A Interval of Adjustment
Oops! That giant hissing audio is the gaming balloon that experienced been increasing in excess of the many years, slowly and gradually shedding air. But, it has not been a tide that decreased all ships nonetheless, as some emerging and growing gaming jurisdictions confirmed sturdy expansion in 2008.
All round, the industrial and racetrack on line casino sectors (excluding Indian gaming), skilled a 3.5 p.c decline in gaming revenues for 2008, creating a complete of $36.two billion, down some $800 million from 2007. It was the Racino sector that has tempered this drop, as they confirmed a acquire of virtually $one billion in 2008, thereby bringing the Professional sector marketplace decrease to $one.eight billion, or 6.7 p.c. Nevada was the most significant loser in 2008, dropping practically $1.3 billion, a lot more than 50 percent of which stemmed from the Las Vegas Strip phase.
Hunkering Down
For the most component, on line casino operators were caught comparatively flat-footed by the extent of the 2008 profits downturn, as it was not right up until the 3rd and fourth quarters when it actually nosedived. Riding the crest of yr above yr industry progress throughout the place and the availability of ample credit and fairness money, new development and growth proliferated in modern several years. Nowadays, faced with the realities of declining, or at greatest stagnant need, a lot of of these assignments are now considered over-leveraged and/or above-sized. As a result many gaming businesses are attempting to renegotiate their credit card debt – produced a lot more tough by reduced valuations – although also paring down operational costs. The latter has become a very problematic conundrum when working with the competitors, particularly in those jurisdictions that are now vying for industry shares with new rising casino tasks in neighboring regions. A subject matter we discuss much more fully in the State by Condition evaluation segment of this publication.
As a consequence of these conditions the gaming industry landscape is now strewn with impending fatalities. Among the a lot more noteworthy troubled firms are Station Casinos, Empire Resorts, Harrah’s Leisure, Greektown Holdings, Legends Gaming, Tropicana Leisure, Herbst Gaming and the listing grows each and every 7 days.
“How extended will these economic conditions persist, and are we at the base but?” are questions no one seems to be answering however. What is very clear nonetheless is that most gaming jurisdictions will have to learn how to offer with a more compact pie.
Note:
This investigation consists of only gaming revenues of accredited casinos and pari-mutuel stores that offer you on line casino games, and not Indian gaming functions, card rooms, or tiny non-on line casino variety slot locations. The complete article, such as earnings tables is offered on our web webpage.
Enter/Output Product
A essential aspect that would seem to have arisen from the ashes of this recent development is that several casino initiatives were just also huge to assist by themselves. The input, in conditions of investment decision bucks, was not proportional to the output, in phrases of net profit following credit card debt services, in contrast to previously achieved results. A lot more and/or bigger is not usually better. Looking at the increase in non-gaming profits at the Las Vegas Strip resorts, gave impetus to the growth of much more complete facilities in many other jurisdictions. The flaw in this method even so is that the costs linked with widening marketplace penetration and occasioned-use, are significantly greater than individuals incurred to entice the base market.
As daytripper marketplaces turn into much more aggressive, casino venues will have to count far more and a lot more on their in-house hotel patrons, and measurement their homes (and anticipations) accordingly. Although Steve Wynn began a key development in producing up-market mega-destinations, there just was not enough demand on the Strip to warrant the many other similar assignments that adopted that aimed at the very same niche.
The trick is to strike a happy medium in undertaking configurations which of program need significantly less of a ‘seat-of-pants’ technique, and one particular that is much more researched. A shameless plug for growth consultants like ourselves.
Other Gaming Activities
Although there are no printed detailed info of American Indian gaming revenues, anecdotal evidence seems to recommend that this phase has been as challenging strike as the Commercial sector. The two Connecticut Indian gaming installations report slot revenue of $one.six billion in 2008, representing a drop of about 7 p.c, or almost $114 million, far more than doubling the three.five per cent drop from the year just before. This marketplace is apparently still reeling from the ripple-impact of a on line casino enlargement in Rhode Island, and the opening of slot operations in New York and Pennsylvania.
The Arizona Division of Gaming studies that contributions based on a gaming revenue formulation from the state’s 23 Indian gaming casinos, have been declining each and every quarter in 2008 in comparison to the preceding calendar year reducing .8 percent in the very first quarter, seven.5 per cent in the next quarter, nine.five per cent in the 3rd quarter, and sixteen.one % in the fourth quarter.
Some SEC reporting Indian gaming properties report similar decreases. Seneca Gaming, which operates 3 Course III casinos in upstate New York, studies that although calendar calendar year 2008 confirmed an nearly two p.c progress price in gaming revenues, there was an eight.seven per cent decline in the third quarter and an nearly ten percent decline in the fourth quarter of 2008, in contrast with 2007. Gaming income traits at nearby Niagara Falls, Ontario had been down one.five% in 2008 when compared with 2007.
It really is been a blended-bag for point out lotteries throughout the region. The North American Affiliation of State & Provincial Lotteries reports that U.S. lotteries created a complete of $60.6 billion in income in fiscal 2008, up about three % from the prior 12 months however some jurisdictions described decreases, most notably California, which confirmed an eight per cent drop. Inasmuch as some of these states are on different fiscal yr ends, it would seem that the knowledge does not reflect the impact of third and/or fourth quarter outcomes.
In accordance to knowledge provided by Equibase, horse racing pari-mutuel revenues continue their downward spiral, slipping 7 percent to $13.seven billion in 2008, vs . $14.7 billion in 2007.
Planned & Proposed New Expansions
As formerly observed, it has been new gaming jurisdictions that have spawned a lot of the development in once-a-year casino/racino revenues more than the several years, and their effect is apt to continue into the around future.
Florida
Miami Dade voters approved a ballot concern that makes it possible for each of 3 pari-mutuels to have a on line casino facility of up to two,000 slot equipment. The Flagler Dog Monitor and Miami Jai-Alai are reportedly arranging opening in late 2009 or early 2010, whilst the Calder installation in Miami Gardens has yet to introduced its plans. There are many other proposals being deemed that would additional broaden on line casino development through the state.
Illinois
The condition finally received around to reissuing its tenth license, late in December, 2008 awarding it to Midwest Gaming & Leisure, LLC for a one,200+ game casino positioned in Des Plaines just east of O’Hare. The new facility is not likely to open until 2010. There has also been some dialogue about making it possible for an increase in for each spot gaming positions and slots at racetracks, though neither initiative seems to have any traction at this time.
Kansas
The state’s expanded lottery program that makes it possible for for the advancement of 4 casino gaming zones and slots at present horse and canine tracks appears mired, as only 1 facility is presently below design, whilst 3 other proposals ended up rescinded. The only bidder on the Cherokee County deal, claimed it could not contend with the new Quapaw tribal casino in Oklahoma, which is positioned so close to the point out line that its parking whole lot is in Kansas. The Boot Hill Casino Resort in Dodge City is planing a December 2009 opening with 575 slots and 10 table game titles, alongside with a next period due to open in 2011 with 875 slots and twenty table video games. The state has extended the software procedure for the other a few zones until April, 2009.
Kentucky
There is still a lot of ‘jockeying’ likely on, but the prospect of as several as 8 slot parlors and racinos seems to be back on the front-burner, but probably not fixed in the course of the present legislative session.
Las Vegas
There are about 14,000 rooms scheduled to come on line in 2009, with the most current getting the 390 place M Resort in Henderson. There are expansions underway at the two Caesars Palace and Challenging Rock and new hotels consist of two components of the City Middle task, and the Fountainebleau.
Louisiana
Pinnacle Entertainment’s new casino improvement initiatives in Baton Rouge and Lake Charles, while delayed, are reported to nevertheless be on-keep track of for opening this calendar year and/or early 2010.
Maine
There is a bill under thought that could far more than double Penn National’s slot equipment to 3,000, as nicely as a proposal that would remove the restriction that slots be situated within 5 miles of the keep track of. Scarborough Downs, which has been unsuccessful in convincing nearby people to permit slots, could be contemplating relocating to a much more hospitable town.
Maryland
A referendum was approved in November, 2008 that permits for the development of 5 casinos with a total of 15,000 slots, and now the bidding war is afoot though it is not as intensive as the state experienced predicted.
Mississippi
Grand Soleil On line casino Vacation resort in Natchez experienced been slated to open up in 2008, but has operate into numerous financing concerns and while the resort part is open up, the riverboat is reported to open up in the Spring of ’09. Harrah’s Margaritaville On line casino in Biloxi, although scaled again fairly, is nevertheless on observe to open up this yr.
New England
Massachusetts, a sleeping-huge in terms of marketplace potential, is even now maneuvering to open up casinos/racinos, and/or a Course III Indian gaming facility, but cannot seem to be to muster the political assistance. A latest review completed by Dartmouth College estimates that Massachusetts resident expended far more than $920 million very last calendar year at Connecticut casinos and slot machine parlors in Rhode Island and Maine. The New Hampshire legislature recently declined an option to create casinos, even so the matter is likely to be revisited, specifically if Massachusetts decides to go ahead. There are also attempts in Maine to reconsider its options.
New Jersey
Atlantic City’s casinos have imposed their political will on staving off the addition of slot machines at racetracks by recently agreeing to continue augmenting purses with an further tax. The governor nevertheless, has appointed a new panel to study the state’s sagging racing system which ironically, can only be preserved by making it possible for the tracks to have slot devices specifically at the Meadowlands. (See The Nor’easter Squeeze part)
New York
Just when it appeared as if Aqueduct’s four,500 VLT facility would lastly be created, the profitable bidder indicated an incapacity to make the necessary $370 million fee, citing the existing lending local weather, and throwing the task back again into the lap of the governor. Despite the fact that the marketplace desire in the spot could be considered really sturdy, the prospect of further competitiveness from close by Belmont could have an influence on Aqueduct’s underlining economic feasibility, specially thinking about that somewhat significantly less than thirty% of the net get is retained by the operator.
Strategies to relocate Monticello Raceway into a resort complicated are becoming reconsidered probably owing to the two the probable opening of at the very least one or probably two racino operations in the NY metro area, and the resurfacing of initiatives to development a Class III Indian gaming facility in the Catskills.
Ohio
But another gaming proposal is becoming put forth in Ohio, soon after very last year’s version was turned down by the voters. This program calls for a single on line casino every in the state’s greatest metropolitan areas: Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati and Toledo. There would be a minimum expense needed of $250 million, as effectively as an first licensing fee of $fifty million, and a 33 percent tax on gaming earnings.
Pennsylvania
The Sands in Bethlehem is owing to open up in the Spring of ’09, and the new Rivers venture in Pittsburgh is anticipated to be operational in August, ’09 whilst Philadelphia’s two slot amenities nevertheless wallow in a political mire, but are predicted to commence design this calendar year.
South Dakota
The Lodge at Deadwood is slated to open up in the Slide of 2009, and incorporate three hundred video games, 140 rooms and a extensive variety of facilities.
Texas
Legislators are proposing a voter referendum that would amend the point out structure to enable casino gambling in designated areas, as effectively as permit gambling on American Indian lands in Texas and at present racetracks.
West Virginia
The Greenbriar, the state’s venerable resort facility has submitted for bankruptcy, but has a new suitor in Marriott Lodges, who have reportedly tendered an offer. State authorities has proffered the idea of enabling the vacation resort to offer on line casino video games, but this work is in way too early a stage to have any traction one particular way or one more.
Indian Gaming
A latest Supreme Courtroom ruling that restricts the having of lands into believe in on behalf of federally recognized American Indian tribes has further stymied some new Class III gaming assignments across the region. Furthermore, there were eleven Indian on line casino tasks turned down by the DOI final year since of its new rule that casinos must be around adequate to a reservation that tribal customers can operate at them. It has been recommended that the new Obama administration may be a lot more sympathetic to the improvement of Indian gaming projects, but this problem has however to be tackled.
Meanwhile, there are other Course III tasks in the various levels of growth. The Seneca on line casino venture in Buffalo, NY, whilst working a small temporary facility, has delayed an already underneath construction long term facility right up until the market place rebounds. They have also expressed an fascination in building a casino in the Catskills. The condition gaming compact with Seminoles in Florida is currently being challenged, and could influence their plans for more substantial projects. There are new Indian gaming tasks established to open in Michigan and Oklahoma this calendar year, and others are in the arranging phase. Texas may possibly enable the reopening of Indian gaming amenities and permit other venue and there are programs afoot by the Navajos in Arizona to build added casinos. California is poised to open two to 3 new Course III casinos in 2009/ten.
The Nor’easter Squeeze
Overall gaming income in Atlantic Metropolis has declined seven.6 p.c, from $four.nine billion in 2007 to $4.five billion in 2008 with decreases continuing into 2009, as the city is obtaining alone in an extreme comp-war with the Pennsylvania venues. At 1 time the only casinos in the Northeast had been located in Atlantic City, where it appeared as if it may possibly really even eclipse the Las Vegas Strip’s once-a-year gaming revenues.
Little by little nonetheless its marketplace share was currently being encroached upon, first by the advancement of a big Class III gaming procedure in Connecticut, and then an additional slots functions in Rhode Island, and then online video lottery terminals at New York racetracks, racinos in West Virginia and Delaware, and most lately Pennsylvania.
Now, with the prepared opening of slot functions in Maryland, the impending opening of a new casino in Bethlehem, PA, and ultimately two operations in Philadelphia, the noose is tightening close to Atlantic City’s potential potential clients. It truly is reliance on day-trippers lulled it into a false perception of security, and it now finds by itself obtaining to redefine its mission statement to “location resort.”
The only difficulty with this approach however is that it is sick-geared up to pull it off. For all intents and purposes, Atlantic Town is underneath-roomed and/or more than-gamed. There is just not adequate working day-tripper marketplace to go close to, and their successful investing area is tightening, as the peripheral populations northward now/will have more completely ready access to a widened provide in New York (Yonkers, and before long at Aqueduct and perhaps Belmont), westward in Pennsylvania and southward in Delaware, West Virginia and Maryland.
Other than the ocean entry, the city’s only actual aggressive rewards are its resort ability and the availability of desk game titles, though the latter is very likely to eventuate in Pennsylvania, and probably Delaware. In purchase to sufficiently compete as a destination resort the metropolis needs to build added guest rooms and not necessarily gaming potential. By comparison, the Las Vegas Strip properties – correct gaming places, in that they do not have much of a working day-trip industry, except for the ‘locals’ – have an average of .87 gaming positions per visitor place although Atlantic City’s typical is two.seventy four positions for every guest room.
It is not a coincidence that Atlantic City’s two premier hotels, the Borgata and Harrah’s Marina, equally of which additional new rooms in 2008, had been the least impacted by the latest downturn. The Borgata knowledgeable a gaming earnings fall of one.six percent, whilst Harrah’s Marina described a four.nine percent improve when compared to 2007. In Winbet , the hardest strike venues, namely the AC Hilton, Resorts and the Trump Marina, also have the smallest amount of rooms. In the meantime some of the venues are teetering on viability, which includes the the Trump houses and Resorts with the hoped for sale of the Tropicana has been even more delayed, and dropping valuation.
With a regular increase in gaming revenues through 2006, the metropolis seemed key for more improvement, which precipitated arranging for four new vacation resort initiatives, every of which have now been indefinitely delayed. Revel Entertainment Group’s $2.five billion undertaking remains an iron skeleton, Pinnacle Leisure has introduced it might look for to offer its razed Sands internet site, MGM Mirage has shelved its casino programs, and Penn Countrywide seems to have stopped its pursuit of the Bader Subject airport website.