Category Archives: Health

Barrack screws up (again); Boyd reopens … somewhat

Posted on May 12, 2020 by David McKee

Colony Capital CEO Tom Barrack is back in the news and, as usual, not in a good way. His REIT has defaulted on $3.2 billion in loans secured by 157 hotel and healthcare properties. That’s three-quarters of his holdings. Prior to … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Colony Capital, Downtown, Economy, Health, history, North Carolina, Penn National, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 4 Comments

Roy Horn, R.I.P.; Tourism on life support

Posted on May 9, 2020 by David McKee

Now every John Q. Public in America knows someone who has died of Covid-19. That someone is erstwhile magician Roy Horn, who died at age 75 of Coronavirus complications. Horn had been involuntarily retired from show business since 2003 when … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Health, International, Phil Ruffin, Regulation, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | Comments Off on Roy Horn, R.I.P.; Tourism on life support

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 9, 2020 by David McKee

“They’re gonna have to.”—Chris Christie, asked whether the American people would accept 3,000 Coronavirus deaths per day.

Posted in Current, Health | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 8, 2020 by David McKee

“The virus does not take weekends off. From the standpoint of Atlantic City, the virus is not observing Memorial Day.”—Spectrum Gaming Group Managing Director Michael Pollock, on when to reopen the Boardwalk.

Posted in Atlantic City, Health | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Nevada begins reopening sooner than expected

Posted on May 8, 2020 by David McKee

What do brothels and casinos have in common? (Some would say you get screwed in both.) Neither can reopen during Phase One of Gov. Steve Sisolak‘s multi-stage resumption of business as usual in Nevada, starting tomorrow. Most of the continuing closures … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Conventions, Cretins, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, G2E, Health, Massachusetts, Nevada, Technology, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Indian Country keeping pace with the times

Posted on May 8, 2020 by David McKee

By guest contributor Robb Monkman Certain things in life can be a gamble but what about personal safety? Or, in the case of casinos, what about the safety of staff? Of course the answer seems obvious. Admittedly, the well-being of … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, Health, Illinois, Security, Technology, Tribal, Unite-Here | Comments Off on Indian Country keeping pace with the times

Creative responses to a crisis

Posted on May 7, 2020 by David McKee

Leave it to Derek Stevens to find a way to literally drive sports-betting business in Downtown. Starting this morning, Circa Sports began taking curbside sports bets at the Golden Gate. You pull up, flash your cash (or plastic) and a … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Culinary Union, Derek Stevens, Dining, Downtown, e-sports, Economy, Health, Law enforcement, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Penn National, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Goodman batshit crazy; Detroit puts casinos on ‘hold’

Posted on May 7, 2020 by David McKee

Could we be seeing the last of Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman (I), and her ‘every man for himself and devil take the hindmost’ approach to Coronavirus? Poker pro Doug Polk has begun a recall petition drive to try and … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Detroit, Dining, Downtown, Eldorado Resorts, Health, Michigan, Politics, Sports, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Culinary: Do more; Pent-up demand?

Posted on May 6, 2020 by David McKee

Although Nevada regulators seem to think that companies like Las Vegas Sands and Wynn Resorts are going too far with their reopening protocols the Culinary Union begs to differ. Noting that 15 Culinary members or family members have died of … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Economy, Health, Las Vegas Sands, Nevada, Regulation, Unite-Here, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Vegas bingo on death watch; Nevada regulators dither

Posted on May 6, 2020 by David McKee

Bingo is such a staple of the Las Vegas locals casino that it seems unimaginable that it would go the way of the buffet and the dodo. But such may be the case. VitalVegas author Scott Roeben says he is … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Boyd Gaming, Crown Resorts, Downtown, Entertainment, Hawaii, Health, Idaho, James Packer, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Technology, Texas, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 6, 2020 by David McKee

“The good news, if it pans out: Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and the German company BioNTech announced this morning that they have started human trials in the US of a potential [Coronavirus] vaccine, and if the tests are successful, and the feds … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Health | 1 Comment

Colorado sports betting a hit; REIT bides its time

Posted on May 5, 2020 by David McKee

Sports betting came out of the gate strong in Colorado. One of the surprises was the amount of handle on the Los Angeles Lakers. Said DraftKings odds guru Johnny Avello, “One of the things I did find interesting was the Lakers … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Boyd Gaming, Colorado, DraftKings, e-sports, Eldorado Resorts, FanDuel, GLPI, Health, Horseracing, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Mesquite, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sports, Sports betting, Wall Street | Comments Off on Colorado sports betting a hit; REIT bides its time

Everybody out of the pool!; Lean times in Indian Country

Posted on May 5, 2020 by David McKee

We were overly optimistic on when Nevada casinos can reopen. Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) has postponed that move until phase three or four of his four-step plan … which is also contingent on a two-week decline in new Coronavirus cases. … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Entertainment, Galaxy Entertainment, Hard Rock International, Health, International, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, New Jersey, Regulation, Tribal, World Series of Poker, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Everybody out of the pool!; Lean times in Indian Country

Churchill Downs curbs plans; Murren’s big payday

Posted on May 4, 2020 by David McKee

In its 1Q20 earnings call Churchill Downs announced some significant retrenchments. Although the company is comfortably liquid ($701 million in the kitty) it’s put four expansions on hold: Rivers Casino Des Plaines, an enlargement of Miami Valley Gaming, a $300 … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Economy, Health, Horseracing, Illinois, Internet gambling, Jim Murren, Las Vegas Sands, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 2, 2020 by David McKee

“And above all else, this whole scheme is designed to screw workers. Screw them. Force them into a no-win situation where they have to literally risk their lives and the lives of others, or walk away without a dime of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Health, Iowa | 4 Comments

Maddox gets ants in his pants; Sports start to stir

Posted on May 1, 2020 by David McKee

As part of the Business Roundtable at the White House, CEO Matt Maddox got to stump for Wynn Resorts‘ mid-pandemic reopening protocol. Maddox said that (amazingly) University Medical Center facilities “don’t have enough people to test. So I’ve signed a deal … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Caesars Entertainment, Culinary Union, Economy, GLPI, Health, Reno, South Korea, Sports, Stanley Ho, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Fauci on sports; Churchill Downs “on track”

Posted on April 30, 2020 by David McKee

Bad news, sports bettors. Given the absence of widespread testing for Coronavirus, Dr. Anthony Fauci is backpedaling on his projections that professional sports could resume this year. (As Fauci has said elsewhere, a model is just a model; when you … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Baseball, Churchill Downs, Crown Resorts, Economy, GameCO, Health, International, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Lawrence Ho, Lotteries, Marijuana, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Missouri, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Scientific Games, Sports, Technology, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Vegas: Welcome to the new normal

Posted on April 30, 2020 by David McKee

Phil Ruffin may have jumped the gun with that May 15 reopening date for Treasure Island. Gov. Steve Sisolak (D), without specifying a quarantine-lifting date, has extended a modified version of the Nevada lockdown into May. “We just have not reached … Continue reading →

Posted in Aristocrat, California, Downtown, Downtown Grand, Health, International, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Phil Ruffin, Regulation, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Technology, Tribal, TV, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Strip clocked, locals stronger; Montana reopens first

Posted on April 30, 2020 by David McKee

Nevada casinos won $618 million in a Covid-19-truncated March, with the Las Vegas Strip leading the plunge with a 46% fall to $300 million. Las Vegas locals play was remarkably strong under the circumstances, down only 20.5%, although that number may … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Election, Golden Gaming, Health, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Mesquite, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Reno, The Strip, Wall Street, Wendover, William Hill | Comments Off on Strip clocked, locals stronger; Montana reopens first

Boyd doing well; What price Vegas?

Posted on April 29, 2020 by David McKee

Boyd Gaming posted net revenues of that were down 18% for 1Q20, reflective of mid-March casino closures. JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff termed the results ones “that reflected relatively strong trends in the first two months of the quarter.” Since … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, Churchill Downs, Cosmopolitan, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Economy, Hard Rock International, Health, Horseracing, Las Vegas Sands, LVCVA, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Resort fees, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment