Category Archives: Penn National

Caesars to rebuff Fertitta; No surprise, Culinary endorses Rosen

Posted on October 22, 2018 by David McKee

This just in: Credit Suisse analyst Brian McKnight reports that the Caesars Entertainment board is going to reject Tilman Fertitta‘s reverse-merger offer. However, now that Caesars is in play, McKnight doesn’t think this is the end of the story, mentioning … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Culinary Union, Dining, Election, Harry Reid, Horseracing, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sports, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | 1 Comment

MGM Springfield disappoints; Ruffin makes peace

Posted on October 17, 2018 by David McKee

Publicizing revenue expectations is a dangerous thing. Just ask the four new casinos in upstate New York. Or Bruce Deifik in Atlantic City. When you don’t make your number (the dreaded Penn National Effect) it opens you up for no … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Connecticut, Culinary Union, International, Law enforcement, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Problem gambling, Rhode Island, The Strip | Comments Off

Punishing month in Atlantic City

Posted on October 15, 2018 by David McKee

Gross-gaming revenues (not counting Internet play) were up 8% in Atlantic City last month, to $232 million. However, the prosperity wasn’t citywide, with same-store revenues down 11%. We’re still a long way from agreeing with Roger Gros‘ doom-and-gloom-and-doom prediction that two … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Bruce Deifik, Caesars Entertainment, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Eldorado Resorts, Genting, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Indiana fails to impress; Big setback for non-smokers

Posted on October 12, 2018 by David McKee

It’s too soon to say that regional gaming’s economic honeymoon is over but Indiana was down 4% last month, grossing $177.5 million. (It was up 6% this time last year.) Penn National Gaming‘s Hollywood Lawrenceburg took a 15% header, grossing … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Colony Capital, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Environment, Full House Resorts, G2E, Indiana, Louisiana, Majestic Star, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Technology, Wall Street, West Virginia, Westgate LV | Comments Off

Ohio up, Missouri down and Caesars tries harder

Posted on October 10, 2018 by David McKee

Although it will forever be a mystery why Caesars Entertainment evacuated Ohio, now that gaming revenues in the Buckeye State are on the upswing, it’s understandable that CEO Mark Frissora would want to get back in. Last month, gross gaming … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Dan Gilbert, Dining, Donald Trump, Eldorado Resorts, Hard Rock International, history, Isle of Capri, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Tribal | Comments Off

Wisdom from G2E; Sisolak lights up

Posted on October 10, 2018 by David McKee

This week’s Global Gaming Expo gives Wall Street analysts plenty of time to sniff around the big gaming operators and manufacturers, trying to suss out trends. Credit Suisse analyst Cameron McKnight, the new kid on the block, says that 3Q18 … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Election, G2E, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Illinois, Indiana, Isle of Capri, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Marijuana, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Nevada, Palms, Penn National, Sports, Station Casinos, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off

Maryland & other case bets

Posted on October 8, 2018 by David McKee

Growth in Maryland continued last month, if not at the spectacular rates we’ve seen previously. Gaming revenue rose 7% to $144 million. The leader, of course, was MGM National Harbor, jumping 10% to $54.5 million, which translates to $1.8 million/day. … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, Charity, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Florida, Golden Gaming, Macau, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New York, Penn National, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Technology, Tribal, West Virginia | Comments Off

Illinois stumbles; Kimmel returns to Vegas roots

Posted on October 5, 2018 by David McKee

It would take more than an extra weekend day to account for a 7% slippage in Illinois gaming revenues, which were positive year/year in 2017. Nobody had a revenue-positive month, not even Rivers Casino, down 5% despite a state-leading $34 … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Delaware, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Galaxy Entertainment, GLPI, Greenwood Racing, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Movies, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, TV, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Mohegan Sun shines

Posted on October 1, 2018 by David McKee

Congratulations to Mohegan Sun on being named ‘Best Hotel’ by readers of USA Today. I’ve never stayed there but would reckon this is quite a coup and shows yet again that tribal casinos don’t yield the palm to private-sector ones … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, CityCenter, Derek Stevens, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Foxwoods, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New York, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Reno, Resort fees, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Report from Pennsylvania

