Category Archives: Tilman Fertitta

Partly cloudy in Louisiana

Compared to a strong March last year, Louisiana was anemic last month, down 2.5% to $246 million. Of course, it is risky to generalize since some markets were quite healthy and others (Baton Rouge, anyone) were ailing. The same might … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, Louisiana, Penn National, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | Comments Off on Partly cloudy in Louisiana

Boffo month for New Jersey, Detroit

Atlantic City casinos sprang through March with a 16% revenue boost (albeit 5% cannibalization of last year’s grosses), booking $223 million, including a 18.5% surge in slot win while table games were up 9% (albeit down 13% on a same-store … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Eldorado Resorts, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta | 2 Comments

Fall of the Roman Empire

Eldorado Resorts is no longer the only bidder allowed access to Caesars Entertainment‘s “data room.” Tilman Fertitta now has free run of the place, as the bidding for Caesars—expected to begin in earnest next week—heats up. According to the New … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Centaur Gaming, Eldorado Resorts, Tilman Fertitta, Transportation, Wall Street | 4 Comments

Steve Wynn 86’d; Icahn & Fertitta talk turkey

In an obvious attempt to placate the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, after a bruising set of hearings, Wynn Resorts has filed a legal brief in the Bay State, requesting permission to bar Steve Wynn from all Wynn Resorts properties. This is, in our … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Dining, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Free-market forces in Atlantic City; Wire Act flip-flop

As one might anticipate in a highly competitive free market, the upsized Atlantic City casino industry saw 15% less cash flow last year. This is only to be expected with the addition of Hard Rock Atlantic City and Ocean Resort. Far … Continue reading

Posted in Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Florida, Hard Rock International, history, International, Internet gambling, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ocean Resort, Politics, Regulation, Seminole Tribe, Tilman Fertitta, TV | 1 Comment

Louisiana chokes on smoking ban; Graham’s conversion

Gaming revenues were down 4% last month in Louisiana, mainly dragged under by the Baton Rouge market, plummeting 19%. Since the imposition of a smoking ban in Red Stick, casinos’ business has been 17% lower, a business catastrophe. Belle of … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, history, Louisiana, New Jersey, North Carolina, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Problem gambling, South Carolina, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, William Hill | Comments Off on Louisiana chokes on smoking ban; Graham’s conversion

Eldorado explores Caesars takeover; MGM says ‘Play ball!’

Since corporate mergers, once begun, develop a momentum all their all own, it was inevitable that someone would step forward to explore a purchase of Caesars Entertainment, regardless of whether it is a good idea, risking a second bankruptcy. In … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, Eldorado Resorts, Genting, Internet gambling, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Macau, Marketing, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, New York, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Tilman Fertitta | Comments Off on Eldorado explores Caesars takeover; MGM says ‘Play ball!’

MGM covets Caesars; Rio up for grabs … again

As Carl Icahn continues to up his stake in Caesars Entertainment, the already-tortuous saga has developed some new complexities. For one, outgoing CEO Mark Frissora has revealed he wasn’t jumped, he was pushed. “The board has stated that they would like … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, e-sports, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, LVCVA, Marijuana, MGM Resorts International, New Mexico, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Regulation, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Atlantic City rallies, Pennsylvania snoozes

Given that a certain amount of cannibalization was inevitable with the debuts of two new casinos on the Boardwalk, a 5% February decline in same-store gambling revenue has to considered a pretty good result. The market overall was up a … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Eldorado Resorts, Genting, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta, William Hill | 4 Comments

Caesars dominates Louisiana; Steve Wynn wins in Beantown

Gaming revenue in Louisiana was flat last month, with strength in Shreveport and New Orleans making up for weakness in (mainly) Baton Rouge and Lake Charles. It’s difficult to account for the 3% dip in Lake Charles, aside from the … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Penn National, PokerStars, Politics, Regulation, Steve Wynn, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, West Virginia | Comments Off on Caesars dominates Louisiana; Steve Wynn wins in Beantown

