Category Archives: Macau

MGM: Everything must go

Posted on October 31, 2019 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International reported 3Q19 results and they were good enough to make the lion roar. Macao contributed $738 million, a 22% surge reflecting the ramp-up of MGM Cotai surely with $80 million in revenue. Also, CityCenter may be sucking … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, CityCenter, Detroit, Eldorado Resorts, Golden Gaming, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, New York, Ohio, Philippines, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip | Comments Off on MGM: Everything must go

Churchill Downs in expansive mood; Cannery security faulted

Posted on October 31, 2019 by David McKee

Churchill Downs‘ third-quarter cash flow of $88 million was $7 million shy of Wall Street‘s expectation. The shortfall extended across all segments of CHDN business, although increased casino competition in Maine was one of the contributing factors. In terms of … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Boyd Gaming, California, Churchill Downs, Kentucky, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Maine, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Rush Street Gaming, Security, Sports betting, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Churchill Downs in expansive mood; Cannery security faulted

Louisiana gets soaked; Surrender flag waved

Posted on October 24, 2019 by David McKee

Boyd Gaming warned us that Deep South results would be weak, following two hurricanes, and they didn’t exaggerate. Flood-affected Louisiana casino receipts plummeted 11% in September. Boyd casinos got the worst of it, down 10.5%. New Orleans was flat but … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, China, Churchill Downs, Crown Resorts, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Illinois, Isle of Capri, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Money laundering, Penn National, Regulation, Resort fees, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, The Mob, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | Comments Off on Louisiana gets soaked; Surrender flag waved

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 23, 2019 by David McKee

“There are bright people who work there, but they are not equipped to do deep-dive investigations. This is one small example. Put that on steroids. It won’t be just people from Illinois. They’ll be coming from Ukraine. They’ll be coming from … Continue reading →

Posted in Illinois, International, Law enforcement, Macau, Money laundering, Regulation, Wall Street | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Macao economy flounders; Massachusetts bonanza illusory

Posted on October 18, 2019 by David McKee

Macao got a double-barreled blast of bad news. First off, China‘s gross domestic product has slowed to growth rates not seen in almost 30 years. In fact, the R-word (“recession”) was invoked. Slow investment growth was blamed, as was the … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Charity, China, Downtown, Economy, Foxwoods, Las Vegas Raiders, Law enforcement, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Politics, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Macao economy flounders; Massachusetts bonanza illusory

Bellagio, Circus Circus sold

Posted on October 16, 2019 by David McKee

Back on Sept. 17 we reported that MGM Resorts International was dickering with Blackstone Group to sell the latter Bellagio and MGM Grand. Well, the Green Monster got left out of the transaction but MGM’s most iconic property will change hands, … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Cosmopolitan, Japan, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Phil Ruffin, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Bellagio, Circus Circus sold

Wall Street rates Vegas, Macao; Tribes skirmish in Illinois

Posted on October 11, 2019 by David McKee

Credit Suisse analyst Ben Combes turned his attention to three major Las Vegas companies, starting with MGM Resorts International. He’s staying neutral on the giant, writing, “We see Las Vegas as a cyclical but long-term growth market, given strong leverage … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Conventions, Economy, Illinois, Indiana, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Pennsylvania, Politics, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal | Comments Off on Wall Street rates Vegas, Macao; Tribes skirmish in Illinois

Caesars: What sauce!; Macao underwhelms

Posted on October 8, 2019 by David McKee

With more than a bit of nerve, Caesars Entertainment is jacking up resort fees again. Caesars Palace and Nobu Hotel will have $51.01 in levies (the highest on the Las Vegas Strip, I think; is this a status thing?), while … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, China, Economy, Macau, Michael Gaughan, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, New Jersey, Politics, Problem gambling, Resort fees, Sports betting, Terry Caudill, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Hard Rock elected in Rockford; Palms prexy out

Posted on October 2, 2019 by David McKee

That was quick. Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara and city staff have tapped Hard Rock International to develop the city’s new casino, forwarding their recommendation to the Illinois Gaming Board. The Hard Rock bid was aided, if not clinched, by the promise … Continue reading →

Posted in Hard Rock International, Illinois, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Palms, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Hard Rock elected in Rockford; Palms prexy out

Adelson power play in Las Vegas, unease in Macao

Posted on September 26, 2019 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson, it long has been clear, brooks no dissent. He bought the Las Vegas Review-Journal to make it a megaphone for his political views (anybody remember the Marco Rubio presidential campaign, the one the R-J endorsed three times to … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, China, Churchill Downs, Galaxy Entertainment, history, Horseracing, Illinois, Macau, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | 2 Comments

Another rap scandal; MGM sues Trump administration

Posted on September 26, 2019 by David McKee

Rappers and Vegas don’t mix too well. The latest exhibit is YG, who The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas finds itself being associated with in an alleged assault and robbery. The Cosmo is being sued by one Benjamin Naderi over a beatdown he … Continue reading →

Posted in Connecticut, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Law enforcement, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson | Comments Off on Another rap scandal; MGM sues Trump administration

Hooters out, Ruffin in, Sands up

Posted on September 24, 2019 by David McKee

Keeping its signature Os, Hooters Hotel Casino becomes an OYO Hotel property this week, with a full transformation expected by year’s end. (Gotta be ready for New Year’s Eve.) The changes are subtle at first. Hotel management goes over to Highgate … Continue reading →

Posted in Connecticut, Foxwoods, Hooters, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Paragon Gaming, Phil Ruffin, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Hooters out, Ruffin in, Sands up

NCAA meddling again; Slots struggle in Massachusetts

Posted on September 23, 2019 by David McKee

After the Supreme Court threw out the Bradley Act, there were a few grumbles on Capitol Hill about federal regulation of sports betting. However, American Gaming Association President Bill Miller, in his capacity as gaming’s premier lobbyist, took the temperature … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Hard Rock International, IGT, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on NCAA meddling again; Slots struggle in Massachusetts

Wall Street: The Strip is all right; Rivals pile into Waukegan

Posted on September 16, 2019 by David McKee

JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff has just returned from a two-day field trip to Las Vegas. His overall reaction was “incrementally positive.” He said he sensed “a fairly steady trend line in terms of overall spend and net revenue performance.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Conventions, Dan Gilbert, Dan Lee, Detroit, Dining, Entertainment, Full House Resorts, Illinois, Japan, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Palms, Penn National, Resort fees, Rush Street Gaming, Sahara, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Warner Gaming, Wisconsin | Comments Off on Wall Street: The Strip is all right; Rivals pile into Waukegan

Case Bets

Posted on September 12, 2019 by David McKee

Unlike people across the Pearl River Delta in Hong Kong, casino workers in Macao are relatively easy to please. Their latest set of demands will sound very familiar to Americans: a five-day work week, vacation schedules and a smoke-free environment (we’re … Continue reading →

Posted in DFS, Indiana, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Rhode Island, Sports betting, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Case Bets

Churchill Downs on the rampage

Posted on September 12, 2019 by David McKee

Churchill Downs execs met with Wall Street analysts and laid out their strategy going forward. The look toward their ‘historical racing’ machines at their titular track as a way to increase its cash flow as well as to help support … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill Downs, Horseracing, Illinois, Kentucky, Macau, Oklahoma, Oregon, Regulation, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Churchill Downs on the rampage

Maryland good, Illinois becalmed, MGM furious

Posted on September 9, 2019 by David McKee

Maryland‘s casino industry showed continued health last month, up 5.5%. MGM National Harbor had 40.5% of market share while Maryland Live corralled 34.5% of trade. MGM grossed $62.5 million, with low-tax table games up 10% as opposed to only 4% … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Connecticut, Cordish Co., Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Lotteries, Macau, Maryland, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Slot routes, South Dakota, Sports, Wall Street, West Virginia | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on September 5, 2019 by David McKee

“Protests have become more violent and tense, heightening uncertainty over how all this will end. The impression among mainland Chinese that Hong Kong is not a pleasant place to travel, or even work or go to school, could be more lasting … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Economy, Macau | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Sports betting: Survey says …

Posted on September 3, 2019 by David McKee

Trying to help the gaming industry get its arms around the onslaught of sports betting, Eilers & Krejcik Gaming did a consumer survey of the newly legitimate recreation. “For all of the hype surrounding the spread of regulated sportsbooks, there’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, DFS, Environment, Lotteries, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Sports betting, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Sports betting: Survey says …

No Japan for Caesars; Colorado to get bigger Ass

Posted on August 29, 2019 by David McKee

Gary Loveman‘s decision to pass on Macao will be remembered as the worst decision of his tenure at Caesars Entertainment. Will CEO Anthony Rodio‘s withdrawal from contention in Japan be similarly second-guessed? The decision saves Caesars at least $10 billion … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Colorado, Eldorado Resorts, Full House Resorts, history, Japan, Macau, Sports betting, Wall Street | Comments Off on No Japan for Caesars; Colorado to get bigger Ass