Category Archives: Hard Rock International

New York picks winners, losers; Ohio, even Illinois flex muscles

In hopes of having online sports betting operational in time for the Super Bowl, Empire State gaming regulators announced their picks for the state’s nine OSB license applications late yesterday. Winners were BetMGM (just as Bill Hornbuckle predicted), DraftKings, FanDuel, … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Delaware, DFS, DraftKings, Economy, Environment, Failsinos, FanDuel, FoxBet, Foxwoods, Full House Resorts, Genting, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Illinois, International, Jack Entertainment, Lake Tahoe, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, New York, Ohio, Penn National, PointsBet, Racinos, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Taxes, Technology, West Virginia, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

MGM to sell Mirage; Caesars disappoints Wall Street

At a time when the north Las Vegas Strip is finally heating up, MGM Resorts International has chosen this moment to put The Mirage on the market. Although it’s 32 years old (224 in dog years), The Mirage should fetch … Continue reading

Posted in BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Conventions, Cosmopolitan, Economy, Election, Hard Rock International, Health, Internet gambling, Jim Murren, Lake Tahoe, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, New York, Palms, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Planet Hollywood, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Sports betting, The Strip, Vici Properties, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Urban One loses; Station thinks big; NFL gets into the slot biz

Richmond voters narrowly chose to cut off their nose to spite their face, voting 51.5% against the Urban One casino proposal. Since casinos were approved by at least 65% in four other Virginia cities in 2020, the resounding question is … Continue reading

Posted in Aristocrat, Caesars Entertainment, California, Dining, DraftKings, Election, Florida, Hard Rock International, Health, International, Iowa, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, MGM Resorts International, Michael Gaughan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Palms, Politics, Real Estate, Resorts World LV, Seminole Tribe, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, Technology, Transportation, Tribal, Virginia, Wall Street, Washington State | 6 Comments

Chicago: Then there were five (?); LV Sands huddles with NY Mets

Or is it three? In the end, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) drew one heavyweight contender for the Windy City casino and a pair of middleweights. Two of the applicants made parlay bids, so the city could crow that it … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, Baseball, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cretins, DraftKings, Election, FanDuel, Florida, Genting, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Indiana, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Louisiana, MGM Resorts International, Neil Bluhm, New Hampshire, New York, Peninsula Pacific, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Rockin’ hard; Miller gives anti-smokers hope; Packer’s wrist slapped

Hard Rock International CEO Jim Allen (left) is bullish on the New York City market, if not downright aggressive. In maybe the highlight to come out of the East Coast Gaming Congress, Allen asserted his company’s interest in a New … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Animals, Atlantic City, Australia, Caesars Entertainment, China, Crown Resorts, Election, Genting, Golden Gaming, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Indiana, James Packer, Kentucky, Laughlin, Law enforcement, Lotteries, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Money laundering, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Pahrump, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Scientific Games, Slot routes, Sports betting, Taxes, The Crown 18, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Sands: From bad to worse; Musk subway system approved for Vegas

Wall Street analysts were frankly underwhelmed by Las Vegas Sands‘ third quarter. Now that the company is wholly reliant upon the afflicted Macao and Singapore markets that’s hardly surprising. JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff was pretty blunt, calling Macanese cash … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, China, Cordish Co., Downtown, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Singapore, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Technology, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Sands: From bad to worse; Musk subway system approved for Vegas

Atlantic City: Boardwalk boffo, sports betting bigger still; DeSantis wins

September was a breakout month for Atlantic City casinos, which surged 11% over 2019 to $248.5 million. Slot win was 14% higher on 13% more coin-in and table games garnered 4% more on 4% greater wagering, so luck was with … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Culinary Union, DraftKings, FanDuel, Florida, Genting, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, Illitch Family, Internet gambling, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, New York, Ocean Resort, Philippines, PointsBet, Real Estate, Seminole Tribe, Sports, Sports betting, Tamares Group, Taxes, Texas, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Biden wades into Florida swamp; New eras at Palms, Ocean

Intentionally or not, President Joe Biden (D) has done Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) a solid. He wants the federal judiciary to dismiss litigation that would invalidate DeSantis’ controversial compact with the Seminole Tribe. As amusing as the spectacle of … Continue reading

Posted in Aristocrat, Atlantic City, Australia, Baseball, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Connecticut, Economy, Environment, Florida, Full House Resorts, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Illitch Family, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Sands, LVCVA, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Money laundering, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Ocean Resort, Palms, Regulation, Reno, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Seminole Tribe, Sports betting, Star Entertainment, Station Casinos, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Biden wades into Florida swamp; New eras at Palms, Ocean

Indiana wins big, Missouri too; Pennsylvania guv blows smoke

While the American economy overall may be a disappointment for some, Big Gaming has nothing of which to complain. Indiana is coming off another bully month, up 16% from 2019, for an overall gross of $201 million, driven in no … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Century Casinos, Dining, DraftKings, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, Hard Rock International, Health, Indiana, Internet gambling, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Movies, Nevada, Penn National, Politics, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, Tribal | 3 Comments

Massachusetts talks tough; Big improvements seen at Bally’s A.C.

