So much for Tribal Winds, the satellite casino that was going to counteract MGM Springfield. Its backers are cutting the proposed $300 million investment by one-third. On the plus side, this could be read as a 
way of saying the threat from Springfield is no longer as great. On the other hand, Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun pulling in their horns could point to problems closer to home. “We’ve refined it a little bit based on the data that we have,” rationalized Mashantucket Pequot Chairman Rodney Butler. “We now know more about the market … There’s been a lot of concern expressed over the past few years regarding saturation of the market.” Yes, but coming from someone like Butler it’s novel. His sudden lack of confidence comes as the Nutmeg State Lege is mulling an all-out expansion of gambling: iKeno, a Bridgeport casino, sports betting, “entertainment zones,” etc.
Butler’s sudden abundance of caution should give solons pause, although it’s unlikely to Continue reading
has Sen. Bernie Sanders (I), as expected, winning Nevada -350. Trailing him are Joe Biden (2/1), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D), way back at 12/1, Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D) both at 20/1 and, without a prayer, Tom Steyer at 100/1. Heavy ad buys don’t translate into votes, we guess. When it comes to the Democratic nomination, it’s a different story. Vaccaro favors Michael Bloomberg (7/5) over Sanders (2/1). Biden (6/1) faces an easier odds path to victory than Warren (20/1), Buttigieg (25/1), while Klobuchar (60/1) has worse odds than such undeclared candidates as casino flip-flopper Hillary Clinton and film producer Michelle Obama, both at 40/1.
million. That was a 10.5% decline for the racino, where the slots won $298 per slot per day, a notable dip from $333/day last year at this time, as coin-in declined 7%. Luck was in MGM’s favor (as were hold percentages), as slot win jumped 14% on 2% less handle. Unfortunately, table game revenue ($6 million) represented a 14% stumble. Even as it continues to feel its way into the Boston market, Encore continued to win at a $1.6 million/day clip. Slot wagering was $328 million, of which Wynn Resorts kept 
but of Sheldon Adelson. (Mirage Resorts was financed with junk bonds, you may recall.) Former San Francisco 49ers owner Edward DeBartolo not only failed to report being shaken down for a bribe by then-Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards (D), he paid the bribe (and got a casino license in return). Yesterday’s DeBartolo reprieve should embolden crooked politicians everywhere, as should that of ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D), the man who ratcheted the state’s top tax rate for casinos to a kleptocratic 75% and tried to sell Barack Obama‘s vacated senate seat. He also tried to extort $100,000 from a racetrack owner in exchange for extending horse racing subsidies. Whatta guy.
There used to be a saying that Nevada was at the top of all the bad lists and the bottom of all the good ones. How do you feel about this one? WalletHub has ranked Nevada as the “most sinful” state in America. I’m not sure how they quantify “anger and hatred,” but the Silver State is ninth in that category. (It’s a good thing Washington D.C. isn’t a state or it would be #1.) The cost of gambling addiction—$500 million—was laid entirely at Nevada’s feet and widespread cigarette smoking didn’t help either. Per WalletHub’s methodology, we lead the nation in greed, are third in jealousy and lust, sixth in laziness, as well as in “excesses and vices” but are only 
truck appeared on the gambling floor amid the slot machines and table games.” You could fill up on nachos for $7/plate or you could eat in one of the restaurants and leave as much as several hundred dollars (money that might want to spend wagering) behind. Wynn Resorts‘ miscalculation of Beantown is not the first time a Steve Wynn casino has missed its niche: There was a steep learning curve at Beau Rivage when it opened in 1999.
enough support from institutional investors for his ouster.” The reason is not clear, as Murren had been doing everything possible to placate dissidents, including selling almost all of the company’s real estate to sundry REITs and 
recent poll “found Sanders the clear front-runner in Nevada with 25 percent support to [Joe] Biden’s 18 percent. [Elizabeth] Warren was in third with 13 percent, followed by [Tom] Steyer with 11 percent. [Pete] Buttigieg and [Amy] Klobuchar, who are only now putting in major resources into the state after focusing on Iowa and New Hampshire, each had 10 percent.” By contrast to its seemingly ineffectual blasts at Sanders, the Culinary’s decision to sit on its hands—dictated by consigliere Harry Reid—spells Silver State doom for Biden. Reported the Globe, “Biden was introduced by US Representative Steven Horsford to a half-full union hall.” Ouch.
Such is the Culinary Union‘s clout that Nevada Sen. Jacky Rosen (D, left), Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D) and Rep. Susie Lee (D) will also be casting their caucus ballots at Culinary-sponsored events, staggered across today through Tuesday. On Wednesday, the Culinary will wrap its electioneering up by picketing the Palms because the Fertitta Brothers “are major funders of the Trump Victory Fund and supporters of the Republican agenda.”
endorsing … nobody. It could be regarded as a diss of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D), as the Culinary implicitly repudiated Medicare for All. It demanded “choices” in health care. 
accomplishments. On Murren’s 2008-20 watch, the company became synonymous with diversity, environmentalism, LEED certification and community outreach. With becoming modesty, Murren always deflected credit toward “the company” and its “team members,” whose accomplishment were showcased in the weekly “MGM Minute” (a viral innovation of the Murren administration). We thank him for that.
slots were hot (+11%). Borgata gained 8.5% on the strength of 4.5% more table win—despite 3% less wagering—and 11.5% higher slot win on 1% more coin-in. Yes, the house played very lucky, to the tune of $55 million. Across town, that “high-value customer” strategy sure is working out for Tropicana Atlantic City ($20.5 million), as revenues plummeted 23%, thanks to 23% less table win on 21% fewer wagers. The Trop’s saving grace was a 2.5% bump in slot revenue on 2% more coin-in. Hard Rock Atlantic City ate the Trop’s lunch, shooting up 38% to $21.5 million.
from an anti-gambling one to a “slow down” one, saying the Lege should see how other states fare (pretty darn well, judging by the latest numbers out of New Jersey). It’s a bitter victory for casino owners Penn National Gaming and Churchill Downs. Thanks to Mills, tribes and OTBs won’t get sports betting—but neither will they. Meanwhile, state Sen. Louis Luchini (D) promised to be back next year with another bill, saying “The big thing is that people are doing this illegally now. They’re going to continue to do this illegally. Maine won’t get any taxes from it, and Maine people won’t get any consumer protections.” Unless you count Mills, the real winner is New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R), whose state will be open for business to all those sports bettors driving in from Maine.
to make a deal. Both sides are to submit a wish list of possible arbitrators, from whom DeGiusti will draw one, and divide the cost of mediation 50/50. Aforesaid mediation must be “completed or substantially completed” by the end of March. That means the Sooner State’s gaming tribes and Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) will be forced out of their did/didn’t impasse over whether the compacts automatically renewed at the start of this year.
and illegally leaked by an IGB employee … resulting in significant financial and reputational harm.” We don’t know how much ‘repetitional’ harm can be done when you’re so mobbed-up that the governor of Illinois, no less, barred you from owning a racino, but there you have it. Heidner seeks $2 million in damages and another $2 million for his Gold Rush Gaming, for “causing substantial harm when an IGB employee intentionally and without authorization disclosed sensitive financial information, including personally identifiable information relating to Gold Rush, Mr. Heidner, his wife, two of his children, and other individuals.”