Category Archives: Penn National

Ohio: Gilbert to have the last laugh?

It looks like Dan Gilbert is gaining traction with his “Jack” brand (soon to be slathered over Greektown Casino in Gilbert’s native Detroit). Although Jack Cincinnati was flat ($15 million), its counterparts in Cleveland ($17 million) and at ThistleDown Racino … Continue reading

Posted in Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Eldorado Resorts, Marketing, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos | 1 Comment

Pittsburgh pleads with Rivers Casino; Strong numbers from Maryland, Illinois

Pittsburgh is essentially saying “Pretty please” to Rush Street Gaming‘s Rivers Casino, begging the latter to keep voluntarily paying $10 million a year to the city, even though Rush Street is no longer under any legal obligation to do so. Pittsburgh Finance … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Cosmopolitan, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Taxes, Technology, The Strip | 6 Comments

Penn: The wait is over; Scientific strikes again

On Oct. 10, the same day that Trump Taj Mahal is scheduled to close, Penn National Gaming will open the long-deferred Hollywood Casino Jamul (federal approvals had been holding it up). In celebration, Penn is announcing that relief of the … Continue reading

Posted in Boulder Strip, California, Downtown, Georgia, Minnesota, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Scientific Games, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Penn: The wait is over; Scientific strikes again

Live by baccarat, die by baccarat; Donald Trump, Stiff of the Century

With one less weekend this year and weak baccarat volumes, the Las Vegas Strip got hammered, down 15%. Statewide, gross gaming revenues were off by 5%. Late-July slot win that was reported in August softened the blow, contributing to a … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, California, Donald Trump, Downtown, Election, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Mesquite, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Reno, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Sheldon’s new errand boy; Caesars: Let’s make a deal

Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson is known to be the Lady Bountiful of the 2016 election, showering promising senatorial candidates with cash. One such hopeful is Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton (R), who has thrown a legislative Hail Mary, attempting … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Donald Trump, Election, G2E, Genting, GLPI, Harrah's, IGT, Illinois, Internet gambling, New York, Penn National, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Technology, Unite-Here, Warner Gaming | Comments Off on Sheldon’s new errand boy; Caesars: Let’s make a deal

Atlantic City saved

It’s all over. The fat lady hath sung. And Atlantic City lives to gamble another day. Discouraged by poll numbers that showed insurmountable support for the status quo in New Jersey, expansion PAC Our Turn NJ is closing up shop. That … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Cordish Co., Election, Entertainment, Harrah's, Illinois, International, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, New York, Penn National, Politics, Rhode Island, Slot routes, South Korea, Transportation | 1 Comment

Analysts not sold yet on Macao recovery; Soggy month for Louisiana

They came, they saw, they were unconvinced. “The re-affirmation that mass is improving was pronounced,” reported Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli, adding that projections were all over the place. “We get the sense that expectations remain low with respect to … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Galaxy Entertainment, GLPI, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, South Korea, Steve Wynn, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on Analysts not sold yet on Macao recovery; Soggy month for Louisiana

Caesars dips toe in skill-based slots; MGM National Harbor snares Dylan

Caesars Entertainment is going on the road, as it were, to test-drive its first foray into skill-based slots. It’s going to install six Gamblit Gaming slot carousels at Harrah’s Rincon, with 36 slated for Las Vegas deployment next year. The … Continue reading

Posted in California, Colorado, Cordish Co., Downtown, Environment, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Hooters, IGT, Internet gambling, Kansas, Maine, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Scientific Games, Sheldon Adelson, South Dakota, Sports, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, TV, West Virginia, Westgate LV, Wisconsin | 2 Comments

Freeman’s crusade; Gilbert struggles in Ohio

To describe the new-look American Gaming Association as “activist” would be an understatement of some magnitude. President Geoff Freeman has put the pedal to the metal in his quest for legalized sports betting. Today, Freeman mounted his bully pulpit in … Continue reading

Posted in Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, Geoff Freeman, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Iowa, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Regulation, Sports, Taxes | 2 Comments

What if they gave a tax and nobody paid?; Fewer comps for video poker?

