Category Archives: Hard Rock International

Churchill Downs hearts casinos; Cleveland still not rocking

Churchill Downs is going all-in on sports betting, planning to leverage its (soon-to-be) access to the Pennsylvania and Mississippi markets, plus its relationship with the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City. However, the sky-high tax rate (34%) in Pennsylvania may translate … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Churchill Downs, Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Hard Rock International, International, Kentucky, Law enforcement, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports, Taxes, Wall Street | Comments Off on Churchill Downs hearts casinos; Cleveland still not rocking

Delaware leads the way; Las Vegas tourism rebounds

A Delaware sports book took 36 bets in its first 20 minutes of operation yesterday, making it the first state outside Nevada to capitalize on the Supreme Court‘s recent legitimization of sports wagering. “In New York, we would go right to the … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Culinary Union, Delaware, Florida, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Reno, Seminole Tribe, Sports, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off on Delaware leads the way; Las Vegas tourism rebounds

Sports betting: Winners and losers; MGM mulls more Strip buys

According to gaming-law expert I. Nelson Rose, the Supreme Court‘s ruling on sports betting goes far, far beyond gambling: “For the first time in American history, the U.S. Supreme Court expressly held that the federal government cannot order states, or … Continue reading

Posted in Churchill Downs, CityCenter, Cordish Co., DFS, Dubai, Fontainebleau, Genting, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Law enforcement, Marijuana, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Sports, West Virginia | 1 Comment

Delaware bests New Jersey; New partner for Ho?

Chris Christie may have to eat his words about New Jersey being the first state to capitalize on the Supreme Court‘s sports-betting ruling. According to NJ Advance Media, “Delaware officials said this week they believe they have the laws and infrastructure … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, Delaware, Entertainment, Hard Rock International, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Philippines, Racinos, Regulation, Sports | Comments Off on Delaware bests New Jersey; New partner for Ho?

Adversity at Sands; Paging Katniss Everdeen

Some are blaming bad weather for two months of substantially reduced table-games winnings at Sands Bethlehem. But could casinos in the Catskills finally be having an effect? It’s hard to say, although one suspects the answer is “yes.” Sands Bethlehem tumbled … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, California, Churchill Downs, CityCenter, Entertainment, Environment, Genting, Hard Rock International, history, International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, New York, Pennsylvania, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Transportation, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Adversity at Sands; Paging Katniss Everdeen

Vici Properties strikes again; Mohegan Sun pitches Japan

They came, they saw, they bought. Yes, Vici Properties has struck again, inking a bargain-price deal to acquire the Octavius Tower of Caesars Palace and Harrah’s Philadelphia. On paper, Vici is paying $507.5 million and $241.5, respectively, for the two assets. … Continue reading

Posted in Election, Florida, Galaxy Entertainment, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Japan, Louisiana, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Oklahoma, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Seminole Tribe, Sexual misconduct, Société des Bains de Mer, South Korea, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Vici Properties strikes again; Mohegan Sun pitches Japan

Atlantic City: Calm before the storm; Stormy weather in Louisiana

Atlantic City was stable last month, defying an unfavorable calendar (one less weekend day) and grossing $191.5 million, while online gambling had its second-best-ever month, pulling in $23 million (+10.5%). Slot handle was down 3.5%, as was revenue, while a … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Bruce Deifik, Columbia Sussex, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Illinois, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Atlantic City: Calm before the storm; Stormy weather in Louisiana

Hard Rock and Ocean Resort: Two much?

“If Ocean Resort opens up and has the same difficulty as Revel did last time, do they get desperate and start throwing marketing money at the wall, and make everyone else have to do it, and margins go down, and … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, Economy, Entertainment, Glenn Straub, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, history, Resort fees, Rhode Island | 2 Comments

Ohio good, Maryland better; The mystery of Carrot Top

Last month found the State of Maryland in good health when it came to gaming revenue, up 6%. Most of this was driven — one is tempted to say “of course” — by MGM National Harbor, vaulting 15.5% for an … Continue reading

Posted in Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Dan Gilbert, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Environment, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Taxes, The Strip, Transportation, West Virginia | Comments Off on Ohio good, Maryland better; The mystery of Carrot Top

Elaine calls the shots; Now it’s Encore Boston Harbor

Wynn Resorts has been ceding to the wishes of Elaine Wynn of late but it got its back up when she demanded the removal of board member John Jay Hagenbuch. Ms. Wynn views him as a crony of her ex-husband … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Colorado, Elaine Wynn, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Florida, Foxwoods, Hard Rock International, International, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Moulin Rouge, Politics, Regulation, Revel, Steve Wynn, Tilman Fertitta, TV, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

On vacation

There will be considerably less blogohrrea this week, since I’m in the great state of Florida, learning how to snorkel. (If all goes well, I’ll fill you in on the details later.) At the moment, I’m in Jacksonville, overlooking the … Continue reading

Posted in Current, Election, Florida, Hard Rock International, Politics, Seminole Tribe | Comments Off on On vacation

Mixed report from Japan; Wynn Boston Harbor up for grabs

First, the good news: The casino-regulation bill over which Japan‘s Liberal Democratic Party has slaved, may make it into the Diet by Friday, giving the Nipponese parliament just under two months to consider it. (The Diet adjourns on June 20.) … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Foxwoods, Genting, Geoff Freeman, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Japan, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, Penn National, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Wynn: It’s Elaine’s company now; Caesars reverses itself

When Elaine Wynn speaks, Wynn Resorts is suddenly all ears. Last week the company’s plurality shareholder called for a largely new and diverse board of directors, in what is describes as a “first step” toward greater heterogeneousness. Presto! Who should … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Centaur Gaming, Donald Trump, Elaine Wynn, Environment, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Indiana, Law enforcement, Macau, Marketing, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports, Station Casinos, Technology, Transportation, Wynn Resorts | 6 Comments

Elaine Wynn, power player; Hard Rock’s big splash

Who thought the day would come that Elaine Wynn was the largest single shareholder in Wynn Resorts? She’s flexing her newfound muscles by demanding an all-but-clean sweep of the board of directors (we sympathize). Lest this be seen as a … Continue reading

Posted in Arkansas, Atlantic City, Elaine Wynn, Election, Entertainment, Hard Rock International, Massachusetts, Steve Wynn, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Elaine Wynn, power player; Hard Rock’s big splash

Icahn out, Eldorado in; Caesars balks at Hoosier fee

Carl Icahn was in a selling mood last weekend, cashing out of Tropicana Entertainment. The buyer was Eldorado Resorts, which paid Icahn $1.85 billion, then flipped nearly all the physical assets to Gaming & Leisure Properties for $1.2 billion. Not content … Continue reading

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Centaur Gaming, Charity, Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Florida, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Iowa, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

“The company could keep the asset on the books indefinitely without risking its REIT status. In addition, we believe MGM could serve as a backstop buyer if no one else is willing to pay a fair price. While regional casinos … Continue reading

Posted in Hard Rock International, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Wall Street | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Wynn out, MGM in: Is history repeating itself?

Remember when Kirk Kerkorian made Steve Wynn an offer he couldn’t refuse for Mirage Resorts? It looks like history is going to repeat itself with “back-channel approaches” being made by MGM Resorts International to embattled Wynn Resorts. “Wynn Resorts is … Continue reading

Posted in Archon Corp., Donald Trump, Elaine Wynn, Galaxy Entertainment, Genting, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Japan, Laughlin, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Wynn out, MGM in: Is history repeating itself?

Shocker: Hard Rock Rocksino sold; New top man at SLS

Despite being the dominant racino operator — hell, gaming operator — in Ohio, it seems that Hard Rock International is throwing in the towel. It’s selling Hard Rock Rocksino to MGM Growth Properties. Early Wall Street speculation is that we’re … Continue reading

Posted in ACEP, Affinity Gaming, Alex Meruelo, Boyd Gaming, Colorado, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Florida, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Illinois, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Reno, SLS Las Vegas, The Strip, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Atlantic City slumps; New wrinkle in Lake Tahoe

First the good news: Internet gambling revenue was 17.5% last month, grossing $22 million. Golden Nugget continues to wildly dominate this category, up to 36% of market share. Borgata and Resorts Digital were tied for a distant second with 17% … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bart Blutsten, Boyd Gaming, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Eldorado Resorts, Golden Gaming, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Indiana suffers, Ohio not so much; Station’s surprise

While its $170 million gross looked a lot better than Illinois‘ $104 million, Indiana saw its gamblers stay home in droves — 24% less foot traffic, although those who showed up seemed to have spent 21%. In any event, gambling … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, George Maloof, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Marketing, Ohio, Palms, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Reno, Sports, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Indiana suffers, Ohio not so much; Station’s surprise