Category Archives: Laughlin

Santa kind to the Strip; Oklahoma compact mess explained

Gambling revenues on the Las Vegas Strip rose 4.5% last month, even as locals casinos vaulted 13.5% and the state as a whole was up 6%. Strip casinos grossed $592 million, despite a 27% tumble in baccarat winnings on 29.5% less … Continue reading

Posted in Boulder Strip, Downtown, IGT, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Lotteries, North Las Vegas, Oklahoma, Racinos, Reno, Rhode Island, The Strip, Tribal, Twin River | Comments Off on Santa kind to the Strip; Oklahoma compact mess explained

Cautious peace in Oklahoma

December 31 came and went without incident in Oklahoma, where tribal gaming compacts theoretically expired—at least if you ask Gov. Kevin Stitt (R). However, having proposed extending the existing compacts to Aug. 31, Stitt could hardly turn around and try … Continue reading

Posted in Environment, International, Internet gambling, Laughlin, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Oklahoma, Regulation, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Cautious peace in Oklahoma

Trop sold (we think); Angels in the casino

After fielding multiple offers for the Tropicana Las Vegas, one has been accepted by Penn National Gaming and negotiations are underway. All this comes by way of Scott Roeben‘s VitalVegas, which pegs the sale price at $700 million, making a tiny … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Conventions, DraftKings, Laughlin, M Resort, Maine, Massachusetts, Movies, New Hampshire, Penn National, Politics, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off on Trop sold (we think); Angels in the casino

Damp November in Nevada; Dirty dealings in Illinois

Could the good times be coming to an end for Las Vegas? The Strip was down 3% last month but, worse still, locals revenue was off by 4%. The prior-year comparison was difficult (+6.5%) but not impossible, while December looks … Continue reading

Posted in Boulder Strip, Downtown, Hard Rock Hotel, Illinois, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Marijuana, Movies, Nevada, New York, North Las Vegas, Phil Ruffin, Regulation, Reno, Slot routes, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Transportation | 1 Comment

Strip soft, locals firm; Big win for DraftKings

At $538 million, last month’s Strip gambling revenue fell 9%. Slot win was 1.5% up on 5.5% more coin-in. However, baccarat win plunged 27% on 20.5% less wagering. Non-baccarat table games were down 19% on 11% less betting. Strip casinos … Continue reading

Posted in Boulder Strip, Culinary Union, Downtown, DraftKings, International, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Law enforcement, Lotteries, MGM Resorts International, Money laundering, New Hampshire, North Las Vegas, Regulation, Reno, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Washington State | Comments Off on Strip soft, locals firm; Big win for DraftKings

Vegas tourists, locals flex economic muscle

Both the Las Vegas Strip and Nevada casinos as a whole were up 7% in September, with locals action up a bullish 9.5%. “We think this data suggest less potential gaming-related risk to MGM’s 3Q19 results as well as [Station … Continue reading

Posted in Boulder Strip, Conventions, Downtown, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, MGM Resorts International, Reno, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Vegas tourists, locals flex economic muscle

Cornyn checkmates tribes; Crown steps in it again

In this corner, two Native American tribes. In that one, Texas Sen. John Cornyn (R). They say he’s playing politics with their casino aspirations. He says they’re trying to make an end run—by way of the U.S. Senate—of their obligation … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, China, Crown Resorts, Environment, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Hooters, Illinois, Laughlin, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Mohegan Sun, Money laundering, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Politics, Slot routes, Texas, The Mob, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Cornyn checkmates tribes; Crown steps in it again

Strip buoyant, locals pounded; Tilman strikes again

Thanks in part to some dramatic table-game numbers, Las Vegas Strip revenues leapt 9% last month. It wasn’t baccarat: That highly volatile game was actually pretty stable, with 6% more win on 7% less wagering (the house played lucky). Other … Continue reading

Posted in Boulder Strip, Dining, Downtown, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, North Las Vegas, Reno, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta | Comments Off on Strip buoyant, locals pounded; Tilman strikes again

Baccarat hamstrings the Strip

July would have been a good month for the Las Vegas Strip were it not for a wipeout at baccarat: down 26% on 15% less wagering, so luck was definitely not with the house. Overall, Strip revenues were up 1.5% … Continue reading

Posted in Boulder Strip, Churchill Downs, Downtown, Illinois, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Raiders, Laughlin, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Racinos, Reno, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Wall Street | Comments Off on Baccarat hamstrings the Strip

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

Vegas’ baccarat bonanza; New ‘link’ on Strip

Ever unpredictable, the Las Vegas Strip boomed  last month, as gross gaming revenue shot up 18% (propelled by baccarat) to $616.5 million. Statewide, gambling win leapt 11.5% for a grand total of $1 billion. Perhaps it’s coincidental—but surely not—that McCarran … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Aristocrat, Baseball, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Golden Gaming, Hawaii, history, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, North Las Vegas, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Reno, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Vegas’ baccarat bonanza; New ‘link’ on Strip

Whales super-lucky on the Strip; New Jersey tops Nevada

Last month was the busiest in McCarran International Airport history, seeing 4,590,539 arrivals and departures. Unfortunately for the casinos, this did not translate into record prosperity. Far from it. Gross gaming revenue toppled 11% to $517.5 million. Slots were a bright … Continue reading

Posted in Boulder Strip, Culinary Union, Downtown, International, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Law enforcement, Macau, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Las Vegas, Palms, Reno, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, William Hill | Comments Off on Whales super-lucky on the Strip; New Jersey tops Nevada

Eldorado’s clearance sale; Atlantic City takes the lead

Eldorado Resorts may be getting closer to a Caesars Entertainment acquisition (accounts differ) but it’s already clearing the decks for a big expenditure. It just offloaded three casinos to—irony alert—Caesars’ Vici Properties for $385 million. The trio is Mountaineer Casino … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Cordish Co., Eldorado Resorts, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Louisiana, Marketing, Michael Gaughan, Mississippi, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Pets, Regulation, Sports betting, Unite-Here, Wall Street, West Virginia | 2 Comments

April unkind to Strip; Expansion scramble in Illinois

Las Vegas Strip revenues were down 3.5% last month but for once baccarat was blameless. Luck was with the casinos in the highly volatile game, which saw the house win 5.5% more on 17% higher wagering. Players avoided other table … Continue reading

Posted in Boulder Strip, Detroit, Downtown, Illinois, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Reno, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on April unkind to Strip; Expansion scramble in Illinois

Nevada: Strip weak, locals strong; Busing it to Macao

Las Vegas Strip gambling revenues were down 4% last month to $552 million. Some of that is attributable to an impossible baccarat comparison. In March 2018, baccarat win was up 118%. Last month it was down 56% on 43% less … Continue reading

Posted in Animals, Architecture, Arkansas, Australia, Boulder Strip, Downtown, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Lotteries, Macau, Mesquite, Nevada, New Mexico, North Las Vegas, Reno, South Korea, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal | 1 Comment

Baccarat undercuts the Strip; Japan shows its hand

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

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

Busy week for MGM; Adelson’s grim prognosis

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

Bowing to Wynn; Mixed views on Las Vegas

Today the Massachusetts Gaming Commission meets to finalize its disgraceful prostration, er, litigation settlement with Steve Wynn and presumably to lay the groundwork for levying some manner of fine on Wynn Resorts now that Nevada has set a $20 million … Continue reading

Posted in Boulder Strip, Caesars Entertainment, California, Carl Icahn, Donald Trump, Economy, Environment, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Raiders, Laughlin, Massachusetts, Mesquite, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Phil Ruffin, Regulation, Reno, Sexual misconduct, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wendover, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Vegas: Locals outperform the Strip; Sisolak nuked

Nevada gaming revenue was up 4% last month, just a few hundred thousand shy of an even billion dollars, even though the Las Vegas Strip was relatively stagnant. Strong baccarat win by the house (jumping 14.5%) was offset by 3% … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Aristocrat, Boulder Strip, Donald Trump, Downtown, Environment, IGT, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Mesquite, Nevada, Regulation, Reno, Scientific Games, South Carolina, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Vegas: Locals outperform the Strip; Sisolak nuked