Category Archives: Dan Gilbert

18 Fremont’s cover blown; Resorts World LV delayed yet again

Last week, Ryan Hess stole Derek Stevens‘ thunder, posting a stunning rendering for 18 Fremont on Twitter and linking to an EB-5 visa Web page that included more sexy pictures — six swimming pools — of the Stevens brothers’ upcoming … Continue reading

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Ameristar, Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Dan Gilbert, Derek Stevens, Dining, Downtown, Eldorado Resorts, Full House Resorts, Genting, Indiana, International, Isle of Capri, Lucky Dragon, LVCVA, Majestic Star, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Steven Witkoff, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Churchill Downs aims for Nashville; Goodbye, Sigma Derby

Late last week, Churchill Downs was awarded a racing license in Oak Grove, Kentucky, putting CHDN within an hour’s drive of the Nashville market. The plan is to invest $150 million in a racing oval, a hotel and — most … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Entertainment, Genting, Georgia, history, Kentucky, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Trop defies Atlantic City odds; Massachusetts underachieves

October was good for Atlantic City‘s new casinos, with the overall market up 8%, but bad for the incumbents, down 11.5%. Terrestrial gambling win totaled $200.5 million, with mixed messages all over the place. Slot win was up 5% but … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Boyd Gaming, Bruce Deifik, Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Churchill Downs, Connecticut, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Eldorado Resorts, Georgia, GLPI, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, International, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Penn National, Rush Street Gaming, Scientific Games, Sports, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Greektown sold; Resorts World Catskills gets cash infusion

Due to its presence in the Detroit market as operator of Caesars Windsor, it’s not possible for Caesars Entertainment to own a casino in Motown. But nobody said anything about its REIT, Vici Properties. The latter is teaming with Penn National Gaming … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Genting, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Greektown sold; Resorts World Catskills gets cash infusion

Promising horizon for Penn; Frissora exiting Caesars

Penn National Gaming came in from 3Q18 below Wall Street‘s expectations but JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff defends the company, citing high expectations of free cash flow in 2019 (12%) and 2020 (20%), even after capex reinvestments. The addition of … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Centaur Gaming, Dan Gilbert, Economy, Illinois, Lucky Dragon, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off on Promising horizon for Penn; Frissora exiting Caesars

New era in Macao; Joy and misery in Louisiana

Beginning tomorrow, travel to Macao becomes much easier, as the Zhuhai bridge connecting Hong Kong and Macao officially opens. The ribbon is cut at 9 a.m. and several bus services are at the ready to make the half-hour run, compared … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, Galaxy Entertainment, GLPI, Isle of Capri, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Transportation | Comments Off on New era in Macao; Joy and misery in Louisiana

Tilman covets Roman empire; Bellagio turns 20

Tilman Fertitta is the maverick among mavericks in the casino industry, beating veteran operators at their own game and doing it as some one who entered the industry as a novice and immediately began to strike gold. More recently, he’s … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Dan Gilbert, Dining, Economy, history, Internet gambling, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, Sheldon Adelson, Texas, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta | 3 Comments

Punishing month in Atlantic City

Gross-gaming revenues (not counting Internet play) were up 8% in Atlantic City last month, to $232 million. However, the prosperity wasn’t citywide, with same-store revenues down 11%. We’re still a long way from agreeing with Roger Gros‘ doom-and-gloom-and-doom prediction that two … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Bruce Deifik, Caesars Entertainment, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Eldorado Resorts, Genting, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Ohio up, Missouri down and Caesars tries harder

Although it will forever be a mystery why Caesars Entertainment evacuated Ohio, now that gaming revenues in the Buckeye State are on the upswing, it’s understandable that CEO Mark Frissora would want to get back in. Last month, gross gaming … Continue reading

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Dan Gilbert, Dining, Donald Trump, Eldorado Resorts, Hard Rock International, history, Isle of Capri, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Tribal | Comments Off on Ohio up, Missouri down and Caesars tries harder

Boyd captures Valley Forge; An historic first at the Plaza

Boyd Gaming is officially in the Pennsylvania market, having closed its $280.5 million purchase of Valley Forge Casino Resort. The company now gets to grapple for a piece of the crowded Philadelphia market. And don’t think Harrah’s Philadelphia won’t tout … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Dan Gilbert, Downtown, Greenwood Racing, Internet gambling, Iowa, Las Vegas Sands, Marketing, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sports betting, Tamares Group, Technology, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

The mystery of Talking Stick; Okada strikes again

On August 11, the latest in a series of monsoons wiped out the primary and backup generators at Talking Stick Resort. The casino was expected to reopen later last month but hasn’t, leaving some asking questions. Talking Stick Resort Public Relations … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Caesars Entertainment, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, International, Kazuo Okada, Ohio, Philippines, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off on The mystery of Talking Stick; Okada strikes again

Atlantic City booms

Casino revenues in Atlantic City were up an astounding 21% in August, with only a 2% decrease in revenue at the incumbent gambling houses. Sports betting was also a hit, grossing $95 million. (Some predict it could surpass Las Vegas … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, Caesars Entertainment, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Resort fees, Rush Street Gaming, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Hot in August

Regional casinos were the big story last month, with four crucial jurisdictions all posting gains. (So, too, did Iowa but we rarely cover it in S&G because so few of the innumerable casinos make major amounts of revenue.) Maryland hopped … Continue reading

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Ameristar, Caesars Entertainment, Cordish Co., Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, Full House Resorts, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Indiana, Iowa, Majestic Star, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Rush Street Gaming, Taxes, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Caesars hailed; Wynn Resorts for sale?

Credit Suisse has initiated coverage of Caesars Entertainment, citing it as its “Top Pick” in the gaming sector. Why? “It recently re-emerged from bankruptcy and is one of the largest US gaming operators, with eight Las Vegas Strip and 22 … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Centaur Gaming, Dan Gilbert, Economy, Elaine Wynn, Hawaii, Indiana, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Nevada, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Caesars hailed; Wynn Resorts for sale?

Project First Light dims; Once and future Horseshoe?

After much hemming and hawing, the Trump administration finally came down off the fence on the Mashpee Wampanoag‘s Project First Light casino, saying it couldn’t see a way forward to taking the land into trust for gaming purposes. U.S. District Court … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Baseball, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, DFS, Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Genting, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Movies, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Rhode Island, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Project First Light dims; Once and future Horseshoe?

Good/bad news for Atlantic City; Pennsylvania just bad

On the face of it, the news from Atlantic City is good: Gambling revenues were up 10% last month. But the same-store comparison (i.e., minus Hard Rock Atlantic City and Ocean Resort) has the city down 9.5%. The haul was … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, Caesars Entertainment, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Eldorado Resorts, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Casino revenues surge (almost) everywhere

Maryland casino business continues to boom, up 5.5% last month. MGM National Harbor led the pack with $58 million. It will, however, be a source of dismay to ownership that play continues to trend toward highly taxed (60%) slots and … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, Galaxy Entertainment, Golden Gaming, Las Vegas Sands, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Maryland, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Taxes, West Virginia, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Casino revenues surge (almost) everywhere

MGM lawsuit backfires

MGM Resorts International stepped in it — at least momentarily — when it elected to sue victims of the Mandalay Bay Massacre in federal court. The Twitterverse briefly arose in #BoycottMGM outrage, but it died down by day’s end and … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Arizona, Atlantic City, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Donald Trump, Environment, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Security, Sports, The Strip, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 1 Comment

New era in Atlantic City

Atlantic City is already feeling the benefits from the double-barreled openings of Hard Rock Atlantic City and Ocean Resort. While June’s gambling revenues were up 1.5% on a same-store basis, add the newcomers and the increase is 5%. (Both casinos … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, Caesars Entertainment, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Racinos, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | 2 Comments

A tale of four states

Illinois‘ casino industry has never recovered from the Great Recession. We’ll never know if it would have done so but the inception of slot routes has basically nipped any recovery in the bud. As such, the Land of Lincoln will … Continue reading

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Centaur Gaming, Dan Gilbert, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Full House Resorts, GLPI, Illinois, Indiana, Majestic Star, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Rush Street Gaming, Slot routes, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on A tale of four states