It’s 25 years ago this month that casino gambling came to Baton Rouge. The mood, however, is far from celebratory as the city’s riverboats remain mired in a two-year slump, thanks to the Baton Rouge smoking ban. Some also blame a lack of capex 
maintenance at the three casinos, as well as stronger competition from Mississippi, which has—unlike Louisiana—sports betting. Ironically, the downward slalom began just as Baton Rouge were at their apogee: $309 million at the end of fiscal year 2017. By the end of FY2019 that number had dwindled to $235.5 million. Not chicken feed but a lot less than the good old days.
Not surprisingly, the casino that has defended its market share the best is also the newest: Continue reading
clinched, by 
capital a week ago to defend her controversial decision, a move that came as Twin River casinos took out a full-page ad blasting the contract award, which would force Twin River to pack its floor with IGT-made slots. The game maker is on pace to control 84% of Rhode Island slot floors, even though state law it ought to be limited to 50%.
a bill that would outlaw resort fees (it’s the Hotel Advertising Transparency Act of 2019). The bill states that “advertising that does not reflect the true mandatory cost of a stay at a place of short term lodging is deceptive.” 
the Las Vegas business outlook for 2020 remains strong, private equity firms are loaded up with plenty of dry powder, and REITs (real estate investment trusts) are hungry for growth … a formula for continued consolidation and ultimately valuation appreciation.”—Union Gaming analyst Joseph DeCree 
he makes in other tourneys. Borgata has set its sights on the $124,410 Ivey won in the last World Series of Poker (plus $214,000). Since Borgata is owned by MGM Resorts International, it’s not like it lacks Vegas-based representatives to go after its money. In fact, the WSOP was hit up with a writ of execution. Next thing you know, they’ll be coming after Ivey’s Nevada pied-a-terre. Life’s not easy when you try to cheat Borgata and get caught.
as a 10/1 long shot for being unseated. Ironically, Trump nemesis Nicholas Maduro of Venezuela, 
oncoming casino projects is four times too much. And that’s a list that Muhammad Cohen, our favorite gaming columnist, says “errs on the side of caution.” As Govertsen and DeCree write, “The reality is that the current pipeline in just the existing markets (forget about Japan for now) requires [cash flow] in Asia to literally double, even as the boom years in China GDP growth are behind it, and as so many of Asia’s wealthy individuals have already been captured.”
presidential campaign, the one the R-J endorsed three times to no avail?). What about his vindictive lawsuits against reporters Jeff Simpson and John L. Smith? Now, not content to control the biggest newspaper in the Vegas Valley, Adelson seems to have turned his ire upon the milquetoast moderation of the Las Vegas Sun. Publisher Brian Greenspun 
sued by one Benjamin Naderi over a beatdown he allegedly suffered at the hands of YG’s posse. It supposedly started with an ill-advised request for a photo with the celeb (aka Keenon Jackson), followed by YG’s homies being told to “get him,” pinning Naderi down and beating the crap out of him. YG allegedly crowned the whole incident by yanking a gold chain and diamond pendant off Naderi’s chest.
Vegas Review-Journal is reporting that Meruelo is being sued for unpaid licensing fees. In what might be called Nazarian’s Revenge, SBE Hotel Licensing is after Meruelo $450,000 in fees racked up since last November for the use of SBE brands (which might explain Meruelo’s eagerness to bring back the Sahara moniker). At steak, er, stake are 
Completion is expected in 2026.