Gaming/Casinos/Hotels/Pop Culture: United States
All That Glitters
September 2025
Sept 24
Las Vegas:
A’s stadium is taking shape on Strip, but Bally’s casino project has been quiet for a year.
To use a baseball reference, Bally’s Corp. is at the plate taking its swings, but it’s yet to connect. Last week’s $735 million sale and leaseback of its Rhode Island casino to real estate investment trust Gaming and Leisure Properties allows the company to pay down a portion of its almost $3.6 billion debt and focus attention on an under-construction $1.7 billion Chicago resort the company plans to open next year. Bally’s also remains a candidate to develop one of three New York City-area casinos, a process that could be decided by year’s end.
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Texas: Tribe to build new casino resort in Leggett
The new Naskila Casino Resort will be located on land in Leggett that is owned by the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas, not on the reservation as previously thought. Cecilia Flores, chairwoman of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribal Council, announced the new development to the Polk County Commissioners Court Tuesday. She was joined by several members of the tribal council. “We have received confirmation from the National Indian Gaming Commission,” Flores said. “We had made a petition to them about gaming on tribal properties outside the reservation in eastern Polk County."
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TransUnion report indicates Millennials and Gen Z are fueling growth in gaming industry
Growth in the United States’ gaming market is fueled by younger bettors. That’s true of many segments of the economy. But in the U.S Betting Report issued today by TransUnion, young, speculative bettors are driving growth in the U.S. gaming market. U.S. betting activity increased to 30% of consumers in the second quarter, compared to 25% in the same period of 2024, according to TransUnion’s U.S. Betting Report. The results were not surprising to TransUnion Senior Director Declan Raines. “We’ve seen that in prior editions”.
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Did Boyd Gaming pay ransom in cyberattack? Company won’t say
Boyd Gaming Corp. isn’t saying whether it paid a ransom to cybercriminals who broke into its internal information technology systems. The company, which operates 11 local properties, including three in downtown Las Vegas, reported the cyberattack Tuesday in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It didn’t say when the attack occurred or when and how it was discovered. In a Wednesday email, Las Vegas-based Boyd said it would have no further comment beyond the five-paragraph notice in its SEC 8-K filing. “Upon detecting the incident, the company promptly took steps to respond to the incident with the assistance of leading external cybersecurity experts and in cooperation with federal law enforcement authorities,” the filing said.
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Casino revenue up 1.7% in August
Massachusetts
Massachusetts’ three casinos generated $105.0 million, up 1.7% from last year’s $103.3 million. Sports GGR was $55.8 million. Total GGR in August was $160.8 million, up 17%. Encore Boston Harbor reported $65 million, up 0.1%. MGM Springfield $24.9 million, up 5.2%. Plainridge Park Casino $15.1 million, up 2.8%.
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NYC Casino License Awards Face 2026 Delay
New York
New York’s drive to expand gambling now faces setbacks that push major licensing calls into 2026. State Senator Joseph Addabbo has said the schedule affects both downstate casino awards and the next phase of sports wagering. Eight bidders are seeking three downstate permits that would bring full casino gaming to New York City for the first time. Officials had penciled in late 2025 for selections, but with lawmakers not back until January 2026 the timetable has slipped. The push to open wagering on player awards sits on the same schedule.
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New casino taking shape in downtown Cedar Rapids
Iowa
Cedar Rapids
Progress is being made on the new Cedar Crossing Casino in Cedar Rapids. The $40 million project has been built almost entirely by Iowan contractors. In addition to gaming, the complex will feature an arts and cultural center, event center, smokehouse, guitar bar, sports bar, comedy club, and more. The opening is slated for New Year’s Eve 2026.
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Las Vegas Casino News
Las Vegas casinos are facing a challenging year with a 7% drop in visitors year-over-year through the first half of 2025, largely blamed on high prices, economic pressures like tariffs and interest rates, and a 65% plunge in Canadian tourism.
In response, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) launched its first destination-wide sale on September 22, running through September 26, featuring steep discounts on rooms, dining, entertainment, and more at major properties.
Social media reactions have been mixed, with some calling it "too little too late" amid complaints of "nickel-and-diming" via resort fees and add-ons.
Teen Hacker Arrested in 2023 Cyberattack Saga
A 15- to 17-year-old suspect (reports vary slightly on age) has been arrested and released to his parents with strict no-internet conditions in connection to the 2023 cyberattacks on MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment, which cost the companies over $100 million.
The hacks, linked to groups like Scattered Spider and Octo Tempest, used voice phishing to breach systems between August and October 2023; Caesars reportedly paid $15 million in extortion.
Prosecutors plan to try him as an adult. On X, users are buzzing about the "sophisticated" teen's role in the disruptions.
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Casinos Shift to Electronic Games Amid Tourism Slump
Downtown's historic Golden Gate Casino is phasing out all live dealer table games in favor of electronic systems to attract a broader demographic and cut costs as visitor numbers fall.
Owner Derek Stevens told Fox News the change will "bring a lot of value back to the table." Vital Vegas blogger Scott Roeben questions the future of live craps across the Strip.
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Aggressive Promotions to Lure Visitors and Locals
The LVCVA sale includes 50% off rooms at MGM properties (plus food credits), waived resort/parking fees at Caesars and Station Casinos, free upgrades, and even discounted weddings.
Fontainebleau offers rooms from $125/night without fees; Station has two-night packages; Downtown Grand ties deals to its Neon City Fest in November. Caesars is also giving Nevada locals free weekday parking (Sun-Thu) through October 30.
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New Developments and Openings
Anthony Marnell III (original M Resort developer) plans a new hotel-casino across from the M in Henderson, south of the Strip, on a site visible from Las Vegas Boulevard.
Non-gaming Symphony Park hotels (AC by Marriott and Element by Westin) opened September 3, Marriott's largest such dual-brand project.
Virgin Hotels partners with William Hill for a revamped sportsbook, adding kiosks and viewing screens (no opening date yet).
The restored Dunes sign will light up at the Neon Museum on September 26.
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Incidents and Closures
A September 19 shooting near Mandalay Bay injured one person via window shrapnel (non-life-threatening); no arrests reported yet.
Hooters fully exits Vegas with the closure of its last restaurant at OYO; no replacement announced.
Emmitt's Vegas steakhouse at Fashion Show Mall shut down abruptly on September 23.
MGM Resorts named new execs at several Strip properties, including an advisory role for outgoing leader Corey I. Sanders ahead of a Japan resort opening.
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Tourism Shifts and Wins
Laughlin, 100 miles south, is booming with a 6% visitor increase YTD (859,000 through July), touted as the "new Las Vegas" for affordable gambling, free parking/Wi-Fi, and river activities—contrasting Vegas' price hikes (e.g., $15 Diet Cokes).
Red Rock Casino hosts Y2K-themed bingo tonight with free drinks and jello shots
Big wins making waves:
Plaza Hotel guest Maynor hit a $26,928 jackpot on September 24. A poker player at an unnamed casino scored with a rare hand.
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Vegas Casinos In PR Overdrive; Attempting To Combat Mixed Reports Of Cost Of Casino Lifestyle, Visits
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