Category Archives: Macau

Rivers Casino’s threefold secret

Posted on July 8, 2019 by David McKee

It can be summed precisely as follows: location, location, location. Not only is Rivers Casino Des Plaines proximate to both Chicago and O’Hare International Airport, it sits at the nexus of two interstate highways, literally within a stone’s throw of … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Illinois, Kazuo Okada, Macau, Penn National, Philippines, Rush Street Gaming, Singapore, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn | Comments Off

Eldorado backpedals; Casinos for Nebraska in 2020?

Posted on July 3, 2019 by David McKee

While the consummation of the Eldorado Resorts/Caesars Entertainment marriage has yet to occur, already Eldorado CEO Tom Reeg is walking back some of his prenuptial promises. “I think that there’s more Strip exposure than we would need to accomplish our goals … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Florida, Hard Rock International, Iowa, Japan, Macau, Missouri, Nebraska, Ocean Resort, Planet Hollywood, Seminole Tribe, The Strip, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Genting’s been working on the railroad; California solons pitch sports betting

Posted on July 3, 2019 by David McKee

Genting Group evidently hasn’t given up on its casino aspirations in south Florida. The company is teaming with BYD Motors of China to propose a monorail between downtown Miami and Miami Beach. Genting owns waterfront real estate in Miami it has … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Florida, Genting, Japan, Macau, Pokergeddon, Politics, Problem gambling, Security, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, TV, World Series of Poker, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

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

Posted on June 28, 2019 by David McKee

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

Caesars: Buyers remorse; Cubbies want to lay some action

Posted on June 27, 2019 by David McKee

In a move that will surprise no one, Caesars Entertainment is reportedly ready to put Bally’s Atlantic City on the auction block and—failing that—to close it outright. It dodged a bullet when Revel opened (and closed) but luck might not … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Baseball, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Eldorado Resorts, Illinois, Macau, Pennsylvania, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | Comments Off

Encore ready for its closeup; Reinventing Reno

Posted on June 19, 2019 by David McKee

“Industrial afterthought” Everett becomes home to a five-star casino-hotel starting Sunday. Encore Boston Harbor is obviously optimistic, judging by the $650/night base room rate. Of the three gambling-enabled Massachusetts locales, parent company Wynn Resorts got the plum and now it … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Galaxy Entertainment, Kansas, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Planet Hollywood, Reno, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Taxes, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Ho renews ‘Dancing Water’; Florida hits high-water mark

Posted on June 14, 2019 by David McKee

Succeeding where Cirque du Soleil failed, Melco Resorts & Entertainment has extended the contract of aquatic spectacle House of Dancing Water. The production show, which premiered in 2010, was originally set to run 10 years but will last for an … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, California, Cirque du Soleil, Cordish Co., Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Florida, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Tribal | 1 Comment

Case Bets

Posted on June 14, 2019 by David McKee

* Shares in Australian casino company Star Entertainment tumbled after it disclosed that the U.S./China trade war is impinging on profitability. “The very large VIPs continue to travel but they don’t take as many risks as they have in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Canada, Economy, Genting, International, Law enforcement, Macau, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, New Mexico, New York, Penn National, Philippines, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting | Comments Off

Secret deal in Bridgeport?; Packer/Ho sale threatened

Posted on June 4, 2019 by David McKee

“There is no ‘either/or’ solution when it comes to East Windsor and Bridgeport, and we shouldn’t be playing two Connecticut communities against each other.” That’s what tribal spokesman Andrew Doba said after it was revealed that Bridgeport was flirting with Foxwoods Resort … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, California, Cirque du Soleil, Connecticut, Crown Resorts, e-sports, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Galaxy Entertainment, Las Vegas Sands, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, Stanley Ho, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Melco nabs Crown; Scientific promotes diversity

Posted on May 30, 2019 by David McKee

Stick a fork in that Wynn Resorts takeover of Crown Resorts, which was already on life support. Melco Resorts & Entertainment just bought a 20% stake in Crown, giving Lawrence Ho a sizable footfall in Australia. The transaction will cost … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Caesars Entertainment, Crown Resorts, Entertainment, James Packer, Japan, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Problem gambling, Scientific Games, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Encore firms up opening date; Bionic money

Posted on May 28, 2019 by David McKee

Global Gaming Business has revealed that Wynn Resorts was so desperate to exit Everett it even held talks with Boston Red Sox owner John Henry to bail it out from the megaresort. Even if the Massachusetts Gaming Commission approved that arrangement (a long … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Foxwoods, G2E, Genting, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, TV, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Worries from the Far East & other Case Bets

Posted on May 22, 2019 by David McKee

This goes in the Not A Great Idea file. Macao, still down from its go-go years, is thinking of implementing a tax on tourists. No kidding. It’s even gathering poll data on how the money should be spent, even before … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, M Resort, Macau, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off

Don’t mess with the Seminoles

Posted on May 16, 2019 by David McKee

Well, the feckless Florida Lege courted disaster—and got it. The Seminole Tribe, lacking a new compact, is cutting off revenue-sharing payments to the Sunshine State. We’re talking serious dollars: $321 million last fiscal year. The Seminoles have enormous economic clout and … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Florida, Galaxy Entertainment, Greenwood Racing, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Seminole Tribe, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, Taxes, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Wall Street loves Wynn, Penn, MGM

Posted on May 15, 2019 by David McKee

JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff issued a post-1Q19 bulletin in which he named Wynn Resorts (growth), Penn National Gaming (value for share price) and MGM Resorts International (event-driven revenue) as his top picks in the gambling sphere. Wynn got a … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Caesars Entertainment, DFS, Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Internet gambling, Iowa, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pets, Pinnacle Entertainment, Problem gambling, Racinos, Sports betting, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Transportation, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Illinois agonizes over expansion; Frustration in Connecticut

Posted on May 14, 2019 by David McKee

Always looking for ways to kill the golden goose, Illinois lawmakers are contemplating gambling expansion yet again. Slot route operators are understandably balking at Gov. J.B. Pritzker‘s proposal to raise the current 30% tax rate to a 50/50 split with … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Connecticut, Foxwoods, Illinois, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, New York, Politics, Resort fees, Slot routes, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

Wynn disappoints, MGM expectations managed

Posted on May 13, 2019 by David McKee

Although Wynn Resorts reported $1.6 billion in revenue for 1Q19, Credit Suisse analyst Ben Combes called the numbers “disappointing … We remain Neutral on WYNN, given macro uncertainty and policy risk in Macau and China. Our forward macro indicators are … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Crown Resorts, Eldorado Resorts, Full House Resorts, Indiana, Lotteries, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Scientific Games, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Macao saves Wynn; Soaked in Missouri

Posted on May 10, 2019 by David McKee

If it were just a question of Las Vegas Strip performance, Wynn Resorts would have very little good news to report. Gross gaming revenue ($166 million) was down 19% in 1Q19, its impact softened by an 11% increase in slot … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Connecticut, Eldorado Resorts, Foxwoods, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Politics, Sports betting, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Stability in the heartland; The lure of “NashVegas”

Posted on May 9, 2019 by David McKee

Last month’s gaming revenues from Ohio and Illinois were flat year/year. Some would look at that as a bad thing but it shows the states aren’t losing significant play to neighboring states. Ohio casinos grossed $160 million, with MGM Northfield … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Churchill Downs, Crown Resorts, Dan Gilbert, Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Georgia, GLPI, Illinois, Law enforcement, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Solid month for Maryland; Casino sale aborted

Posted on May 7, 2019 by David McKee

Maryland casino revenues inched up to $145 million last month, led by MGM National Harbor with $61 million and 42% of market share. Maryland Live, no surprise, was second with 33% and $48 million (+2%). Horseshoe Baltimore grossed $20 million … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., GLPI, Golden Gaming, Illinois, Internet gambling, Iowa, Lotteries, Macau, Maryland, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, Nebraska, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Sports betting, Tribal, TV, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off

Wynn balks at Beantown penalty

Posted on May 6, 2019 by David McKee

Although it was willing to pay at least $20 million to remain licensed in Nevada, it appears that Wynn Resorts is unwilling to take its $35 million dose of castor oil in Massachusetts. “We are in the process of reviewing … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Charity, Cirque du Soleil, Crown Resorts, Downtown, Entertainment, Florida, Illinois, Internet gambling, Macau, Massachusetts, Movies, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Resort fees, Seminole Tribe, Sports betting, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off