Category Archives: Macau

MGM’s seven steps; Culinary throws tantrum

Add MGM Resorts International to the roster of Las Vegas companies announcing reopening protocols. (Earth to Caesars Entertainment, come in Caesars … ) The company calls it a “comprehensive, multi-layered approach resulting from months of consultations and guidance from public … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Conventions, Culinary Union, Dining, Donald Trump, Hard Rock International, Health, International, Japan, Macau, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Sports, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Boston buoys Wynn, Penn leans on Barstool

Wynn Resorts was one of three biggies to report 1Q20 results late last week and the Las Vegas Strip was the least of its problems. Wynn Las Vegas and Encore had net revenue of $324 million, down 19% from last … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, CityCenter, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Florida, Golden Gaming, history, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Maine, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Everybody out of the pool!; Lean times in Indian Country

We were overly optimistic on when Nevada casinos can reopen. Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) has postponed that move until phase three or four of his four-step plan … which is also contingent on a two-week decline in new Coronavirus cases. … Continue reading

Posted in Economy, Entertainment, Galaxy Entertainment, Hard Rock International, Health, International, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, New Jersey, Regulation, Tribal, World Series of Poker, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Everybody out of the pool!; Lean times in Indian Country

Shakeup at MGM, layoffs at Station

In a late-Friday night of the long knives, MGM Resorts International let go four property presidents. The official nomenclature is “laid-off” but we strongly suspect, given MGM’s history, that this prefaces a streamlining and centralization of authority. Out the door were … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, CityCenter, Culinary Union, Economy, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | 5 Comments

Vegas: Welcome to the new normal

Phil Ruffin may have jumped the gun with that May 15 reopening date for Treasure Island. Gov. Steve Sisolak (D), without specifying a quarantine-lifting date, has extended a modified version of the Nevada lockdown into May. “We just have not reached … Continue reading

Posted in Aristocrat, California, Downtown, Downtown Grand, Health, International, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Phil Ruffin, Regulation, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Technology, Tribal, TV, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Boyd doing well; What price Vegas?

Boyd Gaming posted net revenues of that were down 18% for 1Q20, reflective of mid-March casino closures. JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff termed the results ones “that reflected relatively strong trends in the first two months of the quarter.” Since … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, Churchill Downs, Cosmopolitan, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Economy, Hard Rock International, Health, Horseracing, Las Vegas Sands, LVCVA, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Resort fees, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Twin River advances, Maverick retreats; Sands optimistic

Twin River Holdings is now a player in Atlantic City. It must have driven a hard bargain, too, picking up lowly Bally’s for $25 million, mere pocket change. It had Caesars Entertainment and Eldorado Resorts over a barrel, as keeping … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Health, history, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, Maverick Gaming, Regulation, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Twin River, Virginia | 1 Comment

Sands shakes off doldrums; MGM sitting pretty

Las Vegas Sands posted a Covid-19 impacted 1Q20. Room rates nudged upward year/year from $263 to $266, at 87% occupancy, resulting in a decline in revenue per available room from $249 to $199. Sands was modestly down at the tables, … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Baseball, CityCenter, Economy, Health, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Real Estate, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Hiccup in Virginia; Sheldon’s retail therapy

Just when it seemed like casinos in Virginia were a done deal, some last-minute tinkering by Gov. Ralph “Blackface” Northam (D) could scupper the whole deal. Northam unilaterally amended the enabling legislation to redirect two-thirds of the tax collections from … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cretins, Economy, FanDuel, Hard Rock International, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports betting, Taxes, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Virgin Hotels, Virginia, Wall Street | Comments Off on Hiccup in Virginia; Sheldon’s retail therapy

Midwest: Casinos, interrupted

For some arcane reason, Illinois has not reported casino revenue for March. But we have a couple of neighboring states’ data and can conclude with reasonable certainty that it tracks with the Land of Lincoln. After a March 17 closure … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, DraftKings, Economy, Elaine Wynn, Eldorado Resorts, Galaxy Entertainment, Internet gambling, Iowa, Macau, Missouri, Movies, Oregon, Pansy Ho, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Technology | 1 Comment

Culinary issues demands; Outlasting Coronavirus

In a Thursday media event, the Culinary Union called for casinos to continue paying their inactivated employees for as long as the Coronavirus crisis lasts. Said Unite-Here President D. Taylor, “The industry, obviously, is a very profitable industry. We don’t understand their … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Architecture, California, Culinary Union, Donald Trump, Economy, Galaxy Entertainment, Health, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Marketing, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Regulation, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Technology, Tribal, Unite-Here, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Culinary issues demands; Outlasting Coronavirus

Las Vegas: What next and when?

