Maryland casinos hit another monthly record — $82 million — boosted by Horseshoe Baltimore. Revenues at Maryland Live fell 10%, to $45.5 million — boosted by 50,000 customers over the Labor Day weekend — and Horseshoe raked in $22 million. Those results are roughly proportional to the casinos’ respective sizes. Casino President Rob Norton said the numbers were “far better than what most of the state’s analysts projected.” Hollywood Casino Perryville slipped 11%, to $6 million, while way out in Rocky Gap, the casino-resort actually saw a revenue increase, up 16% to $4 million.
* One of the by-blows of Paragon Gaming‘s takeover of operations at the Riviera is the displacement of entertainment programming onto Red Mercury Productions, helmed by ex-Caesars Entertainment exec Carlos Reynoso. The defection of illusionist Jan Rouven to the Tropicana Las Vegas has opened a gap that will be filled by Dirk Arthur and his big cats. Since the Riv continues to balk at bringing the Versailles Theater up to date, Arthur and his giant kitties will be crammed into the relatively intimate (535 seats) Starlite Theater.
The Riv will be Arthur’s sixth stop in a 15-year career of presenting illusions in the Vegas market, plus two years exiled to Laughlin (which actually had to be a step up from the former O’Shea’s, a real dump). He hopes to use his new bully pulpit at the Riv to educate local school students on the rarity of his animals and the need for conservation. S&G wishes him well.
* If you’re bringing a dromedary into Nevada, keep it from running loose on the highway or you’ll be in trouble with the law. Same with pawning your dentures (so much for one of Macao‘s primary instruments of credit). “Criminal anarchy” is unlawful, regular anarchy is not. You can’t own a gnu and, when giving a lap dance in a VIP room, you may have to wear two pairs of panties. Don’t say we’re soft on crime here.
