Category Archives: Politics

Gaming levels off at high altitude; More Chicago shenanigans

Casino receipts are in for a quartet of states and they tell a similar tale: That gamblers are reining in their 2022 spending … but are still wagering (and losing) way more than three years ago. Hardly a picture of … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Baseball, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, Churchill Downs, Dan Lee, DraftKings, Full House Resorts, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Iowa, Jack Entertainment, Kansas, Louisiana, Macau, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, North Las Vegas, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Sports betting, Station Casinos, TV | 4 Comments

Crimes and misdemeanors

Whoever killed reporter Jeff German may not be too terribly smart. Las Vegas Metro released photos of its prime suspect, dressed in “a bright orange reflective long-sleeve shirt, a pair of jeans and a straw hat that covered much of … Continue reading

Posted in California, Election, International, Kansas, Kazuo Okada, Law enforcement, Lotteries, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Scientific Games, Sexual misconduct, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Crimes and misdemeanors

Sports betting doomed in California?; Much heat, light at G2E

We wouldn’t have believed it but it appears that both California sports-betting ballot initiatives could go down to defeat in November. While we favor sports betting, on principle, we don’t have a dog in this fight. Both Proposition 26 (tribal) … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Bally, Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, California, Century Casinos, Economy, Election, G2E, Georgia, Golden Gaming, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, International, Japan, Law enforcement, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, Politics, Regulation, Reno, Singapore, Slot routes, South Korea, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Vici Properties, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Sharp decline in Detroit; Biden backs Seminoles, DeSantis

Motown casinos grossed $106 million last month, off 8.5% from July 2021 (and way down from 2019, excepting stellar MGM Grand Detroit). MGM led with $51 million, MotorCity followed with $35 million and, as always, Hollywood Detroit brought up the … Continue reading

Posted in Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Detroit, DraftKings, FanDuel, Florida, FoxBet, Hard Rock International, Illitch Family, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Penn National, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Seminole Tribe, Sports betting, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Playing the China card in Vegas; Fresh scandal in N.Y.

In an escalation of its not-so-cold war with Resorts World Las Vegas, Local 501 of the Operating Engineers is deploying the Commie card against Genting Group. The latter has been playing dirty pool in Local 501’s attempt to organize at … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, China, Election, Genting, Georgia, Health, history, International, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Peninsula Pacific, Pets, Politics, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Sports betting, Virginia | 2 Comments

Flamingo sale? Forget it!; Mega-Jottings

Caesars Entertainment formally took the Flamingo off the sale block yesterday, at least for the foreseeable future. CEO Tom Reeg cited ‘market conditions‘ (odd when the Las Vegas Strip keeps breaking records). There is also the complication that Vici Properties … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Colorado, Conventions, Cretins, Dan Lee, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Full House Resorts, Illinois, Indiana, Lake Las Vegas, Louisiana, Maine, Marketing, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Regulation, South Carolina, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Rio, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, William Hill | 4 Comments

Philly Live shows life; Massachusetts sports betting wins; S.C. scandal

In a truly doleful sign of the times, Philadelphia Live has reinstated metal detectors at its entrance. Also, in a nod to Covid-19, aka The Disease That Couldn’t Be Cured, it is handing out free face masks to patrons. Good … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Cordish Co., Entertainment, Health, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, South Carolina, Sports betting, Taxes, Tribal | 1 Comment

Strip sizzles, locals chillier; The Macao trap

Gambling revenues on the Las Vegas Strip last month heated up dramatically, $735 million or +23% from the year previous. Unfortunately for Nevada, the good news pretty much ends there. Locals play continues to decline, with Downtown off 11.5% to … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Canada, China, Cosmopolitan, Downtown, Environment, Golden Nugget, Kazuo Okada, Lake Tahoe, Macau, Massachusetts, Mesquite, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Philippines, Politics, Regulation, Reno, Sports betting, The Strip, Wendover | Comments Off on Strip sizzles, locals chillier; The Macao trap

Louisiana plummets; Cool front disrupts summer gaming

A “cruel, cruel summer” for regional casinos was predicted by Truist Securities analyst Barry Jonas and it’s already arrived in Louisiana, where gambling revenues fell 10% last month. It’s not even keeping pace with go-go 2019 any longer. The statewide … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Chicago, Churchill Downs, Conventions, CQ Holdings, Dining, Economy, Environment, Golden Gaming, Golden Nugget, Health, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Louisiana plummets; Cool front disrupts summer gaming

Atlantic City strong; Station’s demolition derby; De$anti$ hits jackpot; Mega-Jottings

There’s so much news today we almost don’t know where to begin. But we’ll start with Atlantic City, which reported a 2% increase in casino revenue, to $229 million. Internet gambling and sports betting chipped in another $169 million. One … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, China, Donald Trump, Dotty's, Downtown, DraftKings, FanDuel, Genting, George Maloof, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Michael Gaughan, Mohegan Sun, North Las Vegas, Ocean Resort, Pennsylvania, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Real Estate, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Sheldon Adelson, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Texas, The Strip, Tribal, United Kingdom, Wall Street, WInd Creek | 1 Comment

