Category Archives: Illinois

George of the Year; Kansas ayes sports betting, Missouri not

It’s only May but we have to give the nod to The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Outgoing owner Blackstone Group graced all employees with $5,000 bonuses, an incredibly generous gesture. Blackstone certainly didn’t have to do it but they did … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Bally, Baseball, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, Cosmopolitan, Crown Resorts, Full House Resorts, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Kansas, Kazuo Okada, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Philippines, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Security, Slot routes, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, Star Entertainment, Virginia | Comments Off on George of the Year; Kansas ayes sports betting, Missouri not

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

Meet Lori Leadfoot; Flamingo shopped

A comedy of errors is playing out in Chicago. After Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) was reported by the Chicago Sun-Times to have gift-wrapped the winning bid for Bally’s Corp., Her Honor immediately backpedaled, saying, “We have a very specific process, … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, Economy, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska, Neil Bluhm, Ocean Resort, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Real Estate, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Slot routes, Sports betting, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal | 1 Comment

Caesars, Station fulfill expectations; Flamingo to be sold; Chicago: It’s Bally’s

Analysts on Wall Street are going to be ratcheting up their forecasts for Caesars Entertainment for the remainder of 2022. Or so says Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Sanatarelli. The Roman Empire’s 1Q22 cash flow of $296 million exceeded The Street’s … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, Conventions, Economy, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Palms, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Technology, The Rio, The Strip, Wall Street | 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

Sands, NY Mets in cahoots; Raiders set to clobber Vegas bookies

Pay no attention to the men behind the curtain. There’s nothing wrong with the idea of a casino megaresort in the Willets Point area, near Citi Field. It’s far preferable to some of the other New York City sites that … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Golden Nugget, Illinois, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Michael Gaughan, New York, North Carolina, Ocean Resort, Palms, Philippines, Politics, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tribal, Westgate LV, Wisconsin | 1 Comment

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

Casinos in clover nationwide; Mega-Jottings for a Monday

Masters Week has come and gone, and Augusta now sinks back into an 11-month torpor. Which also helps us return to standard-edition S&G. (Seen on the marquee of the church closest to Augusta National: “This is Amen Corner.”) Where to … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Century Casinos, Chicago, Churchill Downs, Conventions, CQ Holdings, Current, Derek Stevens, Diversity, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, G2E, Georgia, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Indiana, International, Jack Entertainment, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Nevada, New York, North Las Vegas, Ohio, Palms, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Sahara, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Tribal | 1 Comment

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

Ohio, Illinois ebullient; MGM expects good things; Scandal in NFL

Ohio casino revenues were up 13% from 2021, yielding $179 million in player losses. Slots-only MGM Northfield Park posted a $22.5 million haul, up 17%, while Jack Cleveland vastly expanded its table game inventory and saw table play rise 24.5%. … Continue reading

Posted in Arkansas, Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Conventions, DraftKings, Economy, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Internet gambling, Jack Entertainment, Japan, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, United Kingdom, Vietnam, Virginia | 1 Comment

Almost everyone prospers in Maryland; Broader revival continues

There’s no sign of “normalization” of gaming revenues in Maryland, where February yielded $163 million, a 19% gain over 2019. Horseshoe Baltimore continued to be somewhat sickly, down 14% to $18 million while everyone else climbed. The silver lining was … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Downtown Grand, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Golden Gaming, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Scientific Games, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Twin Spires collapse; The Great Buffet Battle

Online sports betting has claimed its second victim. First it was Wynn Interactive. Now it’s Churchill Downs subsidiary Twin Spires. Too much competition and too little profitability were the reasons cited by CEO Bill Carstanjen. CHDN will also cease its … Continue reading

Posted in Century Casinos, Churchill Downs, Cretins, Florida, history, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Movies, New York, Peninsula Pacific, Pennsylvania, Seminole Tribe, Sexual misconduct, Sports betting, Virginia, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

MGM boffo; Establishment freaks out over sports betting

“Viva Las Vegas” was the headline on Credit Suisse analyst Ben Chaiken‘s recap of 4Q21 earnings from MGM Resorts International. Wall Street expected $2.8 billion in revenue and $705 million in cash flow. MGM delivered $3.1 billion and $821 million, … Continue reading

Posted in BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Conventions, Cosmopolitan, DFS, Donald Trump, DraftKings, Election, Entertainment, Florida, Hard Rock International, Hawaii, Health, Illinois, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Lotteries, Macau, Marketing, Mattress Mack, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New York, Problem gambling, Seminole Tribe, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Casinos continue to thrive; Crooks, liars and losers

There’s no “supply chain” issue when it comes to dollars flowing into American casinos. Take Missouri, for instance. Casino revenue sprang 15.5% over 2019 last month, for a statewide take of $145.5 million. Actual visitation was down 2o% but per-visitor … Continue reading

Posted in Apollo Management, Bally, Bally Technologies, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Century Casinos, Churchill Downs, Cretins, DraftKings, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Indiana, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Maryland, Mattress Mack, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Nevada, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Regulation, Reno, Rush Street Gaming, Scientific Games, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal, WInd Creek, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Everybody wins; ‘Adele’ debuts; Ohio and Maryland prosper

Let’s start the day with a rare, feel-good story about an invalidated jackpot. Normally, these things go the way of the house. But not this time. On January 8, at Treasure Island, a player named Robert Taylor was playing the … Continue reading

Posted in Apollo Management, Aristocrat, Bally, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., DraftKings, Entertainment, FanDuel, Fontainebleau, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Louisiana, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Palms, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, United Kingdom, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Everybody wins; ‘Adele’ debuts; Ohio and Maryland prosper

New boss at F-blue; Station: Five white guys; Atlantic City blitzed

Yes, Tom Brady has retired but there’s actually other news happening today. For starters, Fontainebleau has a new president. And not just any prexy but “a visionary leader for our next-generation luxury resort.” He’s Cliff Atkinson, late of Luxor. If … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, CityCenter, Colorado, Culinary Union, Dining, Diversity, Fontainebleau, Hard Rock International, Horseracing, Illinois, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Real Estate, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | 2 Comments

Horseshoe returns to Vegas; LV Sands thinks big

In the year’s worst-kept secret (or least surprising news story), Caesars Entertainment is finally rebranding Bally’s Las Vegas as the Horseshoe to end all Horseshoes. We were all over the story yesterday, in case you want the full monty. A … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Bally, Boulder Strip, Caesars Entertainment, Downtown, DraftKings, Election, FanDuel, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Iowa, Las Vegas Sands, Laughlin, Macau, Massachusetts, Nevada, New York, North Las Vegas, Politics, Reno, Seminole Tribe, Singapore, Sports betting, Texas, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Illinois slouches; Boyd, Churchill praised; DraftKings assessed

Not even Rivers Casino Des Plaines was spared the impact of Hard Rock Rockford, as the newbie helped take a 4.5% bite out of Rivers’ December casino revenues compared to 2019, for a Des Plaines gross of $43 million, still … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Canada, Churchill Downs, Connecticut, Downtown Grand, DraftKings, Election, Florida, Full House Resorts, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mattress Mack, MGM Resorts International, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Regulation, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, Wall Street | Comments Off on Illinois slouches; Boyd, Churchill praised; DraftKings assessed

Ohio, Missouri booming; Of sports and sports betting

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