Category Archives: New Jersey

Rowdy night in Boston; Stitt’s standoff

Posted on August 13, 2019 by David McKee

All hell broke loose at Encore Boston Harbor in the wee hours of Monday morning. The first brawl broke out as nightclub patrons were leaving Mémoire. It was so bad that police had to call in backup. According to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Election, International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Philippines, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Trouble in paradise; Hard Rock comeback

Posted on July 18, 2019 by David McKee

As faithful S&G readers know, we’re coming up on the re-tender of the six casino concessions in Macao. One of the enclave’s most prominent junket operators, Suncity, had hoped to oust an existing concessionaire and take over its casinos. (A … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Diversity, Hard Rock International, Indiana, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Macau, New Jersey, New York, Philippines, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports betting, The Crown 18 | 1 Comment

California: Child brides and gambling don’t mix

Posted on July 17, 2019 by David McKee

One of the weirdest gaming stories ever is playing out in California. Both Ted Kingston and Joseph Kingston, 95% owners of Lake Elsinore Casino, are tied to the Kingston Group, a polygamist sect that the Southern Poverty Law Center has … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, California, Florida, Law enforcement, Nevada, New Jersey, Sports, Sports betting, The Mob | 1 Comment

Whales super-lucky on the Strip; New Jersey tops Nevada

Posted on June 28, 2019 by David McKee

Last month was the busiest in McCarran International Airport history, seeing 4,590,539 arrivals and departures. Unfortunately for the casinos, this did not translate into record prosperity. Far from it. Gross gaming revenue toppled 11% to $517.5 million. Slots were a bright … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Culinary Union, Downtown, International, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Law enforcement, Macau, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Las Vegas, Palms, Reno, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, William Hill | Comments Off on Whales super-lucky on the Strip; New Jersey tops Nevada

Eldorado’s clearance sale; Atlantic City takes the lead

Posted on June 17, 2019 by David McKee

Eldorado Resorts may be getting closer to a Caesars Entertainment acquisition (accounts differ) but it’s already clearing the decks for a big expenditure. It just offloaded three casinos to—irony alert—Caesars’ Vici Properties for $385 million. The trio is Mountaineer Casino … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Cordish Co., Eldorado Resorts, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Louisiana, Marketing, Michael Gaughan, Mississippi, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Pets, Regulation, Sports betting, Unite-Here, Wall Street, West Virginia | 2 Comments

Big month for Hard Rock Atlantic City; Sunset Station unionizes

Posted on June 14, 2019 by David McKee

Atlantic City‘s two heaviest hitters had a not-so-merry month of May. Borgata fell 15%, to $52 million, and Tropicana Atlantic City tumbled 18%, landing at $25 million and ceding second place for the first time to Hard Rock Atlantic City … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Culinary Union, Detroit, Eldorado Resorts, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tribal | 1 Comment

Rough April for Atlantic City; Britney to jilt MGM?

Posted on May 15, 2019 by David McKee

As always, Atlantic City proves to be a good-news/bad-news story. Gaming revenue there was up 8.5% higher last month but the love had to be spread thin, as same-store revenues fell 12%. Casinos grossed $207.5 million with slots up 6% … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Baseball, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta | 2 Comments

Illinois agonizes over expansion; Frustration in Connecticut

Posted on May 14, 2019 by David McKee

Always looking for ways to kill the golden goose, Illinois lawmakers are contemplating gambling expansion yet again. Slot route operators are understandably balking at Gov. J.B. Pritzker‘s proposal to raise the current 30% tax rate to a 50/50 split with … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Connecticut, Foxwoods, Illinois, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, New York, Politics, Resort fees, Slot routes, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Illinois agonizes over expansion; Frustration in Connecticut

Everyone’s happy in Singapore; Adelson involvement probed

Posted on May 9, 2019 by David McKee

While the government in Macao likes to keep casino executives in a state of uncertainty about the future, Singapore is far more sanguine. Between them, Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa have committed $6.6 billion to new development. That … Continue reading →

Posted in Genting, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Louisiana, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports betting, Taxes | Comments Off on Everyone’s happy in Singapore; Adelson involvement probed

Putting problem gaming on notice; Station has a hit

Posted on May 1, 2019 by David McKee

“Whilst the vast majority of our customers enjoy our products responsibly, it is high time that the industry did more to protect its customers from potential harm.” Thus spake GVC CEO Kenny Alexander in a dramatic change of policy. Along … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Connecticut, Foxwoods, Horseracing, International, Kazuo Okada, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Palms, Philippines, Problem gambling, Sports, Station Casinos, TV, Wall Street, William Hill | Comments Off on Putting problem gaming on notice; Station has a hit

Up and down the Strip; Land of the not-so-rising Sun

Posted on April 30, 2019 by David McKee

As a determination on its suitability in Massachusetts comes down to the wire (and opening date of Encore Boston Harbor is set for June 23), Wynn Resorts is trying to reap some positive karma. It has abandoned its pay-for-parking policy. … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Japan, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, Resort fees, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Up and down the Strip; Land of the not-so-rising Sun

Case Bets

Posted on April 24, 2019 by David McKee

It’s early yet but the House Finance Committee of the Colorado Lege has overwhelmingly voted through a sports-betting bill. The would-be law has to survive three more votes in the House before moving along to the state Senate. However, it … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Colorado, history, Horseracing, Indiana, Majestic Star, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes | Comments Off on Case Bets

Nevada’s #1, not in a good way

Posted on April 23, 2019 by David McKee

WalletHub has been crunching the numbers again and come to the conclusion that Nevada is America‘s most-gaming addicted state. (Utah is the least, while the Silver State is followed by South Dakota, Montana, Mississippi and Oregon.) Casino-rich Florida was an incredibly … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Connecticut, Crown Resorts, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, International, Kansas, Kentucky, Macau, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Rhode Island, Slot routes, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington State, West Virginia | Comments Off on Nevada’s #1, not in a good way

Land of confusion

Posted on April 22, 2019 by David McKee

OK, so there are no condos on sale at the Plaza Resort in downtown Las Vegas. That much we have established. But it’s got to be one of the most baffling stories we’ve ever covered. For instance, “TLC” usually is shorthand … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Golden Gaming, Illinois, Japan, Kentucky, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Real Estate, Regulation, Sports betting, Tamares Group, Taxes, Terry Caudill, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Land of confusion

Winter is coming … to Pahrump

Posted on April 16, 2019 by David McKee

Last Sunday, Game of Thrones returned with an exposition-heavy season opener. No word yet on whether it dampened business at Nevada brothels but they’ve evidently been taking some inspiration from the A Song of Ice and Fire saga. According to … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Entertainment, Greenwood Racing, New Jersey, Pahrump, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, TV | Comments Off on Winter is coming … to Pahrump

Boffo month for New Jersey, Detroit

Posted on April 15, 2019 by David McKee

Atlantic City casinos sprang through March with a 16% revenue boost (albeit 5% cannibalization of last year’s grosses), booking $223 million, including a 18.5% surge in slot win while table games were up 9% (albeit down 13% on a same-store … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Eldorado Resorts, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta | 2 Comments

Rosenstein rebutted; Kiddie slots in U.K.

Posted on April 15, 2019 by David McKee

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein received a smackdown from a federal court. Judge Paul Barbadoro ruled that not only had Rosenstein failed to convince him that New Hampshire‘s online lottery wasn’t covered under the new interpretation of the Federal Wire … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, Dining, e-sports, Georgia, Glenn Straub, International, Internet gambling, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Problem gambling, Puerto Rico, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, Taxes, Texas | Comments Off on Rosenstein rebutted; Kiddie slots in U.K.

Louisiana chokes on smoking ban; Graham’s conversion

Posted on March 22, 2019 by David McKee

Gaming revenues were down 4% last month in Louisiana, mainly dragged under by the Baton Rouge market, plummeting 19%. Since the imposition of a smoking ban in Red Stick, casinos’ business has been 17% lower, a business catastrophe. Belle of … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, history, Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Problem gambling, South Carolina, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, William Hill | Comments Off on Louisiana chokes on smoking ban; Graham’s conversion

Heavy action prophesied for March Madness; Death at Bellagio

Posted on March 19, 2019 by David McKee

“Unlike any other sporting event in the country, March Madness attracts millions who fill out brackets, make casual bets with friends or wager at a legal sports book, which Americans can now do more than ever before.” With those words … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Current, Dining, Downtown, Entertainment, history, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Palms, Security, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tourism | 1 Comment

Meet the REITs; Station’s full platter

Posted on March 15, 2019 by David McKee

JP Morgan analysts met with MGM Growth Properties CEO James Stewart and CFO Andy Chien, whose assured them that MGP had a full pipeline of deals. (Could MGM Resorts International inoculate itself against the Federal Trade Commission by running a … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, CityCenter, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Raiders, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, Palms, Reno, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment