Category Archives: Macau

Insolvency in Macao; Sports betting everywhere

Prior to the current Covid-19 lockdown, casinos in Macao were already engaged in a $600 million/month cash burn, thanks to the China‘s zero-tolerance policy on the disease. That will only get worse now that access to customers has been shut … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, California, China, DraftKings, Economy, Election, FanDuel, Hard Rock International, Health, history, Illinois, Macau, Maryland, Ohio, PointsBet, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, Tourism, TV, Westgate LV | 1 Comment

Macao is closed; Mixed signals from the Midwest

Effective today, all casinos in Macao have closed, in governmental reaction to a spike in Covid-19 cases. “Only essential businesses like supermarkets, gas stations, and pharmacies will remain open.” In other words, just when you thought things couldn’t get any … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Century Casinos, Chicago, Churchill Downs, Conventions, Cosmopolitan, Crown Resorts, Dining, DraftKings, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, International, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Penn National, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, United Kingdom, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Macao is closed; Mixed signals from the Midwest

Ohio shows fatigue; Macao seizes hotels; Abe assassinated

Since it has been outperforming the broader U.S. market for some time now, perhaps we should not be unduly concerned that Ohio casino revenues are down for three months in a row. Indeed, compared to go-go 2019, they’re still arguably … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, California, Churchill Downs, Downtown, Economy, Hard Rock International, Health, Jack Entertainment, Japan, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sexual misconduct, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, Virginia | 1 Comment

Recovery slowing but still going; Singapore soars

Although gambling revenues in Maryland decelerated somewhat from May, they were still 1% higher than last June and 14% more robust than 2019’s, for a total haul of $163 million. It was basically a two-horse race, with MGM National Harbor … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, China, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Crown Resorts, DraftKings, Entertainment, FanDuel, Golden Gaming, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Macau, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mississippi, Penn National, Rush Street Gaming, Singapore, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Washington State, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

A’s juiced into Vegas; Greed at the top; Study: Casinos blowing smoke; Industry endorses Hochul

Given that Oakland is well and truly fed up with the sorry Oakland Athletics, and with their pinchpenny ways, relocation to Las Vegas may be just what the doctor ordered. However, the manner in which the exit ramp is being … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Baseball, California, Charity, Economy, G2E, Genting, Hard Rock International, Health, International, Kazuo Okada, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Palms, Philippines, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, The Strip, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Massachusetts upbeat; Station defiant; Atlantic City stalemate

Casinos in the Bay State clocked $91 million in revenue last month, a 5% improvement on last year. Encore Boston Harbor led the tiny pack with $58 million, growing 9.5%. Next up was MGM Springfield, performing surprisingly well. It was … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, California, Churchill Downs, Derek Stevens, Economy, Election, Galaxy Entertainment, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, North Carolina, Ocean Resort, Peninsula Pacific, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Slot routes, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Unite-Here, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Nasal amputation in Atlantic City; Goodbye, Hawaiian Marketplace

We’re back from vacation at last and pick up where we left: Atlantic City. The drop-dead date for contract talks (basically July 1, a full month past the expiry of the collective bargaining agreement) is drawing nigh and no progress … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Dining, Entertainment, FanDuel, Golden Nugget, Internet gambling, Kazuo Okada, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Real Estate, Taxes, Technology, Texas, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Unite-Here | Comments Off on Nasal amputation in Atlantic City; Goodbye, Hawaiian Marketplace

Special Edition

So we leave on vacation (I checked into the Westin O’Hare and didn’t leave the building for three and half days) and all hell breaks loose in Big Gaming. The breaking story was MGM Resorts International‘s decision to shuck Gold … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Century Casinos, Cordish Co., Crown Resorts, DraftKings, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, Gary Goett, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, Oklahoma, Penn National, PointsBet, Rush Street Gaming, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, Tribal, Unite-Here | 2 Comments

Smoke signals in Atlantic City; Discontent in Las Vegas

Atlantic City gambling halls like Ocean Casino Resort (pictured) may get a summer’s reprieve from a smoking ban, as the New Jersey legislative session winds down without resolution on the contentious issue. Even if both chambers were to vote by … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Culinary Union, Economy, Environment, Genting, Health, Japan, Kazuo Okada, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Money laundering, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Philippines, Politics, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Sports betting, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Resorts World sheds a problem; Big Gaming fleeced in N.Y.

With the discreet closure of Tacos El Cabron, splashy Resorts World Las Vegas finds itself down one restaurant—and happy to be so. Evidently in their haste to get everything on line, Resorts World management didn’t fully perform their due diligence … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Chicago, China, Dining, DraftKings, FanDuel, Florida, Health, Illinois, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, New York, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Seminole Tribe, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, Tribal, Unite-Here, Virginia | Comments Off on Resorts World sheds a problem; Big Gaming fleeced in N.Y.

Atlantic City casinos blow smoke

With a mealy-mouthedness that is becoming all too familiar, Atlantic City casino operators took advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic to plead poverty, warning of “grave danger” to their businesses unless they got tax cuts yesterday. One of their arguments was … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Conventions, Economy, Hard Rock International, Health, Indiana, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New Jersey, Politics, Taxes, The Rio, The Strip, Tribal, TV, Unite-Here, World Series of Poker | 1 Comment

Bally’s bans smoking (sorta); Purge at Cosmo; Aussie renegades

Two and a half cheers for Bally’s Corp., which has banned smoking at table games at its two Rhode Island casinos. We’ll throw in the other half-cheer when Bally’s nixes smoking in all gambling areas. (Ironically, the company is part … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Bally, Chicago, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Crown Resorts, Health, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Money laundering, Politics, Regulation, Rhode Island, Sports, Star Entertainment, United Kingdom | Comments Off on Bally’s bans smoking (sorta); Purge at Cosmo; Aussie renegades

Vegas Strip bullish, locals more bearish; Penn plummets

Nevada enjoyed a $1.1 billion gambling-revenue month in April, an 8.5% increase over last year. Powering this was the Strip with $593.5 million, a 23% improvement. Downtown, by contrast, suffered a setback, down 11% to $67 million. Utahns must have … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, China, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Cretins, Culinary Union, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Hard Rock International, Health, IGT, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Sands, Laughlin, Macau, Marketing, Mesquite, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New York, North Las Vegas, Palms, Penn National, Reno, Resorts World LV, Rhode Island, Station Casinos, The Rio, The Strip, Tourism, Unite-Here, Wall Street, Wendover, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Chicago casino doesn’t compute; Diller dinged; Boardwalk brouhaha

Sometime today, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) is expected to ramrod her choice of Bally’s Corp. through the City Council. Why the unseemly haste? Lightfoot desperately covets Bally’s $40 million in upfront money to prop up the Windy City’s tottering … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, California, Chicago, Diversity, DraftKings, Economy, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Ocean Resort, Politics, Regulation, Security, Slot routes, Taxes, The Mob, The Strip, Tribal, Unite-Here, Wall Street, Wisconsin | 1 Comment

Steve Wynn, Commie stooge?; Resorts World LV jumps shark

If there’s one thing Steve Wynn loves almost as much as money (and women to whom he is not married) it’s the Red Chinese. He’s been warbling sweet nothings about them ever since he got a gig in Macao as … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, Baseball, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, China, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Donald Trump, DraftKings, Economy, Entertainment, Failsinos, FanDuel, Florida, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, history, Internet gambling, Macau, Michigan, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Real Estate, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, The Strip, WInd Creek, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

George of the Year; Kansas ayes sports betting, Missouri not

It’s only May but we have to give the nod to The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Outgoing owner Blackstone Group graced all employees with $5,000 bonuses, an incredibly generous gesture. Blackstone certainly didn’t have to do it but they did … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Bally, Baseball, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, Cosmopolitan, Crown Resorts, Full House Resorts, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Kansas, Kazuo Okada, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Philippines, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Security, Slot routes, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, Star Entertainment, Virginia | Comments Off on George of the Year; Kansas ayes sports betting, Missouri not

Wynn treads water, IGT overachieves, Ohio and Missouri flatten

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain (Xi Jinping). That was the message of Wynn Resorts‘ first-quarter earnings call. Some analysts weren’t having it, with Deutsche Bank‘s Carlo Santarelli opining that Macao was “the real story.” That being … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Century Casinos, Churchill Downs, Dan Lee, Economy, Full House Resorts, Hard Rock International, Health, IGT, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Jack Entertainment, Lotteries, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Penn National, Real Estate, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Virginia, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

MGM beats forecast, makes overseas play; California controversy

According to Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli, the 1Q22 numbers for MGM Resorts International were “better than forecast” in Las Vegas and regionally, nor as bad as expected from Macao. Losses from BetMGM were worse than anticipated. Santarelli predicted cash … Continue reading

Posted in BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, California, Canada, Card rooms, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Downtown, DraftKings, Economy, Election, Entertainment, FanDuel, Hard Rock International, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Macau, Maine, MGM Resorts International, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Resorts World LV, Sports betting, Taxes, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Virginia, Wall Street | Comments Off on MGM beats forecast, makes overseas play; California controversy

Chicago blew it; Times Square, anyone? Monday Mega-Jottings

Even as Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) blunders forward with her megaresort campaign, more voices are being raised in criticism of how the Second City is going about the process. A Crain’s Business analysis determined that “Each location appears to … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Aristocrat, Atlantic City, Australia, Bally, Baseball, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, China, Crown Resorts, Derek Stevens, Election, Entertainment, Environment, FanDuel, Galaxy Entertainment, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, International, Kansas, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Real Estate, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, United Kingdom, Virginia | 1 Comment

Windy City shakedown; Strip explodes, Palms reborn

$75 million or else. That’s extortionate Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot‘s latest demand of casino applicants. If you win the bid, fork over the cash. Her Dishonor might settle for ‘only’ $40 million on the barrelhead, followed up by a $2 … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Chicago, China, Downtown, Florida, Hard Rock International, Health, International, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Sands, Laughlin, Macau, Mesquite, Nevada, New York, North Las Vegas, Palms, Politics, Regulation, Reno, Rush Street Gaming, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Singapore, Station Casinos, Taxes, Texas, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, Wendover | 1 Comment