While everyone from Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman up to the highest ranks of the federal government trying to rush people back to work, we’re forced to consider what Sin City will look like after the Coronavirus pandemic … and when … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Dining, Economy, Health, Lotteries, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Resort fees, Sports, Station Casinos, Steven Witkoff, Technology, The Strip | 3 Comments

Wynn sitting pretty; Trump Plaza damned, doomed

Wynn Resorts can sit out a Coronavirus crisis lasting 1.4 years. That’s how much cash ($3 billion) it’s sitting upon. First-quarter revenues took a 43% hit and are expected to come in somewhere in the $912 million-$969 million range. The … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Carl Icahn, Genting, Health, James Packer, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Massachusetts, Politics, Regulation, Rhode Island, Singapore, Tribal, Twin River, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Asking the Big Guy; Coronavirus: Where does it end?

Trading on his longstanding Republican Party connections, American Gaming Association President Bill Miller is leapfrogging the Small Business Administration and Secretary of the Treasury Steve Mnuchin, to take his case straight to Donald Trump. The problem, as we outlined yesterday, is … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Arizona, Baseball, California, Donald Trump, Economy, Florida, Health, Japan, Macau, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Politics, Singapore | 2 Comments

MGM: The Lion purrs; Tilman in trouble

JP Morgan analysts parlayed with MGM Resorts International CEO Bill Hornbuckle and CFO Corey Sanders yesterday. Reports Joseph Greff, “We come away with a favorable view and a strong appreciation for Mr. Hornbuckle’s background in casino operations (former MGM COO … Continue reading

Posted in Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Economy, Foxwoods, Hooters, International, Iowa, Lotteries, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Real Estate, Regulation, Scientific Games, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Macao bad, worse to come; No casinos for Brazil

“With the government keeping limitations on individual and group visas into the market and transportation options remaining impaired we believe the Macau market could take five to seven months to start stabilizing and showing improvement,” Stifel Financial analyst Steven Wieczynski … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, China, Connecticut, Dining, Economy, Foxwoods, Galaxy Entertainment, Hard Rock International, Health, history, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Maryland, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Ocean Resort, Politics, Scientific Games, Station Casinos, Taxes, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

No recovery in Macao

Despite the lifting of a government quarantine, casino revenues in Macao did not bounce back last month, down 80% to $664 million. That’s worse than forecast (70%). Tourism restrictions prompted by a second boomlet of Covid-19 in Macao didn’t help. … Continue reading

Posted in China, Economy, Health, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, PokerStars, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Technology, Tourism | Comments Off on No recovery in Macao

Boyd opens its wallet, stringency at Scientific, improvidence at MGM

Boyd Gaming, which had previously been reported to be giving two weeks pay (misreported as one week by the Las Vegas Review-Journal) to employees idled in Las Vegas by the one-month casino shutdown, has gotten “george” and extended the hardship pay … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, China, Churchill Downs, Economy, Health, Illinois, Japan, Jim Murren, Kentucky, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Neil Bluhm, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Hard times for Atlantic City; Murren’s big payday

Atlantic City casinos have pink-slipped 6,000 workers as a gaming shutdown goes on indefinitely. Said Ocean Casino Resort CEO Terry Glebocki, “This is truly an unprecedented time not only for Ocean, but for everyone.” Unemployment claims in the Garden State … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Morris Bailey, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Real Estate, Regulation, Sports betting, Tribal, Wall Street, Washington State | 1 Comment

Case Bets & Mega-Jottings

Former casino operator and regulator Richard Schuetz has some very stern words for his former colleagues and their (slow) response to Coronavirus. Sample: “The point is, in many of our gaming states, there was little concern about the employees of … Continue reading

Posted in California, Charity, Donald Trump, e-sports, Economy, Health, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Massachusetts, Nevada, Penn National, Real Estate, Regulation, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Case Bets & Mega-Jottings