Illinois springs to life while Ohio erupts; Mohegan Sun jilted twice over

Stop the presses! Illinois casinos actually outperformed 2019 last month by 4%. That’s downright miraculous. They grossed $120 million, led by Rivers Casino Des Plaines‘ $47.5 million, a 28% vault. Harrah’s Joliet was a distant second with $14.5 million (-1%), closely followed by Grand Victoria‘s $14 million (+10%). The prosperity was confined to the northern tier, with Hollywood Aurora up a point to $10 million and Empress Joliet tumbling 20% to $8.5 million. Mid-state, Par-A-Dice slipped 8.5% to $6 million, while Bally’s Corp. will have it’s hands full with Jumer’s Rock Island, which plummeted 33% to $4 million. (Bally’s execs implied on the latest earnings call that they bought it mainly to get in on the sports betting market.) In the southern tier, Harrah’s Metropolis slid 19% to $5.5 million, Argosy Belle was down 8% to $3.5 million and DraftKings Casino Queen declined 11.5% to $7 million. Having two extra weekend days obviously did no harm to the gainers in the marketplace but the losers would surely have been much worse off—though how much worse Jumer’s could get is open to speculation. It used to be one of the best performers in the Land of Lincoln but that was a long time ago.

Incidentally, we now have access to complete numbers from Ohio. To wit, it was a real horserace. Slots-only MGM Northfield Park led with $25 million of a statewide tally of $211 million, up 17% from 2019. Close behind was Hollywood Columbus with $24 million, plus 27%. Jack Cleveland also gave MGM a run for the money with $23.5 million, leaping 38%. Other top grossers were Hollywood Toledo ($21.5 million, +27%), Hard Rock Cincinnati ($21.5 million, +23%), Scioto Downs ($21 million, +34%) and Miami Valley Gaming ($19.5 million, +31%). Other racinos were all revenue-positive: Jack Thistledown ($18 million, +49%), Belterra Park ($9 million, +22%), Hollywood Dayton ($13.5 million, +38%) and Hollywood Mahoning Valley ($15 million, +37%). No, those percentage increases are not typos and we have not been drinking.

Over in Missouri, gaming revenues hopped an impressive 20.5% over 2019. Way out in front was Ameristar St. Charles with $26.5 million (+16%), evidently stealing market share from Hollywood St. Louis, down 5.5% to $19 million. Since Hollywood was the only revenue-negative casino in the state (and should have benefited from two extra weekend days), something dire seems afoot. Penn National Gaming‘s River City fared much better, up 10.5% to $20 million, while Lumiere Place (pictured) continues to come on strong, gaining 18% to finish at $15 million. Across the state in Kansas City, wonders are being worked by Bally’s Corp. at its newly re-branded casino, soaring 81.5% to $9.5 million. Ameristar Kansas City tallied $18 million (+15.5%), besting Harrah’s North Kansas City ($16 million, +2.5%) and Argosy Riverside ($16 million, +9%). Isle of Capri Boonville led all outstate casinos with $8 million, a 16% gain. All Century Casinos properties were well into double digits, foremost among them being Century Cape Girardeau‘s $6.5 million, a 45% vault.

Got a few millions—OK, a lot of millions—to spare? Sotheby’s is auctioning off 11 Pablo Picasso artworks that formerly adorned Bellagio. It isn’t Steve Wynn who’s liquidating them but MGM Resorts International, in a shameless cash grab. Yes, the company is downgrading the Bellagio experience in return from some quick moolah, probably in the neighborhood of $75 million. CEO Matt Maddox [correction: CEO Bill Hornbuckle] ought to be ashamed of himself. Reports the Wall Street Journal: “It isn’t clear whether Mr. Wynn’s ties to the Picassos will help or hurt the artworks’ sale prices. The company said that it isn’t seeking to distance itself from Mr. Wynn by selling off the Picassos but is aware that the sale could serve as a referendum on his taste—and on collectors’ willingness to buy art affiliated with the shunned mogul.”

If the company wants to scrub the taint of El Steve away it might, oh we don’t know, maybe change its name? A Wynn spokesman tried a cover-your-ass move by saying that the money would be used for diversity purposes, to purchase art by women and people of color. Sorry, not buying it. Nobody likes an artwork more or less based on demographics. Irony of ironies, one of the likely buyers is a certain Steve Wynn. The auction is tentatively scheduled to be held at Bellagio itself but you can bid online, if you’ve got some extra money under your sofa cushions.

Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment was unlucky twice over in Nagasaki. First it got thrown over by financier and development partner Oshidori International Holdings. The latter cited “ethical” concerns with how the selection process was being conducted. It wanted the RFP procedure changed to suit its preferences, a demand that probably went over like a lead balloon with the prefecture. Like a cowboy minus a horse, MGE announced it would make a go of it somehow. “We were providing operational expertise and assistance for the RFP process and did not anticipate any meaningful cash flows or expenses related to this project,” said Mohegan CEO Raymond Pineault, whilst begging the question of “How?” Instead of the Mohegan, the Nagasaki government tapped dark horse Casinos Austria for the job, giving it “priority negotiation rights.”

If Casinos Austria falters, MGE could always re-enter the picture but that’s a slim reed on which to place one’s hopes. Casinos Austria operates 215 casinos in 35 countries, which undoubtedly helped its cause. Or as a government official said, “We picked the company because it gives us the best prospects for turning our plan into a reality.” Casinos Austria plans to spend $4.2 billion to convert a theme park into a casino-based resort. The prefecture has high hopes for the project, estimating it will grow tourism by 7 million to 9 million people a year. However, one columnist balefully warns, “After more than 20 companies from around the globe initially expressed interest in the Japan IR opportunity, only six remain in the four candidate locations, and only three of those six have any IR experience in Asia.” Not words that inspire confidence.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but Global Gaming Expo is going to be a masked ball this year. Showing decisiveness while others temporize, American Gaming Association President Bill Miller laid down the law. “These updates reinforce how quickly the state of the pandemic changes,” read an official AGA statement. “We know that mandates will almost certainly change again by the time we convene in October.” We know that some of the G2E presentations will be virtual. Can we attend virtually?

It’s not a frivolous question. Breakthrough cases are increasing in Clark County. Perhaps we should hang leper bells upon the unvaccinated and make them go through the streets chanting “Unclean! Unclean!” It would give the rest of us a sporting chance. “This delta variant is truly Godzilla,” said one medical professional. “It is truly burning down communities that are unvaccinated and now moving its way into fully vaccinated individuals, as well.” Bloomberg reports that conventions which had been optimistically booked in hopes that we had turned the corner on Coronavirus are being cancelled again. Yes, we’re looking at you, Las Vegas. You knew what the dangers were and didn’t care. Were it not for the vigilance of certain leaders in Big Gaming, the predicament would be worse still.

Arizona has a nice problem. It has more applicants for sports betting licenses (25) than it has licenses (20). Half must go to Native American tribes by law and the other half are earmarked for professional sports franchises. The problem isn’t the latter but the former. 15 tribes want in on sports betting, meaning either the law must be amended (highly unlikely, in our view) or five tribes get left out in the cold. Stay tuned to this story, as the names of the applicants will be released Monday. We already know that BetMGM is nesting with the Arizona Cardinals but most other operators are playing their cards close to the vest.

Jottings: Sports betting is becoming so prevalent so quickly that Sports Illustrated was moved to devote a whole issue to it. Particularly strong reading is their takedown of major league sports’ sudden eagerness to cash in. Hypocrisy, thy name is sports commissioners … The peripatetic Star Trek Convention is on the move again. Next year, while The Rio is remodeled, it will put down roots at Bally’s Las Vegas (assuming it hasn’t been sold by then) before returning to The Rio in 2023. Make it so … Resorts World New York has opened its $400 million Hyatt Regency JFK Airport hotel. It’s got 434 room and suites, and Empire Resorts played it up big, understandably hoping to impress the powers that be, all the better to get table games. Resorts World NY makes do with a staggering 5,500 slots, not counting an offsite 1,000 more in Nassau County … Working at Saracen Casino in Arkansas and still not vaccinated? Maybe extra vacation days will persuade you … Happy birthday, Railroad Pass Casino. You’re ugly as sin but you’re Nevada‘s oldest continually operating casino, in business since 1931. However, owner Joe DeSimone is serious about upgrading the place, which is way more than MGM Resorts International ever did with it … Parx Casino is entering the Michigan online-gaming market. It’s struck a deal with tribal Gun Lake Casino to provide a platform for its games.

Quote of the Day: “We wouldn’t get busy till 2 or 3 o’clock, but now, with this betting phenomenon, it’s busy from the start.”—Fort Lee, New Jersey pizzeria owner Jim Missiris on all the business he’s getting thanks to New York sports bettors crossing the state line to nosh and make online wagers.