Category Archives: Entertainment

Holy Toledo!; Sigma Derby needs you

Posted on August 20, 2020 by David McKee

Ohio casinos didn’t just outperform the Midwest during July, they had their best month ever. What gives? Well, Detroit was still off-limits (redounding to the considerable benefit of Hollywood Toledo) and discretionary capital was clearly plentiful. The four non-racinos hadn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Dan Gilbert, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, history, Marketing, North Las Vegas, Ohio, Penn National, Sigma Derby, Transportation, Tribal | 1 Comment

Storm warnings

Posted on August 14, 2020 by David McKee

Our beloved Postal Service has advised people (quietly) that it may not be able to continue as a going concern: “However, the Postal Service remains concerned that this measure will be insufficient to enable the Postal Service to withstand the … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Colorado, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Health, Maryland, Sports betting, The Mob, Transportation, TV | 3 Comments

Atlantic City impresses in July

Posted on August 13, 2020 by David McKee

It reopened in somewhat raggle-taggle fashion but Atlantic City is back and did rather better in July than Las Vegas in June (the last month for which we have data, see video below). Borgata made a very delayed re-entry into … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Economy, Entertainment, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Virginia | 2 Comments

MGM: No shows for you!; Cromwell aims for the gutter

Posted on July 28, 2020 by David McKee

Yesterday the axe fell on MGM Resorts International‘s sports and entertainment division with the announcement that all shows and events scheduled between now and August 31 were canceled. Worse still, any support personnel for shows canceled after August 31 would … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Cirque du Soleil, Conventions, Economy, Entertainment, Florida, Health, Las Vegas Sands, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Real Estate, Seminole Tribe, The Strip, Tribal, TV | Comments Off on MGM: No shows for you!; Cromwell aims for the gutter

Case Bets

Posted on July 24, 2020 by David McKee

Something good came out of Washington, D.C. today. (How often can one type that sentence?) Reps. Dina Titus (D) and Guy Reschenthaler (R) introduced bipartisan legislation to repeal the excise taxes and head taxes (a $50 annual levy on every … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Caesars Entertainment, China, Dining, DraftKings, Entertainment, GLPI, Golden Nugget, Health, Illinois, Internet gambling, Michael Gaughan, Philippines, Politics, Regulation, Sports betting, Taxes, Terry Caudill, TV, Virgin Hotels | Comments Off on Case Bets

Mixed signals from Vegas

Posted on July 10, 2020 by David McKee

Reading the Las Vegas tea leaves on a daily basis has one oscillating between seeing a faster-than-anticipated or slower-than-expected recovery. Case in point: Penn National Gaming‘s lack of plans to reopen the Tropicana Las Vegas. It’s worth remembering that Penn … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Derek Stevens, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, GLPI, Health, M Resort, Nevada, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Reno, Sahara, Technology, The Strip | 1 Comment

Bay State casinos to reopen

Posted on July 3, 2020 by David McKee

Although Massachusetts casinos are eligible to reopen on July 5, it’s looking far likelier that July 12 will be the dawn of a new era in the Bay State. One mandate certain to raise hackles is that players can no … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, Card rooms, Cosmopolitan, Downtown, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Hard Rock International, Health, history, Laughlin, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, Palms, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Station Casinos, Tribal, Twin River, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

All systems go at Ocean

Posted on July 1, 2020 by David McKee

Ocean Casino Resort CEO Terry Glebocki lays out how the former Revel weathered the Coronavirus shutdown, which is expected to lift tomorrow. Her first move was to suspend revenue-sharing agreements with slot manufacturers. After all, there was no revenue to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Baseball, Cirque du Soleil, Entertainment, Health, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Scientific Games, Steven Witkoff, Texas, Transportation, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Crackdown in Vegas

Posted on June 25, 2020 by David McKee

Perhaps Las Vegas will not be the latest vector of Covid-19 after all. Having taken a wait-and-see attitude toward safety protocols during the shutdown, Caesars Entertainment was first out of the gate in cracking down on mask scofflaws. The company … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Downtown, El Cortez, Entertainment, Health, Marijuana, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Regulation | 1 Comment

Fourth of July a damp squib?

Posted on June 24, 2020 by David McKee

Las Vegas had better prepare for Fourth of July disappointment, at least if WalletHub is correct. A survey of consumers found that 78% will be spending less this Fourth, 75% have modified their summer plans and 38% have canceled them … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Baseball, Cosmopolitan, Culinary Union, Economy, Entertainment, Health, Regulation, Sports betting, William Hill | 3 Comments

Notes from hither and yon

Posted on June 17, 2020 by David McKee

In an effort to stay ahead of Coronavirus, resorts in Las Vegas are bringing back a chilled-out version of the traditional pool party. Some will require reservations for admission, and non-guests will have to book daybeds and cabañas. Out: DJs. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Hard Rock International, Health, Horseracing, Las Vegas Sands, Marketing, Mohegan Sun, New York, Sahara, The Strip, Transportation | 1 Comment

Wynn reinvents the buffet; Cash out, digital in?

Posted on June 16, 2020 by David McKee

We seem to have been overfearful in predicting the demise of the Las Vegas buffet. Wynncore‘s reopens on Thursday, making it the first to do so. But it won’t be the same old same-old. Yes, there will be 90 selections and, … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Delaware, Dining, Entertainment, Genting, Health, Horseracing, International, Louisiana, Money laundering, Movies, Nevada, Oklahoma, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, South Dakota, Technology, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

‘Net bets carry Atlantic City; Clubs face crisis

Posted on June 15, 2020 by David McKee

Internet casinos are in New Jersey to stay. They grossed $86 million last month, their highest amount ever. That’s 135% more than a year ago. Golden Nugget was tops with $29 million, followed by Resorts Digital ($18 million) and Borgata … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Downtown, DraftKings, Economy, Entertainment, Florida, Golden Nugget, Health, Horseracing, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, LVCVA, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Morris Bailey, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Resorts World LV, Seminole Tribe, Sports, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

MGM revving up on Strip; The Skull returns

Posted on June 11, 2020 by David McKee

Allowing for the context that one’s hotels fill up faster when only 25%-50% of the rooms are being rented, MGM Resorts International seems to be enjoying a honeymoon with its customer base. Its Las Vegas Strip resorts are reopening, in … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Colony Capital, Dining, Downtown, Dubai, Economy, Entertainment, Golden Gaming, Golden Nugget, International, MGM Resorts International, Minnesota, New Jersey, Resorts World LV, The Mob, The Strip | Comments Off on MGM revving up on Strip; The Skull returns

MGM changes mind on Aria; No appetite for deals?

Posted on June 8, 2020 by David McKee

Having told its entire Aria staff to look for new jobs, MGM Resorts International finds itself in the position of saying, “Never mind.” In an interview last weekend, CEO Bill Hornbuckle floated the possibility of reopening Aria by July 4, followed … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, CityCenter, Conventions, Current, Derek Stevens, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Hawaii, Health, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, LVCVA, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Money laundering, Resort fees, Sahara, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Terry Caudill, The Rio, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, TV, Virginia, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Station reopens bullishly; Who was that masked man, anyway?

Posted on June 4, 2020 by David McKee

On the eve of today’s reopening, Station Casinos hosted a conference call with JP Morgan analysts and was pretty darn confident that its base of Baby Boomers and retirees would flock back. So confident is that Station “has not been … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Caesars Entertainment, Cirque du Soleil, Crown Resorts, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Entertainment, Health, Las Vegas Sands, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Palms, Planet Hollywood, Real Estate, Resort fees, Station Casinos, Steven Witkoff, Tamares Group, Terry Caudill, The Rio, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 3 Comments

New cop on the beat; Are we ready for some football?

Posted on May 21, 2020 by David McKee

There’s a new sheriff in town. Credit Suisse analyst Benjamin Chaiken made his debut today, issuing a sweeping series of reports, covering a number of tourism sectors. Let’s cut to the chase: “This is an unprecedented time for the sector, … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Health, IGT, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Real Estate, Scientific Games, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 21, 2020 by David McKee

“I’ve taken time to stop and smell the flowers … decide what is really important in life. Suddenly, spending time in a casino playing a penny slot machine with an 85 percent return doesn’t seem like a remotely interesting pastime—especially when … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Entertainment, Health | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Wynn vs. Covid-19; Louisiana casinos reopen with a bang

Posted on May 19, 2020 by David McKee

Are high-rollers immune to Covid-19? Guess so. They’re the only ones who’ll be allowed to play craps when Wynncore and Encore Boston Harbor reopen. Truth to tell, blowing on dice seems kind of creepy in the age of Coronavirus, even … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, DraftKings, Economy, Entertainment, FanDuel, Greenwood Racing, Health, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, South Dakota, Sports betting, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Wynn vs. Covid-19; Louisiana casinos reopen with a bang

July resumption for Mass casinos; Room rates rebound

Posted on May 18, 2020 by David McKee

Casinos in Massachusetts now know when they can reopen … more or less. Gov. Charlie Baker (R) has laid out of one of the toughest reopening regimens in the U.S. It will proceed in four phases, each phase—beginning today—lasting three weeks. … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Health, Las Vegas Sands, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Oscar Goodman, Penn National, Politics, Real Estate, Regulation, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on July resumption for Mass casinos; Room rates rebound