Category Archives: Louisiana

Casinos continue to thrive; Crooks, liars and losers

There’s no “supply chain” issue when it comes to dollars flowing into American casinos. Take Missouri, for instance. Casino revenue sprang 15.5% over 2019 last month, for a statewide take of $145.5 million. Actual visitation was down 2o% but per-visitor … Continue reading

Posted in Apollo Management, Bally, Bally Technologies, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Century Casinos, Churchill Downs, Cretins, DraftKings, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Indiana, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Maryland, Mattress Mack, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Nevada, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Regulation, Reno, Rush Street Gaming, Scientific Games, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal, WInd Creek, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Everybody wins; ‘Adele’ debuts; Ohio and Maryland prosper

Let’s start the day with a rare, feel-good story about an invalidated jackpot. Normally, these things go the way of the house. But not this time. On January 8, at Treasure Island, a player named Robert Taylor was playing the … Continue reading

Posted in Apollo Management, Aristocrat, Bally, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., DraftKings, Entertainment, FanDuel, Fontainebleau, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Louisiana, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Palms, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, United Kingdom, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Everybody wins; ‘Adele’ debuts; Ohio and Maryland prosper

Station sets revenue records, Penn less fortunate

Having quietly broken ground on $750 million Durango Station, proud papa Station Casinos announced that despite “some headwinds,” the company had achieved record-level cash flow in 4Q21. “The government’s mask mandate across the state of Nevada remained in place and … Continue reading

Posted in Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, California, Canada, Conventions, Derek Stevens, Downtown, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Hawaii, Health, history, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Marketing, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Palms, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Technology, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Adele fiasco at Caesars; Trouble for Sands in Florida

Resorts World Las Vegas, we’ll see your Celine Dion health-scare postponement and raise you an Adele cancellation at Caesars Palace. The British megastar’s team has, like so much of the human race, contracted Covid-19 and is not physically capable of … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Diversity, Election, Entertainment, Florida, Greenwood Racing, Health, history, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, New York, Peninsula Pacific, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sahara, Seminole Tribe, Sports, Sports betting | 1 Comment

Illinois slouches; Boyd, Churchill praised; DraftKings assessed

Not even Rivers Casino Des Plaines was spared the impact of Hard Rock Rockford, as the newbie helped take a 4.5% bite out of Rivers’ December casino revenues compared to 2019, for a Des Plaines gross of $43 million, still … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Canada, Churchill Downs, Connecticut, Downtown Grand, DraftKings, Election, Florida, Full House Resorts, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Mattress Mack, MGM Resorts International, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Regulation, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, Wall Street | Comments Off on Illinois slouches; Boyd, Churchill praised; DraftKings assessed

Meet the new National Harbor boss, same as the old boss

Maryland closed out 2021 hot, up 16% from 2019 with a gross of $173 million in December. As usual, MGM National Harbor was in the lead with $74.5 million. Maryland Live booked $62.5 million for a 20.5% gain and 36% … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Arizona, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Churchill Downs, Dining, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Golden Gaming, Health, Idaho, Indiana, Las Vegas Raiders, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sahara, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Technology, Tennessee, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, World Series of Poker | Comments Off on Meet the new National Harbor boss, same as the old boss

Atlantic City stutters; Shocker in New Orleans; Palms changes hands today

Casinos in Atlantic City grossed $207 million last month, an 8% declivity from 2019, as players tightened their purse strings. Overall, slot revenues were down 1% on a commensurately lower amount of coin-in. The house played unluckily at the tables, … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, CQ Holdings, DraftKings, Election, FanDuel, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, Internet gambling, Iowa, Louisiana, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mohegan Sun, North Carolina, Ocean Resort, Palms, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Philippines, PointsBet, Rush Street Gaming, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Technology, Tribal | 1 Comment

MGM enjoys reversal of fate; From the police blotter; Raiders sunk

How the wheel of fortune has turned for MGM Resorts International. Where Macao was once the grand prize among its casino trophies, it is now an albatross around the company’s neck, provoking a guarded outlook from Fitch Ratings. But MGM’s … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, China, Cordish Co., Cretins, Delaware, GLPI, Health, International, Las Vegas Raiders, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Macau, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, New York, North Las Vegas, Peninsula Pacific, Politics, Real Estate, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Texas, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Unite-Here, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on MGM enjoys reversal of fate; From the police blotter; Raiders sunk

Rejected!

It’s been a rough winter for Peninsula Pacific. First it narrowly lost a plebiscite in Richmond, Virginia. Then, on Saturday, it got body-slammed by voters in Louisiana‘s St. Tammany Parish, who turned out in droves to vote down a proposed … Continue reading

Posted in Churchill Downs, Dan Lee, Election, Full House Resorts, Louisiana, Mississippi, Peninsula Pacific, Politics, Virginia | 1 Comment

Cordish cashes in; Scare tactics in Atlantic City; Illinois slumps

Succumbing to the siren song of REITmania, Cordish Gaming has sold the real estate of three of its casinos to Gaming & Leisure Properties Inc. for a grand total of $1.8 billion. The affected casinos are Philadelphia Live, Pittsburgh Live … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., DraftKings, GLPI, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Real Estate, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | 2 Comments