Just when it seemed there was no line in the sand that casinos wouldn’t draw regarding taxation, gambling halls in Pennsylvania have finally had enough of state levies. Paying $5 million for five years (and $250,000 a year after that) … Continue reading

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Technology, The Strip | 1 Comment

MGM’s China gambit; Mixed quarter for Station

MGM Resorts International and Pansy Ho are performing a fancy juggling act with MGM stock. The former is going to buy an additional 188 million shares in MGM China, increasing its hold on the property to 56%. In return, Ms. … Continue reading

Posted in California, Culinary Union, Economy, Election, Isle of Capri, Macau, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Nevada, Palms, Pansy Ho, Penn National, Reno, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

“Everybody including Twin River, the competitor across the border 17 miles away in Rhode Island, projected that Penn [National Gaming] would do more than it’s been doing. Exactly why it isn’t, nobody’s quite sure. Whether it’s that you can’t smoke … Continue reading

Posted in Economy, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, Penn National, Rhode Island, Taxes | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Missouri is doing just fine, thanks; Cautious hope for Moulin Rouge

Pinnacle Entertainment did a masterful job of managing expectations in its quarterly earnings call, citing disruptive road work around Ameristar St. Charles as a potential setback from the property. Today, Missouri released its July gaming results and — surprise — … Continue reading

Posted in Ameristar, Downtown, Environment, G2E, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Isle of Capri, Macau, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Moulin Rouge, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sports, Steve Wynn, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Missouri is doing just fine, thanks; Cautious hope for Moulin Rouge

Indiana gamblers visit less, play more; Rude surprise at Seminole Hard Rock

Indiana casino customers visited less last month but more than made up for it with increased spending, keeping Hoosier State gaming revenues stable. That even-keel figure conceals some big swings and roundabouts at individual property. Horseshoe Hammond had an unaccountably … Continue reading

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Cirque du Soleil, Dining, Florida, Full House Resorts, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Seminole Tribe, Slot routes, Transportation, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

New casinos propel Iowa; Cal Neva goes bankrupt

We don’t report Iowa casino results very much, partly because the market overwhelmingly consists of small casinos with grosses to match. Given their modest grosses, a minor fluctuation can be magnified. Even so, last month’s 5% bounce is worth discussing. … Continue reading

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Harrah's, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Lake Tahoe, Massachusetts, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Reno, Scientific Games, Wall Street, Warner Gaming | Comments Off on New casinos propel Iowa; Cal Neva goes bankrupt

Station tries to shed excess baggage; Steve Wynn’s big ape

Back in 2004, when euphoria ran high in the casino industry, Station Casinos got carried away and spent nearly $34 million on the dilapidated Castaways, at the north end of the Boulder Strip. Despite commissioning a design from Ed Vance for … Continue reading

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Entertainment, history, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Slot routes, Sports, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip | 1 Comment

Wynn Boston Harbor breaks ground; MGM modestly beats expectations

Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone has apparently thrown in the towel in his opposition to Wynn Boston Harbor, with the consequence that construction will have begun by this time tomorrow.  The $2.1 billion project’s endurance is a tribute to Bostonian Steve Wynn‘s … Continue reading

Posted in California, Environment, Geoff Freeman, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, South Korea, Sports, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Transportation, Wall Street | Comments Off on Wynn Boston Harbor breaks ground; MGM modestly beats expectations

Analysts: Buy Penn!; Veteran columnist calls it quits

According to J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff, “meaningful contributions” from the Tropicana Las Vegas, Plainridge Park Casino and Illinois slot route Prairie State Gaming drove a 14.5% improvement in Penn National Gaming‘s cash flow last quarter. M Resort hit a … Continue reading

Posted in Alabama, California, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Illinois, M Resort, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Analysts: Buy Penn!; Veteran columnist calls it quits

Plainridge Park hits the one-year mark; Pennsylvania casinos spurn booze tax

Recording its first anniversary with a reported $160 million in revenue, against projections closer to $300 million, is Penn National Gaming‘s Plainridge Park a dud? Not so fast. The casino reports the highest win/slot/day by far of any casino for … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Election, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Regulation, Revel, Rhode Island, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off on Plainridge Park hits the one-year mark; Pennsylvania casinos spurn booze tax

Tomato King gets squashed; California, the wild, wild west of gambling

So much for Lawrence Downs Casino & Racing Resort. In a unanimous vote, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board decided to drop-kick the casino project, which had already lost the backing of Penn National Gaming, which has racino interests nearby in Ohio. What seems … Continue reading

Posted in California, Dan Gilbert, Election, Geoff Freeman, Law enforcement, Macau, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Tomato King Procacci | Comments Off on Tomato King gets squashed; California, the wild, wild west of gambling