Category Archives: Indiana

Louisiana stagnant, Michigan a sports-betting go

An extra weekend day didn’t do bupkis for Louisiana, where November gaming revenues ($205 million) were flat with last year’s. The good news is that Baton Rouge, so troubled a market, was incrementally higher than in 2018. Eldorado Resorts‘ Belle … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, China, Churchill Downs, Detroit, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Indiana, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Macau, Michigan, Movies, New Jersey, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sexual misconduct, Sports betting, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Louisiana stagnant, Michigan a sports-betting go

Station faces the music; Atlantic City dissed

Imagine how much of a world of hurt Station Casinos would be in if DJs Marshmello and Skrillex hadn’t quit instead of having their high-priced sinecures ($60 million in Mr. Marshmello’s case) terminated, as happened to Ryan Raddon, aka Kaskade. … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Hard Rock International, Indiana, Internet gambling, Japan, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Ocean Resort, Oklahoma, Palms, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal | 1 Comment

What gives, Indiana?; Galaxy ousted from Philippines

Despite the excellent November performance of surrounding Midwest states, Indiana casinos were up only 1% last month. Factor in an extra weekend day this year and that’s a pretty underwhelming result. In its last full month of service, riverboat Glory of … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Dan Gilbert, Dining, DraftKings, Eldorado Resorts, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, Galaxy Entertainment, Indiana, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Philippines, Rush Street Gaming, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports, Sports betting, The Mob, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on What gives, Indiana?; Galaxy ousted from Philippines

Tumult in Atlantic City; Goodell’s exquisite hypocrisy

Atlantic City casinos have had enough with the town’s mayoral office. They want it eliminated in favor of a city manager. Difficult to argue with that one. Except for Don Guardian, we haven’t seen one A.C. mayor we’ve liked. The … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, China, Dining, Election, Entertainment, history, Indiana, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Oscar Goodman, Politics, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Unite-Here, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Big bounce at IGT; Cosmo revises restaurant lineup

“What’s 23% Between Friends?” So asked Credit Suisse analyst Ben Combes as he reported on International Game Technology‘s 3Q19 earnings call. IGT’s $407 million in cash flow exceeded consensus Wall Street expectations by 3%. IGT stock vaulted 23% on the … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Cosmopolitan, Delaware, Detroit, Dining, Entertainment, Genting, history, IGT, Indiana, International, Las Vegas Raiders, Lotteries, M Resort, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, New York, Penn National, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off on Big bounce at IGT; Cosmo revises restaurant lineup

A swing through the Rust Belt

What does Ohio‘s economy have that other Rust Belt states do not? We’d really like to know, since Ohio consistently outperforms its brethren when it comes to gaming revenue. Last month, casino win was up 5.5% to $158.5 million. Racinos … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Dan Gilbert, DraftKings, Eldorado Resorts, Full House Resorts, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Pets, Rush Street Gaming, Slot routes, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports betting | Comments Off on A swing through the Rust Belt

Choo-choo to Springfield; Penn hawks Trop

Don’t despair, MGM Springfield. There’s hope yet. Massachusetts politicians are touting the idea of high-speed rail between Boston and Springfield, as many as six rides per day. (Springfield currently must get by with once-a-day Amtrak service.) Gov. Charlie Baker (R) … Continue reading

Posted in China, Connecticut, Donald Trump, Downtown, Election, Foxwoods, Indiana, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Hampshire, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Sexual misconduct, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, The Strip, Transportation, TV, Twin River, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Choo-choo to Springfield; Penn hawks Trop

Live like The Donald; Growing pains in Pennsylvania

For sale: One casino riverboat, heavily used. The former Trump Princess, now Majestic Star II, is on the market for $6 million, along with its sister ship, also costing $6 million. If you want to live large like Donald Trump, … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, China, Colorado, Cordish Co., Don Barden, Donald Trump, Election, Genting, Georgia, Indiana, Macau, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sports betting, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off on Live like The Donald; Growing pains in Pennsylvania

MGM retrenches; Election wrap-up

MGM Resorts International CFO Corey Sanders and Chief Strategy Officer Aaron Fischer met with J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff, who came “away from these meetings incrementally positive on MGM’s asset monetization plans, ability to meet its 2020 targets, and a healthy … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Caesars Entertainment, CityCenter, Colorado, Conventions, Dubai, Election, Full House Resorts, Indiana, Japan, Kentucky, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Regulation, Slot routes, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports, Sports betting, Vietnam, Virginia, Wall Street | Comments Off on MGM retrenches; Election wrap-up

Massachusetts: No more casinos; Gilbert sells again

Citing an obvious saturation (already) in the Massachusetts market and the possibility of a tribal casino in Taunton or on Martha’s Vineyard, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission punted the award of the state’s final casino license into the indefinite future. In … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Dan Gilbert, Donald Trump, Genting, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Maryland, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Singapore, Tribal | Comments Off on Massachusetts: No more casinos; Gilbert sells again

Oklahoma, tribes ready to talk; Don’t geofence me in

Oct. 28 is the date appointed for Oklahoma gaming tribes to meet with Attorney General Mike Hunter and find out just what Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) wants from them. As one chief put it, “We’re anxiously awaiting what their proposal is.” … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Colorado, Dan Lee, DFS, Election, Full House Resorts, G2E, Genting, history, Indiana, Las Vegas Sands, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Oklahoma, Oregon, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Singapore, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Boyd, Penn upbeat; DeSalvio leaves Encore Boston

J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff continued his listening tour of Global Gaming Expo, meeting with Boyd Gaming CFO Josh Hirshberg. “We come away positive and highlight BYD’s attractive free cash flow generation and ensuing de-leveraging,” Greff reported. Despite wider concerns … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Derek Stevens, Detroit, Dining, G2E, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Palms, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Slot routes, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Wall Street rates Vegas, Macao; Tribes skirmish in Illinois

Credit Suisse analyst Ben Combes turned his attention to three major Las Vegas companies, starting with MGM Resorts International. He’s staying neutral on the giant, writing, “We see Las Vegas as a cyclical but long-term growth market, given strong leverage … Continue reading

Posted in China, Conventions, Economy, Illinois, Indiana, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Pennsylvania, Politics, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal | Comments Off on Wall Street rates Vegas, Macao; Tribes skirmish in Illinois

Big Hoosier handle; Caudill empire expands

Indiana sports books generated $35 million in handle last month, translating to $8.5 million in revenue, taxed at 9.5%. “Indiana’s sportsbooks are in their infancy, but their ability to capitalize on the Chicago market did not take long to produce … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Derek Stevens, Diversity, Downtown, El Cortez, Eldorado Resorts, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Penn National, Real Estate, Sports betting, Taxes, Technology, Terry Caudill, The Mob, The Strip, Wayne F. Newton, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Big Hoosier handle; Caudill empire expands

What’s in a day?

Ohio and Illinois weathered a September with one less weekend day just fine. Indiana and Missouri, not so much. The Hoosier State was down 2.5% (on a weak comparison). The gross was $173 million. There were some big swings and … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Eldorado Resorts, Full House Resorts, Indiana, Missouri, Penn National, Racinos, Spectacle Entertainment, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on What’s in a day?

Near-ideal month in Atlantic City

Atlantic City casinos were, despite an extra weekend day in August, up only 6%. But, more importantly, all except one either stood their ground or grew business. They grossed $286.5 million, with symmetrical increases in slot and table revenue. A … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, China, Detroit, Donald Trump, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Full House Resorts, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Ohio, Palms, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Virginia, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Case Bets

Unlike people across the Pearl River Delta in Hong Kong, casino workers in Macao are relatively easy to please. Their latest set of demands will sound very familiar to Americans: a five-day work week, vacation schedules and a smoke-free environment (we’re … Continue reading

Posted in DFS, Indiana, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Rhode Island, Sports betting, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Case Bets

Quote of the Day

“If you haven’t been there to find these two boats, you need a map and a compass, because they are really hidden in a very remote location.”—Spectacle Entertainment General Counsel John Keeler, on the cons of Spectacle’s two Majestic Star … Continue reading

Posted in Indiana, Majestic Star, Spectacle Entertainment | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Resort fees likely to worsen; Fertitta preaches caution

All hail Terry Caudill. His Four Queens is one of the very few hotel-casinos in Las Vegas to eschew resort fees. At least that’s what the Reno Gazette-Journal tells us. The RGJ took a deep dive into the resort-fee issue … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Downtown, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Full House Resorts, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Laughlin, Law enforcement, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Resort fees, Sports, Sports betting, Terry Caudill, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | 2 Comments

El Paso, Dayton … Las Vegas?

Las Vegas, if you’ll pardon the pun, dodged a bullet when the FBI apprehended a man bent on killing large numbers of Jews and gay people. Conor Climo, the alleged bomber, has been linked to the white-supremacist netherworld and supposedly … Continue reading

Posted in Churchill Downs, Connecticut, Current, Downtown, Foxwoods, Full House Resorts, Indiana, Kentucky, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Sports, Sports betting, Wall Street | Comments Off on El Paso, Dayton … Las Vegas?