Category Archives: The Strip

Caesars, MGM: Recovery slow but promising

Caesars Entertainment CEO Tom Reeg sat down with JP Morgan analysts to discuss the state of the Roman Empire. In a sentence, better than you might expect. On the Las Vegas Strip “weekend demand has been strong, but weekday demand … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, China, Conventions, DraftKings, FanDuel, Florida, history, Horseracing, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Raiders, Louisiana, Macau, MGM Resorts International, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sports, Sports betting, The Crown 18, The Strip, TV, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Park MGM reopens early; Power play at Scientific

MGM Resorts International had mooted as late as an end-of-the-year target for resuming business at Park MGM. However, the date has been advanced to Sept. 30 and, yes, Park MGM will be smoke-free. In a subplot, Four Seasons reopens five … Continue reading

Posted in Aristocrat, Caesars Entertainment, Las Vegas Sands, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Scientific Games, The Strip, TV, Wall Street, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Derby Day a dud; Bank cools on Resorts World LV

Seems that Churchill Downs was blowing smoke up Wall Street‘s keister about how well a delayed, spectator-less Kentucky Derby would perform. Last weekend’s Run for the Roses saw betting handle of $79.5 million, down 49% from last year. All races … Continue reading

Posted in Churchill Downs, Dining, Donald Trump, DraftKings, Economy, Election, FanDuel, G2E, Genting, Hard Rock International, Health, Horseracing, Kentucky, Las Vegas Raiders, LVCVA, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New York, Penn National, Rush Street Gaming, Security, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, The Rio, The Strip, Tourism, TV, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Usher to play the Strip and other doings at Caesars

What does Tom Reeg know that the rest of us don’t? In the first big contract signing since the Covid-19 pandemic (still playing an extended engagement in Las Vegas) hit, Caesars Entertainment has inked a deal with Usher to play … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Dining, Entertainment, Genting, Health, Louisiana, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, New York, Real Estate, Taxes, The Strip, Transportation, Uncategorized, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Culinary, Caesars, MGM make peace; IGT does a Kerouac

Instead of butting heads in court, the Culinary Union, Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts International put their noggins together, and came up with a set of worker-safety protocols to implemented on a company-wide basis. That still leaves a lot of … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Culinary Union, Golden Nugget, Health, IGT, Louisiana, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Movies, Penn National, The Strip, Transportation, TV | 1 Comment

Dark portent for MGM Springfield; Chicago courts casinos

A thousand MGM Springfield employees have been canned, effective today. A skeleton crew of 800 keeps the casino-resort open, as it writhes in pandemic economic throes. Reports the Boston Globe, “State rules to prevent the spread of the coronavirus have … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Cantor Gaming, Cosmopolitan, Derek Stevens, Dining, Donald Trump, Downtown Grand, Economy, Golden Gaming, Health, Illinois, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Sands, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Regulation, Reno, Sahara, Silverton, Slot routes, Station Casinos, Taxes, Terry Caudill, The Strip, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Bad news and more bad news

Strip gaming revenue, ‘meh’ though it was, actually looks good in the context of Las Vegas visitation in July, which plummeted 61%. There hasn’t been a convention since April, which certainly hurts. Air travel was horrible, down 64%, while drive-in … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Dining, Downtown, e-sports, Economy, Failsinos, Hard Rock International, MGM Resorts International, Oklahoma, Penn National, Politics, Sports betting, Steven Witkoff, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, TV | 2 Comments

Sheldon: “No money for you!”; Newton manse for sale (again)

So the leopard really can’t change its spots. According to court documents, liens have been filed against the MSG Sphere at Venelazzo. The $1.65 billion project is being sued over $3 million in supposedly unpaid bills. Reported the Las Vegas … Continue reading

Posted in Colorado, Dining, Diversity, Health, Lucky Dragon, LVCVA, Massachusetts, Real Estate, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Tamares Group, The Strip, Transportation, Wayne F. Newton, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Locals salvage Nevada results; Prez betting odds tighten

July revenue numbers are in for Nevada (-26% statewide) and the Strip is expectedly poor, down 39% ($330 million) and locals play is unexpectedly strong, off only 8% from last year. The statewide gross was $757 million and locals slot … Continue reading

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Conventions, Downtown, Economy, Election, Health, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Mesquite, Pennsylvania, Reno, Security, Station Casinos, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street, Wendover | Comments Off on Locals salvage Nevada results; Prez betting odds tighten

Fear and loathing at the Cosmo

Once again The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is being portrayed as the bad boy of Las Vegas Strip resorts when it comes to taking Covid-19 seriously. A headline in today’s Daily Beast reads, “Maskless gamblers. Verbal abuse. Infected colleagues. Workers … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Caesars Entertainment, Cosmopolitan, Culinary Union, Derek Stevens, Dining, Health, Las Vegas Sands, Politics, Regulation, The Strip, Virgin Hotels, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Mega-Jottings for a Monday

Churchill Downs got its second-worst-case scenario for the Kentucky Derby: The September 5 race will have to be held without spectators, a major economic blow to the Louisville area. At least the race will be run and undoubtedly garner much … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Churchill Downs, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, GLPI, Health, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Louisiana, Macau, MGM Resorts International, New Mexico, Penn National, Reno, Sigma Derby, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Virgin Hotels | 1 Comment

MGM rushes where Caesars fears to tread; Cullotta croaks

“By the end of the year” is MGM Resorts International‘s new timeline for reopening Park MGM. Archrival Caesars Entertainment is proceeding somewhat more circumspectly with its casino reopenings. “Caesars will open its remaining Las Vegas properties in line with customer … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, China, Cirque du Soleil, Culinary Union, Dining, Donald Trump, Macau, Marketing, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Movies, North Las Vegas, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on MGM rushes where Caesars fears to tread; Cullotta croaks

Covid tourism at Bally’s; College football conundrum

When Bally’s Las Vegas announced that the Real Bodies exhibit would be adding “Covid-19 Content” we admittedly feared the worst: corpses of Coronavirus victims on display. While cashing in on Covid-19 is in questionable taste, Real Bodies seems to be … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, China, Dining, Diversity, Economy, Election, FanDuel, Health, Las Vegas Raiders, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Regulation, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Transportation, Westgate LV, William Hill | 3 Comments

Miller dares Adelson; Room rates reel

Late last week American Gaming Association President Bill Miller did something radical about Internet gambling. He discussed it. On a conference call. With reporters. Unprompted. You have to understand that ‘Net betting has been a no-fly zone for the AGA … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Caesars Entertainment, Card rooms, Economy, Geoff Freeman, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Maverick Gaming, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Rush Street Gaming, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street, Washington State, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Miller dares Adelson; Room rates reel

The big enchilada

“The Biggest Gaming Opportunity Since Riverboats in the Early ’90s.” That’s how JP Morgan gaming analyst Joseph Greff, a man not given to hype, characterized i-gaming and sports betting today. He described them as “as an emerging and exciting area … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Colorado, Cosmopolitan, DraftKings, FanDuel, Golden Nugget, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, MTR Gaming, Palms, Penn National, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Silverton, Sports betting, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street, William Hill | 2 Comments

Atlantic City impresses in July

It reopened in somewhat raggle-taggle fashion but Atlantic City is back and did rather better in July than Las Vegas in June (the last month for which we have data, see video below). Borgata made a very delayed re-entry into … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Economy, Entertainment, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Virginia | 2 Comments

Pinching pennies at Caesars; Glitters at Golden

Anthony Rodio‘s multi-million-dollar revamp of Bacchanal Buffet may well have been for naught. On yesterday’s earnings call the Tom Reeg administration floated the idea of closing all buffets at Caesars Entertainment properties. Expect comps to be sweated until they bleed … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Caesars Entertainment, Colorado, Dining, Donald Trump, Economy, Election, Florida, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Health, International, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Marketing, Mississippi, Nevada, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Seminole Tribe, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Maryland rebounds; Penn wows Wall Street; Trump to play Lucky Dragon

In a near-miraculous development, Maryland gambling revenues were only 6% off the pace last month. Between cabin fever and the belated delivery of those $1,200 stimulus checks, we’re not entirely surprised that Free State punters had both the desire and … Continue reading

Posted in Alabama, Arizona, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Donald Trump, Election, Florida, Georgia, Golden Gaming, Health, Internet gambling, Lotteries, Lucky Dragon, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Sports, Sports betting, Texas, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, TV, Wall Street, West Virginia | 2 Comments

New hope for Station; Raider Nation exiled

Station Casinos reported second-quarter results yesterday and JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff came away “encouraged” and “impressed.” He wrote of “less bad results in April and May and much better positive [cash flow] generation in June.” How so? In its … Continue reading

Posted in China, Economy, FanDuel, Golden Gaming, Health, IGT, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Politics, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Terry Caudill, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Cuomo stiff-arms casinos; MGM’s blame game

Tioga Downs owner Jeff Gural was able to get some face time with Global Gaming Business … which is more than he’s been able to do with New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), much to Gural’s chagrin. He’s chafing … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Economy, Full House Resorts, Genting, Health, Illinois, Indiana, International, Kentucky, Las Vegas Sands, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, New York, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Cuomo stiff-arms casinos; MGM’s blame game