Category Archives: Crown Resorts

Maryland: More gamblers = more money; Illinois improving

What will prompt recovery in gaming? Stimulus money, yes, but we got a strong indicator of something else out of Maryland last weekend. Overall, casino revenues were down 16.5% but the story is more complicated than that. At facilities restricted … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Australia, Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Churchill Downs, Connecticut, Cordish Co., Crown Resorts, DraftKings, FanDuel, Foxwoods, Golden Gaming, Illinois, Internet gambling, Iowa, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Problem gambling, Sports, Sports betting, TV, Wall Street, West Virginia, William Hill | Comments Off on Maryland: More gamblers = more money; Illinois improving

Roman Empire conquers Venice

In a dramatic, dead-of-night deal, Las Vegas Sands sold The Venetian and Palazzo to a REIT/private-equity combo of Vici Properties and Apollo Management for $6.25 billion. Vici and Apollo obviously have a considerable appetite for risk on the Las Vegas … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Caesars Entertainment, Crown Resorts, DraftKings, Internet gambling, James Packer, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, New York, Real Estate, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports betting, Texas, The Strip, TV, Wall Street, William Hill | 2 Comments

Adelson, Packer canoodle & other news

While America burns, Sheldon Adelson is fiddling in the French Caribbean, aboard his mega-luxury yacht. The vessel was moored next to that of James Packer, who welcomed Adelson as guest for his lavish New Year’s Eve celebration. This meeting of … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, China, Crown Resorts, Detroit, Dining, Economy, Hawaii, Health, International, Internet gambling, Iowa, James Packer, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, South Dakota, Taxes, Tribal, Virginia | Comments Off on Adelson, Packer canoodle & other news

Mixed readings on Vegas recovery; Trump vs. Titus

How bad is it in Las Vegas? Well, the latest edict from MGM Resorts International is that The Mirage will be closed from Monday at noon to Thursday at noon, INCLUDING the casino. (We felt that news needed a bit … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Australia, Barstool Sports, Caesars Entertainment, CQ Holdings, Crown Resorts, Derek Stevens, Donald Trump, Downtown, DraftKings, Economy, GLPI, Health, Horseracing, International, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Movies, Nebraska, Nevada, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

A tale of two Nevadas

October was a tale of two Nevadas, one of which (the north) did quite well whilst the other did not. Gaming revenue statewide was down 19.5%, with the Las Vegas Strip acting as a drag anchor, minus 30% at $375 … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Boulder Strip, Caesars Entertainment, Crown Resorts, Downtown, Economy, Elaine Wynn, Entertainment, Golden Gaming, Health, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Raiders, Laughlin, Mesquite, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Palms, Real Estate, Reno, Resorts World LV, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Technology, The Strip, Wendover, Westgate LV, Wynn Resorts | 4 Comments

Uneasy lies the head that wears Crown; IGT’s cautious future

Executives at Crown Resorts had better rethink that scheme to buy Sheldon Adelson‘s Las Vegas assets. The company, which has played fast and loose with money-laundering rules, has been provisionally denied permission to open its multibillion-dollar casino in Sydney. Regulators … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Cretins, Crown Resorts, Health, IGT, Las Vegas Sands, Lotteries, Money laundering, New Jersey, Ohio, Regulation, South Dakota, Sports betting, Taxes, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Horseplay in Massachusetts and Monday mega-jottings

At age 86, horse owner Armand Janjigian is as alive and kicking as the thoroughbreds he wants to race in Massachusetts. No, he doesn’t have a track but he’s busily snapping up land for one. He’s also going to need … Continue reading

Posted in California, Card rooms, Churchill Downs, Crown Resorts, Detroit, DFS, DraftKings, Economy, Election, FanDuel, Galaxy Entertainment, Golden Nugget, Health, Horseracing, Illinois, International, Japan, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Sands, Lotteries, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Nebraska, New York, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Scientific Games, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Kings for a day; Covid’s casino kingpin

As you know, DraftKings is the current darling of Wall Street, its stock hovering around $50/share. Today Credit Suisse analyst Ben Chaiken initiated coverage with an “outperform” rating, putting a $76/share price target on the stock. He even went to … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Brazil, Caesars Entertainment, California, China, Crown Resorts, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Golden Nugget, Health, IGT, Illinois, Internet gambling, Japan, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Lotteries, Louisiana, Macau, Maverick Gaming, MGM Resorts International, Nebraska, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, TV, Twin River, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Sports betting lifts Illinois; Packer in a pickle

It was sagacious of Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (whose family used to co-own the Grand Victoria casino in Elgin) to temporarily suspend his state’s rule requiring in person registration for sports betting. Last month, the Land of Lincoln saw $140 … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Boyd Gaming, China, Churchill Downs, Colorado, Crown Resorts, DraftKings, FanDuel, Health, Illinois, Indiana, Law enforcement, Lawrence Ho, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, The Crown 18, The Mob | 1 Comment

Station reopens bullishly; Who was that masked man, anyway?

