino revenues inched up to $145 million last month, led by MGM National Harbor with $61 million and 42% of market share. Maryland Live, no surprise, was second with 33% and $48 million (+2%). Horseshoe Baltimore grossed $20 million … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., GLPI, Golden Gaming, Illinois, Internet gambling, Iowa, Lotteries, Macau, Maryland, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, Nebraska, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Sports betting, Tribal, TV, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off

The unkindest cuts of all

Posted on May 3, 2019 by David McKee

Apparently Las Vegas casinos—and specifically those of MGM Resorts International—have not learned from the ill-will generated by resort fees and paid parking. Now, as discovered by Scott Roeben, MGM is instigating an insidious “surge pricing” for sundries like water and … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Entertainment, Genting, Horseracing, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Resort fees, Singapore, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, The Strip | 1 Comment

Boyd, Churchill Downs garner raves; Indiana governor seduced

Posted on April 26, 2019 by David McKee

Boyd Gaming got a good review on Wall Street today, lauded both for slightly surpassing revenue expectations and for moving quickly to deleverage in the wake of the Valley Forge, Belterra and Ameristar acquisitions. Downtown continues to be Boyd’s bastion … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Charity, Churchill Downs, Current, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Florida, Hawaii, Horseracing, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Ohio, Palms, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Rhode Island, Slot routes, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street, West Virginia, Westgate LV | 1 Comment

War of the Palms; Odds on the Avengers

Posted on April 25, 2019 by David McKee

In its latest salvo against Station Casinos, the Culinary Union has commissioned a study to determine if the Palms will achieve an ROI pleasing to Wall Street. Its conclusion is that the revamped casino-hotel will need to generate cash flow … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill Downs, Culinary Union, Downtown, Kentucky, Movies, Palms, Station Casinos, Terry Caudill, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Sands gets spanked; Palms (almost) loses its name

Posted on April 22, 2019 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands is on its way out of Pennsylvania but not before receiving two swift kicks in the posterior from Keystone State regulators. The casino was fined $120,000 for allowing underage gaming and $110,000 for offenses related to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, CityCenter, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, Greenwood Racing, history, Horseracing, Indiana, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Ohio, Palms, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Resort fees, Rush Street Gaming, Slot routes, Station Casinos, Technology, Tribal, Virgin Hotels, Wisconsin | Comments Off

Land of confusion

Posted on April 22, 2019 by David McKee

OK, so there are no condos on sale at the Plaza Resort in downtown Las Vegas. That much we have established. But it’s got to be one of the most baffling stories we’ve ever covered. For instance, “TLC” usually is shorthand … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Golden Gaming, Illinois, Japan, Kentucky, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Real Estate, Regulation, Sports betting, Tamares Group, Taxes, Terry Caudill, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Partly cloudy in Louisiana

Posted on April 16, 2019 by David McKee

Compared to a strong March last year, Louisiana was anemic last month, down 2.5% to $246 million. Of course, it is risky to generalize since some markets were quite healthy and others (Baton Rouge, anyone) were ailing. The same might … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, Louisiana, Penn National, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | Comments Off

Boffo month for New Jersey, Detroit

Posted on April 15, 2019 by David McKee

Atlantic City casinos sprang through March with a 16% revenue boost (albeit 5% cannibalization of last year’s grosses), booking $223 million, including a 18.5% surge in slot win while table games were up 9% (albeit down 13% on a same-store … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Eldorado Resorts, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta | 2 Comments

Around the horn

Posted on April 11, 2019 by David McKee

Gambling revenue hit a record amount in Maryland last month, up 9% to $164 million. The good news for MGM National Harbor was that winnings were up 4% to $64 million. The bad news is that this was driven by … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, Full House Resorts, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Indiana, Isle of Capri, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Rush Street Gaming, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off

Run for the roses; Friends of Dorothy

Posted on March 28, 2019 by David McKee

I’ve got a horse right here, his name is … no, not Paul Revere but Game Winner and he’s favored to win the annual run for the roses at Churchill Downs. At least that’s what Kentucky Derby Online Betting says. KDOB … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill Downs, Current, Entertainment, Horseracing, Marketing, Mohegan Sun, Movies, Palms, Regulation, Station Casinos, Technology, Tribal | 3 Comments