Category Archives: Marketing

Empire State greed; Brady betting brouhaha

Wow, inflation really is spiraling. When last we checked (i.e., yesterday), a New York City casino license was going for $500 million. However, if some state senators get their way, that not-inconsiderable price tag will rocket to $1 billion. According … Continue reading

Posted in Charity, Downtown, FanDuel, Genting, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Indiana, LVCVA, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, New York, Ocean Resort, Politics, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tony Hsieh, Transportation, West Virginia, Westgate LV, Wynn Resorts, Wyoming | 1 Comment

Decline of the Golden Nugget?; Bluhm gets Chicago boost

On March 7, our Atlantic City correspondent wrote to us, “Who took the slot machines since yesterday? They even got rid of two of the four “vanity’ Tilman Fertitta dollar Billionaire Buyer machines. (I never saw anyone at those machines). … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, China, Churchill Downs, Colorado, Detroit, DraftKings, Environment, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, Genting, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Illitch Family, Indiana, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Neil Bluhm, New Jersey, New York, Penn National, PointsBet, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Scientific Games, Sports betting, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Ohio, Illinois ebullient; MGM expects good things; Scandal in NFL

Ohio casino revenues were up 13% from 2021, yielding $179 million in player losses. Slots-only MGM Northfield Park posted a $22.5 million haul, up 17%, while Jack Cleveland vastly expanded its table game inventory and saw table play rise 24.5%. … Continue reading

Posted in Arkansas, Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Conventions, DraftKings, Economy, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Internet gambling, Jack Entertainment, Japan, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, United Kingdom, Vietnam, Virginia | 1 Comment

Boardwalk bulletin; George gesture from Apollo

Pressure to end smoking in New Jersey casinos continues to ramp up on legislators. Said former governor Richard Codey (now a state senator), “When I was governor, we passed smoke-free legislation that covered almost all of our state. Restaurants complained … Continue reading

Posted in Apollo Management, Architecture, Atlantic City, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, Colorado, Conventions, Dan Lee, Dining, Donald Trump, Genting, Golden Nugget, Health, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Sports, Sports betting, Texas, The Strip, Virginia | 1 Comment

Mega-January on the Strip; Much ado about Caesars

January’s Nevada gambling-revenue numbers are out and the Silver State topped $1 billion yet again, a 41.5% boost over last year. However, some jurisdictions manifested slight declines, a sign that casino activity may be “normalizing” after a heated 2021. To … Continue reading

Posted in Animals, Arizona, Atlantic City, Bally, Baseball, Boulder Strip, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Conventions, Dining, Downtown, Genting, Health, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Louisiana, Marketing, Mesquite, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Las Vegas, Peninsula Pacific, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Reno, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, Texas, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Wendover, Wisconsin | 2 Comments

Wynn steals its own thunder; Atlantic City hits a downer

Leave it to Wynn Resorts to squelch news of a bad 4Q21—losing $256.5 million—with an, oh by the way, announcement that it was selling Encore Boston Harbor for $1.7 billion (essentially breaking even on construction costs) and leasing it back. … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, Australia, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Crown Resorts, Dining, DraftKings, Dubai, Economy, FanDuel, FoxBet, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, Mattress Mack, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, New York, Penn National, PointsBet, Problem gambling, Rush Street Gaming, South Korea, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Tennessee, Texas, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Wynn steals its own thunder; Atlantic City hits a downer

MGM boffo; Establishment freaks out over sports betting

“Viva Las Vegas” was the headline on Credit Suisse analyst Ben Chaiken‘s recap of 4Q21 earnings from MGM Resorts International. Wall Street expected $2.8 billion in revenue and $705 million in cash flow. MGM delivered $3.1 billion and $821 million, … Continue reading

Posted in BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Conventions, Cosmopolitan, DFS, Donald Trump, DraftKings, Election, Entertainment, Florida, Hard Rock International, Hawaii, Health, Illinois, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Lotteries, Macau, Marketing, Mattress Mack, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New York, Problem gambling, Seminole Tribe, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Atlantic City revisited; Oscars: Year of The Dog

Bally’s Atlantic City and Golden Nugget traditionally jockey for last place in Atlantic City monthly gaming grosses. Indeed, a midweek visit to Bally’s by our East Coast correspondent found the place practically deserted (and in need of more capex $$). … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, DraftKings, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Movies, Ocean Resort, Rush Street Gaming, Tribal | 1 Comment

Station sets revenue records, Penn less fortunate

Having quietly broken ground on $750 million Durango Station, proud papa Station Casinos announced that despite “some headwinds,” the company had achieved record-level cash flow in 4Q21. “The government’s mask mandate across the state of Nevada remained in place and … Continue reading

Posted in Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, California, Canada, Conventions, Derek Stevens, Downtown, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Hawaii, Health, history, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Marketing, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Palms, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Technology, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Florida: Phhhhht …; Crackdown in Macao; Scandal at Parx

That hissing sound you hear is the air going out of DraftKings‘ and FanDuel‘s electoral balloon. Florida Education Champions, their front group for bringing online sports betting to the Sunshine State, folded its hand, conceding that it can’t get enough … Continue reading

Posted in China, DraftKings, Election, Entertainment, FanDuel, Florida, Greenwood Racing, Horseracing, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Movies, Pennsylvania, Sports betting | 1 Comment

Adele fiasco at Caesars; Trouble for Sands in Florida

Resorts World Las Vegas, we’ll see your Celine Dion health-scare postponement and raise you an Adele cancellation at Caesars Palace. The British megastar’s team has, like so much of the human race, contracted Covid-19 and is not physically capable of … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Diversity, Election, Entertainment, Florida, Greenwood Racing, Health, history, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, New York, Peninsula Pacific, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sahara, Seminole Tribe, Sports, Sports betting | 1 Comment

Meet the new National Harbor boss, same as the old boss

Maryland closed out 2021 hot, up 16% from 2019 with a gross of $173 million in December. As usual, MGM National Harbor was in the lead with $74.5 million. Maryland Live booked $62.5 million for a 20.5% gain and 36% … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Arizona, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Churchill Downs, Dining, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Golden Gaming, Health, Idaho, Indiana, Las Vegas Raiders, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sahara, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Technology, Tennessee, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, World Series of Poker | Comments Off on Meet the new National Harbor boss, same as the old boss

Borgata behaving badly; Headless body in topless car

On the “george” side of the ledger we find Bally’s Atlantic City, which is offering room rates starting at $29/night through February 28, albeit on “select nights.” Hey, it’s a terrific way to raise awareness of the new-look Bally’s. As … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Entertainment, Hard Rock International, history, Las Vegas Raiders, Law enforcement, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Morris Bailey, Sports, Sports betting, The Rio | 2 Comments

Atlantic City stutters; Shocker in New Orleans; Palms changes hands today

Casinos in Atlantic City grossed $207 million last month, an 8% declivity from 2019, as players tightened their purse strings. Overall, slot revenues were down 1% on a commensurately lower amount of coin-in. The house played unluckily at the tables, … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, CQ Holdings, DraftKings, Election, FanDuel, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, Internet gambling, Iowa, Louisiana, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mohegan Sun, North Carolina, Ocean Resort, Palms, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Philippines, PointsBet, Rush Street Gaming, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Technology, Tribal | 1 Comment

Everybody wins in Massachusetts; Makeover for The Mirage

Massachusetts casinos bagged $88 million last month, a 12% boost over 2019. Encore Boston Harbor, predictably, was way, way out in front with $55 million, up 16.5%. Win was fairly even divided between slots ($30 million) and tables ($25 million), … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Cirque du Soleil, Cosmopolitan, Crown Resorts, Downtown, DraftKings, Election, Failsinos, FanDuel, Florida, Hard Rock International, Health, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, New York, Penn National, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Playing politics with sports betting … and casinos

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) has really put her foot in it this time. Not only are Windy City aldermen balking at five stadium-area sports books in addition to a billion-dollar casino, fearing cannibalization, but Lightfoot threw gasoline on the … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, Churchill Downs, Dan Lee, DraftKings, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Jack Entertainment, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Politics, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Tribal, TV, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Special Edition: Rumblings from around Big Gaming

Update: The Seminole Tribe has finally, grudgingly stopped taking sports bets, effective yesterday. At the risk of using the Seminole Tribe as a punching bag, we have to observe that it clearly doesn’t understanding the meaning of the word “no,” … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Bally, Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, Conventions, Cordish Co., Cosmopolitan, DraftKings, Health, IGT, Law enforcement, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Real Estate, Regulation, Scientific Games, Seminole Tribe, Sports betting, The Strip | 2 Comments

Wynn spits out SPAC; Penn slammed; Indiana impresses

Headlines are still being made by Wynn Resorts this week. Shockwaves continue to reverberate from CEO Matt Maddox‘s surprise retirement, nearly one year ahead of schedule. His departure comes at a delicate point in negotiations with Macao (or should we … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Cordish Co., DraftKings, Drugs, Entertainment, FanDuel, Fontainebleau, Full House Resorts, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tribal, TV, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Wynn drops bombshells; Portnoy’s complaint

Wynn Resorts CEO Matt Maddox is leaving the building, effective Jan. 31. This shockeroo, which inspired a banner headline in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, was trundled out just minutes before the 3Q21 earnings call. Maddox will be succeeded by veteran … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Arizona, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, China, Diversity, Economy, GLPI, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Movies, New York, Ocean Resort, Oklahoma, Penn National, Politics, Sexual misconduct, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

DraftKings talks big, persuades few; Rancor in Richmond

DraftKings divided analysts with its 3Q21 earnings report. Credit Suisse pundit Ben Chaiken said the company was “moving the ball down the field.” That’s despite revenues of $212 million that well undershot Wall Street‘s expected $238 million, rather like a … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Arizona, Baseball, Canada, Delaware, Donald Trump, DraftKings, Election, Golden Nugget, Health, history, Internet gambling, James Packer, Louisiana, Marketing, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Texas, Tribal, TV, Virginia, Wall Street | Comments Off on DraftKings talks big, persuades few; Rancor in Richmond