Category Archives: Tilman Fertitta

Deifik defects from Atlantic City; Stevens unveils new casino

Posted on January 11, 2019 by David McKee

That was brief. After six months of operation at Ocean Resort, owner Bruce Deifik wants out. Word is he’s found a mystery buyer, one who will invest $70 million in “a new buffet, additional hotel suites, gaming floor improvements and … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, Colorado, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, Marketing, Revel, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta, Transportation | 2 Comments

Newcomers lose ground in Atlantic City

Posted on December 13, 2018 by David McKee

November was good for Atlantic City, up 12.5% and down only 5% on a same-store basis. The $209 million haul was propelled by a 12.5% increase in slot win and a 13.5% jump in table revenues. A 17% drop in table … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Boyd Gaming, Bruce Deifik, Caesars Entertainment, Eldorado Resorts, Genting, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta | Comments Off on Newcomers lose ground in Atlantic City

Scratch one casino; Adios, Megabus

Posted on November 29, 2018 by David McKee

Tunica continues to hemorrhage casinos. The latest casualty is Tunica Roadhouse. Owner Caesars Entertainment is terminating gambling at the property, although the 135-room hotel will be kept operational. This makes Horseshoe Tunica Caesars’ only remaining casino in the market. The move … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Arizona, Arkansas, Caesars Entertainment, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Hard Rock International, International, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Mohegan Sun, Movies, Regulation, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta, Transportation, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Trop defies Atlantic City odds; Massachusetts underachieves

Posted on November 16, 2018 by David McKee

October was good for Atlantic City‘s new casinos, with the overall market up 8%, but bad for the incumbents, down 11.5%. Terrestrial gambling win totaled $200.5 million, with mixed messages all over the place. Slot win was up 5% but … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Australia, Boyd Gaming, Bruce Deifik, Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Churchill Downs, Connecticut, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Eldorado Resorts, Georgia, GLPI, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, International, Internet gambling, Isle of Capri, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Penn National, Rush Street Gaming, Scientific Games, Sports, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Promising horizon for Penn; Frissora exiting Caesars

Posted on November 2, 2018 by David McKee

Penn National Gaming came in from 3Q18 below Wall Street‘s expectations but JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff defends the company, citing high expectations of free cash flow in 2019 (12%) and 2020 (20%), even after capex reinvestments. The addition of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Centaur Gaming, Dan Gilbert, Economy, Illinois, Lucky Dragon, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off on Promising horizon for Penn; Frissora exiting Caesars

Z covets Full House; Caesars: Fertitta out, MGM in?

Posted on October 29, 2018 by David McKee

Having recently subsumed Affinity Gaming, the eyes of Z Capital Partners have turned toward Full House Resorts. However, Z’s opening bid is so low that it looks like a typo: $1.79/share. That’s $132.5 million for five casinos. CEO Dan Lee … Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Current, Dan Lee, Full House Resorts, G2E, International, Law enforcement, Marketing, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Philippines, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | Comments Off on Z covets Full House; Caesars: Fertitta out, MGM in?

New era in Macao; Joy and misery in Louisiana

Posted on October 23, 2018 by David McKee

Beginning tomorrow, travel to Macao becomes much easier, as the Zhuhai bridge connecting Hong Kong and Macao officially opens. The ribbon is cut at 9 a.m. and several bus services are at the ready to make the half-hour run, compared … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, Galaxy Entertainment, GLPI, Isle of Capri, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Pinnacle Entertainment, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Transportation | Comments Off on New era in Macao; Joy and misery in Louisiana

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

Punishing month in Atlantic City

Posted on October 15, 2018 by David McKee

Gross-gaming revenues (not counting Internet play) were up 8% in Atlantic City last month, to $232 million. However, the prosperity wasn’t citywide, with same-store revenues down 11%. We’re still a long way from agreeing with Roger Gros‘ doom-and-gloom-and-doom prediction that two … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Bruce Deifik, Caesars Entertainment, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Eldorado Resorts, Genting, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Wisdom from G2E; Sisolak lights up

Posted on October 10, 2018 by David McKee

This week’s Global Gaming Expo gives Wall Street analysts plenty of time to sniff around the big gaming operators and manufacturers, trying to suss out trends. Credit Suisse analyst Cameron McKnight, the new kid on the block, says that 3Q18 … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Election, G2E, GLPI, Golden Gaming, Illinois, Indiana, Isle of Capri, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Mandalay Bay Massacre, Marijuana, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Nevada, Palms, Penn National, Sports, Station Casinos, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on Wisdom from G2E; Sisolak lights up

Mohegan Sun shines

Posted on October 1, 2018 by David McKee

Congratulations to Mohegan Sun on being named ‘Best Hotel’ by readers of USA Today. I’ve never stayed there but would reckon this is quite a coup and shows yet again that tribal casinos don’t yield the palm to private-sector ones … Continue reading →

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, CityCenter, Derek Stevens, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Foxwoods, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New York, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Reno, Resort fees, Sheldon Adelson, Station Casinos, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Louisiana heats up; Pilgrimage to Plains

Posted on September 24, 2018 by David McKee

Louisiana gamblers were living large in August, leaving 9% more than last year in the slots and on the tables, some $212 million in total. This was especially good for Caesars Entertainment (+12%) and even more so for Boyd Gaming … Continue reading →

Posted in AGA, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, Environment, Georgia, GLPI, history, Pinnacle Entertainment, Politics, Regulation, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Louisiana heats up; Pilgrimage to Plains

Atlantic City booms

Posted on September 13, 2018 by David McKee

Casino revenues in Atlantic City were up an astounding 21% in August, with only a 2% decrease in revenue at the incumbent gambling houses. Sports betting was also a hit, grossing $95 million. (Some predict it could surpass Las Vegas … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, Caesars Entertainment, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Resort fees, Rush Street Gaming, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Swarming the sports books; The curious case of Stonewall Park

Posted on September 4, 2018 by David McKee

In a development that is sure to be followed with interest by sports book operators, predictive system Swarm AI outdid human oddsmakers in a trial run. During a 20-week slice of the NHL season, Swarm AI correctly predicted the outcome … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Nevada, Regulation, Reno, Sports betting, Technology, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street | Comments Off on Swarming the sports books; The curious case of Stonewall Park

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

Infamy on the Strip; Baton Rouge obliterated

Posted on August 20, 2018 by David McKee

“Mandalay Bay” is becoming a two-word synonym for infamy. Hotels’ Daily News Service recently bannered a set of dispatches with “What Security Looks Like in post-Mandalay Bay world.” (Subscription required.) As for what Las Vegas looks like in same, well, Lego … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, GLPI, Isle of Capri, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Mandalay Bay Massacre, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Resort fees, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Infamy on the Strip; Baton Rouge obliterated

Good/bad news for Atlantic City; Pennsylvania just bad

Posted on August 15, 2018 by David McKee

On the face of it, the news from Atlantic City is good: Gambling revenues were up 10% last month. But the same-store comparison (i.e., minus Hard Rock Atlantic City and Ocean Resort) has the city down 9.5%. The haul was … Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Bruce Deifik, Caesars Entertainment, Dan Gilbert, Detroit, Eldorado Resorts, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Pinnacle Entertainment, Racinos, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Hypocrisy at Station; Gamblers flee smoke-free casinos

Posted on July 20, 2018 by David McKee

Station Casinos has claimed on at least seven occasions that, if its workers want to unionize, it will honor their wishes. The Culinary Union called Station’s bluff and the company has been talking out of the other side of its mouth … Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Culinary Union, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Louisiana, Palms, Pinnacle Entertainment, Station Casinos, Tilman Fertitta, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

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