Category Archives: DraftKings

A Boardwalk Christmas; Mega-Jottings

Most people wouldn’t spend Christmas Day in a casino or two but our East Coast correspondent did. He reports, “At the Golden Nugget on Christmas, Chart House, Lillie’s Asian, the Grotto (Italian), Michael Patrick’s coffee shop, Bean & Bread for … Continue reading

Posted in Animals, Atlantic City, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Dan Lee, Dining, DraftKings, Fontainebleau, Full House Resorts, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, International, Kentucky, Mohegan Sun, New York, Ohio, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Virgin Hotels, Virginia, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Christmas wishes

It’s time to reward those who have been nice and offer appropriate gifts to the naughty. So, without further ado, we play Santa Claus to the casino industry …

Posted in AGA, Alabama, Alex Meruelo, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Card rooms, Chicago, China, Crown Resorts, Culinary Union, Dan Lee, Derek Stevens, Downtown, DraftKings, Fontainebleau, Full House Resorts, Genting, Georgia, Hard Rock International, James Packer, Japan, Kazuo Okada, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Massachusetts, Mattress Mack, MGM Resorts International, Michael Gaughan, Missouri, Moulin Rouge, Movies, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Pahrump, Palms, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Real Estate, Regulation, Resort fees, Resorts World LV, Sahara, Scott Butera, Sports betting, Star Entertainment, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Rio, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta | Comments Off on Christmas wishes

Penn problems; Maryland sports bets boffo; Oscar pix

Regulators in Massachusetts struck an unsatisfactory compromise with Penn Entertainment. The latter’s Plainridge Park was granted a sports book license, conditional upon a suitability investigation of Barstool Sports founder—and the new face of Penn—Dave Portnoy. “We are very comfortable with … Continue reading

Posted in Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, DraftKings, FanDuel, Indiana, Kansas, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Movies, New Jersey, Ohio, Penn National, Regulation, Sports betting, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Penn problems; Maryland sports bets boffo; Oscar pix

Pennsylvania, Michigan cool; Cuban covets Texas casino

Heaven be praised for the coming of 2023, not because 2022 was bad (quite the contrary) but because Wall Street is addicted to measuring this year against 2019, not 2021 … which can be quite crazy-making. By that yardstick, Pennsylvania … Continue reading

Posted in Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Detroit, DraftKings, FanDuel, Florida, Greenwood Racing, Idaho, Illitch Family, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mohegan Sun, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Real Estate, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Texas, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street, WInd Creek, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Atlantic City hops; NV regulators take a dive; Vagina monologue

November was a metaphorically warm month for Atlantic City, whose casino revenues grew 4% from last year, reaching $214.5 million. Spoiler alert, Borgata was way out front with $55 million, leaping 14%. Hard Rock Atlantic City dimmed 5% to a … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Brazil, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, CQ Holdings, Donald Trump, DraftKings, FanDuel, Florida, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Indiana, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Lotteries, Louisiana, Macau, Mattress Mack, MGM Resorts International, Michael Gaughan, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, New York, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Puerto Rico, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Seminole Tribe, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tribal, Virginia, Wall Street, Westgate LV, Wisconsin | 2 Comments

Indiana flat, Missouri down; Bally’s happy talk; Miller loses it

Casinos in Indiana kept pace with 2021 last month, grossing $196 million. No prizes for guessing who was tops—Hard Rock Northern Indiana with $35.5 million, a 14% leap from the previous November. Horseshoe Hammond fell 16% but hung in there … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Australia, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Century Casinos, Chicago, China, Colorado, Conventions, DFS, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Genting, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Macau, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Penn National, Regulation, Sports betting, Star Entertainment, Station Casinos, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal | Comments Off on Indiana flat, Missouri down; Bally’s happy talk; Miller loses it

Illinois, Ohio still firm; Daffy bill in N.Y.; Raiders collapse

November was good for casinos in Ohio and Illinois, both of which posted strong numbers, modestly ahead of last year but—in Ohio’s case—still high heavens above 2019. Fresh off its October dethroning of MGM Northfield Park, rival Hollywood Columbus slipped … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Arkansas, Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, DraftKings, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Horseracing, Illinois, Jack Entertainment, Japan, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Rush Street Gaming, Service, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Illinois, Ohio still firm; Daffy bill in N.Y.; Raiders collapse

MGM: Change partners and dance; 888 TKO’d

It’s Blackstone Group out, Vici Properties in at MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay, as Vici exercised its option over the half (OK, 49.9%) that it didn’t already own. Blackstone is $2.8 billion richer as a result, including $700 million in … Continue reading

Posted in Alabama, Arizona, Atlantic City, Bally, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Canada, Conventions, DraftKings, Economy, Election, FanDuel, Florida, Genting, Golden Nugget, Internet gambling, Iowa, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Michael Gaughan, Nebraska, Politics, Puerto Rico, Racinos, Real Estate, Regulation, Sports betting, Taxes, Texas, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tribal, Vici Properties, Virginia, Wall Street, WInd Creek | Comments Off on MGM: Change partners and dance; 888 TKO’d

Risky mandate in Macao; Penn’s problems; Debacle at Mirage

That sowing sound you hear is casino executives from Las Vegas to Hong Kong heaving a gargantuan sigh of relief that all the incumbent gaming concessions in Macao were renewed last weekend, leaving Genting Group still on the outside looking … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, China, Cretins, Downtown, DraftKings, Failsinos, Genting, Health, Macau, MGM Resorts International, New York, Penn National, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Sexual misconduct, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, TV, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Coney Island casino?; Mirage volcano scrapped

