Category Archives: The Strip

Caesars hailed; Macao’s future questioned

Posted on November 15, 2018 by David McKee

Credit Suisse analyst Cameron McKnight hosted three (!) days of investor meetings with Caesars Entertainment and came away giving the company a rave review. “Management’s tone was very good, and long-only interest was high … We think CZR’s business is … Continue reading →

Posted in Arkansas, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Horseracing, Japan, Kentucky, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, New Hampshire, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Wall Street | Comments Off on Caesars hailed; Macao’s future questioned

CG Technology in peril; Big first for New Mexico

Posted on November 14, 2018 by David McKee

GC Technology (formerly Cantor Gaming) hopes it can mollify the wrath of the Nevada Gaming Control Board with a $1.75 million settlement offer. CG is a repeat offender in the Silver State, which means that all options are on the table, … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Cantor Gaming, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Hard Rock Hotel, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, M Resort, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, New Mexico, Palms, Penn National, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on CG Technology in peril; Big first for New Mexico

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 12, 2018 by David McKee

“From April 2016 to today, we always struggled with Phase 2 of Paradise Park. How are we going to make a room tower in a town with a lot of rooms pencil along with a lagoon? We weren’t really interested in … Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Midwest doldrums; Turning a page at Wynn

Posted on November 9, 2018 by David McKee

Slot routes continue to bleed Illinois casinos, which were 1.5% down in October. Two properties withstood the decline. Eldorado Resorts seems to be already turning things around at Grand Victoria, which was up 2% ($13 million). Rivers Casino, coveted by … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Centaur Gaming, Churchill Downs, Dubai, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Entertainment, Florida, Full House Resorts, GLPI, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Macau, Majestic Star, Marketing, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Reno, Rush Street Gaming, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Midwest doldrums; Turning a page at Wynn

Steve Wynn makes out like a bandit; Smoke ’em while you’ve got ’em

Posted on November 9, 2018 by David McKee

Steve Wynn‘s liquidation of his stake in Wynn Resorts may have seemed like an act of petulance but — in light of subsequent movement in the stock market — it appears highly astute. Since El Steve’s big sale WYNN has … Continue reading →

Posted in Colorado, Dan Lee, Economy, Elaine Wynn, Entertainment, Full House Resorts, Georgia, Japan, Law enforcement, Macau, Marijuana, MGM Resorts International, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Wynn lagoon scrapped, company struggles with life after Steve

Posted on November 8, 2018 by David McKee

King Kong is out, Tom Fazio is in. To no one’s great surprise, Wynn Resorts has drained the swamp, er, canceled the Paradise Park lagoon, a colossal (38 acre) waste of water and act of insensitivity to Nevada‘s drought that … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Economy, Entertainment, Genting, Macau, Marketing, Palms, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on November 8, 2018 by David McKee

“It feels like Vegas has traded in audaciousness for prudence, boldness for pragmatism. Prudence and pragmatism might pay some bills, but they don’t exactly scream excitement.” — Scott Roeben, mourning the demise of Wynn Paradise Park.

Posted in Architecture, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Tribal gaming bigger than ever; Sessions out in D.C.

Posted on November 8, 2018 by David McKee

There’s been a round-robin at Seminole Gaming. The chair left vacant by Joe Lupo at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa will be filled by Seminole Casino Coconut Creek President Steve Bonner, a 16-year veteran of Coconut Creek. General Manager Larry Buck … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, Colorado, Economy, Florida, Las Vegas Sands, Marijuana, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, Oklahoma, Regulation, Scientific Games, Seminole Tribe, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal, Vermont, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Tribal gaming bigger than ever; Sessions out in D.C.

The merger of mergers?; Hooters up for grabs

Posted on November 5, 2018 by David McKee

This morning Credit Suisse analyst Cameron McKnight reported that MGM Resorts International is “possibly” looking into a buyout of Caesars Entertainment, news that is certain to have a salutary effect on the latter’s stock price. What should be of more … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Hooters, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Maryland, MGM Mirage, New Jersey, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Election update; Resorts World reaches for the sky

Posted on October 31, 2018 by David McKee

Driving Arkansas Forward, the initiative to legalize casino gambling at four Arkansas locations, looks like it will score a come-from-behind victory in less than a week. Early polling had it down, 41% to 48%, but it’s now turned the tide, … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Architecture, Arkansas, Election, Environment, Genting, Horseracing, International, Internet gambling, Nevada, Racinos, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off on Election update; Resorts World reaches for the sky

MGM: The lion meows; Nevada sets sports-betting record

Posted on October 31, 2018 by David McKee

“Good quarter against low expectations” pretty well summarizes Wall Street‘s reaction to MGM Resorts International‘s 3Q18. (And we have to say that MGM leadership did a masterly job of minimizing anticipation well ahead of time.) JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff admitted … Continue reading →

Posted in Economy, IGT, International, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Sports betting, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on MGM: The lion meows; Nevada sets sports-betting record

Strip tanks in September; Adelson vs. Buffett

Posted on October 30, 2018 by David McKee

If you want to know what it’s hard to get financing to develop on the Las Vegas Strip you could either A) ask Steven Witkoff or B) look at the latest, very blah numbers from September — $546 million. That 4% … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Downtown, Economy, Election, Environment, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Strip tanks in September; Adelson vs. Buffett

DFS wins one, loses one

Posted on October 30, 2018 by David McKee

FanDuel and DraftKings are in trouble in New York again. While holding that they didn’t violate state penal law, acting Supreme Court Justice Gerald Connolly split the baby by ruling DFS unconstitutional, a big victory for anti-gambling groups that had brought … Continue reading →

Posted in DFS, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, MGM Resorts International, New York, Penn National, Resort fees, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip | Comments Off on DFS wins one, loses one

Adelson prospers in Macao; Instant racing upheld

Posted on October 25, 2018 by David McKee

Excepting a slight downturn in Las Vegas Strip revenues, it was a pretty good 3Q18 for Las Vegas Sands. Mass-market revenue in Macao was up 18.5% and VIP revenues rose 15%. In Singapore the numbers were mixed. Mass-market win was … Continue reading →

Posted in Georgia, Kentucky, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, Mohegan Sun, Sports, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on Adelson prospers in Macao; Instant racing upheld

Caesars to rebuff Fertitta; No surprise, Culinary endorses Rosen

Posted on October 22, 2018 by David McKee

This just in: Credit Suisse analyst Brian McKnight reports that the Caesars Entertainment board is going to reject Tilman Fertitta‘s reverse-merger offer. However, now that Caesars is in play, McKnight doesn’t think this is the end of the story, mentioning … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Culinary Union, Dining, Election, Harry Reid, Horseracing, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sports, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Tilman covets Roman empire; Bellagio turns 20

Posted on October 18, 2018 by David McKee

Tilman Fertitta is the maverick among mavericks in the casino industry, beating veteran operators at their own game and doing it as some one who entered the industry as a novice and immediately began to strike gold. More recently, he’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Dan Gilbert, Dining, Economy, history, Internet gambling, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, Sheldon Adelson, Texas, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta | 3 Comments

It’s Adelson’s nation, we just live here

Posted on October 17, 2018 by David McKee

If democracy is for sale then Sheldon Adelson appears to have the winning bid. Having already pumped $55 million into the Senate Leadership Fund and Congressional Leadership Fund earlier this year, he’s donating untold millions more in an 11th-hour attempt … Continue reading →

Posted in Election, Entertainment, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, LVCVA, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on It’s Adelson’s nation, we just live here

MGM Springfield disappoints; Ruffin makes peace

Posted on October 17, 2018 by David McKee

Publicizing revenue expectations is a dangerous thing. Just ask the four new casinos in upstate New York. Or Bruce Deifik in Atlantic City. When you don’t make your number (the dreaded Penn National Effect) it opens you up for no … Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Connecticut, Culinary Union, International, Law enforcement, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Problem gambling, Rhode Island, The Strip | Comments Off on MGM Springfield disappoints; Ruffin makes peace

Doing the right thing

Posted on October 16, 2018 by David McKee

Bravo to Hard Rock International and Seminole Gaming for stepping up to partner with Clean the World (which was covered in this space last week) to help victims of Hurricane Michael. According to CasinoBeats.com, “An immediate donation of 30,000 containers … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Cretins, Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, Florida, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New Jersey, Racinos, Seminole Tribe, Sports betting, The Strip | Comments Off on Doing the right thing

SLS gets new look; Automation targets women, minorities

Posted on October 10, 2018 by David McKee

Alex Meruelo has begun exorcising the unclean spirit of Sam Nazarian from SLS Las Vegas. In a giant gesture of faith, Meruelo will invest $100 million in a property makeover, starting with those oh-so-excessively-trendy hotel rooms. Next week Meruelo will get … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Meruelo, CityCenter, Culinary Union, MGM Resorts International, Sahara, Sam Nazarian, SLS Las Vegas, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off on SLS gets new look; Automation targets women, minorities