Missouri casinos grossed $138 million last month, essentially flat with 2017. The big winner was Eldorado Resorts, up 19% at Lumiere Place (shown, $13 million) but 9% lower at 
Isle of Capri Kansas City ($5 million). Boyd Gaming had an inauspicious start to its return to the Show-Me State, down 1% at both Ameristar Kansas City ($15 million) and Ameristar St. Charles ($21 million). Eldorado’s outstate properties delivered a very mixed performance with Lady Luck Caruthersville 1.5% down ($3 million), Isle of Capri Boonsville up 1.5% ($6 million) and Isle of Capri Cape Girardeau down 4.5% ($5 million). Penn National Gaming was absolutely flat — $18 million — at Hollywood Casino St. Louis but up 5% in Kansas City, where it grossed $14 million. Harrah’s North Kansas City did almost $15 million in business, a 2% gain. One of Penn’s new trophies, River City, dove 6%, to $17 million, while Affinity Gaming‘s Mark Twain Casino was down 1% to $2.5 million.
* There’s something — maybe a lot of somethings — in the Massachusetts Gaming Commission‘s dossier on Steve Wynn that El Steve doesn’t want you to see. He’s suing his former company and the MGC to block the release of the latter’s investigation (or at least force significant redactions) into 
his conduct, which includes concealment of a $7.5 million paternity settlement from Massachusetts regulators. Citing Wynn’s “litigious tendencies” (paging John L. Smith, Mr. Smith come to the white courtesy phone), the MGC claims to be undeterred. “The commission has retained legal representation in Nevada to mount a vigorous defense against his effort to block the release of our months-long investigatory report and to defend against Mr. Wynn’s baseless claims for damages. It is our intention to bring this matter to a swift resolution. The commission’s investigative arm remains focused on its preparations to soon present the commission with the full extent of its findings,” said commission spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll.
Global Gaming Business predicts a further delay of the wrap-up of the MGC investigation, already pushed into December, meaning that the eventual fate of Encore Boston Harbor continues to hang in the balance. Casino prexy Robert DeSalvio must come in to work some days wondering if he’s building that $6.2 billion dollar pleasure palace all for nothing.
* Macao casinos had a solid third quarter, with cash flow up 9%, mass-market revenue gaining 17% and VIP win 4% higher. Sequentially, Melco Resorts & Entertainment took 
a fraction of mass-market play away from Galaxy Entertainment and Sociedade de Jogos de Macau, while Wynn Resorts gained 4% of VIP share at Galaxy’s expense. Even so, Galaxy’s 23% overall share was good enough for second place behind Sands China (35%) and ahead of Wynn’s 19%. Melco hung in there with 11%, MGM China had its usual 7% and SJM, fading fast, clung to 5%. As for coveted VIP play, Galaxy was tops, with 26% to Wynn’s 22%. Sands was well back, with 16%, while SJM had 15%, Melco 14% and MGM trailed the pack with 7%.
Looking ahead, Credit Suisse analyst Cameron McKnight cites declining credit within China, combined with “forward indicators pointing to a marked deceleration of revenue 
growth in the next 12 months, and October revenues inline with weakened expectations” for a flat 2019-20. “Weak credit data is likely to exacerbate China macro concerns. There is a significant lag (12-15 months plus) between Macau revenue and credit growth. If Macau revenue growth decelerates, it likely reflects macro conditions at least a year ago — when credit growth was slowing. Secondly, credit growth is very volatile m/m and q/q,” he explains.
* If you’ve ever wondered what became of Penn National Gaming‘s much-litigated Sioux City riverboat, you’ll find it in Goa, where it will serve as a temporary floating casino until new operator Casino Pride Group repairs its other vessels. Casino Pride is just one of the many operators fighting the government’s stated desire to bring all gambling onshore. It’s already thrown in the towel on a 2020 deadline and is looking hopefully toward 2022. It is also at war with itself over whether to grandfather existing casino licensees into a special gambling sector around Mopa International Airport or hold an auction.
$6.2 billion dollars for Encore Boston? Not sure about that one; or are you being sarcastic?
I wonder if the MGC is doing this all for naught at this point though. He has no association with the company anymore. Or will they go the way the NJCCC did with Hilton? It all remains rather interesting.