Category Archives: Regulation

Horseshoe boosts St. Louis; U.K. gaming reform slowed

Posted on September 12, 2022 by David McKee

Gambling continues to prosper in Missouri, where August receipts ($161 million) were 5.5% above last year’s. Visitation was actually down 5% but per-player spending rose 11%, inflation be damned. Ameristar St. Charles was out front with $26.5 million, leaping 9%. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Century Casinos, Derek Stevens, DraftKings, Election, FanDuel, Missouri, New York, Penn National, Philippines, Regulation, Sports betting, United Kingdom | 3 Comments

Crimes and misdemeanors

Posted on September 6, 2022 by David McKee

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

Strip slows in July, Downtown flops; Mega-Jottings

Posted on August 30, 2022 by David McKee

Inflation and depleted discretionary income seem finally to have caught up with the Las Vegas Strip. July’s gambling win was 2.5% from the year previous (while locals casinos slipped 3%). The diñero, especially on the Strip, is so elevated from … Continue reading →

Posted in Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Downtown, DraftKings, Economy, Environment, FanDuel, Genting, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Iowa, Kansas, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Sands, Laughlin, Louisiana, Macau, Mesquite, MGM Resorts International, North Las Vegas, Peninsula Pacific, Philippines, PointsBet, Regulation, Reno, Singapore, The Strip, Tourism, Virginia, Wall Street, Wendover | 1 Comment

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

Posted on August 26, 2022 by David McKee

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

Vegas insanity; Penn’s bad boy; Lake Mead in peril

Posted on August 22, 2022 by David McKee

Imagine an 8.5-mile Las Vegas Strip. You may not have to because “experts” say “it’s in the cards.” What’s the cause of this crazed optimism? No, it’s not the economy. The prospect of a baseball stadium at Sahara Avenue and … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Bally, Barstool Sports, Baseball, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Cambodia, Card rooms, Churchill Downs, CityCenter, CQ Holdings, Economy, Election, Environment, Everi, Failsinos, Golden Nugget, Louisiana, M Resort, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Money laundering, Nebraska, Pansy Ho, Penn National, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, Star Entertainment, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, United Kingdom | 3 Comments

Tidal Wave in Atlantic City; FanDuel hits paydirt

Posted on August 15, 2022 by David McKee

Is Ocean Casino Resort‘s new leadership sweating comps? Our East Coast correspondent tried to score two for a Boz Scaggs concert, couldn’t, but paid anyway. What did he see? “The concert was far from being sold out. Do you think … Continue reading →

Posted in Apollo Management, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Downtown, DraftKings, Election, Entertainment, FanDuel, Genting, Georgia, Golden Nugget, Health, Illinois, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Nebraska, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Transportation, Tribal, Virginia, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Big Gaming’s boffo biz; Bay State buttinski; Trop’s doom sealed

Posted on August 12, 2022 by David McKee

Amidst all the gloom-and-doom talk about the U.S. economy, one sector is doing better than ever: gambling. 2Q22 was an industry-best and the year is on track to be the biggest in history (despite curtailments in international play). The American … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, Baseball, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Columbia Sussex, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Indiana, Internet gambling, Laughlin, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, PointsBet, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

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

Posted on August 11, 2022 by David McKee

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

Posted on August 3, 2022 by David McKee

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

Vici foresees blue skies; Ruffin + Athletics?; Phil the Shill

Posted on August 2, 2022 by David McKee

Vici Properties is sanguine about the U.S. economy, at least as it pertains to gambling. It can afford to be. Vici owns the real estate of 11 Las Vegas Strip casinos, which are sitting pretty these days. True, Vici lost … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Colorado, Donald Trump, DraftKings, Economy, Horseracing, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, Phil Ruffin, Real Estate, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, Star Entertainment, The Strip, Tourism, Vici Properties, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Vici foresees blue skies; Ruffin + Athletics?; Phil the Shill

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

Posted on August 1, 2022 by David McKee

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

Posted on July 28, 2022 by David McKee

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

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

Posted on July 18, 2022 by David McKee

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

Insolvency in Macao; Sports betting everywhere

Posted on July 14, 2022 by David McKee

Prior to the current Covid-19 lockdown, casinos in Macao were already engaged in a $600 million/month cash burn, thanks to the China‘s zero-tolerance policy on the disease. That will only get worse now that access to customers has been shut … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, California, China, DraftKings, Economy, Election, FanDuel, Hard Rock International, Health, history, Illinois, Macau, Maryland, Ohio, PointsBet, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, Tourism, TV, Westgate LV | 1 Comment

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

Posted on July 12, 2022 by David McKee

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

Strip perceives no inflation woe; Union sells out workers health

Posted on July 5, 2022 by David McKee

Truist Securities analyst Barry Jonas recently took a tour of Las Vegas‘ C-suites, meeting with executives of seven companies. He concluded that “Despite market sentiment, operators remain generally positive.” Both the Las Vegas Strip and the recently declining locals market … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Chicago, Conventions, Derek Stevens, Economy, G2E, Golden Nugget, Health, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Regulation, Rhode Island, Slot routes, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Unite-Here, United Kingdom, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Strip carries Nevada; Atlantic City casinos play chicken

Posted on June 30, 2022 by David McKee

Nevada gambling revenues continued to climb in May, up 6% from last year, hitting $1.3 billion. The results were bifurcated, with tourist-dominated markets up and locals ones somewhat down. The Las Vegas Strip was the most obvious beneficiary, jumping 11.5% … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Bally, Boulder Strip, Caesars Entertainment, California, Card rooms, Chicago, Churchill Downs, Downtown, Economy, Georgia, GLPI, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Horseracing, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Law enforcement, Maryland, Mesquite, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Money laundering, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Ocean Resort, Real Estate, Regulation, Reno, Rhode Island, Sports betting, The Strip, Unite-Here, Wendover | Comments Off on Strip carries Nevada; Atlantic City casinos play chicken

Massachusetts upbeat; Station defiant; Atlantic City stalemate

Posted on June 27, 2022 by David McKee

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

Smoke signals in Atlantic City; Discontent in Las Vegas

Posted on June 6, 2022 by David McKee

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.

Posted on June 3, 2022 by David McKee

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.