Chronicle of a disaster foretold

It’s time for Caesars Entertainment‘s quarterly earnings call and, by way of a preview, JP Morgan analyst Daniel Politzer took a relatively dim view of selling the company as a cure for whatever ails it. “While we understand activists’ rationale … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Eldorado Resorts, Horseracing, International, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, Politics, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Caesars: The Icahn factor; Troubled Tilman; Brownout

If you’re a company that wants to prove that its stock is undervalued, you’ve got a definitive case when Carl Icahn buys into your company. And if you’re Caesars Entertainment and Icahn suddenly holds 10% of your stock, you’re officially … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Don Barden, Eldorado Resorts, International, Japan, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mohegan Sun, Regulation, Security, Sheldon Adelson, South Korea, Taxes, Texas, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | Comments Off on Caesars: The Icahn factor; Troubled Tilman; Brownout

Atlantic City: Ocean Resort stages a rally

Atlantic City is weathering the winter months about as well as can realistically be hoped. Same-store revenues were down 8% last month but up 9% overall. Ocean Resort ($12.5 million) actually crept past Bally’s ($12 million) and up on Resorts … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Bruce Deifik, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Eldorado Resorts, Genting, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta | Comments Off on Atlantic City: Ocean Resort stages a rally

Clouds over Macao; What Sheldon wants, Sheldon gets

Cameron McKnight of Credit Suisse is projecting gambling-revenue flatness in Macao (despite higher tax returns) through 2019 and into 2020, despite a record amount of available credit in China. “Stronger credit data may partially assuage China macro concerns, as it … Continue reading

Posted in Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Galaxy Entertainment, International, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Movies, New Jersey, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Transportation, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

A tale of two Fertittas

Golden Nugget owner Tilman Fertitta is facing trouble close to home. $30.5 million in liens have been levied for unpaid work done at $400 million The Post Oak hotel in Houston. Like Sheldon Adelson, Fertitta blames the primary contractor and … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Economy, GLPI, Louisiana, MGM Resorts International, Palms, Problem gambling, Reno, Sports, Station Casinos, Texas, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | Comments Off on A tale of two Fertittas

Churchill Downs pwns Caesars; Kentucky covets casinos

Cold weather helped chill Indiana casino revenues last month, down 6%. The Hoosier State’s casinos and racinos grossed $154 million. Horseshoe Southern Indiana continues to bleed business to Churchill Downs‘ Derby City, hemorrhaging 10% to $16.5 million. Full House Resorts … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, DFS, e-sports, Eldorado Resorts, Full House Resorts, Indiana, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, New York, Penn National, Politics, Racinos, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Technology, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Monorail to the rescue of Grand Bazaar; Golden Nugget on the block?

We thought the Las Vegas Monorail was the biggest charity case on the Las Vegas Strip. However, the Grand Bazaar Shops — where Strip retail finally jumped the shark — is apparently even worse off. We say this because of … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Macau, Marketing, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Penn National, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Transportation, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Louisiana: What happened?; Wynn wins historic victory

While most jurisdictions performed impressively last month, Louisiana was down 2.5%. How to account for the slippage? True, the drive-in driven Shreveport/Bossier City market was off 1.5%. But the real culprit was Baton Rouge, toppling 15.5% and ravaged by the new … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Dining, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, GLPI, Greenwood Racing, International, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Vietnam, Wall Street, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Louisiana: What happened?; Wynn wins historic victory

Atlantic City: Managing expectations; Prosperity in Pennsylvania, Detroit

Grossing $209 million last month, the Atlantic City casino market continues to grow, up 12% in the dead of winter, even if it was 7% down on a same-store basis. That’s a tradeoff the industry will have to accept, as … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Bruce Deifik, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, CityCenter, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Dining, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Icahn power play at Caesars?; Big plans for Borgata

We all know that Carl Icahn has a sharp eye for undervalued assets. Caesars Entertainment stock fell 46% last year, making it ripe for the plucking. And pick it Icahn did, scarfing up enough to spur a 11.5% rally in … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, DFS, Internet gambling, MGM Resorts International, Regulation, Sports betting, Taxes, Technology, Tilman Fertitta, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Virginia, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off on Icahn power play at Caesars?; Big plans for Borgata