California Dems rebuff Big Gaming; Icahn irate; Mega-Jottings

California‘s Democratic Party has officially taken sides in the sports-betting ballot race and effectively come down on the side of a tribal/racetrack-driven initiative, going on the record as opposing a rival measure backed by most of the big names in … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, California, Card rooms, Carl Icahn, Election, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, New York, Politics, Real Estate, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Tribal, Virginia | Comments Off on California Dems rebuff Big Gaming; Icahn irate; Mega-Jottings

Atlantic City casinos avert crisis; Congressional absurdity

It was eyeball-to-eyeball and Big Gaming blinked. Faced with probable, heavy losses of business, Borgata—the casino with the most to lose—was first to come to terms with Local 54 of Unite-Here. Terms with most of the majors were reached an … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Arizona, Atlantic City, Bally, Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, California, Carl Icahn, Chicago, Dining, DraftKings, Entertainment, GLPI, Hard Rock Hotel, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, MGM Resorts International, Ocean Resort, Politics, Real Estate, Rhode Island, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Unite-Here, West Virginia | 1 Comment

A’s juiced into Vegas; Greed at the top; Study: Casinos blowing smoke; Industry endorses Hochul

Given that Oakland is well and truly fed up with the sorry Oakland Athletics, and with their pinchpenny ways, relocation to Las Vegas may be just what the doctor ordered. However, the manner in which the exit ramp is being … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Baseball, California, Charity, Economy, G2E, Genting, Hard Rock International, Health, International, Kazuo Okada, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Palms, Philippines, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, The Strip, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Massachusetts upbeat; Station defiant; Atlantic City stalemate

Casinos in the Bay State clocked $91 million in revenue last month, a 5% improvement on last year. Encore Boston Harbor led the tiny pack with $58 million, growing 9.5%. Next up was MGM Springfield, performing surprisingly well. It was … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, California, Churchill Downs, Derek Stevens, Economy, Election, Galaxy Entertainment, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, North Carolina, Ocean Resort, Peninsula Pacific, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Slot routes, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Unite-Here, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Maryland weaker, Illinois stronger; Mickelson in denial

Even as playing levels normalize from last year, gambling revenues continue their upward tread. Maryland, for instance, was 4% higher in May than a year ago (and 17.5% above 2019). Had there not been one fewer weekend day than in … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Chicago, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., DFS, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Genting, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Tribal, Virginia, Washington State | 1 Comment

Smoke signals in Atlantic City; Discontent in Las Vegas

Atlantic City gambling halls like Ocean Casino Resort (pictured) may get a summer’s reprieve from a smoking ban, as the New Jersey legislative session winds down without resolution on the contentious issue. Even if both chambers were to vote by … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Culinary Union, Economy, Environment, Genting, Health, Japan, Kazuo Okada, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Money laundering, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Philippines, Politics, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Sports betting, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Resorts World sheds a problem; Big Gaming fleeced in N.Y.

With the discreet closure of Tacos El Cabron, splashy Resorts World Las Vegas finds itself down one restaurant—and happy to be so. Evidently in their haste to get everything on line, Resorts World management didn’t fully perform their due diligence … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Chicago, China, Dining, DraftKings, FanDuel, Florida, Health, Illinois, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, New York, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Seminole Tribe, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, Tribal, Unite-Here, Virginia | Comments Off on Resorts World sheds a problem; Big Gaming fleeced in N.Y.

Atlantic City casinos blow smoke

With a mealy-mouthedness that is becoming all too familiar, Atlantic City casino operators took advantage of the Covid-19 pandemic to plead poverty, warning of “grave danger” to their businesses unless they got tax cuts yesterday. One of their arguments was … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Conventions, Economy, Hard Rock International, Health, Indiana, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New Jersey, Politics, Taxes, The Rio, The Strip, Tribal, TV, Unite-Here, World Series of Poker | 1 Comment

Bally’s bans smoking (sorta); Purge at Cosmo; Aussie renegades

Two and a half cheers for Bally’s Corp., which has banned smoking at table games at its two Rhode Island casinos. We’ll throw in the other half-cheer when Bally’s nixes smoking in all gambling areas. (Ironically, the company is part … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Bally, Chicago, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Crown Resorts, Health, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Money laundering, Politics, Regulation, Rhode Island, Sports, Star Entertainment, United Kingdom | Comments Off on Bally’s bans smoking (sorta); Purge at Cosmo; Aussie renegades

Atlantic City prospers; Inflation vs. gaming: Which prevails?

Liar, liar, pants on fire. That’s what we say to Atlantic City casino executives who predict the coming of the Apocalypse is smoking is banned in their premises. First-quarter gross operating profits were up even by pre-pandemic standards, which hardly … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Conventions, Dan Lee, Detroit, DraftKings, Economy, Election, Gary Goett, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Iowa, Kansas, MGM Resorts International, Minnesota, Mohegan Sun, Nebraska, New York, Ocean Resort, Peninsula Pacific, Penn National, Philippines, Politics, Sports betting, Taxes, Technology, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment