Casino advocates and New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) are making a risky wager regarding November’s ballot question that would dramatically expand gambling in upstate New York. They’re playing it cool, keeping most of their chips off the table. Cuomo is feigning neutrality on the issue rather than using the bully pulpit of his office to advocate for what is, after all, his baby. Although the casino question enjoys a large plurality of support, backers should look to Hard Rock International‘s recent ejection from West Springfield, Massachusetts, and think twice about chilling out.
If advocates have a war chest upon which they’re sitting, opponents have little money but considerable Continue reading
Take a good look at that flapper-era costume. It’s not long for Resorts Atlantic City. Now that the Mohegan Gaming Authority has well and truly taken the reins of the property, the late Dennis Gomes‘ Prohibition Era theming is on the way to the tipping bin. The ascendant, new influence is Jimmy Buffett. The success of his Margaritaville retrofit has been such a boost to Resorts’ financials (averaging 9% up over the last months) that one can expect the Margaritaville theme to be extended throughout the rest of Resorts A.C. Loyal “parrotheads” from up and down the Eastern Seaboard 
enough to snare the Las Vegas Business Press‘ accolade as 
Yes, casino revenues are disappointing this year, tracking flat with 2012. However, the Strip 
Overruling Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley (D), a Bay State court 
That rising clamor you hear along the Strip isn’t just from weekend picketers at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. No, the Culinary Union 
If there’s anything to be learned from this week’s Hard Rock International face-plant in West Springfield, it’s not to take anything for granted. HRI made the mistake of believing its own poll, indeed, venerating it like holy writ, and got a rude surprise last Tuesday. Evidently determined not to make the same mistake, somebody — OK, Michael Kaplan — 
Launching a pre-emptive strike on the Indian subcontinent, the government of Sri Lanka has gone into casino gambling in a big way. It’s approved a $350 million “mixed development” (that’s what casino-hotels are called over there) by James Packer‘s Crown Ltd. The 400-room resort contemplated by Packer 
You have to hand it to Tilman Fertitta: He keeps reinvesting in his casino properties, unlike some people we could name. (*cough*Gary Loveman*cough*) Although “high roller” and “Laughlin” seem oxymoronic, that hasn’t stopped Fertitta from dropping a bundle on the three-bedroom Gold Rush Villa, next door to the Golden Nugget. Amenities are described as “floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Colorado River, a full kitchen, bar and expansive living area as well as a private garage and courtyard that sets the scene for the 
perfect relaxing evening or morning cup of coffee.” Laughlin, a string of casinos on a slab of sun-baked, barren earth, has never seemed worth a drive — but Tilman’s got me rethinking that position. Good work.
In a real shocker, residents of West Springfield 
For all the flack that it’s taken for its misleading “refund” on losses promotion, Revel Resort continues to woo customers back. Its revenues rose 2% in August, pushing the megaresort ahead of Showboat and into the middle tier of Atlantic City casinos. Tropicana Atlantic City fell 18% and Trump Entertainment Resorts underperformed as usual, down 16% in what is ostensibly prime business time. If that’s how they and the Trop do in August, what can we hope for when the cold weather returns? The Caesars Entertainment quartet dropped an average of 9% each, with Harrah’s Marina having the worst of it. Borgata continued to dwarf the market, with $63 million and a 13% gain, while Resorts Atlantic City was another bright spot, up 12%
Could we finally be seeing “green shoots” in Illinois, up 5% last month? Maybe, although such recovery as there was consisted of the force that is Rivers Casino, up 36%. Penn National Gaming‘s three casinos posted a feeble $29 million, down 7% and undershooting Wall Street‘s expectations. Caesars Entertainment‘s two casinos were, combined, flat year-over-year, for a $27 gross, while Boyd Gaming‘s Par-A-Dice fell 8%, to $9 million. MGM Resorts International‘s Grand Victoria saw a rare but welcome 
It was eyeball-to-eyeball and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino just blinked. Threatened with the termination of Steve Wynn‘s Everett project were Boston to be deemed a host community, 
“We remain deeply close friends and incredibly proud parents and our children are our priority going forward” — James Packer, managing to make 
You can’t drive around the Vegas Valley these days without having a clear view of the Las Vegas High Roller, the Ferris wheel that is Caesars Entertainment‘s would-be 
tourism magnet, which seems to grow overnight. It’s an impressive sight, one likely to be both iconic and a big draw (providing that the pricing of rides reflects what the market will bear). Also, on a Strip where retail is increasingly of the monkey-see, monkey-do variety, Caesars is bringing in a host of names which are either new to the Strip or underrepresented on it. 
It wasn’t exactly a Profile in Courage day for the Massachusetts Gaming Commission yesterday. It told the cities of Everett and Boston to work out their feud over a proposed Steve Wynn casino between themselves. Now what do you think are the chances of that producing a mutually agreeable result? Beantown Mayor Thomas Menino has made no secret of his partisanship toward the rival Suffolk Downs proposal backed by Caesars Entertainment. And Wynn Resorts 
Penn National Gaming‘s bid to get into Massachusetts is taking a turn for the bizarre. In a surrealistic proposal, 
If you thought Pennsylvania‘s casino-selection process was more than a bit fishy, you’re not alone. Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. Ralph Periandi (ret.)