Category Archives: New Jersey

Midwest report; Icahn caps his bet; Churchill Downs grows

Posted on March 13, 2019 by David McKee

Missouri was down 4% last month, no explanation given, with a statewide gross of $134 million. The decline was driven by lower slot play, as table-game revenues ($20 million) were up 7%. Penn National Gaming had a good result at … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, Internet gambling, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Law enforcement, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sports, Sports betting | Comments Off

More Tamares tomfoolery; MGM evicts Hard Rock brand

Posted on March 4, 2019 by David McKee

Tamares Group has been up to its usual shenanigans, using the Plaza Hotel as a stalking horse. The latter slapped a quickie eviction notice on the Beauty Bar, citing multiple incidents involving repeated calls to Las Vegas Metro as the … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Architecture, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Election, Entertainment, Hard Rock International, International, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Palms, Sports betting, Station Casinos | 1 Comment

Fearless Oscar recap

Posted on February 25, 2019 by David McKee

New Jersey bookmakers are doubtless shelling out some long green today after Olivia Colman upset their (and my) odds-on pick, Glenn Close at the Academy Awards last night. Despite having the law of averages seemingly in her favor, Close continues … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, International, Movies, New Jersey, TV | Comments Off

Chronicle of a disaster foretold

Posted on February 19, 2019 by David McKee

It’s time for Caesars Entertainment‘s quarterly earnings call and, by way of a preview, JP Morgan analyst Daniel Politzer took a relatively dim view of selling the company as a cure for whatever ails it. “While we understand activists’ rationale … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Eldorado Resorts, Horseracing, International, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, Politics, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Atlantic City: Ocean Resort stages a rally

Posted on February 15, 2019 by David McKee

Atlantic City is weathering the winter months about as well as can realistically be hoped. Same-store revenues were down 8% last month but up 9% overall. Ocean Resort ($12.5 million) actually crept past Bally’s ($12 million) and up on Resorts … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Bruce Deifik, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Eldorado Resorts, Genting, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta | Comments Off

Clouds over Macao; What Sheldon wants, Sheldon gets

Posted on February 15, 2019 by David McKee

Cameron McKnight of Credit Suisse is projecting gambling-revenue flatness in Macao (despite higher tax returns) through 2019 and into 2020, despite a record amount of available credit in China. “Stronger credit data may partially assuage China macro concerns, as it … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Galaxy Entertainment, International, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Movies, New Jersey, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Transportation, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Maryland booms, Illinois frozen out; Resort fees to rise … again

Posted on February 7, 2019 by David McKee

Business continues to boom for MGM National Harbor, which raked in $57 million last month, 12% growth and 41% of the Free State’s $137 million gross gaming revenue. Maryland Live‘s 34% market share translated into a gross of $46 million. Horseshoe … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Colorado, Cordish Co., Detroit, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Illinois, Las Vegas Raiders, Louisiana, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Resort fees, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Wall Street, West Virginia | 1 Comment

Atlantic City’s glass half-full; New Kentucky casino pitched

Posted on February 7, 2019 by David McKee

First, the good news: Casino-related employment in Atlantic City rose by 5,749 jobs last year, driven by Hard Rock Atlantic City and Ocean Resort, which added 6,927 souls to the work force. The bad news? Hiring remains otherwise stagnant, with Hard Rock … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Bruce Deifik, Economy, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Racinos, South Dakota, Sports betting, Taxes, Tribal | 1 Comment

Sports books take Super Bowl hit

Posted on February 5, 2019 by David McKee

With 75% of bettors wagering on the New England Patriots, plus a “george” 53-1 side bet for in-store credit, FanDuel got taken to the woodshed during Super Bowl LIII, losing $5 million. “All of this combined to leave New England as … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Arizona, Economy, Genting, Illinois, Las Vegas Sands, Marketing, New Jersey, Politics, Problem gambling, Resort fees, Singapore, Sports betting, Taxes, Texas | Comments Off

Survey says: Las Vegas bad for NFL; Power struggle in Macao

Posted on January 28, 2019 by David McKee

Put me in the one-third of Americans surveyed who wouldn’t give up their annual bonus to see their team win the Super Bowl. That’s one of the findings of a WalletHub study that, incredibly (at least to me) ranks Las … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Caesars Entertainment, California, Entertainment, Indiana, Internet gambling, Japan, Las Vegas Raiders, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Ohio, Pansy Ho, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Scientific Games, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, Tourism, Wall Street, Wisconsin | Comments Off

Super Bowl generates heavy action; Hard Rock marquee finds retirement home

Posted on January 28, 2019 by David McKee

$325 million. That’s the legal handle that PlayUSA.com is predicting will be wagered on Super Bowl LIII. Nevada will have the plurality of bets, some $160 million, with New Jersey seeing $100 million in action, including online wagers. The nascent … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Arizona, CityCenter, Entertainment, Hard Rock Hotel, history, International, Internet gambling, Mississippi, Movies, New Jersey, New Mexico, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Sports, Sports betting, Tourism, West Virginia | Comments Off

Adelson sparks firestorm

Posted on January 21, 2019 by David McKee

When Bill Miller was appointed CEO of the American Gaming Association, we speculated that his relationship with Sheldon Adelson would be “less strained” than that of predecessor Geoff Freeman. Indeed, that already seems to be the case. It would account … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Carl Icahn, Churchill Downs, Delaware, DFS, Eldorado Resorts, Florida, Geoff Freeman, Illinois, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Cuomo bets on sports; Resorts World LV disowns own designs

Posted on January 16, 2019 by David McKee

It looks as though New York State will split the baby on sports wagering: Casino-based betting in 2019, mobile wagering in 2022. Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) has baked what Credit Suisse analyst Cameron McKnight calls “a small amount of sports … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Baseball, DFS, Genting, New Jersey, New York, Problem gambling, Sports betting, The Strip, Wall Street, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Re-reversing the Wire Act: What it means

Posted on January 16, 2019 by David McKee

Last weekend’s flip-flop by the Justice Department‘s stance on the Federal Wire Act has spurred a fair amount of chin scratching in the gaming industry. Global Market Advisors notes the immediate implication: “The action, which at best can be described as … Continue reading →

Posted in Delaware, DFS, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Taxes, Wall Street | Comments Off

Trump betrays Internet gambling

Posted on January 15, 2019 by David McKee

In a world so topsy-turvy that Ivanka Trump will be helping choose the next president of the World Bank, we shouldn’t assume that Internet gambling is safe. The Office of Legal Counsel has reversed Eric Holder‘s narrow interpretation of the … Continue reading →

Posted in DFS, Donald Trump, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, New Jersey, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting | Comments Off

Sports betting gearing up in Pennsylvania; Downtown Grand expands

Posted on January 9, 2019 by David McKee

It will be all systems ‘go’ for sports betting at Parx Casino tomorrow if the casino successfully completes a test run today. This would make Parx the fourth Pennsylvania casino to offer sports wagering, preceded by Hollywood Casino, near Harrisburg, Rivers … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Downtown Grand, Genting, Greenwood Racing, International, Midnight Jim Gibbons, New Jersey, Penn National, Pets, Problem gambling, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting | Comments Off

Philly Live shows signs of life; Sports betting no cure-all

Posted on January 7, 2019 by David McKee

Cordish Gaming‘s $700 million Philadelphia casino project (now with 100% less Watouche “Bob” Manoukian) has been postponed two years. However, in a sign of forward progress, Cordish has signed a general contractor and pledged “substantial completion” by 2020. It remains … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Colorado, Cordish Co., Horseracing, Louisiana, Marijuana, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sports betting, Taxes, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on December 26, 2018 by David McKee

“In general, there’s been a shift toward people’s attitudes toward art in the mainstream. Art used to be seen as something untouchable, but I think social media and the Internet have democratized it, and as the general public has been exposed … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, New Jersey | Comments Off

Stabbed in the back

Posted on December 24, 2018 by David McKee

In a colossal act of betrayal, the NFL, Major League Baseball and the PGA Tour have turned on their new gaming ‘partners’ and betrayed them by getting into bed with Sen. Chuck Schumer (D) and his dreadful bill to push … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Internet gambling, Japan, Law enforcement, New Jersey, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, Taxes, Tourism | Comments Off

Bad idea refuses to die; E-sports comes to the Boardwalk

Posted on December 20, 2018 by David McKee

Sens, Chuck Schumer (D) and Orrin Hatch (R), forever in search of bad ideas to espouse, it would seem, have introduced the Sports Wagering Market Integrity Act of 2018. There’s no mention of Hatch’s cockamamie notion of individual states having … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, Dining, e-sports, Economy, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, Politics, Racinos, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 1 Comment