Wynn Resorts’ third-quarter profit slid 80% to $17.3m as weak table hold in Las Vegas and softer Macau trading cut into revenue, even as the group pressed on with its United Arab Emirates expansion. The results sit alongside a stronger quarter for DraftKings, regulatory clearance for Banijay’s French casino push, and continued resilience at B2B supplier Inspired Entertainment despite higher UK gambling duty.
Wynn Resorts Profit Falls Sharply Despite UAE Push
Wynn Resorts’ third-quarter profit fell sharply as poor table hold in Las Vegas and weaker Macau trading cut revenue.
The company’s first UAE resort is set to open in September 2027, as revenue slipped 7.9% to $1.69bn across its main markets.
Despite the quarterly profit decline, Wynn Resorts increased its committed investment in the UAE project to $1.12 billion, underscoring a long-term bet on the Gulf market even as its established Las Vegas and Macau operations soften.
The results echo the Las Vegas slowdown at MGM and Caesars, yet Wynn is still funding its UAE resort.
That pattern points to a wider trend among the major US-listed casino groups: domestic land-based softness is being offset by continued capital commitments to new international jurisdictions. For suppliers and affiliates with ambitions in the Gulf region, Wynn’s continued UAE spending, even against a weak quarter at home, signals that the operator sees the market as a durable long-term priority rather than a discretionary project that can be scaled back when results disappoint elsewhere.
DraftKings Lifts FY27 Guidance on Double-Digit Growth
DraftKings reported a period of strength in its Q3 2026 results, highlighting a double-digit increase in revenue thanks to healthy customer engagement and higher sportsbook net revenue margin.
Emboldened by the strong performance, the company introduced an optimistic FY 2027 guidance.
The contrast with Wynn’s quarter is notable: while the land-based operator struggles with hold variance and Macau softness, DraftKings’ digital-first sportsbook model continues to deliver growth, reinforcing the structural shift of gambling spend toward online and mobile channels. For affiliates, sustained engagement growth at a major US operator points to continued demand for player-acquisition partnerships in regulated states, even as the broader sector faces tax and regulatory headwinds.
Banijay’s Casino Expansion Cleared by French Regulator
The French Competition Authority has given Banijay Group the green light to press on with its expansion in the country’s casino market.
The authority found the deal unlikely to restrict competition, with poker identified as the main area of potential overlap between online and land-based gambling.
Banijay agreed to acquire JOA Group back in July, the latest in a series of takeovers and mergers which has seen the company emerge as a powerhouse in continental European media and
gambling. The approval removes a key regulatory obstacle and allows Banijay to proceed with integrating JOA’s casino estate, strengthening its position in the French retail and online poker market at a time when several European jurisdictions are tightening scrutiny of consolidation deals.
Inspired Entertainment Holds Up Against UK Tax Rise
With last year’s increase in Remote Gaming Duty, the UK gambling sector was once again put in a position to prove it is resilient.
Seven months into the new tax regime, this has rung true for some companies like B2B technology firm Inspired Entertainment, which reported Q3 growth in the UK despite the headwinds.
Inspired’s performance offers a useful data point for suppliers assessing how the UK’s higher duty regime is filtering through to B2B revenue, suggesting that well-diversified technology providers can continue growing even as operator margins come under pressure from the tax rise and the recently announced increase to Machine Games Duty.
For more on how UK tax and regulatory pressures are reshaping operator strategy, see our industry news section.
Sources
- GamblingNews – Wynn’s Q3 Results Take a Hit, Leaders Praise Disciplined Strategy
- iGaming Business – Wynn Resorts lifts UAE investment to $1.12 billion as quarterly profit falls 80%
- CasinoBeats – Wynn Q3 profit slides to $17.3m as Las Vegas hold and Macau weigh, UAE spending continues
- GamblingNews – DraftKings Posts Strong Q3 Results, Posts FY26 and FY27 Guidance
- SBC News – Banijay’s France strategy on track as casino expansion approved
- iGaming Business – France clears Banijay Gaming’s acquisition of casino operator Joa
- SBC News – Inspired Entertainment shows Q3 resilience amid UK tax headwinds
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