Category Archives: Marketing

Atlantic City primed for openings; Tokenism at AGA

“Do I think the gaming market ever comes back to close to $6 billion in revenue? No. Not even close,” Hard Rock International CEO Jim Allen said of Atlantic City. “If a brand like Hard Rock fails in Atlantic City, the … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, California, Carl Icahn, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Geoff Freeman, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Las Vegas Sands, Marketing, MGM Mirage, New York, Pennsylvania, Revel, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, The Strip, Tribal, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Brand-new Palace; Slide at Sands

Although we’ve been talking about the $192 million Palace Station do-over for months, it’s finally on display and color us dazzled. Based on the Las Vegas Review-Journal‘s photo essay, we hardly recognize the old gal, looking frisky after her nine-figure … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, DFS, Dining, Genting, Greenwood Racing, Japan, Marketing, New York, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Problem gambling, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip | 1 Comment

“Cashless casinos” in China; Keeping score in Louisiana

Could Chinese players go for gambling if the winnings aren’t monetary? That’s the wager resort owners on the island of Hainan plan to make if the central government gives them a much-hoped-for exception. Just as players wager for trinkets in … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, DFS, Election, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Japan, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Singapore, Slot routes, Taxes, Tourism | Comments Off on “Cashless casinos” in China; Keeping score in Louisiana

Las Vegas thrives; Palms ad backfires

Yesterday, we spotlit the Debbie Downer view of Las Vegas of one online columnist. And while a lengthy slide in visitation numbers remains a concern, dark and anecdotal snapshots of Sin City are contradicted by the numbers. The latter are … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cosmopolitan, Eldorado Resorts, George Maloof, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, Indiana, Laughlin, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Palms, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Station Casinos, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

The lost generation; Wynn shareholders rebel

Casinos’ fascination with Millennials appears to be a one-way street. A new survey by YouGov found that 47% of respondents ages 18-34 found casinos “depressing.” (I think I know what they mean.) As a matter of fact, older age brackets … Continue reading

Posted in Internet gambling, LVCVA, Macau, Marketing, Michael Gaughan, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Stanley Ho, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on The lost generation; Wynn shareholders rebel

Bringing back sexy; They did a bad, bad thing

In search of a novel angle to market Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority has come up with a new campaign. And. It. Is. Hawt. Because lesbians. Although, if you’re a mushy romantic at heart, this mini-movie is sure to … Continue reading

Posted in Foxwoods, Internet gambling, LVCVA, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Reno, Sports, The Strip | 2 Comments

Wall Street hearts Caesars; AGA does the right thing

One of our favorite investment banks, JP Morgan, has initiated coverage of Caesars Entertainment, providing us with further transparency of the company’s performance. The price target is a lowly $16/share, which presumably reflects the company’s recent, shall we say, financial … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Culinary Union, Geoff Freeman, Harrah's, Marketing, Penn National, Sexual misconduct, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Wall Street hearts Caesars; AGA does the right thing

Let them skate; Sheldon’s new brainstorm

Nevada State Treasurer Dan Schwartz, the man who would be governor, is a refreshingly impolitic and heterodoxical candidate. He’s made a frequent campaign point that the Silver State has the worst schools in the nation and needs to re-orient its … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, e-sports, Election, Macau, Marketing, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports, Taxes, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Let them skate; Sheldon’s new brainstorm

Smashing concept at Palms; Strike vote today

Station Casinos is firing up the marketing machine for the rollout of its $620 million re-do of the Palms. The new ad campaign is branded “From Dust to Gold” and is heavy on the smashing of glitzy objects. Whether gleeful … Continue reading

Posted in Culinary Union, Current, Economy, George Maloof, history, Internet gambling, LVCVA, Marketing, Mississippi, Sports, Station Casinos, The Strip | Comments Off on Smashing concept at Palms; Strike vote today

MGM, Wynn woo Wall Street

This week, in conjunction with the opening of Park MGM, the parent company rolled out the red carpet for Wall Street analysts. “While there were no major announcements/surprises, we felt management put forth a thorough effort to better articulate its … Continue reading

Posted in Elaine Wynn, Japan, LVCVA, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Transportation, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on MGM, Wynn woo Wall Street

Wynn: It’s Elaine’s company now; Caesars reverses itself

When Elaine Wynn speaks, Wynn Resorts is suddenly all ears. Last week the company’s plurality shareholder called for a largely new and diverse board of directors, in what is describes as a “first step” toward greater heterogeneousness. Presto! Who should … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Centaur Gaming, Donald Trump, Elaine Wynn, Environment, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Indiana, Law enforcement, Macau, Marketing, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports, Station Casinos, Technology, Transportation, Wynn Resorts | 6 Comments

Policy change roils Atlantic City; Stratosphere scheduled for makeover

In what we can expect to be a trend rolled out nationwide, Caesars Entertainment is using its Atlantic City casinos to experiment with cutting back on waitresses. It’s not like we didn’t have fair warning of this: One of the … Continue reading

Posted in ACEP, Atlantic City, Churchill Downs, Dining, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, IGT, International, Internet gambling, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, New York, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Scientific Games, Slot routes, Sports, Unite-Here, West Virginia | 2 Comments

Indiana suffers, Ohio not so much; Station’s surprise

While its $170 million gross looked a lot better than Illinois‘ $104 million, Indiana saw its gamblers stay home in droves — 24% less foot traffic, although those who showed up seemed to have spent 21%. In any event, gambling … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, George Maloof, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Marketing, Ohio, Palms, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Reno, Sports, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Indiana suffers, Ohio not so much; Station’s surprise

Pot comes to casinos, sorta; Terrible February in Illinois

In a deft bit of regulatory jujitsu, the Nevada Gaming Association has ruled that casinos can hold marijuana-related conferences, provided that they refrain from doing business with the marijuana industry (a somewhat vague directive, admittedly) nor directly involve themselves in … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, California, Environment, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Marijuana, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Nevada, Ohio, Penn National, Regulation | Comments Off on Pot comes to casinos, sorta; Terrible February in Illinois

Wynn: It gets worse; More changes for Palms

Steve Wynn may have left Wynn Resorts but the collateral damage keeps careening about like a ricocheting bullet. Yesterday The Associated Press got a hold of two police reports filed against the mogul. The more explosive of the two alleges that … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Dining, Downtown, Eldorado Resorts, Illinois, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Palms, Regulation, Reno, Sexual misconduct, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Steven Witkoff, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Wynn: It gets worse; More changes for Palms

Wynn: What’s in a brand?

More than the trouble (and cost) it takes to replace it, experts conclude. Another reason for keeping the founder’s name on Wynn Resorts is one that he would not find flattering: “I think the impact on Wynn Resorts will be short-lived, … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Charity, Cretins, Donald Trump, Genting, Japan, Marketing, Massachusetts, Politics, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Wynn: What’s in a brand?

Illinois anemic; MGM flexes pecs in Maryland, Washington, D.C.

Thank God. There is nothing new about Steve Wynn in this morning’s headlines, so we can talk about some good, old-fashioned gambling. Illinois last month saw a 5.5% drop-off for a somewhat anemic gross of $105 million. Foot traffic was … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Donald Trump, Economy, Foxwoods, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Illinois, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, West Virginia | Comments Off on Illinois anemic; MGM flexes pecs in Maryland, Washington, D.C.

MGM Cotai gets rave review; Cracking the Millennial code

MGM Grand Cotai continues to miss opening deadlines, the latest obstacle being the government’s continued failure to issue a hotel license. “The licence application for the opening of the five-star hotel MGM Cotai and establishments inside the property is still … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Genting, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, New York, Regulation, Technology, TV | Comments Off on MGM Cotai gets rave review; Cracking the Millennial code

Wynn springs a surprise; MGM feeds the needy

Steve Wynn‘s conference calls tend to be dramatic and yesterday’s was no exception. El Steve announced a 2,500-room hotel for the old New Frontier/Plaza/Alon site. Breaking precedent, he would join it with Wynncore by virtue of the Las Vegas Strip‘s … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Charity, Dan Gilbert, Economy, Illinois, Indiana, Law enforcement, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Plaza, Politics, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Wynn springs a surprise; MGM feeds the needy

Casino envy in Pennsylvania; Gilbert Jacks off

Why do all the bridges in Lehigh County have a “100” rating? Because of the tax money pouring in from Sands Bethlehem. That’s causing some serious envy in Mercer County, which wants a mini-casino. “It’s almost an unfair advantage,” sputters Mercer County … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Dan Gilbert, Harrah's, Marketing, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Taxes, Tourism | Comments Off on Casino envy in Pennsylvania; Gilbert Jacks off