Category Archives: Slot routes

Illinois takes a dive; Okada gets nabbed

Posted on August 7, 2018 by David McKee

Illinois casinos had been bumping along nicely in the Trump economy until they hit a plain old speed bump last month, with revenues down almost 4%, on a gross of $119 million, $39 million of which was generated by Rivers … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Crown Resorts, Economy, GLPI, Illinois, Kazuo Okada, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Scientific Games, Slot routes, Sports betting, Technology, Wall Street, Wendover, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Illinois takes a dive; Okada gets nabbed

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

Quote of the Day

Posted on July 25, 2018 by David McKee

“The golf industry isn’t necessarily booming.” — Green Valley Golf Range owner Cindy Scardina, justifying the extension of slot routes to golf courses in Hanover Park, Illinois.

Posted in Economy, Illinois, Slot routes, Sports | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

The pleasant clink of coins

Posted on July 13, 2018 by David McKee

Only Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs and Lady Luck Nemacolin saw revenue declines at the slot machines last month. All other Pennsylvania casinos were revenue-positive, especially Parx Casino, up 10.5% to $35 million. Another overachiever was Valley Forge Resort Casino, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, Genting, Greenwood Racing, Illinois, Las Vegas Sands, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Rush Street Gaming, Slot routes | Comments Off on The pleasant clink of coins

A tale of four states

Posted on July 10, 2018 by David McKee

Illinois‘ casino industry has never recovered from the Great Recession. We’ll never know if it would have done so but the inception of slot routes has basically nipped any recovery in the bud. As such, the Land of Lincoln will … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Centaur Gaming, Dan Gilbert, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Full House Resorts, GLPI, Illinois, Indiana, Majestic Star, MGM Mirage, Ohio, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Rush Street Gaming, Slot routes, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on A tale of four states

I’ve got a historical horse right here, his name is Paul Revere

Posted on July 6, 2018 by David McKee

Damn the laws, full speed ahead: That’s the mentality of Illinois horse tracks as they push for ‘historical racing,’ VLTs where you can bet on the outcome of past races. The Illinois Racing Board voted it through unanimously. “We’re out of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, Florida, Hard Rock International, Horseracing, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Politics, Racinos, Slot routes | Comments Off on I’ve got a historical horse right here, his name is Paul Revere

High Sierra; This and that

Posted on June 25, 2018 by David McKee

If you want to get away from it all and gamble at the same time, head north — way north — to tiny and isolated Jarbidge, Nevada. That is the home of the Silver State’s newest casino license, that of … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, history, Horseracing, International, Macau, Nevada, New York, Racinos, Slot routes, Sports, Taxes | Comments Off on High Sierra; This and that

“Cashless casinos” in China; Keeping score in Louisiana

Posted on June 20, 2018 by David McKee

Could Chinese players go for gambling if the winnings aren’t monetary? That’s the wager resort owners on the island of Hainan plan to make if the central government gives them a much-hoped-for exception. Just as players wager for trinkets in … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, DFS, Election, Harrah's, Horseracing, International, Japan, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Singapore, Slot routes, Taxes, Tourism | Comments Off on “Cashless casinos” in China; Keeping score in Louisiana

Fertitta shut out; Gaming blogger shut down

Posted on June 8, 2018 by David McKee

A provision in New Jersey‘s sports-betting law is good news for MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment, and bad news for Tilman Fertitta. The law bars owners of major-league teams from also offering sports betting. But a loophole exempts owners … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Harrah's, Illinois, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, Slot routes, Sports, Technology, Tilman Fertitta | 3 Comments

Las Vegas thrives; Palms ad backfires

Posted on May 30, 2018 by David McKee

Yesterday, we spotlit the Debbie Downer view of Las Vegas of one online columnist. And while a lengthy slide in visitation numbers remains a concern, dark and anecdotal snapshots of Sin City are contradicted by the numbers. The latter are … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cosmopolitan, Eldorado Resorts, George Maloof, Harrah's, Horseracing, Illinois, Indiana, Laughlin, Macau, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Palms, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Station Casinos, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on May 30, 2018 by David McKee

“The studies we saw told us our players were spending significant time at their local bars or restaurants playing VGTs. If that’s the case, we want to be where our customers are.” — Boyd Gaming CEO Keith Smith, explaining why the … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Illinois, Slot routes | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Atlantic City: Calm before the storm; Stormy weather in Louisiana

Posted on May 15, 2018 by David McKee

Atlantic City was stable last month, defying an unfavorable calendar (one less weekend day) and grossing $191.5 million, while online gambling had its second-best-ever month, pulling in $23 million (+10.5%). Slot handle was down 3.5%, as was revenue, while a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Bruce Deifik, Columbia Sussex, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Illinois, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Louisiana, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Atlantic City: Calm before the storm; Stormy weather in Louisiana

Boyd can’t beat ’em, joins ’em; Station gets rave reviews

Posted on May 2, 2018 by David McKee

After having taken a beating in Illinois from slot routes, Boyd Gaming is pivoting and getting into the route game itself. It is acquiring Lattner Entertainment, giving it 1,000 slots in 220 locations in the Land of Lincoln. Since there’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Economy, IGT, Illinois, Penn National, Slot routes, Station Casinos, Wall Street | Comments Off on Boyd can’t beat ’em, joins ’em; Station gets rave reviews

Looking for change in Illinois; Copperfield goes “Poof!”

Posted on April 19, 2018 by David McKee

Grand Victoria is such small potatoes in the MGM Resorts International portfolio that the Elgin riverboat’s management used to be farmed out to co-owner Hyatt Gaming (since succeeded by the Pritzker family’s RBG). The Elgin City Council is hoping that … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, California, Charity, Donald Trump, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Environment, Illinois, MGM Mirage, Slot routes, Taxes, Transportation, Tribal | Comments Off on Looking for change in Illinois; Copperfield goes “Poof!”

MGM Boston?!?; Sports betting proceeds fitfully

Posted on April 16, 2018 by David McKee

According the Wall Street Journal, talks are underway between MGM Resorts International and Wynn Resorts for the latter to be shot of Wynn Boston Harbor, which has become a regulatory albatross around Wynn’s neck. Although this would mean giving almost … Continue reading →

Posted in Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Minnesota, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Slot routes, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on MGM Boston?!?; Sports betting proceeds fitfully

Policy change roils Atlantic City; Stratosphere scheduled for makeover

Posted on March 16, 2018 by David McKee

In what we can expect to be a trend rolled out nationwide, Caesars Entertainment is using its Atlantic City casinos to experiment with cutting back on waitresses. It’s not like we didn’t have fair warning of this: One of the … Continue reading →

Posted in ACEP, Atlantic City, Churchill Downs, Dining, Golden Gaming, Harrah's, IGT, International, Internet gambling, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, New York, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Scientific Games, Slot routes, Sports, Unite-Here, West Virginia | 2 Comments

Greed in Japan; IGT embraces diversity

Posted on February 26, 2018 by David McKee

“Japan Junks it Up.” That was Global Gaming Business‘ teaser for an article on investment-killing measures that have a strong chance of making it into the Liberal Democratic Party‘s casino-implementation bill. Jim Murren might want to think twice about sinking … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Harrah's, IGT, Illinois, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Japan, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Taxes, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Next stop, Antrim?!?; Murren drops out of casino arms race

Posted on November 17, 2017 by David McKee

Ever heard of Antrim Township in Pennsylvania? Probably not. But state Rep. Paul Schemel thinks it’s a new gaming hot spot. One of his reasons for advocating Antrim is its proximity to Charles Town, West Virginia. Now this is precisely … Continue reading →

Posted in Japan, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Problem gambling, Slot routes, The Strip, West Virginia | 1 Comment

National Harbor rules; #VegasAmnesia anyone?

Posted on November 7, 2017 by David McKee

Last week I was saying that anyone who thinks the Washington, D.C.-Baltimore corridor can absorb another casino doesn’t have their head screwed on right. Well, the latest numbers are in and S&G feels more validated than ever. Maryland Live ($46 … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Colorado, Cordish Co., GLPI, Harrah's, Louisiana, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Slot routes, Tourism, Wall Street, West Virginia | 1 Comment

Stratosphere: Sartini takes charge; Dadaist policy at MGM

Posted on November 6, 2017 by David McKee

“It’s more appreciated now than it was 20 years ago,” says Golden Entertainment CEO Blake Sartini of his new trophy property, the Stratosphere. Boy, is he right (as usual). What used to be called “Stupak’s Stump” or the “Tower of … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Foxwoods, Golden Gaming, Illinois, Japan, Marijuana, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Steve Wynn, Taxes, The Strip | Comments Off on Stratosphere: Sartini takes charge; Dadaist policy at MGM