Casino News Roundup: Penn Eyes Strong 2026 & Genting Revives The Trocadero
Welcome to the Casino Daily News Roundup - your briefing on the latest news from the global casino industry. We bring you the biggest stories from across the sector, covering everything from major business deals and revenue figures to new openings and regulatory developments.
Penn Entertainment Poised For Its Strongest Year Yet As Casino Investment Pipeline Gathers Pace
Penn Entertainment is quietly building momentum heading into what analysts believe could be its most significant year to date.
Shares in the Pennsylvania-based regional casino giant have risen nearly 16% over the past month.
For players who enjoy using gambling websites to complement their visits to physical venues, Penn is one of the operators best placed to serve both - and 2026 looks set to be the year it proves it.
Credit analyst Kim Noland at Gimme Credit has pointed to a compelling combination of factors - property upgrades, a recovering digital gaming unit, and a major new opening - as the foundation for an improved financial performance this year.
The centerpiece of Penn's near-term pipeline is Hollywood Casino Aurora in Illinois.
The $360m land-based property - which replaces the company's long-running Fox River riverboat - is set to open on June 24.
The project has been funded in part by $225m from Penn's landlord, Gaming and Leisure Properties.
A second major milestone arrives just weeks earlier, on June 12, when a new $100m hotel tower opens at Hollywood Casino Columbus in Ohio.
Penn CEO Jay Snowden has described the early performance of recently completed projects as grounds for confidence and has projected segment adjusted EBITDAR growth of 20% for 2026.
Penn's digital gaming division is also heading in the right direction.
The company achieved positive adjusted EBITDA in December 2025 after successfully rebranding its US online sportsbook to theScore Bet.
The interactive segment is targeting break-even for the full year of 2026 - a swing of approximately $268m year-on-year compared to 2025.
Penn's iCasino product has been a particular bright spot, with record revenue in Q4 2025 driven by cross-sell activity between its retail and digital platforms.
The broader picture for Penn is one of disciplined reinvestment rather than flashy expansion.
The company has authorized a new $750m share buyback program beginning in January 2026 and has set a target of reducing lease-adjusted net leverage by more than one turn this year.
With a diversified portfolio of more than 40 properties across 20 states, Penn is well positioned to capitalize on the growing appetite for both land-based and online casinos.
Genting Set To Bring Casino Gaming Back To London's Iconic Trocadero
One of London's most storied entertainment landmarks is set for a major revival.
Genting UK has received approval from Westminster City Council to transform part of the historic Trocadero building on Coventry Street into a brand-new casino and leisure destination.
The project is targeting an October 2026 opening and will repurpose around 37,000 square feet of currently vacant space within the Grade II-listed building.
The casino will be spread across portions of the basement, ground, and first floors, with a gaming floor of up to 16,000 square feet.
Restaurants and bars will sit alongside the gaming space, creating a full-service leisure destination in the heart of London's West End.
Genting CFO James Axelby has described the project as an opportunity to restore prestige to the Trocadero while preserving its architectural heritage.
The operator also plans a community hub within the complex, aimed at creating social and cultural space for both local residents and tourists.
Genting currently operates more than 30 venues across the UK. The Trocadero addition places it alongside neighboring West End operators such as The Hippodrome and Empire Casino Leicester Square.
The company projects the creation of up to 350 hospitality jobs at the new venue.
Genting has committed to an ongoing consultation process ahead of its full planning and licensing submissions to Westminster City Council.
New York City Casinos Could Become Second-Biggest Gaming Market In The US, Says CBRE
New York City's incoming casino market could be even bigger than many anticipated.
A new report from research firm CBRE, published this week, estimates that the three newly licensed New York City casino properties could generate a combined $4.7bn in annual gaming revenue at their base-case scenario - and as much as $5.6bn at the top end.
That would make it the second-largest gaming market in the US, behind only Las Vegas.
CBRE analysts Colin Mansfield and Connor Parks said the Downstate New York market is "significantly underpenetrated" and that each of the three projects has the potential to rank among the highest revenue-generating casinos in regional gaming.
The three licensees - Genting's Resorts World New York City in Queens, Hard Rock Metropolitan Park at Citi Field and Bally's in the Bronx - are expected to be completed by 2031.
CBRE estimates that around 70% of the properties' total revenue will be derived from gaming, with the remaining 30% split across hotels, food and beverage, retail, and entertainment.
Resorts World is first out of the blocks, with its first-phase opening - featuring hundreds of live table games - targeted for this month.
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Caesars Takeover Talks Edge Closer To A Deal As April Deadline Approaches
The ongoing saga surrounding the potential sale of Caesars Entertainment shows no signs of losing momentum.
Fertitta Entertainment remains in active negotiations with the Las Vegas gaming giant, with deal terms holding at $32 per share - representing an equity value of $6.5bn and a total enterprise value of around $31.5bn.
A finalised agreement is not expected before early April, with a full closing anticipated in 2027.
Billionaire Carl Icahn, whose competing offer of around $33 per share remains on the table as a backstop, continues to wait in the wings.
Industry analysts at Truist Securities and CBRE have both said a successful deal could trigger a broader wave of consolidation across the US casino sector.
Several operators are watching closely to see whether their own boards might be encouraged to explore strategic options - whether through mergers, acquisitions or going private. Regulatory questions remain.
Tilman Fertitta's existing minority stake in Wynn Resorts, combined with his prior ownership of Golden Nugget and his current role as US Ambassador to Italy and San Marino, means any deal will attract significant scrutiny before it crosses the finish line.
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