Category Archives: Current

When you’ve sunk this low …; Mazer returns

When skepticism turns to outright ridicule, the writing is often on the wall for such a folie de grandeur as Howard Bulloch‘s SkyVue wheel … or rather the two, totemic poles that are we are ever likely to see of … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, The Strip | Comments Off on When you’ve sunk this low …; Mazer returns

Massachusetts: First one bites the dust

Turns out the Massachusetts Gaming Commission was damn serious about financial probity being grounds for disqualification. In a ruling on Plainridge Racecourse, it deemed that owner Ourway Realty displayed “a culture of fear and concealment pervasive in the operations,” including former … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Colorado, Cordish Co., Current, Environment, M Resort, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Regulation | 2 Comments

Tilman’s Golden touch; Dotty’s gets respectable

Tilman Fertitta forked over $45 million to purchase Isle of Capri Biloxi. He is currently putting another $100 million into expansions and upgrades. From the look of things, he shouldn’t have any trouble making his money back. (Interestingly, parts of … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Boulder Strip, Current, Downtown, Economy, Environment, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Laughlin, Mississippi, Planet Hollywood, Riviera, Tilman Fertitta | 3 Comments

Cosmo plunges again; Nevada signals surrender

Would somebody please sack the so-called casino management and marketing staff at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Everything at the Cosmo is improving except the gambling floor, which took a 20% nosedive in 2Q13, to $31 million. Losses were 25% … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Mob, The Strip | 5 Comments

What’s new in Sparks?; Tomato King strikes again; Bluhm’s bad luck

Arising from the grave of the Silver Club, the brand-new Bourbon Square Casino was finished just in the nick of time for yesterday’s opening. Owner Nevada Casino Holdings has done well, delivering a “new” casino for just $5 million. It … Continue reading

Posted in Boulder Strip, Columbia Sussex, Current, Don Barden, Laughlin, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Reno, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tomato King Procacci | Comments Off on What’s new in Sparks?; Tomato King strikes again; Bluhm’s bad luck

LV in June: The house lost big-time

Despite only a minor dip in visitation, Las Vegas casinos got hammered in June. Players kept their wallets shut and the cards weren’t turning in the house’s favor. The amount of money played on the Las Vegas Strip was off … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Current, Downtown, Economy, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, North Las Vegas, Reno, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Vegas: Remembrance of revenues past; Making the grade in Massachusetts

“I think we are having a limp-wristed sort of crawl out of a hole, but a recovery is a more robust word,” the one and only Steve Wynn said earlier this week. The numbers bear him out, as tourism continues … Continue reading

Posted in Cordish Co., Current, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Harrah's, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Racinos, Regulation, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Vegas: Remembrance of revenues past; Making the grade in Massachusetts

Seller’s market in A.C.?; Adelson’s new opportunity

According to a certain Pinky Kravitz, two new suitors are afoot on the Boardwalk. One of them is Neil Bluhm‘s SugarHouse Casino, which evidently covets the Atlantic Club (a surprisingly downmarket move for Bluhm). It may have to go up … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Colony Capital, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Environment, Foxwoods, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Wall Street | Comments Off on Seller’s market in A.C.?; Adelson’s new opportunity

Chicken Lady rides again

Responding to the deafening disinterest of a Nevada electorate that has largely forgotten her, Pioneer Hotel & Gambling Hall Treasurer Sue Lowden — touting her casino expertise — has thrown her tiara into the ring in the contest to be … Continue reading

Posted in Archon Corp., Current, Election, Laughlin, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Chicken Lady rides again

Adelson loses (again), as does Simpson; Internet stampede in Jersey

Continuing his recent string of futility in the court system, Sheldon Adelson wore the gold sombrero yesterday, after went 0-for-12 in Clark County District Court. Next stop, the Nevada Supreme Court, which has been friendly to the mogul in the … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cretins, Current, Genting, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Station Casinos | Comments Off on Adelson loses (again), as does Simpson; Internet stampede in Jersey

A tale of two cities …

… and both of them are Las Vegas. Last week, Sheldon Adelson pitched a fit about how he thought MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment were driving down his room rates (as though it were the job of Jim Murren … Continue reading

Posted in Current, Dining, Economy, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on A tale of two cities …

Buyer for Trump Plaza found?

That was my first thought upon seeing that online casino 2UP Gaming, based in London and backed by Asian money men, wants into the Boardwalk. Bravo to that and to the $330 million 2UP says it would invest. It shouldn’t … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Current, Donald Trump, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Four years in three minutes

One of the most convoluted controversies in tribal gaming is boiled down with the aid of a whiteboard. This is one story that I’ve always been tempted to include in S&G but find daunting, due to its Byzantine complexity.

Posted in Arizona, Current, Politics, Regulation, Tribal | Comments Off on Four years in three minutes

One Angry Man; MGM expansion bodes well

Y’know, if I was reporting a 120% profit increase in 2Q13, I might stop and enjoy the moment. I certainly wouldn’t choose that moment to be a dick. Obviously, I am not Sheldon Adelson. Proffering evidence that his second infancy … Continue reading

Posted in Current, Economy, Harrah's, International, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tourism, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Fertitta moves on Lake Charles; Sexism triumphs at Boyd; Rhythm City blues

Earlier today, Pinnacle Entertainment announced that it had agreed with Golden Nugget to sell Ameristar Casinos‘ unfinished Lake Charles project at cost ($214 million and climbing). As Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli noted, “We view this as a firm positive … Continue reading

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Harrah's, Iowa, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Texas, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Men of La Mancha; Delaware: Taxation without benefit

While the attempted boycott of his Venelazzo poker rooms fizzles, Sheldon Adelson continues to look overseas. However, his EuroVegas will be beaten to the punch, or so it appears. Rival project BCN World has the jump on him, at least … Continue reading

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Delaware, Dining, Entertainment, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, James Packer, Lawrence Ho, Melco Crown Entertainment, New York, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Tribal | 3 Comments

Scramble in Massachusetts; Malaise in Mississippi

Sept. 24 is the day appointed for voters in Leominster to say “aye” or “nay” to a slot parlor proposed by Cordish Gaming. That’s nine days before the deadline for submitting voter-approved HCAs to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. Which, in … Continue reading

Posted in Cordish Co., Current, Economy, Election, Florida, Foxwoods, Genting, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal | 1 Comment

Wishful thinking, Ruffin-style

Only in Phil Ruffin‘s wildest imagination do members of Great Britain‘s royal family patronize Treasure Island, fast becoming one of the douchiest properties on the Strip.

Posted in Current, International, Phil Ruffin, The Strip | 2 Comments

Wynn checkmated in Everett?; Cordish sees Penn, raises ante

As we all would agree, Suffolk Downs doesn’t have the capitalization, the track record or the leadership that Wynn Resorts does. However, Richard Fields and Harvard homeboy Gary Loveman have a big something going for them: juice. I expected their … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Current, Dining, Election, Foxwoods, Genting, Harrah's, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Revel, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

“I’m looking at it as a huge positive for the city. It shows that we are looking like the resort destination that everyone wants us to be. Although gaming revenue keeps the lights on in these buildings, this shows that … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Economy | 1 Comment