Category Archives: Wall Street

“In a word, messy”

That’s how JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff described the online sports-betting bill enacted by the New York State Lege. The latter essentially caved to Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), giving control of OSB to the state lottery. Instead of the one-operator … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Detroit, DraftKings, Environment, Genting, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ocean Resort, Palms, Politics, Real Estate, Regulation, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tribal, Wall Street | Comments Off on “In a word, messy”

Caesars looking good; Amtrak covets Vegas; Bally’s underwhelms

Joseph Greff and his fellow JP Morgan analysts looked at recent trends in Las Vegas and any place not named Atlantic City, and liked what they saw, raising their price target on the stock five bucks to $101/share. Positive factors … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, California, Cosmopolitan, Dining, Economy, Golden Nugget, Harry Reid, Health, Indiana, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Nevada, Oklahoma, Regulation, Reno, Station Casinos, Technology, Texas, The Rio, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street, William Hill, World Series of Poker, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Massachusetts gaming a success; Cuomo gains upper hand in NY

A University of Massachusetts Amherst panel led by respected academic Rachel Volberg has been studying casino gambling in Massachusetts and likes most of what it finds. It concluded that Bay State dollars had been significantly repatriated from neighboring states (the … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Arizona, Barstool Sports, Baseball, California, Cordish Co., Derek Stevens, Diversity, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Georgia, Health, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Problem gambling, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

A.C.: A month to forget; Trump sticks it to Miami

Casino revenue headed 32% south in Atlantic City last month, to $148 million. Those were augmented with $46 million in sports-betting dollars and $94 million from Internet gambling (+80%), so that probably counts as a silver lining to a dark … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Donald Trump, DraftKings, FanDuel, Florida, Fontainebleau, FoxBet, Genting, Golden Nugget, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, New York, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Real Estate, Rush Street Gaming, Seminole Tribe, Sports, Sports betting, Tribal, Wall Street, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Trop sale teased; Michigan sports betting explosive

Gaming & Leisure Properties Inc. hosted JP Morgan analysts last week and tried to get them all hot and bothered with talk of a Tropicana Las Vegas sale. It said it felt one would happen sooner, not later, adding that … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Detroit, DraftKings, FanDuel, FoxBet, Genting, GLPI, Health, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, Penn National, Pennsylvania, PointsBet, Politics, Real Estate, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 6 Comments

Wall Street meets Las Vegas, Part II

Station Casinos dispatched Executive Vice President Rodney Atamian to meet with JP Morgan analysts last week. According to Joseph Greff, he reported, “solid/improving visitation and spend per visit trends.” A possible increase in Nevada casino-capacity limits to 50% should propel … Continue reading

Posted in Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Downtown, Economy, FanDuel, Golden Gaming, Hawaii, Health, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Maryland, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, New Jersey, Palms, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Slot routes, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Chicago gets serious; Ohio recovering but Missouri swoons

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D), having received 11 expressions of interest in a megaresort (two of them an exacta by MGM Resorts International and MGM Growth Properties) is ready to issue a request for proposals sometime next month. We’ll then … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Bally, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Detroit, DraftKings, FanDuel, Florida, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Indiana, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Maryland: More gamblers = more money; Illinois improving

What will prompt recovery in gaming? Stimulus money, yes, but we got a strong indicator of something else out of Maryland last weekend. Overall, casino revenues were down 16.5% but the story is more complicated than that. At facilities restricted … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Australia, Bally, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Churchill Downs, Connecticut, Cordish Co., Crown Resorts, DraftKings, FanDuel, Foxwoods, Golden Gaming, Illinois, Internet gambling, Iowa, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Problem gambling, Sports, Sports betting, TV, Wall Street, West Virginia, William Hill | Comments Off on Maryland: More gamblers = more money; Illinois improving

New Yorkers want more casinos; More death on the Strip

While the last round of casino expansion in New York State was no better than a succes d’estime, Empire Station residents are still behind a planned 2023 enlargement that would bring three new resorts. Given the choice of casinos, higher … Continue reading

Posted in California, DFS, DraftKings, Genting, Georgia, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Politics, Racinos, Scientific Games, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, Technology, Tennessee, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, Unite-Here, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on New Yorkers want more casinos; More death on the Strip

Roman Empire conquers Venice

In a dramatic, dead-of-night deal, Las Vegas Sands sold The Venetian and Palazzo to a REIT/private-equity combo of Vici Properties and Apollo Management for $6.25 billion. Vici and Apollo obviously have a considerable appetite for risk on the Las Vegas … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Caesars Entertainment, Crown Resorts, DraftKings, Internet gambling, James Packer, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, New York, Real Estate, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports betting, Texas, The Strip, TV, Wall Street, William Hill | 2 Comments

Sports bets a hit in Virginia; Vegas recovery an iffy prospect

Online sports betting was quick out of the gate in Virginia—$59 million in handle in 11 days—although books spent so much money acquiring customers that they took a loss on the month. “Debuting ahead of the NFL’s conference championship games … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Conventions, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Health, history, IGT, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Lotteries, LVCVA, Marketing, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Resort fees, Rhode Island, Rush Street Gaming, Scientific Games, Sports betting, Tennessee, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, United Kingdom, Virgin Hotels, Virginia, Wall Street, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Sports bets a hit in Virginia; Vegas recovery an iffy prospect

Hope in the Roman Empire; DraftKings rules

Although it tried to flash Wall Street some ankle yesterday, Caesars Entertainment’s 4Q20 numbers failed to surprise analysts. In a reverse image of the rest of the industry, better-than-expected cash flow on the Strip (cost-cutting?) was “more than offset” by … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, China, Colorado, Conventions, DraftKings, Economy, Health, Illinois, Internet gambling, Louisiana, Macau, Marketing, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, Movies, Real Estate, Sports, Sports betting, Tamares Group, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | Comments Off on Hope in the Roman Empire; DraftKings rules

Vegas locals strong, Strip stinks; Economic boom foreseen

Even with $600 extra in their pockets, gamblers could not be lured back to the Las Vegas Strip last month. Strip revenues of $321.5 million represented a 44% implosion from 2020. Statewide, the falloff was 26.5% to $762 million. Once … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Derek Stevens, Dining, Downtown, Economy, Election, Health, history, Horseracing, Illinois, International, Kentucky, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Maryland, Mesquite, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Pennsylvania, Reno, Security, Sports, Sports betting, Tennessee, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Wall Street, Wendover | 3 Comments

Mixed signals from Vegas; It’s all good in Atlantic City

Is the new year bringing a Las Vegas comeback? If you set store by anecdotal evidence, things look relatively normal on Fremont Street. God knows Downtown could use a dose of normality, especially after a December devoutly to be forgotten. … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Architecture, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Detroit, Downtown, Economy, Election, Golden Nugget, Hawaii, Health, Horseracing, Illinois, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Iowa, Kansas, Las Vegas Sands, Lotteries, Louisiana, Macau, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Politics, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, United Kingdom, Virginia, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Boyd better than expected; Marching through Georgia

Boyd Gaming leaked January data, what Wall Street calls “offered an encouraging commentary,” to help put an upbeat spin on its 4Q20 numbers. It worked like a charm. JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff moved his price target up $8 to … Continue reading

Posted in Alabama, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Cretins, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, FanDuel, Florida, Foxwoods, Georgia, Hawaii, Health, Illinois, Lotteries, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Politics, Resort fees, South Carolina, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tony Hsieh, Tourism, Virgin Hotels, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Michigan gaming explodes; Massachusetts droops

Online sports betting and Internet gambling have come to Michigan and they’re a smash hit. In the first 10 days of sports betting, handle was $115 million, with revenues of $13 million. FanDuel led market share with 32% of handle, … Continue reading

Posted in Barstool Sports, Detroit, Dining, DraftKings, Entertainment, FanDuel, FoxBet, Health, history, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Raiders, M Resort, MGM Resorts International, New Jersey, New York, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Real Estate, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, Taxes, Tennessee, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Michigan gaming explodes; Massachusetts droops

A.C.: Trump Dump gone, Hard Rock and Ocean going strong

At 9:08 a.m. yesterday, one of the towers of Trump Plaza was finally imploded, an important first step in clearing Atlantic City of its last excrescences of You Know Who. Maybe owner Carl Icahn, having been a “george” donor to … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Bally, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Charity, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Current, Dining, Donald Trump, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, FoxBet, Golden Nugget, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Mohegan Sun, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, TV, Wall Street, William Hill | 3 Comments

F-blue returns from the grave; Caesars socks it to you

The Thing That Wouldn’t Die, aka Fontainebleau, is back again. Former owner Steven Witkoff has sold it to Koch Real Estate Investments for an undisclosed price. Considering that Witkoff bought it from Carl Icahn for $600 million and estimated that … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Harry Reid, history, Horseracing, Illinois, Law enforcement, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Planet Hollywood, Racinos, Resorts World LV, Steven Witkoff, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Virgin Hotels, Wall Street | 5 Comments

MGM revisited; Mixed month for Indiana

Today it was Credit Suisse analyst Ben Chaiken‘s turn to weigh in on MGM Resorts International‘s 4Q20 numbers and he found even more to like than did Joseph Greff yesterday. Leading with Macao, Chaiken saw MGM China capturing more of … Continue reading

Posted in Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Colorado, Dan Lee, Donald Trump, DraftKings, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, Galaxy Entertainment, Genting, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Japan, Jim Murren, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Marketing, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Movies, New York, Penn National, Regulation, Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, Spectacle Entertainment, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, The Mob, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Washington State, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

BetMGM saves company’s bacon; Whither the Palms?

Seesawing between the effects of closures and capacity restrictions, Detroit casinos were down 28% last month. They grossed $87 million, led by MGM Grand Detroit with $34 million (-32%). Breathing down MGM’s neck is MotorCity‘s $33 million haul (-21%), while … Continue reading

Posted in California, Card rooms, Colorado, Conventions, Cordish Co., Detroit, Dining, Economy, Health, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Palms, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Tennessee, The Strip, Tourism, Wall Street | 2 Comments