Category Archives: Downtown

Strip soft, locals firm; Big win for DraftKings

Posted on November 26, 2019 by David McKee

At $538 million, last month’s Strip gambling revenue fell 9%. Slot win was 1.5% up on 5.5% more coin-in. However, baccarat win plunged 27% on 20.5% less wagering. Non-baccarat table games were down 19% on 11% less betting. Strip casinos … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Culinary Union, Downtown, DraftKings, International, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Law enforcement, Lotteries, MGM Resorts International, Money laundering, New Hampshire, North Las Vegas, Regulation, Reno, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Washington State | Comments Off

Wynn Resorts chastened; Living the high life at the Cosmo

Posted on November 25, 2019 by David McKee

Boston is quite a different animal from Las Vegas and Macao—or so Wynn Resorts has learned. Despite healthy table games revenues it is lowering the minimum-bet limits from $50 to $15 at Encore Boston Harbor. In a remarkable mea culpa before … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, China, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Downtown, Election, Environment, Hard Rock Hotel, Hard Rock International, Las Vegas Raiders, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Maine, Marijuana, Marketing, Massachusetts, Palms, Penn National, Regulation, Resort fees, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip, Virginia, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Marching through Georgia; Stevens’ grand vision

Posted on November 21, 2019 by David McKee

“Wynn and MGM are going to Atlanta,” said Georgia state Rep. Al Williams (D), trying allay hopes/fears that megaresorts are going to be sprinkled across the Peachtree State. State Rep. Ron Stephens (R) is particularly bullish, projecting six casinos throwing … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Arkansas, China, Derek Stevens, Downtown, e-sports, Environment, G2E, Georgia, International, Internet gambling, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Resorts International, Oklahoma, Politics, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

Next stop, Hempfield!

Posted on November 19, 2019 by David McKee

Cordish Gaming has broken ground on its Hempfield Township satellite casino in Pennsylvania. The $150 million property will have 750 slots and 30 table games, as well as a 445-seat sports book. The casino will fill the space left by … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Cordish Co., Dining, Downtown, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Golden Gaming, history, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Regulation, South Korea, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Smoke gets in Boston’s eyes; Penn receives important award

Posted on November 14, 2019 by David McKee

Shuttles for Encore Boston Harbor are stirring up some local ire, due to the fumes they generate while idling at the Wellington MBTA Station curb. This has generated the threat of a lawsuit from the Conservation Law Foundation. It’s not just … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Churchill Downs, Cosmopolitan, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Encore, Entertainment, Illinois, Japan, Massachusetts, Movies, Penn National, Rush Street Gaming, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Technology, Terry Caudill, The Mob, Transportation, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Choo-choo to Springfield; Penn hawks Trop

Posted on November 12, 2019 by David McKee

Don’t despair, MGM Springfield. There’s hope yet. Massachusetts politicians are touting the idea of high-speed rail between Boston and Springfield, as many as six rides per day. (Springfield currently must get by with once-a-day Amtrak service.) Gov. Charlie Baker (R) … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Connecticut, Donald Trump, Downtown, Election, Foxwoods, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Hampshire, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Sexual misconduct, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, The Strip, Transportation, TV, Twin River, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Vegas tourists, locals flex economic muscle

Posted on October 31, 2019 by David McKee

Both the Las Vegas Strip and Nevada casinos as a whole were up 7% in September, with locals action up a bullish 9.5%. “We think this data suggest less potential gaming-related risk to MGM’s 3Q19 results as well as [Station … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Conventions, Downtown, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, MGM Resorts International, Reno, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off

Scientific rebuffed in R.I.; Golden, Boyd deliver

Posted on October 23, 2019 by David McKee

Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo (D) doubled down on her commitment to International Game Technology to run the state’s lottery by rebuffing an offer from Scientific Games, in tandem with Twin River Casinos. The Scientific proposal promised 1,100 jobs or … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Conventions, Downtown, Environment, Golden Gaming, Hawaii, IGT, Lotteries, North Las Vegas, Palms, Rhode Island, Scientific Games, Sports, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Macao economy flounders; Massachusetts bonanza illusory

Posted on October 18, 2019 by David McKee

Macao got a double-barreled blast of bad news. First off, China‘s gross domestic product has slowed to growth rates not seen in almost 30 years. In fact, the R-word (“recession”) was invoked. Slow investment growth was blamed, as was the … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Charity, China, Downtown, Economy, Foxwoods, Las Vegas Raiders, Law enforcement, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Politics, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Many fewer Vegas knots tied; Golden Nugget expands

Posted on October 14, 2019 by David McKee

One of Las Vegas‘ mainstays and signature stocks in trade, its wedding industry, is down 42% (yes, 42%) from its 2004 peak. Mind you, it’s still a $2.5 billion business. But the quickie-wedding trade may be hurting and that wouldn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Cirque du Soleil, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Internet gambling, Kentucky, MGM Resorts International, Real Estate, Shuffle Master, Sports betting, Technology, Terry Caudill, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Big Hoosier handle; Caudill empire expands

Posted on October 11, 2019 by David McKee

Indiana sports books generated $35 million in handle last month, translating to $8.5 million in revenue, taxed at 9.5%. “Indiana’s sportsbooks are in their infancy, but their ability to capitalize on the Chicago market did not take long to produce … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Derek Stevens, Diversity, Downtown, El Cortez, Eldorado Resorts, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Penn National, Real Estate, Sports betting, Taxes, Technology, Terry Caudill, The Mob, The Strip, Wayne F. Newton, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Suncoast for sale?; Downtown, Trump Int’l stuck in 20th century

Posted on October 10, 2019 by David McKee

In a cryptic real estate listing, LoopNet has Suncoast emblazoned across the top of its splash page. However, the company says “This listing is not currently being advertised on LoopNet.com” So what the Sam Hill is it doing there? Is … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Connecticut, Donald Trump, Downtown, Foxwoods, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New York, Real Estate, Resort fees, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal | 2 Comments

This and that

Posted on October 7, 2019 by David McKee

Restaurant checks nationwide rose 3% last year but that didn’t keep Las Vegas out of WalletHub‘s #6 spot for foodies (cue operatic outrage from Sin City restaurant critics). Las Vegas hit the #1 spot for “affordability and accessibility of highly … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Downtown, Downtown Grand, James Packer, Steve Wynn, Terry Caudill, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Strip buoyant, locals pounded; Tilman strikes again

Posted on September 27, 2019 by David McKee

Thanks in part to some dramatic table-game numbers, Las Vegas Strip revenues leapt 9% last month. It wasn’t baccarat: That highly volatile game was actually pretty stable, with 6% more win on 7% less wagering (the house played lucky). Other … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Dining, Downtown, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, North Las Vegas, Reno, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta | Comments Off

Sammy Naz strikes again; Stevens removes urban blight

Posted on September 26, 2019 by David McKee

While the ink has scarcely dried on the Sahara logo on the Las Vegas Strip, owner Alex Meruelo is already in hot water. The Las Vegas Review-Journal is reporting that Meruelo is being sued for unpaid licensing fees. In what … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Caesars Entertainment, Derek Stevens, Downtown, G2E, history, Illinois, Marketing, New Jersey, Racinos, Real Estate, Sahara, Sam Nazarian, SLS Las Vegas, Sports, Sports betting, Terry Caudill | Comments Off

Fertitta plays Cassandra; Reach for the sky

Posted on September 24, 2019 by David McKee

Although Atlantic City is coming off its best month in memory, Tilman Fertitta is predicting doom and gloom. “It’s not a nine-casino market, and I don’t understand why nobody realizes that,” he told The Press of Atlantic City. “You could say the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Derek Stevens, Dining, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Election, Fontainebleau, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, LVCVA, Nevada, Pahrump, Reno, Steven Witkoff, Terry Caudill, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta | 3 Comments

Rio sold; Best casinos named

Posted on September 23, 2019 by David McKee

Despite rumors that Caesars Entertainment has sworn off trying to sell The Rio (again), it turns out that the Roman Empire was still shopping the resort. It’s been tentatively sold to “a principal of Imperial Companies” for $516 million. If … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, Cosmopolitan, Derek Stevens, Dining, Downtown, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Genting, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Marketing, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, New York, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Reno, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, TV, World Series of Poker, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Chicago casino tax damned; Kerkorian epoch ends

Posted on September 19, 2019 by David McKee

That Illinois casino expansion went back to the drawing board—the Illinois Gaming Board, to be exact. The topic of its ire was the 33% “privilege tax” hung around the neck of the Chicago casino (bringing its effective tax rate to … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill Downs, Dining, Downtown, Entertainment, Foxwoods, history, Illinois, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Rush Street Gaming, Tamares Group, Taxes, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street, Westgate LV | 1 Comment

Mark your calendars

Posted on September 12, 2019 by David McKee

The peppery owner of the Golden Nugget, S&G favorite Tilman Fertitta, will be signing copies of his Shut Up and Listen! at the Nugget on Sept. 28, starting at 3 p.m. He’ll only be giving autographs for an hour, so … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Tilman Fertitta | Comments Off

‘Wynn-wash’ in Boston; MGM, Sahara soak customers

Posted on September 9, 2019 by David McKee

Encore Boston Harbor President Robert DeSalvio gives us the nitty-gritty (emphasis on gritty) of developing the Massachusetts megaresort. For instance, I’ll bet you didn’t know Wynn Resorts rented 600 railroad cards to—repeatedly—haul arsenic-tainted soil from the site, trucked off to Georgia, … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Cretins, Detroit, Downtown, Entertainment, Environment, Hard Rock Hotel, Iowa, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Nebraska, Nevada, Palms, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Resort fees, Sahara, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Technology, Terry Caudill, Transportation, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off