Category Archives: Health

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

Maryland weaker, Illinois stronger; Mickelson in denial

Even as playing levels normalize from last year, gambling revenues continue their upward tread. Maryland, for instance, was 4% higher in May than a year ago (and 17.5% above 2019). Had there not been one fewer weekend day than in … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Chicago, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., DFS, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Genting, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Tribal, Virginia, Washington State | 1 Comment

Smoke signals in Atlantic City; Discontent in Las Vegas

Atlantic City gambling halls like Ocean Casino Resort (pictured) may get a summer’s reprieve from a smoking ban, as the New Jersey legislative session winds down without resolution on the contentious issue. Even if both chambers were to vote by … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Culinary Union, Economy, Environment, Genting, Health, Japan, Kazuo Okada, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Money laundering, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Philippines, Politics, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Sports betting, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Resorts World sheds a problem; Big Gaming fleeced in N.Y.

With the discreet closure of Tacos El Cabron, splashy Resorts World Las Vegas finds itself down one restaurant—and happy to be so. Evidently in their haste to get everything on line, Resorts World management didn’t fully perform their due diligence … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Chicago, China, Dining, DraftKings, FanDuel, Florida, Health, Illinois, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, New York, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Seminole Tribe, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, Tribal, Unite-Here, Virginia | Comments Off on Resorts World sheds a problem; Big Gaming fleeced in N.Y.

Atlantic City casinos blow smoke

With a mealy-mouthedness that is becoming all too familiar, Atlantic City casino operators took advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic to plead poverty, warning of “grave danger” to their businesses unless they got tax cuts yesterday. One of their arguments was … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Conventions, Economy, Hard Rock International, Health, Indiana, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New Jersey, Politics, Taxes, The Rio, The Strip, Tribal, TV, Unite-Here, World Series of Poker | 1 Comment

Bally’s bans smoking (sorta); Purge at Cosmo; Aussie renegades

Two and a half cheers for Bally’s Corp., which has banned smoking at table games at its two Rhode Island casinos. We’ll throw in the other half-cheer when Bally’s nixes smoking in all gambling areas. (Ironically, the company is part … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Bally, Chicago, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Crown Resorts, Health, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Money laundering, Politics, Regulation, Rhode Island, Sports, Star Entertainment, United Kingdom | Comments Off on Bally’s bans smoking (sorta); Purge at Cosmo; Aussie renegades

Vegas Strip bullish, locals more bearish; Penn plummets

Nevada enjoyed a $1.1 billion gambling-revenue month in April, an 8.5% increase over last year. Powering this was the Strip with $593.5 million, a 23% improvement. Downtown, by contrast, suffered a setback, down 11% to $67 million. Utahns must have … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, China, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Cretins, Culinary Union, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Hard Rock International, Health, IGT, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Sands, Laughlin, Macau, Marketing, Mesquite, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New York, North Las Vegas, Palms, Penn National, Reno, Resorts World LV, Rhode Island, Station Casinos, The Rio, The Strip, Tourism, Unite-Here, Wall Street, Wendover, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Wynn treads water, IGT overachieves, Ohio and Missouri flatten

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain (Xi Jinping). That was the message of Wynn Resorts‘ first-quarter earnings call. Some analysts weren’t having it, with Deutsche Bank‘s Carlo Santarelli opining that Macao was “the real story.” That being … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Century Casinos, Churchill Downs, Dan Lee, Economy, Full House Resorts, Hard Rock International, Health, IGT, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Jack Entertainment, Lotteries, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Penn National, Real Estate, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Virginia, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Chicago blew it; Times Square, anyone? Monday Mega-Jottings

Even as Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) blunders forward with her megaresort campaign, more voices are being raised in criticism of how the Second City is going about the process. A Crain’s Business analysis determined that “Each location appears to … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Aristocrat, Atlantic City, Australia, Bally, Baseball, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, China, Crown Resorts, Derek Stevens, Election, Entertainment, Environment, FanDuel, Galaxy Entertainment, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, International, Kansas, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Real Estate, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, United Kingdom, Virginia | 1 Comment

Windy City shakedown; Strip explodes, Palms reborn

$75 million or else. That’s extortionate Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot‘s latest demand of casino applicants. If you win the bid, fork over the cash. Her Dishonor might settle for ‘only’ $40 million on the barrelhead, followed up by a $2 … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Chicago, China, Downtown, Florida, Hard Rock International, Health, International, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Sands, Laughlin, Macau, Mesquite, Nevada, New York, North Las Vegas, Palms, Politics, Regulation, Reno, Rush Street Gaming, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Singapore, Station Casinos, Taxes, Texas, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, Wendover | 1 Comment

Parx dethroned; Shreveport sleaze; Maine’s latest bet

Move over, Parx Casino, there’s a new leader in the Pennsylvania gaming market. That’d be Penn National‘s eponymous racino near Harrisburg. For the second month in a row it was tops in the Keystone State, banking $64 million, up 11.5% … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, China, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Crown Resorts, DraftKings, FanDuel, Florida, Golden Nugget, Greenwood Racing, Health, Internet gambling, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Macau, Maine, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Peninsula Pacific, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Rhode Island, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Transportation, Tribal, Virginia, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Parx dethroned; Shreveport sleaze; Maine’s latest bet

Siegel’s Strip scheme; Tilman’s Rocky Mountain high

Siegel Group got a steal of a deal on the north Las Vegas Strip: 10 acres for $75 million. The vacant land used to be occupied, in part, by the La Concha Motel (pictured). It was also once destined for … Continue reading

Posted in Arkansas, Churchill Downs, Colorado, Dan Lee, Full House Resorts, Genting, Golden Nugget, Greenwood Racing, Health, history, Illinois, Indiana, Japan, Law enforcement, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Real Estate, Spectacle Entertainment, Taxes, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta | 2 Comments

Optimism in Las Vegas; Bluhm bombs in Chicago

On his way home from Black Hawk, Colorado, gaming analyst Barry Jonas of Truist Securities popped into Las Vegas. He met with various and sundry publicly traded companies, even MGM Resorts International, for which he feels little love. He also … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Bally, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Chicago, DraftKings, Economy, Everi, FanDuel, Florida, G2E, Hard Rock International, Health, IGT, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Neil Bluhm, Palms, Penn National, Politics, Problem gambling, Rush Street Gaming, Scientific Games, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Technology, Tribal, Virginia, Wall Street | Comments Off on Optimism in Las Vegas; Bluhm bombs in Chicago

Chicago tips its hand; Wynn loses; Thunder Down Under

Would somebody clue in Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) that Neil Bluhm‘s Rush Street Gaming is no longer the majority owner of Rivers Casino Des Plaines? That honor goes to Churchill Downs. But Lightfoot is using Des Plaines as a … Continue reading

Posted in ABBA, Animals, Architecture, Australia, Bally, Boulder Strip, Caesars Entertainment, California, Chicago, Crown Resorts, Entertainment, Environment, Hard Rock International, Health, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Law enforcement, Macau, Marijuana, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Money laundering, Neil Bluhm, New York, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sexual misconduct, Sports, Sports betting, Star Entertainment, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Mulligan in Virginia; Caesars makes peace; Labor strife in Vegas

Richmond Mayor LeVar Stoney (D) is going to get his dearest wish: an electoral do-over for the Urban One casino proposal, which voters narrowly nixed at the ballot box last November. A year later, the electorate will get a chance … Continue reading

Posted in Barstool Sports, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Culinary Union, Dining, El Cortez, Election, Entertainment, Environment, Health, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nevada, Ohio, Palms, Penn National, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, South Carolina, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, TV, Unite-Here, Virginia, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Mulligan in Virginia; Caesars makes peace; Labor strife in Vegas

Atlantic City, Massachusetts make big gains; Hotel misery

Casino executives in Atlantic City continue to plead poverty (to a dwindling amen corner) when it comes to poisoning their employees with secondhand smoke. In the meantime, they’re pocketing business hand over fist. Last month saw a 43% catapult over … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, DraftKings, Environment, FanDuel, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mohegan Sun, New York, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Sports betting, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Unite-Here, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Empire State greed; Brady betting brouhaha

Wow, inflation really is spiraling. When last we checked (i.e., yesterday), a New York City casino license was going for $500 million. However, if some state senators get their way, that not-inconsiderable price tag will rocket to $1 billion. According … Continue reading

Posted in Charity, Downtown, FanDuel, Genting, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Indiana, LVCVA, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, New York, Ocean Resort, Politics, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tony Hsieh, Transportation, West Virginia, Westgate LV, Wynn Resorts, Wyoming | 1 Comment

Bounty in Missouri, penury in Macao

Customer bucks continued flowing big-time in Missouri casinos last month, up 19% over 2021. The total gross was $146 million as customers spent 2.5% more per visit and came in 16% greater numbers. Almost casinos were revenue-positive (some spectacularly so) … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Century Casinos, China, DraftKings, Election, FanDuel, Galaxy Entertainment, Genting, Health, Illinois, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Nevada, Penn National, Rush Street Gaming, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Tourism, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Boardwalk bulletin; George gesture from Apollo

Pressure to end smoking in New Jersey casinos continues to ramp up on legislators. Said former governor Richard Codey (now a state senator), “When I was governor, we passed smoke-free legislation that covered almost all of our state. Restaurants complained … Continue reading

Posted in Apollo Management, Architecture, Atlantic City, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, Colorado, Conventions, Dan Lee, Dining, Donald Trump, Genting, Golden Nugget, Health, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Sports, Sports betting, Texas, The Strip, Virginia | 1 Comment

IGT: Biz as usual; Borgata ups the ante; Mega-Jottings

Wall Street analysts were rather ho-hum about International Game Technology‘s 4Q21 earnings announcement. The company’s cash flow from lotteries were almost exactly as predicted ($335.5 million, revenue of $687 million) while gaming brought in $66 million (on revenues of $321 … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Chicago, Cretins, Crown Resorts, Entertainment, Hard Rock International, Health, IGT, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Law enforcement, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, New York, Ocean Resort, Philippines, Politics, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Virginia, Wall Street | 1 Comment