Category Archives: Sports

Voyage to Vegas, Part One

Posted on September 26, 2022 by David McKee

Not us. We’re in Vermont, vacationing. But Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli trekked to Sin City and met with representatives of eight companies. We’ll start with MGM Resorts International, which waxed pretty darn upbeat. In Las Vegas, MGM’s strength lies … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Canada, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Culinary Union, Election, Fontainebleau, Genting, Hard Rock International, Indiana, Internet gambling, Iowa, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Palms, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Politics, Singapore, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Virginia, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Atlantic City still surging; Aces win it all for Las Vegas

Posted on September 19, 2022 by David McKee

Casino executives in Atlantic City may continue to plead poverty but the numbers tell a different story. Last month’s tally was $274 million, up 4.5% from last year. Slot revenue was $204 million, up 3% on looser hold and 3.5% … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, China, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., DraftKings, FanDuel, Genting, Golden Nugget, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, history, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Raiders, Louisiana, LVCVA, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, New York, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports, The Strip, Wall Street, WInd Creek, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Atlantic City still surging; Aces win it all for Las Vegas

George of Georges; Bally’s crumbling; Indiana dips

Posted on September 13, 2022 by David McKee

Before we go any further, bravo, bravo, arcibravo to Hard Rock International to laying some serious bread on its salaried workers. As of now, the base salary for non-tipped employees at Hard Rock casinos goes from $18/hour to $21. Hard … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Australia, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, Dining, DraftKings, Economy, Entertainment, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Tribal, United Kingdom, Virginia, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on George of Georges; Bally’s crumbling; Indiana dips

Sports betting doomed in California?; Much heat, light at G2E

Posted on August 26, 2022 by David McKee

We wouldn’t have believed it but it appears that both California sports-betting ballot initiatives could go down to defeat in November. While we favor sports betting, on principle, we don’t have a dog in this fight. Both Proposition 26 (tribal) … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Bally, Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, California, Century Casinos, Economy, Election, G2E, Georgia, Golden Gaming, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, International, Japan, Law enforcement, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, Politics, Regulation, Reno, Singapore, Slot routes, South Korea, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Vici Properties, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Vegas insanity; Penn’s bad boy; Lake Mead in peril

Posted on August 22, 2022 by David McKee

Imagine an 8.5-mile Las Vegas Strip. You may not have to because “experts” say “it’s in the cards.” What’s the cause of this crazed optimism? No, it’s not the economy. The prospect of a baseball stadium at Sahara Avenue and … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Bally, Barstool Sports, Baseball, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Cambodia, Card rooms, Churchill Downs, CityCenter, CQ Holdings, Economy, Election, Environment, Everi, Failsinos, Golden Nugget, Louisiana, M Resort, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Money laundering, Nebraska, Pansy Ho, Penn National, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, Star Entertainment, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, United Kingdom | 3 Comments

Cosmic quarter at MGM; New name, same old Penn

Posted on August 5, 2022 by David McKee

“No Recession yet, just all time records,” reported Truist Securities analyst Barry Jonas of MGM Resorts International‘s 2Q22 earnings call. Better-than-ever Las Vegas Strip and regional revenues beat the pants off Wall Street‘s expectations, outweighing “weakness” in Macao, where gaming … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Chicago, China, Churchill Downs, Conventions, Cordish Co., Cosmopolitan, DraftKings, FanDuel, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, history, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, M Resort, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Scott Butera, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Virginia, Wall Street, Wyoming | 1 Comment

Vici foresees blue skies; Ruffin + Athletics?; Phil the Shill

Posted on August 2, 2022 by David McKee

Vici Properties is sanguine about the U.S. economy, at least as it pertains to gambling. It can afford to be. Vici owns the real estate of 11 Las Vegas Strip casinos, which are sitting pretty these days. True, Vici lost … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Colorado, Donald Trump, DraftKings, Economy, Horseracing, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, Phil Ruffin, Real Estate, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, Star Entertainment, The Strip, Tourism, Vici Properties, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Vici foresees blue skies; Ruffin + Athletics?; Phil the Shill

Atlantic City strong; Station’s demolition derby; De$anti$ hits jackpot; Mega-Jottings

Posted on July 18, 2022 by David McKee

There’s so much news today we almost don’t know where to begin. But we’ll start with Atlantic City, which reported a 2% increase in casino revenue, to $229 million. Internet gambling and sports betting chipped in another $169 million. One … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, China, Donald Trump, Dotty's, Downtown, DraftKings, FanDuel, Genting, George Maloof, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Michael Gaughan, Mohegan Sun, North Las Vegas, Ocean Resort, Pennsylvania, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Real Estate, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Sheldon Adelson, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, Texas, The Strip, Tribal, United Kingdom, Wall Street, WInd Creek | 1 Comment

Ohio shows fatigue; Macao seizes hotels; Abe assassinated

Posted on July 8, 2022 by David McKee

Since it has been outperforming the broader U.S. market for some time now, perhaps we should not be unduly concerned that Ohio casino revenues are down for three months in a row. Indeed, compared to go-go 2019, they’re still arguably … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, California, Churchill Downs, Downtown, Economy, Hard Rock International, Health, Jack Entertainment, Japan, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sexual misconduct, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, Virginia | 1 Comment

Maryland weaker, Illinois stronger; Mickelson in denial

Posted on June 7, 2022 by David McKee

Even as playing levels normalize from last year, gambling revenues continue their upward tread. Maryland, for instance, was 4% higher in May than a year ago (and 17.5% above 2019). Had there not been one fewer weekend day than in … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Chicago, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., DFS, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Genting, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Tribal, Virginia, Washington State | 1 Comment

Bally’s bans smoking (sorta); Purge at Cosmo; Aussie renegades

Posted on May 31, 2022 by David McKee

Two and a half cheers for Bally’s Corp., which has banned smoking at table games at its two Rhode Island casinos. We’ll throw in the other half-cheer when Bally’s nixes smoking in all gambling areas. (Ironically, the company is part … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Bally, Chicago, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Crown Resorts, Health, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Money laundering, Politics, Regulation, Rhode Island, Sports, Star Entertainment, United Kingdom | Comments Off on Bally’s bans smoking (sorta); Purge at Cosmo; Aussie renegades

Letter from Atlantic City

Posted on May 12, 2022 by David McKee

Our East Coast correspondent writes, “As of [May 4], everyone in New Jersey has to bring their own bags when they purchase almost everything. Single-use plastic and paper bags are gone, except for stores less than 2,500 square feet in … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Current, Environment, Law enforcement, New Jersey, Politics, Sports, Unite-Here | 1 Comment

Wynn treads water, IGT overachieves, Ohio and Missouri flatten

Posted on May 11, 2022 by David McKee

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain (Xi Jinping). That was the message of Wynn Resorts‘ first-quarter earnings call. Some analysts weren’t having it, with Deutsche Bank‘s Carlo Santarelli opining that Macao was “the real story.” That being … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Century Casinos, Churchill Downs, Dan Lee, Economy, Full House Resorts, Hard Rock International, Health, IGT, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Jack Entertainment, Lotteries, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Penn National, Real Estate, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Virginia, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Sands, NY Mets in cahoots; Raiders set to clobber Vegas bookies

Posted on April 22, 2022 by David McKee

Pay no attention to the men behind the curtain. There’s nothing wrong with the idea of a casino megaresort in the Willets Point area, near Citi Field. It’s far preferable to some of the other New York City sites that … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Economy, Golden Nugget, Illinois, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Michael Gaughan, New York, North Carolina, Ocean Resort, Palms, Philippines, Politics, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tribal, Westgate LV, Wisconsin | 1 Comment

Parx dethroned; Shreveport sleaze; Maine’s latest bet

Posted on April 18, 2022 by David McKee

Move over, Parx Casino, there’s a new leader in the Pennsylvania gaming market. That’d be Penn National‘s eponymous racino near Harrisburg. For the second month in a row it was tops in the Keystone State, banking $64 million, up 11.5% … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, China, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Crown Resorts, DraftKings, FanDuel, Florida, Golden Nugget, Greenwood Racing, Health, Internet gambling, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Macau, Maine, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Peninsula Pacific, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Rhode Island, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Transportation, Tribal, Virginia, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Parx dethroned; Shreveport sleaze; Maine’s latest bet

Casinos in clover nationwide; Mega-Jottings for a Monday

Posted on April 11, 2022 by David McKee

Masters Week has come and gone, and Augusta now sinks back into an 11-month torpor. Which also helps us return to standard-edition S&G. (Seen on the marquee of the church closest to Augusta National: “This is Amen Corner.”) Where to … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Century Casinos, Chicago, Churchill Downs, Conventions, CQ Holdings, Current, Derek Stevens, Diversity, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, G2E, Georgia, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Indiana, International, Jack Entertainment, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Nevada, New York, North Las Vegas, Ohio, Palms, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Racinos, Sahara, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Tribal | 1 Comment

Chicago tips its hand; Wynn loses; Thunder Down Under

Posted on April 1, 2022 by David McKee

Would somebody clue in Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) that Neil Bluhm‘s Rush Street Gaming is no longer the majority owner of Rivers Casino Des Plaines? That honor goes to Churchill Downs. But Lightfoot is using Des Plaines as a … Continue reading →

Posted in ABBA, Animals, Architecture, Australia, Bally, Boulder Strip, Caesars Entertainment, California, Chicago, Crown Resorts, Entertainment, Environment, Hard Rock International, Health, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Law enforcement, Macau, Marijuana, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Money laundering, Neil Bluhm, New York, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sexual misconduct, Sports, Sports betting, Star Entertainment, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Make theirs Manhattan: Hochul plays hardball

Posted on March 31, 2022 by David McKee

Representatives of New York City‘s ritziest borough have made it abundantly clear that they don’t want a casino in Manhattan. But it appears that Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) is going to impose one on them, public appetite be damned. Perhaps … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally, Genting, Hard Rock International, Horseracing, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Nevada, New York, Politics, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Tribal | Comments Off on Make theirs Manhattan: Hochul plays hardball

Baccarat constrains Strip; Sports betting tsunami ahead

Posted on March 30, 2022 by David McKee

Withered baccarat numbers meant that the Las Vegas Strip had a muted February, only a percentage point above 2019. Players dropped $599 million (-44.5%) of which the house won just $62 million (-52%). That offset a bonny month at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Caesars Entertainment, California, Colorado, Downtown, DraftKings, FanDuel, Indiana, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Marketing, Mesquite, North Carolina, Palms, Reno, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wendover | Comments Off on Baccarat constrains Strip; Sports betting tsunami ahead

Barley’s leaves a bad taste; Woe is Star; Mega-Jottings

Posted on March 28, 2022 by David McKee

When a casino is named Barley’s Brewing Co. you’d expect to get a decent glass of suds there. Not so. Las Vegan Lon Enwright is $8 million richer—but physically damaged beyond price—after being served cleaning fluids instead of beer (the … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Baseball, Boulder Strip, Charity, China, Conventions, Crown Resorts, Derek Stevens, history, Japan, Kentucky, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Money laundering, Movies, New Jersey, Politics, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, Star Entertainment, Station Casinos, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street, Wisconsin | Comments Off on Barley’s leaves a bad taste; Woe is Star; Mega-Jottings