Category Archives: Station Casinos

Atlantic City plays catch-up; Pennsylvania, Michigan flex online muscles

Casinos in Atlantic City are having trouble catching a wave from the Great Reopening. Last month’s brick-and-mortar revenues were $214.5 million, 9% down from 2019. Slot win ($154 million) was 8% lower on 11% less coin-in and luck wasn’t with … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Cordish Co., Culinary Union, Derek Stevens, Dining, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, FoxBet, Golden Nugget, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Health, Internet gambling, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street, Westgate LV, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Strip returns to form; Caesars nixes buffets, free play

Last month Nevada raced ahead of 2019 gambling-revenue benchmarks, up 11% to just over $1 billion. Locals-derived winnings ($245 million) jumped 18%, despite operating at 80% capacity. (Locals casinos saw 15% higher slot win 18% greater handle and 35.5% more … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Boulder Strip, Caesars Entertainment, Connecticut, Crown Resorts, DFS, Dining, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Election, Foxwoods, G2E, Health, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Mesquite, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Regulation, Reno, Sports betting, Stanley Ho, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wendover | 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

Welcome to Less Vegas, Part Two

If Sin City wasn’t chastened by the Coronavirus pandemic, it has certainly been cheapened by it. And not in a good way. Returning customers can expect to pay more for a diminished experience. Case in point, Caesars Entertainment. Not content … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, Cordish Co., Crown Resorts, Dining, Diversity, Don Barden, Entertainment, Japan, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Peninsula Pacific, Resort fees, Station Casinos, The Strip, Virginia, Wayne F. Newton, William Hill | 1 Comment

Station: No more buffets, less free play; Covid? What Covid?

Said JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff “not to worry, money losing buffets are not coming back” to Station Casinos. We can take this as gospel, since he got it from CEO Frank Fertitta III, Vice Chairman Lorenzo Fertitta and CFO … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, California, Colorado, Crown Resorts, Dining, DraftKings, Drugs, Economy, Entertainment, FanDuel, Health, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Lotteries, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Palms, Penn National, Real Estate, Regulation, Reno, Silverton, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, Tribal | 3 Comments

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

Hail Caesars; Durango Station green-lit

“Solid … very encouraging … impressive momentum.” Those were some of the things JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff had to say about Caesars Entertainment‘s 1Q21 numbers. Cash flow of $548 million well exceed Greff’s expected $429 million, to say nothing … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Caesars Entertainment, Card rooms, Conventions, Cosmopolitan, Derek Stevens, Entertainment, Florida, Health, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Michael Gaughan, New York, Politics, Reno, Seminole Tribe, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Hail Caesars; Durango Station green-lit

Palms brings $650 million; Murphy flirts with smoking ban

Earlier today, Station Casinos finally confirmed the worst-kept secret in town. It has sold the Palms Casino Resort to a subsidiary of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians in an all-cash, $650 million transaction. Thus closes a fairly disastrous … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Churchill Downs, Colorado, Cordish Co., Culinary Union, Dining, DraftKings, Golden Nugget, Health, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Raiders, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, Palms, Penn National, Real Estate, Station Casinos, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Palms brings $650 million; Murphy flirts with smoking ban

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 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

“In a word, messy”

That’s how JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff described the online sports-betting bill enacted by the New York State Lege. The latter essentially caved to Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), giving control of OSB to the state lottery. Instead of the one-operator … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Detroit, DraftKings, Environment, Genting, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ocean Resort, Palms, Politics, Real Estate, Regulation, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on “In a word, messy”

Caesars looking good; Amtrak covets Vegas; Bally’s underwhelms

Joseph Greff and his fellow JP Morgan analysts looked at recent trends in Las Vegas and any place not named Atlantic City, and liked what they saw, raising their price target on the stock five bucks to $101/share. Positive factors … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, California, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Economy, Golden Nugget, Harry Reid, Health, Indiana, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Nevada, Oklahoma, Regulation, Reno, Station Casinos, Technology, Texas, The Rio, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street, William Hill, World Series of Poker, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Wall Street meets Las Vegas, Part II

