Category Archives: Churchill Downs

Casinos continue to thrive; Crooks, liars and losers

There’s no “supply chain” issue when it comes to dollars flowing into American casinos. Take Missouri, for instance. Casino revenue sprang 15.5% over 2019 last month, for a statewide take of $145.5 million. Actual visitation was down 2o% but per-visitor … Continue reading

Posted in Apollo Management, Bally, Bally Technologies, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Century Casinos, Churchill Downs, Cretins, DraftKings, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Indiana, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Maryland, Mattress Mack, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Nevada, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Regulation, Reno, Rush Street Gaming, Scientific Games, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal, WInd Creek, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Everybody wins; ‘Adele’ debuts; Ohio and Maryland prosper

Let’s start the day with a rare, feel-good story about an invalidated jackpot. Normally, these things go the way of the house. But not this time. On January 8, at Treasure Island, a player named Robert Taylor was playing the … Continue reading

Posted in Apollo Management, Aristocrat, Bally, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., DraftKings, Entertainment, FanDuel, Fontainebleau, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Louisiana, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Palms, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, United Kingdom, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Everybody wins; ‘Adele’ debuts; Ohio and Maryland prosper

Bally’s we hardly knew ye; IGT bets big on lotteries

Shares of Bally’s Corp. sprang to $36.76 apiece yesterday on the news that the company’s largest stockholder wants to take Bally’s private for $2 billion. Hedge fund Standard General—founded by Bally’s Chairman Soo Kim—is offering $38/share for the mini-major and … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Arkansas, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, DraftKings, Economy, Entertainment, FanDuel, Hard Rock International, Hawaii, IGT, International, Japan, Lotteries, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Ocean Resort, Regulation, Rhode Island, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Adele fiasco at Caesars; Trouble for Sands in Florida

Resorts World Las Vegas, we’ll see your Celine Dion health-scare postponement and raise you an Adele cancellation at Caesars Palace. The British megastar’s team has, like so much of the human race, contracted Covid-19 and is not physically capable of … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Diversity, Election, Entertainment, Florida, Greenwood Racing, Health, history, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, New York, Peninsula Pacific, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sahara, Seminole Tribe, Sports, Sports betting | 1 Comment

Illinois slouches; Boyd, Churchill praised; DraftKings assessed

Not even Rivers Casino Des Plaines was spared the impact of Hard Rock Rockford, as the newbie helped take a 4.5% bite out of Rivers’ December casino revenues compared to 2019, for a Des Plaines gross of $43 million, still … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Canada, Churchill Downs, Connecticut, Downtown Grand, DraftKings, Election, Florida, Full House Resorts, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mattress Mack, MGM Resorts International, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Regulation, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, Wall Street | Comments Off on Illinois slouches; Boyd, Churchill praised; DraftKings assessed

Ohio, Missouri booming; Of sports and sports betting

Scarcely had Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli projected 12% gaming growth in Ohio over December 2019 than the numbers came in and it was 16%. The $197 million gross showed play heating up from November, too. Slot revenue was up … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Century Casinos, Churchill Downs, DraftKings, FanDuel, Genting, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Jack Entertainment, Las Vegas Raiders, Massachusetts, Mattress Mack, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Movies, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, Technology, Tribal, TV, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Meet the new National Harbor boss, same as the old boss

Maryland closed out 2021 hot, up 16% from 2019 with a gross of $173 million in December. As usual, MGM National Harbor was in the lead with $74.5 million. Maryland Live booked $62.5 million for a 20.5% gain and 36% … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Arizona, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Churchill Downs, Dining, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Golden Gaming, Health, Idaho, Indiana, Las Vegas Raiders, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sahara, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Technology, Tennessee, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, World Series of Poker | Comments Off on Meet the new National Harbor boss, same as the old boss

Mixed signals in Pennsylvania; Atlantic City casinos get their wish

Despite fewer weekends than in 2019, Pennsylvania casino revenues nudged up 3% last month, albeit not a same-store comparison, what with three new casinos having opened in the interim (that would make it -9%). Slots won $185.5 million and table … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Canada, Card rooms, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., DraftKings, FanDuel, Health, Las Vegas Raiders, Michigan, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Tribal, WInd Creek | Comments Off on Mixed signals in Pennsylvania; Atlantic City casinos get their wish

If at first you don’t succeed … sue; Academy Awards odds posted

It’s a tried and true adage of American life that if you can’t get what you want fair and square, take it to court. Case in point: Full House Resorts. Having lost out on the Indiana Gaming Commission‘s selection of … Continue reading

Posted in Alabama, Bally, Chicago, Churchill Downs, Dan Lee, Election, Full House Resorts, Health, Indiana, International, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Movies, Nebraska, Ohio, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sports betting, WInd Creek, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on If at first you don’t succeed … sue; Academy Awards odds posted

Atlantic City stutters; Shocker in New Orleans; Palms changes hands today

Casinos in Atlantic City grossed $207 million last month, an 8% declivity from 2019, as players tightened their purse strings. Overall, slot revenues were down 1% on a commensurately lower amount of coin-in. The house played unluckily at the tables, … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, CQ Holdings, DraftKings, Election, FanDuel, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, Internet gambling, Iowa, Louisiana, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mohegan Sun, North Carolina, Ocean Resort, Palms, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Philippines, PointsBet, Rush Street Gaming, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Technology, Tribal | 1 Comment

Rejected!

It’s been a rough winter for Peninsula Pacific. First it narrowly lost a plebiscite in Richmond, Virginia. Then, on Saturday, it got body-slammed by voters in Louisiana‘s St. Tammany Parish, who turned out in droves to vote down a proposed … Continue reading

Posted in Churchill Downs, Dan Lee, Election, Full House Resorts, Louisiana, Mississippi, Peninsula Pacific, Politics, Virginia | 1 Comment

Playing politics with sports betting … and casinos

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) has really put her foot in it this time. Not only are Windy City aldermen balking at five stadium-area sports books in addition to a billion-dollar casino, fearing cannibalization, but Lightfoot threw gasoline on the … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, Churchill Downs, Dan Lee, DraftKings, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Jack Entertainment, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Politics, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Tribal, TV, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Cordish cashes in; Scare tactics in Atlantic City; Illinois slumps

Succumbing to the siren song of REITmania, Cordish Gaming has sold the real estate of three of its casinos to Gaming & Leisure Properties Inc. for a grand total of $1.8 billion. The affected casinos are Philadelphia Live, Pittsburgh Live … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., DraftKings, GLPI, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Real Estate, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | 2 Comments

MGM resurgent in Maryland; More Mega-Jottings

November was another terrific month for Maryland casinos, as revenues picked up a bit from October, accumulating 14% more than in November 2019.. (If inflation is so bad, where do Marylanders find all this money with which to gamble, one … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Australia, Caesars Entertainment, California, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Crown Resorts, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Florida, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Japan, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Movies, Nevada, Penn National, Planet Hollywood, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, South Korea, Sports, The Rio, The Strip, Virgin Hotels, Virginia, West Virginia, World Series of Poker, Wynn Resorts | 4 Comments

Big month for MGM in Michigan; Las Vegas, city of stiffs

Cumulative Internet gambling and sports betting revenues racked up $134 million last month, the vast majority going to i-gaming, some $110 million. Sports books essentially gave away the store, with 81% of revenues going right back out the door in … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, CQ Holdings, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Golden Nugget, Greenwood Racing, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Big month for MGM in Michigan; Las Vegas, city of stiffs

Atlantic City still booming; Churchill Downs wins in Terre Haute

It was another bonanza month for the Boardwalk, as casinos grossed $237.5 million in October, 17% above 2019. Slot win was up 22% on 19% more coin-in and tables won 6% on 9% higher wagering and despite lower hold. Borgata … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., DraftKings, FanDuel, FoxBet, Full House Resorts, Golden Nugget, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Indiana, International, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Money laundering, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Encore owns Massachusetts; Online slot players hosed

Massachusetts gaming revenue accelerated to $96 million last month, 23% higher than 2019. Encore Boston Harbor vaulted 37% to $63 million—yes, two-thirds of the statewide gross and well above Deutsche Bank‘s forecast of $55 million. Despite Wynn Resorts‘ dominance, Plainridge … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cretins, Detroit, Economy, FanDuel, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Iowa, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Nebraska, Neil Bluhm, New Jersey, North Carolina, Peninsula Pacific, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, Tribal, TV, Virginia, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

New York picks winners, losers; Ohio, even Illinois flex muscles

In hopes of having online sports betting operational in time for the Super Bowl, Empire State gaming regulators announced their picks for the state’s nine OSB license applications late yesterday. Winners were BetMGM (just as Bill Hornbuckle predicted), DraftKings, FanDuel, … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Delaware, DFS, DraftKings, Economy, Environment, Failsinos, FanDuel, FoxBet, Foxwoods, Full House Resorts, Genting, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Illinois, International, Jack Entertainment, Lake Tahoe, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, New York, Ohio, Penn National, PointsBet, Racinos, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Taxes, Technology, West Virginia, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Chicago: Then there were five (?); LV Sands huddles with NY Mets

Or is it three? In the end, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) drew one heavyweight contender for the Windy City casino and a pair of middleweights. Two of the applicants made parlay bids, so the city could crow that it … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, Baseball, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cretins, DraftKings, Election, FanDuel, Florida, Genting, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Indiana, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Louisiana, MGM Resorts International, Neil Bluhm, New Hampshire, New York, Peninsula Pacific, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Ida dampens Louisiana’s day; NFL tackles degenerate gambling

September gaming revenues in Louisiana were expected to be diminished by Hurricane Ida and they certainly were, down 23% on a same-store basis. New Orleans had the worst time of it (-48%), Baton Rouge the easiest (-5%). All comparisons are … Continue reading

Posted in BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, CQ Holdings, Election, Full House Resorts, Golden Nugget, Illinois, International, Louisiana, Marketing, Peninsula Pacific, Penn National, Problem gambling, Sports betting, Virginia | 4 Comments