Category Archives: The Strip

Cosmopolitan drinks its own bathwater

Late yesterday Bloomberg broke the news that Blackstone Inc. is shopping The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas … for a $5 billion minimum price. What’s even more incredible is that apparently it has suckers, er, corporations already on the hook. Why … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, DraftKings, Golden Nugget, Indiana, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Penn National, Politics, Real Estate, Resorts World LV, Slot routes, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal | 2 Comments

Super-spreader event at Caesars nixed; Mega-jottings

Caesars Entertainment must have decided it was poor optics to be hosting a convention of anti-vaxxers at brand-new Caesars Forum as Coronavirus cases spike. Or maybe it blanched at the potential deep-cleaning costs after the event. Either way, QAnon-espousing “Patriot … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Architecture, Arizona, Arkansas, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Canada, Charity, Cirque du Soleil, Conventions, Cordish Co., Cosmopolitan, Dining, DraftKings, Entertainment, FanDuel, Foxwoods, Golden Nugget, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Health, Horseracing, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Raiders, M Resort, Marijuana, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, North Carolina, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Sahara, South Dakota, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Virginia, Wynn Resorts, Wyoming | 2 Comments

Ida hits coastal casinos; Case Bets

Gulf Coast casinos are currently weathering Hurricane Ida and can be optimistic—at least in Mississippi—that it will not be a replay of Hurricane Katrina, now that all the coastal casinos are onshore. However, garages are flooding and casino doors are … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Bally, BetMGM, Churchill Downs, Crown Resorts, DraftKings, FanDuel, Genting, Golden Nugget, James Packer, Japan, Melco Crown Entertainment, Mississippi, Ocean Resort, Oregon, Penn National, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Westgate LV, William Hill, Wisconsin, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Strip sets all-time record

Could last month’s Las Vegas Strip revenues really have been 46.5% higher than in July 2019? That’s what Wall Street analysts are telling us (Deutsche Bank‘s Carlo Santarelli says he only anticipated +5%) and there’s no reason to doubt them. … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Barstool Sports, Baseball, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, DFS, Downtown, FanDuel, Health, Japan, Laughlin, Michigan, Mississippi, North Las Vegas, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Reno, Sports, Sports betting, Tennessee, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Unite-Here, Wall Street | 1 Comment

CC by KK at XV

By Jeff Leatherock, guest contributor CityCenter, the last and largest Las Vegas project by Las Vegas’ largest builder nears 15 years old. The concept probably started before 2006 and completion was a few years later. So, claiming 15 kinda fits … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, history, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Sports, The Strip, Westgate LV | 2 Comments

Atlantic City catches up; MGM confronts Covid; AAA salutes Circa

It took a while but the Boardwalk is finally even with 2019 numbers. July saw a gambling gross of $277 million, flat with two years ago. Slot win was up 6% on 2% more coin-in but tables declined 14% on … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, California, Derek Stevens, Dining, Downtown, DraftKings, FanDuel, FoxBet, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Resort fees, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, The Strip, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 5 Comments

Illinois springs to life while Ohio erupts; Mohegan Sun jilted twice over

Stop the presses! Illinois casinos actually outperformed 2019 last month by 4%. That’s downright miraculous. They grossed $120 million, led by Rivers Casino Des Plaines‘ $47.5 million, a 28% vault. Harrah’s Joliet was a distant second with $14.5 million (-1%), … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Arizona, Arkansas, Bally, BetMGM, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Century Casinos, Churchill Downs, DraftKings, G2E, Genting, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Internet gambling, Jack Entertainment, Japan, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, The Rio, The Strip, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 4 Comments

Florida compact sneaks into effect; DraftKings buys out Fertitta

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland has jumped the shark. Her department has wisely-washily neither confirmed nor denied the controversial Seminole Tribe compact with the state of Florida, one that gives the Seminoles control over sports betting in the state. … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, BetMGM, California, Culinary Union, DraftKings, FanDuel, Florida, Golden Nugget, Health, Internet gambling, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Texas, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Wynn “strong” this summer; MGM returning to form

Wynn Resorts released 2Q21 results yesterday and JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff called them “strong” in both Las Vegas and Boston. In Macao, eh, not so much. He began by saying “results by region unsurprisingly reflect differences in vaccination rates … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Cordish Co., Entertainment, Golden Nugget, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Monster monopoly on the Strip?; Caesars wows Wall Street

In a deal that Nevada regulators would block if they had an ounce of spine, MGM Growth Properties proposes to sell itself to Vici Properties, which would put nearly all the prime land on the Las Vegas Strip under one … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Cirque du Soleil, CityCenter, Conventions, Dining, Illinois, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Nebraska, Politics, Real Estate, Regulation, Sports betting, Tennessee, The Rio, The Strip, Vici Properties, Wall Street, William Hill | 1 Comment

MGM does the right thing; Killer chipmunks in Lake Tahoe

In a very george move, MGM Resorts International is donating two acres of Strip land to be the site of a memorial to the victims of the Mandalay Bay Massacre. The acreage, at the corner of Reno Avenue and Giles … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Bally, Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Crown Resorts, Dining, Economy, GLPI, Health, Iowa, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Resorts International, Minnesota, North Carolina, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Virginia, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Masks back on, Las Vegas!; All’s right with the REITs

Mincing few words, MGM Resorts International CEO Bill Hornbuckle sent a letter to all employees, urging them to quit dithering and get their Covid-19 vaccinations, if they haven’t already. He pleaded, “In addition to the heart-wrenching thought of more illness … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, BetMGM, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Churchill Downs, Conventions, Delaware, Derek Stevens, Dining, Economy, GLPI, Health, history, Indiana, Kentucky, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Sands, Laughlin, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Real Estate, Resorts World LV, Singapore, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Station hits records, drops hints; Strip suffers mild setback

Station Casinos announced 2Q21 earnings yesterday and “blows through” previous peaks, according to Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli. Despite expiration of the management contract at Graton Rancheria, Station recorded record levels of net revenue ($426.5 million) and cash flow ($210 … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, Las Vegas Raiders, M Resort, MGM Resorts International, Ocean Resort, Palms, Reno, Sports, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Caesars massacres table games, renames Superdome; Bally’s boffo

At the risk of flogging a deceased equine, the emperor at Caesars Entertainment has yet again showed himself to be without clothes. The latest Eldorado-ization of the Roman Empire is the wholesale slaughter of table games along the Las Vegas … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, Crown Resorts, Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Fontainebleau, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Jack Entertainment, Louisiana, Macau, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Taxes, The Strip, Virginia, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 5 Comments

Real estate frenzy on the Strip; Barrack busted; Masks redux

Setting foot inside Aztec Inn Casino is not for the faint of heart. But its owners think they’re sitting on a gold mine. It and a gaggle of properties that includes Golden Skull Tattoo and Diversity Tattoo is on the … Continue reading

Posted in BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, California, Colony Capital, Donald Trump, DraftKings, Fontainebleau, Health, International, Law enforcement, MGM Resorts International, Phil Ruffin, PointsBet, Real Estate, Reno, Sports, Sports betting, Steven Witkoff, The Strip, Tribal | 1 Comment

Las Vegas flirting with disaster; Pennsylvania sickly

With the exception of brave outliers Las Vegas Sands and Westgate Las Vegas, most casinos in Sin City are reacting to the resurgence of Covid-19 by doing … nothing. There’s a ‘been there, done that‘ attitude toward crisis-period measures like … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Bally, Barstool Sports, Baseball, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, FoxBet, Genting, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Health, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Singapore, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Westgate LV | 3 Comments

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

Nevada conventions healthy, Nevadans not so much

Tourism to Las Vegas in May was 12% higher than April and June should continue the climb, even if long-awaited World of Concrete was a flop (one-sixth of the expected attendance). Next up was the Nightclub & Bar Show, which … Continue reading

Posted in China, Conventions, Dining, Donald Trump, Health, history, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, New York, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Reno, Seminole Tribe, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wisconsin, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

CityCenter sale applauded; DraftKings sued twice over

Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli took a gander at the terms of MGM Resorts International‘s purchase/re-sale of Aria and Vdara, and liked what he saw. He reaffirmed his “buy” rating on MGM shares, with a price target of $54. He … Continue reading

Posted in BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, CityCenter, Cretins, DraftKings, Dubai, Election, FanDuel, Health, Iowa, LVCVA, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New Jersey, Peninsula Pacific, Penn National, Resorts World LV, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, The Strip, Virginia, Wall Street, William Hill | 1 Comment

Case Bets

Crown Resorts is in the soup again. Businessman and fugitive from justice Michael Gu allegedly used Crown Melbourne as a sieve through which to strain $8 million in Ponzi scheme money. “Authorities believe he conned clients by claiming he was … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Barstool Sports, Caesars Entertainment, China, Crown Resorts, DraftKings, FanDuel, Illinois, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Money laundering, Penn National, PointsBet, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment