Category Archives: Sports

Atlantic City casinos rebound; Slow thaw in Massachusetts

Casinos in Atlantic City are finally catching up with the rest of gaming’s recovery. Last month they were only 3% off the 2019 pace. They grossed $213 million, a substantial improvement over April. Slot win was $158 million on 8% … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Cordish Co., Dining, DraftKings, FanDuel, FoxBet, Genting, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Japan, Law enforcement, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, North Carolina, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Atlantic City casinos rebound; Slow thaw in Massachusetts

Indiana, Missouri keep rebounding; Casino boom benefits all

Scratch two casino riverboats in Indiana. The Majestic Star-branded flotilla went out of business—and Hard Rock Gary came in, quite auspiciously. Total Hoosier State gaming revenue for last month grew 18% over 2019 to $185.5 million. Hard Rock Gary opened … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Century Casinos, Connecticut, Detroit, Donald Trump, DraftKings, Economy, Entertainment, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, Hard Rock International, Indiana, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Peninsula Pacific, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Rush Street Gaming, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Virginia, Wisconsin | 2 Comments

Las Vegas heats up; Zombies overrun Atlantic City

In a benchmark development, three of the four major Las Vegas Strip operators posted higher midweek rates for the July 4-July 10 period than in 2019. Caesars Entertainment was flat, probably due to its sheer proliferation of hotel rooms. MGM … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Colony Capital, Conventions, Cordish Co., Economy, Entertainment, Indiana, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Movies, Nevada, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Rush Street Gaming, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Stanley Ho, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, TV, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Las Vegas heats up; Zombies overrun Atlantic City

Trump banned; Richmond: The fix was in

Donald Trump won’t be opening a casino in Doral. Neither will anyone else. Not if the Doral City Council has its way. It voted unanimously to bar casino gambling within the city, which encompasses The Donald’s struggling resort. This has … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Cordish Co., Donald Trump, DraftKings, Entertainment, FanDuel, Florida, Health, Iowa, Mohegan Sun, Money laundering, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Virgin Hotels, Virginia, William Hill | 3 Comments

Getting nasty in Florida; Police blotter

A “tortured artifice.” That’s what Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber (D) calls the new Florida gaming compact in a letter to the Interior Department. He urged them to reject the deal, not because of any issues with the Seminole Tribe, … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Churchill Downs, Donald Trump, Drugs, Economy, El Cortez, Entertainment, Florida, G2E, Hard Rock International, Health, Horseracing, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Money laundering, North Carolina, Pansy Ho, Politics, Problem gambling, Seminole Tribe, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Don’t make mine Manhattan

That’s the word from key legislators, who have made it clear that Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) would be putting a casino in Manhattan over their dead bodies. “I believe it would be seriously detrimental to the residential and commercial quality … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Bally, BetMGM, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment, FanDuel, Genting, Georgia, Illinois, Las Vegas Sands, Marijuana, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, New York, Politics, Regulation, Resort fees, Resorts World LV, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, Transportation, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Steve Wynn, international man of mystery

“Foreign agent.” That’s who Steve Wynn is, according to the Justice Department, which is prepared to sue the disgraced casino mogul if he doesn’t register as an aegis of Red China‘s government. Seems that Steve was carrying water for the … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, Canada, Card rooms, Century Casinos, China, Cretins, Detroit, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Health, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, LVCVA, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, North Carolina, Ocean Resort, Phil Ruffin, PointsBet, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wisconsin, Wynn Resorts | 4 Comments

Case Bets

Colorado closed out its first full year of sports betting with an April decline, presaging a summer slump that is likely to prevail until football season. Handle was $244.5 million, which left $10.5 million in revenue after promotional credits ($6.5 … Continue reading

Posted in Colorado, Donald Trump, Health, Law enforcement, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Technology | 1 Comment

Caesars, MGM lead Vegas recovery; Florida compact dicey

Let’s start with some good news. JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff laid out a series of benchmarks for a Las Vegas comeback across the second half of 2021 (one year earlier than anticipated). “We think these data points are indicative … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Conventions, Dining, Economy, Florida, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, LVCVA, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Louisiana advances, Pennsylvania recedes

Casino revenues in Louisiana enjoyed a big bounce last month, up 18% to $236 million, a substantial increase over 2019 levels. Mind you, that number was achieved without two casinos that were operational in 2019, Diamond Jacks and Isle Grand … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Barstool Sports, Baseball, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., CQ Holdings, Detroit, Dining, Donald Trump, DraftKings, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, FanDuel, Golden Nugget, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Louisiana, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New York, North Carolina, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Hard Rock, Ocean drub Borgata; Caesars massacres shows

Casinos in Atlantic City grossed $189.5 million last month, 9% behind their 2019 pace. Slots were off 5% and tables 17%. Regular top-grosser Borgata had a terrible month, falling 28%, spurring by lackluster table-game winnings (-34%), with slots tumbling 25%. … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Conventions, DraftKings, Economy, Entertainment, FanDuel, FoxBet, Full House Resorts, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, Indiana, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Penn National, PointsBet, Rush Street Gaming, Silverton, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports, Sports betting, The Rio, The Strip, Wayne F. Newton, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

MGM dumps Springfield; Gaming recovery a proven fact

MGM Resorts International isn’t quitting Springfield but it’s taking a bath on its eponymous casino in order to reduce its exposure to the (disappointing) market. MGM spent $960 million on the resort, which has never performed up to expectations, and … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Cordish Co., Dining, DraftKings, Economy, Entertainment, FanDuel, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Health, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Ocean Resort, Pennsylvania, Real Estate, Regulation, Resort fees, South Dakota, Sports, Sports betting, Tennessee, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Illinois’ surprise; Scandal at Churchill Downs; Palms complications

Gambling revenue of $108 million out of Illinois last month looks pallid at first glance. But consider this: It was only 6% off April 2019’s pace, when casinos were at full capacity and last month they did it at 50% … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Conventions, Culinary Union, Dining, Diversity, DraftKings, Drugs, Economy, FanDuel, history, Horseracing, Indiana, Iowa, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Palms, Penn National, PointsBet, Rush Street Gaming, Slot routes, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

DraftKings’ mixed results; Penn waxes, Iowa wanes

DraftKings exceeded analysts’ expectations with its 1Q21 revenues, leading Credit Suisse‘s Ben Chaiken to boost his 2021 revenue projection by $100 million, to $1.1 billion, in part “reflecting strength in new states such as Michigan.” Wall Street anticipated $239 million … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Arizona, Barstool Sports, Baseball, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Derek Stevens, Diversity, DraftKings, FanDuel, Golden Gaming, Illinois, Internet gambling, Iowa, Marketing, Maryland, Michigan, Nevada, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, Tribal, Virginia, Wall Street, William Hill, Wynn Resorts, Wyoming | 1 Comment

Las Vegas rates rebound; Kentucky Derby brings out crowds

In another sign of a faster-than-expected Las Vegas comeback, room rates on the Strip for the May 23-29 period are reported to be flat with 2019. Midweek numbers are mildly down (-17%) but counterbalanced by higher weekend rates (+18%) than … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, China, CityCenter, Conventions, Crown Resorts, Dining, Dubai, Economy, Entertainment, Genting, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock Hotel, Health, Horseracing, Illinois, International, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Palms, Pennsylvania, Plaza, Real Estate, Regulation, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, Tennessee, The Strip, Tribal, Virginia, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

MGM “roaring back”; LV recovery accelerates

That’s what Credit Suisse analyst Ben Chaiken had to say about MGM Resorts International, citing strength in regional casinos, Las Vegas and sports betting (in that order). First-quarter cash flow exceeded 2019 levels, aided in part by “strong demand reaching … Continue reading

Posted in BetMGM, Charity, Colorado, Conventions, Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Health, history, Macau, Marijuana, Marketing, Maryland, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Movies, Nevada, Resorts World LV, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | 2 Comments

MGM hits paydirt; Palms sold?; Atlantic City underwhelms

Remember the Harmon Hotel? That Sir Norman Foster-designed tower that had to be amputated at half the intended height in 2008 because of incompetent construction? The only Las Vegas resort ever to be dismantled without having hosted a single guest? … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Card rooms, Carl Icahn, Charity, Churchill Downs, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, CQ Holdings, Detroit, Dining, Diversity, DraftKings, Entertainment, Florida, Full House Resorts, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, Louisiana, LVCVA, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Nevada, Ocean Resort, Palms, Penn National, Real Estate, Resort fees, Rush Street Gaming, Seminole Tribe, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Washington State | 1 Comment

Michigan sports betting, i-gaming surge; AGA chases renegade slots

Say what you like about Michigan, it’s giving New Jersey and Pennsylvania a literal run for their money in Internet gambling. Win/day is just over $3 million, close behind the Keystone State’s $3.15 million and challenging the Garden State’s $3.65 … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Arizona, Atlantic City, Barstool Sports, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Dining, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Florida, FoxBet, Hawaii, Health, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Kansas, Las Vegas Sands, Lotteries, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Problem gambling, Regulation, Reno, Resorts World LV, Rhode Island, Rush Street Gaming, Slot routes, South Dakota, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Atlantic City disappoints, Internet gambling doesn’t

We’re going to have revise our prediction that Atlantic City would recover from Covid-19 faster than Las Vegas. Not at the rate things are going. March casino win was down 17% from 2019, coming in at $185 million. The Caesars … Continue reading

Posted in Alabama, Arizona, Atlantic City, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, China, DraftKings, FanDuel, Florida, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, Internet gambling, Lotteries, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, New York, Ocean Resort, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Politics, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Missouri booms; Trop sale a steal of a deal

After a hiccup in Indiana, gaming revenues continued to march (pun unintended) upward from 2019 levels, which were pretty darn robust. Missouri gained 6% for a gross of $176.5 million, “one of the best months ever” according to JP Morgan … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Century Casinos, DraftKings, FanDuel, GLPI, Health, Iowa, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Penn National, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, William Hill, Wisconsin | 3 Comments