Category Archives: Illinois

Monster monopoly on the Strip?; Caesars wows Wall Street

In a deal that Nevada regulators would block if they had an ounce of spine, MGM Growth Properties proposes to sell itself to Vici Properties, which would put nearly all the prime land on the Las Vegas Strip under one … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Conventions, Dining, Illinois, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Nebraska, Politics, Real Estate, Regulation, Sports betting, Tennessee, The Rio, The Strip, Vici Properties, Wall Street, William Hill | 1 Comment

Caesars massacres table games, renames Superdome; Bally’s boffo

At the risk of flogging a deceased equine, the emperor at Caesars Entertainment has yet again showed himself to be without clothes. The latest Eldorado-ization of the Roman Empire is the wholesale slaughter of table games along the Las Vegas … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, Crown Resorts, Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Fontainebleau, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Jack Entertainment, Louisiana, Macau, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Taxes, The Strip, Virginia, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 5 Comments

Torrid summer in Ohio; Kiddies for sports betting

We’ve been a busy bee of late. You can read our interview with Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment‘s Pacific viceroy, Bobby Soper, see our preview of Resorts World Las Vegas or look back on 2020, the year that wasn’t in gaming. … Continue reading

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cosmopolitan, DraftKings, FanDuel, Florida, Foxwoods, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Jack Entertainment, Law enforcement, Lotteries, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Politics, Resorts World LV, Rush Street Gaming, Seminole Tribe, South Korea, Sports betting, Technology, Wall Street, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Case Bets

Crown Resorts is in the soup again. Businessman and fugitive from justice Michael Gu allegedly used Crown Melbourne as a sieve through which to strain $8 million in Ponzi scheme money. “Authorities believe he conned clients by claiming he was … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Barstool Sports, Caesars Entertainment, China, Crown Resorts, DraftKings, FanDuel, Illinois, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Money laundering, Penn National, PointsBet, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Scientific Games goes on a diet; BetMGM stiffs player

This is a head-scratcher. Despite sports betting sweeping our great country, Scientific Games is opting out of the sports-wagering business. And the lottery biz, too, even though that remains a robust market segment. Reported JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff, “management … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, BetMGM, Churchill Downs, Cirque du Soleil, CQ Holdings, Dining, Environment, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Lotteries, Louisiana, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Rush Street Gaming, Scientific Games, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Scientific Games goes on a diet; BetMGM stiffs player

Unlucky Lucy; Las Vegas “vibrant;” Secret plan for Atlantic City

No executives? No financing? No problem, right? Big problem! Just ask the nonentities behind a proposed Terre Haute casino. They just got turned down for a license. This almost never happens in “gold standard” Nevada, not because casino projects have … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Conventions, Cordish Co., Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Hard Rock International, Horseracing, Illinois, Indiana, Law enforcement, Macau, MGM Resorts International, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Politics, Real Estate, Regulation, Slot routes, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Spectacle Entertainment, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Virginia | 2 Comments

Same to you, fella; Mega-Jottings

We were stumped for a lead item until we got this snap from our Atlantic City bureau. One has to puzzle at Borgata‘s cretinous idea of a welcome, particularly its implicit slap at women. Did property President Melonie Johnson sign … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Cretins, Diversity, Foxwoods, Greenwood Racing, Illinois, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Mohegan Sun, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Reno, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Taxes, Technology, Texas, Tribal, William Hill | Comments Off on Same to you, fella; Mega-Jottings

Big Trouble in Little China; The thieving nun

Carrying a 20-year-long grudge, businessman Marshall Hao is suing Las Vegas Sands for $12 billion, claiming it wronged him when it jilted his Asian American Entertainment Corp. in favor of a (short-lived) partnership with Galaxy Entertainment to get into Macao. … Continue reading

Posted in Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, California, Churchill Downs, Cretins, Culinary Union, DraftKings, FanDuel, Illinois, Kentucky, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Macau, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Penn National, PointsBet, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, William Hill, Wyoming | 2 Comments

Illinois limps, Ohio races; Flying the friendly skies with Hard Rock

First, the good news. Illinois gaming revenues held steady from April to May. However … they lagged May 2019 by 9.5%, for a gross of $107 million. The shining exception, as ever, was Rivers Casino Des Plaines, which cornered 39% … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, DraftKings, Genting, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Jack Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Neil Bluhm, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Politics, Slot routes, Taxes, Transportation | 1 Comment

Don’t make mine Manhattan

That’s the word from key legislators, who have made it clear that Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) would be putting a casino in Manhattan over their dead bodies. “I believe it would be seriously detrimental to the residential and commercial quality … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Bally, BetMGM, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment, FanDuel, Genting, Georgia, Illinois, Las Vegas Sands, Marijuana, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, New York, Politics, Regulation, Resort fees, Resorts World LV, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, Transportation, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Caesars, MGM lead Vegas recovery; Florida compact dicey

Let’s start with some good news. JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff laid out a series of benchmarks for a Las Vegas comeback across the second half of 2021 (one year earlier than anticipated). “We think these data points are indicative … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Conventions, Dining, Economy, Florida, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, LVCVA, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Wynn gaining steam; Miami Beach casino juice job dismissed

First-quarter results for Wynn Resorts were worse than expected in Macao but better than anticipated in both Las Vegas and Boston, while the company posted a revenue chasm around Wynn Interactive. To shore up the latter, Wynn is merging it … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Century Casinos, Conventions, Donald Trump, DraftKings, FanDuel, Florida, Hard Rock International, Horseracing, Illinois, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, TV, Virginia, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Wynn gaining steam; Miami Beach casino juice job dismissed

DraftKings’ mixed results; Penn waxes, Iowa wanes

DraftKings exceeded analysts’ expectations with its 1Q21 revenues, leading Credit Suisse‘s Ben Chaiken to boost his 2021 revenue projection by $100 million, to $1.1 billion, in part “reflecting strength in new states such as Michigan.” Wall Street anticipated $239 million … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Arizona, Barstool Sports, Baseball, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Derek Stevens, Diversity, DraftKings, FanDuel, Golden Gaming, Illinois, Internet gambling, Iowa, Marketing, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, Tribal, Virginia, Wall Street, William Hill, Wynn Resorts, Wyoming | 1 Comment

Recovery has legs; Resorts World LV impresses

Maryland didn’t just do well in April, it posted its third-best month ever. Gaming win grew 11.5% from 2019, to $162 million. That’s with 50% capacity constraints at MGM National Harbor and Horseshoe Baltimore (all other casinos are operating at … Continue reading

Posted in Barstool Sports, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Conventions, Cordish Co., Cosmopolitan, Dining, Entertainment, Genting, Golden Gaming, Health, Illinois, Internet gambling, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, New Mexico, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Sports betting, Wall Street, West Virginia, World Series of Poker | 1 Comment

Las Vegas rates rebound; Kentucky Derby brings out crowds

In another sign of a faster-than-expected Las Vegas comeback, room rates on the Strip for the May 23-29 period are reported to be flat with 2019. Midweek numbers are mildly down (-17%) but counterbalanced by higher weekend rates (+18%) than … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, China, CityCenter, Conventions, Crown Resorts, Dining, Dubai, Economy, Entertainment, Genting, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock Hotel, Health, Horseracing, Illinois, International, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Palms, Pennsylvania, Plaza, Real Estate, Regulation, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, Tennessee, The Strip, Tribal, Virginia, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

BetMGM “very credible”; Recovery at Sands “gradual”

That’s how JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff described an evidently persuasive virtual meeting with BetMGM covering the latter’s recent results and strategic objectives. “To us, this was a credible presentation (particularly with its customer acquisition and retention objectives and operating … Continue reading

Posted in Alabama, Atlantic City, Bally, California, Canada, China, Cosmopolitan, Culinary Union, Dotty's, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Illinois, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ocean Resort, Politics, Regulation, Singapore, Slot routes, Texas, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on BetMGM “very credible”; Recovery at Sands “gradual”

Michigan sports betting, i-gaming surge; AGA chases renegade slots

Say what you like about Michigan, it’s giving New Jersey and Pennsylvania a literal run for their money in Internet gambling. Win/day is just over $3 million, close behind the Keystone State’s $3.15 million and challenging the Garden State’s $3.65 … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Arizona, Atlantic City, Barstool Sports, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Dining, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Florida, FoxBet, Hawaii, Health, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Kansas, Las Vegas Sands, Lotteries, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Problem gambling, Regulation, Reno, Resorts World LV, Rhode Island, Rush Street Gaming, Slot routes, South Dakota, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Pennsylvania booms and busts, Massachusetts lags

Casino revenues were $270.5 million last month in Pennsylvania, down 22% from March 2019, another exception to the wave of recovery sweeping the country. Slots accounted for $199 million, tables for $71.5 million. Casinos were held to 50% of capacity, … Continue reading

Posted in Aristocrat, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Colony Capital, Conventions, Cordish Co., Dining, DraftKings, Election, FanDuel, FoxBet, Greenwood Racing, Health, history, Illinois, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Rush Street Gaming, Scientific Games, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Pennsylvania booms and busts, Massachusetts lags

Trop flipped; Arizona, Maryland join sports-betting club

The Gaming & Leisure Properties Inc. regime at Tropicana Las Vegas was (as planned) a short-lived one. GLPI just announced that it has flipped the Trop to Bally’s Corp., which evidently couldn’t wait one minute longer to get onto the … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Colorado, Delaware, Downtown, DraftKings, Entertainment, FanDuel, Foxwoods, GLPI, Golden Nugget, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, Tribal, Wall Street, William Hill | 1 Comment

It’s DraftKings’ world, we just live in it; Musk tunnel panned

While Coronavirus and the ensuing shut-ins were very good for DraftKings by virtually every metric, CEO Jason Robins says the fun is just beginning. He told the Boston Globe that the pandemic has ratified his business model, which presumed the … Continue reading

Posted in Alabama, Architecture, Atlantic City, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Cordish Co., DFS, Dining, DraftKings, FanDuel, Health, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Japan, Lotteries, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Politics, Racinos, Security, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Transportation, Wall Street | Comments Off on It’s DraftKings’ world, we just live in it; Musk tunnel panned