Station Casinos dispatched Executive Vice President Rodney Atamian to meet with JP Morgan analysts last week. According to Joseph Greff, he reported, “solid/improving visitation and spend per visit trends.” A possible increase in Nevada casino-capacity limits to 50% should propel … Continue reading

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Downtown, Economy, FanDuel, Golden Gaming, Hawaii, Health, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New Jersey, Palms, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Slot routes, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Vegas’ Dream is TSA’s nightmare; MGM disses Chicago

Part Two of our survey of analyst reports on Vegas-based casino companies will have to wait a day, given a bevy of breaking news. First up, a major setback for the planned Dream Las Vegas on the south Strip. Airlines … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Arizona, Atlantic City, Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Cosmopolitan, Cretins, Dining, Diversity, Economy, Entertainment, Failsinos, Full House Resorts, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Indiana, Las Vegas Sands, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Michael Gaughan, New York, Penn National, Rush Street Gaming, Security, Spectacle Entertainment, Station Casinos, Texas, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

New Yorkers want more casinos; More death on the Strip

While the last round of casino expansion in New York State was no better than a succes d’estime, Empire Station residents are still behind a planned 2023 enlargement that would bring three new resorts. Given the choice of casinos, higher … Continue reading

Posted in California, DFS, DraftKings, Genting, Georgia, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Politics, Racinos, Scientific Games, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, Technology, Tennessee, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Unite-Here, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on New Yorkers want more casinos; More death on the Strip

BetMGM saves company’s bacon; Whither the Palms?

Seesawing between the effects of closures and capacity restrictions, Detroit casinos were down 28% last month. They grossed $87 million, led by MGM Grand Detroit with $34 million (-32%). Breathing down MGM’s neck is MotorCity‘s $33 million haul (-21%), while … Continue reading

Posted in California, Card rooms, Colorado, Conventions, Cordish Co., Detroit, Dining, Economy, Health, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Palms, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tennessee, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Station sitting pretty; Missouri booms; All bets off at MGM

Despite fourth quarter revenues that were 28% off the pace ($122 million) in Las Vegas, analysts on Wall Street are liking Station Casinos these days. Native American management fees in 4Q20 were up 21% ($25.5 million) for one thing. JP … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Cretins, Dining, Economy, Harry Reid, history, Law enforcement, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Penn National, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Transportation, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Gaming stocks rejiggered; Smoke blown at AGA

No, we don’t mean the Reddit/GameStop scandal, which has everyone from Sen. Ted Cruz (R) to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D) up in arms. Instead, we’re looking at a downgrade of revenue estimates for a slew of projections by JP Morgan … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., DraftKings, Economy, Florida, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Health, Horseracing, Illinois, Internet gambling, Marijuana, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New Jersey, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Scientific Games, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tribal, Wall Street, William Hill | 1 Comment

Chilly in Atlantic City, deep freeze in Detroit; Siegfried, R.I.P.

Casino revenues in Atlantic City plunged 29% last month. “Results for the month reflect the negative impact of higher new COVID-19 cases in recent weeks, capacity limits and restrictions on F&B offerings, similar to other regional markets,” writes JP Morgan … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, Caesars Entertainment, Centaur Gaming, Derek Stevens, Detroit, Dining, Donald Trump, DraftKings, Entertainment, FanDuel, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Politics, Regulation, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, Unite-Here, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Circa debut boosts Downtown; Lots of moving, shaking predicted for ’21

Although casinos across the nation have been swooning in November, results in Nevada—which we feared would take it worse than average—were in line with national trends, a victory of sorts. Statewide, gaming win fell 18% and the Las Vegas Strip, … Continue reading

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Cirque du Soleil, Derek Stevens, Dotty's, Downtown, Economy, Failsinos, Fontainebleau, GLPI, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Sands, Laughlin, Mesquite, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Palms, Planet Hollywood, Regulation, Reno, Resorts World LV, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Rio, The Strip, Virgin Hotels, Wendover, William Hill | 2 Comments