MGM resurgent in Maryland; More Mega-Jottings

November was another terrific month for Maryland casinos, as revenues picked up a bit from October, accumulating 14% more than in November 2019.. (If inflation is so bad, where do Marylanders find all this money with which to gamble, one … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Australia, Caesars Entertainment, California, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Crown Resorts, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Florida, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Japan, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Movies, Nevada, Penn National, Planet Hollywood, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, South Korea, Sports, The Rio, The Strip, Virgin Hotels, Virginia, West Virginia, World Series of Poker, Wynn Resorts | 4 Comments

Big month for MGM in Michigan; Las Vegas, city of stiffs

Cumulative Internet gambling and sports betting revenues racked up $134 million last month, the vast majority going to i-gaming, some $110 million. Sports books essentially gave away the store, with 81% of revenues going right back out the door in … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, CQ Holdings, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Golden Nugget, Greenwood Racing, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Big month for MGM in Michigan; Las Vegas, city of stiffs

DraftKings talks big, persuades few; Rancor in Richmond

DraftKings divided analysts with its 3Q21 earnings report. Credit Suisse pundit Ben Chaiken said the company was “moving the ball down the field.” That’s despite revenues of $212 million that well undershot Wall Street‘s expected $238 million, rather like a … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Arizona, Baseball, Canada, Delaware, Donald Trump, DraftKings, Election, Golden Nugget, Health, history, Internet gambling, James Packer, Louisiana, Marketing, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Texas, Tribal, TV, Virginia, Wall Street | Comments Off on DraftKings talks big, persuades few; Rancor in Richmond

MGM to sell Mirage; Caesars disappoints Wall Street

At a time when the north Las Vegas Strip is finally heating up, MGM Resorts International has chosen this moment to put The Mirage on the market. Although it’s 32 years old (224 in dog years), The Mirage should fetch … Continue reading

Posted in BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Conventions, Cosmopolitan, Economy, Election, Hard Rock International, Health, Internet gambling, Jim Murren, Lake Tahoe, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, New York, Palms, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Planet Hollywood, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Sports betting, The Strip, Vici Properties, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Chicago: Then there were five (?); LV Sands huddles with NY Mets

Or is it three? In the end, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) drew one heavyweight contender for the Windy City casino and a pair of middleweights. Two of the applicants made parlay bids, so the city could crow that it … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, Baseball, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cretins, DraftKings, Election, FanDuel, Florida, Genting, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Indiana, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Louisiana, MGM Resorts International, Neil Bluhm, New Hampshire, New York, Peninsula Pacific, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Baccarat cools Las Vegas a bit; Boyd sets records; Reno bans whips

Stimulus cash may be petering out somewhat and international tourism has yet to open the floodgates, so September found Nevada on something of a cusp between the supercharged recovery of the summer and the hoped-for travel rebound in 4Q21. Still, … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, California, Conventions, Culinary Union, Downtown, FanDuel, Hawaii, Health, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Marketing, Nevada, New Jersey, North Las Vegas, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Politics, Reno, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, TV, Wall Street | Comments Off on Baccarat cools Las Vegas a bit; Boyd sets records; Reno bans whips

DraftKings, MGM play chicken, MGM wins; Highway robbery in N.Y.

As we’ve written elsewhere, this was supposed to be The Year of Sports Betting … before the Covid-19 Delta variant reared its ugly head (and that was before Coronavirus knocked us out of Global Gaming Expo). But sports betting could … Continue reading

Posted in Alaska, Bally, DraftKings, Economy, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, MGM Resorts International, New York, Politics, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Ida dampens Louisiana’s day; NFL tackles degenerate gambling

September gaming revenues in Louisiana were expected to be diminished by Hurricane Ida and they certainly were, down 23% on a same-store basis. New Orleans had the worst time of it (-48%), Baton Rouge the easiest (-5%). All comparisons are … Continue reading

Posted in BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, CQ Holdings, Election, Full House Resorts, Golden Nugget, Illinois, International, Louisiana, Marketing, Peninsula Pacific, Penn National, Problem gambling, Sports betting, Virginia | 4 Comments

Massachusetts talks tough; Big improvements seen at Bally’s A.C.

One of the strongest threads running through Global Gaming Expo was the fear of regulatory backlash against over-aggressive gambling marketing (especially with regard to sports betting). Well, Massachusetts doesn’t have sports betting yet but Bay State regulators are already looking … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, Caesars Entertainment, DraftKings, FanDuel, G2E, Georgia, Golden Gaming, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Japan, Laughlin, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, PointsBet, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Cosmo finds pigeons; Scientific sheds sports betting

Reflecting the irrational exuberance surrounding the Las Vegas Strip, it’s a done deal at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. The $3.9 billion resort’s physical assets sold for $4 billion, albeit to a cloudy “group of buyers that includes a Blackstone … Continue reading

Posted in Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, China, Churchill Downs, Colorado, Cosmopolitan, Donald Trump, DraftKings, Environment, Florida, Full House Resorts, Hard Rock International, Health, Indiana, Lotteries, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Pennsylvania, Real Estate, Rush Street Gaming, Scientific Games, Seminole Tribe, Sports, Sports betting, Tennessee, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Cosmo finds pigeons; Scientific sheds sports betting