Quote of the Day

Posted on March 14, 2019 by David McKee

“With around 265,000 pints of Guinness expected to be consumed, the press will be keeping a close eye on fans to see how the festival will respond to any upsets. Race meets last year were marred with after-dark bouts of violence as race-goers drank too much.” — advance report on the 2019 Cheltenham horse racing festival, which draws passionate fans of the sport of kings.

Posted in Horseracing, International | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Midwest report; Icahn caps his bet; Churchill Downs grows

Posted on March 13, 2019 by David McKee

Missouri was down 4% last month, no explanation given, with a statewide gross of $134 million. The decline was driven by lower slot play, as table-game revenues ($20 million) were up 7%. Penn National Gaming had a good result at River City, up 3% ($17.5 million), offset by declines at Hollywood St. Louis ($18.5 million, -1%) and Argosy Riverside ($12.5 million, -9.5%). Boyd Gaming gained 2% at Ameristar St. Charles ($21 million) but yielded 2% at Ameristar Kansas City ($12.5 million). Eldorado Resorts had a really bad month at Lumiere Place, down 12% to $12 million. Harrah’s North Kansas City slipped 5%, finishing at $12 million. Affinity Gaming also had some adversity at Mark Twain Casino, down 7.5% to $2.5 million.

As for the rest of the Eldorado portfolio, it was a study in Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Ameristar, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Churchill Downs, Eldorado Resorts, Internet gambling, Iowa, Isle of Capri, Kansas, Law enforcement, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sports, Sports betting | Comments Off on Midwest report; Icahn caps his bet; Churchill Downs grows

The Plague of Human Trafficking in Las Vegas

Posted on March 13, 2019 by David McKee

by Jessica Kane, special correspondent to Stiffs & Georges

Sex trafficking is an alarming, widespread problem across the United States. Sex trafficking has become a particularly pervasive problem in Las Vegas. Due to the growth of human trafficking in recent years in Las Vegas, residents of and visitors to the city need to have a basic understanding of sex trafficking. 

The Nevada Attorney General and Human and Sex Trafficking 

The Nevada Attorney General has sharpened the focus of his office on combating human trafficking in the state, with particular attention being paid to Las Vegas. As part of this effort, the Attorney General has established a hotline at (888) 373-7888. People with any information about possible human trafficking in Nevada, including in Las Vegas, are asked to reach out to the Attorney General’s office via the hotline. 

Minor Sex Trafficking in Las Vegas 

The state of Nevada is particularly concerned about sex trafficking involving Continue reading →

Posted in Law enforcement, Nevada, Sexual misconduct | 2 Comments

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 12, 2019 by David McKee

“The portrayal of the history lesson that has been reported is inaccurate, out of context, contains false facts and ignores the overwhelming support of [Rebecca] Antinozzi from dozens of parents at the school. To the extent anyone took offense to a small portion of the overall lesson that day, it certainly was never intended.” — lawyer Joshua Kimerling, trying to downplay a mock slave auction held at Chapel School, in Bronxville, New York, in which black children played the part of ‘slaves.’ Antinozzi has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.

Posted in Cretins, history, New York | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Controversy embroils Wynn in Massachusetts

Posted on March 12, 2019 by David McKee

Sheldon Adelson‘s old sparring partner, Judge Elizabeth Gonzalez, was ruling on a Steve Wynn lawsuit last week, dismissing litigation against the Massachusetts Gaming Commission in light of the latter’s abject subjugation, er, settlement with Wynn. “The commission executed this action after receiving advice from our legal counsel, and the necessary assurances from investigators that this commission will receive all material and substantive information required to make a fully informed decision” on the fate of Encore Boston Harbor, said MGC Chairwoman Cathy Judd-Stein, trying to put a positive construal on a complete beatdown of her agency.

Now the focus shifts to Wynn Resorts, which could be on the receiving end of Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, CityCenter, Florida, Hard Rock International, Horseracing, Majestic Star, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, Problem gambling, Regulation, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Tribal, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Controversy embroils Wynn in Massachusetts

Busy week for MGM; Adelson’s grim prognosis

Posted on March 12, 2019 by David McKee

Congratulations to MGM Resorts International on becoming the official casino sponsor of the Boston Red Sox (known around my house as “the Evil Empire”). I’m not sure how I feel about the MGM logo going up on the Green Monster, giving me visions of doubles plonking off the MGM lion. At least it’s a step up from sponsoring the perennially hopeless New York Jets. Other kudos go to MGM for making the list of Fast Company‘s “Most Innovative Companies.” And happy anniversary to Beau Rivage on the 20th anniversary of its rather shaky start in Biloxi. MGM’s official video makes it sound like the company built the resort, which was all Steve Wynn‘s doing — although the latter’s decision to build two megaresorts at once, coupled with Beau Rivage’s nascent struggles, left him vulnerable to a takeover offer from Kirk Kerkorian, so Beau Rivage did play a big role in MGM history.

* Would you believe there’s still undeveloped land on Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Baseball, Eldorado Resorts, history, Horseracing, Internet gambling, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Laughlin, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Michigan, Mississippi, Politics, Problem gambling, Real Estate, Regulation, Security, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, Sports betting, Steve Wynn, Taxes, Technology, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, William Hill | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 12, 2019 by David McKee

“Caesars [Entertainment] would be a great opportunity for certain investors who have already expressed interest, and I’m glad the board will explore these opportunities. Independent of strategic alternatives, I believe Caesars should also be focused on leadership succession, disciplined capital allocation, improving operating performance and optimizing real estate and other assets.” — Carl Icahn, laying out his agenda for Caesars.

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Wall Street | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Tunnel travel in Vegas?; Icahn raises the ante

Posted on March 12, 2019 by David McKee

As the Las Vegas Convention Center expands to proportions once seemingly unimaginable (two miles in length), the governing authority is looking for new methods to get conventioneers around it — especially to their parked cars. The Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority has settled upon a subterranean people-mover designed by Elon Musk‘s The Boring Co. Three potential routes have been submitted, and the cost has been pegged between $30 million and $55 million, supposedly the cheapest option presented. We’re a little skeptical of those figures, given the cost overruns associated with mass transit in neighboring states. Also, Musk recently mortgaged five “gigantic” mansions, according to L.A. Biz.

However, if Musk can build his Convention Center tram cost-efficiently, it bodes well for another idea he’s floated: Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Law enforcement, LVCVA, The Strip, Transportation | Comments Off on Tunnel travel in Vegas?; Icahn raises the ante

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 11, 2019 by David McKee

“A more straightforward way to consider relationship/influencer is to begin to link players with their ‘visit partner.’ For example: Find a way to value the wife who is an average table games player, but her husband loves your maximum bet penny games. If statistically, the wife is the primary influencer of a trip, we may want to consider creating a more enticing offer for her. (Just saying.)” — Raving Consulting President Deana Scott, on how to incentivize more casino visits.

Posted in Marketing | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

Business as usual

Posted on March 8, 2019 by David McKee

Ohio casinos grossed $155 million last month, a 5.5% increase. Hollywood Toledo was 2.5% to $16 million and Hollywood Columbus rose 3% to $19 million. Hollywood Dayton was also up 3% to $9 million. Hollywood Mahoning Valley leapt 7% to $10 million. That was nothing compared to a 38% vault at Belterra Park, up to $6 million. The Boyd Gaming property is tracking well ahead of Wall Street projections for the quarter. Scioto Downs was up 2% to $14 million, while Hard Rock Rocksino was 1.5% higher at $20 million. Churchill Downs’ Miami Valley Gaming jumped 14% to $14 million. Even Dan Gilbert‘s mix of casinos and racinos was Continue reading →

Posted in Ameristar, Animals, Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, California, Cantor Gaming, Churchill Downs, Dan Gilbert, Eldorado Resorts, Full House Resorts, Horseracing, Indiana, Japan, M Resort, Macau, Majestic Star, Massachusetts, MGM Resorts International, Movies, Ohio, Penn National, Regulation, Sports betting, The Strip, Wall Street, William Hill, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on Business as usual

MGM: No robots here; Resort fees fester

Posted on March 8, 2019 by David McKee

Our post yesterday about “robot” bartenders coming to MGM Resorts International properties on the Las Vegas Strip struck a nerve in the lion’s den. Understandably concerned with the mental image of customers expecting to get their drinks from a Cylon, MGM had a list of talking points it wanted to share with S&G readers. First of all, you can put thoughts of Tipsy Robot out of your mind. The technology MGM has in mind is probably something like what’s demonstrated below, although an MGM source said the company hadn’t settled upon the hardware yet.

MGM also said that … Continue reading →

Posted in Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Culinary Union, Downtown, Economy, history, M Resort, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Resort fees, Technology, The Strip, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Illinois: Sunken treasure; Maryland finally maxes out

Posted on March 7, 2019 by David McKee

Like February 2018, last month was bad for Illinois casinos, sliding another 6.5% into the maw of slot routes. One outlier should be noted: Harrah’s Metropolis was and remains closed due to flooding, causing a 32% precipice in revenue, grossing $4 million. The only comparably bad performance hailed from Casino Queen, off 13% to $7 million. Alton Belle dipped 3% to $3.5 million while Jumer’s Casino Rock Island was off 5% to $5 million. At Par-A-Dice, long besieged by slot routes, revenues were only 3% down, to almost $6 million. The best performers in the northern tier were Hollywood Aurora, flat at $9 million, and Harrah’s Joliet, almost flat at $13.5 million, one of the handsomest grosses of the month.

Raking the most bucks in the state, of course, was Continue reading →

Posted in Boyd Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Cordish Co., Eldorado Resorts, Illinois, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, Penn National, Rush Street Gaming, Slot routes, Wall Street, West Virginia | Comments Off on Illinois: Sunken treasure; Maryland finally maxes out

Stevens’ acumen questioned; Deejay era on downturn

Posted on March 7, 2019 by David McKee

A report has surfaced questioning the financial viability of $800 million Circa (written back when it was still 18 Fremont). In what
seems like a preliminary shot fired across Derek Stevens‘ bow by Unite-Here, it asserts ” the project is likely to generate low- to mid-single-digit returns on investment.” In case you’re wondering, that’s not good. Indeed, the Downtown casino market is a tiny fraction of what the Las Vegas Strip makes and a nearly billion-dollar investment bespeaks either great confidence or obliviousness to risk factors. (The union is clearly on the side of the latter.) Stevens is called for a “lack of institutional investment experience” and due diligence.

Noting that Boyd Gaming has quietly preparing to renovate the Fremont Hotel (or so its sources say) the union adds “the sheer size of ’18 Fremont’ still comes as a surprise.” It also questions Continue reading →

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Culinary Union, Derek Stevens, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, Hard Rock International, MGM Mirage, Ocean Resort, The Strip, Unite-Here, Wall Street | 3 Comments

MGM hires robots; Pariplay saves rhinos

Posted on March 7, 2019 by David McKee

VitalVegas beat the mainstream medium to the news that MGM Resorts International is bringing to the Las Vegas Strip something it’s been test-driving at MGM National Harbor and MGM Springfield: automated bartenders. As you might guess this is part of “MGM 2020,” CEO Jim Murren‘s big cost-cutting push. The official rationale is that MGM 2020 is a “company-wide, business-optimization initiative aimed to leverage a more centralized organization to maximize profitability and, through key investments in technology, lay the groundwork for the company’s digital transformation to drive revenue growth.” Trouble is, the company is already hand-over-fist profitable and is planning to pour $10 billion into Japan. This is just greed, made manifest in the form of robotic cocktail dispensation. At least it won’t be necessary to measure the amount of liquor in the bottles with a ruler at the end of the night. Less insidiously, MGM is looking into technology that would allow you to pay for your drink at your gaming position, another step toward a cashless economy.

One VV reader made the trenchant comment, Continue reading →

Posted in Animals, Charity, Current, Economy, Internet gambling, MGM Resorts International, Mississippi, Security, South Dakota, Sports betting, Technology, The Strip | 1 Comment

Caesars: Icahn’s web of influence

Posted on March 5, 2019 by David McKee

We continue to learn more about Caesars Entertainment‘s capitulation to Carl Icahn. In addition to having the prerogative of naming his own CEO, if that fails, Icahn can add a fourth member to the Caesars board of directors. One of the nine remaining board members had better be prepared to fall on his sword if Anthony Rodio says yes to a job offer from his old boss. After all, Rodio’s got a pretty sweet sinecure at Affinity Gaming but could quickly become expendable at Caesars were it sold to, say, Eldorado Resorts. As for Icahn’s new phalanx on the board, it consists of Keith Cozza, CEO of Icahn Enterprises, Courtney Mather, portfolio manager of Icahn Capital, and James Nelson, a member of the Icahn Enterprises board (and whose REIT experience would come in handy). That’s still only Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Eldorado Resorts, G2E, Macau, Technology, Wall Street | Comments Off on Caesars: Icahn’s web of influence

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 5, 2019 by David McKee

“The War on Drugs has not been a war on drugs, it’s been a war on people, and disproportionately people of color and low-income individuals.” — Sen Cory Booker (D) on the Marijuana Justice Act, which would narrow the failed War on Drugs.

Posted in Current, Marijuana | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

More Tamares tomfoolery; MGM evicts Hard Rock brand

Posted on March 4, 2019 by David McKee

Tamares Group has been up to its usual shenanigans, using the Plaza Hotel as a stalking horse. The latter slapped a quickie eviction notice on the Beauty Bar, citing multiple incidents involving repeated calls to Las Vegas Metro as the cause. “The notice also says that the tenant allowed lewd activity and disorder, along with disturbances that interfered with the quiet enjoyment of the neighboring tenets,” reported KTNV-TV. Bar owner Roxie Amoroso flew in to deal with Tamares. “I immediately presented my fully-executed lease documents on a lease that I renegotiated with them,” she told KTNV. She’s not going down without a fight against Tamares, “We’re open, we’ve been open, we’re not closing, we’re not closing anytime soon and we intend on staying the Beauty Bar for as long as the Las Vegas community will have us,” Amoroso. Let’s hope the Sin City community has her back.

* Global Gaming Business reports that Carl Icahn has a 45-day window to appoint a Caesars Entertainment CEO more to his liking and that he has chosen Continue reading →

Posted in Affinity Gaming, Architecture, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Election, Entertainment, Hard Rock International, International, Internet gambling, Law enforcement, Maryland, MGM Resorts International, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Palms, Sports betting, Station Casinos | 1 Comment

Quote of the Day

Posted on March 2, 2019 by David McKee

“Profanity is the sign of a lazy mind.” — Norman Newlander (Alan Arkin) in The Kominsky Method. Great show.

Posted in Entertainment, TV | Comments Off on Quote of the Day

PGA gives itself a mulligan; MGM sharpens the axe

Posted on March 1, 2019 by David McKee

Despite having cried out for federal regulation of sports betting, the PGA Tour is willing to look the other way if its players opt to be sponsored by the gaming industry. “Because of the Supreme Court’s decision last year, and because of the direction that we see legalized, regulated sports betting going in this country, and just because of the public perception toward gaming, we’ve made the decision to remove a great deal of the prohibitions on gambling sponsorships in our sport,” explained tour exec Andy Levinson. There’s something in it for the PGA too, as the tour says it can accept event and marketing sponsorships from gaming concerns, provided that their “primary purpose isn’t sports betting.” Commissioner Jay Monahan revealed that Continue reading →

Posted in Charity, Culinary Union, Galaxy Entertainment, International, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Law enforcement, Macau, Melco Resorts & Entertainment, MGM Resorts International, Sports, Sports betting, The Strip, Virginia, Wall Street, Wynn Resorts | Comments Off on PGA gives itself a mulligan; MGM sharpens the axe

Adelson ailing; Coup d’etat at Caesars

Posted on March 1, 2019 by David McKee

Last night, KTNV-TV reported that James Jimmerson, an attorney for Sheldon Adelson, had declared the mogul’s condition to be “dire.” Subsequently it was disclosed that Adelson has been diagnosed with cancer and hasn’t been to his office since Christmastime. The information had been withheld from Jimmerson until last month and Adelson was an absentee from Las Vegas Sands‘ 4Q18 earnings call. Pressed by the media, Sands spokesman Ron Reese declared “Mr. Adelson is still dealing with certain side effects from medication he is taking for the treatment of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. These side effects have restricted his availability to travel or keep regular office hours.” Reese promised Adelson would be back to work as soon as he completes treatment. This complicates an Adelsonian health situation already compromised by neuropathy, which compromises his ability to walk.

During the Jan. 23 earnings call, LVS President Rob Goldstein was somewhat disingenuous about Adelson’s health, saying “He’s taking some medications making him Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, Caesars Entertainment, Carl Icahn, Current, Entertainment, International, Japan, Las Vegas Sands, Macau, MGM Resorts International, Politics, Sheldon Adelson, Sports, The Strip, Tourism | Comments Off on Adelson ailing; Coup d’etat at Caesars