Category Archives: Dining

By the seaside

Posted on February 24, 2022 by David McKee

We’re just back (and exhausted) from dealing with a harrowing family emergency. Fortunately, our East Coast correspondent has been busy during our absence and files the following photo essay … Ocean Resort: “I asked for a small piece” at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Cordish Co., Dining, Golden Nugget, Law enforcement, MGM Resorts International, Ocean Resort, Pennsylvania | 3 Comments

Wynn steals its own thunder; Atlantic City hits a downer

Posted on February 17, 2022 by David McKee

Leave it to Wynn Resorts to squelch news of a bad 4Q21—losing $256.5 million—with an, oh by the way, announcement that it was selling Encore Boston Harbor for $1.7 billion (essentially breaking even on construction costs) and leasing it back. … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, Australia, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Crown Resorts, Dining, DraftKings, Dubai, Economy, FanDuel, FoxBet, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, Mattress Mack, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, New York, Penn National, PointsBet, Problem gambling, Rush Street Gaming, South Korea, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Tennessee, Texas, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Wynn steals its own thunder; Atlantic City hits a downer

New boss at F-blue; Station: Five white guys; Atlantic City blitzed

Posted on February 1, 2022 by David McKee

Yes, Tom Brady has retired but there’s actually other news happening today. For starters, Fontainebleau has a new president. And not just any prexy but “a visionary leader for our next-generation luxury resort.” He’s Cliff Atkinson, late of Luxor. If … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, CityCenter, Colorado, Culinary Union, Dining, Diversity, Fontainebleau, Hard Rock International, Horseracing, Illinois, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Real Estate, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | 2 Comments

Meet the new National Harbor boss, same as the old boss

Posted on January 7, 2022 by David McKee

Maryland closed out 2021 hot, up 16% from 2019 with a gross of $173 million in December. As usual, MGM National Harbor was in the lead with $74.5 million. Maryland Live booked $62.5 million for a 20.5% gain and 36% … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Arizona, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Churchill Downs, Dining, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Golden Gaming, Health, Idaho, Indiana, Las Vegas Raiders, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sahara, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Technology, Tennessee, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, World Series of Poker | Comments Off on Meet the new National Harbor boss, same as the old boss

Meanwhile at Harrah’s Philadelphia …

Posted on December 8, 2021 by David McKee

Busy on other fronts, we’re taking a break from regular programming today. However, kudos to Harrah’s Philadelphia for including this somewhat avant-garde menorah among its holiday observances. Don’t eat there, however, unless you fancy having some 12-day-old salad:

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Dining, Pennsylvania | Comments Off on Meanwhile at Harrah’s Philadelphia …

Urban One loses; Station thinks big; NFL gets into the slot biz

Posted on November 3, 2021 by David McKee

Richmond voters narrowly chose to cut off their nose to spite their face, voting 51.5% against the Urban One casino proposal. Since casinos were approved by at least 65% in four other Virginia cities in 2020, the resounding question is … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, Caesars Entertainment, California, Dining, DraftKings, Election, Florida, Hard Rock International, Health, International, Iowa, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, MGM Resorts International, Michael Gaughan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Palms, Politics, Real Estate, Resorts World LV, Seminole Tribe, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, Technology, Transportation, Tribal, Virginia, Wall Street, Washington State | 6 Comments

Indiana wins big, Missouri too; Pennsylvania guv blows smoke

Posted on October 13, 2021 by David McKee

While the American economy overall may be a disappointment for some, Big Gaming has nothing of which to complain. Indiana is coming off another bully month, up 16% from 2019, for an overall gross of $201 million, driven in no … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Century Casinos, Dining, DraftKings, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, Hard Rock International, Health, Indiana, Internet gambling, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Movies, Nevada, Penn National, Politics, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, Tribal | 3 Comments

Strip sizzles in August

Posted on September 30, 2021 by David McKee

Casinos on the Las Vegas Strip grossed $626 million last month, 20% better than August 2019. Statewide, the jump was 22% to $1.65 billion but the real overachievers were locals casinos, leaping 41% (to $250 million) with a little help … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Century Casinos, Cretins, Dining, Downtown, G2E, Genting, Hard Rock International, Health, history, Indiana, International, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, North Las Vegas, Palms, Reno, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal, Wendover | 5 Comments

Macao fears overdone?; Dispatches from Atlantic City

Posted on September 27, 2021 by David McKee

After a long bout with the flu, we’re back with our usual persiflage. One of the stocks that was on the sickbed last week was Las Vegas Sands, bedridden from proposed new restrictions on Macao casinos. Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, China, Dining, DraftKings, FanDuel, FoxBet, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, New Jersey, Palms, PointsBet, Politics, Regulation, Rhode Island, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tribal, Virginia, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Super-spreader event at Caesars nixed; Mega-jottings

Posted on September 2, 2021 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment must have decided it was poor optics to be hosting a convention of anti-vaxxers at brand-new Caesars Forum as Coronavirus cases spike. Or maybe it blanched at the potential deep-cleaning costs after the event. Either way, QAnon-espousing “Patriot … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Architecture, Arizona, Arkansas, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Canada, Charity, Cirque du Soleil, Conventions, Cordish Co., Cosmopolitan, Dining, DraftKings, Entertainment, FanDuel, Foxwoods, Golden Nugget, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Health, Horseracing, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Raiders, M Resort, Marijuana, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, North Carolina, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Sahara, South Dakota, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Virginia, Wynn Resorts, Wyoming | 2 Comments

Bargains galore at Caesars; Station savages Culinary; Mega-Jottings

Posted on August 24, 2021 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment is holding a fare sale across its non-Las Vegas properties, a possible signal that the stimulus-fueled recovery may be cooling (in economics, what goes up must come down). In Atlantic City you have your choice of such starting … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Arizona, Atlantic City, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Culinary Union, Dining, Downtown, Health, Indiana, International, Iowa, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Louisiana, Marketing, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Palms, Peninsula Pacific, Reno, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tribal, World Series of Poker | 2 Comments

Atlantic City catches up; MGM confronts Covid; AAA salutes Circa

Posted on August 17, 2021 by David McKee

It took a while but the Boardwalk is finally even with 2019 numbers. July saw a gambling gross of $277 million, flat with two years ago. Slot win was up 6% on 2% more coin-in but tables declined 14% on … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, California, Derek Stevens, Dining, Downtown, DraftKings, FanDuel, FoxBet, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Resort fees, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, The Strip, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 5 Comments

Monster monopoly on the Strip?; Caesars wows Wall Street

Posted on August 4, 2021 by David McKee

In a deal that Nevada regulators would block if they had an ounce of spine, MGM Growth Properties proposes to sell itself to Vici Properties, which would put nearly all the prime land on the Las Vegas Strip under one … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Conventions, Dining, Illinois, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Nebraska, Politics, Real Estate, Regulation, Sports betting, Tennessee, The Rio, The Strip, Vici Properties, Wall Street, William Hill | 1 Comment

MGM does the right thing; Killer chipmunks in Lake Tahoe

Posted on August 3, 2021 by David McKee

In a very george move, MGM Resorts International is donating two acres of Strip land to be the site of a memorial to the victims of the Mandalay Bay Massacre. The acreage, at the corner of Reno Avenue and Giles … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Bally, Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Crown Resorts, Dining, Economy, GLPI, Health, Iowa, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Resorts International, Minnesota, North Carolina, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Virginia, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Masks back on, Las Vegas!; All’s right with the REITs

Posted on July 30, 2021 by David McKee

Mincing few words, MGM Resorts International CEO Bill Hornbuckle sent a letter to all employees, urging them to quit dithering and get their Covid-19 vaccinations, if they haven’t already. He pleaded, “In addition to the heart-wrenching thought of more illness … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally, BetMGM, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Churchill Downs, Conventions, Delaware, Derek Stevens, Dining, Economy, GLPI, Health, history, Indiana, Kentucky, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Sands, Laughlin, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Real Estate, Resorts World LV, Singapore, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Caesars massacres table games, renames Superdome; Bally’s boffo

Posted on July 27, 2021 by David McKee

At the risk of flogging a deceased equine, the emperor at Caesars Entertainment has yet again showed himself to be without clothes. The latest Eldorado-ization of the Roman Empire is the wholesale slaughter of table games along the Las Vegas … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, Crown Resorts, Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Fontainebleau, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Jack Entertainment, Louisiana, Macau, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Taxes, The Strip, Virginia, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 5 Comments

Atlantic City plays catch-up; Pennsylvania, Michigan flex online muscles

Posted on July 19, 2021 by David McKee

Casinos in Atlantic City are having trouble catching a wave from the Great Reopening. Last month’s brick-and-mortar revenues were $214.5 million, 9% down from 2019. Slot win ($154 million) was 8% lower on 11% less coin-in and luck wasn’t with … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Cordish Co., Culinary Union, Derek Stevens, Dining, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, FoxBet, Golden Nugget, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Health, Internet gambling, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street, Westgate LV, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Indiana, Missouri stay strong; Mixed feelings about buffets

Posted on July 14, 2021 by David McKee

Casino winnings in Indiana came up just a few increments short of $200 million last month, a 13% gain on 2019. Hard Rock Gary came out of the blocks fast, grossing $26 million, although Horseshoe Hammond climbed 7% to retain … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Dining, DraftKings, Entertainment, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, Health, Indiana, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Michael Gaughan, Missouri, New Jersey, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Philippines, PointsBet, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Nevada conventions healthy, Nevadans not so much

Posted on July 12, 2021 by David McKee

Tourism to Las Vegas in May was 12% higher than April and June should continue the climb, even if long-awaited World of Concrete was a flop (one-sixth of the expected attendance). Next up was the Nightclub & Bar Show, which … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Conventions, Dining, Donald Trump, Health, history, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, New York, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Reno, Seminole Tribe, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wisconsin, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Scientific Games goes on a diet; BetMGM stiffs player

Posted on June 29, 2021 by David McKee

This is a head-scratcher. Despite sports betting sweeping our great country, Scientific Games is opting out of the sports-wagering business. And the lottery biz, too, even though that remains a robust market segment. Reported JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff, “management … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, BetMGM, Churchill Downs, Cirque du Soleil, CQ Holdings, Dining, Environment, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Lotteries, Louisiana, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Rush Street Gaming, Scientific Games, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Scientific Games goes on a diet; BetMGM stiffs player