Category Archives: Real Estate

Pennsylvania soggy; Epic fail in North Carolina

At first blush, Pennsylvania‘s gambling economy looks all right, up 1% from August of 2019 and 2% from last year. But factor in the plethora of new casinos that have entered the fray and the Keystone State is down 14% … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Detroit, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, FoxBet, Greenwood Racing, Horseracing, Illitch Family, Internet gambling, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mohegan Sun, North Carolina, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Real Estate, Rush Street Gaming, Slot routes, Sports betting, Tribal, WInd Creek, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Pennsylvania soggy; Epic fail in North Carolina

On and off the radio

During this morning’s stint on KNPR-FM‘s State of Nevada, we were only able to cover a fraction of the scheduled questions. So we had the idea of answering here what was not asked there. Let’s take it away … Why … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Baseball, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, China, CityCenter, Culinary Union, Dubai, Economy, Fontainebleau, Genting, Golden Gaming, Japan, Jim Murren, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Palms, Phil Ruffin, Real Estate, Resorts World LV, Sahara, Singapore, South Korea, Sports, Station Casinos, Technology, The Strip, Vici Properties, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on On and off the radio

New York: Trump out, Bally’s in; North Carolina Lege flops

New York City will be stuck with failed casino owner Donald Trump‘s name on an overpriced public golf course until 2035 … unless Bally’s Corp. can swing a deal to buy the obstreperous mogul out of his lease with the … Continue reading

Posted in Apollo Management, Atlantic City, Bally, Chicago, Colorado, Cordish Co., Culinary Union, Dining, Donald Trump, Hard Rock International, Health, history, MGM Resorts International, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Real Estate, Regulation, Security, Sexual misconduct, Sports betting, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Virginia, William Hill, Wisconsin | 2 Comments

Hot July in Vegas; GLPI’s Illinois big gulp; Mega-Jottings

How impressive was the Las Vegas Strip‘s July performance? Pretty damned impressive, considering that it hit a best-ever record on only 1% higher visitation than last year and 4% less than in the halcyon year of 2019. Hotel occupany ran … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Charity, Churchill Downs, Conventions, Economy, Election, Failsinos, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Hawaii, Health, Illinois, New Hampshire, Palms, Problem gambling, Real Estate, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, The Strip, Tribal, Virginia, Wall Street, Wisconsin | Comments Off on Hot July in Vegas; GLPI’s Illinois big gulp; Mega-Jottings

Bellagio sold again; Atlantic City sob story; Trump busted

It’s getting very difficult to tell the players without a scorecard in the game of the REIT-ification of the Las Vegas Strip. Case in point, Bellagio, which now has three owners. There’s MGM Resorts International, which holds a token 5% … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Donald Trump, Foxwoods, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Iowa, Law enforcement, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Movies, Nebraska, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Racinos, Real Estate, Regulation, Security, Slot routes, Sports betting, Taxes, Technology, The Strip | 1 Comment

Wall Street: Station soft; DraftKings impresses, Bally’s doesn’t

“If you were surprised you haven’t been paying attention.” So wrote Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli of yesterday’s Station Casinos earnings release. He added, “it should come as no surprise that RRR reported results that were softer than our forecasts,” which were … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, Conventions, Cordish Co., DraftKings, Economy, Entertainment, FanDuel, Galaxy Entertainment, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Politics, Racinos, Real Estate, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Wall Street: Station soft; DraftKings impresses, Bally’s doesn’t

Bellagio bargain?; Shame on Maine; Trump seen slumming

Yup, it’s true. Blackstone Group is shopping the real estate assets of Bellagio as it draws down its Las Vegas Strip exposure. At least one Wall Street analyst thinks this would send a signal to the REIT industry that Strip … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Conventions, Cosmopolitan, Cretins, Donald Trump, Entertainment, history, Law enforcement, Maine, MGM Resorts International, Real Estate, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Rio, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Bellagio bargain?; Shame on Maine; Trump seen slumming

A big win for DeSantis; Churchill Downs fired; Mega-Jottings

Private-sector gambling operators got some very bad news from the District of Columbia Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals. The latter, in a very broad construal of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, ruled that the Seminole Tribe—and by implication, … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Arizona, Atlantic City, Australia, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Churchill Downs, Dining, Donald Trump, DraftKings, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, FanDuel, Florida, Fontainebleau, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Internet gambling, Jack Entertainment, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Real Estate, Regulation, Reno, Rush Street Gaming, Seminole Tribe, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, TV, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Michigan, Pennsylvania strong online; Mega-Jottings

Our vacation has taken us to the wilds of Michigan, so today’s report will start there. Detroit‘s three casinos raked in $105 million last month, a 1.5% decline from May of last year. But it was a terrific month for … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, Baseball, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Chicago, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Detroit, DraftKings, FanDuel, Florida, FoxBet, Genting, Greenwood Racing, Illitch Family, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Michigan, Mohegan Sun, Nebraska, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Racinos, Real Estate, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Tourism, Tribal, Virginia, WInd Creek, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Michigan, Pennsylvania strong online; Mega-Jottings

Bally’s all-but-done deal; Meruelo trashed

So long, Tropicana Las Vegas. Say hello, National Basketball Association and Major League Soccer. And let’s not forget lacrosse and badminton. Since there is no stadium deal for which the Nevada Lege will not bend over and grab its ankles, … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Bally, Baseball, Colorado, Election, GLPI, Health, Louisiana, Nevada, Politics, Problem gambling, Prostitution, Real Estate, Sahara, Sports, Station Casinos, Taxes | Comments Off on Bally’s all-but-done deal; Meruelo trashed

