Category Archives: DFS

Las Vegas slides toward crisis as market tanks

Posted on March 12, 2020 by David McKee

Coronavirus having been officially been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization, it was only a matter of time before the impact hit Las Vegas. Not much time, either. Late yesterday, the National Association of Broadcasters pulled the plug … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Conventions, DFS, Donald Trump, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Health, International, Las Vegas Sands, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, New York, Sheldon Adelson, South Korea, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Twin River, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

DFS dealt major setback; Mills is grist

Posted on February 10, 2020 by David McKee

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

Quote of the Day

Posted on February 4, 2020 by David McKee

“I would never watch Jaguars-Titans in a million years, but if I have fantasy players in it, then of course I’m watching Jaguars-Titans. I really think without fantasy football, the NFL would not be where it is today.”—daily fantasy sports analyst … Continue reading →

Posted in DFS, Sports, Sports betting | Comments Off

IGT, Twin River cut a deal; Atlantic City casino execs get riled

Posted on February 3, 2020 by David McKee

In what is either a grand compromise or the cynical conclusion to months of backbiting, International Game Technology and Twin River Holdings have patched up their differences, and formed a joint venture to run the Rhode Island state lottery. (The … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, China, DFS, Donald Trump, e-sports, Eldorado Resorts, Hard Rock International, IGT, Japan, Kentucky, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Lotteries, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Morris Bailey, Rhode Island, Sports betting, Twin River, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Atlantic City up in November; Sports betting comes to Michigan

Posted on December 13, 2019 by David McKee

Gross gaming revenues of $224 million in Atlantic City last month represented a 7% gain. Table games (+11%) led the way, followed by slot revenues, up 6%. Table win at Borgata rose 14.5% on 7% more wagering, as the house … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, DFS, e-sports, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, FanDuel, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal | 1 Comment

Cordish bully on Philly

Posted on November 4, 2019 by David McKee

We’ll soon find out if the Philadelphia market can sustain five casinos when Cordish Gaming‘s Live! Casino & Hotel Philadelphia opens, next door to Citizens Bank Park (baseball) and close to Lincoln Financial Field (football) and Wells Fargo Center (basketball and … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, Charity, Cordish Co., Dan Gilbert, DFS, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Florida, Las Vegas Raiders, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sahara, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

The Drew makes bold promises; GLPI gleeful

Posted on November 1, 2019 by David McKee

Steven Witkoff buried the lead when announcing that Bobby Baldwin had been called out of retirement to become CEO of The Drew. Witkoff’s PR peeps said that the project was in “final preparations for construction,” which is the first movement … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Caesars Entertainment, California, CityCenter, Detroit, DFS, Dining, Fontainebleau, G2E, GLPI, history, Las Vegas Sands, Lotteries, Louisiana, Macau, Maryland, Michigan, Politics, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Vdara Death Ray, Wall Street | Comments Off

Oklahoma, tribes ready to talk; Don’t geofence me in

Posted on October 22, 2019 by David McKee

Oct. 28 is the date appointed for Oklahoma gaming tribes to meet with Attorney General Mike Hunter and find out just what Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) wants from them. As one chief put it, “We’re anxiously awaiting what their proposal is.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Colorado, Dan Lee, DFS, Election, Full House Resorts, G2E, Genting, history, Indiana, Las Vegas Sands, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Oklahoma, Oregon, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Singapore, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Scandal in Illinois (Where else?); Screwup in Florida

Posted on October 19, 2019 by David McKee

With no private developer willing to step up to the plate for a Chicago casino, Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) is now pitching a city/state partnership. Why not? There won’t be any profits to divide. State Rep. Greg Harris (D), for … Continue reading →

Posted in DFS, Florida, Illinois, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Slot routes, Sports betting, Taxes, The Mob | Comments Off

MGM: Magnanimity, not culpability

Posted on October 7, 2019 by David McKee

The Associated Press has an hour-by-hour account of the MGM Resorts International settlement for the Mandalay Bay Massacre, the third-largest such outlay in U.S. history. Victims are generally happy with the outcome but the real bottom line is given by … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Charity, Columbia Sussex, DFS, Entertainment, Law enforcement, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, PokerStars, Sports, Technology, The Strip, TV | 1 Comment

Too much, too soon in the East?; The DFS doctor is in

Posted on September 26, 2019 by David McKee

At last, someone is expressing skepticism over the pie-in-the-sky attitude U.S. gaming companies exude toward the Pacific Rim. The inescapable Sheldon Adelson said “ten Las Vegases” would not sate demand, But Union Gaming analysts Grant Govertsen and John DeCree think that … Continue reading →

Posted in China, CityCenter, DFS, Economy, International, Japan, Lawrence Ho, MGM Resorts International, Sports, Sports betting, Wall Street | Comments Off

Two wins for Wynn; Fewer jobs in Atlantic City

Posted on September 17, 2019 by David McKee

Encore Boston Harbor continues to dominate the Massachusetts scene, with 61% of market share, compared to 25% (not bad) for MGM Springfield, the rest going to Plainridge Park. Encore grossed $85.5 million last month, MGM did $21 million and Plainridge … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colorado, DFS, Economy, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Oklahoma, Penn National, Resort fees, Sexual misconduct, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Unite-Here, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Case Bets

Posted on September 12, 2019 by David McKee

Unlike people across the Pearl River Delta in Hong Kong, casino workers in Macao are relatively easy to please. Their latest set of demands will sound very familiar to Americans: a five-day work week, vacation schedules and a smoke-free environment (we’re … Continue reading →

Posted in DFS, Indiana, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Rhode Island, Sports betting, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Sports betting: Survey says …

Posted on September 3, 2019 by David McKee

Trying to help the gaming industry get its arms around the onslaught of sports betting, Eilers & Krejcik Gaming did a consumer survey of the newly legitimate recreation. “For all of the hype surrounding the spread of regulated sportsbooks, there’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, DFS, Environment, Lotteries, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Sports betting, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

The wrath of Icahn

Posted on June 11, 2019 by David McKee

Investment bankers BidaskClub aren’t buying Caesars Entertainment. Literally. In an almost-unheard-of development in gaming, Bidask put a “sell” recommendation on low-priced CZR shares. Perhaps this reflects caution over Caesars’ still-massive debt overhang or of the additional debt that would be … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, DFS, Eldorado Resorts, Illinois, Lotteries, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Resorts International, Regulation, Resort fees, Sports betting, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off

Caesars deal takes shape; Carlino out at Penn

Posted on June 10, 2019 by David McKee

We hope Anthony Rodio isn’t getting too comfy in his CEO chair over at Caesars Entertainment. News reports have been heating up about at Caesars takeover, with Eldorado Resorts continuing to have the inside track and reportedly planning to replace … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, DFS, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, GLPI, Iowa, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, Nevada, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Problem gambling, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Runaway greed in Illinois

Posted on June 3, 2019 by David McKee

Existing operators in Illinois are picking themselves up off the floor following an exponential expansion of casino gambling in the Land of Lincoln, achieved in the waning hours of the legislative session. Caesars Entertainment, Penn National Gaming, Boyd Gaming, Eldorado … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, DFS, Eldorado Resorts, Illinois, International, Penn National, Politics, Taxes, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Casinos, DFS wrangle in Massachusetts; Harrah’s wins in Louisiana

Posted on May 31, 2019 by David McKee

Debate over sports betting in Massachusetts has brought out a ruction between Boston-based DraftKings, representing the forces of online gambling, and brick-and-mortar casinos, which want to be the sole purveyors of Internet sports bets, with maybe five to seven ‘skins’ … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, DFS, Entertainment, Genting, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Problem gambling, Rhode Island, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip | Comments Off

Wall Street loves Wynn, Penn, MGM

Posted on May 15, 2019 by David McKee

JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff issued a post-1Q19 bulletin in which he named Wynn Resorts (growth), Penn National Gaming (value for share price) and MGM Resorts International (event-driven revenue) as his top picks in the gambling sphere. Wynn got a … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Caesars Entertainment, DFS, Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Internet gambling, Iowa, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pets, Pinnacle Entertainment, Problem gambling, Racinos, Sports betting, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Transportation, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Gilbert sells to Hard Rock; Masters odds are out

Posted on April 8, 2019 by David McKee

Hard Rock International exited the Ohio market by one door, then reentered it by another. The tribal giant bought Dan Gilbert out of Jack Cincinnati and Turfway Park. REIT Vici Propreties will own the real estate of the casino and … Continue reading →

Posted in Alabama, Caesars Entertainment, DFS, Donald Trump, Genting, Hard Rock International, International, Iowa, Kentucky, Las Vegas Sands, Marketing, Maryland, Ohio, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal, TV | Comments Off