One of the strongest threads running through Global Gaming Expo was the fear of regulatory backlash against over-aggressive gambling marketing (especially with regard to sports betting). Well, Massachusetts doesn’t have sports betting yet but Bay State regulators are already looking … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, Caesars Entertainment, DraftKings, FanDuel, G2E, Georgia, Golden Gaming, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Japan, Laughlin, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, PointsBet, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Dream comes true; Recovery stays strong; DraftKings’ clock cleaned

If they can scrape together $500 million (which shouldn’t be a problem in this investment climate), developers David Daneshforooz and Bill Shopoff have the Clark County Commission‘s blessing to move forward with the Dream casino-hotel. Despite a raft of security … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., DraftKings, Economy, G2E, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Health, history, Illinois, International, Jack Entertainment, Las Vegas Raiders, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, North Carolina, Ohio, Penn National, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Security, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, West Virginia | 1 Comment

Strip sizzles in August

Casinos on the Las Vegas Strip grossed $626 million last month, 20% better than August 2019. Statewide, the jump was 22% to $1.65 billion but the real overachievers were locals casinos, leaping 41% (to $250 million) with a little help … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Century Casinos, Cretins, Dining, Downtown, G2E, Genting, Hard Rock International, Health, history, Indiana, International, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, North Las Vegas, Palms, Reno, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal, Wendover | 5 Comments

Cosmo finds pigeons; Scientific sheds sports betting

Reflecting the irrational exuberance surrounding the Las Vegas Strip, it’s a done deal at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. The $3.9 billion resort’s physical assets sold for $4 billion, albeit to a cloudy “group of buyers that includes a Blackstone … Continue reading

Posted in Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, China, Churchill Downs, Colorado, Cosmopolitan, Donald Trump, DraftKings, Environment, Florida, Full House Resorts, Hard Rock International, Health, Indiana, Lotteries, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Pennsylvania, Real Estate, Rush Street Gaming, Scientific Games, Seminole Tribe, Sports, Sports betting, Tennessee, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Cosmo finds pigeons; Scientific sheds sports betting

Macao fears overdone?; Dispatches from Atlantic City

After a long bout with the flu, we’re back with our usual persiflage. One of the stocks that was on the sickbed last week was Las Vegas Sands, bedridden from proposed new restrictions on Macao casinos. Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, China, Dining, DraftKings, FanDuel, FoxBet, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, New Jersey, Palms, PointsBet, Politics, Regulation, Rhode Island, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tribal, Virginia, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Atlantic City slumps, as does Pennsylvania; Culinary kabuki theatre

Casinos along the Boardwalk continue to be impervious to the economic recovery that is prevalent in the gaming industry. Atlantic City was down 8% last month compared to 2019, grossing $262.5 million. Sports betting brought in $52 million (+32% from … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., CQ Holdings, Culinary Union, DraftKings, Entertainment, FanDuel, Florida, FoxBet, Golden Nugget, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Washington State, Wayne F. Newton, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Boyd, Caesars express optimism; Atlantic City slows

Continuing JP Morgan‘s march through Las Vegas, senior analyst Joseph Greff met with Boyd Gaming CEO Keith Smith and CFO Josh Hirsberg. They seemed pleased, on the whole, marveling and the resilience of their customers, whose play was “amazingly consistent” … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Australia, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Conventions, Cosmopolitan, Crown Resorts, Downtown, Economy, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Hawaii, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sports betting, The Strip, Transportation, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 4 Comments

Balmy August in Indiana; The coming crisis in Vegas; MGM talks up prospects

There are signs that the regional gaming recovery is cooling (Missouri was up just 1% last month) but Indiana‘s August numbers, while not as hot as July’s, were a balmy 10% higher than 2019 as casinos grossed $203 million. Horseshoe … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Bally, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Conventions, Cosmopolitan, Downtown, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, G2E, Hard Rock International, Health, Indiana, Internet gambling, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, Peninsula Pacific, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Politics, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Sports betting, Technology, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Maryland, Ohio prosper; Sands scraping bottom in Macao

Regional gaming continues to be a gravy train. Maryland casinos grossed $168.5 million in August, up 9% from 2019. Just think how much better the take would have been had the month not been two weekend days shorter than August … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Health, Jack Entertainment, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Movies, Ohio, Penn National, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Super-spreader event at Caesars nixed; Mega-jottings

Caesars Entertainment must have decided it was poor optics to be hosting a convention of anti-vaxxers at brand-new Caesars Forum as Coronavirus cases spike. Or maybe it blanched at the potential deep-cleaning costs after the event. Either way, QAnon-espousing “Patriot … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Architecture, Arizona, Arkansas, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Canada, Charity, Cirque du Soleil, Conventions, Cordish Co., Cosmopolitan, Dining, DraftKings, Entertainment, FanDuel, Foxwoods, Golden Nugget, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Health, Horseracing, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Raiders, M Resort, Marijuana, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, North Carolina, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Sahara, South Dakota, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Virginia, Wynn Resorts, Wyoming | 2 Comments

Atlantic City catches up; MGM confronts Covid; AAA salutes Circa

It took a while but the Boardwalk is finally even with 2019 numbers. July saw a gambling gross of $277 million, flat with two years ago. Slot win was up 6% on 2% more coin-in but tables declined 14% on … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, California, Derek Stevens, Dining, Downtown, DraftKings, FanDuel, FoxBet, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Resort fees, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, The Strip, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 5 Comments