Boyd praised; Graft at Wynn?; NFL hypocrisy

Wall Street analysts loved up on Boyd Gaming following its 1Q23 earnings call. Boyd, Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli wrote, “delivers another strong performance … the merits of the story remain compelling on a relative basis.” He pushed his price … Continue reading

Posted in Baseball, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Detroit, Dining, Downtown, FanDuel, Hawaii, Illinois, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Mississippi, Penn National, Real Estate, Reno, Service, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Sands hailed; A’s to Vegas; Coney casino razzed; Mega-Jottings

First-quarter numbers for Las Vegas Sands were “nicely ahead” per J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff, who said Sands’ Macao casinos were firing on all cylinders (mass-market play, VIP action, slots, retail and lodging). He expected Macanese cash flow of $304 … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Bally, Baseball, California, China, CityCenter, Cordish Co., Cosmopolitan, Entertainment, Failsinos, Florida, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, Mississippi, Nebraska, New York, Ohio, Phil Ruffin, Problem gambling, Racinos, Real Estate, Regulation, Reno, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, Star Entertainment, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Sands hailed; A’s to Vegas; Coney casino razzed; Mega-Jottings

Control Board buffoonery; Super-Mega-Jottings

Well, it didn’t take Nevada Gaming Control Board member George Assad long to stick his foot in it. No sooner had we prophetically called him a regulatory “doofus” than news surfaced of some most-unbecoming conduct during an NGCB hearing. Specifically, … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Chicago, Cordish Co., Cretins, Detroit, Diversity, Downtown Grand, DraftKings, FanDuel, Genting, Hard Rock International, Health, history, Illinois, Japan, Jim Murren, Kansas, Kentucky, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Nevada, New York, PointsBet, Politics, Real Estate, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Slot routes, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Technology, Texas, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Pennsylvania up; Arizona blunder; Über-Mega-Jottings

At $277 million, Pennsylvania casinos were 2% higher in February than last year, although a 12% declivity from go-go 2019 is further indication of a slowing recovery in gaming. Then again, after having reached record altitudes last year, how much … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Century Casinos, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Dining, DraftKings, FanDuel, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Health, Internet gambling, Kansas, Kentucky, Lotteries, LVCVA, M Resort, Maine, MGM Resorts International, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Problem gambling, Real Estate, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Scientific Games, Slot routes, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Unite-Here, WInd Creek | Comments Off on Pennsylvania up; Arizona blunder; Über-Mega-Jottings

MGM’s sugar daddy

Lest we should get all warm and fuzzy about Blackstone Group, second-largest landowner on the Las Vegas Strip, here’s a bracing reminder of how it got to be where it is today.

Posted in MGM Resorts International, Real Estate, Taxes, The Strip | Comments Off on MGM’s sugar daddy

Big Bally’s shakeup; Smoking swatted; Mega-Jottings

Back on Jan. 25, we wrote that Bally’s Corp. CEO Lee Fenton was “possibly laying the groundwork for his own exit,” when he said, The pandemic boosted our business and we continued to hire at full pelt. I now can … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, Cretins, DFS, Dining, Donald Trump, DraftKings, FanDuel, Genting, Health, Horseracing, International, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Minnesota, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, New York, Penn National, PointsBet, Politics, Real Estate, Regulation, Rhode Island, Rush Street Gaming, South Korea, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, TV, United Kingdom, Vici Properties, Virginia, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Big Bally’s shakeup; Smoking swatted; Mega-Jottings

Wall Street lauds Station, Wynn, MGM

Station Casinos posted impressive 4Q22 numbers—if not as impressive to Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli as Boyd Gaming‘s. Still, net revenues were up 2% and cash flow improved 3.5% (Boyd did 7% and 13%, respectively.) Santarelli liked Station’s improved margins … Continue reading

Posted in Animals, Architecture, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, California, Conventions, Cosmopolitan, Economy, Encore, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mattress Mack, MGM Resorts International, Palms, Real Estate, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Wall Street lauds Station, Wynn, MGM

Maryland, Illinois leap; Mega-Jottings

So where’s that recession? January revenues from Maryland casinos are in and the $167 million gross is a 9% improvement on 2022. None of the six gambling halls were revenue-negative. MGM National Harbor led the pack with $72 million, an … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Culinary Union, DraftKings, Entertainment, Full House Resorts, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, Penn National, Real Estate, Resort fees, Station Casinos, The Strip, Vici Properties | Comments Off on Maryland, Illinois leap; Mega-Jottings

Caesars surprises Wall Street; Rincon defects; Bluhm to NYC?

Since the Roman Empire is not given to pre-announcing earnings (it leaves that to MGM Resorts International), its tribunes must have had some pretty good end-of-year numbers to trot out, which they did this morning. The headline, at least as … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Mattress Mack, New York, Real Estate, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Station scores; New York OSB boffo … for state, that is; Kosar sacked; Renegade slots reconsidered

Station Casinos is $62 million richer after unloading $56.5 acres of land near South Point to HCA Healthcare, a hospital chain. Don’t worry about Station’s plans to challenge Michael Gaughan for sub-Strip supremacy: It’s still harboring 126 acres of scrubland … Continue reading

Posted in Animals, Bally, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Diversity, DraftKings, FanDuel, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Michael Gaughan, Missouri, Movies, New York, Ohio, PointsBet, Politics, Real Estate, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, Transportation, TV, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments