{"id":17699,"date":"2016-02-08T10:28:49","date_gmt":"2016-02-08T18:28:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lasvegasadvisor.com\/stiffs-and-georges\/?p=17699"},"modified":"2017-12-23T13:12:47","modified_gmt":"2017-12-23T21:12:47","slug":"illinois-beats-the-odds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lasvegasadvisor.com\/stiffs-and-georges\/illinois-beats-the-odds\/","title":{"rendered":"Illinois beats the odds; MGM goes au naturel"},"content":{"rendered":"

Well, here’s a novel piece of news out of Illinois<\/strong>, where it always seems that gloom and doom hold sway. Gaming revenues were up 2% last month. That’s even more impressive when you consider that it’s being \"Metropolis\"<\/a>measured against a January 2015 that saw an 8.5% boost in casino winnings. Deutsche Bank<\/strong> analyst Carlo Santarelli<\/strong> reports that foot traffic was down 2% but player spending rose 4.5%. The worst blotch on the ledger was Argosy Belle<\/strong>, down 25% on a $4 million gross. It was a rough month along the Mississippi River<\/strong>, with Harrah’s Metropolis<\/strong>\u00a0(above<\/em>) reporting a 9.5% decline ($6.5 million).<\/p>\n

Smaller declines were seen at Boyd Gaming<\/strong>‘s Par A Dice<\/strong> (-4%, $7 million) and Penn National Gaming<\/strong>‘s Hollywood Aurora<\/strong> (-2%, $10 million). Otherwise it was all sunshine and roses. Rivers Casino<\/strong> banked $35 million (up 3%), MGM
\n\"HarrahsJoliet\"<\/a>joint venture Grand Victoria Elgin<\/strong> rose 3% ($14 million) and
\nGaming & Leisure Properties<\/strong>‘ Casino Queen<\/strong>, up 8%, to $9 million. Harrah’s Joliet<\/strong> had a breakout month, up 13% on the strength of a $17 million gross. Penn salvaged some pride at Empress Joliet<\/strong>, up 4% on $10 million, while Jumer’s Casino Rock Island<\/strong>‘s $6 million gross was good for a 2%. Results like these give one hope that casinos in the Land of Lincoln can yet stave off competition from slot routes.<\/p>\n

Now hiring<\/strong>. Former Tropicana Las Vegas<\/strong> owner Onex Corp<\/strong>. struggled to get into the “daylife” scene. Now, new owner Penn National is going to give it a try. Penn promises a “summertime party vibe with bikini-clad bottle service, two luxury pools, VIP cabanas, a DJ booth and two bars. With an emphasis on delivering interactive experiences for guests 21+, Sky Beach Club<\/strong> will feature a robust entertainment lineup to include A-list celebrity hosts, top live music acts, beer pong and live table games.” The Trop is taking job applications, so if you’ve got a bikini bod, hop on over.<\/p>\n