Posted on September 27, 2018 by David McKee

Lady Luck Nemacolin continues its losing ways, passing up on Internet gambling licenses. Lady Luckless already balks at paying the fee that would open its casino to non-guests and this latest non-move smacks of the same boneheaded mentality that makes … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, DFS, Eldorado Resorts, Greenwood Racing, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Rush Street Gaming | 1 Comment

Boyd captures Valley Forge; An historic first at the Plaza

Posted on September 19, 2018 by David McKee

Boyd Gaming is officially in the Pennsylvania market, having closed its $280.5 million purchase of Valley Forge Casino Resort. The company now gets to grapple for a piece of the crowded Philadelphia market. And don’t think Harrah’s Philadelphia won’t tout … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Dan Gilbert, Downtown, Greenwood Racing, Internet gambling, Iowa, Las Vegas Sands, Marketing, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sports betting, Tamares Group, Technology, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Shelter from the storm; Eldorado enters Atlantic City

Posted on September 14, 2018 by David McKee

Looking for someplace to ride out the storm. Ocean Resort is full through September 15 but comped rooms will be available after that. “We completely understand the concern for families and the community during times like this, so we want to … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, Carl Icahn, Charity, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Environment, International, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Reno, Rush Street Gaming, Technology, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Atlantic City booms

Posted on September 13, 2018 by David McKee

Casino revenues in Atlantic City were up an astounding 21% in August, with only a 2% decrease in revenue at the incumbent gambling houses. Sports betting was also a hit, grossing $95 million. (Some predict it could surpass Las Vegas … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, Caesars Entertainment, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Resort fees, Rush Street Gaming, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Hot in August

Posted on September 12, 2018 by David McKee

Regional casinos were the big story last month, with four crucial jurisdictions all posting gains. (So, too, did Iowa but we rarely cover it in S&G because so few of the innumerable casinos make major amounts of revenue.) Maryland hopped … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Ameristar, Caesars Entertainment, Cordish Co., Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, Full House Resorts, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Indiana, Iowa, Majestic Star, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Rush Street Gaming, Taxes, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Project First Light dims; Once and future Horseshoe?

Posted on September 11, 2018 by David McKee

After much hemming and hawing, the Trump administration finally came down off the fence on the Mashpee Wampanoag‘s Project First Light casino, saying it couldn’t see a way forward to taking the land into trust for gaming purposes. U.S. District Court … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Baseball, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, DFS, Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Genting, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Movies, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Rhode Island, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

Dispatches from the front lines

Posted on September 5, 2018 by David McKee

Already MGM Springfield is spurring external economic stimulus in Springfield. A new (and rather fugly) Hilton has been proposed for an adjacent site, costing $15 million and boasting 100 hotel rooms once finished. For the city, the cancellation of MGM’s planned hotel … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Entertainment, Environment, history, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Minnesota, Penn National, Rhode Island, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

Titanic exhibit in peril; It’s Greek to them

Posted on September 4, 2018 by David McKee

Luxor‘s display of Titanic relics has hit an iceberg in the form of a bankruptcy court auction against owner Premier Exhibitions. It’s likely the collection will be kept intact, not dispersed to the four winds, although the latter might be … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Caesars Entertainment, Downtown, Hard Rock International, history, International, Las Vegas Sands, Marijuana, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Movies, Penn National, Regulation, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, TV, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off

A lonely July; Schumer would put leagues in charge

Posted on August 31, 2018 by David McKee

A clearer picture of the Las Vegas Strip in July is emerging, as visitation was 3.5% lower, dragging room revenue down 7.5% with it. Yes, the house got beaten badly at baccarat, but other factors were at work in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Foxwoods, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Oklahoma, Penn National, Politics, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal | Comments Off

MGM Springfield impresses; The case of the disappearing chairman

Posted on August 27, 2018 by David McKee

It seems Springfield has a tornado to thank for MGM Resorts International‘s interest in the city, the beginning of a seven-year quest that climaxed with the Budweiser Clydesdales leading a parade to the new megaresort. CEO Jim Murren was window-shopping … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Dining, Election, history, International, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Penn National, Philippines, Station Casinos | Comments Off

Horseplay in Nebraska; High art in Springfield

Posted on August 21, 2018 by David McKee

It’s early days for the 2020 election but the Ho-Chunk Nation is partnering with The Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association on a petition drive to get racinos onto that election-year ballot. As many as six tracks could be affected. One of the, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Election, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Nebraska, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Tribal, West Virginia | Comments Off