Category Archives: Sports betting

Sanders enters casino fray; MGM execs play the market

Posted on April 2, 2020 by David McKee

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I), perhaps in a move to reinvigorate his comatose presidential campaign, has waded into the dispute between the Trump administration and the Mashpee Wampanoag. The origin of the tribe’s newly dissolved, 321-acre reservation is clouded by tribal recognition during … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Genting, Health, history, Horseracing, Illinois, Indiana, International, Jim Murren, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Sports, Sports betting, Tribal, Twin River, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Hard times for Atlantic City; Murren’s big payday

Posted on March 30, 2020 by David McKee

Atlantic City casinos have pink-slipped 6,000 workers as a gaming shutdown goes on indefinitely. Said Ocean Casino Resort CEO Terry Glebocki, “This is truly an unprecedented time not only for Ocean, but for everyone.” Unemployment claims in the Garden State … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Morris Bailey, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Real Estate, Regulation, Sports betting, Tribal, Wall Street, Washington State | 1 Comment

Casinos in survival mode; Sports betting in Cali in peril

Posted on March 27, 2020 by David McKee

After this week’s stimulus vote in the U.S. Congress, the casino industry would seem to have ducked a bullet. But, depending on how much financial aid it can draw down, the question lingers over whether any operators will have to file … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Charity, Colorado, Economy, Election, Foxwoods, Full House Resorts, Golden Gaming, Health, Horseracing, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, Oklahoma, Penn National, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Hiccup at Resorts World LV; Coping with a crisis

Posted on March 27, 2020 by David McKee

In case you’ve been wondering, yes, construction is continuing at Resorts World Las Vegas. There will be a partial abatement after a worker tested positive for Coronavirus. As a consequence, work on an unspecified part of the metaresort will be … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, Health, International, Resorts World LV, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Vermont | Comments Off

The last good month; NBA to resurrect in Vegas?

Posted on March 26, 2020 by David McKee

Las Vegas Strip gaming revenue was flat in February at $596 million and probably should have been better, given the presence of an extra weekend day. (Statewide, revenues were up 3%.) Strip slots were robust, gaining 7% on 7.5% higher … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Charity, China, Conventions, Downtown, Economy, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Mesquite, North Las Vegas, Reno, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, TV, Wendover | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 26, 2020 by David McKee

“Our major concern is the mobile gambling. We’ve been fighting that forever. Why would you get up on a 20-below-zero-day and come out to the casino when you could just sit at home?”—Minnesota Indian Gaming Association Executive Director John McCarthy, … Continue reading →

Posted in Minnesota, Sports betting, Tribal | Comments Off

Under the Boardwalk; Premature panic in Virginia

Posted on March 25, 2020 by David McKee

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) is taking the long view on casino closures—as in, what happens if they last two months? He’s measuring the negative economic impact at $1.1 billion. According to The Press of Atlantic City, “That figure encompasses … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Architecture, Atlantic City, Australia, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Election, Florida, Foxwoods, Health, history, International, Internet gambling, Politics, Sports, Sports betting, Tribal, Virginia | 1 Comment

Poverty in the suites; Industry ramps up bailout pressure

Posted on March 23, 2020 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson is worth $28 billion today. Which doesn’t sound so bad until you consider that he was worth $40 billion before the Wall Street crash. That’s the literal price of owning 432,000,000 shares of Las Vegas Sands. Not that … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Caesars Entertainment, California, Carl Icahn, Charity, China, Donald Trump, Economy, Elaine Wynn, FanDuel, GLPI, Health, history, Horseracing, Illinois, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Movies, New York, Phil Ruffin, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Mob, Tribal, Unite-Here, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Stitt catches a break; Station, Gaughan step up to the plate

Posted on March 21, 2020 by David McKee

Did the government of Oklahoma screw up the exclusivity agreement that gave it power over tribal gambling? That’s the contention of a new legal brief from the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, who say that the recent expansion of lottery offerings … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Charity, Dan Gilbert, Downtown, Genting, Golden Gaming, Health, International, Internet gambling, Lotteries, MGM Resorts International, Michael Gaughan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Sahara, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, William Hill | 1 Comment

Notes in the time of Coronavirus

Posted on March 20, 2020 by David McKee

Saying her city “cannot survive” a month-long shutdown, Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman (D) wants Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) to drastically reduce his 30-day casino closure. We admire Goodman normally but think she’s out of her depth here or, as … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Caesars Entertainment, Conventions, Cretins, Economy, Election, Genting, Horseracing, International, Las Vegas Raiders, Nevada, New York, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Washington State | Comments Off

Where do we go from here?

Posted on March 19, 2020 by David McKee

In the process of canceling its 2020 earnings guidance, Marriott International gave some oblique insight into how the casino industry is likely to cope with the Coronavirus quarantine. Occupancy, it said, had fallen to 25%, compared to 70% last year. … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Alabama, Baseball, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Charity, Economy, Health, Illinois, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Iowa, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Movies, Oregon, Penn National, Real Estate, Regulation, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, South Korea, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Life after casinos; Sheldon is george

Posted on March 19, 2020 by David McKee

“The situation continues to evolve and will escalate rapidly and dramatically. These are unprecedented actions in an extraordinary situation, but they could be the difference in saving lives and keeping people safe.” So said Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) on Sunday, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, China, Cordish Co., e-sports, Economy, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Health, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, TV, Wisconsin | 1 Comment

Tough times return to Atlantic City; KY Derby delayed

Posted on March 18, 2020 by David McKee

As we saw earlier today, Las Vegas and Reno are pretty badly screwed for at least the next month. What about perennial problem child/comeback kid Atlantic City? Just when it’s back on its feet and roaring again, along comes Coronavirus … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, California, Dining, Economy, Election, Health, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Macau, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, New York, North Carolina, Regulation, South Carolina, Sports betting, Taxes, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tribal, TV, Wall Street, Washington State | Comments Off

Gaming: Too big to fail?; Sports betting gets creative

Posted on March 17, 2020 by David McKee

Casino CEOs have no shame. They are capitalizing on the Coronavirus crisis to go to Congress, palms extended, cadging for a bailout. In an outrage-inducing story in today’s Washington Post, it is reported that the gaming industry’s wish list includes: … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Genting, MGM Resorts International, Michael Gaughan, Nevada, Phil Ruffin, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Sports, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tourism, Transportation, Westgate LV, William Hill | 2 Comments

Sports betting kneecapped; What Sauce!

Posted on March 16, 2020 by David McKee

We’re far from knowing the full ramifications of widespread sports cancellations and postponements upon the gaming industry. However, the impact upon sports betting looks to be deep and dire. Last March, Nevada casinos saw $499 million in handle and $39.5 … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Charity, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Philippines, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Resort fees, Sports, Sports betting, The Rio, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off

Trump a public menace … Trump Plaza, that is

Posted on March 13, 2020 by David McKee

Carl Icahn clings to dilapidated Trump Plaza like a child to a favorite toy. But he may be forced to face reality whether he likes it or not. It’s ‘Look out below’ for pedestrians passing the corpse of the casino, … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Detroit, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, FanDuel, Hard Rock International, Health, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Las Vegas slides toward crisis as market tanks

Posted on March 12, 2020 by David McKee

Coronavirus having been officially been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization, it was only a matter of time before the impact hit Las Vegas. Not much time, either. Late yesterday, the National Association of Broadcasters pulled the plug … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Conventions, DFS, Donald Trump, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Health, International, Las Vegas Sands, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, New York, Sheldon Adelson, South Korea, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Twin River, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Gaming stocks immune to rally; Casinos get serious about coronavirus

Posted on March 11, 2020 by David McKee

Gaming stocks by and large didn’t feel the love on Wall Street yesterday, trending slightly downward, not counting 9% rallies for Station Casinos and Melco Resorts & Entertainment (the latter the only Macao operator to bounce back). The market recouped … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Alex Meruelo, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Cosmopolitan, Current, Detroit, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Florida, Health, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, Maverick Gaming, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Reno, Rhode Island, Sahara, South Dakota, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Transportation, Vermont, Wall Street, Washington State, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Gambling approved in Virginia, ixnayed in Louisiana

Posted on March 10, 2020 by David McKee

Gambling’s fate in Virginia now rests in Gov. Ralph Northam‘s hands, as the General Assembly has sent a casinos-and-sports-betting bill to his desk. In an eleventh-hour compromise to preserve the legislation, betting on Virginia collegiate teams will be forbidden, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Internet gambling, Japan, Louisiana, Marijuana, Money laundering, Oklahoma, Philippines, Politics, Sports betting, Taxes, Tribal, Virginia | Comments Off

Explosive month in Indiana, elsewhere

Posted on March 10, 2020 by David McKee

Hoosier State casinos were raking it in hand over fist last month, as casino receipts shot 14.5% upward. The $192 million gross included $7 million from still-novel table games at Indiana Grand and Hoosier Downs. Yes, there was an extra … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Century Casinos, Churchill Downs, Dan Gilbert, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Full House Resorts, Hard Rock International, Indiana, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports betting | Comments Off