Category Archives: Hard Rock International

Sharp decline in Detroit; Biden backs Seminoles, DeSantis

Motown casinos grossed $106 million last month, off 8.5% from July 2021 (and way down from 2019, excepting stellar MGM Grand Detroit). MGM led with $51 million, MotorCity followed with $35 million and, as always, Hollywood Detroit brought up the … Continue reading

Posted in Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Detroit, DraftKings, FanDuel, Florida, FoxBet, Hard Rock International, Illitch Family, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Penn National, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Seminole Tribe, Sports betting, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Pennsylvania: Parx back on top; Gov’t milks problem gambling

Despite a 12.5% dropoff in revenue from July 2021, Parx Casino outpaced the rest of the Pennsylvania pack last month, booking $51 million in revenue. The only other casino to come close was Wind Creek Bethlehem, riding a 13.5% surge … Continue reading

Posted in Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Centaur Gaming, China, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Donald Trump, DraftKings, FanDuel, FoxBet, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Health, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Mohegan Sun, Money laundering, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Tribal | 2 Comments

Atlantic City burgeoning; Posthumous Adelson scandal

Revenues on the Boardwalk jumped 8% last month from July 2021, reaching $299 million on the nose. Slot winnings were good, up 5.5% on 6.5% more coin-in but table win was even better, growing 16% on only 4% higher wagering. … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Bally, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, California, CityCenter, Donald Trump, DraftKings, Environment, FanDuel, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, history, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, Ocean Resort, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Sports betting | 2 Comments

Big Gaming’s boffo biz; Bay State buttinski; Trop’s doom sealed

Amidst all the gloom-and-doom talk about the U.S. economy, one sector is doing better than ever: gambling. 2Q22 was an industry-best and the year is on track to be the biggest in history (despite curtailments in international play). The American … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, Baseball, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Columbia Sussex, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Indiana, Internet gambling, Laughlin, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, PointsBet, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Missouri up, Ohio down; Wynn hits records; Station flexes

After a somnolent Tuesday, all heck has erupted in the gaming universe and we’ll try to cram at least some of it into today’s dispatch. Gaming revenues continue to flicker here and there, while remaining high heavens above 2019’s outstanding … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Century Casinos, China, Churchill Downs, Economy, Hard Rock International, Health, International, Internet gambling, Jack Entertainment, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Real Estate, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Industry waffles on Sisolak; Illinois ekes upward

Cynicism, thy name is Big Gaming. Whereas its chips were all in with Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) the last time around, now it has a dampened finger held upwards, testing which way the wind is blowing. The Las Vegas … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Culinary Union, DraftKings, El Cortez, Election, Ellis Island, FanDuel, Genting, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Las Vegas Sands, Nevada, New York, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, PointsBet, Resorts World LV, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Cosmic quarter at MGM; New name, same old Penn

“No Recession yet, just all time records,” reported Truist Securities analyst Barry Jonas of MGM Resorts International‘s 2Q22 earnings call. Better-than-ever Las Vegas Strip and regional revenues beat the pants off Wall Street‘s expectations, outweighing “weakness” in Macao, where gaming … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Chicago, China, Churchill Downs, Conventions, Cordish Co., Cosmopolitan, DraftKings, FanDuel, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, history, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, M Resort, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Scott Butera, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Virginia, Wall Street, Wyoming | 1 Comment

Peace in Atlantic City; Storm over Vegas

Along with Resorts Atlantic City, the Golden Nugget (seen above in its Trump Marina days) has inked a new labor pact with Unite-Here, bringing to an end any uncertainty about a strike on the Boardwalk. Workers get substantial pay increases, … Continue reading

Posted in Animals, Atlantic City, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Churchill Downs, Cretins, Current, Derek Stevens, Dining, Downtown, Entertainment, Environment, Gary Goett, Genting, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Singapore, The Strip, Unite-Here, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Jottings for a Tuesday

You know it’s a slow news week when today’s front-and-center lead story in the Las Vegas Review-Journal is that a Lotus of Siam will open in a refreshed Red Rock Resort. With nothing of pressing urgency in the press these … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Bally, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, California, Card rooms, Cirque du Soleil, Cordish Co., Dining, DraftKings, Economy, Election, Entertainment, FanDuel, Hard Rock International, Pennsylvania, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Jottings for a Tuesday

Atlantic City strong; Station’s demolition derby; De$anti$ hits jackpot; Mega-Jottings

There’s so much news today we almost don’t know where to begin. But we’ll start with Atlantic City, which reported a 2% increase in casino revenue, to $229 million. Internet gambling and sports betting chipped in another $169 million. One … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, China, Donald Trump, Dotty's, Downtown, DraftKings, FanDuel, Genting, George Maloof, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Michael Gaughan, Mohegan Sun, North Las Vegas, Ocean Resort, Pennsylvania, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Real Estate, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Sheldon Adelson, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Texas, The Strip, Tribal, United Kingdom, Wall Street, WInd Creek | 1 Comment

Atlantic City notes; MGM Singapore?; Mega-Jottings

Ocean Casino Resort has unveiled its pricey new sports book and our Atlantic City correspondent deems it nothing short of “spectacular! In the center is a circular bar, surrounded by TV screens. There is a set of steps (and elevator) … Continue reading

Posted in Arkansas, Atlantic City, Bally, Detroit, Dining, Entertainment, Genting, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Illitch Family, Las Vegas Sands, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nebraska, New York, Penn National, Racinos, Real Estate, Singapore, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal, Unite-Here, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Insolvency in Macao; Sports betting everywhere

Prior to the current Covid-19 lockdown, casinos in Macao were already engaged in a $600 million/month cash burn, thanks to the China‘s zero-tolerance policy on the disease. That will only get worse now that access to customers has been shut … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, California, China, DraftKings, Economy, Election, FanDuel, Hard Rock International, Health, history, Illinois, Macau, Maryland, Ohio, PointsBet, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, Tourism, TV, Westgate LV | 1 Comment

Bally’s Chicago stirs skepticism; Vegas locals cooling

It’s not just us who are leery of Bally’s Corp. and its ability to do something unprecedented in its history—swing a $1.7 billion casino in Chicago. The company’s corner-cutting “improvement” of Bally’s Atlantic City does not inspire confidence. Nor does … Continue reading

Posted in Aristocrat, Atlantic City, Australia, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, Churchill Downs, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Florida, Full House Resorts, Genting, Golden Gaming, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Indiana, Mohegan Sun, New York, Palms, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Rhode Island, Rush Street Gaming, Seminole Tribe, Silverton, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tribal, Unite-Here, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

California Dems rebuff Big Gaming; Icahn irate; Mega-Jottings

California‘s Democratic Party has officially taken sides in the sports-betting ballot race and effectively come down on the side of a tribal/racetrack-driven initiative, going on the record as opposing a rival measure backed by most of the big names in … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, California, Card rooms, Carl Icahn, Election, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, New York, Politics, Real Estate, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Tribal, Virginia | Comments Off on California Dems rebuff Big Gaming; Icahn irate; Mega-Jottings

Macao is closed; Mixed signals from the Midwest

Effective today, all casinos in Macao have closed, in governmental reaction to a spike in Covid-19 cases. “Only essential businesses like supermarkets, gas stations, and pharmacies will remain open.” In other words, just when you thought things couldn’t get any … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Century Casinos, Chicago, Churchill Downs, Conventions, Cosmopolitan, Crown Resorts, Dining, DraftKings, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, International, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Penn National, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, United Kingdom, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Macao is closed; Mixed signals from the Midwest

Ohio shows fatigue; Macao seizes hotels; Abe assassinated

Since it has been outperforming the broader U.S. market for some time now, perhaps we should not be unduly concerned that Ohio casino revenues are down for three months in a row. Indeed, compared to go-go 2019, they’re still arguably … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, California, Churchill Downs, Downtown, Economy, Hard Rock International, Health, Jack Entertainment, Japan, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sexual misconduct, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, Virginia | 1 Comment

Strip carries Nevada; Atlantic City casinos play chicken

Nevada gambling revenues continued to climb in May, up 6% from last year, hitting $1.3 billion. The results were bifurcated, with tourist-dominated markets up and locals ones somewhat down. The Las Vegas Strip was the most obvious beneficiary, jumping 11.5% … Continue reading

Posted in Animals, Bally, Boulder Strip, Caesars Entertainment, California, Card rooms, Chicago, Churchill Downs, Downtown, Economy, Georgia, GLPI, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Horseracing, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Law enforcement, Maryland, Mesquite, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Money laundering, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Ocean Resort, Real Estate, Regulation, Reno, Rhode Island, Sports betting, The Strip, Unite-Here, Wendover | Comments Off on Strip carries Nevada; Atlantic City casinos play chicken

A’s juiced into Vegas; Greed at the top; Study: Casinos blowing smoke; Industry endorses Hochul

Given that Oakland is well and truly fed up with the sorry Oakland Athletics, and with their pinchpenny ways, relocation to Las Vegas may be just what the doctor ordered. However, the manner in which the exit ramp is being … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Baseball, California, Charity, Economy, G2E, Genting, Hard Rock International, Health, International, Kazuo Okada, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Palms, Philippines, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, The Strip, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Massachusetts upbeat; Station defiant; Atlantic City stalemate

Casinos in the Bay State clocked $91 million in revenue last month, a 5% improvement on last year. Encore Boston Harbor led the tiny pack with $58 million, growing 9.5%. Next up was MGM Springfield, performing surprisingly well. It was … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, California, Churchill Downs, Derek Stevens, Economy, Election, Galaxy Entertainment, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, North Carolina, Ocean Resort, Peninsula Pacific, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Slot routes, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Unite-Here, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Atlantic City booms on eve of strike; Louisiana not so lucky

Staring down a seemingly inevitable strike on July 1 by Unite-Here, casinos in Atlantic City could at least take solace in a May that saw gaming revenues leapfrog 9% over last year. The total gross was $233 million, as slot … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Australia, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., CQ Holdings, Crown Resorts, Dining, Downtown, DraftKings, FanDuel, FoxBet, Golden Nugget, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mohegan Sun, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Tamares Group, Texas, Tourism, Tribal, TV, Unite-Here | 1 Comment