Category Archives: Economy

MGM’s China gambit; Mixed quarter for Station

MGM Resorts International and Pansy Ho are performing a fancy juggling act with MGM stock. The former is going to buy an additional 188 million shares in MGM China, increasing its hold on the property to 56%. In return, Ms. … Continue reading

Posted in California, Culinary Union, Economy, Election, Isle of Capri, Macau, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Nevada, Palms, Pansy Ho, Penn National, Reno, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

“Everybody including Twin River, the competitor across the border 17 miles away in Rhode Island, projected that Penn [National Gaming] would do more than it’s been doing. Exactly why it isn’t, nobody’s quite sure. Whether it’s that you can’t smoke … Continue reading

Posted in Economy, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, Penn National, Rhode Island, Taxes | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Election special: New Jersey, New York, Oregon

An MGM Resorts International executive with whom I spoke yesterday told me the New Jersey casino ballot initiative is trailing badly in the polls. We hope he’s right, especially as news of the closure of Trump Taj Mahal (and Glenn … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Charity, Economy, Election, Foxwoods, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Hooters, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New York, Oregon, Politics, Revel, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here | Comments Off on Election special: New Jersey, New York, Oregon

Quote of the Day

“I had such a headache when I left. Two bigger egos there are not.” — Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman, commenting on ex-Mayor Oscar Goodman and former casino mogul Donald Trump, who once debated a potential Trump development for downtown … Continue reading

Posted in Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Oscar Goodman | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Trump Taj: Everybody loses; Mixed bag for Boyd

Labor Day weekend will be the final hurrah for Trump Taj Mahal. Owner Carl Icahn has expressed his intent to close the struggling casino rather than continue to negotiate with striking Unite-Here Local 54. ““I would never have thought Carl … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Churchill Downs, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here | Comments Off on Trump Taj: Everybody loses; Mixed bag for Boyd

June in Vegas: The house won; Wynn gets spanked in Macao

While a 10% increase in June gambling revenues on the Las Vegas Strip fell short of some Wall Street analysts’ projections, it was a healthy month nevertheless. Slot winnings were up 10% ($253 million) on only 1% higher coin-in. Luck … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Boulder Strip, Downtown, Economy, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Macau, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Regulation, Reno, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on June in Vegas: The house won; Wynn gets spanked in Macao

Quote of the Day

“When the [Cherokee Nation] casino went in and we had other businesses go in, I think it sparked stability for our community. People aren’t afraid to build here. The Cherokees are good neighbors of ours.” — Sallisaw, Oklahoma Mayor Julie Ferguson, vouching … Continue reading

Posted in Economy, Oklahoma, Tribal | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Trailer trash in Boston; New crisis looms in Atlantic City

Massachusetts lawmakers may have thought they’d settled the question of casinos in the Bay State when they voted to baptize three resorts and slot parlor. However, thanks to a ruling by state Attorney General Maura Healey, a ballot question here … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Election, Horseracing, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Maine, Marketing, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson | 1 Comment

Analysts: Buy Penn!; Veteran columnist calls it quits

According to J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff, “meaningful contributions” from the Tropicana Las Vegas, Plainridge Park Casino and Illinois slot route Prairie State Gaming drove a 14.5% improvement in Penn National Gaming‘s cash flow last quarter. M Resort hit a … Continue reading

Posted in Alabama, California, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Illinois, M Resort, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Analysts: Buy Penn!; Veteran columnist calls it quits

Tribal gaming reaches new high; New concept for Railroad Pass

Last year was the best ever for tribal casinos, up 5% from 2014, coming in just a bit shy of $30 billion. Recent efforts to align tribal and private-sector casino interests come at a time when the tribal sector could … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Dubai, Economy, Election, Indiana, Kazuo Okada, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Nebraska, Philippines, Regulation, Transportation, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Tribal gaming reaches new high; New concept for Railroad Pass

Strip still catching up; Nevada taking bets on the Olympics

While gaming companies on the Las Vegas Strip are fairly sanguine about 2016, a new report by Alex Bumazhny of Fitch Ratings takes a somewhat gloomier view. For one, he notes that revenue per available room “growth during the recovery … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Dining, Economy, Election, Geoff Freeman, Macau, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sports, The Strip, Westgate LV | 2 Comments

Patient, heal thyself!; Copperfield’s new crib

Seemingly taking its talking points from Gov. Chris Christie (R), the Wall Street Journal opened a can of whup-ass on Atlantic City. (It also tried to drag casino flip-flopper Hillary Clinton into the argument but that was too much of … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Arizona, Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Economy, Regulation, Taxes, Technology | Comments Off on Patient, heal thyself!; Copperfield’s new crib

Strike at the Taj; Macao half-full or half-empty?

While Tropicana Entertainment managed to stave off at the very last minute a strike at its eponymous Atlantic City casino, Trump Taj Mahal was not so fortunate. In a 99% predictable outcome, roughly 1,000 Taj workers walked off their jobs … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Economy, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Macau, Philippines, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Unite-Here, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Election 2016: What’s at stake

Posted in Economy, Election | Comments Off on Election 2016: What’s at stake

Can Atlantic City withstand a strike?; Cosmo gets a complete makeover

While Atlantic City waits to see how long it takes Glenn Straub to get Revel reopened (we’re now at D-Day Plus Twelve and counting), Local 54 of Unite-Here is girding itself for a strike. It’s amassed a war chest and … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, The Strip, Unite-Here | Comments Off on Can Atlantic City withstand a strike?; Cosmo gets a complete makeover

Tipping point in Pennsylvania near; Cirque du NFL

“I think gaming expansion money in one form or another is necessary for this budget process to be complete,” spoke Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Dave Reed (R). With Gov. Tom Wolf (D, right) having given way on sales-tax and income-tax … Continue reading

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, Economy, International, Internet gambling, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Sports, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Tipping point in Pennsylvania near; Cirque du NFL

Louisiana gets hammered; Three states legalize DFS

As we’ve noted before, May was hard on Midwest casino operators, nowhere more so than in Louisiana, where gambling revenue was down 13%. This marks seven months of same-store decline for the Pelican State, an exceptional slump, with the usually … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, Churchill Downs, Colorado, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sports, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Atlantic City goes to pot; MGM, Boyd, Pinnacle, Red Rock Resorts meet The Street

We’ve come a long way from the days of Reefer Madness. Latest case in point: Atlantic City, where Assemblyman Reed Gusciora (D) is pushing recreational “tea” as a cure to the city’s penurious condition. Weed would be legalized on the Boardwalk and … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, CityCenter, Economy, Georgia, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Missouri, Palms, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Reno, Scientific Games, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Atlantic City goes to pot; MGM, Boyd, Pinnacle, Red Rock Resorts meet The Street

Penn has big plans for Trop; DFS sites feel the heat

High rollers aren’t spending as much as they used to at Penn National Gaming casinos, reports JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff, after meeting with CEO Tim Wilmott. Overall, Penn says its springtime revenues have been tracking with its expectations. Greff … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Colorado, Dining, Economy, Election, Florida, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Stanley Ho, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Indiana celebrates 20 years of casinos; Racinos gain traction in Nebraska

“I read that one of the steel plants is closing more lines. We have 70 jobs open right now,” says Horseshoe Hammond General Manager Dan Nita, alluding to the resiliency of the Indiana casino industry, which is celebrating 20 years. … Continue reading

Posted in Ameristar, Don Barden, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Genting, Harrah's, Indiana, Iowa, Majestic Star, Marketing, Minnesota, Nebraska, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Tribal, Warner Gaming | Comments Off on Indiana celebrates 20 years of casinos; Racinos gain traction in Nebraska