If we need a workplace consultant, we certainly won’t hire the Seyfarth Shaw at Work firm. (Seyfarth Shaw? Wasn’t he a character in Game of Thrones?) It’s offering its services to come up with strategies that will deter your employees from engaging in sports betting while on the job. Among several bad suggestions—like spying on your employees—comes this whopper: a managerial pep talk running thusly, “One thing that I am willing to ‘bet’ is that if we do not fast break back to our desks, we will all miss that customer deadline.” Wah wah wah.
* MGM Resorts International doesn’t like us to call them “robots.” They are Continue reading
undertaken in an Eldorado Resorts takeover. Either way, we’re glad to see somebody on Wall Street telling it like it is with the Roman empire, whose best years appear to be behind it. Meanwhile, having subjugated Caesars, Carl Icahn is 
bill to authorize a tribal casino in Bridgeport, something sure to send MGM Resorts International into a hot conniption fit. Indeed, the proposal—which would call for $100 million in state and civic subsidies—seems certain to draw litigation, at least from Gov. Ned Lamont‘s point of view. “Instead of resolving outstanding litigation, it puts the state at increased and immediate litigation risk from multiple parties,” said Lamont’s spokeswoman. Responded a tribal representative, “Litigation is part of the cost of doing business, whether you’re building a mall, a church or a casino.” This cautious stance comes as a reversal for Lamont, who had previously expressed support for the idea. Both Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort Casino, who would presumably run the Bridgeport casino jointly, are banking so heavily on it that they continue to 
posted a record $41.7 billion last year. That’s a 3.5% increase from 2017. State and local governments had to be happy, as they were rolling in $9.7 billion in direct taxes, not counting sales and income taxes, a “force multiplier” for the industry’s economic impact. In addition to the national record, 
almost $18 million. As for the tracks, Hollywood Dayton gained 13% for $9.9 million while Hollywood Mahoning Valley rocketed 18% upward to $11 million. Boyd Gaming was up 9.5% at Belterra Park ($8 million) and Eldorado Resorts hopped 12% ($17 million) at Scioto Downs. At erstwhile Hard Rock Rocksino, now MGM Northfield, $22 million was grossed on a 9% increase. Churchill Downs was 15% higher at Miami Valley Gaming, grossing $15.5 million. Jack Thistledown galloped 17% ahead to $13 million. In the major cities, Jack Cleveland pulled in 15% ($18 million) and Jack Cincinnati grossed $19 million, up 11%. When the news is this good there’s not much need to say anything more.
Hampshire and other states whose 
and reportedly planning to replace Rodio et. al. with Eldorado management. The deal would happen by June 30 “assuming talks don’t fall apart.” Caesars 
than auspicatory. At $118 million, they were down 2%, even with an extra weekend day to bolster the takings. In fairness to the industry, numbers were roughly flat once Argosy Belle, rendered hors de combat due to flooding, is subtracted from the mix. The Belle was down 69%, bringing in an uncool million. Customers evidently took their business to Casino Queen, up 15% to $9 million. Harrah’s Metropolis may have also picked up some business lost elsewhere, up 10.5% to $7 million. At Par-A-Dice, owner Boyd Gaming clawed back business lost to slot routes, rising 4% to $6.5 million. So there’s room for hope, at least in the near term.
evidently helped Tamares to see its way clear to capex maintenance, budgeted at $15 million. (Tamares may have opened its fist a bit but it’s not going whole hog.) “We listened to our guests, and one of their biggest issues were with the old-style key card systems for the rooms. We upgraded all of that to RFID last year. We’re using our own resources through our profits to reinvest in the property,” Jossel told the Las Vegas Weekly. The new room product should be ready by next month. As for competitor-to-be Circa, Jossel—like Boyd Gaming CEO Keith Smith—welcomes it as a tide that will lift all boats, part of a larger Downtown renaissance.
each other.” That’s what tribal spokesman Andrew Doba said after it was revealed that Bridgeport 
place locals never stopped thinking of as “the Sahara.” It’s too late to restore the Arabian Nights theming that Sam Nazarian extirpated but changes are already afoot. Scott Roeben reports that Cleo is out, along with 800 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza and Umani Burger. Making a return will be the Casbar Lounge. You’d think Meruelo has his hands full but VitalVegas says he’s got another Las Vegas casino purchase in the works. Considering that Meruelo, unlike Nazarian, has gaming in his blood we can’t wait to see what he does for a second act.
will take it on the chin from the new law, which Gov. Jay Pritzker (D) is expected to sign. “Possible litigation can be filed as a way to delay, but it likely won’t derail the bill’s eventuality,” writes JP Morgan analyst Joseph Greff. The bill’s components are as follows: a 4,000-position casino in Chicago (1 slot = 1 position, 1 table = 6), five more of 2,000 positions apiece in the Chicago suburbs, 1,200 gaming positions per racetrack, for a total of three racinos, legalized sports betting (both mobile and brick-and-mortar) including sports venues holding 17,000 people or more, slot routes increased from five machines to six per site (
am still vitally interested in Crown’s success as a world-class resort and gaming business. The sale allows me to continue my long term involvement with Crown and at the same time to better diversify my investment portfolio.” 
and brick-and-mortar casinos, which want to be the sole purveyors of Internet sports bets, with maybe five to seven ‘skins’ permitted in the Bay State. For its part, DraftKings warns that taxes and revenue projections are too high, pointing to shortfalls in other states. Representing the opposition, MGM Springfield President Michael Mathis said his company doesn’t oppose direct operation by the likes of DraftKings but that things would be better if the betting were routed through a casino company: “You can do it directly, but you’d be better protected doing it as sublicenses.”
“I want to begin this note by thanking so many of you for your patience, support and focus over the last several months. Redesigning an organization to achieve transformational change is difficult; I have been deeply impressed with your personal leadership and commitment to embracing the challenging task of implementing MGM 2020.