While New York Mets owner Steve Cohen and Las Vegas Sands continue to dither about how they might, maybe, possibly have something brewing in Flushing, other players—much lower-profile ones—have been making a move. A consortium of the Chickasaw Indians, Saratoga … Continue reading

Posted in Apollo Management, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Detroit, DraftKings, FanDuel, Genting, Hard Rock International, Indiana, Las Vegas Sands, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Movies, New York, Penn National, PointsBet, Sexual misconduct, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Report from Chicago; Gray Lady in high dudgeon

If you have a bridge in Brooklyn or perhaps some swamp land in Florida, then Oak Street Real Estate Capital would like to hear from you. It just paid $200 million for the site of Bally’s Chicago and $300 million … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, California, Chicago, Diversity, DraftKings, FanDuel, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Real Estate, Regulation, Rhode Island, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Virginia, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Atlantic City slumps; Adele hell

Dateline: O’Hare International Airport, land of crappy wi-fi. We’re not back at the office yet but there’s so much news it just can’t wait. Let’s start in Atlantic City, where casino revenues slumped 7% to $220.5 million last month. Everybody … Continue reading

Posted in Apollo Management, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Century Casinos, Chicago, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., CQ Holdings, Detroit, DraftKings, Economy, Entertainment, FanDuel, Genting, Golden Gaming, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Illitch Family, International, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, The Rio, The Strip, United Kingdom, Virginia, WInd Creek, Wynn Resorts | 7 Comments

Indiana, what’s up?; Shuberts take on Caesars in NYC

Gaming revenue in Indiana cooled somewhat last month, as casinos banked $207.5 million, a 3% drop from last year, albeit still 16% higher than 2019. (No elaborate 2019 comparisons will be drawn because that year saw two Majestic Star boats … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Card rooms, DraftKings, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, Hard Rock International, Indiana, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Sands, Nevada, New York, Penn National, Politics, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tribal, United Kingdom, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Bread and circuses

Inflation or no, there is one quantifiable, incontestable fact about the American consumer. He or she is spending more—way more—on gambling than before Covid-19 and more than last year, when they had stimulus money to burn. So if there are … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Dan Lee, DraftKings, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Full House Resorts, Golden Gaming, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Jack Entertainment, Kentucky, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, The Strip, Tribal, Virginia | 2 Comments

DraftKings tumbles big-time; Big Gaming bets on red

“It’s kind of fun to do the impossible,” said Walt Disney. For the leadership of DraftKings, “the impossible” would include finding a path to near-term profitability. DKNG reported 3Q22 numbers late last week and J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff called … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Barstool Sports, Baseball, BetMGM, Brazil, Caesars Entertainment, Crown Resorts, Donald Trump, DraftKings, Economy, Election, FanDuel, Jim Murren, Kansas, Las Vegas Raiders, Macau, Mattress Mack, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Phil Ruffin, Problem gambling, Regulation, South Carolina, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 3 Comments

MGM, Penn disappoint, Golden droops; Tilman’s gambit

Dragged down the golden albatross that is Macao, earnings of MGM Resorts International missed analysts’ projections by a whopping $1.61 per share for a 3Q22 loss of $1.39/share. More’s the pity, as MGM did so many things right. Wall Street … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, Baseball, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, California, China, CityCenter, Conventions, Cosmopolitan, Detroit, DraftKings, Economy, Election, Full House Resorts, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Health, Illinois, Internet gambling, Iowa, Japan, Laughlin, M Resort, Macau, Maryland, Mattress Mack, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Singapore, Slot routes, South Korea, Sports, Sports betting, The Rio, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Upsurge in Louisiana; Stitt stiffed; Fubo Sportsbook folds

In a major reversal of fortune, Louisiana casino revenue vaulted 18.5% over September 2021. Foot traffic rose 41.5%, which more than made up for thriftier gamblers: On average they lost 16% less per player. It helped the year/year comparison that … Continue reading

Posted in Animals, Bally, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Churchill Downs, CQ Holdings, DraftKings, Election, FanDuel, Louisiana, New York, Oklahoma, Palms, Penn National, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Scott Butera, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Saturation in Pennsylvania; Makeover for Venelazzo

Adding more and more casinos isn’t ‘growing the pie’ in Pennsylvania. Instead, the bottom fell out of September’s numbers, which were 8% below 2019 ones (i.e., the good old days). Against last year, they were 1% lower, for a tally … Continue reading

Posted in Apollo Management, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Dining, DraftKings, Entertainment, Environment, FanDuel, Greenwood Racing, Illitch Family, Internet gambling, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, Wall Street, WInd Creek, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Atlantic City slows, Massachusetts doesn’t; Mega-Jottings

Atlantic City casinos grossed $252 million last month, up 1% year/year. A 2.5% hop in slot revenue ($186.5 million) on 1% more coin-in more than made up for a 2% dip in table win ($63.5 million) on 5% lower wagering. … Continue reading

Posted in Alabama, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, DraftKings, Election, FanDuel, G2E, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, International, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New York, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Regulation, Scientific Games, Sports betting, Tribal, United Kingdom, Wisconsin, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Caesars bares all; Midwest flattens; Adelson pledges neutrality

Landing a meeting with Caesars Entertainment CEO Tom Reeg, as well as several top execs, J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff didn’t hear so much as a peep about the mooted Las Vegas Strip asset sale, which he assumes is on … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Century Casinos, Churchill Downs, Derek Stevens, DraftKings, Economy, Election, Full House Resorts, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Indiana, Jack Entertainment, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Penn National, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments