Category Archives: The Strip

CityCenter sold

Today, MGM Resorts International bought the last remaining chunks—Aria and Vdara—of CityCenter from erstwhile Dubai World. They’ll only make a brief stopover in the lion’s den before being flipped to Blackstone Group. Since we’re covering the story for CDC Gaming … Continue reading

Posted in CityCenter, Current, Dubai, MGM Resorts International, The Strip | 1 Comment

Merry month of May in Las Vegas; Beehive of activity in Atlantic City

May’s gaming revenues from Nevada are in and they are blockbuster. When the Strip is 26% higher than 2019 (winning $655.5 million) and locals play is 25% stronger it is fair to say the recovery has been achieved—and far sooner … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Connecticut, Cretins, Diversity, Downtown, Economy, Health, history, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Marijuana, Mesquite, Michael Gaughan, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Reno, Sports betting, The Strip, Wendover | 4 Comments

Scientific Games goes on a diet; BetMGM stiffs player

This is a head-scratcher. Despite sports betting sweeping our great country, Scientific Games is opting out of the sports-wagering business. And the lottery biz, too, even though that remains a robust market segment. Reported JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff, “management … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, BetMGM, Churchill Downs, Cirque du Soleil, CQ Holdings, Dining, Environment, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Lotteries, Louisiana, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Rush Street Gaming, Scientific Games, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Scientific Games goes on a diet; BetMGM stiffs player

Florida gets tag-teamed; Penn upbeat on 2021; Vegas room rates soar

This is how it’s done. Or supposed to be done. DraftKings and FanDuel are teaming to back a petition drive to legalize sports betting in Florida. Aimed at the November 2022 election ballot, the resolution would dedicate tax revenues from … Continue reading

Posted in Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Colorado, Dining, DraftKings, Economy, Election, FanDuel, Hard Rock International, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Oklahoma, Peninsula Pacific, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Unlucky Lucy; Las Vegas “vibrant;” Secret plan for Atlantic City

No executives? No financing? No problem, right? Big problem! Just ask the nonentities behind a proposed Terre Haute casino. They just got turned down for a license. This almost never happens in “gold standard” Nevada, not because casino projects have … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Conventions, Cordish Co., Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Hard Rock International, Horseracing, Illinois, Indiana, Law enforcement, Macau, MGM Resorts International, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Politics, Real Estate, Regulation, Slot routes, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Spectacle Entertainment, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Virginia | 2 Comments

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

High on the Strip

Hard by Planet Hollywood there’s a strip mall where you can get some egg rolls at Panda Express, satisfy a Big Mac Attack at McDonalds … and buy pre-rolled joints at the little boutique above. Legalized marijuana hasn’t infiltrated casinos … Continue reading

Posted in Current, Marijuana, Planet Hollywood, The Strip | 3 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

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

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

Casinos collapse in Texas, advance elsewhere

All Sheldon Adelson‘s horses and all Sheldon Adelson’s men couldn’t put Texas megaresorts together. Or, as they said in Brooklyn (in a non-gaming context), wait ’til next year. Two separate bills to authorize everything from full-service casinos to poker rooms … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, Cordish Co., Dining, Donald Trump, Florida, Hard Rock International, Health, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, Politics, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Sheldon Adelson, Sports betting, Taxes, Texas, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Virginia | 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

Wynn gaining steam; Miami Beach casino juice job dismissed

First-quarter results for Wynn Resorts were worse than expected in Macao but better than anticipated in both Las Vegas and Boston, while the company posted a revenue chasm around Wynn Interactive. To shore up the latter, Wynn is merging it … Continue reading

Posted in Bally, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Century Casinos, Conventions, Donald Trump, DraftKings, FanDuel, Florida, Hard Rock International, Horseracing, Illinois, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, TV, Virginia, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Wynn gaining steam; Miami Beach casino juice job dismissed

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