Category Archives: Sports betting

Penn pulls up a Barstool; Fear and trembling in Macao

Posted on January 29, 2020 by David McKee

As expected, Penn National Gaming bought a significant position in Barstool Sports, investing $135 million cash, $28 million PENN shares, and getting 36% of the two board seats and 36% of the company. The remainder is split between Chernin Group … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Derek Stevens, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Macau, Movies, Nevada, Penn National, Problem gambling, Reno, Rhode Island, Sports betting, Technology, Wall Street | Comments Off on Penn pulls up a Barstool; Fear and trembling in Macao

Spectrum under the microscope; Super Bowl bets boffo

Posted on January 28, 2020 by David McKee

Expected approval of Spectacle Entertainment‘s casino project in Terre Haute came to a screeching halt after revelations that former state Sen. Brent Waltz received illegal campaign contributions from an executive at Spectacle predecessor Centaur Gaming. The disclosure was enough for … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Centaur Gaming, Indiana, Law enforcement, Movies, Nevada, New Jersey, Politics, Regulation, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports, Sports betting, Westgate LV, William Hill | Comments Off on Spectrum under the microscope; Super Bowl bets boffo

Wall Street to Coronavirus: Buy!

Posted on January 28, 2020 by David McKee

According to Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli, Chinese New Year visitation to Macao is now down 69%, with Day 4 bringing an 84% plunge. Santarelli’s opposite number at JP Morgan, analyst Joseph Greff countered that “There’s value for those who … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, China, Colorado, DraftKings, Health, Horseracing, Iowa, Las Vegas Sands, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Philippines, Singapore, Slot routes, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Virginia, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Wall Street to Coronavirus: Buy!

It’s Greek to them; Super Bowl odds amuse

Posted on January 27, 2020 by David McKee

Despite having lost its bid for the Hellenikon megaresort concession, Hard Rock International isn’t taking rejection lying down. “While we are disappointed by this news, we are more disappointed in the process. Hard Rock firmly believes it was wrongly disqualified … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Conventions, Donald Trump, Election, Entertainment, Environment, Hard Rock International, Indiana, International, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Movies, New Jersey, Sports, Sports betting, The Mob, TV | Comments Off on It’s Greek to them; Super Bowl odds amuse

Chinese New Year in ruins; LV Locals casinos hacked

Posted on January 27, 2020 by David McKee

Coronavirus is spreading like wildfire. Not only has it cropped up in Beijing, Hong Kong (uh-oh) and Shanghai, cases are being reported in Taiwan, Thailand, France, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and our own United States. China President Xi Jinping has taken … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, China, Colorado, Derek Stevens, Downtown, DraftKings, Health, International, Las Vegas Raiders, Macau, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, Politics, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Technology, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Twin River | Comments Off on Chinese New Year in ruins; LV Locals casinos hacked

XFL bets taken; Mohegan Sun, Hard Rock clash; Straub arrested

Posted on January 24, 2020 by David McKee

New Jersey has allowed betting on the XFL, the sixth state to do so. But does anybody care? The league hopes that sports betting will spark fan interest in the games. MGM Resorts International already got burned by the Alliance … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Glenn Straub, Hard Rock International, International, James Packer, Law enforcement, Lawrence Ho, Lotteries, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Money laundering, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Sports, Sports betting | Comments Off on XFL bets taken; Mohegan Sun, Hard Rock clash; Straub arrested

Resort fees look ominously permanent; Goodbye, Hard Rock Hotel

Posted on January 20, 2020 by David McKee

Las Vegas is “a market notorious for some of the highest resort fees anywhere.” So writes Hotelsmag.com’s Juliana Shallcross. Big Gaming needn’t be too worried: The Hotel Advertising Transparency Act of 2019 has gone absolutely nowhere in the supposedly liberal House … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Baseball, California, Columbia Sussex, Economy, Florida, Hard Rock Hotel, history, International, Politics, Regulation, Resort fees, Seminole Tribe, Sports betting, Taxes, Technology, Virgin Hotels | 1 Comment

Springfield: The boss hits town

Posted on January 17, 2020 by David McKee

After a worst-month-ever December at MGM Springfield, company CEO Jim Murren has apparently had enough. He flew into Springfield today to put a bit of stick about, as the Brits would say. His ostensible purpose is to hang out with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, GLPI, history, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Movies, Penn National, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip | Comments Off on Springfield: The boss hits town

Mohegan Sun in, Hard Rock out; Hoosiers crave sports betting

Posted on January 16, 2020 by David McKee

In a shocking upset, “a source close to the matter” reports that Hard Rock International has been turned down for the Hellenikon megaresort development in Greece. That means the winning bidder is Mohegan Sun. Hard Rock was apparently faulted both … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Hard Rock International, Indiana, International, Iowa, Lake Tahoe, Louisiana, Macau, Mohegan Sun, Pansy Ho, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, Transportation, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Atlantic City impresses; MGM plays lacrosse

Posted on January 15, 2020 by David McKee

In a de facto win for Atlantic City, gaming revenue held steady in December, despite one less weekend day to bring in the gamblers. The Garden State also closed out the year with over $4.5 billion in sports-betting handle, economic … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Culinary Union, DraftKings, Eldorado Resorts, Election, FanDuel, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Movies, Ocean Resort, Scott Butera, Sexual misconduct, Sports, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta | 3 Comments

Big MGM payday; Halting casino extortion; Wynn scammed

Posted on January 14, 2020 by David McKee

Betting the farm on Japan, CEO of MGM Resorts International Jim Murren has realized his goal of selling MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay. The price was a sweet $4.6 billion it will only cost MGM $292 million a year to lease … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, Hard Rock International, Indiana, Japan, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Macau, Massachusetts, Maverick Gaming, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Philippines, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Big MGM payday; Halting casino extortion; Wynn scammed

California scheming; Exploitation in Cambodia

Posted on January 13, 2020 by David McKee

Don’t hold your water but lawmakers in California have gone so far as to hold an actual, living, breathing, preliminary hearing (emphasis on “preliminary”) on the issue of sports betting. The endgame here is not to legalize sports betting via the … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Election, Fontainebleau, International, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Palms, Politics, Regulation, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Steven Witkoff, The Strip, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on California scheming; Exploitation in Cambodia

Indiana flat, Missouri down, Jones up

Posted on January 13, 2020 by David McKee

Indiana gaming revenues were microscopically down last month, to $186 million, not bad when one considers that December 2018 had one more weekend day. It’s too soon to have numbers from table games at the racinos, so January’s will be … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Century Casinos, Diversity, DraftKings, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, Illinois, Indiana, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Penn National, Racinos, Regulation, Scott Butera, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports betting, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Grumpy old Dems; A Titan-ic sports book win

Posted on January 13, 2020 by David McKee

Prude of the Month has to go to Maine Gov. Janet Mills (D), who certainly looks like a cranky old battle-axe. She vetoed a bill that would have legalized sports betting in her state, sniffing, “the majority of Maine people … Continue reading →

Posted in Cantor Gaming, China, DraftKings, Las Vegas Raiders, Macau, Maine, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Michael Gaughan, Movies, New Hampshire, Sports, Sports betting, Vermont, Wall Street, Westgate LV | Comments Off on Grumpy old Dems; A Titan-ic sports book win

Skins game; Major problem-gambling snafu in Britain

Posted on January 8, 2020 by David McKee

Two Internet powerhouses achieved the first accords for offering sports betting in Michigan. Beating The Stars Group to the punch by a day, PointsBet inked a pact with the Lac Vieux Desert Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians. Stars Group … Continue reading →

Posted in China, DraftKings, International, Internet gambling, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, PokerStars, Problem gambling, Sports betting, Tribal | Comments Off on Skins game; Major problem-gambling snafu in Britain

Card-room smackdown; CES not high on weed

Posted on January 8, 2020 by David McKee

What happens when a casino doesn’t have enough cash on hand to cover all the chips on the floor? If you’re California card room Magnolia House Casino, in Rancho Cordova, you get shut down by the state. The card room … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Conventions, Marijuana, MGM Resorts International, Regulation, Scott Butera, Sports betting, Technology, Transportation | Comments Off on Card-room smackdown; CES not high on weed

Sports betting back on in Florida; Genting tipped for Japan

Posted on January 7, 2020 by David McKee

Although Florida voters thought they were cutting the Lege out of gambling legalization, lawmakers may have found a way to weasel their way back in, at least as concerns sports betting. The Sunshine State’s constitution now forbids the Lege from … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, China, FanDuel, Florida, Galaxy Entertainment, Genting, Japan, Law enforcement, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Movies, New Jersey, New York, Politics, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Texas, The Strip, Transportation | Comments Off on Sports betting back on in Florida; Genting tipped for Japan

Eyes on Atlantic City; ‘Smart chips’ a health menace?

Posted on January 6, 2020 by David McKee

It’s barely 2020 and already The Press of Atlantic City has identified the Boardwalk’s top five stories of the year. They are: 1) The evolving Eldorado Resorts takeover of Caesars Entertainment. Early indications are that Eldorado will try to keep … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Connecticut, Donald Trump, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, Foxwoods, history, Indiana, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta, Transportation | 2 Comments

Japan scandal grows; Caesars slammed

Posted on January 6, 2020 by David McKee

Japan‘s 500.com bribery case continues to spread. An additional five Nipponese lawmakers have been implicated, accused of taking $9,249. The notion that Japanese solons would sell their souls for such chump change indicates how desperately they want to get in on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Columbia Sussex, Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Illinois, Indiana, Japan, Lake Tahoe, Law enforcement, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, North Carolina, Politics, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip | 3 Comments

Stitt escalates Oklahoma conflict; The new N-word

Posted on January 6, 2020 by David McKee

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt‘s jihad against the state’s gaming tribes has claimed its first casualty. Secretary of Native American Affairs Lisa Billy resigned, writing that the governor was “committed to an unnecessary conflict … [You have] remained intent on breaking faith with them,” … Continue reading →

Posted in Churchill Downs, Connecticut, Genting, Hooters, International, Las Vegas Raiders, Marketing, Massachusetts, Movies, New York, Oklahoma, Problem gambling, Sexual misconduct, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Tribal, TV, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Stitt escalates Oklahoma conflict; The new N-word