Category Archives: Cretins

Big Bally’s shakeup; Smoking swatted; Mega-Jottings

Posted on February 13, 2023 by David McKee

Back on Jan. 25, we wrote that Bally’s Corp. CEO Lee Fenton was “possibly laying the groundwork for his own exit,” when he said, The pandemic boosted our business and we continued to hire at full pelt. I now can … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, Cretins, DFS, Dining, Donald Trump, DraftKings, FanDuel, Genting, Health, Horseracing, International, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Minnesota, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, New York, Penn National, PointsBet, Politics, Real Estate, Regulation, Rhode Island, Rush Street Gaming, South Korea, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, TV, United Kingdom, Vici Properties, Virginia, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Big Bally’s shakeup; Smoking swatted; Mega-Jottings

Boyd buoyed; Penn damned with faint praise; Mega-Jottings

Posted on February 3, 2023 by David McKee

It was a good day yesterday for Boyd Gaming as it trotted out its 4Q22 numbers. Cash flow healthily overshot Wall Street expectations and was powered by, among other things, better-than-2019 visitation by that Boyd mainstay, players from Hawaii. Wrote … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Canada, Churchill Downs, Cretins, Dining, Downtown, DraftKings, Election, Failsinos, FanDuel, Georgia, Hard Rock International, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, M Resort, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off on Boyd buoyed; Penn damned with faint praise; Mega-Jottings

Sands impresses; Trump’s new Mob pal; Boardwalk blotter; Mega-Jottings

Posted on January 27, 2023 by David McKee

Wall Street was in a sunny mood this week after Las Vegas Sands‘ 4Q22 earnings presentation. As Credit Suisse analyst Ben Chaiken summarized, “two large takeaways in our view were strength in Singapore and what we felt was a positive … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Atlantic City, Bally, Baseball, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Charity, China, Colorado, Cretins, Derek Stevens, Dining, Donald Trump, Entertainment, FanDuel, Florida, history, IGT, Indiana, Iowa, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Marijuana, Marketing, Massachusetts, Movies, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Singapore, South Korea, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Technology, Texas, The Mob, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, TV, Vici Properties, Wall Street | 4 Comments

The tax that ate Las Vegas; Dr. King misremembered

Posted on January 16, 2023 by David McKee

A horrible idea for the taxpayer, the economy and for gaming in particular has been resurrected in Congress. Yes, it’s the “national sales tax,” which would lay a double-digit impost on all goods and services, and which only could be … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Cretins, DraftKings, Economy, history, Marketing, Michael Gaughan, Movies, Nevada, Politics, Station Casinos, Taxes | 2 Comments

MGM carries Maryland; Steve Wynn, racketeer?

Posted on December 7, 2022 by David McKee

Casino revenues in Maryland continue to trend just a bit favorably, with a 2% increase in November—mostly on the back of one casino—reaching $163.5 million overall. Cordish Cos.’ Maryland Live ceded 2% for a $57 million tally. MGM National Harbor … Continue reading →

Posted in Apollo Management, Australia, Barstool Sports, Caesars Entertainment, Cordish Co., Cretins, Golden Gaming, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, North Las Vegas, Oklahoma, Penn National, Problem gambling, Real Estate, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Sexual misconduct, Sports betting, Star Entertainment, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Technology, Texas, The Strip, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on MGM carries Maryland; Steve Wynn, racketeer?

Risky mandate in Macao; Penn’s problems; Debacle at Mirage

Posted on November 28, 2022 by David McKee

That sowing sound you hear is casino executives from Las Vegas to Hong Kong heaving a gargantuan sigh of relief that all the incumbent gaming concessions in Macao were renewed last weekend, leaving Genting Group still on the outside looking … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, China, Cretins, Downtown, DraftKings, Failsinos, Genting, Health, Macau, MGM Resorts International, New York, Penn National, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Sexual misconduct, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, TV, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Slow days in Philly; Georgia pines for casinos, not sports betting

Posted on October 24, 2022 by David McKee

Since a picture is supposed to be worth a thousand words, we’ll let these photos do the talking.

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Bally, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Cordish Co., Cretins, Dining, Georgia, Golden Nugget, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Kazuo Okada, MGM Resorts International, Ocean Resort, Oklahoma, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Regulation, Sahara, South Dakota, Sports betting, United Kingdom, Virginia, World Series of Poker | 2 Comments

Flamingo sale? Forget it!; Mega-Jottings

Posted on August 3, 2022 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment formally took the Flamingo off the sale block yesterday, at least for the foreseeable future. CEO Tom Reeg cited ‘market conditions‘ (odd when the Las Vegas Strip keeps breaking records). There is also the complication that Vici Properties … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Colorado, Conventions, Cretins, Dan Lee, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Full House Resorts, Illinois, Indiana, Lake Las Vegas, Louisiana, Maine, Marketing, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Regulation, South Carolina, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Rio, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, William Hill | 4 Comments

Peace in Atlantic City; Storm over Vegas

Posted on July 29, 2022 by David McKee

Along with Resorts Atlantic City, the Golden Nugget (seen above in its Trump Marina days) has inked a new labor pact with Unite-Here, bringing to an end any uncertainty about a strike on the Boardwalk. Workers get substantial pay increases, … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Atlantic City, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Churchill Downs, Cretins, Current, Derek Stevens, Dining, Downtown, Entertainment, Environment, Gary Goett, Genting, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Singapore, The Strip, Unite-Here, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Vegas Strip bullish, locals more bearish; Penn plummets

Posted on May 26, 2022 by David McKee

Nevada enjoyed a $1.1 billion gambling-revenue month in April, an 8.5% increase over last year. Powering this was the Strip with $593.5 million, a 23% improvement. Downtown, by contrast, suffered a setback, down 11% to $67 million. Utahns must have … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, China, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Cretins, Culinary Union, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Hard Rock International, Health, IGT, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Sands, Laughlin, Macau, Marketing, Mesquite, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New York, North Las Vegas, Palms, Penn National, Reno, Resorts World LV, Rhode Island, Station Casinos, The Rio, The Strip, Tourism, Unite-Here, Wall Street, Wendover, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Atlantic City surges; Barstool’s Portnoy problem resurfaces

Posted on May 17, 2022 by David McKee

Casino revenue leapt 24% in Atlantic City from last April 2021, pulling in $253 million. Slot revenue rose 21% on 18% more coin-in, easily offsetting a 3% decline in table revenue on flat wagering. Borgata lapped the field, catapulting 60% … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Colorado, CQ Holdings, Cretins, DraftKings, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mohegan Sun, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

IGT: Biz as usual; Borgata ups the ante; Mega-Jottings

Posted on March 1, 2022 by David McKee

Wall Street analysts were rather ho-hum about International Game Technology‘s 4Q21 earnings announcement. The company’s cash flow from lotteries were almost exactly as predicted ($335.5 million, revenue of $687 million) while gaming brought in $66 million (on revenues of $321 … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Chicago, Cretins, Crown Resorts, Entertainment, Hard Rock International, Health, IGT, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Law enforcement, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, New York, Ocean Resort, Philippines, Politics, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Virginia, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Twin Spires collapse; The Great Buffet Battle

Posted on February 28, 2022 by David McKee

Online sports betting has claimed its second victim. First it was Wynn Interactive. Now it’s Churchill Downs subsidiary Twin Spires. Too much competition and too little profitability were the reasons cited by CEO Bill Carstanjen. CHDN will also cease its … Continue reading →

Posted in Century Casinos, Churchill Downs, Cretins, Florida, history, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Movies, New York, Peninsula Pacific, Pennsylvania, Seminole Tribe, Sexual misconduct, Sports betting, Virginia, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Casinos continue to thrive; Crooks, liars and losers

Posted on February 11, 2022 by David McKee

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

Sports betting claims first casualty; “Scam” at Caesars?

Posted on January 24, 2022 by David McKee

Online sports betting has evidently proven too rich for Wynn Resorts‘ blood. The New York Post reports that Wynn “is looking to unload its online sports-betting business at a steep discount as the fledgling niche faces painful losses from stiff … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Cretins, Culinary Union, DraftKings, Entertainment, Hard Rock International, Health, International, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Minnesota, Movies, New York, Penn National, Regulation, Sports betting, Station Casinos, United Kingdom, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Weekends without Adele

Posted on January 22, 2022 by David McKee

As all of Christendom now knows, one Adele Atkins of Tottenham has been forced to cancel/reschedule 13 weeks of shows at Caesars Palace. When Adele signed for this gig, in early December, it was regarded as the showbiz coup of … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Cirque du Soleil, Cretins, Current, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Genting, history, Resorts World LV, The Strip | 1 Comment

MGM enjoys reversal of fate; From the police blotter; Raiders sunk

Posted on December 13, 2021 by David McKee

How the wheel of fortune has turned for MGM Resorts International. Where Macao was once the grand prize among its casino trophies, it is now an albatross around the company’s neck, provoking a guarded outlook from Fitch Ratings. But MGM’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, China, Cordish Co., Cretins, Delaware, GLPI, Health, International, Las Vegas Raiders, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Macau, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, New York, North Las Vegas, Peninsula Pacific, Politics, Real Estate, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Texas, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Unite-Here, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on MGM enjoys reversal of fate; From the police blotter; Raiders sunk

Strip sizzles, locals thriftier; Penn’s pride and joy

Posted on November 30, 2021 by David McKee

While tourists were more open-handed than ever, cash flow among Las Vegas locals may be drying up, as win/day fell 11% from September. By contrast, the same metric from the Las Vegas Strip was +6%. Further tipping the scales against … Continue reading →

Posted in Barstool Sports, Boulder Strip, California, Cretins, Downtown, Economy, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Nevada, New York, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Reno, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Wendover | 1 Comment

Chicago reveals all; Rumblings from Macao; Riot in Vegas

Posted on November 22, 2021 by David McKee

The City of Chicago unveiled the applications for its casino license late Friday, effectively burying it at the end of a news cycle, in another triumph for Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) and her administration. The five submissions “are in line … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Bally, Barstool Sports, Chicago, China, Cretins, Entertainment, Genting, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Health, IGT, Illinois, Las Vegas Raiders, Macau, Maryland, Mattress Mack, Neil Bluhm, New Jersey, New York, Problem gambling, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Tourism, Transportation | 5 Comments

Encore owns Massachusetts; Online slot players hosed

Posted on November 15, 2021 by David McKee

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