Category Archives: Reno

Internet gaming backstops Atlantic City; Swordplay in Vegas

Posted on April 13, 2016 by David McKee

Traditional casino revenue fell 2% last month in Atlantic City but online winning were up 18%. The entry of PokerStars wasn’t immediately felt, as Resorts Digital‘s market share stood at 12%. behind Borgata ($4 million, 28%), Caesars Interactive (20%), Golden … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Glenn Straub, Harrah's, history, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, PokerStars, Reno, Revel, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Internet gaming backstops Atlantic City; Swordplay in Vegas

Strong month for the Strip; Tohono O’odham win big-time

Posted on April 1, 2016 by David McKee

February gaming revenues were 8% higher in Nevada (to $990 million), with a 7% increase on the Las Vegas Strip. Locals-casino revenue rose 11%, driven in part by 4% more coin-in and 8% greater table play. Slot revenue on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Boulder Strip, California, Downtown, Economy, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Macau, North Las Vegas, Politics, Reno, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal | 1 Comment

Pinnacle/GLPI deal gets OK; Hard Rock courts Cypriots

Posted on March 16, 2016 by David McKee

Shareholders of Pinnacle Entertainment have voted to approve a deal whereby all but one of the company’s physical assets would be sold to real estate investment trust Gaming & Leisure Properties, while Pinnacle would continue to exist as a casino-management company. … Continue reading →

Posted in Eldorado Resorts, Foxwoods, GLPI, Hard Rock Hotel, Indiana, International, Lawrence Ho, Louisiana, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Ohio, Penn National, Philippines, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Regulation, Reno, Tribal, Unite-Here, Wall Street, West Virginia | 1 Comment

Trump plotting Vegas comeback; Mohegan Sun gains Korean foothold

Posted on February 26, 2016 by David McKee

Even after his improbable spate of electoral successes, you have to wonder if Donald Trump is serious about running for president. His attention is already wandering to a market where the art of the deal has not panned out for … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Donald Trump, Downtown, Entertainment, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Mohegan Sun, North Las Vegas, Phil Ruffin, Reno, South Korea, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Winning quarter for Wynn

Posted on February 15, 2016 by David McKee

In the current era of managed expectations of all things related to Macao, the 4Q15 report from Wynn Resorts fell into the “better than anticipated” category, with earnings down ‘only’ 17% (superior to Wall Street consensus) and profits just over … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Florida, Georgia, Law enforcement, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Nevada, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Reno, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, Texas, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Winning quarter for Wynn

Strip’s illusory Christmas present; A.C. Trop antes up

Posted on January 29, 2016 by David McKee

Las Vegas Strip gaming revenues were up 8% last month but Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli is calling that headline “misleading,” the increase “purely optical.” Volume of table play was down 11% and slot coin-in was 2% less. But increased … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Downtown, Economy, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Macau, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on Strip’s illusory Christmas present; A.C. Trop antes up

Trump: The art of disaster; Good November for Las Vegas

Posted on December 30, 2015 by David McKee

If Donald Trump proposes to run America the way he ran his casinos, God help us all. He built a Boardwalk empire in Atlantic City with a lot of hocus-pocus, debt financing and sky-high interest rates (14% for Trump Taj … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Harrah's, Laughlin, Mesquite, North Las Vegas, Reno, The Strip, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Uncategorized, Wall Street | 2 Comments

No Great Pumpkin for Las Vegas; Further woe for Macao

Posted on December 1, 2015 by David McKee

It was Las Vegas Strip casinos’ bad luck to have Oct. 31 fall on a Saturday, meaning that revenues (particularly from slots) from that weekend won’t be reported until the end of November. Consequently, Strip revenues fell 5% in October, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Galaxy Entertainment, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Law enforcement, Macau, Maryland, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, North Las Vegas, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Resolution at Revel; MGM turns up the heat on Connecticut

Posted on November 27, 2015 by David McKee

Our long Revel nightmare is at least partially over, now that Glenn Straub has a deal in place to buy the disputed ACR Energy Partners power plant. While ACR pays $15 million to placate bondholders, Straub gets the plant for … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Eldorado Resorts, Foxwoods, Glenn Straub, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Ohio, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Reno, Revel, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 18, 2015 by David McKee

“We won’t make money at the expense of our employees.” — Sparks Nugget CEO Carlton Geer on the pay raises he instituted as part of a rejuvenation of the faded Reno-Sparks casino.

Posted in Reno | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 6, 2015 by David McKee

“We will show some love to the clown.” — Eldorado Resorts‘ CEO Gary Carano, promising to bring the Reno iteration of Circus Circus into the 21st century. Eldorado will also rebrand and add a Hampton Inn to its Scioto Downs … Continue reading →

Posted in Current, Eldorado Resorts, Ohio, Racinos, Reno | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Straub has new plan for Revel; Station cans Cactus Lane casino

Posted on November 4, 2015 by David McKee

Glenn Straub can’t even heat Revel but he’s got his sights on becoming Atlantic City‘s biggest slumlord. The ever-unpredictable billionaire’s latest plan for the megaresort is to use it to house Syrian refugees. However, this homeless-hostel offer is good for … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Glenn Straub, Internet gambling, Michael Gaughan, Regulation, Reno, Revel, Sports, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Westgate LV | Comments Off on Straub has new plan for Revel; Station cans Cactus Lane casino

Murren: Mission to Massachusetts

Posted on November 2, 2015 by David McKee

Hot on the heels of announcing a REIT conversion of MGM Resorts International and a boffo 3Q15, CEO Jim Murren sped out to Massachusetts to calm the waters in Springfield, where MGM’s serial reductions of its casino plan have stirred … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Economy, Foxwoods, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Reno, Wall Street | Comments Off on Murren: Mission to Massachusetts

Baccarat buoys the Strip; Last call for Vegas Club

Posted on October 29, 2015 by David McKee

Not only were Nevada gaming revenues up 2% last month, so were Strip revs, propelled by heavy baccarat play. In addition to 17% more being wagered, the house played lucky, winning 24% than last year. That more than made up … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Churchill Downs, Downtown, Economy, Horseracing, Illinois, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Marketing, North Las Vegas, Reno, Tamares Group, The Strip | 2 Comments

Caesars: (Almost) everything must go; More angst in Macao

Posted on October 27, 2015 by David McKee

Well, it had to happen eventually. In order to escape bankruptcy, Caesars Entertainment is putting Caesars Entertainment Operating Co. on the market. There are some who are calling this a bluff and others who can’t afford to get in on … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, California, Economy, GLPI, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, International, Iowa, Lake Tahoe, Lawrence Ho, Louisiana, Marketing, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Philippines, Regulation, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Stanley Ho, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Dan Lee’s Colorado lode; The Caranos take Reno

Posted on October 5, 2015 by David McKee

Since overthrowing the leadership of Full House Resorts, new CEO Dan Lee has been chock-full of initiatives. His latest is to drop $30 million to acquire Bronco Billy’s Casino & Hotel, in Cripple Creek, Colorado. The move comes as Colorado … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Colorado, Dan Lee, Delaware, Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Full House Resorts, International, Internet gambling, Marketing, MGM Mirage, PokerStars, Reno, Scientific Games | Comments Off on Dan Lee’s Colorado lode; The Caranos take Reno

The Strip is all right

Posted on August 28, 2015 by David McKee

A 2% decline in July revenues on the Strip may not seem like good news but the casinos were competing against the anniversary of a very good month for baccarat last year. By comparison, this July saw players drop 35% … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Downtown, Economy, Hard Rock International, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Marketing, MGM Mirage, North Las Vegas, Reno, Seminole Tribe, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on The Strip is all right

Meet Galaxy Entertainment; The lion grumbles; Steve Wynn gets in touch with inner Scrooge

Posted on July 31, 2015 by David McKee

In Macao, “a pharaonic exercise in overbuilding” may be a canny strategy for a post-crisis economy. Once the Chinese government drives the money launderers from the Macanese temple and develops adjacent Hengqin Island into a family friendly plethora of resorts … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Galaxy Entertainment, International, Macau, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Reno, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wisconsin | Comments Off on Meet Galaxy Entertainment; The lion grumbles; Steve Wynn gets in touch with inner Scrooge

Baccarat blowout on Strip; Ader strikes again

Posted on July 28, 2015 by David McKee

Strip casinos had the impossible task of keeping up with last June’s baccarat tally (when revenues shot up 155%) and, as might be expected, fell off the pace. The volume of play plunged 43% and revenue tumbled 57%. As for … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Entertainment, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Mesquite, Planet Hollywood, Reno, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Baccarat blowout on Strip; Ader strikes again

Caesars CEO earns dunce cap; Downtown Grand faces identity crisis

Posted on July 20, 2015 by David McKee

New Caesars Entertainment CEO Mark Frissora scarcely got his chair warm when former employer Hertz Global Holdings pushed him under the bus, blaming him for a managerial style that led to four years’ worth of “material misstatements [and] inappropriate accounting decisions … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Eldorado Resorts, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Regulation, Reno, The Strip | Comments Off on Caesars CEO earns dunce cap; Downtown Grand faces identity crisis