Category Archives: International

Maryland goes, goes, goes; Penn flips out; SEC scrutinizing DraftKings

We Americans sure do love us some gambling. Maryland‘s July numbers just came in and it’s 20.5% (!) ahead of 2019. Casinos won $180 million and two extra weekend days obviously helped the tally. MGM National Harbor led with $72 … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., DraftKings, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Kansas, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pahrump, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, Tribal, TV, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off on Maryland goes, goes, goes; Penn flips out; SEC scrutinizing DraftKings

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

Real estate frenzy on the Strip; Barrack busted; Masks redux

Setting foot inside Aztec Inn Casino is not for the faint of heart. But its owners think they’re sitting on a gold mine. It and a gaggle of properties that includes Golden Skull Tattoo and Diversity Tattoo is on the … Continue reading

Posted in BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, California, Colony Capital, Donald Trump, DraftKings, Fontainebleau, Health, International, Law enforcement, MGM Resorts International, Phil Ruffin, PointsBet, Real Estate, Reno, Sports, Sports betting, Steven Witkoff, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Massachusetts strong; Casino boycott announced

Massachusetts almost reached 2019 levels, coming up 4% shy with an April gross of $84.5 million. The commonwealth’s three casinos did this despite having to operate at 40% of capacity (all capacity limits will be lifted May 29). Plainridge Park … Continue reading

Posted in Donald Trump, Florida, Health, IGT, International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Penn National, Politics, Seminole Tribe, Sports betting, Tamares Group, Taxes, Tribal, Virginia, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Hail Caesars; Durango Station green-lit

“Solid … very encouraging … impressive momentum.” Those were some of the things JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff had to say about Caesars Entertainment‘s 1Q21 numbers. Cash flow of $548 million well exceed Greff’s expected $429 million, to say nothing … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Caesars Entertainment, Card rooms, Conventions, Cosmopolitan, Derek Stevens, Entertainment, Florida, Health, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Michael Gaughan, New York, Politics, Reno, Seminole Tribe, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Hail Caesars; Durango Station green-lit

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

Maryland has best month ever; Rio reopens

Even with capacity restrictions still in place at MGM National Harbor and Horseshoe Baltimore, the Free State enjoyed an epic March with casinos posting an all-time-record $169 million. On March 12, MGM and Horseshoe were bumped up to 50% capacity … Continue reading

Posted in Aristocrat, Caesars Entertainment, China, Churchill Downs, Connecticut, Cordish Co., Economy, Entertainment, Golden Gaming, Health, International, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Politics, Shuffle Master, Sports betting, The Rio, West Virginia | Comments Off on Maryland has best month ever; Rio reopens

Next stop … Richmond?!?; Alabama covets casinos

No fewer than six companies, some of them major, have descended upon Richmond, Virginia, seeking the Dominion State’s last casino license. They are: Bally’s Corp. ($650 million), Cordish Cos. ($600 million), Golden Nugget ($400 million), Pamunkey Indian Tribe ($350 million), … Continue reading

Posted in Alabama, Bally, Cordish Co., Diversity, Entertainment, Golden Nugget, International, Kansas, MGM Resorts International, Politics, South Korea, Sports betting, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tribal, United Kingdom, Virginia, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Vegas locals strong, Strip stinks; Economic boom foreseen

Even with $600 extra in their pockets, gamblers could not be lured back to the Las Vegas Strip last month. Strip revenues of $321.5 million represented a 44% implosion from 2020. Statewide, the falloff was 26.5% to $762 million. Once … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Derek Stevens, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Election, Health, history, Horseracing, Illinois, International, Kentucky, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Maryland, Mesquite, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Pennsylvania, Reno, Security, Sports, Sports betting, Tennessee, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Wall Street, Wendover | 3 Comments

Mixed signals from Vegas; It’s all good in Atlantic City

Is the new year bringing a Las Vegas comeback? If you set store by anecdotal evidence, things look relatively normal on Fremont Street. God knows Downtown could use a dose of normality, especially after a December devoutly to be forgotten. … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Architecture, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Detroit, Downtown, Economy, Election, Golden Nugget, Hawaii, Health, Horseracing, Illinois, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Iowa, Kansas, Las Vegas Sands, Lotteries, Louisiana, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, United Kingdom, Virginia, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Wynn surprises few; Maryland stabilizes, Iowa impresses

It’s earnings-report time for Wynn Resorts and JP Morgan analyst, Joseph Greff, for one, is feeling blasé about the numbers. “Overall, we’d characterize the quarter as in line with investors’ recent expectations, and its earnings conference call outlook commentary as … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, China, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Dining, DraftKings, Entertainment, FanDuel, Golden Gaming, Health, International, Internet gambling, Iowa, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, The Strip, Wall Street, West Virginia, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Wynn surprises few; Maryland stabilizes, Iowa impresses

Case Bets

More than 23 million Americans are expected to bet legally or otherwise on the Super Bowl, according to the American Gaming Association, which predicts $4.3 billion in handle. 7.5 million punters will be doing their wagering online, 63% more than … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, Cordish Co., DFS, Diversity, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, history, Illinois, International, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Problem gambling, Real Estate, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 3 Comments

Wynn, loopy attorney in legal feud; Philly goes Live

Steve Wynn is back in the news again. His former attorney, L. Lin Wood, is suing Wynn for alleged defamation, the ex-casino mogul supposedly having told Donald Trump that Wood was several fries short of a Happy Meal. The falling … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Connecticut, Conventions, Cordish Co., Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, FanDuel, Foxwoods, Health, IGT, International, Marijuana, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Steve Wynn | 2 Comments

Chilly in Atlantic City, deep freeze in Detroit; Siegfried, R.I.P.

Casino revenues in Atlantic City plunged 29% last month. “Results for the month reflect the negative impact of higher new COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, capacity limits and restrictions on F&B offerings, similar to other regional markets,” writes JP Morgan … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, Caesars Entertainment, Centaur Gaming, Derek Stevens, Detroit, Dining, Donald Trump, DraftKings, Entertainment, FanDuel, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Politics, Regulation, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, Unite-Here, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Tribute to a bad man

Sheldon Adelson‘s Horatio Alger success story came to an abrupt end today, when the Boston Globe broke the news of his death from lymphoma at age 87. Adelson had a good run in the industry, longer than most, and his … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Alabama, Architecture, Conventions, Culinary Union, Donald Trump, Election, Florida, Galaxy Entertainment, Health, history, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, LVCVA, Macau, Marijuana, Movies, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Texas, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Adelson, Packer canoodle & other news

While America burns, Sheldon Adelson is fiddling in the French Caribbean, aboard his mega-luxury yacht. The vessel was moored next to that of James Packer, who welcomed Adelson as guest for his lavish New Year’s Eve celebration. This meeting of … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, China, Crown Resorts, Detroit, Dining, Economy, Hawaii, Health, International, Internet gambling, Iowa, James Packer, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, South Dakota, Taxes, Tribal, Virginia | Comments Off on Adelson, Packer canoodle & other news

Vegas scraping bottom; Caesars fined big-time

Rising numbers of Covid-19 cases “pressured visitation” to Las Vegas last month and a total absence of conventions didn’t help either, according to JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff. Tourism was down 57%, which drove a devastating 70% decline in revenue … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Colorado, Economy, Health, International, LVCVA, MGM Resorts International, Money laundering, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, William Hill | 2 Comments

Mixed readings on Vegas recovery; Trump vs. Titus

How bad is it in Las Vegas? Well, the latest edict from MGM Resorts International is that The Mirage will be closed from Monday at noon to Thursday at noon, INCLUDING the casino. (We felt that news needed a bit … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Australia, Barstool Sports, Caesars Entertainment, CQ Holdings, Crown Resorts, Derek Stevens, Donald Trump, Downtown, DraftKings, Economy, GLPI, Health, Horseracing, International, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Movies, Nebraska, Nevada, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Tex Adelson rides again

Fresh from trying to afflict the country with another four years of Donald Trump, mega-mogul Sheldon Adelson is turning his eyes upon Texas. He’s readying a crack team of lobbyists, including Karen Rove, to descend upon the Lege when it … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Cosmopolitan, Economy, Election, Florida, Hard Rock International, Health, Horseracing, International, Japan, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Lotteries, Marijuana, New York, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Texas, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal | 2 Comments

The empty city and other sad news

Politico took a trip to Atlantic City and found a “city without a pulse,” its Boardwalk “empty,” its casinos “limping.” One out of every three Atlantic citizens remains without a job, not surprising when casinos can only operate at reduced … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Dining, Economy, Health, International, Internet gambling, Mohegan Sun, Politics, South Korea, Sports betting, Tourism, TV, Wall Street | 3 Comments