Category Archives: e-sports

Station accentuates positives; Wynn gets richer, Adelson poorer

Do Station Casinos execs really want to double their footprint in seven years? Yesterday they reported flat 3Q22 revenues of $414.5 million, all but $3 million of which were Vegas-derived, unwittingly highlighting the company’s exposure to a single market. Company … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Boulder Strip, Caesars Entertainment, California, Charity, Downtown, e-sports, Economy, Election, Galaxy Entertainment, Hard Rock International, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, Pansy Ho, Real Estate, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street, World Series of Poker, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Adios, Tropicana?; New York sports betting tops $1 billion easily

Visit the Tropicana Las Vegas while yet you can. Why? Because Bally’s Corp. Chairman Soo Kim is seriously weighing the possibility of “knocking it down and starting over.” Yes, Kim would rebrand the place as Bally’s Las Vegas and then … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Atlantic City, Bally, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, Columbia Sussex, Conventions, DraftKings, e-sports, Economy, Election, FanDuel, GLPI, Health, history, Laughlin, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Peninsula Pacific, Penn National, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Sahara, Sports betting, Taxes, Texas, The Strip, Virginia | Comments Off on Adios, Tropicana?; New York sports betting tops $1 billion easily

Wall Street crowns DraftKings; Hsieh: Grey Goose vs. cold turkey

Credit Suisse analyst Ben Chaiken is initiating coverage of DraftKings but not getting carried away. He’s put a “neutral” rating on the heavily hyped stock, with a $48 price target that mirrors its recent trading range. “We believe there is … Continue reading

Posted in Barstool Sports, Caesars Entertainment, California, China, Colorado, Culinary Union, DFS, DraftKings, e-sports, FanDuel, Health, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Marketing, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Politics, Prostitution, Tony Hsieh, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, William Hill | Comments Off on Wall Street crowns DraftKings; Hsieh: Grey Goose vs. cold turkey

Massachusetts’ mixed message; Much ado about Circa

Even if Congress beats the odds and passes another megabuck stimulus bill before the election, it won’t provide more than a short-term shot in the arm for gaming, which saw a bubble of increased discretionary spending but is now backsliding. … Continue reading

Posted in Connecticut, Derek Stevens, DFS, Downtown, DraftKings, e-sports, Economy, Foxwoods, Harry Reid, Health, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Security, Sports betting, TV, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 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

Upbeat at Churchill Downs

JP Morgan analysts met virtually with Churchill Downs brass, including CEO Bill Carstanjen. The news was good to great. First things first, the Kentucky Derby is expected to be run with spectators (CHDN execs are keeping an eye on what … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Churchill Downs, Dan Lee, Delaware, Dining, e-sports, Full House Resorts, Horseracing, Illinois, Kentucky, Macau, Maine, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Rhode Island, Sports, Sports betting, Steven Witkoff, Taxes, The Strip, Twin River, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Creative responses to a crisis

Leave it to Derek Stevens to find a way to literally drive sports-betting business in Downtown. Starting this morning, Circa Sports began taking curbside sports bets at the Golden Gate. You pull up, flash your cash (or plastic) and a … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Culinary Union, Derek Stevens, Dining, Downtown, e-sports, Economy, Health, Law enforcement, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Penn National, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Colorado sports betting a hit; REIT bides its time

Sports betting came out of the gate strong in Colorado. One of the surprises was the amount of handle on the Los Angeles Lakers. Said DraftKings odds guru Johnny Avello, “One of the things I did find interesting was the Lakers … Continue reading

Posted in Baseball, Boyd Gaming, Colorado, DraftKings, e-sports, Eldorado Resorts, FanDuel, GLPI, Health, Horseracing, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Mesquite, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sports, Sports betting, Wall Street | Comments Off on Colorado sports betting a hit; REIT bides its time

Gambling in the time of Coronavirus

Editor’s note: This roundtable was originally conducted for Casino Life magazine. For reasons unrelated to content, it was ‘put in turnaround,’ as they say in Hollywood. Rather than waste a perfectly good exchange between gaming executive Yaniv Sherman and sportswriter … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, Conventions, DraftKings, e-sports, FanDuel, Health, Horseracing, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Sports, Sports betting | Comments Off on Gambling in the time of Coronavirus

Northam covets slot tax; CEO suddenly out at Foxwoods

In Gov. Ralph Northam‘s Virginia there are two inevitabilities: death from Coronavirus and taxation of black-market slot routes. Northam wants to legitimize the devices (their unsanitary properties notwithstanding) in order to collect taxes off them. He rationalizes the move by … Continue reading

Posted in e-sports, Economy, Foxwoods, Health, International, Internet gambling, Politics, Problem gambling, Resorts World LV, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Virginia, William Hill | Comments Off on Northam covets slot tax; CEO suddenly out at Foxwoods

Case Bets & Mega-Jottings

Former casino operator and regulator Richard Schuetz has some very stern words for his former colleagues and their (slow) response to Coronavirus. Sample: “The point is, in many of our gaming states, there was little concern about the employees of … Continue reading

Posted in California, Charity, Donald Trump, e-sports, Economy, Health, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Massachusetts, Nevada, Penn National, Real Estate, Regulation, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Case Bets & Mega-Jottings

Life after casinos; Sheldon is george

“The situation continues to evolve and will escalate rapidly and dramatically. These are unprecedented actions in an extraordinary situation, but they could be the difference in saving lives and keeping people safe.” So said Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) on Sunday, … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, China, Cordish Co., e-sports, Economy, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Health, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, TV, Wisconsin | 1 Comment

Casino closures sweep the country

We’re all going through what are called “adjustment reactions,” including casino executives across the country. They’d like to stay open for business—many are—but others are being forced to close or making the difficult choice to go dark on their own. … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Conventions, Cordish Co., Derek Stevens, Downtown, e-sports, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Health, IGT, Illinois, Indiana, Las Vegas Sands, Maryland, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Scientific Games, Sports, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

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

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

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

Marching through Georgia; Stevens’ grand vision

“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 on Marching through Georgia; Stevens’ grand vision

Wynn: Elaine did me dirty; New Jersey rakes it in

On the principle that two wrongs make a right, disgraced casino mogul Steve Wynn is accusing ex-wife Elaine Wynn of stirring up the Wall Street Journal story that ended his career. This comes by way of testimony by one Renée … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Culinary Union, e-sports, Elaine Wynn, Election, Florida, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Politics, Resort fees, Sexual misconduct, Sports betting, Stanley Ho, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Technology, Tribal, Wisconsin, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Steve Wynn, get lost

Steve Wynn thinks he’s above the Nevada Gaming Control Board. Perhaps he still imagines himself to be “the most powerful man in Nevada.” Either way, he failed to show up for an NGCB hearing on September 7, 2018, showing his … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, China, e-sports, Environment, Japan, MGM Resorts International, Oregon, Politics, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Tribal, TV, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Fan loses $506K shirt; Adelson cautions Trump

One incautious Cleveland Browns fan made the wrong kind of headline with a $506,000 bet on the team against the Los Angeles Rams. (The Browns lost, 20-13.) The wager was for the Browns to cover the spread, the most meaningful … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, China, Donald Trump, e-sports, Eldorado Resorts, Hard Rock International, Mohegan Sun, Ocean Resort, Sheldon Adelson, South Korea, Sports, Sports betting, Tourism | Comments Off on Fan loses $506K shirt; Adelson cautions Trump

Maryland just fine; Next stop, Hartford?

Gaming revenues were up 2% last month in Maryland, good for $149 million. $61 million of that was won by MGM National Harbor (+4%). Market share was dominated by MGM (41%) and Maryland Live (33%). The Cordish Gaming property grossed $49 … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Connecticut, Cordish Co., Cretins, Crown Resorts, e-sports, Foxwoods, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Politics, Problem gambling, Sports betting, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off on Maryland just fine; Next stop, Hartford?