Category Archives: Massachusetts

Wynn sued … twice

Steve Wynn is the gift you wish wouldn’t keep on giving. Wynn Resorts has been slammed with two lawsuits in a week, thanks to Wynn’s libidinous proclivities. According to Casino.org, “Steve Wynn, pressured [women] to not talk with the media, only … Continue reading

Posted in Dan Gilbert, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Marketing, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Security, Sexual misconduct, Sports, Steve Wynn, Transportation, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Hooters out, Ruffin in, Sands up

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

Police blotter; Brockton gets shut out

Hawaii is one of the last two bastions of anti-gambling in America. Naturally, in such an environment, illegal gambling is going to flourish. Last week federal authorities indicted 15 individuals (seven of whom are on the lam) and seized 60 … Continue reading

Posted in Canada, Charity, Florida, Hard Rock International, Hawaii, Illinois, Law enforcement, Marijuana, Massachusetts, Money laundering, Neil Bluhm, Racinos, Regulation, Taxes, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Police blotter; Brockton gets shut out

NCAA meddling again; Slots struggle in Massachusetts

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

Rio sold; Best casinos named

Despite rumors that Caesars Entertainment has sworn off trying to sell The Rio (again), it turns out that the Roman Empire was still shopping the resort. It’s been tentatively sold to “a principal of Imperial Companies” for $516 million. If … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, Cosmopolitan, Derek Stevens, Dining, Downtown, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Genting, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Marketing, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, New York, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Reno, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, TV, World Series of Poker, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Chicago casino tax damned; Kerkorian epoch ends

That Illinois casino expansion went back to the drawing board—the Illinois Gaming Board, to be exact. The topic of its ire was the 33% “privilege tax” hung around the neck of the Chicago casino (bringing its effective tax rate to … Continue reading

Posted in Churchill Downs, Dining, Downtown, Entertainment, Foxwoods, history, Illinois, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Rush Street Gaming, Tamares Group, Taxes, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street, Westgate LV | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

“Fall River mayor wins slot on reelection ballot after arrest for alleged extortion.”—headline in the Boston Globe

Posted in Election, Massachusetts | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Two wins for Wynn; Fewer jobs in Atlantic City

Encore Boston Harbor continues to dominate the Massachusetts scene, with 61% of market share, compared to 25% (not bad) for MGM Springfield, the rest going to Plainridge Park. Encore grossed $85.5 million last month, MGM did $21 million and Plainridge … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Colorado, DFS, Economy, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Oklahoma, Penn National, Resort fees, Sexual misconduct, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Unite-Here, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Two wins for Wynn; Fewer jobs in Atlantic City

Lesser is more; Are you ready for some football betting?

It’s been rather vexing to hear the voices in Massachusetts squawking to have the casino-enabling legislation enacted under Deval Patrick torn up and replaced with a series of loopholes. After two years of knowing that Encore Boston Harbor was headed … Continue reading

Posted in Economy, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Internet gambling, Marijuana, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Philippines, Politics, Racinos, Sports betting, The Strip, Transportation, TV | 1 Comment

Sports betting: Survey says …

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 …

Honeymoon over in Massachusetts; Drive like Elvis

Encore Boston Harbor has been open only two months. MGM Springfield just passed its one-year anniversary. And yet, the Boston Globe is already tossing around the ‘S’ word—saturation. Saying that casino executives might not like hearing it, the paper rejoined, … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Arizona, Caesars Entertainment, California, Economy, Entertainment, history, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Penn National, Rhode Island, Transportation, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Honeymoon over in Massachusetts; Drive like Elvis

Sports betting vexed in Massachusetts; Start spreading the news, they’re leaving today—and how!

Don’t expect sports betting in Massachusetts: Not now, maybe never. Why? Two words: Rhode Island. That state counted on $23 million in tax revenue from sports wagers—a ludicrous figure—and got $2 million. Bay State lawmakers are not only sobered by the … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Connecticut, Economy, Environment, Florida, Las Vegas Raiders, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New York, Politics, Problem gambling, Rhode Island, Sports, Sports betting | Comments Off on Sports betting vexed in Massachusetts; Start spreading the news, they’re leaving today—and how!

A Majestic idea; MGM’s Springfield angst

Anyone remember the Greek Isles? Anybody want to? Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the Greek Isles site will midwife the $850 million Majestic Las Vegas, designed by Paul Steelman after the style of Paul Revere Williams. It will have … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Arizona, Caesars Entertainment, CityCenter, Connecticut, Dining, Economy, Foxwoods, LVCVA, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New York, Security, Technology, The Strip, Transportation, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Massachusetts: Isn’t that special?

Although the Boston Globe gets a bit overheated about Tom O’Connell aspirations for a Region C casino they don’t get it wrong when they say O’Connell and associates “want to rewrite the rule book to suit their needs.” That means, … Continue reading

Posted in Colorado, Hooters, Horseracing, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Neil Bluhm, New York, Oregon, Paragon Gaming, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Technology, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Massachusetts: Isn’t that special?

Sheldon’s Sphere inflating; Nevada not keeping up with the times

Madison Square Garden is confronting a major cost overrun on its spherical event center near Venelazzo, meant to—among other things—aggrandize the ego of Sheldon Adelson. Shares of MSG were sent staggering by the revelation that the $1.2 billion cost had … Continue reading

Posted in International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New Jersey, Philippines, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Sheldon’s Sphere inflating; Nevada not keeping up with the times

IGT deal puts R.I. guv in the hot seat

A sweetheart deal for International Game Technology—a no-bid, 20-year, $1 billion contract to supply the state lottery has landed Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo (D) in hot water. The state Ethics Commission has voted to investigate the deal and, more … Continue reading

Posted in Cosmopolitan, IGT, Massachusetts, Nevada, Politics, Rhode Island, Scientific Games, Transportation, Twin River | Comments Off on IGT deal puts R.I. guv in the hot seat

What if they built a megaresort and nobody came?

Resorts World Catskills made it into the New York Times and not in a good way. A feature story focused on the $1.2 billion megaresort’s financial difficulties, caused in part by nine-figure loans. Empire Resorts says the casino does not … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Cambodia, CityCenter, Genting, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | 2 Comments

MGM Springfield plays rope-a-dope; Big break for Cordish

With MGM Springfield well short of revenue projections (and cutting jobs), President Michael Mathis was sent out to do PR damage control. “I feel good about the trajectory,” he claimed. He blamed Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun for the shortfall: We … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Arkansas, Cordish Co., Delaware, Dining, Economy, Election, Foxwoods, Iowa, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Rhode Island, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Encore vanquishing competition; Newcomers dominate Atlantic City

Encore Boston Harbor, the best-smelling casino on the East Coast, had a crushing month, its first full one of operation. Its $48.5 million in revenue accounted for 60% of all Massachusetts gaming revenues. That breaks down as almost $1.6 million/day … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Connecticut, Detroit, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Canaries in the coal mine, casinos in the slums

Stocks nose-dived yesterday after “an odd bond market phenomenon that has been a reliable indicator of economic recessions. Investors, worried about the state of the economy, rushed to long-term safe haven assets, pushing the yield on the benchmark 30-year Treasury bond … Continue reading

Posted in Donald Trump, Economy, Greenwood Racing, Illinois, International, Iowa, Law enforcement, Macau, Massachusetts, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sports betting, Taxes, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments