Category Archives: Election

Stitt robs public purse; Hard Rock blindsided

Oklahoma citizens may find themselves using the term “Indian giver” to describe Gov. Kevin Stitt (R). He’s planning to plunder the state’s rake of tribal gaming revenue to defend against a lawsuit brought by the state’s three biggest tribes. The … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Cirque du Soleil, Culinary Union, Election, Entertainment, Hard Rock International, Japan, MGM Resorts International, Oklahoma, Regulation, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, TV, Virginia | 2 Comments

End-of-Year Case Bets

In a retrospective mood, the American Gaming Association has chosen the top eight gaming stories of the past year, ranked here in descending order. They are: The Caesars Entertainment takeover by Eldorado Resorts. ‘Nuff said. Allegations that Encore Boston Harbor is … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Canada, Carl Icahn, Donald Trump, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Harrah's, Japan, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Raiders, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Lucky Dragon, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Money laundering, Oklahoma, Problem gambling, Resort fees, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

“The vote is the most powerful instrument ever devised by man for breaking down injustice and destroying the terrible walls which imprison men because they are different from other men.”—President Lyndon B. Johnson.

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Tumult in Atlantic City; Goodell’s exquisite hypocrisy

Atlantic City casinos have had enough with the town’s mayoral office. They want it eliminated in favor of a city manager. Difficult to argue with that one. Except for Don Guardian, we haven’t seen one A.C. mayor we’ve liked. The … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, China, Dining, Election, Entertainment, history, Indiana, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Oscar Goodman, Politics, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Unite-Here, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Dems court Culinary vote; Scandal in Austria

Democratic presidential candidates are hardly taking the Nevada caucuses for granted. Sen. Kamala Harris (D) has already been once to Las Vegas (in vain) as has Joe Biden. The latter probably endeared himself to Culinary Union members by having a contretemps with … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Canada, China, Culinary Union, Derek Stevens, Election, Foxwoods, International, Japan, Law enforcement, Macau, Michigan, Movies, New York, Penn National, Politics, Singapore, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tourism, Tribal | Comments Off on Dems court Culinary vote; Scandal in Austria

Wynn Resorts chastened; Living the high life at the Cosmo

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 on Wynn Resorts chastened; Living the high life at the Cosmo

Going for the gold in California; Vegas tops sin survey

It’s not quite as pre-apocalyptic as dogs and cats living together but California Native American tribes are joining with private-sector racetracks to push for sports betting in the Golden State, surely the ripest market in the U.S. The coalition wants … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, Donald Trump, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Entertainment, history, Illinois, Japan, Louisiana, Regulation, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

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

Choo-choo to Springfield; Penn hawks Trop

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 on Choo-choo to Springfield; Penn hawks Trop

Live like The Donald; Growing pains in Pennsylvania

For sale: One casino riverboat, heavily used. The former Trump Princess, now Majestic Star II, is on the market for $6 million, along with its sister ship, also costing $6 million. If you want to live large like Donald Trump, … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, China, Colorado, Cordish Co., Don Barden, Donald Trump, Election, Genting, Georgia, Indiana, Macau, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sports betting, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off on Live like The Donald; Growing pains in Pennsylvania

MGM retrenches; Election wrap-up

MGM Resorts International CFO Corey Sanders and Chief Strategy Officer Aaron Fischer met with J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff, who came “away from these meetings incrementally positive on MGM’s asset monetization plans, ability to meet its 2020 targets, and a healthy … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Caesars Entertainment, CityCenter, Colorado, Conventions, Dubai, Election, Full House Resorts, Indiana, Japan, Kentucky, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Regulation, Slot routes, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports, Sports betting, Vietnam, Virginia, Wall Street | Comments Off on MGM retrenches; Election wrap-up

Wynn misses estimates; Sports betting wins in Colorado

Wynn Resorts reported 3Q19 earnings and the headline was Macao. As J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff wrote, “For the first time in a while, we feel that the tough Macau VIP segment is stabilizing/not getting worse, and mass growth there … Continue reading

Posted in China, Colorado, Dining, Election, Full House Resorts, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, South Korea, Sports betting, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Wynn misses estimates; Sports betting wins in Colorado

Less KAOS, more chaos at Palms

Station Casinos has an excellent record as an operator. Why then did it misjudge its attempt to compete with the Las Vegas Strip in its takeover (and makeover) of the Palms? And while it knows its onions with regard to … Continue reading

Posted in CityCenter, Colorado, Dining, Election, Entertainment, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Palms, Penn National, Real Estate, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Less KAOS, more chaos at Palms

Election special

First, a quick election update. The apparent victory of Andy Beshear (D) in the Kentucky gubernatorial race bodes well for the expansion of gambling in the Bluegrass State, which Beshear favors. However, in Colorado, where Proposition DD—legalizing sports betting—was expected … Continue reading

Posted in Colorado, Election, Kentucky, Sports betting | Comments Off on Election special

Massachusetts Expansion urged; Murren backs right horse

Blowing through all the economic red lights, Massachusetts state Rep. Susan Williams Gifford (R) is putting the pedal to the metal on a bill that would create a special casino category for her district, which includes Wareham. Oh-so-coincidentally, that is where … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Culinary Union, Dining, Election, Illinois, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, Tribal, Washington State | Comments Off on Massachusetts Expansion urged; Murren backs right horse

Quote of the Day

“If more politicians in this country were thinking about the next generation instead of the next election, it might be better for the United States and the world.”—Claude Pepper, senator and congressman. Happy Election Day.

Posted in Election, Politics | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Churchill Downs fights horseracing reform; Mattress Mack doesn’t regret $13M World Series bet

Churchill Downs‘ third-quarter cash flow results were “softer than expected” according to J.P. Morgan analyst Daniel Politzer, who added the “the impact of this was likely mitigated by the company announcing a slew of updates/capital projects which helped placate investors, … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Baseball, Charity, Churchill Downs, Colorado, Culinary Union, Election, Entertainment, Geoff Freeman, Horseracing, Kentucky, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Maine, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, Texas, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Churchill Downs fights horseracing reform; Mattress Mack doesn’t regret $13M World Series bet

Case Bets

Jottings: Bart Blatstein wants to subdivide the Showboat lot into five parcels. The idea appears to be to build a casino where the volleyball court currently sits, making an end run around the gaming restriction placed on the property by … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, Colorado, Cosmopolitan, Election, International, Internet gambling, MGM Resorts International, Movies, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Cosmo does it again; Georgia ponders casinos

It happened again. Smoke billowed over the Las Vegas Strip from an electrical fire at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas last night. No one was injured, thank God, and the damage appears to be minor. But it’s the second fire … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cosmopolitan, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Foxwoods, Georgia, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Horseracing, IGT, Illinois, International, Lotteries, Louisiana, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Politics, Scientific Games, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Transportation | 1 Comment

Oklahoma, tribes ready to talk; Don’t geofence me in

Oct. 28 is the date appointed for Oklahoma gaming tribes to meet with Attorney General Mike Hunter and find out just what Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) wants from them. As one chief put it, “We’re anxiously awaiting what their proposal is.” … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Colorado, Dan Lee, DFS, Election, Full House Resorts, G2E, Genting, history, Indiana, Las Vegas Sands, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Oklahoma, Oregon, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Singapore, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment