Category Archives: Tourism

Station reopens bullishly; Who was that masked man, anyway?

On the eve of today’s reopening, Station Casinos hosted a conference call with JP Morgan analysts and was pretty darn confident that its base of Baby Boomers and retirees would flock back. So confident is that Station “has not been … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Caesars Entertainment, Cirque du Soleil, Crown Resorts, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Entertainment, Health, Las Vegas Sands, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Palms, Planet Hollywood, Real Estate, Resort fees, Station Casinos, Steven Witkoff, Tamares Group, Terry Caudill, The Rio, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 3 Comments

The Drew is through; Stevens’ green shoots

Would somebody please implode Fontainebleau already? It’s an eyesore, a civic embarrassment and a product for which demand does not exist. We perhaps should be saying “The Drew” but—per Scott Roeben‘s all-but-infallible VitalVegas, The Drew is in default, meaning that … Continue reading

Posted in Baseball, Carl Icahn, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Economy, Fontainebleau, Health, Horseracing, Illinois, Phil Ruffin, South Korea, Sports, Sports betting, Steven Witkoff, Technology, Tourism, Transportation | 1 Comment

California Lege mulls sports betting; Mega-Jottings

Gaming analysts may be getting a little ahead of themselves but they’re estimating that California could generate $30 billion a year in sports-betting handle, $2 billion in revenue and $300 million in taxes. That’d be pretty good news for a … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Downtown, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, International, Lotteries, New Jersey, Politics, Regulation, Rhode Island, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Twin River | 2 Comments

Nevada ekes out slim April; Pansy Ho takes charge

Yes, Virginia, there was gaming revenue in Nevada last month, although the casinos were closed. Mobile sports wagering and online poker did the trick, plus expired slot tickets, although the amount realized from the latter is described as “immaterial.” Most … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Culinary Union, Downtown, Economy, Health, Jim Murren, Lawrence Ho, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Pansy Ho, Regulation, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Sports betting, Stanley Ho, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Wendover | 2 Comments

Stevens doubles down; Bullish LV reopenings

Derek Stevens‘ 1,000-free-flights promotional gambit was such a wild success that the mogul has offered 700 airlifts more. But hurry: Stevens has extended his mega-comp to 12 additional cities, from Atlanta to Tampa. We only quibble about Stevens adding Boston … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Brothels, Cosmopolitan, Culinary Union, Derek Stevens, Economy, El Cortez, Golden Gaming, Health, Nevada, Sahara, Station Casinos, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Transportation, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Nevada casinos to reopen; Ruffin stiffs workforce

Pending a decline in Coronavirus cases over this past weekend, Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) is expected to announce a reopening of Silver State casinos, effective June 4, which should give them time to get their paperwork filed with the … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Meruelo, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Cirque du Soleil, Culinary Union, Downtown, Economy, Hawaii, Health, history, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Phil Ruffin, Resort fees, Sahara, The Rio, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Westgate LV, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Boston buoys Wynn, Penn leans on Barstool

Wynn Resorts was one of three biggies to report 1Q20 results late last week and the Las Vegas Strip was the least of its problems. Wynn Las Vegas and Encore had net revenue of $324 million, down 19% from last … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, CityCenter, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Florida, Golden Gaming, history, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Maine, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Roy Horn, R.I.P.; Tourism on life support

Now every John Q. Public in America knows someone who has died of Covid-19. That someone is erstwhile magician Roy Horn, who died at age 75 of Coronavirus complications. Horn had been involuntarily retired from show business since 2003 when … Continue reading

Posted in Dining, Economy, Entertainment, Health, International, Phil Ruffin, Regulation, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation | Comments Off on Roy Horn, R.I.P.; Tourism on life support

Creative responses to a crisis

Leave it to Derek Stevens to find a way to literally drive sports-betting business in Downtown. Starting this morning, Circa Sports began taking curbside sports bets at the Golden Gate. You pull up, flash your cash (or plastic) and a … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Culinary Union, Derek Stevens, Dining, Downtown, e-sports, Economy, Health, Law enforcement, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Penn National, Regulation, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Sacrificial rites in Las Vegas

Without pointing any fingers of blame, the Coronavirus pandemic has laid bare a feeble testing response and an inability to get a vaccine before the public until year’s end at earliest (which we should have been expecting all along). It’s also … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Health, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Phil Ruffin, The Strip, Tourism, TV, Wynn Resorts | 7 Comments

Rescue for small casinos; Stitt makes a deal (or two)

If at first you don’t succeed, Bill Miller, try, try again. Persistence for the American Gaming Association prexy paid off with a new set of Small Business Administration rules for Paycheck Protection Program loans that include all business that receive … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Cantor Gaming, Economy, Las Vegas Sands, Lotteries, Mattress Mack, Oklahoma, Pets, Sports, Sports betting, Texas, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal | Comments Off on Rescue for small casinos; Stitt makes a deal (or two)

Sands shakes off doldrums; MGM sitting pretty

Las Vegas Sands posted a Covid-19 impacted 1Q20. Room rates nudged upward year/year from $263 to $266, at 87% occupancy, resulting in a decline in revenue per available room from $249 to $199. Sands was modestly down at the tables, … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Baseball, CityCenter, Economy, Health, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Real Estate, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 2 Comments

More woes for Penn; “A slog” for Encore Boston

Covid-19 has claimed another casino casualty in the form of Resorts Casino Tunica. Ironically, the Penn National Gaming closure comes after an abortive March which promised to exceed the 2019 in Mississippi. Overall gaming revenues were at $110 million when … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, California, Crown Resorts, Economy, GLPI, history, International, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Penn National, Sports betting, Taxes, Tourism, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on More woes for Penn; “A slog” for Encore Boston

Hiccup in Virginia; Sheldon’s retail therapy

Just when it seemed like casinos in Virginia were a done deal, some last-minute tinkering by Gov. Ralph “Blackface” Northam (D) could scupper the whole deal. Northam unilaterally amended the enabling legislation to redirect two-thirds of the tax collections from … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Cretins, Economy, FanDuel, Hard Rock International, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Mohegan Sun, Pennsylvania, PokerStars, Politics, Racinos, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports betting, Taxes, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Virgin Hotels, Virginia, Wall Street | Comments Off on Hiccup in Virginia; Sheldon’s retail therapy

Sisolak vs. Goodman, Round Two; Wynn’s recovery plan

Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak (D), while acknowledging that his state’s unemployment-aid infrastructure is swamped (although initial jobless claims declined to 58,641 last week), is taking a steady-as-she-goes approach to reopening the Silver State, relying heavily on medical advice. “This is not … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Caesars Entertainment, California, Charity, Conventions, Crown Resorts, Derek Stevens, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Florida, Health, Lake Tahoe, Nevada, Politics, The Strip, Tourism, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

“Scary” times for casinos; Hotel rates swoon

Donald Trump wants to reopen America for business May 1, come hell or high water. Former Atlantic City casino executive Robert Ambrose acknowledges that “going past 30 days [quarantine] is scary for the entire industry.” According to Ambrose, it ought … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, California, Crown Resorts, Economy, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, Health, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Boyd sacks workforce; Political wagering in West Virginia

Job cuts continue at Las Vegas casinos. Boyd Gaming employees are out of jobs starting tomorrow, although health benefits will continue through June 30. For a company that’s sitting on as much cash as Boyd, that’s a strange move. Boyd’s … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Charity, Cirque du Soleil, Cosmopolitan, DraftKings, Election, FanDuel, Health, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, The Rio, Tourism, Tribal, TV, Wall Street, West Virginia, World Series of Poker | Comments Off on Boyd sacks workforce; Political wagering in West Virginia

No recovery in Macao

Despite the lifting of a government quarantine, casino revenues in Macao did not bounce back last month, down 80% to $664 million. That’s worse than forecast (70%). Tourism restrictions prompted by a second boomlet of Covid-19 in Macao didn’t help. … Continue reading

Posted in China, Economy, Health, International, Internet gambling, Macau, Marketing, PokerStars, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Technology, Tourism | Comments Off on No recovery in Macao

Casinos in survival mode; Sports betting in Cali in peril

After this week’s stimulus vote in the U.S. Congress, the casino industry would seem to have ducked a bullet. But, depending on how much financial aid it can draw down, the question lingers over whether any operators will have to file … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Charity, Colorado, Economy, Election, Foxwoods, Full House Resorts, Golden Gaming, Health, Horseracing, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Nevada, Oklahoma, Penn National, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

The last good month; NBA to resurrect in Vegas?

Las Vegas Strip gaming revenue was flat in February at $596 million and probably should have been better, given the presence of an extra weekend day. (Statewide, revenues were up 3%.) Strip slots were robust, gaining 7% on 7.5% higher … Continue reading

Posted in Boulder Strip, Charity, China, Conventions, Downtown, Economy, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Mesquite, North Las Vegas, Reno, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, TV, Wendover | 2 Comments