Category Archives: Phil Ruffin

Poverty in the suites; Industry ramps up bailout pressure

Posted on March 23, 2020 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson is worth $28 billion today. Which doesn’t sound so bad until you consider that he was worth $40 billion before the Wall Street crash. That’s the literal price of owning 432,000,000 shares of Las Vegas Sands. Not that … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Caesars Entertainment, California, Carl Icahn, Charity, China, Donald Trump, Economy, Elaine Wynn, FanDuel, GLPI, Health, history, Horseracing, Illinois, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Movies, New York, Phil Ruffin, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Mob, Tribal, Unite-Here, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Murren sacked

Posted on March 23, 2020 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International canned CEO Jim Murren yesterday, while nobody was looking, promoting Bill Hornbuckle acting CEO and president. Hornbuckle should have been Murren’s heir apparent but the exiled CEO had preferred to go on a candidate search. MGM explained … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, CityCenter, Donald Trump, Health, history, International, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, Phil Ruffin, Sexual misconduct, The Strip | 2 Comments

Las Vegas is closed

Posted on March 18, 2020 by David McKee

America‘s favorite 24-hour town has finally caved to the inevitable and done what neither Sept. 11 nor the Great Recession made it do. It has turned out the lights and hung the “Closed for business” sign in the window. Finally … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Canada, Cosmopolitan, Culinary Union, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Election, Golden Gaming, Health, Illinois, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Phil Ruffin, Real Estate, Regulation, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Gaming: Too big to fail?; Sports betting gets creative

Posted on March 17, 2020 by David McKee

Casino CEOs have no shame. They are capitalizing on the Coronavirus crisis to go to Congress, palms extended, cadging for a bailout. In an outrage-inducing story in today’s Washington Post, it is reported that the gaming industry’s wish list includes: … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Genting, MGM Resorts International, Michael Gaughan, Nevada, Phil Ruffin, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Sports, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tourism, Transportation, Westgate LV, William Hill | 2 Comments

Gaming stocks immune to rally; Casinos get serious about coronavirus

Posted on March 11, 2020 by David McKee

Gaming stocks by and large didn’t feel the love on Wall Street yesterday, trending slightly downward, not counting 9% rallies for Station Casinos and Melco Resorts & Entertainment (the latter the only Macao operator to bounce back). The market recouped … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Alex Meruelo, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Cosmopolitan, Current, Detroit, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Florida, Health, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, Maverick Gaming, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Reno, Rhode Island, Sahara, South Dakota, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Transportation, Vermont, Wall Street, Washington State, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Dream on (really); Golden gets downgrade

Posted on March 2, 2020 by David McKee

Dream on the south Las Vegas Strip is looking more like reality, Shopoff Real Estate Investments having purchased the requisite 5.25 acres. The exact location will be at the Strip at Russell Road, just south of Mandalay Bay. Calling the … Continue reading →

Posted in Conventions, Economy, Golden Gaming, Horseracing, Kansas, Las Vegas Raiders, Lotteries, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Problem gambling, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Brandes’ big bet; Skill-based slots catching on

Posted on January 2, 2020 by David McKee

“We think it’s time for Florida to take it out of the shadows and into the sunshine,” said state Sen. Jeff Brandes (R). He was speaking of sports betting which, like daily fantasy sports, is currently illegal in the Sunshine … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Caesars Entertainment, Entertainment, Florida, GameCO, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Reno, Seminole Tribe, Sports betting, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Tribal | 2 Comments

Damp November in Nevada; Dirty dealings in Illinois

Posted on December 27, 2019 by David McKee

Could the good times be coming to an end for Las Vegas? The Strip was down 3% last month but, worse still, locals revenue was off by 4%. The prior-year comparison was difficult (+6.5%) but not impossible, while December looks … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Downtown, Hard Rock Hotel, Illinois, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Marijuana, Movies, Nevada, New York, North Las Vegas, Phil Ruffin, Regulation, Reno, Slot routes, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Transportation | 1 Comment

Illinois up, Maryland flat, Palms sued

Posted on December 6, 2019 by David McKee

Enjoy it while it lasts, Illinois. Gaming revenues shot up 8%, a welcome bit of good news. One extra weekend day surely helped although we find it hard to believe that entirely accounts for the variance. The overall gross was … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, CityCenter, Cordish Co., Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, FanDuel, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Illinois, Law enforcement, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Palms, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tilman Fertitta, Virginia, West Virginia | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on October 21, 2019 by David McKee

“The opportunity to own 102 acres on the Las Vegas Strip was very interesting. From a strategic standpoint, Circus Circus is the most recognizable name on the North Strip. Treasure Island is the crown jewel in my portfolio, and Circus Circus … Continue reading →

Posted in MGM Resorts International, Phil Ruffin, The Strip | 1 Comment

Ocean surges in Atlantic City; Wall Street yawns at MGM sale

Posted on October 17, 2019 by David McKee

Atlantic City gambling revenue was off 3% last month and we’ll be generous, chalking it up to one less weekend day than last year. The Boardwalk grossed $224.5 million, led by Borgata with $57.5 million (a 5% slippage). Table win … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Eldorado Resorts, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Japan, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Phil Ruffin, Real Estate, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Bellagio, Circus Circus sold

Posted on October 16, 2019 by David McKee

Back on Sept. 17 we reported that MGM Resorts International was dickering with Blackstone Group to sell the latter Bellagio and MGM Grand. Well, the Green Monster got left out of the transaction but MGM’s most iconic property will change hands, … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Cosmopolitan, Japan, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Phil Ruffin, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off

Resort fees assailed; Hard Rock rocks Rockford

Posted on September 30, 2019 by David McKee

Resort fees, the bane of customers to Las Vegas, are inspiring some congressional action. Lawmakers Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson (D) and Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R) are collaborating on a bill that would outlaw resort fees (it’s the Hotel Advertising Transparency … Continue reading →

Posted in Eldorado Resorts, Hard Rock International, Illinois, International, MGM Resorts International, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Resort fees, The Strip, West Virginia | Comments Off

Hooters out, Ruffin in, Sands up

Posted on September 24, 2019 by David McKee

Keeping its signature Os, Hooters Hotel Casino becomes an OYO Hotel property this week, with a full transformation expected by year’s end. (Gotta be ready for New Year’s Eve.) The changes are subtle at first. Hotel management goes over to Highgate … Continue reading →

Posted in Connecticut, Foxwoods, Hooters, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Paragon Gaming, Phil Ruffin, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

NCAA meddling again; Slots struggle in Massachusetts

Posted on September 23, 2019 by David McKee

After the Supreme Court threw out the Bradley Act, there were a few grumbles on Capitol Hill about federal regulation of sports betting. However, American Gaming Association President Bill Miller, in his capacity as gaming’s premier lobbyist, took the temperature … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Hard Rock International, IGT, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Heard along the Strip

Posted on September 16, 2019 by David McKee

Circus Circus, the casino Jim Murren said he would never, ever sell (because his kids liked it so much) is reported to be on the auction block. The Murren kids are grown and MGM Resorts International has never formulated a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Cosmopolitan, Culinary Union, Eldorado Resorts, MGM Resorts International, North Las Vegas, Phil Ruffin, Planet Hollywood, Problem gambling, SLS Las Vegas, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, World Series of Poker, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Tribes brush off Stitt; MGM riles Jewish community

Posted on July 29, 2019 by David McKee

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt‘s proposal to levy higher exclusivity fees on the Sooner State’s 134 tribal casinos continues to go over like a lead balloon. The guv finds himself in receipt of a letter from all of the state’s gaming-enabled … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, California, history, International, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Ohio, Oklahoma, Phil Ruffin, Sports, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal, TV | 1 Comment

Cosmo in play; Wynn looking robust

Posted on July 11, 2019 by David McKee

Always a step ahead of the mainstream media, VitalVegas reports that The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas has been sold. No details are available and the story hasn’t made the wire services, but that’s not going to stop us from speculating. … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Churchill Downs, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Dan Lee, Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Resort fees, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Caesars: Buyers remorse; Cubbies want to lay some action

Posted on June 27, 2019 by David McKee

In a move that will surprise no one, Caesars Entertainment is reportedly ready to put Bally’s Atlantic City on the auction block and—failing that—to close it outright. It dodged a bullet when Revel opened (and closed) but luck might not … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Baseball, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Eldorado Resorts, Illinois, Macau, Pennsylvania, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | Comments Off

Caesars deal takes shape; Carlino out at Penn

Posted on June 10, 2019 by David McKee

We hope Anthony Rodio isn’t getting too comfy in his CEO chair over at Caesars Entertainment. News reports have been heating up about at Caesars takeover, with Eldorado Resorts continuing to have the inside track and reportedly planning to replace … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, DFS, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, GLPI, Iowa, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, Nevada, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Problem gambling, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | 2 Comments