Category Archives: Louisiana

Casinos, DFS wrangle in Massachusetts; Harrah’s wins in Louisiana

Posted on May 31, 2019 by David McKee

Debate over sports betting in Massachusetts has brought out a ruction between Boston-based DraftKings, representing the forces of online gambling, and brick-and-mortar casinos, which want to be the sole purveyors of Internet sports bets, with maybe five to seven ‘skins’ … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, DFS, Entertainment, Genting, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Problem gambling, Rhode Island, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip | Comments Off

Harrah’s wants its money back; Lucky Dragon investors grumble

Posted on May 22, 2019 by David McKee

They’ve got brass balls at Harrah’s New Orleans. Not only do they want an early extension of their terra forma monopoly, which expires in 2024, they want a big-ass tax rebate to go with it. At stake is a 2001 … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Louisiana, Lucky Dragon, Midnight Jim Gibbons, Nevada, Regulation, Reno, Resort fees, Taxes | Comments Off

Soggy month in Louisiana; IGT on firm ground

Posted on May 21, 2019 by David McKee

Gaming revenues were down 5.5% last month in the Bayou State, particularly unimpressive when you consider that they fell 8% in the same month last year. The statewide gross was $199.5 million. The Shreveport/Bossier City market suffered least, down 3%, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Eldorado Resorts, IGT, International, Lotteries, Louisiana, Penn National, Sports betting, Taxes, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Everyone’s happy in Singapore; Adelson involvement probed

Posted on May 9, 2019 by David McKee

While the government in Macao likes to keep casino executives in a state of uncertainty about the future, Singapore is far more sanguine. Between them, Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa have committed $6.6 billion to new development. That … Continue reading →

Posted in Genting, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Louisiana, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports betting, Taxes | Comments Off

Caesars’ secret weapon

Posted on May 2, 2019 by David McKee

“Just the right amount of optimism” was how Credit Suisse analyst Ben Combes described Caesars Entertainment’s 1Q19 results. Ex-CEO Mark Frissora‘s purchase of Centaur Gaming continues to pay off, as it was the tentpole of regional-gaming performance. “On a same-store … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Centaur Gaming, Detroit, Downtown, Indiana, Louisiana, Marijuana, Mississippi, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Boyd, Churchill Downs garner raves; Indiana governor seduced

Posted on April 26, 2019 by David McKee

Boyd Gaming got a good review on Wall Street today, lauded both for slightly surpassing revenue expectations and for moving quickly to deleverage in the wake of the Valley Forge, Belterra and Ameristar acquisitions. Downtown continues to be Boyd’s bastion … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Charity, Churchill Downs, Current, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Florida, Hawaii, Horseracing, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Ohio, Palms, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Rhode Island, Slot routes, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street, West Virginia, Westgate LV | 1 Comment

Partly cloudy in Louisiana

Posted on April 16, 2019 by David McKee

Compared to a strong March last year, Louisiana was anemic last month, down 2.5% to $246 million. Of course, it is risky to generalize since some markets were quite healthy and others (Baton Rouge, anyone) were ailing. The same might … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, Louisiana, Penn National, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | Comments Off

MGM Calgary?!?; Virginity postponed

Posted on April 2, 2019 by David McKee

Having long since abandoned its designs on Toronto, it seems MGM Resorts International is looking even deeper into the Great White North. According to DailyHive.com, MGM is pitching a $5.1 billion gambling and residential complex in downtown Calgary. Obviously New … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Australia, DFS, Hard Rock Hotel, International, Louisiana, MGM Resorts International, Politics, Sports betting | Comments Off

Louisiana chokes on smoking ban; Graham’s conversion

Posted on March 22, 2019 by David McKee

Gaming revenues were down 4% last month in Louisiana, mainly dragged under by the Baton Rouge market, plummeting 19%. Since the imposition of a smoking ban in Red Stick, casinos’ business has been 17% lower, a business catastrophe. Belle of … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, history, Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Problem gambling, South Carolina, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, William Hill | Comments Off

MGM, Eldorado, Churchill Downs looking up

Posted on February 28, 2019 by David McKee

Credit Suisse‘s Cameron McKnight flew out to San Francisco to meet with MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren. The biggest headline item would be the eccentricity of Murren choosing to meet in Frisco rather than at MGM HQ in Las … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, DFS, Eldorado Resorts, history, Horseracing, Illinois, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, MTR Gaming, Neil Bluhm, Ocean Resort, Resort fees, Rush Street Gaming, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Caesars dominates Louisiana; Steve Wynn wins in Beantown

Posted on February 22, 2019 by David McKee

Gaming revenue in Louisiana was flat last month, with strength in Shreveport and New Orleans making up for weakness in (mainly) Baton Rouge and Lake Charles. It’s difficult to account for the 3% dip in Lake Charles, aside from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Penn National, PokerStars, Politics, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, West Virginia | Comments Off

Caesars: The Icahn factor; Troubled Tilman; Brownout

Posted on February 18, 2019 by David McKee

If you’re a company that wants to prove that its stock is undervalued, you’ve got a definitive case when Carl Icahn buys into your company. And if you’re Caesars Entertainment and Icahn suddenly holds 10% of your stock, you’re officially … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Don Barden, Eldorado Resorts, International, Japan, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Security, Sheldon Adelson, South Korea, Taxes, Texas, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | Comments Off

A tale of two Fertittas

Posted on February 13, 2019 by David McKee

Golden Nugget owner Tilman Fertitta is facing trouble close to home. $30.5 million in liens have been levied for unpaid work done at $400 million The Post Oak hotel in Houston. Like Sheldon Adelson, Fertitta blames the primary contractor and … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Economy, GLPI, Louisiana, MGM Resorts International, Palms, Problem gambling, Reno, Sports, Station Casinos, Texas, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | Comments Off

Maryland booms, Illinois frozen out; Resort fees to rise … again

Posted on February 7, 2019 by David McKee

Business continues to boom for MGM National Harbor, which raked in $57 million last month, 12% growth and 41% of the Free State’s $137 million gross gaming revenue. Maryland Live‘s 34% market share translated into a gross of $46 million. Horseshoe … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Colorado, Cordish Co., Detroit, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Illinois, Las Vegas Raiders, Louisiana, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Resort fees, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Wall Street, West Virginia | 1 Comment

Louisiana: What happened?; Wynn wins historic victory

Posted on January 22, 2019 by David McKee

While most jurisdictions performed impressively last month, Louisiana was down 2.5%. How to account for the slippage? True, the drive-in driven Shreveport/Bossier City market was off 1.5%. But the real culprit was Baton Rouge, toppling 15.5% and ravaged by the new … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, GLPI, Greenwood Racing, International, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Vietnam, Wall Street, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

MGM gets new admirer; Okada busted again

Posted on January 8, 2019 by David McKee

JP Morgan has initiated analyst-focus coverage of MGM Resorts International “as we see an increasingly favorable setup for 2019” that includes “relatively low expectations in Las Vegas.” Morgan analyst Joseph Greff applauded the upcoming pogrom of the MGM workforce, as well … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Detroit, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Kazuo Okada, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Philippines, Regulation, Rhode Island, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Philly Live shows signs of life; Sports betting no cure-all

Posted on January 7, 2019 by David McKee

Cordish Gaming‘s $700 million Philadelphia casino project (now with 100% less Watouche “Bob” Manoukian) has been postponed two years. However, in a sign of forward progress, Cordish has signed a general contractor and pledged “substantial completion” by 2020. It remains … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Colorado, Cordish Co., Horseracing, Louisiana, Marijuana, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sports betting, Taxes, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Trop defies Atlantic City odds; Massachusetts underachieves

Posted on November 16, 2018 by David McKee

October was good for Atlantic City‘s new casinos, with the overall market up 8%, but bad for the incumbents, down 11.5%. Terrestrial gambling win totaled $200.5 million, with mixed messages all over the place. Slot win was up 5% but … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Boyd Gaming, Bruce Deifik, Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Churchill Downs, Connecticut, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Eldorado Resorts, Georgia, GLPI, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, International, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Penn National, Rush Street Gaming, Scientific Games, Sports, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Election Postmortem: Who won, who lost

Posted on November 13, 2018 by David McKee

Election Night seems far behind us but its meaning for gaming is still sinking in, as in Arkansas, where sports betting has also been approved. In addition, two Oklahoma-based tribal entities are likely to feel entitled to the casinos green-lit … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Arkansas, Caesars Entertainment, Culinary Union, DFS, Election, Entertainment, Florida, history, Idaho, Illinois, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, MGM Resorts International, Oklahoma, Politics, Seminole Tribe, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 13, 2018 by David McKee

“It’s a shame that we can’t derive some revenue off the Alabama vs. LSU game.” — Louisiana state Sen. Ronnie Johns (R), on the Leglislature’s failure to approve sports betting.

Posted in Alabama, Louisiana, Politics, Sports, Sports betting | Comments Off