Category Archives: Conventions

MGM to sell Mirage; Caesars disappoints Wall Street

At a time when the north Las Vegas Strip is finally heating up, MGM Resorts International has chosen this moment to put The Mirage on the market. Although it’s 32 years old (224 in dog years), The Mirage should fetch … Continue reading

Posted in BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Conventions, Cosmopolitan, Economy, Election, Hard Rock International, Health, Internet gambling, Jim Murren, Lake Tahoe, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, New York, Palms, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Planet Hollywood, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Sports betting, The Strip, Vici Properties, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Baccarat cools Las Vegas a bit; Boyd sets records; Reno bans whips

Stimulus cash may be petering out somewhat and international tourism has yet to open the floodgates, so September found Nevada on something of a cusp between the supercharged recovery of the summer and the hoped-for travel rebound in 4Q21. Still, … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, California, Conventions, Culinary Union, Downtown, FanDuel, Hawaii, Health, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Marketing, Nevada, New Jersey, North Las Vegas, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Politics, Reno, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off on Baccarat cools Las Vegas a bit; Boyd sets records; Reno bans whips

Boyd, Caesars express optimism; Atlantic City slows

Continuing JP Morgan‘s march through Las Vegas, senior analyst Joseph Greff met with Boyd Gaming CEO Keith Smith and CFO Josh Hirsberg. They seemed pleased, on the whole, marveling and the resilience of their customers, whose play was “amazingly consistent” … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Australia, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Conventions, Cosmopolitan, Crown Resorts, Downtown, Economy, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Hawaii, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sports betting, The Strip, Transportation, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 4 Comments

Wall Street meets Vegas, likes what it hears

JP Morgan analysts, led by Joseph Greff, are touring Las Vegas ahead of Global Gaming Expo and seem to like what they’re hearing. For instance, they met with Station Casinos CFO Steven Cootey and were told that demand continues to … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, California, Canada, China, Conventions, Economy, Health, Internet gambling, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, M Resort, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Las Vegas, Palms, Penn National, Problem gambling, Resorts World LV, Singapore, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, Texas, Tribal, Wall Street, Westgate LV | 3 Comments

Balmy August in Indiana; The coming crisis in Vegas; MGM talks up prospects

There are signs that the regional gaming recovery is cooling (Missouri was up just 1% last month) but Indiana‘s August numbers, while not as hot as July’s, were a balmy 10% higher than 2019 as casinos grossed $203 million. Horseshoe … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Bally, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Conventions, Cosmopolitan, Downtown, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, G2E, Hard Rock International, Health, Indiana, Internet gambling, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, Peninsula Pacific, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Politics, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Sports betting, Technology, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Super-spreader event at Caesars nixed; Mega-jottings

Caesars Entertainment must have decided it was poor optics to be hosting a convention of anti-vaxxers at brand-new Caesars Forum as Coronavirus cases spike. Or maybe it blanched at the potential deep-cleaning costs after the event. Either way, QAnon-espousing “Patriot … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Architecture, Arizona, Arkansas, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Canada, Charity, Cirque du Soleil, Conventions, Cordish Co., Cosmopolitan, Dining, DraftKings, Entertainment, FanDuel, Foxwoods, Golden Nugget, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Health, Horseracing, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Raiders, M Resort, Marijuana, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, North Carolina, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Sahara, South Dakota, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Virginia, Wynn Resorts, Wyoming | 2 Comments

Monster monopoly on the Strip?; Caesars wows Wall Street

In a deal that Nevada regulators would block if they had an ounce of spine, MGM Growth Properties proposes to sell itself to Vici Properties, which would put nearly all the prime land on the Las Vegas Strip under one … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Conventions, Dining, Illinois, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Nebraska, Politics, Real Estate, Regulation, Sports betting, Tennessee, The Rio, The Strip, Vici Properties, Wall Street, William Hill | 1 Comment

Masks back on, Las Vegas!; All’s right with the REITs

Mincing few words, MGM Resorts International CEO Bill Hornbuckle sent a letter to all employees, urging them to quit dithering and get their Covid-19 vaccinations, if they haven’t already. He pleaded, “In addition to the heart-wrenching thought of more illness … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, BetMGM, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Churchill Downs, Conventions, Delaware, Derek Stevens, Dining, Economy, GLPI, Health, history, Indiana, Kentucky, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Sands, Laughlin, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Real Estate, Resorts World LV, Singapore, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Nevada conventions healthy, Nevadans not so much

Tourism to Las Vegas in May was 12% higher than April and June should continue the climb, even if long-awaited World of Concrete was a flop (one-sixth of the expected attendance). Next up was the Nightclub & Bar Show, which … Continue reading

Posted in China, Conventions, Dining, Donald Trump, Health, history, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, New York, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Reno, Seminole Tribe, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wisconsin, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Unlucky Lucy; Las Vegas “vibrant;” Secret plan for Atlantic City

No executives? No financing? No problem, right? Big problem! Just ask the nonentities behind a proposed Terre Haute casino. They just got turned down for a license. This almost never happens in “gold standard” Nevada, not because casino projects have … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Conventions, Cordish Co., Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Hard Rock International, Horseracing, Illinois, Indiana, Law enforcement, Macau, MGM Resorts International, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Politics, Real Estate, Regulation, Slot routes, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Spectacle Entertainment, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Virginia | 2 Comments

Las Vegas heats up; Zombies overrun Atlantic City

In a benchmark development, three of the four major Las Vegas Strip operators posted higher midweek rates for the July 4-July 10 period than in 2019. Caesars Entertainment was flat, probably due to its sheer proliferation of hotel rooms. MGM … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Colony Capital, Conventions, Cordish Co., Economy, Entertainment, Indiana, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Movies, Nevada, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Rush Street Gaming, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Stanley Ho, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, TV, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Las Vegas heats up; Zombies overrun Atlantic City

Caesars, MGM lead Vegas recovery; Florida compact dicey

Let’s start with some good news. JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff laid out a series of benchmarks for a Las Vegas comeback across the second half of 2021 (one year earlier than anticipated). “We think these data points are indicative … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Conventions, Dining, Economy, Florida, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, LVCVA, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Hard Rock, Ocean drub Borgata; Caesars massacres shows

Casinos in Atlantic City grossed $189.5 million last month, 9% behind their 2019 pace. Slots were off 5% and tables 17%. Regular top-grosser Borgata had a terrible month, falling 28%, spurring by lackluster table-game winnings (-34%), with slots tumbling 25%. … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Conventions, DraftKings, Economy, Entertainment, FanDuel, FoxBet, Full House Resorts, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, Indiana, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Penn National, PointsBet, Rush Street Gaming, Silverton, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports, Sports betting, The Rio, The Strip, Wayne F. Newton, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Wynn gaining steam; Miami Beach casino juice job dismissed

First-quarter results for Wynn Resorts were worse than expected in Macao but better than anticipated in both Las Vegas and Boston, while the company posted a revenue chasm around Wynn Interactive. To shore up the latter, Wynn is merging it … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Century Casinos, Conventions, Donald Trump, DraftKings, FanDuel, Florida, Hard Rock International, Horseracing, Illinois, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, TV, Virginia, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Wynn gaining steam; Miami Beach casino juice job dismissed

Illinois’ surprise; Scandal at Churchill Downs; Palms complications

Gambling revenue of $108 million out of Illinois last month looks pallid at first glance. But consider this: It was only 6% off April 2019’s pace, when casinos were at full capacity and last month they did it at 50% … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Conventions, Culinary Union, Dining, Diversity, DraftKings, Drugs, Economy, FanDuel, history, Horseracing, Indiana, Iowa, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Palms, Penn National, PointsBet, Rush Street Gaming, Slot routes, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Recovery has legs; Resorts World LV impresses

Maryland didn’t just do well in April, it posted its third-best month ever. Gaming win grew 11.5% from 2019, to $162 million. That’s with 50% capacity constraints at MGM National Harbor and Horseshoe Baltimore (all other casinos are operating at … Continue reading

Posted in Barstool Sports, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Conventions, Cordish Co., Cosmopolitan, Dining, Entertainment, Genting, Golden Gaming, Health, Illinois, Internet gambling, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, New Mexico, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Sports betting, Wall Street, West Virginia, World Series of Poker | 1 Comment

Hail Caesars; Durango Station green-lit

“Solid … very encouraging … impressive momentum.” Those were some of the things JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff had to say about Caesars Entertainment‘s 1Q21 numbers. Cash flow of $548 million well exceed Greff’s expected $429 million, to say nothing … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Caesars Entertainment, Card rooms, Conventions, Cosmopolitan, Derek Stevens, Entertainment, Florida, Health, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Michael Gaughan, New York, Politics, Reno, Seminole Tribe, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Hail Caesars; Durango Station green-lit

Las Vegas rates rebound; Kentucky Derby brings out crowds

In another sign of a faster-than-expected Las Vegas comeback, room rates on the Strip for the May 23-29 period are reported to be flat with 2019. Midweek numbers are mildly down (-17%) but counterbalanced by higher weekend rates (+18%) than … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, China, CityCenter, Conventions, Crown Resorts, Dining, Dubai, Economy, Entertainment, Genting, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock Hotel, Health, Horseracing, Illinois, International, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Palms, Pennsylvania, Plaza, Real Estate, Regulation, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, Tennessee, The Strip, Tribal, Virginia, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

MGM “roaring back”; LV recovery accelerates

That’s what Credit Suisse analyst Ben Chaiken had to say about MGM Resorts International, citing strength in regional casinos, Las Vegas and sports betting (in that order). First-quarter cash flow exceeded 2019 levels, aided in part by “strong demand reaching … Continue reading

Posted in BetMGM, Charity, Colorado, Conventions, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Health, history, Macau, Marijuana, Marketing, Maryland, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Movies, Nevada, Resorts World LV, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | 2 Comments

Pennsylvania booms and busts, Massachusetts lags

Casino revenues were $270.5 million last month in Pennsylvania, down 22% from March 2019, another exception to the wave of recovery sweeping the country. Slots accounted for $199 million, tables for $71.5 million. Casinos were held to 50% of capacity, … Continue reading

Posted in Aristocrat, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Colony Capital, Conventions, Cordish Co., Dining, DraftKings, Election, FanDuel, FoxBet, Greenwood Racing, Health, history, Illinois, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Rush Street Gaming, Scientific Games, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Pennsylvania booms and busts, Massachusetts lags