Category Archives: The Strip

Vegas scores own-goal; Housing slowdown begs casino growth

Posted on October 25, 2022 by David McKee

In their rush to book a Formula One racing event, Las Vegas city fathers have intentionally or otherwise conducted a 20,000-person human sacrifice in the form of a forfeited convention. Congratulations, Sin City, you’ve just lost the 2023 NAR NXT, … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Conventions, Economy, Election, Genting, LVCVA, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Nebraska, Nevada, Resorts World LV, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip | 2 Comments

Upsurge in Louisiana; Stitt stiffed; Fubo Sportsbook folds

Posted on October 21, 2022 by David McKee

In a major reversal of fortune, Louisiana casino revenue vaulted 18.5% over September 2021. Foot traffic rose 41.5%, which more than made up for thriftier gamblers: On average they lost 16% less per player. It helped the year/year comparison that … Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Bally, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Churchill Downs, CQ Holdings, DraftKings, Election, FanDuel, Louisiana, New York, Oklahoma, Palms, Penn National, San Manuel Band of Mission Indians, Scott Butera, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Las Vegas Sands blossoms in Singapore, challenged in NYC

Posted on October 20, 2022 by David McKee

Cash flow at Vegas-less Las Vegas Sands during the third quarter came in far above Wall Street‘s expectations, driven by “accelerating” business at Marina Bay Sands. As Credit Suisse analyst Ben Chaiken reported, “Macau is still largely uncertain pending the … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, China, Failsinos, Health, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, New York, Singapore, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Caesars bares all; Midwest flattens; Adelson pledges neutrality

Posted on October 14, 2022 by David McKee

Landing a meeting with Caesars Entertainment CEO Tom Reeg, as well as several top execs, J.P. Morgan analyst Joseph Greff didn’t hear so much as a peep about the mooted Las Vegas Strip asset sale, which he assumes is on … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Century Casinos, Churchill Downs, Derek Stevens, DraftKings, Economy, Election, Full House Resorts, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Indiana, Jack Entertainment, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Penn National, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Killing spree on Strip; Tilman’s newest erection revealed

Posted on October 7, 2022 by David McKee

Alas, today’s top story is of the “If it bleeds, it leads” variety and is written out of sheer necessity, not desire. A thirty-something Latino man, Yoni Barrios, is in custody after going on a knife-wielding spree in front of … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Chicago, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., CQ Holdings, Florida, Golden Gaming, Indiana, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Sports betting, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 9 Comments

On the radio

Posted on September 30, 2022 by David McKee

What do Station Casinos, the Tropicana Las Vegas, Bally’s Corp. and the economy of the Las Vegas Strip have in common? They’re all subjects of discussion in my Friday appearance on KNPR-FM‘s State of Nevada. You can read about or … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally, Current, Station Casinos, The Strip | 1 Comment

Strip buoyant, locals flat

Posted on September 29, 2022 by David McKee

Casinos on the Las Vegas Strip won $660 million last month, a 5% bump over last year, as business continues to trend well into 2023. (It was also up a whopping 27% over 2019.) Strip numbers also benefited—although locals ones … Continue reading →

Posted in Boulder Strip, Gary Goett, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Mesquite, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Reno, The Strip, Wendover | 3 Comments

Voyage to Vegas, Part Two

Posted on September 27, 2022 by David McKee

Today we conclude our review of Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli‘s recent field trip to Las Vegas. We resume with Station Casinos, which seems to be accelerating its development timetable. Once it gets Durango Station up and running, it will … Continue reading →

Posted in Australia, Bally, Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, California, Canada, Economy, Golden Gaming, Las Vegas Sands, Laughlin, Macau, Maryland, Maverick Gaming, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Money laundering, Nevada, Phil Ruffin, Scientific Games, Slot routes, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, TV, Wall Street, Washington State, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Voyage to Vegas, Part One

Posted on September 26, 2022 by David McKee

Not us. We’re in Vermont, vacationing. But Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli trekked to Sin City and met with representatives of eight companies. We’ll start with MGM Resorts International, which waxed pretty darn upbeat. In Las Vegas, MGM’s strength lies … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Canada, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, Culinary Union, Election, Fontainebleau, Genting, Hard Rock International, Indiana, Internet gambling, Iowa, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Palms, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Philippines, Politics, Singapore, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Virginia, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Weekend edition

Posted on September 24, 2022 by David McKee

Internet gambling produced more than Detroit‘s casinos did for Michigan last month, $131 million to $104.5 million. Unsurprisingly, BetMGM was dominant with $49 million. Thence came DraftKings ($26.5 million) and FanDuel ($19 million). Smaller fry included BetRivers ($9 million), Caesars … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, California, Detroit, DraftKings, FanDuel, GLPI, Lake Tahoe, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Jersey, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Rush Street Gaming, The Strip, Tribal, Unite-Here, Vici Properties, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Atlantic City still surging; Aces win it all for Las Vegas

Posted on September 19, 2022 by David McKee

Casino executives in Atlantic City may continue to plead poverty but the numbers tell a different story. Last month’s tally was $274 million, up 4.5% from last year. Slot revenue was $204 million, up 3% on looser hold and 3.5% … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, China, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., DraftKings, FanDuel, Genting, Golden Nugget, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, history, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Raiders, Louisiana, LVCVA, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, New York, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports, The Strip, Wall Street, WInd Creek, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off

Atlantic City sexism and other capers; Falling Star

Posted on September 14, 2022 by David McKee

While we have no definitive idea whether Ocean Casino Resort CEO Bill Callahan is a male chauvinist pig, he certainly presents a convincing set of credentials in a Global Gaming Business puff piece. Never mind the efforts of predecessor Terry … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, Australia, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, Crown Resorts, Failsinos, Health, Illitch Family, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Money laundering, Ocean Resort, Regulation, Star Entertainment, The Mob, The Strip | 6 Comments

Justice for German; MGM gets some Wall Street love

Posted on September 8, 2022 by David McKee

Clark County Administrator Robert Telles (D) is in custody for the murder of Las Vegas Review-Journal investigative reporter Jeff German in what has all the appearance of a revenge killing. Good work by Las Vegas Metro, despite a set of … Continue reading →

Posted in Apollo Management, Bally, Boyd Gaming, Churchill Downs, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Fontainebleau, Hawaii, Horseracing, Indiana, Internet gambling, Kansas, Law enforcement, Louisiana, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Problem gambling, Sexual misconduct, Sports betting, The Strip, TV, Wall Street | 1 Comment

PILOT overboard!; Black Book bust; A spark for Sparks

Posted on August 31, 2022 by David McKee

“There is no evidence to suggest that casinos could not meet their PILOT obligations.” With those words Judge Michael Blee tossed New Jersey‘s current Payment In Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT) special-status tax program for casinos, which has lost round after … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Derek Stevens, DraftKings, FanDuel, Gary Goett, Golden Nugget, Law enforcement, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, Reno, Rush Street Gaming, Taxes, The Strip, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Strip slows in July, Downtown flops; Mega-Jottings

Posted on August 30, 2022 by David McKee

Inflation and depleted discretionary income seem finally to have caught up with the Las Vegas Strip. July’s gambling win was 2.5% from the year previous (while locals casinos slipped 3%). The diñero, especially on the Strip, is so elevated from … Continue reading →

Posted in Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Downtown, DraftKings, Economy, Environment, FanDuel, Genting, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Iowa, Kansas, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Sands, Laughlin, Louisiana, Macau, Mesquite, MGM Resorts International, North Las Vegas, Peninsula Pacific, Philippines, PointsBet, Regulation, Reno, Singapore, The Strip, Tourism, Virginia, Wall Street, Wendover | 1 Comment

Sports betting doomed in California?; Much heat, light at G2E

Posted on August 26, 2022 by David McKee

We wouldn’t have believed it but it appears that both California sports-betting ballot initiatives could go down to defeat in November. While we favor sports betting, on principle, we don’t have a dog in this fight. Both Proposition 26 (tribal) … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Bally, Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, California, Century Casinos, Economy, Election, G2E, Georgia, Golden Gaming, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, International, Japan, Law enforcement, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, Politics, Regulation, Reno, Singapore, Slot routes, South Korea, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Vici Properties, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Vegas insanity; Penn’s bad boy; Lake Mead in peril

Posted on August 22, 2022 by David McKee

Imagine an 8.5-mile Las Vegas Strip. You may not have to because “experts” say “it’s in the cards.” What’s the cause of this crazed optimism? No, it’s not the economy. The prospect of a baseball stadium at Sahara Avenue and … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Bally, Barstool Sports, Baseball, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Cambodia, Card rooms, Churchill Downs, CityCenter, CQ Holdings, Economy, Election, Environment, Everi, Failsinos, Golden Nugget, Louisiana, M Resort, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Money laundering, Nebraska, Pansy Ho, Penn National, Problem gambling, Racinos, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, Star Entertainment, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, United Kingdom | 3 Comments

Big Gaming’s boffo biz; Bay State buttinski; Trop’s doom sealed

Posted on August 12, 2022 by David McKee

Amidst all the gloom-and-doom talk about the U.S. economy, one sector is doing better than ever: gambling. 2Q22 was an industry-best and the year is on track to be the biggest in history (despite curtailments in international play). The American … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, Baseball, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Columbia Sussex, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, Indiana, Internet gambling, Laughlin, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, PointsBet, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Missouri up, Ohio down; Wynn hits records; Station flexes

Posted on August 10, 2022 by David McKee

After a somnolent Tuesday, all heck has erupted in the gaming universe and we’ll try to cram at least some of it into today’s dispatch. Gaming revenues continue to flicker here and there, while remaining high heavens above 2019’s outstanding … Continue reading →

Posted in Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Century Casinos, China, Churchill Downs, Economy, Hard Rock International, Health, International, Internet gambling, Jack Entertainment, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Ohio, Penn National, Real Estate, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Cosmic quarter at MGM; New name, same old Penn

Posted on August 5, 2022 by David McKee

“No Recession yet, just all time records,” reported Truist Securities analyst Barry Jonas of MGM Resorts International‘s 2Q22 earnings call. Better-than-ever Las Vegas Strip and regional revenues beat the pants off Wall Street‘s expectations, outweighing “weakness” in Macao, where gaming … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Chicago, China, Churchill Downs, Conventions, Cordish Co., Cosmopolitan, DraftKings, FanDuel, Golden Gaming, Hard Rock International, history, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, M Resort, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Scott Butera, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Virginia, Wall Street, Wyoming | 1 Comment