Category Archives: Washington State

F-blue, Rio approved; Indiana down again; Biden smoked

Fontainebleau owner Jeffrey Soffer and top exec Brett Mufson are certain to be approved after their audition for the Nevada Gaming Control Board. And why not? Aside from an ancient tax issue involving the Town Square mall, there’s nothing untoward … Continue reading

Posted in Animals, Architecture, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, DraftKings, Entertainment, Environment, FanDuel, Fontainebleau, Genting, Hard Rock International, Health, history, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Kazuo Okada, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Missouri, Movies, New York, North Carolina, Ocean Resort, Ohio, Penn National, Politics, Regulation, Resorts World LV, Seminole Tribe, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, The Rio, Tribal, Virgin Hotels, Virginia, Wall Street, Washington State, Wynn Resorts | 4 Comments

Stupid political antics; Baseball boondoggle; Mega-Jottings

American Gaming Association President Bill Miller likes to say—and quite rightly—that communities should welcome casinos because Big Gaming is willing to pay big taxes. Until now, that is. Las Vegas Sands has barely planted its flag in Nassau, New York, … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Australia, Bally, Baseball, California, Cretins, Crown Resorts, Health, IGT, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Money laundering, New York, North Carolina, Politics, Rhode Island, Slot routes, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Washington State, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Atlantic City still up; Full House fuels diners; Japan payday?

Casino revenues were outstripped in New Jersey in March by i-gaming ones, $228.5 million to $253 million. But Atlantic City continued to be healthy, up 5.5%. Slot winnings were 1% higher on flat coin-in but table games did 7% better … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, Dining, DraftKings, FanDuel, Full House Resorts, Genting, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Illinois, Internet gambling, Japan, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ocean Resort, PointsBet, Politics, Rush Street Gaming, Shuffle Master, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, Tribal, United Kingdom, Wall Street, Washington State, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Vegas booming; Churchill Downs “messy”; Mega-Jottings

Nevada gambling winning catapulted 18% last month—yes, almost a 20% increase over post-Covid numbers (although January 2022 was dampened by Omicron). The good times just keep on rolling, to the tune of $1.2 billion. The Las Vegas Strip led the … Continue reading

Posted in Alabama, Aristocrat, Arizona, Atlantic City, Bally, Baseball, BetMGM, Boulder Strip, Century Casinos, Churchill Downs, Culinary Union, Downtown, DraftKings, Environment, Fontainebleau, Georgia, GLPI, Hard Rock International, Horseracing, Indiana, International, Internet gambling, Iowa, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Lotteries, Maverick Gaming, Mesquite, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Movies, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Las Vegas, Peninsula Pacific, Pennsylvania, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Reno, Resorts World LV, Rush Street Gaming, Slot routes, South Korea, Sports betting, Technology, The Rio, The Strip, Tribal, United Kingdom, Vici Properties, Virginia, Wall Street, Washington State, Wendover | 1 Comment

Caesars Strip-tease; Slot flea swatted; Biden targets resort fees

In the end, all that talk of Caesars Entertainment selling a Las Vegas Strip asset was just a sham. The company probably couldn’t find any takers for the Flamingo at CEO Tom Reeg‘s preposterous asking price (ditto his equally preposterous … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Bally, Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, Chicago, Churchill Downs, Conventions, Cordish Co., Hard Rock International, Indiana, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Real Estate, Resort fees, Sports betting, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Virginia, Wall Street, Washington State | 4 Comments

Report from the shore; Cretins win in Alabama

While Bally’s Corp. may not be the laughingstock of the casino industry, it isn’t for want of trying. You would think that Bally’s Atlantic City (above) would want to pimp nearby Bally’s Dover Downs to its customers. Instead it sent … Continue reading

Posted in Alabama, Alex Meruelo, Arizona, Atlantic City, Australia, Bally, Churchill Downs, Delaware, DraftKings, Economy, Hard Rock International, Health, Kentucky, Las Vegas Raiders, Marketing, Mississippi, New York, Politics, Sports betting, Star Entertainment, Taxes, United Kingdom, Wall Street, Washington State, WInd Creek | 1 Comment

Voyage to Vegas, Part Two

Today we conclude our review of Deutsche Bank analyst Carlo Santarelli‘s recent field trip to Las Vegas. We resume with Station Casinos, which seems to be accelerating its development timetable. Once it gets Durango Station up and running, it will … Continue reading

Posted in Australia, Bally, Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, California, Canada, Economy, Golden Gaming, Las Vegas Sands, Laughlin, Macau, Maryland, Maverick Gaming, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Money laundering, Nevada, Phil Ruffin, Scientific Games, Slot routes, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, TV, Wall Street, Washington State, Wynn Resorts | 3 Comments

Recovery slowing but still going; Singapore soars

Although gambling revenues in Maryland decelerated somewhat from May, they were still 1% higher than last June and 14% more robust than 2019’s, for a total haul of $163 million. It was basically a two-horse race, with MGM National Harbor … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Caesars Entertainment, China, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., Crown Resorts, DraftKings, Entertainment, FanDuel, Golden Gaming, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Macau, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mississippi, Penn National, Rush Street Gaming, Singapore, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Washington State, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Maryland weaker, Illinois stronger; Mickelson in denial

Even as playing levels normalize from last year, gambling revenues continue their upward tread. Maryland, for instance, was 4% higher in May than a year ago (and 17.5% above 2019). Had there not been one fewer weekend day than in … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Chicago, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., DFS, DraftKings, Economy, FanDuel, Genting, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Politics, Problem gambling, Racinos, Sports, Sports betting, Taxes, Tribal, Virginia, Washington State | 1 Comment

Doldrums in Macao; “Love” in jeopardy; Mega-Jottings

There’s an Eeyore sweatshirt that says, “Could be worse. Not sure how, but it could be.” That pretty much sums up the situation in Macao, which finished 2021 44% ahead of 2020 when it comes to gambling revenue … but … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Atlantic City, Cirque du Soleil, Colorado, Cordish Co., Economy, Florida, Galaxy Entertainment, GLPI, Health, IGT, International, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Sands, Laughlin, Law enforcement, Macau, Maryland, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, North Carolina, Politics, Real Estate, Regulation, Sports betting, Taxes, Tribal, Wall Street, Washington State, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Doldrums in Macao; “Love” in jeopardy; Mega-Jottings

Urban One loses; Station thinks big; NFL gets into the slot biz

Richmond voters narrowly chose to cut off their nose to spite their face, voting 51.5% against the Urban One casino proposal. Since casinos were approved by at least 65% in four other Virginia cities in 2020, the resounding question is … Continue reading

Posted in Aristocrat, Caesars Entertainment, California, Dining, DraftKings, Election, Florida, Hard Rock International, Health, International, Iowa, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, MGM Resorts International, Michael Gaughan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Palms, Politics, Real Estate, Resorts World LV, Seminole Tribe, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, Technology, Transportation, Tribal, Virginia, Wall Street, Washington State | 6 Comments

Atlantic City slumps, as does Pennsylvania; Culinary kabuki theatre

Casinos along the Boardwalk continue to be impervious to the economic recovery that is prevalent in the gaming industry. Atlantic City was down 8% last month compared to 2019, grossing $262.5 million. Sports betting brought in $52 million (+32% from … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Bally, Barstool Sports, BetMGM, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Churchill Downs, Cordish Co., CQ Holdings, Culinary Union, DraftKings, Entertainment, FanDuel, Florida, FoxBet, Golden Nugget, Greenwood Racing, Hard Rock International, International, Internet gambling, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Louisiana, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Washington State, Wayne F. Newton, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

MGM hits paydirt; Palms sold?; Atlantic City underwhelms

Remember the Harmon Hotel? That Sir Norman Foster-designed tower that had to be amputated at half the intended height in 2008 because of incompetent construction? The only Las Vegas resort ever to be dismantled without having hosted a single guest? … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Card rooms, Carl Icahn, Charity, Churchill Downs, CityCenter, Cosmopolitan, CQ Holdings, Detroit, Dining, Diversity, DraftKings, Entertainment, Florida, Full House Resorts, Golden Nugget, Hard Rock International, Health, Louisiana, LVCVA, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Nevada, Ocean Resort, Palms, Penn National, Real Estate, Resort fees, Rush Street Gaming, Seminole Tribe, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, Washington State | 1 Comment

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

Welcome to Less Vegas

Caesars Entertainment, aka Eldorado Resorts, has become possessed by the evil spirit of spare-every-expense Columbia Sussex. In one of the most odious of recent cutpurse moves, bartenders have been ordered to short-pour liquor: The ‘new normal’ is .75 ounces per … Continue reading

Posted in Alabama, Arizona, Barstool Sports, Caesars Entertainment, California, Canada, Columbia Sussex, Connecticut, Conventions, Cretins, DraftKings, Election, FanDuel, Florida, Health, Kansas, Lotteries, Massachusetts, Maverick Gaming, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Penn National, PointsBet, Politics, Racinos, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tribal, United Kingdom, Wall Street, Washington State | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

“If you have this amenity and there’s sports betting at the card rooms, you might add 250 jobs and the secondary effect of those jobs. We have over 2,200 employees in the state. They’re great-paying jobs with an average salary … Continue reading

Posted in Card rooms, Economy, Maverick Gaming, Sports betting, Washington State | 1 Comment

Miller dares Adelson; Room rates reel

Late last week American Gaming Association President Bill Miller did something radical about Internet gambling. He discussed it. On a conference call. With reporters. Unprompted. You have to understand that ‘Net betting has been a no-fly zone for the AGA … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Caesars Entertainment, Card rooms, Economy, Geoff Freeman, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Maverick Gaming, MGM Resorts International, Mohegan Sun, Penn National, Rush Street Gaming, Sheldon Adelson, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Wall Street, Washington State, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Miller dares Adelson; Room rates reel

Park MGM goes smokeless?; Excalibur returns

Resuming business in mid-pandemic, the casino industry finds itself at a nodal point unlike few in its history. The question: To smoke or not to smoke? Leaving aside our (negative) feelings about tobacco and its side effects, if the casino … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Arizona, Atlantic City, California, Environment, Health, Jim Murren, MGM Resorts International, Technology, The Strip, Tribal, Washington State | 3 Comments

Hard times for Atlantic City; Murren’s big payday

Atlantic City casinos have pink-slipped 6,000 workers as a gaming shutdown goes on indefinitely. Said Ocean Casino Resort CEO Terry Glebocki, “This is truly an unprecedented time not only for Ocean, but for everyone.” Unemployment claims in the Garden State … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Hard Rock International, Health, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Morris Bailey, Ocean Resort, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Real Estate, Regulation, Sports betting, Tribal, Wall Street, Washington State | 1 Comment

Notes in the time of Coronavirus

Saying her city “cannot survive” a month-long shutdown, Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman (D) wants Gov. Steve Sisolak (D) to drastically reduce his 30-day casino closure. We admire Goodman normally but think she’s out of her depth here or, as … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Caesars Entertainment, Conventions, Cretins, Economy, Election, Genting, Horseracing, International, Las Vegas Raiders, Nevada, New York, Sports, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Wall Street, Washington State | Comments Off on Notes in the time of Coronavirus