Category Archives: Downtown

Missouri wilts; Encore closes (sorta); Station upgraded

Pent-up demand and stimulus checks appear to be sputtering across the Midwest. Missouri casinos were down 7.5% last month, grossing $129.5 million. Slots ($112 million) were off 6% and table games tumbled 17%. Top grosser in the state was Ameristar … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Century Casinos, Downtown, Economy, Hard Rock International, International, James Packer, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, Palms, Penn National, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Transportation, Twin River, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Missouri wilts; Encore closes (sorta); Station upgraded

Ohio still strong; Internet saps brick-and-mortar casinos

Buckeye State casino revenues continue to trend upward, gaining 6% to finish at $164.5 million in win. Now that casinos are open in Detroit, it took some of the sheen off Hollywood Toledo, but not much. It was up 13.5% … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Dan Gilbert, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Election, Internet gambling, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Sports betting, Tourism, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Massacre anniversary brings accord; Stevens wants you

Let the healing begin. An $800 million settlement between MGM Resorts International and victims of the Mandalay Bay Massacre has been blessed by a Clark County judge. Said co-plaintiff Stephanie Fraser, “By the grace of God, myself and my family … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Cretins, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Economy, Jim Murren, Law enforcement, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Resorts International, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Security, Sheldon Adelson, TV | 1 Comment

Strip lags Nevada

Silver State gaming revenues were down 22% last month, largely retarded by the Las Vegas Strip (-39%), while locals revenues showed remarkable strength, rising 10%—particularly impressive given the high level of unemployment in Nevada. The statewide gross was $743 million: … Continue reading

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Economy, Lake Tahoe, Mesquite, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Reno, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street, Wendover | Comments Off on Strip lags Nevada

Derek Stevens, man of the year?; ‘Historical racing’ kneecapped

While we wait for own interview with Circa owner Derek Stevens to appear in Casino Life magazine (soon, we promise), we’ll shamelessly piggyback off David Ross‘ excellent Stevens profile in Global Gaming Business. Ross digs up some interesting architectural details … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Charity, Churchill Downs, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Conventions, Cosmopolitan, Derek Stevens, Diversity, Downtown, Election, Environment, Health, IGT, Kentucky, Scientific Games, Sports betting, Technology, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Derek Stevens, man of the year?; ‘Historical racing’ kneecapped

Sahara vs. Roeben, Round Two; Colorado sportsbooks boom

Vital Vegas author Scott Roeben made big news over the weekend with a countersuit against the Sahara for attempting to stifle freedom of the press. If you have a few days to spare, you can read the 111-page filing in … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Archon Corp., Caesars Entertainment, CityCenter, Colorado, Conventions, Culinary Union, Downtown, Downtown Grand, Entertainment, Hooters, Law enforcement, Sahara, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tamares Group, Technology, Terry Caudill, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | 4 Comments

Culinary Union makes endorsements; Bad Boyd!

No surprise, the Culinary Union has endorsed the Joe Biden/Kamala Harris ticket. Now we’ll see what shape the Culinary political machine is in after being depleted by Coronavirus. The union is boasting that it “drove turnout” during the 2020 Nevada … Continue reading

Posted in Aristocrat, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Culinary Union, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Election, Health, history, M Resort, Massachusetts, Politics, Regulation, Security, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, Terry Caudill, Tribal, TV | 1 Comment

Hot water in Singapore; Pennsylvania sports books triumph

Faced with evidence of money laundering at Marina Bay Sands, CEO Sheldon Adelson is being proactive and hiring a local firm to investigate $1 billion in fund transfers from high rollers to third parties. It’s frankly in Adelson’s interest to … Continue reading

Posted in Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Card rooms, Dining, Downtown, DraftKings, Election, Environment, FanDuel, Greenwood Racing, Hooters, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Maryland, Mohegan Sun, Money laundering, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, Terry Caudill, TV, William Hill | 1 Comment

Sands low on Vegas, Boyd upbeat, mixed signals from Station

Yesterday it was Las Vegas Sands‘ turn with JP Morgan gaming analysts and the company was full of surprises. Little of its commentary had to do with the Las Vegas Strip, about which it was “downbeat,” what with conventioneers and … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, China, Downtown, Economy, FanDuel, Hawaii, Health, International, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Palms, Real Estate, Singapore, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Bad news and more bad news

Strip gaming revenue, ‘meh’ though it was, actually looks good in the context of Las Vegas visitation in July, which plummeted 61%. There hasn’t been a convention since April, which certainly hurts. Air travel was horrible, down 64%, while drive-in … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Dining, Downtown, e-sports, Economy, Failsinos, Hard Rock International, MGM Resorts International, Oklahoma, Penn National, Politics, Sports betting, Steven Witkoff, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, TV | 2 Comments

Locals salvage Nevada results; Prez betting odds tighten

July revenue numbers are in for Nevada (-26% statewide) and the Strip is expectedly poor, down 39% ($330 million) and locals play is unexpectedly strong, off only 8% from last year. The statewide gross was $757 million and locals slot … Continue reading

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Conventions, Downtown, Economy, Election, Health, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Mesquite, Pennsylvania, Reno, Security, Station Casinos, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street, Wendover | Comments Off on Locals salvage Nevada results; Prez betting odds tighten

Mega-Jottings for a Monday

Churchill Downs got its second-worst-case scenario for the Kentucky Derby: The September 5 race will have to be held without spectators, a major economic blow to the Louisville area. At least the race will be run and undoubtedly garner much … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Churchill Downs, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, GLPI, Health, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Louisiana, Macau, MGM Resorts International, New Mexico, Penn National, Reno, Sigma Derby, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Virgin Hotels | 1 Comment

Holy Toledo!; Sigma Derby needs you

Ohio casinos didn’t just outperform the Midwest during July, they had their best month ever. What gives? Well, Detroit was still off-limits (redounding to the considerable benefit of Hollywood Toledo) and discretionary capital was clearly plentiful. The four non-racinos hadn’t … Continue reading

Posted in California, Dan Gilbert, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, history, Marketing, North Las Vegas, Ohio, Penn National, Sigma Derby, Transportation, Tribal | 1 Comment

Culinary booted from Boulder

We have obtained a memo on Boulder Station letterhead that reads, in part, “Yesterday [August 6] we learned that a majority of Culinary Team Members signed a petition saying they DO NOT wish to be represented by the Culinary Workers … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Culinary Union, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Health, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Sports, Station Casinos, Tourism, Wall Street | 1 Comment

MGM: The lion mews; AGA: Betrayal by Miller

Second-quarter results for MGM Resorts International are in and the company got hammered pretty badly. Las Vegas Strip revenues fell 90% to $151 million, regional operations dropped 90% to $89 million and Macao grossed a feeble $33 million, down 95%. … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, CityCenter, Conventions, Cordish Co., Culinary Union, Downtown, Economy, Golden Nugget, Health, Horseracing, Illinois, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Real Estate, Sahara, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Chilly June in Las Vegas

June revenue on the Las Vegas Strip plunged 61% to $238 million. Locals revenue was down 28% (those stimulus checks only go so far). Statewide, it wasn’t quite so bad, off 46% to $567 million. Casinos reopened June 4, which … Continue reading

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Economy, International, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Mesquite, North Las Vegas, Reno, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Wendover | 4 Comments

Churchill Downs, Boyd impress analysts

Churchill Downs‘ second quarter was “solid” (Daniel Politzer) to say the least. Revenue shot past Wall Street‘s consensus expectation of $132 million to ring the bell at $185 million. Credit goes to a 27% increase in Internet-gaming revenue, including $100 … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Downtown, Economy, FanDuel, Horseracing, Illinois, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Slot routes, Sports betting | Comments Off on Churchill Downs, Boyd impress analysts

MGM: Meet the new boss, same as the interim boss

After suffering the indignity of a “thorough national search” to find a possible replacement, interim MGM Resorts International CEO Bill Hornbuckle has been named to the position on a permanent basis. This should have been a no-brainer for MGM, especially … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Downtown, Economy, Jim Murren, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Palms, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Shopping the Trop; Nobu no-no

An unnamed hotel-casino on the Las Vegas Strip is being quietly advertised on private-equity forums. It’s listed as a “brand name” property that’s been in operation for over 30 years. The age would seem to suggest The Mirage (born 1989) … Continue reading

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, California, CityCenter, Connecticut, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Downtown, Election, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Health, Hooters, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maverick Gaming, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Real Estate, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Station Casinos, The Rio, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal, Twin River, Virgin Hotels, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Shopping the Trop; Nobu no-no

Giant dildo at large in Sin City; Scientific pleases, disappoints

Who was that masked man anyway? A daring thief casually strolled into Deja Vu Love Boutique, made his way over to “Moby,” a giant dildo (approximately three feet long) and walked right out the door with it. The whale-sized self-pleasuring … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Baseball, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Economy, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Lotteries, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Phil Ruffin, Scientific Games, Sports betting, Terry Caudill, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment