Las Vegas News

The Producers Debuts:

The Producers at Paris debuts tonight, with tickets priced at $75.50-$143.50. Locals can get tickets for $60 for the first week, which is being designated as a preview period.

Palms Buffet Update:

The Palms Fantasy Market Buffet is closed for renovation, but a new smaller buffet will open (Feb. 5-April 1) above Gardunos. Price is $6.99 for lunch, including prime rib and $8.99 for dinner, including prime rib and peel and eat shrimp. Top level club members also receive extra discounts. Hours are lunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and dinner from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Betting With Bookies:

Today's Wall Street Journal contains a story on how casual sports gamblers are going back to illegal bookies as a result of the crackdown on Internet gambling. This was the obvious result that the prohibibition would have and it's manifesting quickly.

Wedding Crasher Confidential:

With Valentine's Day around the corner, the Clark County Library is hosting an evening panel with local authors and wedding experts including HP's own Ken Van Vechten, author of Neon Nuptials: The Complete Guide to Las Vegas Weddings. Book sales and signings follow the Q & A and the event kicks off at 6:30 p.m. at the Jewel Box Theater, 1401 E. Flamingo Road. Call 702/507-3458 for more details.

Toby Keith Chips:

Harrah's Las Vegas has released a limited number of special edition $5 gaming chips featuring the country music star Toby Keith. The exclusive chips are available only from the casino cage and are being distributed on a first-come-first-served basis. There's a five chip per-guest limit.

Bunco:

Today's Wall Street Journal contains a front-page story on the rising popularity of the old dice game, bunco. The Bunco World Championship will be played in Las Vegas in March.

Free Wednesday Blues at HoB:

Every Wednesday night at 9 p.m., commencing tonight, House of Blues will be presenting Nothing But the Blues, a 3-hour music showcase, featuring notable blues artists, emerging local and out-of-state talent, and famous surprise musical guests in the Crossroads Room in the HoB restaurant.

Manchester Gets Super-Casino:

Manchester, famous for its soccer team, raves, and riots, has unexpectedly won the bid to house the UK's first "supercasino." Following the government's relaxation of the nation's 40-year-old restrictions on casino gambling, the northern industrial town will become home to a 54,000-square-foot complex with up to 1,250 slot machines offering unlimited prizes. Kerzner International Ltd., owner of the Atlantis casino resort on Paradise Island, Bahamas, Ladbrokes Plc, and Hilton Hotels Corp. are expected to submit bids to build and operate the super-casino.

Miss America Finals Tonight:

The 2007 Miss America Pageant will air live from The Aladdin/Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino tonight at 8 p.m. Eastern; 7 p.m. Central; and will be tape delayed to air at 8 p.m. Pacific; and 9 p.m. Mountain on CMT (check your local listing for channel).

Harrah's Layoffs:

According to Fox5 News, Harrah's Entertainment eliminated some 200 jobs in its Las Vegas corporate office on Friday, mainly in the aviation, food and beverage, hotel ops, and government relations departments. The official line is that the layoffs have nothing to do with the planned $27.8 billion buyout of the company, which is due to finalize towards the end of this year.

Old Vegas in Print:

John L. Smith's column in today's Las Vegas Review-Journal is a classic about one of the more amazing Las Vegas characters of the past three decades, Sam Angel. Check it out at www.reviewjournal.com for a fascinating look inside the non-glitzy Vegas.

Perez Hilton Panel at Palms:

Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton will be hosting a panel also including Robin Leach, Norm Clarke of the R-J, and Extra's Carlos Diaz for a discussion on celebrity journalism in the digital age tonight at 8 p.m. in the Ghost Bar. Cover is $10 with proceeds going to the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association.

Bet21 $25,000 Guarantee:

Tonight is the $25,000 guaranteed Elimination Blackjack event at Bet21.com. Entry fee is $215. The event needs 116 players to be even equity and there are currently fewer than 100. It begins at 9 pm EST.

Last Chance to See Earl Turner:

The popular singer's last performance at Palace Station takes place tomorrow night at 8 p.m. Locals with valid ID receive a $10 discount.

Fight Tickets on Sale Today:

Tickets for the May 5 "superfight" between Oscar De La Hoya and Floyd Mayweather at MGM Grand go on sale today. Tickets start at $150 and go up to $2,000 and are available from the MGM Grand box office and from all Ticketmaster outlets.

Aspiring Comedians Take Note:

Today, from 2-4 p.m., the FOX 5 Studios (25 TV Drive, Henderson) will be holding an open casting call for the Las Vegas Make Me Laugh Challenge! They're looking for the funniest comic in town with $500 in cash and a chance to perform in George Wallace's show at the Flamingo up for grabs. So if you're 18 or over, a Nevada resident, and think you've got what it takes to deliver three minutes of (clean) comedy, head on over and give it your best shot.

Coin & Stamp Expo:

Vegaspex presents its annual January Coin & Stamp Expo at the Sahara this weekend, with millions of dollars worth of stamps, gold and silver coins, and currency available for viewing and purchase. Doors open 11 a.m. today and the Expo runs through 5 p.m. Sunday, with a $3 admission for adults ($2 for seniors). Children 14 and under are free.

Pornstar Picks & Poker:

From 7-9 p.m. tonight, the Girls of Sinsation Pictures will be giving their tips for the Super Bowl to the public at a handicapping forum at the Imperial Palace. Then, over the weekend, they'll also be available for autograph signings during the IP's "Sinsation Poker Classic" tourney, which begins 10 a.m. Saturday, with a $500 buy-in.

Accolade for Social House:

TI's late-night eatery and popular celebrity hangout, the Social House, has just been awarded "Best New Restaurant on the Strip" in Las Vegas Life's annual Epicurean Awards. The venue, located atop the Tangerine lounge/nightclub, features Pan-Asian cuisine and an in-house DJ.

Vegas This Weekend:

Take your pick from this lot: Music: Tom Jones is at the MGM (1/18/07-1/31/07); Etta James performs at the Orleans (1/26/07-1/28/07); the Go-Gos are at the Luxor (1/26/07-1/27/07); Howard Jones will be over at Boulder Station (1/26/07); Peace Frog, A Tribute to the Doors will be at the Cannery (1/26/07-1/27/07); Scooter and Lavelle are at the Palms (1/26/07); Kenny Rankin plays Santa Fe Station (1/27/07); High School Musical, The Concert will be at the Thomas and Mack (1/28/07); and this weekend at at University Theatre it's Fletch, The Cab, I Hate Kate, Slam Dunk and Jr. Anti Sex League (1/26/07), The Higher, Forget McCarran, Pistolita and In Aviate (1/27/07), and Escape The Fate, Greeley Estates and Serene (1/28/07) Comedy: Jay Leno's at the Mirage (1/05/07-11/10/07); Vicki Lawrence will be at the Suncoast (1/26/07-1/28/07); and Kevin Nealon’s at Mandalay Bay's House of Blues (1/27/07) Tournaments: Imperial Palace hosts the Sinsation Poker Classic (1/26/07-1/28/07); Boulder Station's got a $5,000 No Limit Omaha Poker tourney (1/28/07); and it’s Fiesta Rancho’s $5,000 Go All In Poker tournament (1/28/07) Other Events: the Bridal Spectacular's at the Cashman Center (1/26/07-1/27/07), 2007 Miss America Pageant is at the Aladdin (1/25/07-1/29/07); and Time Capsule: A Century of Dance will perform at the Community College of Southern Nevada (1/27/07) For more details about these and other events, plus full listings of all the permanent shows Las Vegas plays home to, click here to use our "Shows & Events" finder, under "Vegas Info."

Fight Tonight:

Top Rank Boxing hosts a seven-bout night tonight at the Orleans Arena, including local heavyweight Tye Fields vs. Kendrick Releford and Mexico's Ulises Solis vs. Will Grigsby. Doors open at 5 pm with tickets starting at $20. Call 702/284-7777 for more details.

Palms EBJ Mini:

The weekly Elimnation Blackjack tourament at the Palms begins today at 2 pm. Last week's meet filled up.

New Pearl Premiere with Tool:

According to Robin Leach's Luxe Life site, Gwen Stefani's concert at the new Palms venue will no longer be the premiere performance, as Tool has now been signed for a grand opening performance, March 15-16, which also marks the beginning of their US tour.

Half-Price at Crown & Anchor:

Here's one we just found out about, but there are a few days left. The Crown & Anchor is selling all of its 30 draft beers for half price, Sun.-Thurs. from midnight to 6 am. This British pub also offers a full menu of English fare. It's located at 1350 E. Tropicana.

Café Martorano Comes to Rio:

Following hot in the footsteps first of Prince, and then PURE's Lucky Strike Lanes, comes the latest chapter in the Rio's reinvention of itself, with the announcement today that South Florida's Café Martorano is on the way. Due to open mid-February, the new venue promises to be a "one-of-a-kind restaurant/nightclub combo," featuring Chef Martorano's South Philly-style Italian-American cuisine -- and DJs.

Heads-Up Poker Returns:

For the third straight year, a field of 64 of the world's elite poker players will descend upon Las Vegas from March 1-4 as the NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship brings a 'who's who' from the poker world to the Caesars Palace poker tournament room. The tournament, which takes a single-elimination format modeled after college basketball, will be taped for broadcast on NBC and CNBC over seven consecutive Sundays in April and May. The viewing gallery will open to guests on a first-come first-served basis. Top pros in the field will include defending champion Ted Forrest, 2005 champion Phil Hellmuth, Chris "Jesus" Ferguson, Doyle Brunson, Johnny Chan, Antonio Esfandiari, Sam Farha, Jamie Gold, Joe Hachem, Gus Hansen, Jennifer Harman, Phil Ivey, Howard Lederer, Chris Moneymaker, Daniel Negreanu, and Greg Raymer, among many others.

Better Casino Cell Reception?:

Gamblers in Atlantic City may no longer suffer from the bad cell phone reception that seems to plague casinos. In an effort to improve coverage, Verizon Wireless has expanded its network by connecting to an in-building distributed antenna system in Bally's Casino, which aims to increase coverage and capacity inside Bally's, Bally's Wild Wild West, Claridge, and Caesars casinos. If it works, we hope they do the same thing in Vegas.

Tiffany's II's Coming to Town:

World-famous jeweler Tiffany & Co. today announced plans to open a store in the Forum Shops at Caesars late this summer. It will be their second in town, following in the footsteps of the store in Bellagio, which opened in 1998.

The Palms' Pearl Premiere:

The Palms announced today that the official grand opening of its new venue, The Pearl, will take place April 21, featuring Gwen Stefani. The intimate new venue accommodates 2,500 ticket holders with the farthest seating area being ony 120 feet from the stage. Tickets for the opening night are priced at $100, $150, and $250, with a limited number of VIP tickets also available. They go on sale February 10, at noon, at all Ticketmaster locations.

Date With Dynamite:

The implosion of the Stardust has been announced for "mid-March." Construction will then proceed on Echelon Place.

Hooters Sold:

A sketchy report on newswires indicates that the Las Vegas Hooters casino has been sold for $95 million to an investment group led by NTH Advisory Group LLC. The announcement doesn't specify whether or not the Hooters brand will remain. We'll post more details when they become available.

Gold Coast Adds High-Limit Room:

The 1,100-square foot room includes two high-limit blackjack tables, a traditional baccarat table, and 23 high-limit slot machines. We haven't seen it yet, but understand the room has an Asian-inspired design, including a 7-foot Buddha statue. Guests of the room will be treated to private cocktail service and special hors d'oeuvres.

New Music Venue Debuts:

The University Theatre (4737 S. Maryland Pkwy) holds its grand opening tonight, with a special evening of acoustic performances from MTV "Discover & Download" artists Meg & Dia, and others. Doors open at 6 pm and tickets are $10 in advance (from Ticketmaster outlets) or $12 on the door. For future gigs at this new venue, check out our "Shows & Events" section, under "Vegas Info."

Colts by 7:

The opening line for the Super Bowl has the Indianapolis Colts favored by 7 points over the Chicago Bears almost universally in Las Vegas sports books. The consensus is that this will be a hard number to move off of, so may remain over the two weeks until the game. The over/under (total) is currently 48.5 to 49.

Golden Tavern NBA Promo:

Through February 5, the Golden Tavern Group (owners of all the PT's branded bars and pubs around town) is offering locals the chance to win two NBA All-Star Packages, valued at over $3,000. The package includes access to All-Star Saturday night, the 56th NBA All-Star Game, and the NBA VIP function and will be awarded to the Golden Rewards member who earns the most points by closing date. Players who rank second through tenth place in points will be awarded with $100 each in free play.

Willie Nelson Tickets on Sale:

Tickets go on sale today for the "Last of the Breed" Tour at the Aladdin/Planet Hollywood, featuring Country Outlaws Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and guests Ray Price and Asleep At The Wheel. The concert takes place Saturday, March 10 at 8pm and tickets are priced at $125.00, $85.00, $65.00, and $45.00 (excluding taxes and fees) entertainment taxand area available from the Aladdin/Planet Hollywood Theatre Box Office, www.ticketmaster.com, and all Ticketmaster locations.

South Point Specials:

In celebration of its anniversary, the South Point Hotel is offering specials and giveaways to all members of its players club through January 26. The deals begin tomorrow, with a $2 Sunday brunch in the Garden Buffet. Other offers throughout the week include $1 drinks (Thursday) and $1 breakfast (Friday). The club is free to join.

RawVegas.tv Goes Live:

RawVegas.tv, which bills itself as the "first ever Internet TV channel featuring 24-hour on-demand original programming, dedicated exclusively to covering all things Las Vegas," premieres today. Priding itself on an "anything goes" attitude, the first slate of shows includes "Prop Bets," which features poker pros Gavin Smith and Lauren Boiros doing crazy dares, plus a daily news show, and video blogs from Vegas personalities. To check it out, visit http://www.rawvegas.tv

Meet the Future Miss America:

The public is invited to welcome the contestants for the 2007 Miss America title when they arrive at the Aladdin/Planet Hollywood today. Mayor Oscar Goodman will be there (of course) and if you'd like to be there too, get yourself over to the main lobby of the hotel by 4.30 pm today.

This Weekend in Vegas:

Frankie Avalon and punk rock bowling? Tom Jones and cage fighting? All in one weekend? Only in Vegas. Oh yeah! Music: Frankie Avalon and Bobby Rydell play the Orleans (1/18/07-1/21/07); Tom Jones will be at the MGM (1/18/07-1/31/07), as will Justin Timberlake (1/19/07); Lindsey Buckingham's at the Luxor (1/19/07-1/20/07); at Boulder Station it's Strunz and Farah (1/19/07), and BJ Thomas (1/20/07); Hal Ketchum's at the Cannery (1/20/07); NoFx will be at Mandalay Bay's House of Blues (1/20/07); and Aaron Lewis of Staind plays an acoustic gig at the Palms (1/21/07). Sports: Paris hosts Ricky Hatton vs. Juan Urango (1/20/07); the World Extreme Cage Fighting will be at the Hard Rock (1/20/07); in the Joint at the Hard Rock the Pro Football AFC and NFC Championship Games will be shown (1/21/07); and it's the 9th Punk Rock Bowling Tournament at Sam's Town (1/19/07) Other Events: Jay Leno's at the Mirage (1/05/07-11/10/07); Disney on Ice A Disneyland Adventure is at the Orleans (1/17/07-1/21/07); it's the grand opening of the Beatle's Revolution Lounge at the Mirage (1/19/07); the Hilton hosts the 18th Annual Benefit Wine & Beer Tasting (1/20/07); and the CineVegas Screening Series continues at the Tropicana Cinemas (1/19/07-1/25/07) For more details about these and other events, plus full listings of all the permanent shows Las Vegas plays home to, click here to use our "Shows & Events" finder, under "Vegas Info."

Tromapalooza Tonight:

If you're in the mood for gore, head on down to The Bunkhouse tonight (123 S. 11th St.) for the annual Troma Films benefit. Troma head Lloyd Kaufman will be there, screening clips from his new movie, Poultrygeist, on a night that also features various local punk bands and a bloody T-shirt contest. $5 donation. Call 702/384-4536 for more details.

Lucky Strike Lane Recruiting:

If you'd like to work at the Rio's new Lucky Strike Lane bowling alley/ultralounge (yes, we're confused, too), right now they're recruiting across the board and looking for everyone from cocktail servers and doormen to bowling technicians and cooks. Call 702/853-4341 to apply.

Palms Begins Minis Today:

The Palms is running the first blackjack mini-tournament ever to use the Elmination Blackjack format played on the Ultimate Blackjack Tour. Registration begins at noon today. The entry fee is $120 and there is a $50 re-buy.

Some Good News:

In spite of all the recent setbacks, Juniper Research, a leading European based provider of business intelligence and market and technology research reports, has today predicted that mobile gambling will top $16 billion by 2011. In new forecasts for the global market, the firm predicts that mobile gaming will increase more than tenfold in the next four years, in terms of gross value of bets placed. While Europe is currently seen as the largest market, it is forecast that this will be overtaken by the rapidly expanding Asia Pacific market by 2008.

UK Court Rules Poker Game of Chance, Not Skill:

The manager of a 23,000-member private card club in London was convicted today of violating Britain's gambling laws after a jury decided that poker is a game of chance, not pure skill. The prosecutor in the case argued that the mere shuffling of a deck of cards rendered poker a game of significant chance, as well as significant skill, which falls under the U.K. government's interpretation of "chance." The ruling represents yet another blow to online poker companies like PokerStars, which had continued to accept bets from American players on the grounds the U.S. federal law passed last year doesn't apply to skill-based games.

Latest on NETeller Exec. Arrests:

Former NETeller director Stephen Eric Lawrence appeared in a U.S. Virgin Islands courtroom today, following his arrest Monday on the island of St. John on a warrant issued by the U.S. Attorney General's Office for money laundering. The 46-year-old Canadian is charged with funneling billions of dollars in illegal gambling proceeds to overseas betting operations via the Internet payment services company he co-founded, and was led into the court in ankle chains. The presiding judge is due to grant bail tomorrow, which he intends to set at $5 million. Lawrence's former partner and fellow Canadian John David Lefebvre was also arrested Monday, in Malibu, and has already been granted bail. The pair are charged with conspiring to transfer funds with the intent to promote illegal gambling and tax evasion and could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Mini Pai Gow Poker Hits Strip:

The Flamingo Las Vegas is now home to the Strip's only mini pai gow poker table. Designed to be an entry-level form of pai gow poker, this abbreviated version is played with six cards instead of the standard seven and players formulate their best five-card hand as well as a one-card hand. Winners do not have to pay commission to the house. "We introduced this particular game because of its appeal to both novices and experienced players," commented a spokesman for the property.

Pussycat Pit:

Caesars will soon be following in the footsteps of the Palms' Playboy Club with a sexy Pussycat Dolls Casino. The new gaming area is due to open the first week of February and will be located directly across from the Pussycat Dolls Lounge inside PURE nightclub. Apparently, the themed pit will feature a range of "sexy" slot machines, blackjack, craps, and roulette tables (including some with legs adorned in fishnet tights and stiletto heals), a big six wheel, and merchandise area, plus dealers in custom-designed sexy outfits and a center stage featuring go-go dancers performing in bronze cages.

Harrah's $1 Million Giveaway:

From today through March 23, all six Harrah's Las Vegas properties will be taking part in the Total Rewards Hidden Jackpot promotion. Every day for the duration of the promo, a $1 million "hidden jackpot" will be randomly placed into a different Total Rewards Account. If on that particular day, the player swipes their card at a casino promotions booth, they'll win the $1 million. The promotion ends in this jurisdiction when the prize is hit (it will continue at other Harrah's properties until their regional jackpots are awarded) and then on March 25 there'll be a second chance to win $1 million at the grand Finale, which takes place at Bally's Las Vegas. For more information, visit www.harrahs.com

New Bellagio Display:

In celebration of Chinese New Year, the Year of the Pig, Bellagio's Conservatory and Botanical Gardens will present a new exhibit from tomorrow. The centerpiece of the display will apparently be an animated, seven-foot-tall swine that "playfully snorts and wiggles its nose and ears," adjacent to an 18-foot-tall Chinese God of Wealth and Fortune, which will stand atop a gleaming pile of golden lucky coins. Other elements of the new display will include tranquil Koi ponds and formal rock gardens filled with rare Taihu stones. The exhibit will run from noon tomorrow through March 3.

Name Change for La Femme:

The sophisticated adult cabaret show at MGM Grand has today announced it will be changing its name from La Femme to the slightly less catchy MGM Grand's Crazy Horse Paris, reflecting the name of the original Parisian venue that the Las Vegas version was inspired by. The reason for the change remains unclear, other than a statement by the CEO of the Parisian club explaining that it's essential to carry on the tradition of the original, including its name. The difficulty that Americans had with the pronunciation of the Vegas version may perhaps have also been a factor.

UBT Updates:

Several Ultimate Blackjack Tour TV finals are being filmed in LA. For updates on the action, including an epic battle involving Anthony Curtis, check the "UBT Discussion" on the message boards.

Spamalot Debut Announced:

It's today been announced that the much anticipated Monty Python stage extravaganza is scheduled to open in The Grail Theatre at Wynn on March 31. Tickets will go on sale on Tuesday, January 16, priced at $49, $69, $89, and $99. All preview performances (March 8-30) will be discounted 25%. Tickets are available By phone on 888/320-7110 or 702/770-WYNN, online at www.montypythonsspamalot.com or www.wynnlasvegas.com, or in person from the Wynn box office.

Vegas This Weekend:

A diverse weekend musically, plus big trucks, cool bikes, and porn stars a go go. What more could you possibly want? Whatever you get up to, just be sure to wrap up nice and snuggly -- they're predicting temperatures well below freezing and we've already seen some attempts at snow. Music: Kicking off the weekend at Sam’s Town it's Earth, Wind, and Fire (1/11/07-1/14/07); Art Garfunkel's at the Hilton (1/12/07), Rich Little and Friends are at the Suncoast (1/12/07-1/14/07); over at the Cannery is Twist & Shout, A Tribute to the Beatles (1/12/07-1/13/07); Incubus will be at the Hard Rock (1/13/07); Joan Jett and The Blackhearts are at the Tropicana (1/13/07); Johnny Gill's at Boulder Station (1/13/07); The Cheetah Girls are at the Thomas and Mack (1/14/07); and Reverend Horton Heat’s will he at Mandalay Bay's House of Blues (1/13/07) Comedy: Howie Mandel's performing at MGM (1/4/07-1/17/07); Jay Leno's at the Mirage (1/05/07-11/10/07); Tony Orlando and Sammy Shore will be at the Orleans (1/11/07-1/14/07); and Josh Blue’s at Mandalay Bay’s House of Blues (1/12/07) Other Events: The Extreme Monster Truck Nationals will be at the South Point (1/12/07-1/14/07); as will the16th Annual Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction (1/11/07-1/13/07); the Adult Entertainment Expo will be at the Sands Expo Center (1/10/07-1/13/07); and the AVN Awards Show is at Mandalay Bay (1/13/07). For more details about these and other events, plus full listings of all the permanent shows Las Vegas plays home to, click here to use our "Shows & Events" finder, under "Vegas Info."

Beacher's Madhouse Returns:

It's been announced that Jeff Beacher has signed a new multi-million dollar deal with the Hard Rock to host the return of his "Madhouse" to the Joint. In addition to the regular cast of bizarre characters, including Tiny KISS and Beachy the Goat, Beacher has hired the former Miss Nevada, Katie Rees, recently fired by Donald Trump, to co-host the new shows with him, which commence March 31.

New Rooms at Red Rock:

Red Rock Resort has opened 400 new rooms (including new suites). This raises the room count at RRR to 816.

Cold:

We don't often provide weather reports, but this one's special, especially if you're planning a trip this weekend. Highs predicted for the weekend are about 40 degrees, while lows may touch the low 20s, and snow is expected. Not typical, but looking probable.

The Producers Previews:

It's just been announced that from January 31, for one week only, discounted preview tickets to the much-anticipated new production of The Producers, to be staged at Paris, will be available to Nevada locals. The tickets will sell for $60 each, as opposed to the $75.50-$143.50 price range that takes effect once the show officially opens. Tickets for both the preview shows and regular performances can be purchased by calling the Paris Box Office at 877/374-7469 or online at parislasvegas.com.

Wynn Accelerates Macau Expansion:

The opening of the expansion of Wynn Macau, it was just announced, will happen all at the same time. Originally scheduled to be unveiled in two phases, the whole thing will debut in July 2007. The casino is expanding by a total of 300 tables and 500 machines; two new restaurants, retail space, and a theater will also open in July.

Pinnacle Pulls:

One of the online sports book industry's biggest players, Pinnacle Sports, has announced that it will no longer accept bets from US customers. It's the latest exit caused by the passing of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. Pinnacle has stopped accepting bets as of today.

Auditions for NV Reality Show:

"Nevada Passage," the reality-TV contest, is auditioning for a one man and woman team, selected from among the general public, to take part in the next competition, which will include adventure-sports challenges set in destinations including Valley of Fire, Amargosa Dunes, Rhyolite, and Mount Rose. The show will be filmed May 7-12, 2007 and if you think you've got what it takes, visit the Web site at http://www.nevadapassage.com/ to find out more details and download an application form.

FREE South Point Gift Today:

Just for being a slot club member (or signing up as a new member today) all South Point customers can show their players card and receive a free 10-piece Manicure Set. Pick up your free gift next to the club booth between 10 am and 10 pm today only. More gifts and special offers are coming up later this month too.

See Roy Ayers for Free Tonight:

Legendary vibes player and godfather of "acid jazz," Roy Ayers, will perform tonight at Prince's 3121 showroom at the Rio. As usual with the venue's Wednesday night guest performances, the show is free to ladies and to all locals with valid ID. This man is a god -- go and see him!

See George Wallace for $10!:

As a thank you to Nevada locals for their support, George Wallace is offering tickets to see his show at the Flamingo, which has just been extended, for only $10.00 per ticket (for out-of-state residents, tickets are $53/$64). The special promotion runs from January 15, 2007 to February, 14, 2007 and is only available for the first 100 reservations per night -- must have valid local ID.

Monster Comps:

According to an article in today's LV Review-Journal, a new state-sponsored survey indicates that $1.3 billion in comps were issued on the Las Vegas Strip during the past fiscal year. When Huntington Press released Max Rubin's book Comp City in 1994, the back-cover teaser indicated that "more than half a million dollars" in comps were distributed daily on the Strip. This new figure puts the current daily dole-out closer to $3.5 million.

Amazing Jonathan to Extend:

Comic magician Amazing Johnathan has announced that he'll be extending The Amazing Johnathan Show in the Congo Room at the Sahara Hotel & Casino for one more year. Tickets for the show are priced at $44.95 (plus taxes and fees) and may be purchased by calling the casino box office at 702/737-2515, or by visiting www.saharavegas.com.

Bounty Hunter's Vegas Rescue:

Reality-TV star Duane "Dog" Chapman and his wife were in town, looking for a fugitive, when they heard about a stranded family and came to the rescue. Patricia Ambrosio and her family flew into Las Vegas from Alaska on New Year's Eve to meet up with her estranged husband, but he never showed up and they've been staying at the Las Vegas Rescue Mission ever since, without the means to return home. When Chapman heard about their plight, he hooked the group up with a room at the Wynn and thanks to help from others, they now also have plane tickets to get back home.

CES Spells Traffic Snarls:

It might be gadget-geek heaven, but with 150,000 anticipated attendees, the Consumer Electronics Show, which kicked off today at the Convention Center, is sure to cause a big headache on the roads in that area, so stay clear of Paradise and Desert Inn, if you can. The show runs through January 11.

Guardian Angels Downtown:

The red-bereted Guardian Angels, founded in 1978 in New York by Curtis Sliwa, are coming to downtown Las Vegas. Now an international organization, the Las Vegas chapter of the Angels will patrol the area around Fremont Street, known for its homelessness, prostitution, and drug dealing, and hope their highly visible presence will help to make the area a safer and more comfortable place to visit.

Trop Gourmet Room Closing:

Pietro's at the Tropicana will be closed as of January 8. No announcement of a replacement has been made.

Charlie's Raises Breakfast Price:

The price of the Top Ten rated Arizona Charlie's ham & eggs has been raised by 50 cents to $2.99. It's still served 24 hours a day in the coffee shop.

Vote for Amazing Jonathan!:

Well, you don't have to, but if you're a fan, he's currently at #6 out of 100 in Comedy Central's "Stand-Up Showdown 2007" contest. If you're a fan and would like to support Vegas's homeboy, vote at www.comedycentral.com.

It's Weekend in Vegas Time...:

After the all-round lunacy of New Year's Eve, Las Vegas is taking a little breather and it's a relatively quiet weekend. That said, if you’re a fan of Elvis or bull riding, a blackjack tournament player or an antique collector, an arts enthusiast or a fashion aficionado, or if you just fancy seeing some great live music or having a laugh, then you won’t be disappointed. Hmm, maybe it's not so quiet after all. This is Vegas, after all… Music: Akon will be performing at Mandalay Bay's House of Blues (1/5/07), as will Unwritten Law, with special guests As Far As and RedGun Radar (1/06/07); Omarion’s performing at OPM (1/05/07); the Celebration of the King's life will be at the Cannery (1/05/07-1/06/07) featuring Elvis music, friends, and food; Juice Newton's at the Suncoast (1/5/07-1/07/07); Dennis Wise will be at Boulder Station (1/06/07); and Little Anthony and The Imperials are at the Rampart (1/07/07) Comedy: Howie Mandel’s performing at MGM (1/4/07-1/17/07); Jay Leno's at the Mirage (1/05/07-11/10/07); and The BONK Show's at the Rampart (1/07/07-1/11/07) Other Events: join Tuff Hedeman at the Championship Bull Riding at the South Point (1/05/07-1/06/07); it's First Friday time again (1/05/07) downtown, so head on down to the Arts District if you fancy a little culture (and beer); Body English inside the Hard Rock is giving away $10,000 in clothes (1/05/07); author Jarret Keene will be signing editions of his book at Mandalay Bay (1/06/07); there's a $50,000 Blackjack Tournament is at the Golden Nugget (1/05/07-1/07/07); and the Las Vegas Antique, Sporting Arms, and Custom Knife Makers Show will be at the Riviera (1/05/07-1/07/07) For more details about these and other events, plus full listings of all the permanent shows Las Vegas plays home to, click here to use our "Shows & Events" finder, under "Vegas Info."

Luxor Offers Pit Reservations:

You can now reserve a private table for your party on the Luxor gaming floor. Call 24 hours in advance and you can have a blackjack, craps, or roulette table all to yourselves. Here are the betting requirements: blackjack -- must be 5 or more in the group and each player must buy in for $300 and flat bet a minimum of $15 a hand; roulette: 6 player minimum with $300 buy-in and $10 minimum bet; craps -- 10 player minimum, with $500 buy-in and $10 minimum bet.

Dr. Bob in WSJ:

Today's Wall Street Journal contains a huge article titled "The Man who Shook Up Vegas," about the successful football tout known as "Dr. Bob" (Bob Stoll). The article is good, but better yet is the follow-up on the forums at FezziksPlace.com.

Food Fit For The King:

In honor of Elvis Presley's birthday, which is January 8, the Cannery Row Buffet, at the Cannery casino, will have an entire serving station filled with all the southern foods that fed the King. In addition to their regular spread, today and January 6 they will also serve fried pickles, fried peanut butter and banana sandwiches, grits, fried okra, cornbread, biscuits and gravy, beans with ham hocks, and sweet potatoes. Both nights, there will also be special performances by Johnny Fortuno and The Stamps Quartet, featuring lots of Elvis favorites, as well as a meet and greet with friends and co-stars of the real Elvis. Tickets are $10 at the door and the show kicks off at 8 p.m.

Casino Deals Close:

Columbia Entertainment has announced the completion of its purchase of casino operator Aztar Corp. for about $2.1 billion. Future plans include the radical expansion of the Tropicana in Las Vegas from a 1,900-room hotel to 7,000 or more rooms. And Hebst Gaming today announced that it has completed the acquisition of The Sands Regent, paying approximately $119 million in cash for the outstanding securities.

Mamma Mia! to Close:

Must be something in the air. First Commander's Palace, and now Mamma Mia! has announced that it will end its five-year run in Las Vegas in the summer of 2008. By closing, the show will have played more than 2,300 performances in Las Vegas and is to date the most successful full-length Broadway musical ever to play here.

Commander's Palace to Close:

We've just heard the sad news that Commander's Palace, home of the legendary 25¢ martini, is to close. We called to make sure and they confirmed that the closing date's set for January 16th. Apparently, the venue will be reopened, but they don't know as what.

Aladdin Without Water:

This morning around 3 a.m., crews working to turn Aladdin into Planet Hollywood Hotel-Casino, apparently hit a water line leaving all of the guests of the hotel without water. They have been working dilligently to get the water restored to the hotel which should be back to normal by 9 a.m.

Palms Buffet Closing:

After declining from excellent to run-of-the-mill, the Palms buffet will close on January 14. Plans for a replacement, likely in a completely different area of the casino, are in the works and we expect that it will bring the quality back to previous levels. However, there is currently no announced date for the reopening.

New Year's Report:

New Year's Eve in Las Vegas was wild as expected. The Strip was packed and estimates of downtown's party attendance are about 17,000. One account has only seven injuries being reported along the Strip. The monorail had a fitting ending to the year, shutting down due to a computer glitch for about two hours early on New Year's Eve. Britney Spears made headlines for having to be "helped out" of Pure for being either drunk or tired, depending on who was being quoted. And the UBT's "Hollywood" Dave Stann made the papers in an apparent case of mistaken identity, when Kid Rock (or his bodyguards) came pounding on his door at 5 am on New Year's Day looking for Tommy Lee. We're off to a roaring 2007.

CityCenter Sales Office Opens:

At 2 p.m. today, CityCenter's sales pavilion, at 3780 Las Vegas Blvd. Sth., will open to the public, with three of the project's four residential developments being released for reservations. The sales office, which is located between the Monte Carlo and New York-New York, will then be open daily from 10 a.m.-7 p.m.