Category Archives: Politics

Wall Street rates Vegas, Macao; Tribes skirmish in Illinois

Credit Suisse analyst Ben Combes turned his attention to three major Las Vegas companies, starting with MGM Resorts International. He’s staying neutral on the giant, writing, “We see Las Vegas as a cyclical but long-term growth market, given strong leverage … Continue reading

Posted in China, Conventions, Economy, Illinois, Indiana, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Pennsylvania, Politics, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal | Comments Off on Wall Street rates Vegas, Macao; Tribes skirmish in Illinois

Caesars: What sauce!; Macao underwhelms

With more than a bit of nerve, Caesars Entertainment is jacking up resort fees again. Caesars Palace and Nobu Hotel will have $51.01 in levies (the highest on the Las Vegas Strip, I think; is this a status thing?), while … Continue reading

Posted in Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, China, Economy, Macau, Michael Gaughan, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, New Jersey, Politics, Problem gambling, Resort fees, Sports betting, Terry Caudill, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Dog ate Parx’s homework; Atlantic City Hilton sold … again

Parx Casino is out $1 million after overpaying its taxes and missing the deadline to file for a refund. So says a Pennsylvania judge. Parx had three years to rectify the overpayment and missed the deadline by a whopping six months. … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Colony Capital, G2E, Genting, Greenwood Racing, history, Japan, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Resorts International, Politics, Resort fees, Rush Street Gaming, Security, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Technology, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Illegal slots run amuck in Missouri

With the casino industry so entrenched in Missouri you wouldn’t think there was a market for black-market slots. You’d think wrongly. The Missouri Gaming Commission has received 84 complaints alleging 200 instances of rogue machines. Casinos aren’t the only ones … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Florida, Horseracing, Law enforcement, Lotteries, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, Ocean Resort, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Technology | Comments Off on Illegal slots run amuck in Missouri

IGT at center of Rhode Island scandal; #MeToo spreads

Gina Raimondo (D) may be friends with Michelle Obama but that’s not going to get out of the International Game Technology lottery scandal. Gov. Raimondo was at the state capital a week ago to defend her controversial decision, a move … Continue reading

Posted in IGT, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Lotteries, Money laundering, Philippines, Politics, Regulation, Rhode Island, Sexual misconduct | Comments Off on IGT at center of Rhode Island scandal; #MeToo spreads

Resort fees assailed; Hard Rock rocks Rockford

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 on Resort fees assailed; Hard Rock rocks Rockford

Adelson power play in Las Vegas, unease in Macao

Sheldon Adelson, it long has been clear, brooks no dissent. He bought the Las Vegas Review-Journal to make it a megaphone for his political views (anybody remember the Marco Rubio presidential campaign, the one the R-J endorsed three times to … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, China, Churchill Downs, Galaxy Entertainment, history, Horseracing, Illinois, Macau, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip | 2 Comments

NCAA meddling again; Slots struggle in Massachusetts

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 on NCAA meddling again; Slots struggle in Massachusetts

Lesser is more; Are you ready for some football betting?

It’s been rather vexing to hear the voices in Massachusetts squawking to have the casino-enabling legislation enacted under Deval Patrick torn up and replaced with a series of loopholes. After two years of knowing that Encore Boston Harbor was headed … Continue reading

Posted in Economy, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Internet gambling, Marijuana, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Philippines, Politics, Racinos, Sports betting, The Strip, Transportation, TV | 1 Comment

Furor in Illinois; ‘Carmageddon’ in New Jersey

Charles DeGaulle was famous as The Man Who Said No. That nickname may have to be reassigned to Churchill Downs CEO Bill Carstanjen. His decision not to seek racino status for Arlington International Racecourse has set the Illinois gaming industry and … Continue reading

Posted in California, Churchill Downs, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Horseracing, Illinois, International, Marijuana, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, Politics, Racinos, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Taxes, Tourism, Transportation | 1 Comment

Tilman’s lucky break; Del Lago sold

Atlantic City‘s Golden Nugget has been on the outside of NBA betting, looking in. But that may change if Gov. Phil Murphy (D) signs what might be called the ‘Tilman Fertitta Act.’ It would allow the Nugget to take bets … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Internet gambling, New Jersey, New York, Philippines, Politics, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta | Comments Off on Tilman’s lucky break; Del Lago sold

Sports betting vexed in Massachusetts; Start spreading the news, they’re leaving today—and how!

Don’t expect sports betting in Massachusetts: Not now, maybe never. Why? Two words: Rhode Island. That state counted on $23 million in tax revenue from sports wagers—a ludicrous figure—and got $2 million. Bay State lawmakers are not only sobered by the … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Connecticut, Economy, Environment, Florida, Las Vegas Raiders, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New York, Politics, Problem gambling, Rhode Island, Sports, Sports betting | Comments Off on Sports betting vexed in Massachusetts; Start spreading the news, they’re leaving today—and how!

Cherokee go to D.C. (maybe); Ivey cleaned out

Native American tribes have a hard time being heard in Washington, D.C.  So it was past time that the Cherokee Nation took advantage of a treaty provision two centuries old and nominated a delegate to our nation’s capitol. The actual decision … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Dining, Economy, history, Iowa, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, MGM Resorts International, Oklahoma, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, William Hill, World Series of Poker | 1 Comment

Two trains running

In a flurry of recent developments, Las Vegas has gone from no viable prospects for train service to two. And since they would use different tracks, they are not mutually exclusive. One project that appears to be dead and buried … Continue reading

Posted in California, Florida, Harry Reid, North Las Vegas, Politics, Tamares Group, The Strip, Transportation | Comments Off on Two trains running

Less profit in Atlantic City; New boss in Macao

To no one’s great surprise, it was less profitable to operate a casino in Atlantic City during 2019. Some, like Hard Rock Atlantic City (surprisingly) lost money, then turned profitable. Others, like Resorts Atlantic City, were just making ends meet. … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Hard Rock International, Iowa, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Ocean Resort, Politics, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta | 2 Comments

IGT deal puts R.I. guv in the hot seat

A sweetheart deal for International Game Technology—a no-bid, 20-year, $1 billion contract to supply the state lottery has landed Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo (D) in hot water. The state Ethics Commission has voted to investigate the deal and, more … Continue reading

Posted in Cosmopolitan, IGT, Massachusetts, Nevada, Politics, Rhode Island, Scientific Games, Transportation, Twin River | Comments Off on IGT deal puts R.I. guv in the hot seat

What if they built a megaresort and nobody came?

Resorts World Catskills made it into the New York Times and not in a good way. A feature story focused on the $1.2 billion megaresort’s financial difficulties, caused in part by nine-figure loans. Empire Resorts says the casino does not … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Cambodia, CityCenter, Genting, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Neil Bluhm, New York, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal | 2 Comments

Gaming and its discontents

Iowa, Nebraska and Council Bluffs continue to have their collective ass kicked in court by the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska. The latest drubbing occurred in federal district court. The plaintiffs filed motions arguing that, since Judge Stephanie Rose had asked … Continue reading

Posted in Cambodia, Connecticut, Cordish Co., Foxwoods, Genting, Iowa, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Money laundering, Nebraska, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Chicago: Lightfoot’s folly; Penn mulls Trop expansion

Between 72% taxes and 30% operating costs, a Chicago casino is a money-losing proposition, at best one eking out a 3% profit. Union Gaming Group minced few words, reporting, “The [$15 million] reconciliation fee alone would wipe out any profits generated … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Illinois, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Penn National, Politics, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Texas, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Wall Street, West Virginia | 4 Comments

Quote of the Day

“A cult is a religion with no political power.”—Tom Wolfe

Posted in Politics | Comments Off on Quote of the Day