Category Archives: The Strip

A lonely July; Schumer would put leagues in charge

Posted on August 31, 2018 by David McKee

A clearer picture of the Las Vegas Strip in July is emerging, as visitation was 3.5% lower, dragging room revenue down 7.5% with it. Yes, the house got beaten badly at baccarat, but other factors were at work in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Economy, Foxwoods, Internet gambling, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Oklahoma, Penn National, Politics, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal | Comments Off on A lonely July; Schumer would put leagues in charge

Strip gets hammered, locals not so much

Posted on August 30, 2018 by David McKee

While some analysts were expecting the Las Vegas Strip to be only slightly off last year’s pace (another benchmark that seems unlikely to be repeated, shades of 2007), their guidance evidently didn’t foresee an almost 6% miss, coming at $533 … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Downtown, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Marijuana, North Las Vegas, Reno, The Strip | Comments Off on Strip gets hammered, locals not so much

Disappointment on the Strip; Playing politics with sports betting

Posted on August 30, 2018 by David McKee

Ten years. That’s how long it’s been since a brand-new resort has opened on the Las Vegas Strip. Looking to break that dry spell, Genting Group has recommitted itself to a 4Q20 opening of Resorts World Las Vegas. Commenting on … Continue reading →

Posted in Dining, Economy, Genting, Politics, Regulation, Sports betting, The Strip, Wall Street | Comments Off on Disappointment on the Strip; Playing politics with sports betting

Japan fever; A Rose by any other computer program

Posted on August 22, 2018 by David McKee

“I want to properly nurture the tourism industry in Osaka as one of its pillars,” says Gov. Ichiro Matsui of the prefecture. To that end, Yumeshima island has been set aside for a prospective casino resort. And Las Vegas and Macao … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment, Galaxy Entertainment, Genting, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Regulation, Technology, The Strip | Comments Off on Japan fever; A Rose by any other computer program

Playing the Trump card; Manilow renewed

Posted on August 22, 2018 by David McKee

In his latest newsletter, gaming-law expert I. Nelson Rose looks at the impact, real and potential, of retaliatory tariffs on playing cards. Canada and the European Union have imposed 10% import levies on playing cards from the United States, though … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Greenwood Racing, International, Kentucky, Las Vegas Sands, Lucky Dragon, Macau, New Jersey, Ohio, Paragon Gaming, Pennsylvania, Politics, Sports betting, The Crown 18, The Strip, Westgate LV | Comments Off on Playing the Trump card; Manilow renewed

‘Net, sports betting slow to ramp in Pennsylvania; Enter the Dragons

Posted on August 20, 2018 by David McKee

Three casinos in Pennsylvania have been cleared for Internet gambling. Of the trio, tiny Mount Airy Casino may loom the largest, being affiliated with both 888 and also PokerStars, which has  been having a few issues of late. (Interestingly, Presque Isle … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Caesars Entertainment, Eldorado Resorts, Greenwood Racing, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Regulation, SLS Las Vegas, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, The Strip | Comments Off on ‘Net, sports betting slow to ramp in Pennsylvania; Enter the Dragons

A bright shining turkey

Posted on August 15, 2018 by David McKee

“We didn’t plan to open until March. So this is, literally, found money. We didn’t even budget for it. Wait and see what happens when we get this engine fully running.” That was the excuse made by a Resorts World … Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Genting, New York, Penn National, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off on A bright shining turkey

Indiana comes up short; Too gay for Vegas

Posted on August 9, 2018 by David McKee

One less weekend day made all the difference for Indiana in July, as statewide gambling revenues were 1% down. The statewide gross was $191 million, with refugee players from Chicago helping to lead the way. (Remember, you can still smoke in … Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Dining, Full House Resorts, Illinois, Indiana, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Indiana comes up short; Too gay for Vegas

More woes for Wynn; Unlucky 13 in Macao

Posted on August 3, 2018 by David McKee

Update: All charges in this case were dismissed, as the alleged rape was found to be a fabrication. Wynn Las Vegas‘ status as the poster child for sexual assault on the Las Vegas Strip just got another boost. SoCal dentist Poria … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Caesars Entertainment, Dining, Economy, Election, Georgia, Iowa, Law enforcement, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, Politics, Sexual misconduct, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Taxes, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on More woes for Wynn; Unlucky 13 in Macao

MGM gets panned; Eldorado reaps laurels

Posted on August 3, 2018 by David McKee

First, the good news. Park MGM generated $9 million across the last three quarters, which is pretty good when you consider that it’s essentially a construction site. JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff opines that this partly makes up for “weak” … Continue reading →

Posted in Eldorado Resorts, Florida, Illinois, Japan, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Racinos, Reno, Scientific Games, Sports betting, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on MGM gets panned; Eldorado reaps laurels

Quote of the Day

Posted on August 3, 2018 by David McKee

“I don’t remember being cheery.” — Las Vegas Strip stalwart Brad Garrett, predestined to be the voice of Eeyore in Christopher Robin. The movie opens today.

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

Caesars excels, MGM disappoints; So long, Paradise Park

Posted on August 2, 2018 by David McKee

You know how I thought May’s visitation numbers representing Las Vegas finally finding bottom in a visitation decline? Never mind. June was down 1%, mainly driven (pardon the pun) by fewer drive-in visits from California. Fortuitously for the casinos, luck … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, Detroit, Economy, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Maryland, Massachusetts, Melco Crown Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Wendover, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Caesars excels, MGM disappoints; So long, Paradise Park

Neanderthals target Wampanoags; Pinball Hall on the move

Posted on July 31, 2018 by David McKee

A strange, one-third-of-a-page ad appeared in the July 19 edition of The Hill. “For over 30 years,” it huffed, “the Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Tribe sought federal recognition for the specific purposes of opening a CASINO [Horrors! — Ed.] — in … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Donald Trump, Entertainment, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Neil Bluhm, Politics, Regulation, Riviera, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal | 1 Comment

San Manuel escalates tribal skirmish; Pullback on paid parking?

Posted on July 27, 2018 by David McKee

The SoCal arms race continues. Having already deployed a mind-boggling 4,800 slot machines, San Manuel Casino is going upscale in a big way. It will add a concert hall, spa, pool plaza and hotel, all to the tune of $550 … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, California, Cordish Co., Greenwood Racing, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Penn bullish on Trop; Boyd wows Wall Street

Posted on July 27, 2018 by David McKee

M Resort and Tropicana Las Vegas are no longer the charity cases of Penn National Gaming. The company made a point of lauding them during this week’s earnings call, with JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff characterizing their performance — along … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Geoff Freeman, Illinois, Indiana, International, Las Vegas Sands, M Resort, Massachusetts, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Sheldon’s sphere; Macao renewal delayed

Posted on July 23, 2018 by David McKee

In a wise move, Las Vegas Sands is investing $75 million in the event sphere being built behind Venelazzo by Madison Square Garden Co. By taking an equity position in the innovative venue, Sands presumably gains the potential to redeploy … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Iowa, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Nebraska, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, TV | Comments Off on Sheldon’s sphere; Macao renewal delayed

Warren sides with Wampanoags; Vdara dances The Robot

Posted on July 20, 2018 by David McKee

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D) has waded into the Brockton-vs.-Taunton fight for a tribal casino. She’s introducing a bill that would circumvent the inactive Bureau of Indian Affairs and smooth the path of the Mashpee Wampanoags. While we have nothing against … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, CityCenter, Genting, Hard Rock International, Japan, Massachusetts, Neil Bluhm, Politics, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Taxes, Technology, The Strip, Tribal | Comments Off on Warren sides with Wampanoags; Vdara dances The Robot

Big trouble in not-so-little China

Posted on July 19, 2018 by David McKee

In his latest column, gaming-law expert I. Nelson Rose contends that U.S.-owned casinos in Macao are on dangerous ground, caught in the cross-hairs of the U.S./China trade war. He begins by recapitulating China’s highly targeted retaliations, which make red states … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Donald Trump, Genting, International, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Mirage, Sheldon Adelson, Steve Wynn, The Strip | Comments Off on Big trouble in not-so-little China

Sport of kings on wobbly legs; Sports betting races ahead in N.J., N.Y., flags in Pennsylvania

Posted on July 18, 2018 by David McKee

Were it not for racinos, we’d probably be talking about the sport of kings in the past tense. Handle at racetracks has fallen 50% in the last 15 years. However, slot machines have infused a billion dollars a year, keeping … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Cordish Co., DFS, Dining, Greenwood Racing, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Macau, New York, Pennsylvania, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta | 1 Comment

MGM lawsuit backfires

Posted on July 18, 2018 by David McKee

MGM Resorts International stepped in it — at least momentarily — when it elected to sue victims of the Mandalay Bay Massacre in federal court. The Twitterverse briefly arose in #BoycottMGM outrage, but it died down by day’s end and … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Arizona, Atlantic City, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Donald Trump, Environment, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Security, Sports, The Strip, Trump Entertainment Resorts | 1 Comment