Category Archives: Racinos

Dover Downer; Pilgrims rally to Wampanoags’ side

Posted on December 26, 2018 by David McKee

With an audible “Bah, humbug!”, Dover Downs became the first Delaware racino to operate on Christmas Day. While CEO Denis McGlynn claimed “This was not something we’ve been pushing hard for,” in his negotiations with the state, he didn’t hesitate to … Continue reading →

Posted in Delaware, history, International, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Politics, Racinos, Rush Street Gaming, Scientific Games, Technology, Tribal | Comments Off on Dover Downer; Pilgrims rally to Wampanoags’ side

Bad idea refuses to die; E-sports comes to the Boardwalk

Posted on December 20, 2018 by David McKee

Sens, Chuck Schumer (D) and Orrin Hatch (R), forever in search of bad ideas to espouse, it would seem, have introduced the Sports Wagering Market Integrity Act of 2018. There’s no mention of Hatch’s cockamamie notion of individual states having … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, Dining, e-sports, Economy, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, Politics, Racinos, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Churchill Downs aims for Nashville; Goodbye, Sigma Derby

Posted on November 19, 2018 by David McKee

Late last week, Churchill Downs was awarded a racing license in Oak Grove, Kentucky, putting CHDN within an hour’s drive of the Nashville market. The plan is to invest $150 million in a racing oval, a hotel and — most … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Entertainment, Genting, Georgia, history, Kentucky, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Caesars hailed; Macao’s future questioned

Posted on November 15, 2018 by David McKee

Credit Suisse analyst Cameron McKnight hosted three (!) days of investor meetings with Caesars Entertainment and came away giving the company a rave review. “Management’s tone was very good, and long-only interest was high … We think CZR’s business is … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Horseracing, Japan, Kentucky, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, New Hampshire, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Wall Street | Comments Off on Caesars hailed; Macao’s future questioned

Midwest doldrums; Turning a page at Wynn

Posted on November 9, 2018 by David McKee

Slot routes continue to bleed Illinois casinos, which were 1.5% down in October. Two properties withstood the decline. Eldorado Resorts seems to be already turning things around at Grand Victoria, which was up 2% ($13 million). Rivers Casino, coveted by … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Centaur Gaming, Churchill Downs, Dubai, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Entertainment, Florida, Full House Resorts, GLPI, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Macau, Majestic Star, Marketing, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Reno, Rush Street Gaming, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Midwest doldrums; Turning a page at Wynn

Election Special: Winners and losers

Posted on November 7, 2018 by David McKee

In a victory for the state of Arkansas, voters approved casinos in four locations across the state, 54% to 46%, a convincing mandate by any measure, and a big win for a variety of pro-casino companies that included Warner Gaming and Delaware North. … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Caesars Entertainment, Culinary Union, DFS, Election, Florida, Georgia, Harry Reid, International, Marijuana, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Virginia, Warner Gaming, Wisconsin | Comments Off on Election Special: Winners and losers

Churchill Downs makes a run for the roses

Posted on November 5, 2018 by David McKee

JP Morgan commentator Daniel Politzer got the red-carpet treatment at Churchill Downs, in Louisville. He came away impressed. Churchill Downs is expanding on several fronts. Its Illinois purchase of a majority stake in Rivers Casino will cost CHDN a pretty … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill Downs, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Japan, Kentucky, Marketing, Racinos, South Korea, Sports betting, Wall Street | Comments Off on Churchill Downs makes a run for the roses

Election update; Resorts World reaches for the sky

Posted on October 31, 2018 by David McKee

Driving Arkansas Forward, the initiative to legalize casino gambling at four Arkansas locations, looks like it will score a come-from-behind victory in less than a week. Early polling had it down, 41% to 48%, but it’s now turned the tide, … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Architecture, Arkansas, Election, Environment, Genting, Horseracing, International, Internet gambling, Nevada, Racinos, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off on Election update; Resorts World reaches for the sky

Illinois tries, tries again; I, robot

Posted on October 18, 2018 by David McKee

Here we go again. Illinois solons will once more take up the question of casino expansion in the Land of Lincoln. However, other and more pressing gambling concerns may take priority. In addition to Internet gambling there is the quick … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Caesars Entertainment, Culinary Union, DFS, Economy, GLPI, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Lawrence Ho, MGM Resorts International, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sports betting, Taxes, Technology, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Illinois tries, tries again; I, robot

Doing the right thing

Posted on October 16, 2018 by David McKee

Bravo to Hard Rock International and Seminole Gaming for stepping up to partner with Clean the World (which was covered in this space last week) to help victims of Hurricane Michael. According to CasinoBeats.com, “An immediate donation of 30,000 containers … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Cretins, Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, Florida, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New Jersey, Racinos, Seminole Tribe, Sports betting, The Strip | Comments Off on Doing the right thing

Churchill Downs stands pat; Borgata honored at G2E

Posted on October 11, 2018 by David McKee

JP Morgan analyst Daniel Politzer met with top execs from Churchill Downs and found a company pretty satisfied with where it is now. It “has yet to see any cracks in fundamentals at its regional casino properties or among its … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Entertainment, history, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Racinos, South Korea, Sports betting, Tribal | Comments Off on Churchill Downs stands pat; Borgata honored at G2E

Hot in August

Posted on September 12, 2018 by David McKee

Regional casinos were the big story last month, with four crucial jurisdictions all posting gains. (So, too, did Iowa but we rarely cover it in S&G because so few of the innumerable casinos make major amounts of revenue.) Maryland hopped … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Ameristar, Caesars Entertainment, Cordish Co., Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, Full House Resorts, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Indiana, Iowa, Majestic Star, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Rush Street Gaming, Taxes, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Intransigence at Station; Money madness in Illinois

Posted on August 24, 2018 by David McKee

Station Casinos‘ response to overwhelming pro-union votes at the Palms and Green Valley Ranch has apparently been not to negotiate but to go into a corner and sulk. Last week, the National Labor Relations Board wrote, “Respondent has been failing and … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, California, Culinary Union, DFS, Donald Trump, Illinois, Internet gambling, Palms, Politics, Racinos, Security, Slot routes, Sports, Station Casinos, Taxes, Tribal | 1 Comment

Horseplay in Nebraska; High art in Springfield

Posted on August 21, 2018 by David McKee

It’s early days for the 2020 election but the Ho-Chunk Nation is partnering with The Nebraska Horsemen’s Benevolent & Protective Association on a petition drive to get racinos onto that election-year ballot. As many as six tracks could be affected. One of the, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Election, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Nebraska, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Tribal, West Virginia | Comments Off on Horseplay in Nebraska; High art in Springfield

Good/bad news for Atlantic City; Pennsylvania just bad

Posted on August 15, 2018 by David McKee

On the face of it, the news from Atlantic City is good: Gambling revenues were up 10% last month. But the same-store comparison (i.e., minus Hard Rock Atlantic City and Ocean Resort) has the city down 9.5%. The haul was … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, Caesars Entertainment, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Eldorado Resorts, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Indiana comes up short; Too gay for Vegas

Posted on August 9, 2018 by David McKee

One less weekend day made all the difference for Indiana in July, as statewide gambling revenues were 1% down. The statewide gross was $191 million, with refugee players from Chicago helping to lead the way. (Remember, you can still smoke in … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Dining, Full House Resorts, Illinois, Indiana, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Indiana comes up short; Too gay for Vegas

Casino revenues surge (almost) everywhere

Posted on August 8, 2018 by David McKee

Maryland casino business continues to boom, up 5.5% last month. MGM National Harbor led the pack with $58 million. It will, however, be a source of dismay to ownership that play continues to trend toward highly taxed (60%) slots and … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, Galaxy Entertainment, Golden Gaming, Las Vegas Sands, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Maryland, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Taxes, West Virginia, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Casino revenues surge (almost) everywhere

MGM gets panned; Eldorado reaps laurels

Posted on August 3, 2018 by David McKee

First, the good news. Park MGM generated $9 million across the last three quarters, which is pretty good when you consider that it’s essentially a construction site. JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff opines that this partly makes up for “weak” … Continue reading →

Posted in Eldorado Resorts, Florida, Illinois, Japan, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Racinos, Reno, Scientific Games, Sports betting, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on MGM gets panned; Eldorado reaps laurels

MGM, Boyd make sports-betting pact; Win-win for Dover Downs

Posted on July 31, 2018 by David McKee

“We are in an envious position when it comes to this growth opportunity. Few companies can match our 40 plus years of experience in sports wagering, our significant sports betting infrastructure here in Nevada and our growing geographical footprint across … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Election, Greenwood Racing, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Missouri, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Rhode Island, Sports betting, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Penn bullish on Trop; Boyd wows Wall Street

Posted on July 27, 2018 by David McKee

M Resort and Tropicana Las Vegas are no longer the charity cases of Penn National Gaming. The company made a point of lauding them during this week’s earnings call, with JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff characterizing their performance — along … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Geoff Freeman, Illinois, Indiana, International, Las Vegas Sands, M Resort, Massachusetts, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment