Category Archives: Hard Rock International

Ohio, Missouri booming; Of sports and sports betting

Posted on January 10, 2022 by David McKee

Scarcely had Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli projected 12% gaming growth in Ohio over December 2019 than the numbers came in and it was 16%. The $197 million gross showed play heating up from November, too. Slot revenue was up … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Century Casinos, Churchill Downs, DraftKings, FanDuel, Genting, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Jack Entertainment, Las Vegas Raiders, Massachusetts, Mattress Mack, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Movies, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, Technology, Tribal, TV, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Borgata behaving badly; Headless body in topless car

Posted on December 27, 2021 by David McKee

On the “george” side of the ledger we find Bally’s Atlantic City, which is offering room rates starting at $29/night through February 28, albeit on “select nights.” Hey, it’s a terrific way to raise awareness of the new-look Bally’s. As … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Entertainment, Hard Rock International, history, Las Vegas Raiders, Law enforcement, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Morris Bailey, Sports, Sports betting, The Rio | 2 Comments

Fear and loathing in Chicago; All’s well in Macao; Tribe comes back from nonexistence

Posted on December 24, 2021 by David McKee

It wouldn’t be a fight for a Chicago casino if it weren’t down and dirty—and it is. Bally’s Corp. already sounds desperate, throwing a Hail Mary pass in the form of a report that rival bidders Rush Street Gaming and … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally, Chicago, Donald Trump, Galaxy Entertainment, Hard Rock International, Indiana, Japan, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Real Estate, Regulation, Resort fees, Rhode Island, Rush Street Gaming, Tribal, TV, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Chicago dog-and-pony show; Raiders get punted by Covid

Posted on December 18, 2021 by David McKee

All three developers jockeying for a Chicago casino trotted out their proposals Thursday “replete with soaring promises of economic jolts, job creation and jackpots for the city’s future casino tax revenue coffers, which are earmarked for its depleted police and … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Bally, Chicago, Florida, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Indiana, Las Vegas Raiders, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes | 1 Comment

Atlantic City stutters; Shocker in New Orleans; Palms changes hands today

Posted on December 17, 2021 by David McKee

Casinos in Atlantic City grossed $207 million last month, an 8% declivity from 2019, as players tightened their purse strings. Overall, slot revenues were down 1% on a commensurately lower amount of coin-in. The house played unluckily at the tables, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, CQ Holdings, DraftKings, Election, FanDuel, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, Internet gambling, Iowa, Louisiana, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mohegan Sun, North Carolina, Ocean Resort, Palms, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Philippines, PointsBet, Rush Street Gaming, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Technology, Tribal | 1 Comment

Slot routes seek legitimacy; FanDuel romps in Michigan

Posted on December 16, 2021 by David McKee

Black-market operators of slot routes in Missouri could achieve legitimacy next year—with the help of two out-of-state providers. Illinois‘ leading slot-route purveyors, J&J Ventures and Accel Entertainment, bitter rivals in the Land of Lincoln have put aside their differences to … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Bally, Barstool Sports, DraftKings, FanDuel, Genting, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Illitch Family, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Penn National, PointsBet, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Slot routes, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Virginia, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Slot routes seek legitimacy; FanDuel romps in Michigan

Everybody wins in Massachusetts; Makeover for The Mirage

Posted on December 15, 2021 by David McKee

Massachusetts casinos bagged $88 million last month, a 12% boost over 2019. Encore Boston Harbor, predictably, was way, way out in front with $55 million, up 16.5%. Win was fairly even divided between slots ($30 million) and tables ($25 million), … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Cirque du Soleil, Cosmopolitan, Crown Resorts, Downtown, DraftKings, Election, Failsinos, FanDuel, Florida, Hard Rock International, Health, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, New York, Penn National, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Mirage sold; Big win for Las Vegas; Bluhm, Reinsdorf clash in Chicago

Posted on December 14, 2021 by David McKee

In a billion-dollar coup, MGM Resorts International has sold the operations of The Mirage to Hard Rock International, a huge markup on Steve Wynn‘s 1989 creation—and Hard Rock isn’t even getting the underlying land! All this for 17X EBITDA, an … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, Cordish Co., Downtown, DraftKings, Economy, Hard Rock International, Health, Japan, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Scott Butera, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, TV, Virgin Hotels | 4 Comments

Hard Rock, Caesars grapple; Trouble at Topgolf LV

Posted on December 10, 2021 by David McKee

There’s a battle royal in Indiana between Hard Rock Gary and Horseshoe Hammond. But before we get to that, let it be noted that—despite one less weekend than 2019—casino revenues were up 9.5% to $195 million. The two main combatants … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Century Casinos, Chicago, DraftKings, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, Hard Rock International, Indiana, Missouri, Penn National, PointsBet, Rush Street Gaming, Sexual misconduct, The Strip | 1 Comment

Playing politics with sports betting … and casinos

Posted on December 9, 2021 by David McKee

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) has really put her foot in it this time. Not only are Windy City aldermen balking at five stadium-area sports books in addition to a billion-dollar casino, fearing cannibalization, but Lightfoot threw gasoline on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, Churchill Downs, Dan Lee, DraftKings, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Jack Entertainment, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Politics, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Tribal, TV, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Cordish cashes in; Scare tactics in Atlantic City; Illinois slumps

Posted on December 7, 2021 by David McKee

Succumbing to the siren song of REITmania, Cordish Gaming has sold the real estate of three of its casinos to Gaming & Leisure Properties Inc. for a grand total of $1.8 billion. The affected casinos are Philadelphia Live, Pittsburgh Live … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., DraftKings, GLPI, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Real Estate, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | 2 Comments

MGM resurgent in Maryland; More Mega-Jottings

Posted on December 6, 2021 by David McKee

November was another terrific month for Maryland casinos, as revenues picked up a bit from October, accumulating 14% more than in November 2019.. (If inflation is so bad, where do Marylanders find all this money with which to gamble, one … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Australia, Caesars Entertainment, California, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Crown Resorts, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Florida, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Japan, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Movies, Nevada, Penn National, Planet Hollywood, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, South Korea, Sports, The Rio, The Strip, Virgin Hotels, Virginia, West Virginia, World Series of Poker, Wynn Resorts | 4 Comments

Mega-Jottings

Posted on December 2, 2021 by David McKee

Hollywood Morgantown will open Dec. 22, just in time to capture a share of end-of-year business. The $111 million Penn National Gaming facility will feature 750 slots, 30 table games and cashless betting … The Seminole Tribe continues to offer … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Florida, Hard Rock International, International, Law enforcement, Macau, Money laundering, North Dakota, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Reno, Rush Street Gaming, Seminole Tribe, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tribal, Virginia, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Seminole compact nixed: Biden, DeSantis, Seminoles all lose

Posted on November 23, 2021 by David McKee

Floridians, we hope you enjoyed sports betting for all of the three weeks in which it was legal in the Sunshine State. Why? Because last night a federal judge struck down the Seminole Tribe‘s new compact with Gov. Ron DeSantis … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Australia, Chicago, Connecticut, Crown Resorts, DraftKings, Election, FanDuel, Florida, Hard Rock International, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Nevada, New York, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Seminole Tribe, Sports, Station Casinos, Taxes, Transportation, Tribal | 1 Comment

Chicago reveals all; Rumblings from Macao; Riot in Vegas

Posted on November 22, 2021 by David McKee

The City of Chicago unveiled the applications for its casino license late Friday, effectively burying it at the end of a news cycle, in another triumph for Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) and her administration. The five submissions “are in line … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Bally, Barstool Sports, Chicago, China, Cretins, Entertainment, Genting, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Health, IGT, Illinois, Las Vegas Raiders, Macau, Maryland, Mattress Mack, Neil Bluhm, New Jersey, New York, Problem gambling, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Tourism, Transportation | 5 Comments

Atlantic City still booming; Churchill Downs wins in Terre Haute

Posted on November 18, 2021 by David McKee

It was another bonanza month for the Boardwalk, as casinos grossed $237.5 million in October, 17% above 2019. Slot win was up 22% on 19% more coin-in and tables won 6% on 9% higher wagering and despite lower hold. Borgata … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., DraftKings, FanDuel, FoxBet, Full House Resorts, Golden Nugget, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Indiana, International, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Money laundering, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Atlantic City: Does it pay to improve?; Bicycle Casino’s flat tire

Posted on November 16, 2021 by David McKee

New Jersey giveth, New Jersey taketh away. The priority of the Lege’s lame-duck session will not be ending smoking in Atlantic City casinos but something much nearer and dearer to casino executives’ hearts: Revising the PILOT (Payment In Lieu of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, California, Card rooms, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Law enforcement, MGM Resorts International, Money laundering, Morris Bailey, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Taxes | 2 Comments

Encore owns Massachusetts; Online slot players hosed

Posted on November 15, 2021 by David McKee

Massachusetts gaming revenue accelerated to $96 million last month, 23% higher than 2019. Encore Boston Harbor vaulted 37% to $63 million—yes, two-thirds of the statewide gross and well above Deutsche Bank‘s forecast of $55 million. Despite Wynn Resorts‘ dominance, Plainridge … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cretins, Detroit, Economy, FanDuel, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Iowa, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Nebraska, Neil Bluhm, New Jersey, North Carolina, Peninsula Pacific, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, Tribal, TV, Virginia, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Wynn spits out SPAC; Penn slammed; Indiana impresses

Posted on November 12, 2021 by David McKee

Headlines are still being made by Wynn Resorts this week. Shockwaves continue to reverberate from CEO Matt Maddox‘s surprise retirement, nearly one year ahead of schedule. His departure comes at a delicate point in negotiations with Macao (or should we … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Cordish Co., DraftKings, Drugs, Entertainment, FanDuel, Fontainebleau, Full House Resorts, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tribal, TV, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Wynn drops bombshells; Portnoy’s complaint

Posted on November 10, 2021 by David McKee

Wynn Resorts CEO Matt Maddox is leaving the building, effective Jan. 31. This shockeroo, which inspired a banner headline in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, was trundled out just minutes before the 3Q21 earnings call. Maddox will be succeeded by veteran … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Arizona, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, China, Diversity, Economy, GLPI, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Movies, New York, Ocean Resort, Oklahoma, Penn National, Politics, Sexual misconduct, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment