Category Archives: Harrah's

Atlantic Club sold … again; Jackpot Blitz deemed a winner

Posted on October 12, 2017 by David McKee

Late last month, the porte cochere of the Atlantic Club collapsed. As metaphors for the long-suffering property go, you can’t get much better than that. Despite this recent debacle, owner TPM Properties has actually found a buyer for the bounced-around … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colony Capital, Entertainment, G2E, GameCO, Harrah's, International, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Paragon Gaming, Technology, The Strip, Westgate LV | 1 Comment

Case Bets: Ohio and Indiana

Posted on October 11, 2017 by David McKee

Penn National Gaming had a bonny September in Ohio, up 11% across its four properties. Hollywood Toledo ($16 million) rose 10.5%, Hollywood Columbus ($18 million) gained 9%, Hollywood Dayton ($8 million) was up 12% and Hollywood Mahoning Valley (pictured, $9 million) … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, Full House Resorts, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Indiana, Majestic Star, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off

Adverse Golden Week in Macao; Ho, Caesars jockey for position in Japan

Posted on October 11, 2017 by David McKee

Golden Week is an important holiday for Macao casinos and it failed to deliver this year. Visitor traffic was down 1%, causing stocks of both Sands China and Galaxy Entertainment Group to be punished on Hong Kong‘s Hang Seng Index. … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Galaxy Entertainment, Harrah's, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Marketing, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off

Clean slate at Caesars; Heresy at G2E; Another Revel mystery

Posted on October 9, 2017 by David McKee

“Twenty-five years ago Caesars [Entertainment] was the premier name internationally but they dropped the ball,” said C.G. Anderson Partners analyst Greg Bousquette of the company that must find a way to become relevant after spending years snarled in debt, then in … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colorado, Economy, Entertainment, G2E, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Iowa, Japan, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Revel, Singapore, South Korea, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Penn, Pinnacle to merge?

Posted on October 6, 2017 by David McKee

Writes Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli, “according to people familiar with the matter, Penn National has conducted on again off again discussions to acquire Pinnacle Entertainment.” He warns that “a long list of questions, which may or may not make a … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Wall Street, West Virginia | 2 Comments

Mandalay Bay mystery a labyrinth

Posted on October 6, 2017 by David McKee

As the clouds of war gather again over our great country, we’re finally gaining some clarity regarding Mandalay Bay shooter Stephen Paddock. He was that seeming oxymoron: a video poker “whale,” one who didn’t blanch at wagering $100 a spin. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cannery Casino Resorts, Cosmopolitan, Downtown, Harrah's, Illinois, Law enforcement, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Massachusetts, Mesquite, MGM Mirage, Philippines, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Reno, Texas | Comments Off

Wynn takes the lead

Posted on October 4, 2017 by David McKee

Steve Wynn has always been a trendsetter in Las Vegas and we hope his decision to equip his security force with handheld metal detectors is another move the rest of the industry will follow. “Las Vegas is a target city. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Entertainment, Florida, G2E, Genting, Harrah's, Law enforcement, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, New York, Philippines, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Caesars exits bankruptcy; Station’s California headache

Posted on October 3, 2017 by David McKee

Caesars Entertainment‘s long Chapter 11 nightmare is finally at an end. Regulators in Missouri and Louisiana have signed off on a reorganization that will leave Caesars creditors $10 billion lighter in the wallet. The consummation of the deal is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Harrah's, Illinois, Louisiana, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Missouri, Regulation, Station Casinos, Technology, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Firebugs in Macao; New slots at Harrah’s

Posted on September 27, 2017 by David McKee

Already slowed by construction fatalities, jinx-prone Grand Lisboa Palace has now been ravaged by fire. The best that CEO Angela Leong could say about the casino’s late-2018 opening date was that it was now uncertain. Sociedade de Jogos de Macau … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, California, Economy, GameCO, Harrah's, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Nevada, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off

Escalating war at Hard Rock; New slots flood the market

Posted on September 21, 2017 by David McKee

Leadership of the Culinary Union has gone thermonuclear on the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, filing a National Labor Relations Board complaint against owner Brookfield Asset Management. The latest broadside from the Culinary against Brookfield alleges that “the company has … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, G2E, GameCO, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, Singapore, Technology | Comments Off

Adelson cools on Japan; Revel mystery deepens

Posted on September 18, 2017 by David McKee

Details of Japan‘s casino-implementation bill are starting to trickle out: a blend of tax rates for mass-market play (22%) and VIP action (12%), a minimum gambling age of 20 and casino square floors no bigger than 15,000 square feet. Limitations like … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Dining, Election, Entertainment, Galaxy Entertainment, Glenn Straub, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Japan, Marijuana, MGM Mirage, Politics, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Light at end of Atlantic City tunnel; Madonna gets played

Posted on September 14, 2017 by David McKee

There’s one reason to look forward to November in Atlantic City: Revenue comparisons will no longer have to include the dead weight of Trump Taj Mahal. Gaming revenues were up 3.5% on the Boardwalk last month but add the Taj … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Aristocrat, Atlantic City, Cosmopolitan, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Entertainment, Harrah's, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Paragon Gaming, Scientific Games, Sports, Technology, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Westgate LV | Comments Off

Eldorado: Small is beautiful; Fire sale in the Philippines

Posted on September 14, 2017 by David McKee

Eldorado Resorts CEO Tom Reeg just had a sit-down with Joseph Greff and his JP Morgan colleagues, and clued them into Eldorado’s plans. “We came away encouraged by management’s upbeat tone and positive commentary on Reno trends … and long-term plan … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Dining, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Florida, Harrah's, Indiana, Isle of Capri, Kazuo Okada, Louisiana, Marketing, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, New York, Philippines, Regulation, Reno, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Placidity in Indiana; Irma inconveniences card sharps

Posted on September 11, 2017 by David McKee

It was a flat August in the Hoosier State, as casino executives look toward Four Winds Casino in South Bend with trepidation. Perhaps it is the vampiric rise of slot routes in Illinois, but the northern tier of Indiana casinos … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Dan Lee, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, Florida, Full House Resorts, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Seminole Tribe, The Strip, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street, World Series of Poker | Comments Off

Illinois lackluster, Ohio strong; New attraction for Strip

Posted on September 8, 2017 by David McKee

Illinois is coming off a flat August. The good news is that it’s an improvement on last year’s 2% decline. The bad news is that the lost business doesn’t appear to be coming back. Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli reports … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

MGM sells National Harbor; High accolade for Turning Stone

Posted on September 7, 2017 by David McKee

MGM National Harbor continues to grow the Maryland casino market, while taking down its main competitors. (Would we call this a “category killer”?) In the meantime, the small casinos are doing just fine. Last month Penn National Gaming‘s Hollywood Perryville was … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Racinos, Rhode Island, Slot routes, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off

Fontainebleau plans take shape; Newton blitzes sports books

Posted on September 5, 2017 by David McKee

Fontainebleau continues to make news. First off, lead investor Steven Witkoff and his partners plan to re-name the unfinished resort. Good idea, as “Fontainebleau” brings nothing but bad karma and negative associations to anyone who frequents the Las Vegas Strip. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, Environment, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, history, Lawrence Ho, Macau, MGM Mirage, Sports, Station Casinos, Steven Witkoff, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Strip disappoints, locals casinos dominate; Indiana ignores tribal casino

Posted on August 30, 2017 by David McKee

Poor table play punished the Las Vegas Strip last month, driving revenues down 8%. Locals casinos, by contrast, were up 13%, possibly helped by some end-of-June coin lingering in the slot hoppers. But, if so, what’s the Strip’s excuse for … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Charity, Downtown, Economy, Environment, Harrah's, Indiana, International, Japan, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Lawrence Ho, Louisiana, Macau, Majestic Star, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Pansy Ho, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, West Virginia | Comments Off

F-blew sale rumored; New Jersey legitimizes DFS

Posted on August 28, 2017 by David McKee

According to VitalVegas, Carl Icahn finally has finally hooked a big one and the upshot will be a long-delayed sale of Fontainebleau for $650 million. Uncle Carl has long since recouped his bargain-basement purchase price by selling off everything wasn’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Derek Stevens, Donald Trump, Downtown, Fontainebleau, Genting, GLPI, Hard Rock Hotel, Harrah's, history, Internet gambling, Lucky Dragon, LVCVA, M Resort, MGM Mirage, North Las Vegas, Palms, Penn National, Politics, SLS Las Vegas, Station Casinos, Taxes, Terry Caudill, The Strip, Wall Street, Westgate LV | 1 Comment

Atlantic City wins big; Typhoon Hato clocks Macao

Posted on August 25, 2017 by David McKee

Having trounced its opposition in last year’s election, Atlantic City continues on its roll, with its casinos posting a 20% increase in operating profit through June. “For three consecutive quarters now, the current operators reported double-digit growth in gross operating profits. … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal | Comments Off