Category Archives: William Hill

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

Covid-19 rattles oddsmakers; No joy in Vegas

Before the ink was dry on a deal for BetMGM to become the official wagering partner of the Tennessee Titans, inescapable Covid-19 rippled through the Titans’ ranks, forcing indefinite postponement of a tilt against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Incidences like this … Continue reading

Posted in Economy, Florida, Health, Illinois, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Raiders, Law enforcement, Lotteries, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, TV, Twin River, Wall Street, William Hill | 3 Comments

Vegas’ mixed message; China puts the squeeze on Macao

Is the Las Vegas Strip coming back? Yes and no, to judge by hotel rates for the October 18-24 period. They’re 50% 0ff last year’s but with a severe dichotomy between weekdays and weekends. For instance, Las Vegas Sands (even … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Barstool Sports, Caesars Entertainment, China, Conventions, Economy, Health, Kazuo Okada, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Planet Hollywood, Problem gambling, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Virgin Hotels, Wall Street, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

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

Caesars here, Caesars there, Caesars everywhere

Caesars Entertainment got a vote of confidence from JP Morgan analyst Daniel Politzer today, largely on the strength of its regional portfolio, as well as its potency in the sports-betting sphere. Regional trends were described as “better than expected,” and … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Caesars Entertainment, Eldorado Resorts, Election, Entertainment, history, International, Internet gambling, Laughlin, Louisiana, Marketing, Maryland, Reno, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, TV, Wall Street, William Hill | 1 Comment

Hot water in Singapore; Pennsylvania sports books triumph

Faced with evidence of money laundering at Marina Bay Sands, CEO Sheldon Adelson is being proactive and hiring a local firm to investigate $1 billion in fund transfers from high rollers to third parties. It’s frankly in Adelson’s interest to … Continue reading

Posted in Barstool Sports, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Card rooms, Dining, Downtown, DraftKings, Election, Environment, FanDuel, Greenwood Racing, Hooters, Internet gambling, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Maryland, Mohegan Sun, Money laundering, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Rush Street Gaming, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, Terry Caudill, TV, William Hill | 1 Comment

Park MGM reopens early; Power play at Scientific

MGM Resorts International had mooted as late as an end-of-the-year target for resuming business at Park MGM. However, the date has been advanced to Sept. 30 and, yes, Park MGM will be smoke-free. In a subplot, Four Seasons reopens five … Continue reading

Posted in Aristocrat, Caesars Entertainment, Las Vegas Sands, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Scientific Games, The Strip, TV, Wall Street, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 1 Comment

Macao moots casino closures; Stevens vs. William Hill

Here it comes. Again. The government of Macao is taking a zero-tolerance policy toward Covid-19. Although there hasn’t been a case in four months (good for them), the enclave is floating the idea of shutting down any casino where a … Continue reading

Posted in Arizona, Caesars Entertainment, Derek Stevens, DraftKings, Economy, Hawaii, Internet gambling, Japan, Macau, Marketing, MGM Resorts International, Oklahoma, Sports betting, Tribal, Wall Street, West Virginia, William Hill | 1 Comment

Dark portent for MGM Springfield; Chicago courts casinos

A thousand MGM Springfield employees have been canned, effective today. A skeleton crew of 800 keeps the casino-resort open, as it writhes in pandemic economic throes. Reports the Boston Globe, “State rules to prevent the spread of the coronavirus have … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Canada, Cantor Gaming, Cosmopolitan, Derek Stevens, Dining, Donald Trump, Downtown Grand, Economy, Golden Gaming, Health, Illinois, Las Vegas Raiders, Las Vegas Sands, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Regulation, Reno, Sahara, Silverton, Slot routes, Station Casinos, Taxes, Terry Caudill, The Strip, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Covid tourism at Bally’s; College football conundrum

When Bally’s Las Vegas announced that the Real Bodies exhibit would be adding “Covid-19 Content” we admittedly feared the worst: corpses of Coronavirus victims on display. While cashing in on Covid-19 is in questionable taste, Real Bodies seems to be … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, China, Dining, Diversity, Economy, Election, FanDuel, Health, Las Vegas Raiders, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Nevada, Regulation, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Transportation, Westgate LV, William Hill | 3 Comments

The big enchilada

“The Biggest Gaming Opportunity Since Riverboats in the Early ’90s.” That’s how JP Morgan gaming analyst Joseph Greff, a man not given to hype, characterized i-gaming and sports betting today. He described them as “as an emerging and exciting area … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Colorado, Cosmopolitan, DraftKings, FanDuel, Golden Nugget, Illinois, Indiana, Internet gambling, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, MTR Gaming, Palms, Penn National, Regulation, Rush Street Gaming, Silverton, Sports betting, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street, William Hill | 2 Comments

Canary in the coal mine

In Asian cultures, safety protocols like wearing a face mask are routine—they’ve dealt with viral outbreaks in the past, it’s not unusual,” gaming consultant Andrew Klebanow told Global Gaming News. And though Covid-19 cases spiked at 17,000 in Singapore, Klebanow’s … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, California, Diversity, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Health, Nevada, Regulation, Singapore, Sports betting, Tourism, Transportation, William Hill | 2 Comments

Atlantic City protest fizzles

Well, that could have been a lot worse. The scheduled fireworks show at Mount Rushmore didn’t set off a forest fire and Boardwalk activist anarchist Steve Young failed in his goal to “shut down the city.” What did he accomplish … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Florida, Hard Rock International, Health, M Resort, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Unite-Here, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | 2 Comments

Fourth of July a damp squib?

Las Vegas had better prepare for Fourth of July disappointment, at least if WalletHub is correct. A survey of consumers found that 78% will be spending less this Fourth, 75% have modified their summer plans and 38% have canceled them … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Baseball, Cosmopolitan, Culinary Union, Economy, Entertainment, Health, Regulation, Sports betting, William Hill | 3 Comments

Strip clocked, locals stronger; Montana reopens first

Nevada casinos won $618 million in a Covid-19-truncated March, with the Las Vegas Strip leading the plunge with a 46% fall to $300 million. Las Vegas locals play was remarkably strong under the circumstances, down only 20.5%, although that number may … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boulder Strip, Boyd Gaming, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Election, Golden Gaming, Health, Internet gambling, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, Mesquite, Nevada, North Las Vegas, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Reno, The Strip, Wall Street, Wendover, William Hill | Comments Off on Strip clocked, locals stronger; Montana reopens first

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

Stitt catches a break; Station, Gaughan step up to the plate

Did the government of Oklahoma screw up the exclusivity agreement that gave it power over tribal gambling? That’s the contention of a new legal brief from the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, who say that the recent expansion of lottery offerings … Continue reading

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Charity, Dan Gilbert, Downtown, Genting, Golden Gaming, Health, International, Internet gambling, Lotteries, MGM Resorts International, Michael Gaughan, Ohio, Oklahoma, Sahara, Singapore, Sports, Sports betting, Station Casinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tribal, William Hill | 1 Comment

Gaming: Too big to fail?; Sports betting gets creative

Casino CEOs have no shame. They are capitalizing on the Coronavirus crisis to go to Congress, palms extended, cadging for a bailout. In an outrage-inducing story in today’s Washington Post, it is reported that the gaming industry’s wish list includes: … Continue reading

Posted in AGA, Caesars Entertainment, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Genting, MGM Resorts International, Michael Gaughan, Nevada, Phil Ruffin, Planet Hollywood, Politics, Sports, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Tourism, Transportation, Westgate LV, William Hill | 2 Comments

Panic in The Street, Vegas calmer

A stock market “circuit breaker” was deployed for the first time since the crash of 2008, when Wall Street opened for trading and stocks promptly nosedived. All major casino stocks are trading down, especially Wynn Resorts, Eldorado Resorts and Station Casinos. … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, China, Conventions, Diversity, Eldorado Resorts, Health, IGT, International, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Oregon, Philippines, Sports betting, Station Casinos, The Strip, Tribal, Wall Street, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Panic in The Street, Vegas calmer

Bank rides to Churchill Downs’ rescue; Las Vegas healthy

Last week Churchill Downs posted perfectly good 4Q19 numbers but Wall Street wasn’t buying it. CHDN shares slumped 14%. That prompted some weekend damage control from JP Morgan, which bumped its rating up from “neutral” to “overweight,” and sent analyst … Continue reading

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, China, Conventions, Donald Trump, Economy, Eldorado Resorts, Health, history, Horseracing, Illinois, Indiana, International, Kentucky, Marketing, Problem gambling, Regulation, Rhode Island, Slot routes, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Tourism, Transportation, Tribal, Wall Street, Washington State, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Bank rides to Churchill Downs’ rescue; Las Vegas healthy