Category Archives: Sports

Boyd weathers challenges; MGM swoons

An alternate headline for Boyd Gaming‘s 1Q18 results might be “better than expected.” Although the company had modeled a $12 million-$15 million cash flow hit at Blue Chip from new, nearby Four Winds Casino, the company’s Midwest revenues came in … Continue reading

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Downtown, Greenwood Racing, Hawaii, Indiana, Japan, Louisiana, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Ohio, Palms, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Resort fees, Sports, Station Casinos, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

MGM sets Springfield date; Adelson hits pay dirt

Even as it’s using MGM Springfield as a catspaw to potentially land Wynn Boston Harbor, that didn’t prevent MGM Resorts International from announcing a date certain for the Springfield opening. Mark August 24 on your calendars, for that is the day … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Churchill Downs, Detroit, Dining, Donald Trump, Entertainment, history, Horseracing, International, Japan, Louisiana, Macau, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Singapore, South Korea, Sports, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on MGM sets Springfield date; Adelson hits pay dirt

MGM plays games with tribes, MGM Springfield, as Zinke steps in it

As various non-gaming related scandals gain critical mass around ersatz geologist and Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, he’s found himself front and center in a casino mess in Connecticut. Seems that Zinke turned a deaf ear to career Interior … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, Eldorado Resorts, Foxwoods, Genting, Harrah's, International, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, PokerStars, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Wynn: It’s Elaine’s company now; Caesars reverses itself

When Elaine Wynn speaks, Wynn Resorts is suddenly all ears. Last week the company’s plurality shareholder called for a largely new and diverse board of directors, in what is describes as a “first step” toward greater heterogeneousness. Presto! Who should … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Centaur Gaming, Donald Trump, Elaine Wynn, Environment, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Indiana, Law enforcement, Macau, Marketing, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports, Station Casinos, Technology, Transportation, Wynn Resorts | 6 Comments

MGM Boston?!?; Sports betting proceeds fitfully

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

Major leagues’ sticky fingers; They did some bad, bad things

Someone once compared golf’s Skins Game to watching rich people win the lottery. Well, the PGA is at it again, demanding an “integrity fee” from legalized sports betting. (Thankfully, Nevada is in a position to tell the league to bugger off.) … Continue reading

Posted in Baseball, Illinois, Nevada, Politics, Sports, Taxes | 1 Comment

No bailout for N.Y. casinos; Horseshoe Baltimore gets creative

There’s no question that upstate New York‘s new casinos drank their own bathwater when making their case to the state. Two of them are now squealing like stuck pigs, demanding that the Lege lower their tax rates. Never mind that … Continue reading

Posted in Alabama, Genting, Harrah's, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Maryland, Neil Bluhm, New York, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Taxes | 1 Comment

MGM owns Maryland; Rumble in Deadwood

MGM National Harbor continues to devour the Maryland market, hitting a record 40% market share last month, along with a best-ever $1.95 million/day in gross gaming record, for an overall gross of $60.5 million. Less pleasing for MGM execs: Slots … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Golden Gaming, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Oklahoma, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, South Dakota, Sports, Taxes, Tribal, West Virginia | 2 Comments

Florida dithers; MGM catches a wave

Having once more proven itself constitutionally incapable (pun intended) of passing gaming legislation during the normal course of doing business, the Florida Lege is now talking ‘special session,’ which seems like what it would take to get anything done, if … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, DFS, Economy, Florida, Internet gambling, Japan, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Mirage, Mississippi, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Sexual misconduct, Sports, Steve Wynn | Comments Off on Florida dithers; MGM catches a wave

Harrah’s wins in Big Easy; Could Wynn Resorts beat Boston rap?

Harrah’s New Orleans is a step away from a major makeover, now that the Louisiana House of Representatives cast a veto-proof vote in favor of a 30-year license extension, a new hotel tower and an expansion of the hotel-casino’s amenities. … Continue reading

Posted in Arkansas, Cretins, DFS, Dining, Elaine Wynn, Election, Harrah's, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Sexual misconduct, Sports, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Harrah’s wins in Big Easy; Could Wynn Resorts beat Boston rap?

Trump takes with one hand, gives with other

The Trump administration has lent a new meaning to ‘Indian giver,’ seizing $10 million held in escrow by the Pojoaque Pueblo while the latter tries to negotiate a new compact with New Mexico. The Pojoaque Pueblo had been operating without a … Continue reading

Posted in Derek Stevens, Donald Trump, Downtown, Greenwood Racing, Harrah's, history, Internet gambling, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Racinos, Sports, Technology, Tribal, Vietnam | 1 Comment

Betrayal

Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort Casino need to watch their backs. A bill to reopen the state’s casino-award process has made it to the floor of the Connecticut House. The word of the state, it seems, is not worth the … Continue reading

Posted in Derek Stevens, Downtown, Entertainment, Foxwoods, Harrah's, history, MGM Mirage, Mohegan Sun, Politics, Sports, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta | Comments Off on Betrayal

Steve, Elaine kiss, make up; Sooner State tribes to get tables

So Steve Wynn‘s downfall wasn’t the product of a massive, Elaine Wynn-led, female conspiracy after all? The mogul and his ex-wife have agreed to terms on their Wynn Resorts stock holdings. They have consented not to contest stock sales by … Continue reading

Posted in International, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Politics, Regulation, Sports, Steven Witkoff, Tribal, West Virginia, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Policy change roils Atlantic City; Stratosphere scheduled for makeover

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

Vegas soccer no sure thing; Scientific Games wins thrice over

A perspicacious gentleman named Steven R. Brown wrote the following on Facebook in response to my reportage of the apparent shelving of Wynn Paradise Park: “Steve Wynn‘s creativity can be outlandish at times (Like his idea back in the early … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Arizona, California, Charity, Detroit, Downtown, Environment, Florida, International, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Ohio, Scientific Games, Sports, Steve Wynn, Texas, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Indiana suffers, Ohio not so much; Station’s surprise

While its $170 million gross looked a lot better than Illinois‘ $104 million, Indiana saw its gamblers stay home in droves — 24% less foot traffic, although those who showed up seemed to have spent 21%. In any event, gambling … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, George Maloof, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Marketing, Ohio, Palms, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Reno, Sports, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Indiana suffers, Ohio not so much; Station’s surprise

Adelson subsidizes foreign policy; Packer’s comeback

Sheldon Adelson‘s at it again. This time, in the cause of escalating Mideast tensions, he’s putting his money where his mouth is. The toupee-crowned supermogul is reported to be offering to foot the bill for at least some of a … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Atlantic City, Australia, Donald Trump, Glenn Straub, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, International, Internet gambling, James Packer, Lucky Dragon, Macau, Melco Crown Entertainment, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Revel, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Steve Wynn, The Crown 18, The Strip | Comments Off on Adelson subsidizes foreign policy; Packer’s comeback

Louisiana stutters; MLB rigs the odds

Gambling in Louisiana was a bit off the pace last month, down 4% ($187 million). Most of that was due to a terrible Baton Rouge market, tumbling 21%, while Lake Charles (+2%) remained immune. New Orleans (-2%) and Shreveport/Bossier City … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Harrah's, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Kazuo Okada, Louisiana, Missouri, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Sports, Steve Wynn, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, TV, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

“Everything we do around e-sports is going to be mainstream. E-sports are getting more popular. Traditional sports are becoming less relevant. If you look at the PGA Tour, the average age of a fan [is] 69 years old. Major League … Continue reading

Posted in e-sports, Sports, Technology | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Case Bets

When Las Vegas casinos sit down with the Culinary Union this year expect wireless “panic buttons” to be on the table. Labor unions have been pushing for these as a means of summoning security when their members are assaulted by … Continue reading

Posted in Culinary Union, DFS, Foxwoods, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, Sexual misconduct, Sports, Station Casinos | 1 Comment