Category Archives: Pennsylvania

Indiana suffers, Ohio not so much; Station’s surprise

Posted on March 8, 2018 by David McKee

While its $170 million gross looked a lot better than Illinois‘ $104 million, Indiana saw its gamblers stay home in droves — 24% less foot traffic, although those who showed up seemed to have spent 21%. In any event, gambling … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, George Maloof, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Marketing, Ohio, Palms, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Reno, Sports, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off

Slots rule in Maryland, retreat in Pennsylvania

Posted on March 6, 2018 by David McKee

MGM National Harbor continued its domination of Maryland last month, with a 39% market share and $53 million gross. Less reassuring for MGM execs, high-tax slots are starting to pull away from low-tax table games, two categories which used to … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Economy, Genting, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off

Penn out of Jamul; Fuzzy math on the Strip

Posted on March 2, 2018 by David McKee

Casino companies rarely admit defeat but Penn National Gaming is bagging it where Hollywood Casino Jamul, near San Diego, is concerned. Hollywood Jamul’s debut was disastrous and Penn’s “essentially exiting” its management contract (as Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli put … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Economy, Genting, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Eldorado sells down; Vegas tourists stay home

Posted on March 1, 2018 by David McKee

Churchill Downs continues to grow as a casino operator, cutting a deal with Eldorado Resorts to buy Presque Isle Downs in Erie, Pennsylvania, and Lady Luck Vicksburg Casino in Mississippi for $229.5 million. That’s an above-average valuation for gaming assets … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Churchill Downs, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off

MGM Cotai plays to mixed reviews; Puzzling Pennsylvania strategies

Posted on March 1, 2018 by David McKee

“Vital in terms of the process of concession renewal,” is how MGM China CEO Grant Bowie described new, $3.4 billion MGM Cotai. The megaresort opened a year behind schedule but MGM undoubtedly hopes Macao authorities overlook that an focus instead … Continue reading →

Posted in e-sports, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Greenwood Racing, Internet gambling, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Taxes, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Strip weak, locals strong, Reno supercharged; Stanley Ho’s empire crumbles

Posted on February 28, 2018 by David McKee

January got the Las Vegas Strip off to a less-than auspicious start, with revenues dropping 9% from 2017. Locals casinos, meanwhile, were living it up, as revenue rose 8%, thanks in part to New Year’s Eve weekend slot drop being … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Boulder Strip, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Downtown, Economy, Election, Foxwoods, Galaxy Entertainment, Harrah's, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Lucky Dragon, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Mesquite, MGM Mirage, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Adelson subsidizes foreign policy; Packer’s comeback

Posted on February 23, 2018 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson‘s at it again. This time, in the cause of escalating Mideast tensions, he’s putting his money where his mouth is. The toupee-crowned supermogul is reported to be offering to foot the bill for at least some of a … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Atlantic City, Australia, Donald Trump, Glenn Straub, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Lucky Dragon, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Crown 18, The Strip | Comments Off

Cold January in Atlantic City, Pennsylvania; Bull runs rampant in Vegas

Posted on February 15, 2018 by David McKee

Just when everything seemed settled into a comfortable groove in Atlantic City, January revenues fell off the table, down 12.5%. The silver lining, if it qualifies as that, was that online revenues ($22 million) climbed 17%. Golden Nugget, with 33% … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Culinary Union, Current, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Mohegan Sun strikes again; Magic 8s in Pennsylvania

Posted on February 12, 2018 by David McKee

Even as Steve Wynn was on his way out at Wynn Resorts, the casino he bested for the Boston-area gaming concession, Mohegan Sun, was launching a legal counterattack. It demanded that Wynn Resorts’ license be pulled and the project awarded to Mohegan … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Cordish Co., Greenwood Racing, International, Macau, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sexual misconduct, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn | Comments Off

GLPI picks at Wynn; Indiana players stay home

Posted on February 9, 2018 by David McKee

Gaming & Leisure Properties met with Wall Street analysts this week and it had the future of Wynncore on its mind. “While GLPI remains open to doing Las Vegas asset transactions, they view the risk profile as considerably higher given … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Centaur Gaming, Charity, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Full House Resorts, GLPI, Harrah's, Indiana, Majestic Star, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, The Strip, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Tribal betrayal in Connecticut; Disappointing year in Schenectady

Posted on February 8, 2018 by David McKee

If the Mashantucket Pequots and the Mohicans feel they’ve been screwed they’re right to do so. Connecticut legislators, in a classic white-man-speaks-with-forked-tongue move, are proposing to tear up the bill that gave Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort Casino a satellite … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Foxwoods, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off

Illinois anemic; MGM flexes pecs in Maryland, Washington, D.C.

Posted on February 6, 2018 by David McKee

Thank God. There is nothing new about Steve Wynn in this morning’s headlines, so we can talk about some good, old-fashioned gambling. Illinois last month saw a 5.5% drop-off for a somewhat anemic gross of $105 million. Foot traffic was … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Donald Trump, Economy, Foxwoods, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Illinois, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, West Virginia | Comments Off

Kentucky legislators try again; Del Lago: The dog ate our revenues

Posted on February 5, 2018 by David McKee

Kentucky is resuming its off-again/on-again flirtation with casino gambling. The reasoning was predictable. “The reason this idea has been on the radar for years is that we know we’ve been headed towards very bleak budgets. Well, we’re there now,” said state … Continue reading →

Posted in Iowa, Kentucky, Nebraska, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, South Dakota, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off

Wynn in a corner; Delaware may cut racinos some slack

Posted on February 2, 2018 by David McKee

Things have gotten so bad for Steve Wynn that he’s been reduced to asking his employees to support him in Sexgate. “In a family, people look after each other … They take care of the people they serve” he said, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Delaware, Dining, Genting, Indiana, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip | 1 Comment

Baccarat slays the Strip

Posted on January 31, 2018 by David McKee

Gaming revenues on the Las Vegas Strip continued to dip in December, down 3% ($571.5 million). Baccarat tore a hole through gaming receipts, with the house plunging 30% on 9% less wagering. Non-baccarat table games fared much better, up 7.5%. … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, Illinois, Indiana, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Missouri, North Las Vegas, Pennsylvania, Reno, Taxes, The Strip | 1 Comment

Adelson: Big is more; MGM misses important deadline

Posted on January 26, 2018 by David McKee

Wall Street analysts expected Las Vegas Sands to post cash flow of $718 million last quarter but it blew through the ‘stop’ sign and checked in with $731 million. Even though recovering from three cracked ribs, CEO Sheldon Adelson had … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Architecture, Cordish Co., Galaxy Entertainment, GLPI, Greenwood Racing, Illinois, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Like a Virgin

Posted on January 24, 2018 by David McKee

Back when Morgans Hotel Group paid a $770 million king’s ransom for the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino it became the poster child for overpriced assets. Now that Brookfield Asset Management has had enough, it fits right in with Virgin Hotels‘ … Continue reading →

Posted in Culinary Union, Hard Rock Hotel, Morgans Hotel Group, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Sports, Taxes, TV, Warner Gaming | 1 Comment

Lion attempts to devour Caesar; Louisiana casinos to come ashore?

Posted on January 19, 2018 by David McKee

That proposed takeover of Vici Properties by MGM Growth Properties looks stranger by the day. Since it would be a transaction between two landlords, it would not require Nevada regulatory approval. But it would not, contrary to its initial appearance, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Cordish Co., Genting, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Lake Tahoe, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Reno, Sports, Station Casinos, Taxes, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Casino envy in Pennsylvania; Gilbert Jacks off

Posted on January 16, 2018 by David McKee

Why do all the bridges in Lehigh County have a “100” rating? Because of the tax money pouring in from Sands Bethlehem. That’s causing some serious envy in Mercer County, which wants a mini-casino. “It’s almost an unfair advantage,” sputters Mercer County … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Dan Gilbert, Harrah's, Marketing, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Taxes, Tourism | Comments Off

Carnage in Pennsylvania; Fortune Cup takes on Sigma Derby

Posted on January 15, 2018 by David McKee

*Slot revenues at Pennsylvania casinos are in and if JP Morgan‘s numbers are correct they were terrible. According to Morgan analysts slot winnings dove 27%, bottoming out at $187.5 million. Worst off was Sands Bethlehem ($25 million), sinking 44%, followed … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Dan Gilbert, Delaware, Detroit, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Neil Bluhm, Nevada, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Station Casinos, Taxes, Technology, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off