Category Archives: Japan

Anxiety over Japan; Profit squeeze in Atlantic City

Posted on May 28, 2019 by David McKee

Think Japan‘s going to have casinos open in time for the 2025 World Expo? Think again. Shinzo Abe‘s ruling Liberal Democratic Party is postponing the regulations governing casino bidding until after next year’s elections. That’s bad news for Osaka, in particular, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, North Carolina, Ocean Resort, Politics, Sports betting, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Worries from the Far East & other Case Bets

Posted on May 22, 2019 by David McKee

This goes in the Not A Great Idea file. Macao, still down from its go-go years, is thinking of implementing a tax on tourists. No kidding. It’s even gathering poll data on how the money should be spent, even before … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, M Resort, Macau, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off on Worries from the Far East & other Case Bets

The age of austerity?

Posted on May 16, 2019 by David McKee

While Station Casinos CEO Frank Fertitta III won’t be mistaken for a pauper anytime soon, he’s the most restrained of Las Vegas‘ top six gaming CEOs when it comes to compensation. On top of his $1 million base salary, his … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Culinary Union, International, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Lawrence Ho, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Unite-Here, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on The age of austerity?

Wall Street loves Wynn, Penn, MGM

Posted on May 15, 2019 by David McKee

JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff issued a post-1Q19 bulletin in which he named Wynn Resorts (growth), Penn National Gaming (value for share price) and MGM Resorts International (event-driven revenue) as his top picks in the gambling sphere. Wynn got a … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Caesars Entertainment, DFS, Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Internet gambling, Iowa, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pets, Pinnacle Entertainment, Problem gambling, Racinos, Sports betting, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Transportation, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Wall Street loves Wynn, Penn, MGM

MGM, Adelson tussle for Japan; Wynn pouts over fine

Posted on May 13, 2019 by David McKee

Everybody wants to be in Osaka, now that it’s open for casino development and the Osakanese government strongly covets a casino, one hopefully that would be open in time for the 2025 World Expo. Among the entrants, Las Vegas Sands, … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Galaxy Entertainment, Genting, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Lotteries, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Regulation, Singapore, Sports betting, Transportation, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on MGM, Adelson tussle for Japan; Wynn pouts over fine

The unkindest cuts of all

Posted on May 3, 2019 by David McKee

Apparently Las Vegas casinos—and specifically those of MGM Resorts International—have not learned from the ill-will generated by resort fees and paid parking. Now, as discovered by Scott Roeben, MGM is instigating an insidious “surge pricing” for sundries like water and … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Entertainment, Genting, Horseracing, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Resort fees, Singapore, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, The Strip | 1 Comment

Up and down the Strip; Land of the not-so-rising Sun

Posted on April 30, 2019 by David McKee

As a determination on its suitability in Massachusetts comes down to the wire (and opening date of Encore Boston Harbor is set for June 23), Wynn Resorts is trying to reap some positive karma. It has abandoned its pay-for-parking policy. … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Japan, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, Resort fees, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Up and down the Strip; Land of the not-so-rising Sun

Sands gets spanked; Palms (almost) loses its name

Posted on April 22, 2019 by David McKee

Las Vegas Sands is on its way out of Pennsylvania but not before receiving two swift kicks in the posterior from Keystone State regulators. The casino was fined $120,000 for allowing underage gaming and $110,000 for offenses related to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, CityCenter, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, Greenwood Racing, history, Horseracing, Indiana, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Ohio, Palms, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Resort fees, Rush Street Gaming, Slot routes, Station Casinos, Technology, Tribal, Virgin Hotels, Wisconsin | Comments Off on Sands gets spanked; Palms (almost) loses its name

Land of confusion

Posted on April 22, 2019 by David McKee

OK, so there are no condos on sale at the Plaza Resort in downtown Las Vegas. That much we have established. But it’s got to be one of the most baffling stories we’ve ever covered. For instance, “TLC” usually is shorthand … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Golden Gaming, Illinois, Japan, Kentucky, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Real Estate, Regulation, Sports betting, Tamares Group, Taxes, Terry Caudill, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Land of confusion

Across the Pacific

Posted on April 17, 2019 by David McKee

In a nodal moment for Macao, mass-market gambling revenue constituted the majority of monies collected during 1Q19. This is the first time that mass-market winnings have surpassed VIP ones. VIP baccarat revenue was down 16% while mass-market win was up … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Environment, Japan, Kazuo Okada, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Philippines, Problem gambling, Technology, Tourism | Comments Off on Across the Pacific

Wynn bids for Crown Resorts; MGM garners lofty accolades

Posted on April 9, 2019 by David McKee

In the latest episode from this winter’s senseless round of buy-or-be-bought transactions, Wynn Resorts has tendered an offer to Crown Resorts. Presumably the fun has gone out of tying James Packer‘s shoelaces together. The transaction, while would transform Wynn into … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Carl Icahn, Dan Gilbert, Environment, Galaxy Entertainment, Hard Rock International, history, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Sexual misconduct, Steve Wynn, Unite-Here, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

News briefs from around the globe

Posted on April 1, 2019 by David McKee

It’s the end of an era at Hard Rock Rocksino in Ohio. This week it becomes MGM Northfield Park, a completely uninspiring handle that reeks of insecurity. Dan Gilbert, if you’re ever going to make a run for the top … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Charity, Dining, Entertainment, International, Japan, Lake Las Vegas, Law enforcement, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Real Estate, Technology, The Strip, TV | 1 Comment

Baccarat undercuts the Strip; Japan shows its hand

Posted on March 28, 2019 by David McKee

Is our trade war with China inflicting collateral damage on the Las Vegas Strip? That’s one theory for anemic Chinese New Year visitation that led to a 2% downturn in gaming receipts last month. By contrast, last year saw an … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Downtown, Economy, Internet gambling, Japan, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Mesquite, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Philippines, Problem gambling, Regulation, Reno, Taxes, The Strip, Wendover | Comments Off on Baccarat undercuts the Strip; Japan shows its hand

Caesars: Running numbers; Showboat is back

Posted on March 21, 2019 by David McKee

JP Morgan‘s Daniel Politzer ran the numbers on an Eldorado Resorts buyout of Caesars Entertainment and finds it doable. His model is predicated on a $10.50/share purchase of CZR stock, currently trading at $8.56. That’s a pretty good deal for … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Detroit, DFS, e-sports, Eldorado Resorts, Illinois, Internet gambling, Iowa, Japan, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Sands, Laughlin, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Missouri, Politics, Reno, Sports, Taxes, Wall Street | 1 Comment

MGM: The first shall be last … or something like that

Posted on March 20, 2019 by David McKee

Closing out the J.P. Morgan Gaming & Lodging Management Access Forum were execs from MGM Resorts International. The company’s four priorities were stated as 1) drive organic growth, 2) bring new properties up to speed in terms of revenue performance, 3) … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Culinary Union, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Las Vegas Raiders, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Palms, Reno, Resort fees, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Transportation, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Eldorado explores Caesars takeover; MGM says ‘Play ball!’

Posted on March 19, 2019 by David McKee

Since corporate mergers, once begun, develop a momentum all their all own, it was inevitable that someone would step forward to explore a purchase of Caesars Entertainment, regardless of whether it is a good idea, risking a second bankruptcy. In … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, Eldorado Resorts, Genting, Internet gambling, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Macau, Marketing, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, New York, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Tilman Fertitta | Comments Off on Eldorado explores Caesars takeover; MGM says ‘Play ball!’

Gaming speaks: Penn, Boyd, Eldorado, Churchill Downs

Posted on March 15, 2019 by David McKee

One of the few CEOs to grace JP Morgan‘s hotel-and-leisure forum was Penn National Gaming‘s Tim Wilmot. He reported that the “regional consumer remains solid and trends are largely consistent with that seen 2018.” Furthermore, Penn is “seeing good growth … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Horseracing, Illinois, Japan, Kentucky, Marketing, Nevada, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Reno, Sports betting, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on Gaming speaks: Penn, Boyd, Eldorado, Churchill Downs

Gaming speaks: Wynn, Sands, Scientific

Posted on March 15, 2019 by David McKee

Wynn Resorts exuded overconfidence in a meeting with JP Morgan analysts. It’s already booking revenue from Encore Boston Harbor without knowing it’s going to hang onto the license. It also expects new revenue to be driven by the debut of … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Illinois, International, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Scientific Games, Singapore, South Korea, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Gaming speaks: Wynn, Sands, Scientific

Busy week for MGM; Adelson’s grim prognosis

Posted on March 12, 2019 by David McKee

Congratulations to MGM Resorts International on becoming the official casino sponsor of the Boston Red Sox (known around my house as “the Evil Empire”). I’m not sure how I feel about the MGM logo going up on the Green Monster, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Baseball, Eldorado Resorts, history, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Laughlin, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mississippi, Politics, Problem gambling, Real Estate, Regulation, Security, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Technology, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, William Hill | 1 Comment

Business as usual

Posted on March 8, 2019 by David McKee

Ohio casinos grossed $155 million last month, a 5.5% increase. Hollywood Toledo was 2.5% to $16 million and Hollywood Columbus rose 3% to $19 million. Hollywood Dayton was also up 3% to $9 million. Hollywood Mahoning Valley leapt 7% to $10 … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Animals, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Cantor Gaming, Churchill Downs, Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, Full House Resorts, Horseracing, Indiana, Japan, M Resort, Macau, Majestic Star, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Movies, Ohio, Penn National, Regulation, Sports betting, The Strip, Wall Street, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Business as usual