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Howard Stutz Gaming GuruNevada gaming revenue jumps almost 8% in November31 December 2015
By Howard Stutz Nevada gaming revenue rebounded in November, with the state and Strip recording just their second monthly increases in the past six months. The Gaming Control Board said Wednesday Nevada casinos collected $944.3 million in gaming revenue in November, a 7.76% increase from a year ago. On the Strip, gaming revenue jumped 5.38% to $535.6 million. With one month left in 2015, gaming revenue statewide is up less than 1% with just three reporting markets — the north and south shore of Lake Tahoe and the Strip — showing year-over-year declines. Strip gaming revenue is down 1.2% through November. "As has become the story for the last several months, (high-end play) is to blame with baccarat continuing to perform poorly," Macquarie Securities gaming analyst Chad Beynon told investors. Baccarat revenue of $109.9 million was off 14.3% from last November with the amount wagered down 27.8% to $748.9 million. Analysts have said the Strip's baccarat results have experienced volatility in the past few months because of a slowdown in Chinese players. "This drag should moderate given mostly easing baccarat growth comparisons," J.P. Morgan gaming analyst Joe Greff said. Meanwhile, slot machine wagering boosted Strip casinos. Statewide, slot machine revenue grew 13.2% to $596.4 million even though volume was relatively flat at $8.5 billion. Stifel Nicolaus Capital Markets gaming analyst Steven Wieczynski cautioned investors not to read too much into the Strip's gaming revenue totals. He said increases in nongaming areas, such as total visitation, convention business, revenue per available room figures, and property-level margins offer a clearer picture of the Strip's overall health. Strip casinos collect more than 60% of their revenue from nongaming sources. "We encourage investors to keep in mind gross gaming revenue represents only one, and decreasing in relative importance we might add, source of cash flow for Strip resort operators," Wieczynski said. Sports wagering was a bright spot in Nevada during November. Revenue grew 32.1% to $42.8 million while wagering of $557 million was a single-month record. The biggest statewide gainers in November were in Clark County. Downtown Las Vegas gaming revenue jumped 25%, North Las Vegas was up 23% and the Boulder strip increased 21.5%. Clark County as a whole saw gaming revenue increase 8.4%. Mesquite was the only Clark County market to report a gaming revenue decline in November. Beynon said the strong numbers reported in the locals market — the balance of Clark County was up 9% — bodes well for Boyd Gaming Corp., which also has three casinos downtown. "Boyd is seemingly becoming more of a growth stock, with four consecutive quarters of cash flow growth," Beynon said. Gaming taxes collected by the state in December, based on November's gaming revenue total, grew 30.7% to $62 million. For the first six months of the fiscal year, gaming tax collections are up less than 1%. Copyright GamingWire. All rights reserved. Nevada gaming regulators monitoring Adelson's Review-Journal purchase30 December 2015
State gaming regulators are monitoring the issues surrounding the purchase of the Las Vegas Review-Journal by the family of Sheldon Adelson, the majority shareholder in casino giant Las Vegas Sands Corp. Gaming Control Board Chairman A.G. Burnett cites Nevada gaming regulations and the state's public policy ... (read more)
Inside Gaming: Kentucky judge levels 'egregious' penalty against PokerStars30 December 2015
We know Kentucky has problems filling its budget gaps, but a state judge's Christmas Eve gift was a little extreme. In essence, Franklin Circuit Judge Thomas Wingate is forcing owners of an online gaming company to pay penalties of $870 million, which could help bail out the financially troubled commonwealth. ... (read more)
Hyde Lounge nightclub will have branch in Las Vegas Arena29 December 2015
Nightclub and restaurant operator SBE Entertainment said Monday it will place a branch of its Hyde Lounge nightclub inside the $350 million Las Vegas Arena, which opens in April. In a statement, Los Angeles-based SBE said the 18,000-square-foot space will include two platforms that extend over the arena seating for viewing, as well as lounge experience with a bar and restaurant. ... (read more)
Kerkorian investment arm moving headquarters to Las VegasTracinda Corp., the investment arm of late billionaire Kirk Kerkorian, is moving its corporate headquarters to Las Vegas from Los Angeles to be closer to the company's largest holdings, MGM Resorts International.The company owns 16.19% of the Strip gaming giant. Kerkorian, who died June 16 at age 98, left ... (read more)Sands opens Cotai Central final piece as Adelson predicts Macau turnaroundLas Vegas Sands Corp. opened the last piece of the Sands Cotai Central development in Macau on Friday, and the company's top executive — despite 18 straight months of the market's declining gaming revenue — said the region has nearly bottomed out.During a celebration surrounding the opening of the $450 million, 400-room St. ... (read more)Inside Gaming: Wire Act hearing a disaster for online gambling opponentsThe recent congressional hearing into legislation that would ban online gaming couldn't have gone worse for backers of the bill even if they attempted to sabotage the three-hour meeting themselves.Maybe they did.Three witnesses who testified in support of a measure that would roll back the Interstate Federal ... (read more)Sheldon Adelson's newspaper buy has Nevadans talking, and some frettingAs a Republican mega-donor who pours millions into campaigns and political action committees, Las Vegas billionaire Sheldon Adelson is already courted by elected officials.Add to that his new status as owner of Nevada's largest newspaper.There is much yet to learn about the group that bought the Las Vegas Review-Journal last week. ... (read more)Adelson son-in-law orchestrated family's purchase of Las Vegas Review-JournalThe son-in-law of billionaire casino owner Sheldon Adelson arranged the $140 million purchase of the Las Vegas Review-Journal on Adelson's behalf, sources confirmed Wednesday.Patrick Dumont, who is listed on the website of Las Vegas Sands Corp. as the company's senior vice president of finance and strategy, ... (read more) |