Stocks nose-dived yesterday after “an odd bond market phenomenon that has been a reliable indicator of economic recessions. Investors, worried about the 
state of the economy, rushed to long-term safe haven assets, pushing the yield on the benchmark 30-year Treasury bond to a new record low on Wednesday.” While the economy outwardly appears to be performing well, it should remembered that the Great Recession seemingly came out of nowhere in 2008, at the apex of the casino industry, and caught Big Gaming with its pants down. In a related move, Donald Trump tried to prop up consumer demand for China-made products by stalling new tariffs until mid-December.
I won’t pretend to know what inverted yield curves are but Wall Street says we’re experiencing one and that they’re usually harbingers of Continue reading
conduct, and resisting arrest after he allegedly became uncooperative and combative with a club security officer and police.” 
worse. “It said citizens’ rights were being violated and dozens were kidnapped, tortured and physically abused by local employers who confiscated their passports,” reports Reuters. Also of concern to China is the vast amount of money being siphoned off by its neighbor to the south. In an official statement, the central government called for “concrete and effective measures to prevent and punish the Philippine casinos … and other forms of gambling entities for their illegal employment of Chinese citizens and crack down [on] related crimes that hurt the Chinese citizens.”
weather from Hurricane Barry, plus intensified competition in the Louisville area. Both racinos were revenue-positive, with Hoosier Downs up 4% to $16.5 million and Indiana Downs rising 5% to $22 million. Belterra was flat at $10 million. Hardest-hit was market leader Horseshoe Southern Indiana, falling 12.5% to $18 million. Tropicana Evansville grossed $12.5 million (-6.5%), Rising Sun sank 6% ($4 million) and Hollywood Lawrenceburg won $15 million (-5.5%). Independent French Lick Resort was down 2% to $8 million.
the Koran forbids it but that’s hardly stopping anyone. Egypt stands out with roughly 15 casinos, supposedly off-limits to citizens. However, Middle Easterners often hold dual citizenship, so just show your alternate passport and you’re in. (Have they thought of this in Singapore?) It’s surprising that Egyptian casinos flourish considering that they are levied a punitive 50% tax rate, collected daily. If you had a revenue-negative night, too bad. Pay the man. Like Egypt, Morocco forbids citizens to gamble but supports seven high-end casinos.
unemployment stands at almost 6%. Pine Bluff Mayor Shirley Washington is aware of the pitfalls that can come with casino development. “In the research that I’ve done to see why casinos weren’t working in some other places, they said it was because there was nothing else to do, like in Tunica, for instance,” she told a newspaper. “So we feel like there will be people who will come to the casino but there’ll be people who will travel with them who will want to go to restaurants and to other amenities that we will develop as we move forward.” Let’s hope such development can be accomplished 
Market share was dominated by MGM (41%) and Maryland Live (33%). The Cordish Gaming property grossed $49 million, a 3% uptick. Horseshoe Baltimore ($19.5 million) continues to fade, down 5%. Among outlying casinos, Ocean Downs grossed $8 million (-5.5%) while Hollywood Perryville gained 6% for a $6.5 million finish. Rocky Gap Resort was flat at $5 million. In West Virginia, casino revenues fell 7%, driven by a 26% plunge in table winnings. It was worse than average at Charles Town Races, falling 11% as table-game revenues went into a 37% tailspin.
news: There was an EBITDA miss in Macao, where an expected $355 million materialized at $343 million. VIP play was “soft” despite being 5% above expectations. But “the one sizable bright spot” was mass-market revenue, up 22%. As for the Las Vegas Strip, it “came in stronger, reflective of strong casino volumes and RevPAR [$300/room], reflective of share gains there amidst a renewed focus on domestic casino growth.” Next revenue was expected to be $436 million but was $464 million. Table game wagering was up 9%, 28% higher than expected, while slot handle was up 4% instead of being (as anticipated) flat. Slot revenue was an impressive $339/win/slot/day. Room revenues rose 8% on 90% occupancy and $333 ADRs, a 6.5% increase.
($128 million) -$18 million, the Midwest ($97 million) -$3.5 million, the Central U.S. ($123 million) -$3 million, the South ($117 million) -$13.5 million and the Eastern U.S. ($170 million) -$6 million. We don’t know if this bodes ill economically but it should give Eldorado pause about 
Review-Journal‘s Richard Velotta could find no better word for 2019 to date than “mediocre,” albeit a mediocrity founded upon 42 million projected visitors. Conventioneers, however, could take the front rank among Vegas pilgrims, on pace to surpass 2017’s 6.6 million. And although gaming win on the Las Vegas Strip hasn’t been what it used to be, other markets are compensating. Slot win, up 2.5% year to date, is carrying the Silver State, down only once in the last 10 months. Tourism boffins are already saying ‘Wait ’til next year,’ pinning their hopes on the Oakland Raiders and Resorts World Las Vegas‘ tantalizingly delayed debut.
Act would authorize a casino in Bridgeport owned by Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun. The tribes would be required to spend at least $100 million, walking-around money for them. In return, the two tribal mammoths would get dibs on sports betting, including lucrative mobile and online wagering. The bill may have to wait until the regular session in February, giving MGM lots of time to lobby and litigate, the things it does best. The company’s already spooked Gov. Ned Lamont (D), who said, “I’ve got to see where all the players are on this because if this gets stuck in the legal muck, like it’s been for the last five years, we’re not going to show any progress.”
operates hotels in the Las Vegas market, including Renaissance. Reporter Scott Roeben describes Oyo as “a rapidly-expanding Indian budget hotel company.” What the advent of Highgate would mean for Hooters casino operator Paragon Gaming isn’t known but since this seems to be strictly a hotel play, we figure Paragon is safe. Roeben implies that Oyo would have difficulty getting a gaming license, making Paragon all the more attractive to the new landlords.
last year, that the details ranged “from breathtakingly original to laughably absurd.” It was such a weird concept, even by Las Vegas Strip standards, that it defeats our best efforts to describe Kind Heaven. Best