On the eve of today’s reopening, Station Casinos hosted a conference call with JP Morgan analysts and was pretty darn confident that its base of Baby Boomers and retirees would flock back. So confident is that Station “has not been … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Caesars Entertainment, Cirque du Soleil, Crown Resorts, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Entertainment, Health, Las Vegas Sands, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Palms, Planet Hollywood, Real Estate, Resort fees, Station Casinos, Steven Witkoff, Tamares Group, Terry Caudill, The Rio, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Adelson quits Japan; Caesars vague on relaunch

Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson has come through the Covid-19 crisis with two things most of us don’t have: A) a boatload of cash and B) a desire to acquire other businesses. The rumor mill says he has his … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Crown Resorts, Current, Georgia, Health, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Lotteries, MGM Resorts International, Philippines, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Vietnam, Wall Street, World Series of Poker, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Vegas bingo on death watch; Nevada regulators dither

Bingo is such a staple of the Las Vegas locals casino that it seems unimaginable that it would go the way of the buffet and the dodo. But such may be the case. VitalVegas author Scott Roeben says he is … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Boyd Gaming, Crown Resorts, Downtown, Entertainment, Hawaii, Health, Idaho, James Packer, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Technology, Texas, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Fauci on sports; Churchill Downs “on track”

Bad news, sports bettors. Given the absence of widespread testing for Coronavirus, Dr. Anthony Fauci is backpedaling on his projections that professional sports could resume this year. (As Fauci has said elsewhere, a model is just a model; when you … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Baseball, Churchill Downs, Crown Resorts, Economy, GameCO, Health, International, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Lawrence Ho, Lotteries, Marijuana, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Missouri, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Scientific Games, Sports, Technology, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

More woes for Penn; “A slog” for Encore Boston

Covid-19 has claimed another casino casualty in the form of Resorts Casino Tunica. Ironically, the Penn National Gaming closure comes after an abortive March which promised to exceed the 2019 in Mississippi. Overall gaming revenues were at $110 million when … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, California, Crown Resorts, Economy, GLPI, history, International, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Penn National, Sports betting, Taxes, Tourism, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on More woes for Penn; “A slog” for Encore Boston

Sisolak vs. Goodman, Round Two; Wynn’s recovery plan

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D), while acknowledging that his state’s unemployment-aid infrastructure is swamped (although initial jobless claims declined to 58,641 last week), is taking a steady-as-she-goes approach to reopening the Silver State, relying heavily on medical advice. “This is not … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Caesars Entertainment, California, Charity, Conventions, Crown Resorts, Derek Stevens, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Florida, Health, Lake Tahoe, Nevada, Politics, The Strip, Tourism, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

“Scary” times for casinos; Hotel rates swoon

Donald Trump wants to reopen America for business May 1, come hell or high water. Former Atlantic City casino executive Robert Ambrose acknowledges that “going past 30 days [quarantine] is scary for the entire industry.” According to Ambrose, it ought … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, Crown Resorts, Economy, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Health, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Turnaround in Springfield; Coping with Covid-19

Although it seems supremely beside the point at this grave moment, it’s time to report February’s gaming-revenue numbers from Massachusetts. Casinos in the state grossed some $86 million, with $52.5 million of that made at Encore Boston Harbor, with 61% … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, California, Canada, Crown Resorts, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Health, Horseracing, International, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Philippines, Regulation, Reno, Tourism, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Turnaround in Springfield; Coping with Covid-19

Ghost in the (slot) machine; The “evil genius” of resort fees

Electrical troubles are bedeviling Downtown casinos. All the slot machines at the Four Queens and Binion’s Gambling Hall were idled by a mechanical snafu last week. Table games remained operational, as did selected video-poker machines. Terry Caudill clammed up when … Continue reading

Posted in Conventions, Crown Resorts, Derek Stevens, Downtown, IGT, International, Law enforcement, Macau, Massachusetts, Maverick Gaming, Regulation, Resort fees, Technology, Terry Caudill, Virgin Hotels, Washington State, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Wind of change; Packer “like a car crash”

There’s change in the breeze at Wind Creek Bethlehem. Former general manager Brian Carr “is leaving the organization,” replaced by Kathy McCracken, a longtime veteran of the property, which has underperformed since the Poarch Bank of Creek Indians took ownership. Not coincidentally, … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Crown Resorts, James Packer, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Money laundering, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Stanley Ho, Technology, The Mob, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

DFS dealt major setback; Mills is grist

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 on DFS dealt major setback; Mills is grist