Areas of Expertise
6498 stories by Devin O'Connor
Wynn Resorts COVID-19 Insurance Lawsuit to Continue After Judge Rejects Dismissal
Wynn Resorts is seeking compensation for losses incurred from operating disruptions caused by COVID-19. But its insurer is refusing to pay. The Encore and Wynn Las Vegas owner and operator brought a lawsuit last June against Factory Mutual Insurance Co. on grounds...
Macau Casino Licenses Issued in 2022 Could Include Hengqin Island Investments
Macau casino operators are set to see their coveted gaming licenses expire in June. Industry analysts at JPMorgan believe the six companies would be smart to include non-gaming investments on nearby Hengqin Island when submitting their applications for fresh concessions. Macau's June...
Crown Resorts Expected to Accept $6.5B Blackstone Offer
Crown Resorts informed shareholders yesterday that it will consider -- and likely recommend accepting -- a new offer from private equity giant Blackstone Group. The bid to acquire the casino company's assets is for A$8.87 billion (US$6.48 billion). Blackstone's nearly $6.5 billion...
Detroit Casinos Win $1.26B in 2021, Double 2020 Revenue, But Short of 2019
Detroit's three casinos won a combined $1.26 billion from their guests in 2021. This was despite COVID capacity limits during the first half of the year. MGM Grand Detroit, MotorCity, and Greektown doubled their 2020 gross gaming revenue (GGR) of $639 million....
Las Vegas Tourism Authority Approves $40M Budget for 2024 Allegiant Stadium Super Bowl
The 2024 Las Vegas Super Bowl will cost Clark County and the city around $60 million. A substantial portion of the hosting budget -- $40 million -- was approved this week by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). During its...
Nevada Governor Race Heats Up, Las Vegas Sheriff Raises Record Campaign Funds
Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak (D) is up for reelection this year, and it's becoming increasingly clear who his Republican challenger will be. Sisolak won the gubernatorial race in 2018 over Republican Adam Laxalt, who served as the state's attorney general under Gov....
Virginia Casino Bill Would Block Second Richmond Vote, Allows Petersburg Gaming Plan
The Virginia casino bill signed into law by Gov. Ralph Northam (D) in 2020 allowed five cities to consider authorizing a commercial casino development to spur economic activity. A forthcoming supplemental piece of legislation seeks to add a sixth qualifying town. Virginia's...
New York Casinos Upstate Will Close When Downstate Casinos Open, Says Expert
The moratorium on New York casinos downstate is set to expire in 2023. Some lawmakers want to proactively issue the three full-scale commercial gaming licenses earmarked for the region early as a way to increase state revenue. But one leading industry analyst...
Maryland Casinos Cap Off Record Revenue Year, and Sports Betting Is Only Beginning
Maryland casinos enjoyed their best year in 2021. The six commercial gaming properties hope to only improve on the record-setting performance this year, now that sports betting is officially live. Gross gaming revenue (GGR) in 2021 totaled $1.922 billion for the six...
Showboat Atlantic City Waterpark to Break Ground, as Former Casino Changes Focus
The Showboat Atlantic City hotel is set to break ground this week on its $95 million indoor and outdoor waterpark complex. Philadelphia real estate developer Bart Blatstein has been focused on non-gaming attractions since he acquired the Boardwalk resort in early 2016...