Category Archives: Technology

Midwest: Casinos, interrupted

For some arcane reason, Illinois has not reported casino revenue for March. But we have a couple of neighboring states’ data and can conclude with reasonable certainty that it tracks with the Land of Lincoln. After a March 17 closure … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, DraftKings, Economy, Elaine Wynn, Eldorado Resorts, Galaxy Entertainment, Internet gambling, Iowa, Macau, Missouri, Movies, Oregon, Pansy Ho, Penn National, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Technology | 1 Comment

Culinary issues demands; Outlasting Coronavirus

In a Thursday media event, the Culinary Union called for casinos to continue paying their inactivated employees for as long as the Coronavirus crisis lasts. Said Unite-Here President D. Taylor, “The industry, obviously, is a very profitable industry. We don’t understand their … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Architecture, California, Culinary Union, Donald Trump, Economy, Galaxy Entertainment, Health, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Marketing, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Regulation, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Technology, Tribal, Unite-Here, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Culinary issues demands; Outlasting Coronavirus

Las Vegas: What next and when?

While everyone from Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman up to the highest ranks of the federal government trying to rush people back to work, we’re forced to consider what Sin City will look like after the Coronavirus pandemic … and when … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Dining, Economy, Health, Lotteries, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Resort fees, Sports, Station Casinos, Steven Witkoff, Technology, The Strip | 3 Comments

Boyd sacks workforce; Political wagering in West Virginia

Job cuts continue at Las Vegas casinos. Boyd Gaming employees are out of jobs starting tomorrow, although health benefits will continue through June 30. For a company that’s sitting on as much cash as Boyd, that’s a strange move. Boyd’s … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Charity, Cirque du Soleil, Cosmopolitan, DraftKings, Election, FanDuel, Health, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, The Rio, Tourism, Tribal, TV, Wall Street, West Virginia, World Series of Poker | Comments Off on Boyd sacks workforce; Political wagering in West Virginia

No recovery in Macao

Despite the lifting of a government quarantine, casino revenues in Macao did not bounce back last month, down 80% to $664 million. That’s worse than forecast (70%). Tourism restrictions prompted by a second boomlet of Covid-19 in Macao didn’t help. … Continue reading

Posted in China, Economy, Health, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, PokerStars, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Technology, Tourism | Comments Off on No recovery in Macao

MGM: Just say no; NBA to Vegas?

Setting an admirable example, MGM Resorts International will be abstaining from any CARES Act bailout money. It will avail itself of the loan guarantees being extended by the federal government. As the company itself says, it needn’t play poor, not … Continue reading

Posted in Cordish Co., Economy, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip | 2 Comments

Hiccup at Resorts World LV; Coping with a crisis

In case you’ve been wondering, yes, construction is continuing at Resorts World Las Vegas. There will be a partial abatement after a worker tested positive for Coronavirus. As a consequence, work on an unspecified part of the metaresort will be … Continue reading

Posted in Economy, Health, International, Resorts World LV, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Vermont | Comments Off on Hiccup at Resorts World LV; Coping with a crisis

Notes in the time of Coronavirus

Saying her city “cannot survive” a month-long shutdown, Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman (D) wants Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) to drastically reduce his 30-day casino closure. We admire Goodman normally but think she’s out of her depth here or, as … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Caesars Entertainment, Conventions, Cretins, Economy, Election, Genting, Horseracing, International, Las Vegas Raiders, Nevada, New York, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Washington State | Comments Off on Notes in the time of Coronavirus

Butler rips Lamont; Tribe supplicates Trump

Sports betting could die in Connecticut, thanks to a stalemate between Gov. Ned Lamont (D, pictured) and the state’s gaming tribes. Speaking for the latter, Mashantucket Pequot Chairman Rodney Butler accused the governor of a “take-it-or-leave-it” negotiating stance. Butler and … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Connecticut, Donald Trump, DraftKings, FanDuel, Foxwoods, Genting, IGT, Illinois, International, Kentucky, Konami, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Lotteries, Louisiana, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, New York, Politics, Rhode Island, Sports betting, Technology, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

“If someone wants to hack a casino, it’s surprisingly just about how easily can you get into their networks. If you are inside their networks, and they don’t segregate their networks properly, you’ll be able to interact with all kinds … Continue reading

Posted in Technology, Terry Caudill | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Caudill casinos recovering; Slick Rick strikes again

It now appears that Terry Caudill‘s two casinos were the victim of a “ransomware” hack that crippled the slot floor, among other debilities. It wrecked last weekend’s business and “scattered outages” were still seen as of Monday. The Nevada Gaming … Continue reading

Posted in Churchill Downs, Downtown, Economy, Health, Illinois, International, Japan, Maverick Gaming, Nevada, Oregon, Penn National, Regulation, Slot routes, Sports betting, Technology, Terry Caudill, Tribal, Washington State | 1 Comment

Ghost in the (slot) machine; The “evil genius” of resort fees

Electrical troubles are bedeviling Downtown casinos. All the slot machines at the Four Queens and Binion’s Gambling Hall were idled by a mechanical snafu last week. Table games remained operational, as did selected video-poker machines. Terry Caudill clammed up when … Continue reading

Posted in Conventions, Crown Resorts, Derek Stevens, Downtown, IGT, International, Law enforcement, Macau, Massachusetts, Maverick Gaming, Regulation, Resort fees, Technology, Terry Caudill, Virgin Hotels, Washington State, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Bennett returns, Aguilera leaves, Adelsons idolized

The Las Vegas Strip will be blessed for three nights in August, as Tony Bennett returns to The Venetian. He’ll play the 12th, 14th and 15th, with an assist from Antonia Bennett. Tickets start at $50, with a portion of … Continue reading

Posted in Aristocrat, Boyd Gaming, CityCenter, Entertainment, Florida, Health, history, IGT, Indiana, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, Maine, Marijuana, MGM Resorts International, Oregon, Planet Hollywood, Problem gambling, Scientific Games, Scott Butera, Sheldon Adelson, Shuffle Master, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Wisconsin | 1 Comment

Big January for the Strip; Mega-jottings

January was very good for the Las Vegas Strip, up 7.5% to $572 million. Baccarat played a big role, with winnings up 16% on 24% greater wagering. (In fairness, January 2019 was terrible for baccarat.) Other table games didn’t do … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Boulder Strip, Caesars Entertainment, China, Conventions, Downtown, Downtown Grand, Eldorado Resorts, Health, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, North Las Vegas, Philippines, PokerStars, Regulation, Reno, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Wendover | 2 Comments

Wind of change; Packer “like a car crash”

There’s change in the breeze at Wind Creek Bethlehem. Former general manager Brian Carr “is leaving the organization,” replaced by Kathy McCracken, a longtime veteran of the property, which has underperformed since the Poarch Bank of Creek Indians took ownership. Not coincidentally, … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Crown Resorts, James Packer, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Money laundering, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Stanley Ho, Technology, The Mob, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Saturation hits Connecticut; Culinary waffles on Sanders

So much for Tribal Winds, the satellite casino that was going to counteract MGM Springfield. Its backers are cutting the proposed $300 million investment by one-third. On the plus side, this could be read as a way of saying the … Continue reading

Posted in China, Colorado, Connecticut, Culinary Union, Donald Trump, DraftKings, Economy, Election, Environment, Foxwoods, Harry Reid, Health, history, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Technology | Comments Off on Saturation hits Connecticut; Culinary waffles on Sanders

Odds favor Bloomberg; Hilton returns to Vegas

As Saturday’s Nevada caucus nears, South Point oddsmaker Jimmy Vaccaro is boldly going where none of his colleagues have gone before, posting presidential odds. We’ll break them down by category. Vaccaro has Sen. Bernie Sanders (I), as expected, winning Nevada … Continue reading

Posted in Baseball, China, Connecticut, Cretins, Culinary Union, Election, International, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mattress Mack, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New Hampshire, Politics, Resorts World LV, Sahara, Scientific Games, Sports betting, Taxes, Technology, The Strip | 1 Comment

Mutiny at MGM?; The art of the presidential deal

Global Gaming Business sources say MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren “was forced out by activist investors who had gathered enough support from institutional investors for his ouster.” The reason is not clear, as Murren had been doing everything possible … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Donald Trump, Galaxy Entertainment, Genting, Hard Rock International, Health, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Regulation, Resort fees, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, TV, Virginia, Wall Street, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Culinary defeats itself; Red scare in a blue state

By failing to coalesce behind a rival candidate, the Culinary Union may have gift-wrapped Nevada for Sen. Bernie Sanders [I]. According to the Boston Globe, which noted lingering tensions between Sanders and the Culinary, a recent poll “found Sanders the … Continue reading

Posted in China, Culinary Union, Election, Harry Reid, Marijuana, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Technology, Wall Street | Comments Off on Culinary defeats itself; Red scare in a blue state

Election special

Such is the Culinary Union‘s clout that Nevada Sen. Jacky Rosen (D, left), Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D) and Rep. Susie Lee (D) will also be casting their caucus ballots at Culinary-sponsored events, staggered across today through Tuesday. On Wednesday, … Continue reading

Posted in China, Culinary Union, Election, Health, history, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Macau, Massachusetts, Maverick Gaming, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Palms, Politics, Regulation, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Technology, The Strip, Washington State, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment