🛒 Checkout checks out

…and Wynn’s UAE casino jackpot (Sam’s Club) Trying to check out for your TV   Presented by Hey Snackers, Red Lobster’s embracing self-reflection. Weeks after the company exited bankruptcy, the seafood slinger’s new CEO said its $20 “[endless shrimp](” promo — which led to $11M in losses — created “chaos” as customers camped out and chowed down. How shellfish of them. Stocks [slid yesterday]( as traders worried about Hurricane Milton and the US election. Friday’s strong jobs report calmed nerves, but dimmed the likelihood of a jumbo rate cut next month.   PRICE-CHECK [Sam’s Club tests a checkout-less future as retailers tweak their scanning strategies]( BYO conveyor belt… Walmart’s Sam’s Club hopes its latest test will chip into Costco’s market dominance. This month the membership-only warehouse club is [opening]( its first checkout-free location. Customers at a Dallas-area Sam’s Club will have to make purchases by scanning products in an app, which the company says could become the norm at its 600 US locations. For Walmart, it’s meant to win over Costco customers (two years ago, it undercut the retailer’s famous $1.50-hot-dog deal by 12 cents). - Bulk tech: Sam’s Club recently rolled out a techy exit archway that automatically audits shoppers’ carts, eliminating employee checks. One in three of its members uses scan-and-go tech. - Warehouse rivalry: Sam’s Club has about the same # of US stores as Costco, but pulls in half its annual revenue ($86B vs $177B). This year it revamped its Kirkland-esque private label (aka Member’s Mark) and said it planned to open more locations. Checking in and out… Retailers can’t stop futzing with checkout. As self-checkouts’ outsized role in theft became clear, retailers have reversed course on DIY lane investments. Dollar General eliminated the tech at 12K stores this year, joining retailers including Five Below, Target, and Walmart. Amazon ditched “Just Walk Out” tech in its grocery stores this year, and the company closed more of its checkout-free Go convenience stores. Amazon once planned to open thousands of Just Walk Out stores but now has only 17 in the US. THE TAKEAWAY Tech and convenience can clash… While DIY checkout tech can cut down labor costs, it comes with a risk of expensive backtracking if customers hate it. Case in point: 43% of Americans support removing self-checkout lanes altogether. Sam’s Club, struggling to catch Costco, can’t afford to make big changes without being sure shoppers won’t bail. [Read this online](   Presented by Miso Robotics 3M Baskets Fried? Yes, Chef! Bear vs Bot… Carmy’s tattooed arms may no longer be the most distinctive ones in the kitchen. With the fast food industry facing 150% annual turnover rates, global brands are turning to [Miso’s AI-powered kitchen robot](, Flippy, to curb labor shortages and boost profits up to 4X. Flip side… Miso is already a leading force in the kitchen AI and automation space. Flippy’s already cooked over 3M baskets of fries, onion rings, chicken nuggets, and more for brands like Jack in the Box, White Castle, and Caliburger. Their newest Flippy Fry Station — the [smartest, fastest Flippy robot yet]( — just had its first small-scale production run… and sold out in seven days. With 170 U.S. fast food brands in need, there’s a $4B annual revenue opportunity for the taking. [Invest in Miso before the opportunity ends on October 18.](1 Presented by Miso Robotics 3M Baskets Fried? Yes, Chef! Bear vs Bot… Carmy’s tattooed arms may no longer be the most distinctive ones in the kitchen. With the fast food industry facing 150% annual turnover rates, global brands are turning to [Miso’s AI-powered kitchen robot](, Flippy, to curb labor shortages and boost profits up to 4X. Flip side… Miso is already a leading force in the kitchen AI and automation space. Flippy’s already cooked over 3M baskets of fries, onion rings, chicken nuggets, and more for brands like Jack in the Box, White Castle, and Caliburger. Their newest Flippy Fry Station — the [smartest, fastest Flippy robot yet]( — just had its first small-scale production run… and sold out in seven days. With 170 U.S. fast food brands in need, there’s a $4B annual revenue opportunity for the taking. [Invest in Miso before the opportunity ends on October 18.](1   ACE [Wynn Resorts scores the UAE’s first casino license as the Gulf bets on gambling]( Feelin’ lucky… Wynn Resorts won the first commercial license to [offer]( gambling in the United Arab Emirates. Gambling has long been illegal in the UAE, where religious law plays an important role in legislation. But that’s changing after the country established a regulatory body for the industry. Wynn’s gambling license is essential for its $3.9B UAE mega resort set to open in 2027 (Wynn CEO Craig Billings said it’s already the tallest building in the emirate). - Full house: Rival casino operator MGM Resorts has also applied for the coveted UAE casino license, but is still waiting on approval. Billings said the UAE is the “most exciting new market” for the industry. Dubai bling… The UAE is investing billions to become a top destination, building glitzy hotels and flashy entertainment venues. Last year, the UAE’s tourism sector earned a record $52B, making up nearly 12% of the country’s GDP. Gambling could supercharge that: Wynn’s casino biz has been on a hot streak and is expected to generate nearly 60% of its $7B in revenue this year. Last year, US casinos earned a record $66.5B+. Experts say the UAE’s casino market could grow to the same size as the Las Vegas Strip. THE TAKEAWAY High rollers can bring high returns… China’s Macau (the world’s biggest gambling hub) said gaming made up over a third of its GDP last year. As global gambling revenues surge, more countries are ready to roll the dice on the industry. Last week, Thailand said it would introduce casino-gaming legislation this month. [Read this online](   ON SHERWOOD [Who died and left the US $7 billion?]( It was the biggest estate-tax payment in modern history, but no one knew who made it. Then an anonymous phone call pointed to one man. [Read more.](   What else we're Snackin' - Warner Bros.’ “Joker” sequel brought in an underwhelming $40M on [opening weekend]( — less than half of the original’s haul, despite costing triple. - Meme-coin traders are hoping to capitalize on an HBO doc investigating the identity of bitcoin’s creator, and have [launched]( tokens tied to one candidate. - McDonald’s sued Tyson Foods and JBS, alleging the meat titans conspired to limit beef supplies, which [led]( to plumped-up prices. - BP is said to have [bailed]( on a pledge to cut oil and gas output by 2030 as it scales back its energy-transition plan. - Wine biz Duckhorn Portfolio is going [private]( as the industry struggles to uncork growth. - Miso’s AI-powered kitchen robot, Flippy, can make restaurants up to 4X more profits. Brands like White Castle are already rolling it out — [share in Miso’s growth here](.1 Ad   Snack Fact of the Day [1 in 8 Americans said they “always” or “usually” feel lonely](   Tuesday - Earnings expected from Pepsi Authors of this Snacks own bitcoin and shares of: Amazon and Walmart Advertiser's disclosures: 1 This is a paid advertisement for Miso Robotics Regulation A offering. Please read the [offering circular]( and related risks at [invest.misorobotics.com.]( Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Start-up investments are speculative and involve a high degree of risk. Those investors who cannot afford to lose their entire investment should not invest in start-ups. Companies seeking startup investment tend to be in earlier stages of development and their business model, products and services may not yet be fully developed, operational or tested in the public marketplace. There is no guarantee that the stated valuation and other terms are accurate or in agreement with the market or industry valuations. Further, investors may receive illiquid and/or restricted stock that may be subject to holding period requirements and/or liquidity concerns. DealMaker Securities LLC, a registered broker-dealer, and member of FINRA | SIPC, located at 105 Maxess Road, Suite 124, Melville, NY 11747, is the Intermediary for this offering and is not an affiliate of or connected with the Issuer. Please check our background on FINRA's BrokerCheck.   Was this email forwarded to you? Love what you’re reading? 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