Category Archives: Virginia

Election Special: “The biggest political event ever”

An anonymous British financier will have to wait another 24 hours to find out if his $5 million bet on Donald Trump comes up a winner. He’ll pocket $15 million from Curaçao bookies if it does. The flutter, made after … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Colorado, Culinary Union, Donald Trump, DraftKings, Election, FanDuel, International, Internet gambling, Louisiana, MGM Resorts International, Nebraska, Nevada, Politics, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, South Carolina, South Dakota, Sports, Tribal, Virginia | 2 Comments

Buy, sell, lease, buy, sell, lease …; Election: What’s at stake

In an elaborate transaction, Caesars Entertainment sold Tropicana Evansville to Gaming & Leisure Properties Inc. for $340 million, after which the lease on the casino will revert to Twin River Holdings, which will pay $28 million a year for the … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Colorado, Cretins, Delaware, Donald Trump, Downtown, Election, GLPI, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Racinos, South Dakota, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Twin River, Virginia | 2 Comments

Maryland returns to normal; Caesars offloads assets

Pandemic? What pandemic? Maryland casino revenues were 1% above last September’s, indicating a resumption of normality, at least where gambling is concerned. The statewide gross was $149.5 million. That’s despite restrictions that include keeping the casino floor at 50% of … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Conventions, Cordish Co., Cretins, Delaware, Diversity, Economy, Election, FanDuel, Golden Gaming, Health, International, Internet gambling, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Nebraska, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Reno, Sports betting, Tribal, Virginia, West Virginia, William Hill | Comments Off on Maryland returns to normal; Caesars offloads assets

Cretins amok in Alabama; Caesars: $2.7B for William Hill

There’s stiff competition for Troglodyte of the Year but Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has staked a prohibitive claim. He’s on a crusade to shut down the state’s three private-sector casinos and he won an important victory last week. The … Continue reading

Posted in Alabama, Architecture, Caesars Entertainment, Cretins, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Sports betting, The Strip, Transportation, Tribal, Virginia, Wall Street, William Hill | 1 Comment

New York game-changer; MGM sticks it to servers

What Jim Murren and Sheldon Adelson couldn’t do, New York state Sen. James Skoufis (D) just might. With four upstate casinos still closed and the state budget pummeled by the economic effects of Coronavirus, Skoufis is proposing that the state … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Caesars Entertainment, Cretins, Economy, Election, Environment, Health, International, Jim Murren, Louisiana, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sheldon Adelson, Unite-Here, Virginia | Comments Off on New York game-changer; MGM sticks it to servers

Atlantic City impresses in July

It reopened in somewhat raggle-taggle fashion but Atlantic City is back and did rather better in July than Las Vegas in June (the last month for which we have data, see video below). Borgata made a very delayed re-entry into … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Charity, Economy, Entertainment, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Internet gambling, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, Ocean Resort, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Virginia | 2 Comments

MGM changes mind on Aria; No appetite for deals?

Having told its entire Aria staff to look for new jobs, MGM Resorts International finds itself in the position of saying, “Never mind.” In an interview last weekend, CEO Bill Hornbuckle floated the possibility of reopening Aria by July 4, followed … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, CityCenter, Conventions, Current, Derek Stevens, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Election, Entertainment, Hawaii, Health, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, LVCVA, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Money laundering, Resort fees, Sahara, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Terry Caudill, The Rio, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, TV, Virginia, Wall Street | 1 Comment

AGA tackles IRS; Stevens picks up the tab

Perhaps emboldened by its success with the Small Business Administration, the American Gaming Association is tackling an even bigger, more formidable foe: the Internal Revenue Service. Specifically, the AGA is taking aim at the $1,200 “IRS lockdown,” the threshold at which … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Caesars Entertainment, Derek Stevens, Eldorado Resorts, Health, Louisiana, MGM Resorts International, Racinos, Regulation, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Transportation, Virginia | 1 Comment

Twin River advances, Maverick retreats; Sands optimistic

Twin River Holdings is now a player in Atlantic City. It must have driven a hard bargain, too, picking up lowly Bally’s for $25 million, mere pocket change. It had Caesars Entertainment and Eldorado Resorts over a barrel, as keeping … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Health, history, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, Maverick Gaming, Regulation, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Twin River, Virginia | 1 Comment

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

Northam covets slot tax; CEO suddenly out at Foxwoods

In Gov. Ralph Northam‘s Virginia there are two inevitabilities: death from Coronavirus and taxation of black-market slot routes. Northam wants to legitimize the devices (their unsanitary properties notwithstanding) in order to collect taxes off them. He rationalizes the move by … Continue reading

Posted in e-sports, Economy, Foxwoods, Health, International, Internet gambling, Politics, Problem gambling, Resorts World LV, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Virginia, William Hill | Comments Off on Northam covets slot tax; CEO suddenly out at Foxwoods

Under the Boardwalk; Premature panic in Virginia

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) is taking the long view on casino closures—as in, what happens if they last two months? He’s measuring the negative economic impact at $1.1 billion. According to The Press of Atlantic City, “That figure encompasses … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Architecture, Atlantic City, Australia, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Election, Florida, Foxwoods, Health, history, International, Internet gambling, Politics, Sports, Sports betting, Tribal, Virginia | 1 Comment

Gambling approved in Virginia, ixnayed in Louisiana

Gambling’s fate in Virginia now rests in Gov. Ralph Northam‘s hands, as the General Assembly has sent a casinos-and-sports-betting bill to his desk. In an eleventh-hour compromise to preserve the legislation, betting on Virginia collegiate teams will be forbidden, a … Continue reading

Posted in Internet gambling, Japan, Louisiana, Marijuana, Money laundering, Oklahoma, Philippines, Politics, Sports betting, Taxes, Tribal, Virginia | Comments Off on Gambling approved in Virginia, ixnayed in Louisiana

Caution at Churchill Downs doesn’t impress Wall Street

Churchill Downs‘ stock reacted adversely to a cautious 4Q19 revenue report, as investors worried about the impact of coronavirus on the running of the Kentucky Derby, slated for May 2. JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff, although one of those staying … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Churchill Downs, Dining, Health, Horseracing, Illinois, International, Internet gambling, Kentucky, Macau, Money laundering, Regulation, Resort fees, Scientific Games, Slot routes, Sports betting, Taxes, The Mob, The Strip, Virginia, Wall Street, William Hill | Comments Off on Caution at Churchill Downs doesn’t impress Wall Street

Politics as unusual; Macao stocks ailing

A pro-casino group in Pope County, Arkansas, may have committed an electoral no-no. Pope County Majority is accused of making in-kind contributions to two candidates and of making political endorsements, in effect becoming a PAC. PCM, which is trying to … Continue reading

Posted in Arkansas, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Election, Health, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Politics, Regulation, The Strip, Virginia, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Politics as unusual; Macao stocks ailing

Mutiny at MGM?; The art of the presidential deal

Global Gaming Business sources say MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren “was forced out by activist investors who had gathered enough support from institutional investors for his ouster.” The reason is not clear, as Murren had been doing everything possible … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, CityCenter, Donald Trump, Galaxy Entertainment, Genting, Hard Rock International, Health, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Macau, Massachusetts, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Regulation, Resort fees, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, TV, Virginia, Wall Street, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

New deadline for Oklahoma; Nevada casinos notch new high

Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy DeGiusti has placed the ball on compact renewal squarely back in Oklahoma‘s court. However, he has—to mix metaphors—split the baby quite fairly. And he’s given everyone a ticking clock to make a deal. Both sides are to … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Dining, Economy, Health, Macau, Maryland, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Nevada, Oklahoma, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Tribal, Virginia | 1 Comment

Penn looking good; From the police blotter

Penn National Gaming reported 4Q19 revenues that aligned with Wall Street projections, with cash flow modestly higher than expected “on a combination of better operations and lower than forecast corporate expenses.” JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff said that Penn was … Continue reading

Posted in Century Casinos, Colorado, Cretins, Derek Stevens, Florida, Horseracing, Iowa, Law enforcement, Money laundering, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Regulation, Slot routes, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Virginia, Wall Street | Comments Off on Penn looking good; From the police blotter

Wall Street to Coronavirus: Buy!

According to Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli, Chinese New Year visitation to Macao is now down 69%, with Day 4 bringing an 84% plunge. Santarelli’s opposite number at JP Morgan, analyst Joseph Greff countered that “There’s value for those who … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, China, Colorado, DraftKings, Health, Horseracing, Iowa, Las Vegas Sands, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Philippines, Singapore, Slot routes, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Virginia, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Wall Street to Coronavirus: Buy!

Casinos seen as gold mine, get the shaft; Oscar odds out

Whenever it’s time to consider a tax increase in Nevada, non-gaming businesses can look forward to continued freeloading. Case in point, the PAC calling itself Nevadans for Fair Gaming Taxes (and what’s unfair about Nevada’s casino tax?) are mounting a … Continue reading

Posted in Election, Maine, Mississippi, Movies, Nevada, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Taxes, Tribal, Virginia | 1 Comment