Las Vegas News

Riviera Discount Blast:

Las Vegas' Riviera Hotel Casino is e-mailing customers to notify them of a new, uniform room rate, effective through Dec. 30, 2009 (but only if booked before Jan. 1). Sun.-Thurs, nights are $39, weekend ones are $59. These prices are not, however, reflected on the Riviera's online-reservation page, which shows triple-digit rates during Jan.-March of next year.

LAT: More Angel, Less Cirque:

The Los Angeles Times' Movable Buffet column has weighed in on the Criss Angel/Cirque du Soleil Believe. Too much Cirque, not enough Angel is the verdict of the review, which deems it "a muddy mix" of the two: "there is virtually nothing ... that is not better presented in another Cirque show or another magic show in Vegas." The show's illusions are described as being less like "Mindfreak" than Lance Burton. "The early moments ... in which Angel is just being himself are actually the highlight of the show," concludes reviewer Richard Abowitz, who predicts major changes.

'Cher' Back on Sale:

As promised, although somewhat to our surprise, Harrah's Entertainment has 35 new Caesars Palace dates lined up for Cher's eponymous show, scattered across Feb. 21-May 25, 2009. Tickets are slated to go on sale Nov. 3.

'Real Deal' Reviewed:

Today's Las Vegas Review-Journal carries a critique of The Real Deal at the Venetian. Reviewer Mike Weatherford concludes that the show is fast-paced and generous in its prize awards, but may seem inscrutable to poker novices.

Cirque Lowers Expectations:

Cirque du Soleil's Criss Angel vehicle, Believe, opens tonight and director Serge Denoncourt has been doing some pre-opening press to manage expectations. One burden, he allows, was "everybody was expecting new magic. That doesn't exist." He tells Mike Weatherford that his star is "an artist. He is not a magician." As for those expecting to see a stage version of the "Mindfreak" series, Denoncourt's advice is simple: "Don't come. It's not a good idea."

Updates to Today's QoD:

We've been flooded with additional recommendations re today's Question of the Day about old-school Italian joints, so check back if you're looking for more suggestions.

Las Vegas This Weekend:

We’re wall-to-wall fun this weekend with costumes and cowboys and race cars, oh my! Sin City puts a wrap on a week of freaky fun with dozens of parties scheduled for All Hallow’s Eve and nearly all of them are awarding cash and/or prizes for the most creative, sexiest, scariest, naughtiest, etc. costumes in the house. The cowboys are in town for the PBR World Finals (they’ll be the ones still in costume after Sunday) and the NHRA Las Vegas Nationals take place out at the Speedway’s dragstrip. That’s where you’ll see guys (and gals) with teeny-weeny attention spans drive really fast in a straight line to see who can finish first. Music: Elton John continues his current run at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace (thru 11/9); Engelbert Humperdinck croons to the crowd at the Orleans Showroom (10/30-11/2); Patti LaBelle belts out her hits at the Star of the Desert Arena in Primm (11/1); Pearl at the Palms stays busy with Maxwell (10/31) and the Experience Hendrix Tour (11/1); Apocalyptica (10/31) and The Faint (11/2) take the stage at House of Blues; Cowboy Mouth performs at The Canyon Club inside Four Queens (10/31); Sha-Na-Na plays the South Point Showroom (10/31-11/1); Sonny Turner sings in the Suncoast Showroom (10/31-11/2); Hiroshima hits the Chrome Showroom at Santa Fe Station (11/1); Black Diamond performs their tribute to KISS at The Club at the Cannery (10/31-11/1); Tom Jones returns to the Hollywood Theatre at MGM (thru 11/12) Sports Events: The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway hosts NHRA drag racing (10/30-11/2); The Las Vegas Wranglers host the Stockton Thunder at the Orleans Arena (10/31); the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels take on TCU at Sam Boyd Stadium (11/1); Top Rank Boxing takes place at The Joint (10/31) and the Mandalay Bay Events Center (11/1) Comedy: Rodney Carrington performs his brand of blue collar comedy inside the Hollywood Theatre at MGM (thru 11/9); Jason Harris and Andy Ruther bring "The Frat Boys of Comedy" to the V Theater at the Miracle Mile (10/31) Other: Luxor will host the premiere of Criss Angel: Believe with a variety of celebrities slated for black carpet arrivals (10/31); hypnomagician Keith Barry starts a month-long run in the Planet Hollywood Showroom (10/28-11/27); The College of Southern Nevada’s production of Shenandoah continues in the Nicholas J. Horn Theatre (through 11/9); The Las Vegas National Horse Show takes place at the South Point Equestrian Arena (10/30-11/2); the Fabulous Festival comes to the Orleans Arena (11/1); Dia de Los Muertos celebrations will take place at Christian Audigier, The Nightclub at TI (11/1) and T&T at Luxor (11/2) For more details about these and other events, plus full listings of all the permanent shows Las Vegas plays home to, click here for our "Shows & Nightlife" section. Plus, check out the Special Events feature, where you'll find full details for all the Halloween and PBR events.

Buffalo Bill's Shutters Hotel:

Rick Velotta of In Business Las Vegas is reporting that Buffalo Bill's in Primm is not accepting mid-week reservations in November and December. A check of Buffalo Bill's Web site shows all Mon.-Thurs. hotel nights blacked out through Dec. 24.

Foxwoods Pianist Celebrates 100th:

"Bingo Mary" Regalbuto has been a patron at Foxwoods Resort Casino since 1988 and a lifetime member of its High Stakes Bingo Hal. She's also 100 years old, an occasion celebrated yesterday at the Ledyard, Conn., megaresort. She thanked 1,200 well-wishers by tickling the ivories with a few celebratory tunes.

RoboPoker Good for Company:

Although it's still operating at a net loss, PokerTek announced a 299% increase in revenues in its third quarter, bringing its year-to-date revenue surge to 339%, for a grand total of $11.3 million. PokerTek's sales are up more than 700% from last year's. The company's automated poker tables are currently undergoing field testing at Ameristar Casino Council Bluffs, in Iowa, two Indiana casinos and at MGM Mirage's Excalibur, which scrapped its live poker room in favor of PokerTek tables, which accelerate play and thereby increase "rake."

More Delays for Sands:

Now it's Singapore, but it's not the company's fault. The Straits Times has reported that a shortage of labor has put Marina Bay Sands at least three months behind schedule. Also, work on the megaresort's foundation was impeded by the presence of a sea wall dating back to the days when Singapore was under British rule. This will push Marina Bay Sands' opening back to about March 2010. Although rival Resorts World at Sentosa is suffering a 15% cost overrun, developer Genting Int'l says the project is "on track" for a soft opening in 2010.

Macao to Adelson, "Not So Fast":

A week ago, Las Vegas Sands announced it had split off the condo component of its Four Season Cotai resort and sales of condo units could eventually yield $374 million. But it appears that some i's weren't dotted and t's not crossed, prompting Macao's government to nix condo sales, at least for the immediate future.

Something for the Ladies...:

RA Sushi Bar in the Fashion Show Mall is offering a promotion for its female guests this November. Beginning on Thursday, Nov. 6 and running once a week (excluding Thanksgiving), the first 25 ladies that visit RA Sushi on Thursdays from 7 to 9 p.m. will receive a gift certificate from Roni Josef Salon & Spa for a complimentary manicure when they purchase one of RA’s new specialty martinis featured on the "Martinis & Manicures" menu.

IGT Profits Tighten:

As with so many other gaming companies, IGT has reported lower revenues (-5%) in the most recent quarter, while profits were -53% from the previous year's margin. Investment write-offs drove earnings well below Wall Street analysts' expectations. The company is counting on the introduction of server-based slots to reverse its fortunes.

Donny & Marie Extended:

Talks between the Flamingo and Donny & Marie producer Chip Lightman have proven fruitful. The Osmond duo will extend their Strip engagement until Oct. 15, 2010 -- turning what was to have been a six-month engagement into a nearly two-year stint. The Osmonds will be (slightly) reducing their workload, jettisoning Saturday matinees and playing five shows a week, instead of their previous six.

Another Hard Rock Special:

Through the end of the year, Mr. Lucky’s is offering a free Bud product (Budweiser, Bud Light, Bud Light Lime, or Bud Select) free with the purchase of the $9.99 all-you-can-eat Prime Rib, a former LVA Top 10 value.

Rosenthal's Luck Explained:

Ever wonder why Lefty Rosenthal was able to walk away from the most famous casino skim in Vegas history a free man? Being an FBI informant may have done the trick. Rosenthal, code named "Achilles", helped the FBI develop a lot of organized crime and casino skimming cases," writes Las Vegas Review-Journal columnist Jane Ann Morrison. Despite having been quite the chatterbox to the feds, Rosenthal declined witness protection, saying it wasn't his style.

AJ's to Close:

After ten years in operation, the old-school steakhouse at the Hard Rock is closing its doors at midnight on Saturday, Dec. 13. As a farewell, the restaurant's inviting guests to "Dine Like Its 1999" with menu items priced equivalent to the time the restaurant opened a decade ago, with up to 25% off the 2008 cost (e.g., the 20-ounce New York Strip currently costs $44, but the will be available for the 1999 price of $33). They're also bringing back the trademark grand piano every Friday and Saturday night from 9 p.m. with a local pianist playing tunes from the '60s. AJ's is open 5:30-10 p.m., Tues.–Thurs. and until 11 p.m., Fri. & Sat. For reservations call 702/693-5500.

Bellagio Going Strong at 10:

It may be a decade old and far from the newest resort on the Strip, but MGM Mirage officials couldn't be happier with Bellagio. In these otherwise grim times, it just posted July-Sept. increases in room rates, cash flow and revenue. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, MGM design supremo Bobby Baldwin "said he's run into customers making their first visits to Las Vegas who are staying at Bellagio because of reasonable rates."

Early Opening for Sands in PA?:

The Morning Call is reporting that Las Vegas Sands, having halted work on its Sands Bethlehem hotel and shopping mall, is now putting all its construction workers onto finishing the casino, which could now be ready two months ahead of schedule. For full details, see Stiffs & Georges.

Umpteenth Extension in Trop Sale:

Atlantic City's Tropicana Casino & Resort will have been on the market over a year by the time the New Jersey Casino Control Commission reaches its latest "final" deadline for completing the sale of the property. Ousted owner Tropicana Entertainment has been granted a hearing before the New Jersey Supreme Court. It seeks to regain its gaming license -- and the Trop along with it.

Schwer: Recession Prolonged:

UNLV economist Keith Schwer has been crunching data and concludes that Southern Nevada's recession will extend into mid-2009. "It's amazing interest rates in Iceland are now 18 percent," he adds, by way of demonstrating the wider nature of the problem. "We're so interested in economic activity in our own corner of the world, we forget we live in a global environment. That has an impact on us." One bright spot for bargain hunters: The economy continues to exert downward pressure on Vegas hotel rates.

Aliante Station Previewed Again:

Following in the footsteps of the Review-Journal, the Las Vegas Sun has a multimedia preview of its new Aliante Station, which opens Nov. 11. An extensive photo gallery and a video tour accompany the story. Warning: The three-minute video takes an eternity to load and may tax your patience considerably.

Echelon Postponement Extended:

Boyd Gaming stock inched upward after the company announced that Echelon would remain on hiatus through the end of 2009 -- eight months longer than previously announced. Boyd CEO Keith Smith said the company is looking at either altering the scale of Echelon or opening it in phases. Cash flow at Boyd's Las Vegas properties was down significantly, while hurricane season put a dent in its regional earnings.

MGM Mirage Halts Projects:

Pre-construction and design work on a north Strip version of CityCenter, as well as on an Atlantic City casino-hotel has been frozen by MGM Mirage. Company stock jumped 35% after third quarter results turned out better than expected. MGM reported 95% occupancy on the Strip, with average room rates of $128/night. Profit margins were squeezed considerably, but overall revenue fell only 6%, for a total of $1.8 billion. The company also announced it has commitments for another $500 million toward completion of CityCenter, plus a $400 million reduction of the megaresort's budget.

How Bad Was It?:

"Mid-September was gloom and doom [for casinos]; you could see a dramatic retrenchment in consumer gambling behavior,: Macquarie Securities USA analyst Joel Simkins told Bloomberg News. "You could pretty much shoot a cannon through most casinos, that's how empty they were.'

Packer Quits PBL Media:

Refusing to make any further cash infusions into debt-encumbered PBL Media, company heir James Packer has resigned from its board. Much of the debt was incurred to finance Packer's gambling acquisitions, which include Cannery Resorts and a stake in the Las Vegas Fontainebleau.

Trump Marina Discounted:

Donald Trump has knocked 15% off the price of Trump Marina, which will now sell for $270 million. Prospective buyer Robert Fields, in return, must close the sale by May 28, 2009. The Marina will be rebranded "Margaritaville."

Wedding Chapel Warning:

If you have booked a wedding via the Classic Vegas Wedding Chapel (3049 S. Las Vegas Blvd.) we have bad news: Having received several complaints about this business we attempted to contact them, but our emails went unanswered and the phone number is not working. So, we paid the premises a visit and can confirm that it is now vacant and evidently out of business. If you have been a victim of this company's poor business practices, our best advice is to contact the Consumer Affairs Division of the Nevada Dept. of Business & Industry and file a formal complaint (which must be done in writing). We're not sure what kind of redress may be available, if any, but the Dept. should be alerted and may be able to help you in some way. Here's their Web site address: http://www.fyiconsumer.org/

Correction re Wynn Gala:

Yesterday, we reported that Steve Wynn is contemplating foregoing a gala opening of Encore in favor of a big bash on his birthday, roughly one month later. Trouble is, we reported that "Jan. 27, 2007" would be the day of Wynn's party. As much as we (and perhaps Steve Wynn) wish we had access to a time machine, the actual date for the birthday party at Encore would be Jan. 27, 2009.

Ohio Casino Vote Gets Nasty:

Backers and opponents of an Ohio casino are suing each other, on the eve of a vote that has become a proxy war between competing casino companies. Lakes Entertainment has spent $25 million in support of a constitutional amendment that would legalize one casino in the Buckeye State -- and Penn National Gaming has spent $28 million in opposition. In its suit, Penn characterizes the amendment as "a badly construed [sic] string of self-serving loopholes that benefit Lyle Berman," CEO of Lakes Entertainment. Casino backers fired back that Penn's anti-casino campaign disseminated false and misleading information to voters.

Sands Hiring ... in Singapore:

Las Vegas Sands' Marina Bay megaresort, in Singapore, may be a year from opening, but it's already advertising for 10,000 jobs. At least 3,500 Singaporeans have already applied for jobs but the country's limited pool of workers may require Sands to hire from outside Singapore. Sands is giving priority to senior citizens, housewives and people currently unemployed. Both Marina Bay and rival Resorts World at Sentosa are expect to blunt the effects of the recession on Singapore.

Smoking Returns to A.C.:

Smokers can light up on Atlantic City casino floors once again, starting Nov. 16, after Atlantic City's city council ratified a lifting of a 100% smoking ban. Because the "aye" votes fell short of a supermajority, the rescinding of the ban cannot go immediately into effect. According to the New Jersey Casino Control Commission, gaming revenues fell 20% in the week after the ban was imposed, starting Oct. 15.

Stratosphere Boss Lands New Gig:

Former Stratosphere President Richard Brown has been named CEO of Planet Hollywood Resorts Worldwide, which includes the Planet Hollywood hotel-casino on the Strip. Brown has been out of the industry since resigning from Stratosphere owner American Casino & Entertainment Properties last spring.

Penn Nat'l Denies Bellagio Interest:

A spokesman for Penn National says that CEO Peter Carlino never called MGM Mirage chair J. Terrence Lanni to ask about buying Bellagio. Wynn Resorts CEO Steve Wynn told the Carlino/Bellagio story last week to the Las Vegas Review-Journal's Norm Clarke. Despite a small decline in revenue, Penn's third-quarter earnings per share were more than triple last year's. Former Harrah's exec and current Penn President Tim Wilmott called last month the worst month for the casino business he'd seen in 20 years. Carlino says Penn will "cherry pick" opportunities in Vegas but indicated that nothing would happen soon.

Three Strip Malls on Market:

As in "Las Vegas Strip," that is. Troubled retail mogul General Growth Properties is putting its Grand Canal Shoppes, Shoppes at The Palazzo and Fashion Show Mall on the block. This news was coupled with the announcement of CEO John Bucksbaum's resignation. General Growth's postponement of its Echelon mall was the final straw that led to that project's being placed on hiatus last summer.

Update to Today's QoD:

We just got a call from Chef Brian Massie of the Light Group's Brand steakhouse, whose eating challenge is the subject of today's QoD. He gave us an interesting update, so check back for the latest if you've already read this question and want to know more...

Encore Gets Go-ahead:

Steve Wynn's Encore resort has received some of the certificates of occupancy it needs in order to open on schedule. Interestingly, the RateVegas.com blog ("Two Way Hard Three") reports that the standard gala opening may be forgone in favor of a post-opening bash on Jan. 27, 2007 -- Wynn's birthday. Encore is currently taking reservations for hotel nights from Jan. 12 onwards, starting at $229/night.

Streamline Sued:

Condo high-rise Streamline Tower, next door to the El Cortez, is being sued by depositors over the declining value of their units. Streamline has closed escrow on only 10% of its 275 units. A two-year delay in the scheduled opening of Streamline is blamed for a lack of buyer enthusiasm.

MGM vs. Harrah's:

Yesterday's Las Vegas Sun carried an interesting story about differing business models at MGM Mirage and Harrah's Entertainment. The former prefers to "silo" business, pitting Excalibur against Circus Circus, say, while Harrah's uses one sales staff for all Vegas properties and uses Total Rewards to spread the wealth within the company.

Extort a Casino, Go to Jail:

Truck driver Jeffrey D. Greer could be looking at a half-century jail, having been convicted of attempting to extort money from MGM Mirage and Harrah's Entertainment. The two companies, rather than destroy customer financial data and related documents, chose to recycle them. However, instead of being shredded locally, as planned, the documents were simply shipped to Alabama. Thus, the paperwork found its way into Greer's truck. According to The Associated Press, Greer threatened to auction the information on the Internet or to competitors, "unless each company gave him a security consulting contract and paid him $250,000." Greer's sentencing is slated for Jan. 30.

Kid Rock to Headline New Year's at Palms:

That's right, we haven't even got Halloween out of the way yet and already news is beginning to filter in about New Year's parties. The first of the big names to be announced is Kid Rock, who'll be headlining at Pearl at the Palms. Tickets, which go on sale at noon Nov. 1, are $130, $205, and $255 (plus fees). Visit any Ticketmaster location, call 702/474-4000, or visit www.ticketmaster.com or www.livenation.com to purchase tickets. So, unless there's going to be another New Year's party elsewhere at the Palms, which wouldn't in the least surprise us, then that puts the kibosh on the rumor, reported September 15 in this column, that Britney Spears was planning to start her major comeback with a headlining New Year's performance at the Palms, accompanied by a group of burlesque dancers.

Encore Open for Business:

The new 2,034-suite Wynn resort is now accepting room reservations from Jan. 12, 2009. If you want to be among the first to experience Encore, call 888/320-7125 or 702/770-7171, or reserve online at the decidedly psychedelic website, www.encorelasvegas.com. When we just checked rooms were starting at $229/night.

One Lucky('s) Guy:

One player is alive in the Lucky's football contest with a 13-0 record going into tonight's game. If the Titans (4-point favorites) win, he'll win $48,000 and the prize will reset at $6,000. If the Colts prevail, the prize will carry over again and be $54,000 next week. (We're guessing there will be lots of Colts fans tonight.)

Harrah's in WSJ:

Today's Wall Street Journal contains a story on Harrah's and moves its making to weather the slowdown. Referenced are cutbacks relative to Total Rewards perks, which don't completely jibe with reports we've received.

Binion Movie Re-Airing:

If you missed it yesterday, the movie about the Ted Binion murder case airs again on Lifetime tonight at 8 and Monday at 9. Sex & Lies in Sin City: the Ted Binion Scandal is a bit hokey, but it's interesting for those who followed the trial back in 2000. You can get a much better feel for what happened from our photo book,

Vdara Sign:

The name Vdara is now visible on the south-facing side of the building. Vdara is one of the main brands in CityCenter.

Palms Cap:

In a promotion associated with its clearance to take NBA bets, you can get a Palms logo cap for making a $10 parlay or $25 straight bet on the NBA (preseason in progress)

Binion Murder Movie:

Sex & Lies in Sin City: the Ted Binion Scandal airs tonight on Lifetime at 9 pm. It's the story of Ted Binion's (Matthew Modine) involvement with Sandra Murphy (Mena Suvari)that culminated in one of the most high-profile murder trials in Las Vegas history.

Lucky's Carryover:

The weekly carryover for the NFL contest at Lucky's sports books has reached $48,000. Pick all of tomorrow's games correctly (no pointspreads) and get at least of piece of it. Enter for free at the Plaza, Terrible's, or the Primm sports books by 9 am tomorrow to be eligible.

Breeder's Cup Parties:

All of the race books will be busy with the Breeder's Cup today. Casinos advertising parties include South Point, Orleans, and all the Stations. All are giving a race souvenir if you make a $20 bet, but South Point is adding a free drink and food.

NBA Betting OK'd for Palms:

After years of being unable to take National Basketball Association wagers, the Palms' sports book has permitted to carry action on NBA games. The lone exception is for games played by the Sacramento Kings, owned (like the Palms) by the Maloof family. Palms CEO George Maloof says the loss of NBA bettors to other casinos "drove me crazy." Harrah's decision to remove Boston Celtics games from its sports books, to facilitate CEO Gary Loveman's purchase of a small share of the team, created the precedent whereby the Palms was able to get the NBA to rethink its stance.

Locals-Only Rio Buffet Discount:

The Carnival World Buffet at the Rio is running an ongoing breakfast special for locals. If you bring your Nevada ID, you and a guest can get breakfast for $5.99 each instead of the regular price $14.99 pp. They're not sure how long this promotion will run, but at least through the end of this month.

Wynn at Four-Year Low:

Shares of Wynn Resorts closed trading at $36.59. The stock has not traded at that price since mid-August 2004.

Slots Set for Aqueduct:

Queens, N.Y.'s Aqueduct Racetrack will become a $250 million, 4,500-slot racino, following action by the New York State Senate. The winning bidder, Delaware North, promises to turn Aqueduct and its surroundings into a casino-based destination resort.

Yemenidjian Returns:

More former MGM Grand executive Alex Yemenidjian has entered $435 million bid for Illinois' 10th and last casino license. Yemenidjian, whose Trilliant Gaming owns property in Rosemont, Ill., has at least two rivals for the license. Earlier this year, he was involved in an attempt by a Canadian company to gain a stake in Tropicana Entertainment by asking a bankruptcy judge to compel Tropicana to accept a loan from the company. The motion was denied.

'Believe' #1, Sort of:

According to figures that Cirque du Soleil has shared by blogger Steve Friess, its Criss Angel vehicle, Believe, has a $5 million presale and is selling the most tickets on a daily basis of any CdS show. And the iTricks Criss Angel Podcast tells Friess that Believe has ranked as high as #3 overall at TicketNews.com, running behind Colosseum headliners Bette Midler and Cher (for which tickets are no longer available through the end of the year, due to the performer's ill). Best of all, Angel no longer sings at the end of the show (a bit that didn't play well during previews).

Casino vs. Casino:

Opponents of a ballot initiative the would remove Missouri's "loss limit" have received $150K from the Casino Queen riverboat in East St. Louis, Ill. Primary backers of the initiative are Las Vegas-based Ameristar Casinos and Pinnacle Entertainent. Ameristar owns two riverboats in Missouri. Pinnacle also has two casinos and is building a third.

Penn National Wants Bellagio?!?:

That's what Steve Wynn says. He also denies a rumor that he's planning to buy it back himself.

MGM Downgraded:

Sluggish condo sales and casino revenue were Fitch Ratings' justificatons for downgrading MGM Mirage's debt load and warned that further rating cuts might lie ahead, pointing out that MGM is still $700 million short of what it needs to finish CityCenter. Said Fitch, "The downgrade reflects the fact that broad economic trends have continued to weaken, along with Las Vegas operating trends."

Wallace Host Christmas Event:

Flamingo headliner George Wallace will emcee the lighting of the ever-popular Ethel's Cactus Garden holiday display on Nov. 18. MTV "Top Pop Group" winners Mosaic are scheduled to perform and a limited-ediiton "Create Chocolate, Create Hope" collection will be debuted. Proceeds from the latter benefit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation, dedicated to fighting breast cancer.

Smoke-Free in A.C.:

After five days of a temporary smoking ban, Harrah's Entertainment is reporting a 10% revenue slippage at its four Atlantic City Casinos. In what were formerly smoking-enabled areas, Harrah's has seen slot win decline by a fifth and table win drop 10%. Borgata and Trump Taj Mahal are reporting mass defections from their Asian table games. The ban is expected to run through Oct. 27, at which point casino floors will go to being 75% smoke-free.

Trop Asks for Casino Back:

Tropicana Entertainment has formally petitioned the New Jersey Casino Control Commission for co-conservatorship and managerial authority over the Atlantic City Tropicana. The Trop is currently being run by the state. Tropicana Entertainment proclaims itself "utterly and completely reformed" from the company that got kicked out of New Jersey a year ago and intends to re-apply for a gaming license. It wants to either sell the Trop itself or fold it back into the company's portfolio of casinos, of which the Trop had been the #1 revenue producer.

Sands Stops PA Work:

In a development reminiscent of Don Barden's shutdown of Majestic Star construction in Pittsburgh, Las Vegas Sands has dismissed workers at its Sands Bethlehem project. Work on the casino will continue, but the 300-room hotel and adjacent shopping mall have been halted. Further details are in Stiffs & Georges.

Las Vegas This Weekend:

Las Vegas loves Halloween so much that we needed to get the party started this weekend. The one and only Fetish & Fantasy Ball at Sport Center Las Vegas on Saturday and the Freaks Come Out at Night party at the Playboy Club on Sunday are just two of the spooky pre-Halloween soirees on the schedule. For those who refuse to accept the fact that it’s almost November and time to put away the swimwear, the Sapphire Pool at The Rio gives you the End of Summer Pool Party with no cover, drink specials, and raffles for prizes. Music: Flogging Molly brings their unique brand Irish Celtic punk to Pearl at the Palms (10/24); Chris Cornell & Timbaland (10/24) and STS9 (10/25) perform at The Joint; after a week’s rest, Jimmy Buffet and the Coral Reefer Band are ready to pack the house with Parrotheads at the MGM Grand (10/25); Slaughter rocks out at Sunset Station (10/25); Elton John is in the house at The Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace (thru 11/9); House of Blues presents Los Enanitos Verdes (10/24) and Chiodos and Silverstein (10/25); Miguel Mateos stops by the Rio (10/24); Clint Holmes is onstage in a "Tribute to Broadway" at the Suncoast Showroom (10/24-10/26); Debbie Reynolds sings in the South Point Showroom (10/24-10/26); Freda Payne pays tribute to Ella Fitzgerald at The Cannery (10/24-10/25); Ovation Lounge at Green Valley Ranch welcomes Jack Ingram (10/24) Sports Events:The Las Vegas Wranglers vs Ontario Reign at the Orleans Arena (10/23-10/24); Las Vegas Motor Speedway hosts the Open Comp Fall Classic (10/24-10/25); Championship Off Road Racers do it in the desert in Primm (10/25-10/25) Comedy: Craig Ferguson grabs the mike at MGM’s Hollywood Theatre (10/23-10/26); David Spade returns to Planet Hollywood (10/24-10/25); Dennis Miller shares his satiric wit in the Showroom at The Orleans; laugh with The Soup’s Joel McHale at the Mandalay Bay Theatre (10/24) Other: The Fetish & Fantasy Ball takes place at Sport Center Las Vegas (10/25); Enjoy the Hawaiian Isles Festival & Regatta at MonteLago Village (10/25-10/26); The Jokers Wild holds their annual Poker Run for charity (10/26); help Kim Kardashian celebrate her birthday at LAX (10/24); The Freaks Come out at Night pre-Halloween party hosted by the girls of Spearmint Rhino at the Playboy Club (10/26); Magician Jeff McBride will host the Witches and Wizards Ball in the showroom at Palace Station (10/24); Rick’s Cabaret (formerly Scores) will hold a grand opening celebration (10/23-10/25); Sapphire Pool at Rio holds an End of Summer Pool Party (10/25); Oktoberfest will be celebrated at McFadden’s inside the Rio with free drinks for anyone with an October birthday (10/24); Annalynne McCord hosts the Sirens of TI 5 Year Anniversary and after party at Christian Audigier the Nightclub (10/25) For more details about these and other events, plus full listings of all the permanent shows Las Vegas plays home to, click here for our "Shows & Nightlife" section. Plus, for full Halloween listings check out the new Special Events feature, where you'll also find details of all the Monday/Sunday night football parties and other events, including the PBR and NFR, which are just around the corner...

Octavius Tower Previewed:

It may look like its siblings on the outside but, according to the Las Vegas Sun, the Octavius Tower will be something else on the inside. It "will feature a bold, modern look ... with nary a Roman column or statue in sight." Elsewhere at Caesars, guests can expect to find "Anichini linens, iPod docking stations, wireless Internet and dual rain showerheads." Caesars execs report the best-ever convention business in the property's history and say it's the most-requested destination for members of Harrah's Total Rewards system.

'Casino-ology' Now Available:

Veteran gaming executive Bill Zender has released a collection of practical wisdom for the casino manager, Casino-ology. Huntington Press is pleased to offer this book both in traditional form and as an e-book. Still not sure if Casino-ology is for you? A sample chapter is available at ShopLVA.com.

T.G.I. Friday's Inks Boyd, Station Deal:

Following yesterday's opening of a Sam's Town branch, T.G.I. Friday's is planning to extend its brand to to Suncoast Hotel & Casino and Aliante Station. The chain's owner, Briad Restaurant Group, cited the success of its Orleans Hotel & Casino Friday's, which it says is one of the chain's top performers (no small feat in a chain of over 600 restaurants). Breaking with Friday's tradition, its Gold Coast and Sam's Town outlets will be open for breakfast.

MD Slots Have Odd Foe:

Back when then-Gov. Robert Ehrlich was trying to bring slot machines to Maryland's parimutuels, the owner of Pimlico Race Course and Laurel Park was one of his biggest allies. Those courses may soon have a new owner, CNet founder Halsey Minor, and he's emerged as an opponent of the pro-casino initiative on November's ballot. Minor, who's trying to buy Pimlico/Laurel Park debt and flip it into an ownership stake, says thoroughbred racing and slots don't mix. The racino initiative is expected to pass.

Sands Hits New Low, Adelson Upbeat:

Shares of Las Vegas Sands closed today at $8.21/share, having bottomed out at $8.03 earlier in trading. Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson told The Associated Press he is confident about rounding up $2 billion from Pacific Rim banks for completion of various Macao projects. Asian banks were in more robust health than American ones, Adelson said: "We hope to find a more receptive air over there than in the U.S."

Poker Catching on in Macao:

A blog entry from the Chinese gambling capital reports that three poker rooms (at Grand Waldo, StarWorld and Grand Lisboa) are open, with Wynn Macau due to add one on Nov. 6. Grand Waldo's is rated the best, while Casino Lisboa's is termed "extremely bad." What isn't catching on, apparently, is robo-poker. A set of PokerTek tables are said to have been removed from StarWorld.

Wallace Offers Free Tix:

Present an "I Voted" sticker at any George Wallace performance between now and Nov. 11 and you'll receive one free ticket to the popular 10 p.m. show at the Flamingo.

88th Birthday Celebration at El Cortez:

Free cake and champagne will be served gameside to players to celebrate Jackie Gaughan's 88th birthday at the El Cortez on Friday, Oct. 24 from 1-7 pm.

Aliante Station Licensed:

Nevada's Gaming Commission has given its approval to Aliante Station. The $660 million-plus Station Casinos property opens Nov. 11 at 11 p.m.

More Difficulties for Adelson:

Las Vegas Sands' Bethlehem, Pa., casino-resort project is encountering some rough sledding. Details are in Stiffs & Georges.

New Show Bargains:

Now through Halloween, Lance Burton is running a two-for-one ticket offer for Nevada residents. Not to be outdone, Nathan Burton is offering a show-and-buffet package for $19.95 plus tax. The grand dame of Vegas topless shows, Jubilee! is adding a family-friendly (i.e., no bare breasts) show on Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. The PG-rated Jubilee! bows Nov. 15.

Free Food!:

Via Brazil, the new "Churrascaria" (Brazilian steakhouse) in Summerlin, is celebrating its grand opening with free appetizers off its bar menu during happy hour tonight and tomorrow from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. The restaurant's located at 1225 S. Fort Apache Rd., Suite 100 (in the Fort Apache Commons).

Tuscany Points:

Today is 10X-points day at Tuscany. The casino has been running this promotion every Thursday.

Allegiant Revenue Soars:

Despite a narrower profit margin, locally based carrier Allegiant Travel Co. saw a 35% increase in third-quarter revenues this year. Allegiant credits its practice of charging for checked luggage for a 58% reduction in bags checked and is now discussing charging passengers for carry-on luggage, too. "Some would argue it sounds like a new revenue opportunity, but we’ll have to address that in future calls," Managing Director Ponder Harrison said, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

'Believe' Sales Numbers -- or Not?:

In the course of mending fences with Las Vegas Review-Journal columnist Norm Clarke, Believe star Criss Angel told the writer ticket sales have "made me the No. 1 Cirque show in Vegas." Angel agnostic Steve Friess did some research and found that Believe was actually the third-highest-selling Cirque show (and fifth-highest Vegas show overall) for the Oct. 13-19 timeframe. Decade-old O ranked first amongst Cirque shows, followed by Love. Highest sellers overall were Bette Midler's The Showgirl Must Go On (#1) and Elton John's The Red Piano (#2). Donny & Marie, Jersey Boys, Blue Man Group, Zumanity and Le Reve rounded out the top 10.

Good News for Adelson:

Las Vegas Sands has received the nod from Macao officials to split off the apartment tower of its Four Seasons Cotai property. This is expected to expedite condo sales. At present, 22% of units have closed. A fully sold tower would yield $374 million for Sands.

Baton Rouge Casino OK'd:

Pinnacle Entertainment's proposed design for its Baton Rouge riverboat complex got the thumbs up from Louisiana's Gaming Control Board. While the casino's opening has been pushed back to 2011, the $250 million project is unlikely to run into the sort of cost-related issues that have stalled Pinnacle's $4 billion Atlantic City megaresort.

Maryland Slots Poll Well:

A Washington Post poll of Maryland voters finds strong support for an initiative that would enable 15,000 slots, spread across Baltimore and the counties of Allegheny, Ann Arundel, Worcester and Cecil. Over 60% of voters surveyed were in favor of the measure, with support in Baltimore running at 75%. Several previous attempts to bring slot gambling to Maryland have been thwarted, either at the ballot box or in the legislature.

T&T Grand Opening Tonight:

MTV reality vixen Tila Tequila will be hosting the grand opening of Luxor's latest nightspot tonight as T&T (Tacos & Tequila) debuts. The red carpet event begins at 7 p.m., with those scheduled to appear including Carrot Top, the girls of Fantasy, Thunder From Down Under, magician Nathan Burton, and rock-capella group MOSAIC.

Plaza Unveils Prototype Rooms:

Downtown's Plaza Hotel has renovated four rooms, which will serve as prototypes for an $8 million-$12 million makeover of the remaining 1,033 rooms. Owner Tamares Group will choose one prototype from among the four and go with that as the template for the refurbishment, which was previewed today.

Angel Hearts Hef's Ex:

E Online is reporting that Believe headliner Criss Angel was seen "canoodling" with Hugh Hefner ex-girlfriend Holly Madison. The duo was sighted spending the wee hours at Cathouse in Luxor. An E!News source gushed, "They are both so freaking busy that seeing each other is tough." Wouldn't that be, "so mindfreaking busy"?

Fertitta's Back:

Armed with new bankers, Golden Nugget owner Tilman Fertitta is making a new buyout offer for Landry's Restaurants. He's slashed his asking price from $21/share to $13.50. According to The Associated Press, Fertitta's repriced offer was partly predicated upon "deteriorating sales and traffic at casual dining operators as more customers opt for less expensive fast food or meals at home." Landry's owns 179 restaurants but 43% of its most recent quarterly revenues came from the Vegas and Laughlin Golden Nuggets.

Braxton Booted from DWTS:

Longtime Flamingo headliner Toni Braxton did the unthinkable last night -- she was voted off "Dancing with the Stars" before octogenarian longshot Cloris Leachman. Braxton's DWTS gig raised eyebrows when it was announced, as ill health had truncated her Flamingo run (the singer suffers from coronary microvascular angina). But she's spinning her elimination as a win, saying, "My goal was reached. I wanted to do better. I wanted to breathe better. And I was definitely breathing better."

Fright-Fest at McFadden's:

Thursday, Oct. 30, marks the start of three nights of ghoulish revelry at McFadden's Restaurant, in the Rio. First up is the Thursday Beer Fright Fest, with $2 domestic drafts and $5 brews from 10 p.m. 'til closing. Halloween night itself is "Drink with the Devil," with a costume contest. Best overall wins $1K, with subsidiary prizes for "most Irish," "dirtiest devil," sexiest and scariest. Cover charges ($20 men/$10 women) are waived for costumed revelers. There will be $2 shots of -- what else? -- Red Devil. Nov. 1 brings "Fallen Angels," with cover charges waived for patrons in angelic white. "Naughtiest angel" getup wins you $500 and there's an open bar from 10 p.m.-midnight.

New Plans for Gold Spike:

Siegel Group, owners of downtown's Gold Spike, have filed plans for a new-look Spike. Further details can be found in Stiffs & Georges, along with news of forward movement on El-Ad Properties' Plaza megaresort, planned for the former site of the New Frontier.

Last Chance to Vote in Poll:

If you haven't already participated in our current reader poll about other Nevada gaming destinations, then you have until midnight to take part; tomorrow, a new poll will go live. (We can't reveal what the subject will be, on account of the fact that we haven't decided yet.)

A.C. Coin Pushes Leased Games:

New Jersey-based A.C. Coin & Slot is centering its 2008-09 strategy on an increased emphasis on shared-revenue games. The three games at the heart of A.C. Coin's push are Wild Native Spirit, Double 3x4x5x Pay Slotto and Big Cash Slotto Sweepstakes, all of which it hopes to have on casino floors by next month. An A.C. Coin rep explains that "current slot replacement demand [for purchased games] is down significantly and is not expected to increase to a more normalized level until 2010 or 2011," spurring demand for leased games.

Hell's Kitchen Open Call:

Wanna be on TV? The popular "Hell's Kitchen" series with volatile U.K. chef Gordon Ramsay is holding open casting events this month nationwide. If you're interested and have any culinary experience (and thick skin) then today's the day for the Vegas open call, which takes place from 12:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. at the Hard Rock Cafe (4475 Paradise Road). Bring your resume and no, we don't yet know what the prize will be this series or when it's due to start.

Hard Times All Around:

Bloomberg News has the latest stats on Vegas' current economic malaise. The article features Rick's Cabaret performer Leigh Sogoloff, who's seen her dream of a house deferred by a 50% dropoff in income. "I know how to save money. I'm not a dumb stripper," says the Deepak Chopra-reading Sogoloff.

Missouri Lawsuit Dismissed:

Opponents of a casino-backed ballot initiative that accused gamers of trying to "logroll" the public got rolled out of court Monday. Cole County Judge Richard Callahan spiked the suit, which aimed to keep an Ameristar- and Pinnacle-backed measure off the ballot. The so-called Yes For Schools Initiative will increase casino taxes 1%, remove loss limits for players, place a moratorium on new casinos and direct $130 million in new revenues toward education in Missouri. Opponents of the initiative include an entrepreneur who wants to build a casino in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

Macao Tourism Down But Up:

While visitation to Macao in September was 10% off the previous pace for 2008, it was still a 2% improvement from last year. Visitor numbers from Southeast Asia was way (up +24%) but traffic from Hong Kong was down 7%. September was the first month in which visa holders from Mainland China to Hong Kong couldn't pass through to Macao. Day-trippers represent 53% of the Macao market this year.

Kerkorian Abandons Ford Pursuit:

Kirk Kerkorian's Tracinda Corp. has announced that it's liquidated 7.3 million shares of Ford Motor Co., at $2.43/share and will continue to sell down its position in Ford. According to JP Morgan, Tracinda "has decided to reallocate its resources and focus on the gaming & hospitality and oil & gas industries," in which it perceives "unique value."

Other Michelin Honorees Disclosed:

While MGM Mirage may have racked up seven out of 17 Michelin-starred rankings among Las Vegas restaurants, competing casinos were hardly shut out. Both Restaurant Guy Savoy (Caesars Palace) and Alex (Wynn Las Vegas) were two-star honorees. Garnering single-star designations were Wing Lei (Wynn), Alizé (The Palms), Bradley Ogden (Caesars Palace), Daniel Boulud Brasserie (Wynn), DJT (Trump International), Nobu (Hard Rock Hotel & Casino), Restaurant Charlie (Palazzo) and stand-alone André's, in downtown Vegas. The winners will be formally recognized at a Wednesday night celebration at Wynn Las Vegas.

MGM Restaurants Win Michelin Stars:

Seven of 17 Las Vegas restaurants honored with a one-star or higher rating in the latest Michelin Guide are within various MGM Mirage casino-hotels. Joel Robuchon (MGM Grand) is the city's sole three-star designee, described as "worth a special journey ... One always eats extremely well here, often superbly. Distinctive dishes are precisely executed, using superlative ingredients." Julian Serrano's Picasso (Bellagio) garnered two stars. One-star honorees were L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon (MGM Grand), Michael Mina (Bellagio), Aureole (Mandalay Bay), Le Cirque (Bellagio) and miX (Mandalay Bay).

Feedback on Today's QoD:

If you were interested by today's answer about casino smells, you might want to check back and see all the great feedback we've received from some of your fellow readers, including tips on where to buy some of the popular casino fragrances.

M Resort Expands Again:

It won't open until March, but the $1 billion M Resort, in Henderson, is increasing its footprint for the fifth time in three years. M ownership has asked the city to be allowed to add almost 12 newly acquired acres to the project's boundaries. Residential and commercial development would be allowed on the new land, but gambling would not. The Henderson City Council will vote on M's request Nov. 4.

Rooms Upgraded at Pahrump Nugget:

Flat-screen TVs are among the amenities featured in the redesigned hotel portion of the Pahrump Nugget Hotel & Casino. The Golden Gaming property recently revamped its 70 hotel rooms are part of a wider upgrade of the hotel-casino. Other features of the redone rooms are listed as "bellman service, convenient wireless internet, smoking and non-smoking rooms and 'On Demand' movies in addition to cable television."

City of Dreams Opening Delayed:

News reports indicate that James Packer's City of Dreams megaresort in Macao will open July 1, 2009, not in early April as planned. Melco Crown, of which Packer shares joint directorship, said it doesn't want to repeat the "soft opening" that marred the rollout of its Crown Macau property but insists it will open "during the first half" of next year. City of Dreams is having to cope with cost overruns at a time when the Macao market is softening -- although still ahead of its 2007 pace. Packer is an investor in Vegas' Fontainebleau resort and is in the process of buying up the Cannery chain of casinos.

Asian Players Favor Thunder Valley:

Sacramento-area gamblers are making a beeline for Thunder Valley Casino, managed by Station Casinos. Reddish shuttle buses criss-cross the Sacramento metro area, picking up players and becoming "a rolling United Nations, boarded by Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Laotians, Filipinas," the Sacramento Bee reports. The service is free -- in return for a share of the $10 free-play credit each passenger receives from Thunder Valley. Asian players, though only 11% of the local population base, are estimated as representing half or more of the gamblers at both Thunder Valley and nearby Cache Creek Casino Resort, which enjoyed record-breaking businesses on the first day of the Beijing Olympics: 8/8/08.

No Bond Req'd for Adelson:

Judge Michelle Leavitt isn't buying Richard Suen's argument that Las Vegas Sands is in financial trouble and needs to post a nearly $60 million bond. Suen sought the bond to protect a jury award he won last spring. The case is on appeal.

Bugsy Myth Debunked:

"There Were Few Solid Facts to Get in the Way" is the title of a UNLV lecture addressing the persistent myth that Bugsy Siegel was the founding father of Las Vegas. Dr. Larry Gragg of the Missouri University of Science & Technology is the guest speaker and the event will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday (Oct. 23) in the Extended Study Lounge of Lied Library, on the first floor. Admission is free. "Dr. Gragg has done some very deep research into the Siegel conundrum," says UNLV's David Schwartz, "and I think that this is as close as we’re going to get to an honest, accurate assessment of his impact.

Googling for Gambling:

Starting in Britain, Google is easing its unilateral prohibition of gambling ads from its search results. Gambling dominates the paid advertising-search market in the U.K., and Google's move could translate into $200 million in extra revenue.

Adelson Ditches Macao Loan:

According to the South China Morning Post, Sheldon Adelson is temporarily throwing in the towel on his pursuit of a $5.25 billion loan to underwrite development in Macao. He may revisit the issue in January. The loan was a downsized version of a request that was originally in the neighborhood of $7 billion. Although Las Vegas Sands intends to move forward with development of two its Cotai Strip sites, JP Morgan analysts recommend that it postpone work on four others. Gambling revenues in Macao during July-September were down 10% from the three months previous.

Player Loses 25-cent Dispute:

Gambler Frank Sciannameo won $8.50 on slot play at the Orleans. But that payout didn't include his initial 25-cent wager. So he took on The Man -- all the way to the Nevada Gaming Control Board. Sciannameo's argument was that slots should pay out in the maner of table games. Even though it ultimately ruled against him, the Control Board took the matter in stride. "It doesn't matter if it's 25 cents or $25,000," member Mark Clayton told the Las Vegas Sun. "If a customer feels they were treated unfairly, they deserve their day in court."

$2 Girls at Gold Coast:

Not so fast -- it's St. Pauli Girl beer. Bottled St. Pauli Girl in the bottle is $2 at all casino bars at the Gold Coast throughout October.

ECan Going Low:

Eastside Cannery is advertising $3 minimums for blackjack and craps. Signs on the marquee indicate that the low limits are in place 24/7.

Easy Bonus:

The bar JR's Place at 5745 S. Durango offers an easy-to-get $25 machine matchplay bonus all day Sundays and Mondays. You have to sign up for the Gambler's Bonus system, but once you do, simply run $25 through a machine to get a matching $25 in your Gambler's Bonus account. This is a good play for watching the games, as there's also a full Italian menu and ice-cold Peroni on draught.

Charlie's Points:

Arizona Charlie's jumps into the weekend bonus-points fray today. Get 5X players clubs points today only at both Charlie's.

New Dining Options at Coasts:

Boyd Gaming's dining changes at its Las Vegas properties are in full effect. Following the success of the T.G.I. Friday's brand at the Orleans, the new venue at Gold Coast is scheduled to open on Mon., Oct. 20th, with two others at Sam's Town and Suncoast due to debut Oct. 22 and Nov. 3, respectively. The Gold Coast and Sam's Town locations will be the first in Nevada to offer a complete breakfast menu, serving daily from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Other new enterprises include Salvatore's Italian Steakhouse at the Suncoast, operated by the Fellini Group, which recently opened, plus the new Noodle Exchange at the Gold Coast, which is now open for lunch, due to customer demand. This fall Fuddruckers, Sbarro and Baskin-Robbins are all set to join the food line-up at the Orleans.

NFL Free-Plays:

Don't forget tomorrow's two good football free-plays. The first is the free-contest rollover at Lucky's sports books. It now stands at $42,000, which will be paid if someone picks a perfect card straight-up (no pointspreads). Tickets must be submitted at the Plaza, Terrible's, or the Primm sports books by 9 am on Sunday. The second is the free parlay card at the Hard Rock; see the details in the Top Ten. Terrible's is a half-mile away from HR on Paradise if you want to do both.

Emeril's Sports Bar?:

Rumors have Emeril Lagasse taking over the former 40/40 Club at Palazzo to create a sports bar. The space is open now as a sports bar, but without a high-profile presence.

Best French Fries:

In-N-Out Burger, the southwestern fast-food chain (with eight outlets in Las Vegas and Henderson) that prides itself on its fresh, high-quality ingredients and food cooked to order, has just had its french fries named among the best in the U.S. by AOL's Cityguide: "There are two kinds of people in the world: Those who love In-N-Out french fries (100 percent potato, 100 percent farm fresh), and those who don't (a little limp, not 'McFried' enough). Decide for yourself by trying them 'animal style.' It's not on the menu, but it is yummy -- fries with melty cheese, grilled onions and loads of special sauce."

Bargains Abound at MGM Properties:

It's a bargain-hunter's bonanza at MGM Grand's Vegas properties, which just rolled out a Strip-wide series of priced-top-move room offers. Most expensive is Bellagio at $149, followed by Mandalay Bay's $110/night, while MGM Grand itself is but $90/night. Mirage rooms start at $89, while ones at New York-New York can be had for $70 apiece. For just a dollar less, a room at Treasure Island can be yours, while Monte Carlo rooms start at $60/night, as do those at Luxor. "Live like a king" at Excalibur for $42/night or more. Circus Circus offers two bargain tiers: $47/night for rooms in the refurbished West Tower, $37/night for rooms elsewhere on the property. To book any of these rooms, just visit our Search for a Room page and type in the dates you're interested in. Note: The discounted promo rates cites above are only offered on select nights, so you may need to tailor the dates of your trip to fit with availability.

Golden Taverns Join Child Literacy Drive:

Popular comedian Mac King has long been involved in promoting child literacy in Las Vegas, through his association with Sammy Woodfired Pizza. Now Golden Gaming has entered the literacy fray and is partnering with Spread the World-Kids to Kids to distribute books to schools all across Southern Nevada. Used books can be donated throughout the rest of the month at Golden Tavern locations and will be distributed on Make A Difference Day on Oct. 25. Monetary donations will also be accepted at any of the valley's 36 Sierra Gold and PT's tavern locations.

Porn Awards Return:

Mark your calendars for Jan. 10. That's when Mandalay Bay Events Centers hosts the 26th annual Adult Video News Awards. Previous AVN winner Jenna Haze and Belladonna emcee the ceremony, which begins at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $150 and $100, and may be obtained through Ticketmaster, the Mandalay Bay box office (702/632-7580), or at www.MandalayBay.com. All attendees must be 18 year of age or older.

Gustav Hammers Biloxi Casinos:

Hurricane Gustav put a significant crimp in Biloxi, Miss., casino revenues, which were down 26% from the previous September and -23% from August '08. "Tough macroeconomic conditions" are also blamed for the slump.

'Star Trek' Returns?:

According to a breaking news item on Norm Clarke's "Vegas Confidential" blog, Mayor Oscar Goodman says a deal to resurrect Cedar Fair's Star Trek: The Experience at downtown's Neonopolis is in the offing. Neonopolis landlord Rohit Joshi told Clarke, "We are in serious negotiations." Joshi already has a deal in place with CBS Licensing, which is responsible for the museum exhibits at ST:TE, which closed at the Las Vegas Hilton on Sept. 1. A Cedar Fair spokeswoman was unaware of any agreement with Neonpolis, though she allowed that the semi-dismantled attraction could be sold to another operator. Cedar Fair has until Jan. 1 to finish the load-out of ST:TE at the Hilton. No replacement attraction has yet been announced.

Fright Dome Wins Again:

For the third consecutive year, AOL.com has named Circus Circus' Fright Dome one of the leading "haunted" attractions in the U.S. The Halloween carnival, held in the Adventuredome, is upping the scare ante this year with three new haunted houses: HillBilly Hell, Vampire’s Bloodfeast and The HEX-MAS Nightmare, plus a stunt show featuring the hosts of Discovery Channel's "Guinea Pig" series. Also featured will be the sword-swallowing Lady Diabla, and her Xtreme Sideshow Circus featuring Stigmata – tattooed from head to toe, performing suspension acts – and Lil’ Miss Firefly – one of the world’s smallest girls, measuring in at just above two feet." Fright Dome is open 7 p.m. to midnight, Oct. 16-19, Oct. 23-26, and Oct. 29-31. Admission is $33.95, although discount coupons are being offered through Fright World stores, Albertsons, Hollywood Video and Del Taco. For details about all the other Halloween events taking place around town, from haunted houses to festish and fantasy balls, and where to get your costume, check out the Halloween listings in our Special Events section.

Las Vegas This Weekend:

Las Vegas will be a whirlwind of activity this weekend and we defy you to be bored. Just for starters, there'll be lots of money raised at Planet Hollywood, a huge amount of money spent at Mandalay Bay, and the ultimate Parrothead party at the MGM. Justin Timberlake brings sexy back for a good cause as the host of this year’s PGA tournament stop and the headline act at Planet Ho for an all-star concert to benefit Shriners Children's Hospitals. Meanwhile, car collectors have gathered for the Barrett-Jackson Auction at MBay, where dream vehicles will be sold to the highest bidder. Music: Justin Timberlake and Friends are in concert at Planet Hollywood (10/17); Mary J. Blige graces the stage at the Pearl at the Palms (10/17); Randy Travis entertains at Texas Station (10/17); Jimmy Buffet performs for the Parrotheads at the MGM Grand Garden Arena (10/18); Renee Taylor & Joe Bologna share the Suncoast Showroom stage (10/17-10/19); Wayne Newton's back to work at the Hollywood Theatre (10/16-10/22); War makes an appearance at Eastside Cannery (10/18); Keller Williams performs his one-man band act at the Canyon Club (10/18); Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert are in concert at the Star of the Desert Arena in Primm (10/18); House of Blues brings in Gym Class Heroes (10/19) and they’ll party afterwards at the Playboy Club at the Palms; Johnny Mathis entertains at the Las Vegas Hilton (10/17-10/18); Lez Zeppelin pays homage to Led Zeppelin at Sunset Station (10/17) and Santa Fe Station (10/18); the South Point Showroom welcomes Bill Medley with Paul Revere & the Raiders (10/17-10/19); Joe Jackson's at Ovation Lounge inside Green Valley Ranch (10/18); David Brighton performs his tribute to David Bowie at the Club at the Cannery (10/17-10/18); and Katey Sagal shows off her singing talent in a free concert at the Henderson Events Plaza (10/17) Comedy: Cheech & Chong reunite for two shows in one night at the Pearl at the Palms (10/18); Terry Fator headlines the America’s Got Talent show at the MGM Grand Garden Arena (10/17); Jay Leno's back at Mirage (10/17-10/18); and Jay Mohr jokes at the Orleans Showroom (10/17-10/19) Other: UNLV's Runnin' Rebels play their homecoming game against Air Force at Sam Boyd Stadium (10/18); The District at GVR hosts the final Wine Walk of the season (10/18); The Most Interesting Show in the World Tour stops by Rok Vegas at New York-New York (10/17-10/18); celebrate Oktoberfest at the Rampart Casino (10/19); the Orleans Arena is all about dance this weekend with the America’s Best Dance Crew tour (10/17) and the Freestyle Old School Explosion (10/18); Blush Nightclub at Wynn celebrates their first anniversary with surprise red carpet arrivals (10/18); The Family Guy’s Seth McFarlane parties for his birthday at Tao Nightclub (10/17); Suzanne LaRusch stars in "An Evening with Lucille Ball" at the Suncoast Showroom (10/17-10/19); MonteLago Village holds its final Pour for the Cure wine-tasting event of the season (10/17); The Fall Fine Arts Festival returns to MonteLago Village (10/18-10/19); The 12th Annual Bite of Las Vegas takes place at Desert Breeze Community Park with plenty of food and live entertainment (10/18); $10,000's up for grabs at The Bank’s Pole-A-Palooza Contest (10/19); and SWAG features complimentary RAVE Motion Picture movie passes at Caramel Bar at Bellagio (10/19) For more details about these and other events, plus full listings of all the permanent shows Las Vegas plays home to, click here for our "Shows & Nightlife" section. Plus, check out the Special Events feature, where you'll find details of all the Monday/Sunday night football parties and other events, plus Halloween, PBR, and NFR events.

Suite Life at Encore:

Still more room photos of Steve Wynn's new resort, Encore, have been posted at Expedia.com.

New Logo for NY-NY:

Maybe the fourth time is the charm for New York-New York, which has rolled out yet another new logo.

Halloween Begins Early:

The Las Vegas Springs Preserve debuts its first Haunted Harvest from 5 p.m. this evening, with the 180-acre green attraction currently aglow with Halloween décor and festivities. Apparently, attractions include the transformation of the eight-acre botanical garden into a "boo-tanical" garden with spider webs and stringed lights, while activities include a haunted hayride throughout the trails, "Safe Street" trick or treating, Theremin (a Russian instrument that is played without human touch) demonstrations on the balcony of the Springs Cafe, surprise spooky characters roaming throughout, and performances by The Ghosts of Shakespeare from Theatre Las Vegas. The Haunted Harvest's open Thurs. through Sun. from 5 p.m.-10 p.m. October 16 through 31 and admission is $9 for adults and $6 for children ages 5-17 (ages four and under and annual pass holders admitted free). For details about all the other Halloween events taking place around town, from haunted houses to festish and fantasy balls, and where to get your costume, check out the Halloween listings in our Special Events section.

A $34 Pork Chop?:

That's among the items on the menu of Stratta at Wynn Las Vegas, whose bill of fare is profiled today in the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Specialties of the house include halibut with chick peas and fennel ($38), and braised short ribs ($34).

Aliante Station Previewed:

"A touch of elegance" is how the Las Vegas Review-Journal describes Aliante Station, whose ingredients include "sand beige stone from Indonesia, Jerusalem gold stone from Israel and Inca gold stone from Italy." The R-J also includes an extensive photo gallery, along with a video tour.

Starting to 'Believe':

Improvement is taking place at Cirque du Soleil's Believe, currently in previews at Luxor. The Las Vegas Sun reports that, while one major illusion is still missing, the show is making progress and "the production has become stronger. [Criss] Angel’s onstage illusions continue to be tweaked and enhanced, while the choreography and performances are tightening up with practice." As for Angel himself, he promises "110% perfection" when the show debuts on Halloween.

Connecticut Casinos Slump:

Slot revenues at Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort Casino registered double-digit declines (-13% and 16%, respectively) in September, for an aggregate total of $123.5 million. Connecticut's tribal casinos do not report table game revenues to the state.

Tropicana on Ice:

That long-running soap opera that is the sale of the Atlantic City Tropicana went into a deep freeze Wednesday after the New Jersey Casino Control Commission order sales proceedings suspended until Oct. 29. While a state-appointed conservator had been negotiating a $700 million takeover by Cordish Co., the decision by the New Jersey Supreme Court to hear an appeal by ousted operator Tropicana Entertainment has thrown a monkey wrench into the sale.

Kerkorkian Pledges Collateral:

Kirk Kerkorian's Tracinda Corp. has put up 50 million shares to back pledges made by MGM Mirage. It is believed this reduces the likelihood of Kerkorian attempting to take some of the company's more lucrative assets (including Bellagio) private.

Bally Bests IGT:

It seems like IGT can't catch a break lately. Yesterday, a Nevada judge announced that he intends to grant a summary judgment in favor of Bally Technologies, in a lawsuit filed by IGT. The judge is expected to dismiss patent-infringement claims against Bally's Monte Carlo slot game and iView software. An anti-trust counterclaim by Bally may still go to trial. A JP Morgan analyst note calls this "a major positive for [Bally]" averting "a potentially negative and scary outcome." It predicts an eventual settlement of whatever claims the judge doesn't toss. The R-J's Howard Stutz lays out the long-term implications of the ruling.

$35K Jackpot at Golden Nugget:

A Houston man won $35,000 at 4:30 Tuesday afternoon when he hit a royal flush on Let It Ride Bonus at the downtown Golden Nugget. The hotel-casino is owned by one of Houston's most famous residents, restaurant mogul Tilman Fertitta.

Telemundo, Bar Move Downtown:

It's official: Telemundo is moving its Vegas offices and 20-some employees to Neonopolis in February. The Spanish-language network will retrofit the building with LED video screens and other signage. Also moving in, scheduled for mid-December, is Wet Ultra Lounge & Bar. An unspecified Italian restaurant is promised, news that made Mayor Oscar Goodman literally get up and dance.

Ditka Pitches Casino:

Former NFL coach and current ESPN analyst Mike Ditka was slated to appear at a Wednesday press conference touting a proposed Illinois racino. After much wrangling, Illinois' 10th and last license is up for grabs and Ditka has allied himself with the bid of South Side horse track Hawthorne Race Course. It proposes to reinvent itself as Champions Casino & Resort. Calumet City is also in the running for the license. Ironically, Ditka has been the public face of nearby Majestic Star Casino, in Gary, Ind.

A.C. Goes Smokeless:

Ashtrays were confiscated at the stroke of midnight, as Atlantic City's casinos entered a no-smoking period expected to last at least 12 days. The city council has voted to delay imposition of a smoking ban it had voted in earlier this year. However, lawmakers waited so long to act that smoking can't be resumed in casinos until the bill has passed a second reading and been signed by Atlantic City's mayor. The Associated Press visited some of the newly smoke-free casinos and found employees happy. But Trump Entertainment Resorts CEO Mark Juliano said, "There's 15 games in the Asian pit and by this time of day, they're usually all open. We have two games open right now."

Bellagio, Luxor Mark Birthdays:

Today is the 10th anniversary of the opening of Bellagio and the 15th birthday of Luxor. The Egyptian-themed casino has had its ups and downs, but Bellagio has always been one of the Strip's most lucrative casino-resorts. We tip our hat to UNLV's David Schwartz, who unearthed a 1998 doom-and-gloom story that makes for interesting reading during current doldrums. The worries preceding Bellagio's opening were, if anything, even more dire than those heard today. The money quote: "it's highly unlikely that in our lifetimes we'll see development of this magnitude again."

Mirage's Newest Dolphin Christened:

"Bella" is the name given to the dolphin calf recently born at the Mirage's Atlantic bottlenose dolphin habitat. Mirage employees were challenged to come up with names suitable for the seven-week-old dolphin ("Sweet Pea" and "Lucy" were among the suggestions). With the addition of Bella, the Mirage now has three generations of the same bottlenose dolphin family on property.

Downtown Arena Shelved:

Without fanfare, the City of Las Vegas has scrapped an agreement with REI Neon to build a $10.5 billion mixed-use development, anchored by a sports arena, in downtown Vegas. Current economic conditions and tight credit markets were cited as reasons for terminating the partnership. The project, far bigger than anything REI had previously built, had been dogged by skepticism for some time.

Frank Rosenthal -- 1929-2008:

One of the last -- and, perhaps, most colorful -- links to Las Vegas’ mob-related past passed away yesterday, ending a southern Nevada era that has been immortalized in books, documentaries, and feature films and is mourned by many old-timers and true-crime buffs. Frank "Lefty" Rosenthal, the notorious bookmaker, sports bettor, game fixer, Chicago-outfit enforcer, and childhood friend of Tony "the Ant" Spilotro, who survived a Las Vegas car bombing, but was hounded out of the Nevada casino industry and entered into the Black Book as a persona non grata, died Tuesday at age 79 of an apparent heart attack at his home in Florida.

Street Punishes Gaming Stocks:

Casino industry stocks had a rough ride on the stock market today, excepting Pinnacle Entertainment, which registered a slight gain. The day was particularly hard on Wynn Resorts and Las Vegas Sands, which closed trading at their lowest prices in over a year, $49.30 and $10.94, respectively.

Paris Poker Room, Rio Restaurant Close:

Harrah's Entertainment announced today that it closed the Paris-Las Vegas poker room on Oct. 10. Players are encouraged to visit the Bally's poker room instead for daily tournaments and lessons. The Rio has closed one of its restaurants, Antonio's, and has cut the hours at Sao Paulo from 6 a.m.-3 p.m. to 6 a.m.-noon.

Barrett-Jackson Rocks Mandalay Bay:

If exotic cars and customized hot-rods get your heart racing and make you want to throw financial caution to the wind, we probably don’t need to tell you that Mandalay Bay hosts the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction, today through Saturday. Billed as the "World’s Greatest Collector Car Event" the spectacle comes to Las Vegas for the first time in its 37-year history. Not your father’s car auction, Barrett-Jackson is part rock concert, part heavy metal fashion show -- and all the models are for up for sale to the highest bidder. More than 600 classic vehicles including muscle cars, one-of-a-kind custom vehicles, rare automobiles, and prewar antiques will cross the auction block. The centerpiece vehicle is a 1949 MG TC, which is the first race car driven by legendary car guru Carroll Shelby. Bidding is not for the faint of heart. A 1966 Shelby Cobra 427 "Super Snake" formerly owned by Shelby sold for a cool $5,000,000 in 2007 to set an event record. Las Vegas native and 2004 NASCAR champion Kurt Busch will get in the act this afternoon when he drives the Dodge he raced last year at Las Vegas Motor Speedway across the stage. The event also features a memorabilia auction, vendor displace and live music in The Garage. Click here for complete schedule.

Remaining Dive-Ins Axed:

The three remaining scheduled movies in the 2008 Dive-In movie series at Mandalay Bay Beach, previously scheduled for Friday, Oct. 17, Friday, Oct. 24, and Friday, Oct. 31, have all been canceled.

Election Day Special at Sushisamba:

Whatever your political affiliation, you may need to do some serious boozing as the election results roll in on Nov. 4. SushiSamba, in The Shoppes at the Palazzo, is prepared to oblige with its "Drink the Vote" cocktails-and-hors d'oeuvres event (hours TBA). The bar will offer $2-$4 appetizer specials -- we recommend the Mini Yellowtail Seviche -- along with two drinks concocted for the occasion. The Obamarama combines muddled lemon, blueberries and sugar with Pearl Blueberry Vodka, Blue Curacao and club soda, while The Maverick is a confection of muddled raspberries with sugar, Raspberry Rum, Triple sec, Grenadine and unsweetened white tea. Each sells for $11 and, if you have too many, we guaranteed you'll be plenty muddled yourself.

Porn Stars Headline McFadden's Event:

X-rated-film stars Sunny Leone and Hanna Hilton will be the mistresses of ceremonies on Oct. 25, when McFadden's Restaurant & Saloon, at the Rio, throws its "Lingerie Party." Ten bucks (for women) and $20 (for men) gets you all you can drink from 10 p.m.-midnight. At the witching hour, drinks are $3 until closing. Ladies get free champagne all evening. There will also be a $500 prize for "most scintillating attire" (ladies only) and a sex-trivia contest. McFadden's promises two custom-made ice luges. One "made of breasts [and] ... a second one honoring the male form." We guess they couldn't bring themselves to type the word "penis."

G2E Announces Tribal Focus:

Staffers and executives from tribal casinos have long dominated Global Gaming Expo seminars and other events. This year, in recognition of the 20th anniversary of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, which revolutionized the U.S. casino industry, G2E is announcing a tribally focused program. On Nov. 20, G2E (which kicks off Nov. 18) will feature a keynote panel entitled "Change and Challenges: The Tribal-Community Connection." Nat'l Indian Gaming Assn. President Ernie Stevens will headline a group of tribal luminaries. Stevens will also join regular panelists Gary Loveman and J. Terrence Lanni in the annual "State of the Industry" panel, held Nov. 19.

Harrah's Jones Honored:

Harrah's Entertainment has announced that Senior VP of Communications (and former Las Vegas mayor) Jan Jones had received the Education Hero Award from the Public Education Foundation. The company will also host an Oct. 30 Women's Leadership Forum at the Rio. Speakers will include UNLV's Diana Rhodes, and Rio/Bally's/Paris President Marilyn Winn.

Encore Chefs Announced:

A quintet of chefs has been named to head up Encore's restaurant row and three are veterans of Steve Wynn's casino empire. The newcomers are Jet Tila, who will oversee Wazuzu (Nine Dragons), and Theo Schoenegger, who makes his Vegas duebut with Theo's, which will specialize in "deconstructing traditional dishes and recreating them with a refined, modern approach that emphasizes seasonality." Former Wynn executive chef Marc Poidevin helms Switch, Encore's surf-and-turf restaurant, while Mark LoRusso makes the transition from Tableau at Wynn LV to Botero Steak, at Encore. (Tableau will morph into Larry Forgione's An American Place.) Last but not least, Kim Canteenwalla, who worked for Wynn at Beau Rivage, returns to the fold with casual-dining spot Society Cafe Encore. Per Wynn tradition, all five chefs will be on property on a nightly basis.

Playboy Casino Possibly Nixed:

Playboy's re-entry into the British casino industry, announced a few months back, "might be shelved," reports the Independent, in a lengthy report on lean times for the Playboy empire. Hefty investment in a slow-to-finish Macao casino is cited as one of the factors undermining Playboy's stock price, which closed today at $2.40/share. Of Hugh Hefner, the article says, "a string of public and private setbacks ... have conspired to throw this elderly, somewhat deaf and increasingly frail man back into the public eye, for all the wrong reasons." The piece's fact-checking is rather spotty, however. For instance, comedian Chelsea Handler is referred to by the name of her TV show, "Chelsea Lately." Whoops.

IGT Inks Internet Accord:

WagerWorks, a subsidiary of International Game Technology, has signed a deal with 888, an online gambling provider. The pact gives 888 access to IGT's "Wheel of Fortune Hollywood Edition," "Cleopatra," "Cluedo" and other games. "It is an important step in helping us to further facilitate the movement from offline to online gaming," 888 Senior VP Gabi Campos said of the deal.

Criss Angel Profiled:

Sunday's Los Angeles Times carried a lengthy profile of illusionist Criss Angel, including interviews conducted during the controversial previews for his new Cirque du Soleil show, Believe. There's also a behind-the-scenes photo album. "I think we've got a lot of work ahead of us," Angel concedes about the supposedly $100 million production, which features dancing rabbits.

A Different Curtis:

As in actor Tony Curtis, star of Some Like it Hot and resident of Las Vegas. He cuts loose in a USA Today interview with Steve Friess. Curtis' memoir, American Prince is in bookstores starting today.

NASCAR Poker Tourney Tonight:

NASCAR driver Kurt Busch is sponsoring a celebrity charity poker tournament at 6 p.m. tonight at the Sierra Gold ultra-tavern located at 6515 S. Jones Blvd. Additional notables taking part include Lon Kruger, UNLV Men's Basketball Head Coach, and Al Unser Jr., two-time Indianapolis 500 Champion, plus other local NASCAR drivers. There's still time to RSVP if you'd like to take part. A $500 donation's required, which gets you the chance to win the grand prize race package. It includes a private meet and greet with Kurt Busch, NASCAR Sprint Cup garage passes, Sprint Cup race suite passes, helicopter transportation to and from the Las Vegas Speedway, and a weekend stay at The Palms. Those donating $500 will receive an autographed Kurt Busch die-cast collectible car in addition to being eligible for other raffle prizes. Proceeds will support The Victory Junction Gang Camp, a charity that offers a safe camping experience to children with chronic medical conditions or serious illness. If you'd like to take part, RSVP to Eric King at eking@kirvindoak.com or call 702/391-3633.

Harrah's Phasing out Megabucks:

In case you missed it in "Question of the Day" over the weekend, Harrah's Entertainment is now down to five Megabucks machines in all of its Las Vegas properties. Caesars Palace still has two, while Harrah's Las Vegas, the Flamingo and the Rio all have one each. This phase-out has been ongoing for quite some time but has passed almost without notice: A sharp-eyed LVA reader pointed it out to us. Harrah's made headlines this summer by announcing its determination to cut back Wheel of Fortune games. Both Wheel of Fortune and Megabucks are made by IGT.

California Virtual Tours:

No, not the state but rather Boyd Gaming's California Hotel Casino, in downtown Las Vegas, beloved of Hawaiian visitors for decades. "The Cal" has redone its Web site, including no fewer than 12 virtual tours that provide 360-degree views of everything from hotel rooms to the sports book. Boyd has re-furnished the old gal and done so in a (mostly) understated fashion.

Wynn Releases Early 3Q Results:

Wynn Resorts expects to either lose $2 million or make a $2 million profit, once its third-quarter numbers are finalized. The company issued preliminary results at the close of trading today. Occupancy at Wynn Las Vegas was only off a half a point from the year before, possibly because the average daily rate was $10 lower than 2007's. Substantial increases in revenue at Wynn Macao further buoyed the bottom line. Wynn Resorts will announce full third-quarter results on Oct. 30.

'Devilfish' Sets up Shop:

Britain's top poker player, Dave "Devilfish" Ulliott, has opened a betting shop as part of Scarborough's Opera House Casino. This makes the casino the first in Britain to operate an integrated betting shop as well. The opening was celebrated with -- what else? -- a poker tournament.

U.K. Casino May Axe 80% of Staff:

An emphasis on slot machines and electronic games means drastically fewer jobs at Leicester's Counting House Casino, owned by Genting Stanley, which calls the change of emphasis a test for "a new concept in its gaming business." A source at the Counting House told ThisIsLeicestershire.com that all but eight of 43 employees would be pink-slipped.

Net Bettor Relocating?:

Mansion (Gibraltar) Ltd. is denying reports that it will pull out of the British colony and relocate to Singapore (where taxes are lower) or Israel (where the technological infrastructure is believed to be superior). Another Gibraltar-based online gambling operaton, Partygaming, plans to reduce its staff by 100 people.

Foxwoods, Dealers Compromise:

UAW-represented dealers have persuaded Foxwoods Resort Casino to bargain with them. They, in turn, will attempt to hammer out a contract under tribal law, not federal law. Foxwoods had balked at negotiating with dealers, period, prompting the National Labor Relations Board to get involved.

Room Rates Hurt Detroit Casinos:

Hotel room prices in Detroit are, by Vegas standards, a bargain at $88/night. But neither MGM Grand Detroit nor Motor City Casino got that memo. According to The Detroit News, MGM is charging $299/night and Motor City $199 mid-week, "more in the range of dense east coast cities." Both are reported to be paying the price, in terms of low occupancy, and both suffered $5 million revenue declines last month. Even Dearbon's Ritz-Carlton's prices are lower than MGM's or Motor City's. Casino consultant Jake Miklojcik says the two properties are "relatively stingy" with comped rooms, never comping more than 10% of them.

'Lost Vegas':

Today's Las Vegas Review-Journal offers a virtual tour of surviving landmarks of Las Vegas' early decades. The nine-stop itinerary includes the Golden Gate, El Cortez, Golden Steer and Caesars Palace. Asked about the time Shecky Greene drove his car into Caesars' fountains, a Harrah's publicist is quoted as replying, "I'm sorry, but I don't know who Shakey Greene is."

'Point Break' Collapse Explained:

Mike Weatherford has the skinny on the sudden death of Point Break Live! last week. V Theater management says the show opened without enough money in the bank to play a full week. PBL producers say their backers got cold feet because of Wall Street's downward spiral. As for the Sahara's Raw Talent Live, Weatherford says it "has all the ingredients of a winner. But somewhere it jumped the track with a wonky premise ... before anyone could intervene with a reality check."

Revel Previewed:

Atlantic City's next casino-hotel, Revel, is shaping up nicely, to judge from the photo and video gallery assembled by The Press of Atlantic City. Of four new casinos projected for A.C., Revel was the only one that managed to get going before credit markets imploded. However, even though it's a joint venture with Morgan Stanley, Revel isn't completely financed at present, which may mean going to Plan B: Building just one of the two projected hotel towers and deferring the other until later.

Sands Asked to Post Bond:

Lawyers for Richard Suen have requested that Las Vegas Sands be required to post a bond equal to the $58.6 million (with interest) jury award that was levied against Sheldon Adelson's company last May. They cited Sands' deteriorating financial situation ad questioned whether the judgment could be met. Sands has boasted in company filings that it has set aside no money to pay the verdict as it has every expectation that the award will be overturned on appeal.

Trop Sale Could Take Another Year:

That's what Tropicana Entertainment says, after the New Jersey Supreme Court agreed to hear its appeal of the New Jersey Casino Control Commission's December 2007 license denial. The state has been trying to peddle the Trop, which has the largest hotel in New Jersey, ever since. A $700 deal with Cordish Co., currently on the table, is expected to be ready for approval by mid-November. It is unclear how the Supreme Court's intervention may affect that sale.

Rouge for Free:

MGM Grand nightclub Rouge is promising "nightclub energy without nightclub hassles" -- at least on Mondays. That's when the "Lace Mondays" format will offer a free open bar from 6-9 p.m., along with free well drinks for ladies and/or industry professionals (also 6-9 p.m.). Rouge's DJ, at the turntables from 6 p.m.-1 a.m. will even take requests, believe it or not. Cover charges are waived, something the frugality-minded LVA always applauds.

Mohegan Sun Opens New Casino:

B-listers were out in force for Mohegan Sun's weekend-long opening of its new Casino of the Wind. Cheryl Hines, Tracy Morgan (SciFi Channel's "Scare Tactics"), Lindsay Price ("Lipstick Jungle"), Maria Menounos, Lisa Rinna, Harry Hamlin, Stacy Keibler and several "Gossip Girl" and "Ugly Betty" supporting-cast members were among those who graced the 650-slot casino and its adjoining lounges. Band from TV, which is fronted by James Denton ("Desperate Housewives"), and Adrian Pasdar and Greg Grunberg of "Heroes", provided musical entertainment.

Columbus Day Specials:

The Silverton's celebrating Columbus Day today with 5X points and a $5 buffet from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. for all Discovery Club members. South Point is awarding 2X points all day. the Orleans is awarding 6X points.

J-Lo Gets Rehitched at Caesars:

According to celebrity gossip site Popeater.com, Jennifer Lopez and husband of four years Marc Anthony decided to renew their wedding vows at 12:30 a.m. this morning after a successful night at the crap table at Caesars Palace. The spur-of-the-moment renewal ceremony took place in the Forum Tower penthouse and New York Mets slugger Carlos Beltran and his wife Jessica also renewed their vows in the ceremony, which was attended by just a handful of guests.

Local Corner Deal:

Origin India, the excellent Indian restaurant across from the Hard Rock that we featured as our Local Corner in February of this year, is offering some special discount menus to help stretch your wallet in these hard times. Choose from a 2-course set menus at $15 (with myriad options for starter and entrée), or an equally extensive 3-course menu, with wine, for $19.95 per person -- click here to view the menus.

Travel Sites:

The weekend USA Today lists more than two-dozen bargain-travel-related online sites. Descriptions are minimal, but lots of good leads to check out.

Markets Rock Adelson:

Las Vegas Sands chairman Sheldon Adelson has been pummeled by the stock market decline, by one report losing $4 billion in equity in the last month alone. Forbes magazine has dropped Adelson from #3 to #15 on its "richest" list. Still not too shabby.

Zagat Says Vegas Most Expensive:

According to 2009 Zagat restaurant guides, Las Vegas is the most expensive place in America to eat, with an average tab for dinner of $44.44. The guide obviously skipped places like Ellis Island, Jerry's Nugget, Gold Coast, and about 30 other bargain-slanted casinos in its study.

Orleans Holiday Specials:

The Orleans is paying 6X club points today and Monday. On Sunday it pays a $250 bonus for royals on quarter machines.

Contest Carryover:

The Lucky's Sports Book football contest has carried over again, meaning that anyone who picks a perfect card this week will win $36,000 (multiple winners split). The picks are straight up (no pointspreads). The contest is free and can be entered at the Plaza, Terrible's, or the books at the Primm casinos.

Chihuly Book Signing Today:

Dale Chihuly, the renowned glass artist and creator of the Fiori di Como sculpture on the ceiling of the lobby at Bellagio, will be signing his newest book, Chihuly Black, at his gallery in the Via Fiore Shops near the Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens from 1 p.m.-2 p.m. today. For more information, click here.

Olympia Goes to Oxford:

Vegas developer Gary Goett's Olympia Group has settled on the town of Oxford, Maine, as the site for its proposed Highlands Resort-Spa-Casino, on which it expects to spend $184 million. Oxford's proximity to Maine's ski slopes clinched the deal. The project has the unanimous support of Oxford's selectmen and goes before voters statewide on Nov. 4.

PA Explains it All for You:

In an effort to educate the Pennsylvania public, the state's Gaming Control Board has posted a set of video FAQs (using Windows Media). Questions include "What is a random number generator?", "What are the most common myths surrounding slot machines?" and "Are there opportunities for minorities in the gaming industry?" We wouldn't be surprised to see this user-friendly approach catch on elsewhere. (Warning: The video resolution level is spectacularly low.)

Timberlake in Vegas:

Yes, Justin Timberlake will be playing Vegas -- specifically, the Clark County Amphitheater, at 500 S. Central Grand Pkwy., starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday. OK, it's an Obama rally and the candidate himself won't be there. But, if you're a Timberlake fan, feel free to squee.

Vegas in August, Analyzed.:

The Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority has issued its monthly rundown of visitation data. Steve Friess has already crunched the numbers and finds that things sure are hopping in Laughlin, where passenger loads have spiked 20% and room rates are up 15%.

Suite Deal at Venetian:

Book by Oct. 20 and you can get a luxury suite at the Venetian for $119 a night. The promo deal also includes a $50/night gambling credit, and comped admission, line passes and $50 worth of free drinks at Lavo Nightclub.

Encore Video Sneak Peek:

A two-minute preview of Encore, juxtaposing photos of construction in progress with renderings of the resort as it will be, can be seen at YouTube.

Wynn Confident on Encore:

Steve Wynn told the Las Vegas Sun that his new Encore casino is sufficiently capitalized to weather the current economic crisis without having to resort to cuts in service or discounting. He does concede that business will be slower than he'd hoped. Wynn says Encore remains on track for a Dec. 22 opening.

Borgata Exec Predicts Slump:

Larry Mullins, president of Boyd Gaming's Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, in Atlantic City, is forecasting a -15% revenue shift for the city's casinos when the next set of monthly numbers come out. That would be the largest one-month decline in Atlantic City history. But, Mullins noted, if Atlantic City's smoking ban had not been put in abeyance, he and his colleagues would be looking at a 25-30% downturn.

An Accidental Experiment:

Atlantic City is going to find out what it's like to have no-smoking casino, at least for a week. City Council President William Marsh has announced that the temporary ban is necessary because the council can't hold a second reading until Oct. 22 on a bill that would stay the city's smoking ban. Harrah's Entertainment says it will implement a no-smoking policy anyway. Smokers will have to repair to enclosed, ventilated lounges on the casino floor when they want to light up.

More Jonas Bros.:

For those who can't get enough of the Jonas Brothers, good news: MGM Grand has added a Nov. 29 show, with tickets going on sale at noon Saturday. They're priced at $45, $65 and $89.25, and can be had through Ticketmaster, as well as the MGM Grand box office.

Las Vegas This Weekend:

Festival season continues in Sin City and the options are about as diverse as you could imagine. Over at the Cannery they're going completely Polynesian with the Islands of the Pacific Cultural Festival and it all begins with a concert by Natural Vibrations on Friday evening. For full immersion in ye olden days, check out the Age of Chivalry Renaissance Festival at Sunset Park with the obligatory turkey legs, home-brewed mead, and all the medieval pageantry you can possibly handle. Finally, National Coming Out Day will be celebrated with a street festival on Paradise between Tropicana and Harmon, a get together at Commercial Center on East Sahara and special events all weekend at Krave Nightclub near The Miracle Mile. Music: New Kids on the Block complete the transition from boy band to man band with a comeback performance at the Mandalay Bay Events Center (10/11) and after party at LAX; Bette Midler’s back at The Colosseum (through 10/19); Tony Orlando appears at the South Point Showroom (10/10-10/12) with a special benefit performance on Saturday; Wynonna brings country music to the Star of the Desert Arena in Primm (10/11); Starship's in concert at the Las Vegas Hilton (10/10); The Joint welcomes Sara Bareilles (10/10) and Kings of Leon (10/11); Foghat stops by Club Madrid at Sunset Station (10/11); Goldrush takes to the stage at House of Blues (10/11); BJ Thomas performs at Santa Fe Station (10/10); The Orleans Showroom features Creedance Clearwater Revisited (10/10-10/12); Guitar virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteem (10/10), Goldrush (10/11), and New Found Glory (10/12) take turns at House of Blues; Viva! presents their tribute to Santana at Eastside Cannery’s Marilyn’s Lounge (10/10-10/11); Linda Eder sings at the Suncoast Showroom (10/10-10/12); the Las Vegas Philharmonic performs Pops I at UNLV’s Artemus Ham Hall (10/11); James Taylor is one of many performers slated to appear at Andre Agassi’s Grand Slam for Children, which takes place at Winn Las Vegas (10/11); The Chinese Stars and The Awesome Brothers check out Revolution Lounge at Mirage (10/12); and Rustyn Vaughn Lee performs a live acoustic set at Mist Bar & Lounge inside TI (10/12) Comedy: Enjoy improv comedy with Ryan Stiles and friends in Whose Live Anyway? at the Henderson Events Plaza (10/11); Jay Leno takes the mic at Mirage (10/10-10/11); and Playboy Comedy welcomes Orny Adams and Al Madrigal to the Palms Lounge with special appearance by Playmate Alison Waite. (10/11) Sporting Events: The Los Angeles Lakers hit the boards against the Sacramento Kings at UNLV's Thomas & Mack Center (10/12); it’s MotoCross Mania at the MGM Grand Garden Arena with the Rockstar U.S. Open of Supercross (10/10-10/11); Tarver takes on Dawson for the Light Heavyweight Championship during fight night at the Pearl at the Palms (10/11); the South Point Equestrian Arena hosts the Futurity Cutting Horse Event (10/10-10/20); Xtreme Couture MMA fighters slide into the date vacated by the cancellation of Affliction at the Thomas & Mack Center with A Night of Combat II (10/11) Poolside Events: Mandalay Bay Beach’s Dive-In movie series plays Friday the 13th (10/10) and Bare Pool Lounge closes out pool season with a Drink Bare Dry Party (10/12) Other: Nightlife at the Palms features Scooter and Lavelle at Rain nightclub (10/10) and The Rhinestone Cowboy Party at the Playboy Club (10/12) with costume and bucking bronco contests; check out the World’s Championship Chili Cookoff at the Tropicana (10/10-10/12); John Edwards shares his "psychic" ability at the Flamingo (10/11); The Cannery hosts the Island of the Pacific Cultural Festival (10/10-10/12); Circo Atayde wraps up its run at the Silver Nugget (through 10/12); The Renaissance Festival takes place at Sunset Park (10/10-10/12); Late Night Afterhours moves from Tabu to its new location at Studio 54 inside the MGM (10/11); UFC Fighters Chuc

'Mesmerized!' Returns to V Theater:

That didn't take long. V Theater has filled the slot vacated by Point Break Live with a return engagement of hypnotist Marc Savard's Mesmerized!. Opening Oct. 11, Mesmerized! will play at 10 pm, Sat.-Thurs. This is Savard's second stint at the V Theater. In between, he offered a more-family friendly version of his act at Trader Vic's. Tickets for Mesmerized! will be $49 and $59, and can be purchased at the V Theater box office, online at www.VarietyTheater.com and by phone at 702/932-1818.

Baccarat Play Enlivens Bleak August:

Despite having one more weekend day than last year, August 2008 saw an 8% decline in casino revenue, following a relatively weak August 2007. Baccarat was the bright spot, with table drop increasing 47% and win up 4%. Slot handle and holds were down, leading to a 15% revenue decline. Table games held their ground, with win up 2%. The Reno, South Lake Tahoe and Elko markets were al either flat or slightly up. The Strip lost less ground (-7%) than any other market segment, with Boulder Strip taking the worst hit (-22%).

Greektown for Sale:

Detroit's Greektown Casino is currently in bankruptcy and a federal judge is considering hiring an investment bank to peddle the property. Greektown's tribal owners have until Dec. 15 to provide a plan for emerging from Chapter 11. The City of Detroit, meanwhile, wants new ownership in place by mid-February 2009. Greektown's CEO, Craig Ghelfi, is retiring on Oct. 31 and the casino is shaving its board of directors from 12 members to five.

Trop Sale Delayed ... Again:

State-appointed conservator Gary Stein is asking for a fourth extension of the sale of the Atlantic City, until Nov. 12. Stein, who was initially expected to sell the property last spring, is on an Oct. 16 deadline to finalize a $700 million sale to Cordish Co. Stein's request will be voted up or down on Oct. 15.

A.C. Smoking Ban Delayed:

Atlantic City's city council voted narrowly in favor of a one-year delay of a ban on smoking casinos. The ban, which was to have taken effect Oct. 15, has to be re-voted on Oct. 22 for the delay to become official. The council is seeking legal opinions on whether the casinos will have to go smoke-free during the Oct. 15-22 period.

One-Armed Bandits Snare Robber:

An Atlantic City bank robber found the allure of nearby casinos too much to resist. Last Tuesday, a Memphis man visiting Atlantic City held up a PNC Bank around 9:30 am, then was found several hours later, playing slots at the Atlantic City Hilton -- one block from the scene of the crime.

MISW? WTF?:

It stands for The Most Interesting Show in the World (warning: adult content), which plays Rok Vegas (in New York-New York) on Oct. 17-18. It features "a menagerie of performers from around the world, including aerial performers, Japanese robotic dancers, acrobats, fire jugglers, Russian dancers and French burlesque singers." MISW is hosted by Jim Rose, late of the Jim Rose Circus. Tickets are available through Rok Vegas or by calling 702/740-6765.

'Real Deal' Tix on Sale:

Yesterday marked the kickoff of ticket sales for The Real Deal, described as "the first ever live, interactive poker-themed stage-show." Hosting duties will be split between Paul Rodriguez and Lacey Jones, as previews begin Oct. 14, followed by an Oct. 21 opening. Appearances by Doyle Brunson, Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth, Jr., Antonio Esfandiari, Gavin Smith, Eli Elezra, Jennifer Harman, Phil Laak, Scotty Nguyen, and Todd Brunson are promised. Tickets can be purchased by calling 866/641-7469, 702/414-9000 or at Venetian.com.

New Crap Bet at Orleans:

Although it's been in play since Sept. 17, it wasn't until Tuesday that Boyd Gaming's Orleans hotel-casino and game-maker Casino Gaming LLC announced the deployment of "7 Point 7." The new betting option yields 2-to-1 odds if a seven is rolled, but 'craps out' if two, three, 11 or 12 are rolled. A roll of seven on the next bet yields a 3-to-1 win.

Meet the New Mojave Max:

Last summer, Red Rock Canyon Nat'l Conservation Area's star attraction, Mojave Max, died at the ripe old age of 65. Mojave Max was a desert tortoise whose hibernation schedule acted as a predictor of seasonal conditions. His successor, who will inherit the name Mojave Max, is a mere slip of a teenager: 19 years old and 10 pounds. The original Mojave Max's cartoon avatar lives on at www.mojavemax.com.

Point Break Live(s) Again?:

Las Vegas Sun entertainment reporter Jerry Fink has been probing the abrupt demise of Point Break Live at the V Theater, in Planet Hollywood. The show isn't dead, its producer says, just looking "for more intimate accommodations that will be more conducive to the full-immersion characteristics that the play requires ... The V Theater, although great for the purposes it usually serves, is not appropriate for an intimate and immersive punk rock theater experience like ‘Point Break Live!’" Fink offers a much simpler analysis: "The show wasn't filling the theater." Ticketholders can obtain refunds at the V box office or by calling 702/260-7200.

Sahara Promo Frightens Leach:

Robin Leach confesses to losing sleep after frequent encounters with a cryptic promotional stunt for the Sahara's Raw Talent Live. The blogger met "the crème de la crème of all insanity laced into the Las Vegas culture" in the form of a "crazy woman wearing a ski mask and holding one of those power washer guns," with which she sprays the acronym "NDSRAW" onto Vegas sidewalks. What does it mean? One staffer suggests it's a reference to producer Nicole Durr, as in "N.D.'s raw." Mike Weatherford profiles the show today.

IGT Settles Suit:

International Game Technology and Las Vegas Gaming have buried the hatchet and entered into a joint venture. IGT will invest over $11 million in LVGI, which will return the favor by creating applications for server-based-gaming systems that IGT is developing. This gives IGT first crack at LVGI's future software creations.

Philly Casino Fast-Tracked:

Less than a month after announcing a change of site, one of the partners in the proposed Foxwoods Casino in Philadelphia says the 'slot parlor' could be open by December next year. The 3,000-slot casino would be relocated from an unpopular site on the Delaware River to the Gallery at Market East mall, near downtown Philadelphia.

More Bad News for Echelon:

Whenever Boyd Gaming restarts Echelon, one of its joint venture partners may be in new hands. That's the import of a mince-no-words Las Vegas Review-Journal story detailing the collapse of General Growth Properties' stock, -92% from its 52-week high of $57.84/share. Part of the company's problem is an impending deadline to pay down $900 million of Palazzo- and Fashion Show Mall-related debt. Both a potential asset sale and/or an outright sale of GGP itself appear to be on the table, as the company struggles to right itself.

Too Good to Be True:

If the prospect of 25-cent hamburgers and dime soft drinks at In-N-Out Burger sounded too good to be true, it was. The company has issued a statement declaring the alleged Oct. 22 offer, announced via an e-mail blast, to be a hoax. Says the company, "We’re sorry if this rumor has caused any confusion." So are we.

Glitch Causes $21.5M Jackpot:

An Australian woman thought she'd hit a AU$21.5 million ($14.3 million U.S.) slot jackpot at Jupiters Townsville. Then the machine conked out altogether. Seems there was a software malfunction with the slot, which is set to a maximum payout of AU$750,000 ($500K U.S.). So, instead of the megamillions that Joy Currinckx thought she'd won, she received the AU$100 the casino says should have been paid, plus a comped overnight stay and breakfast. "One hundred dollars is a little bit short of $21 million, particularly for all the trouble," harrumphed the disappointed punter. The casino has asked Queensland regulators to review the matter.

Gaughan Gets Key to LV:

Jackie Gaughan, the grand old man of downtown casinos, will receive the key to the City of Las Vegas from Mayor Oscar Goodman on Oct. 13. The 11 a.m. ceremony will be held at the 651 E. Ogden Ave. entrance to the El Cortez's new Cabaña Suites. El Cortez GM Mike Nolan will also be in attendance. Gaughan recently liquidated his ownership of the El Cortez, the last piece of a modest casino empire that, at various times, encompassed eight Las Vegas gambling joints.

Tourists Still Seek LV Bargains:

"I’d rather lose my money here than on Wall Street." That's what one poker player is overheard saying in an MSNBC story about the recession's effects on Vegas tourism. MGM Mirage spokesman Alan Feldman reports that his company's room rates are down 15%, with a corresponding decline in show and gambling revenues. Big-ticket amenities are being shunned. "The higher-end restaurants are less crowded and the coffee shops are busier," Feldman says. "I passed by the buffet at the Bellagio today and the line was out the door." He says MGM will continue stay on a value-oriented message.

Hamburgers for a Quarter:

In-N-Out Burger, an institution beloved of regular Las Vegans and high rollers alike, will be 60 years old on Oct. 22. To celebrate that anniversary, In-N-Out restaurants will selling 25-cent hamburgers, 15-cent French fries, and drinks for a dime. In-N-Out operates several Las Vegas franchises, including one across from UNLV, on Maryland Pkwy., and another at Tropicana Ave. and Dean Martin Dr.

Golden Nugget Buyout Nixed:

Hurricane Ike's aftermath has, at least for the moment, dashed Tilman Fertitta's hopes of taking Landry's Restaurants -- owner of the downtown Vegas and Laughlin Golden Nuggets -- private. Serious damage to some of Landry's Texas properties has dampened the company's revenue projections and endangered Fertitta's ability to meet some of the preconditions of his leveraged buyout. Fertitta had offered to take the company private at $21/share. It is now trading nearer to $9.

LVA Omission:

The October Las Vegas Advisor mentioned a good deal on buffets at the Hilton, but neglected to mention that you must have local ID. Locals can still get breakfast for $3.99, lunch for $4.99, and dinner for $6.99 every Wednesday in October, but not visitors. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Get Pampered at... El Cortez!:

Yes, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Monday, the downtown casino is offering guests the chance to treat themselves to a little R&R with chair massages on the casino floor. The 10-minute sessions are purchasable with 7,500 Cortez Club points, $15 in cash or complimentary dollars, and come free with a minimum $200 jackpot. Mmmmm.

Aliante Gets Thumbs-Up:

The Nevada Gaming Control Board has voted unanimously to license Aliante Station, the latest joint venture between Station Casinos and Greenspun Corp., slated to open Nov. 11. The Control Board's decision now goes to the Nevada Gaming Commission for ratification. The $662 million Aliante Station will include 202 hotel rooms; six restaurants and a food court; 14,000 square feet of meeting, banquet and convention space; a 16-screen movie theater; the 600-seat-plus Access Showroom, a poker room, and a race and sports book.

'Speed' Closed at Sahara:

Both a sign at the Sahara and its Web site declare that the Sahara's rollercoaster, Speed - The Ride, has been "closed for the season," as has the hotel-casino's Las Vegas Cyber Speedway. A Sahara operator informs LVA that Speed is closed "indefinitely." Both rides would be slated for demolition if Sahara owner Sam Nazarian goes ahead with his plan to build a new tower on the north side of the property.

Point Break Dead:

In what has to be the shortest-ever engagement at the snake-bitten V Theater, 'Point Break' Live! put out a closing notice this morning. The show had opened Oct. 1, lasting less than one week. In its official statement, David Saxe Productions gave no reason for the abrupt shutdown.

Current LVA Reader Poll:

Don't forget that the current poll closes at midnight PST tonight, so if you haven't already, cast your vote and let us know if/how you read our monthly newsletter. Tomorrow a new reader poll will go live.

Maritime Gambling Doesn't Pay:

SeaEscape Entertainment's ocean liner Island Adventure could be headed for the scrap yard following an Oct. 16 forfeiture auction in Broward County, Fl. This ship was seized by U.S. marshals pursuant to claims by crew members that they'd not been paid $500K in wages, part of $2.3 million in liens against Island Adventure. A federal judge estimates the ship is worth more as scrap metal ($3 million) than as a casino vessel ($2 million, tops).

Duplicate Poker Defunct:

Current economic troubles are even affecting the online-poker sector. Duplicate Poker (formerly e-Poker USA) went belly-up Sunday, announcing, "Caught in the middle of the global financial situation, the company is not able to continue to provide service. We are a small victim of the global financial crisis ... Hopefully at later time and in a better economic climate Duplicate Poker will re-appear." Customers with current balances can cash out at DuplicatePoker.com.

IL: Fewer Visitors Spend Less:

Casino revenues continue to tumble in Illinois since smoking was prohibited in the state's casinos. Current economic woes also appear to be taking their toll. Not only is patronage down 20%, but those who are visiting are spending less. All Illinois casinos suffered double-digit percentage declines, with Harrah's Metropolis, at the southern tip of the state, having by far the worst decline.

Penn Sued:

It looks as though Penn National won't be getting out of Kansas quite so easily as it thought. Already, the Cherokee County Commission has been suing Penn for breach of contract and is trying to hang onto Penn's $25 million application fee. Now HV Properties alleges that Penn owes it $37.5 million for 200 acres on which Penn's aborted casino was to have been built. Penn lost interest in Cherokee County after a tribal casino, Downstream, opened nearby.

Taiwanese Casinos Advance:

The Economic Affairs Committee of Taiwan's parliament is expected to take up the question of legalizing casinos in outlying parts of the Taiwanese archipelago. The prevailing Kuomintang Party is seen as leaning pro-casino, as is the Democratic Progressive Party -- provided that gambling is not decriminalized in Taiwan proper. Both Las Vegas-based Navegante Group and Sheldon Adelson's Las Vegas Sands have expressed interest in casino development in Taiwan.

LV Still Bargain Play of Choice:

Faced with shelling $5K to fly his family to the Dominican Republic for vacation, a New Mexico college professor opted for Excalibur and "Tournament of Kings" instead. He's one of several bargain-conscious travelers who the Las Vegas Sun found opting for Sin City (even if the LVCVA doesn't want to hear about it). And they're not letting the economy get them down. Like, totally.

Virgin Plane QoD:

Thanks to everyone who wrote in pointing out that we'd captioned the photos in today's QoD backwards. There was some confusion at this end with too many cooks involved, and the old left-hand/right-hand scenario. The captions have now been corrected -- our apologies for any confusion caused.

El-Ad Beats Tamares:

This just in: Tamares Group has lost its lawsuit to enjoin El-Ad Properties from using the "Plaza" name on its Strip project, planned for the site of the New Frontier. A Las Vegas jury ruled that El-Ad had "senior trademark rights," based on its ownership of The Plaza hotel in New York City. Tamares purchased the Union Plaza in downtown LV in late 2004. Having secured local rights to the Plaza moniker, El-Ad is now announcing a 2012 completion date for its project.

Adelson Speaks:

A somewhat reluctant-looking Sheldon Adelson discusses his half-billion-dollar personal loan to Las Vegas Sands, as well as the Wall Street meltdown, in this CNBC interview. Adelson likens the current economic malaise to those of 1969 and 1987, and suggests some market reforms, such as a six-month ban on short selling. "It's pure gambling," he says of shorting stocks.

MNF VP Promotion:

There's a strong Monday Night Football video poker promotion running at the Charlie's Bars around town (not the casinos). Royals pay double when hit during the game and the schedules result in several positive-expectation situations, from quarters up to five dollars.

Chris Elliot Profiled:

London's Times chronicles the improbable rise of poker pro Chris Elliott from living in public housing and delivering pizzas to winning approximately $40,000 at the Betfair World Series of Poker Europe (to be seen later this year on ESPN). Elliot, whose sunglasses fazed Daniel Negreanu, plans to parlay his final-table achievement in London to a tournament in Blackpool and then on to the WSOP itself.

Smoking Bans Everywhere:

Add the Indian city of Goa to the list of casino markets that are banning smoking. The no-puffing rule is being extended to the small fleet of gambling vessels that have found a safe harbor in Goa, whose Travel & Tourism Association president, Ralf D'Souza, shrugged off the ban: "Foreign tourists are used to such stringent norms in the countries they hail from."

Brady Wins First Major:

Matt Brady is taking home $1 million, his paycheck for having won the 2008 UltimateBet Aruba Poker Classic. Brady outlasted Johan Storakers, who netted the $486K second-place prize. "Despite boasting lifetime earnings in excess of $750,000, Brady had yet to claim a big tournament on his resume, a tournament that would solidify his status as one of the best up-and-coming players in the game," reports CardPlayer.com.

New Poker Tourney Downtown:

Nov. 24-30, the Golden Nugget in downtown Las Vegas will host the Grand Fall Classic Poker Series, named after the Nugget's event center. According to the casino, the tourney "will primarily feature more than 30 tables of non-Hold ’em tournaments daily, including Omaha, Pot Limit Omaha, HORSE and a new Mixed Games Tournament with favorites like 2-7 Triple Draw, 7 Stud High/Low and Crazy Pineapple." No-limit Hold 'em events will be held at 2 and 6 pm, daily. More Grand Fall Classic info can be found at www.goldenugget.com.

Wynn Plans Big 'Switch':

EatingLV.com reports that designer Roger Thomas is taking the name of Encore restaurant Switch quite literally. "This change-o-rama will include: a ceiling that turns over, window and wall coverings that transform themselves," says the blog, which adds that servers will also perform a nightly costume change. As for the food, that remains the province of chef Mark Poidevin.

More Layoffs at Harrah's:

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Harrah's Entertainment is laying the groundwork for an unspecified number of layoffs at its Strip properties, on top of 1,500 layoffs earlier this year. Harrah's whistleblower Fred Frazzetta reports that the workforce will be trimmed by 20% before Christmas. Harrah's is currently carrying $28 billion in debt, much of it from a leveraged buyout masterminded by CEO Gary Loveman. If a tribal court judgment against Harrah's continues to be upheld, that debt load could escalate to $31 billion.

New Poker Site:

There's a new haven for novice players who are intrigued but intimidated by poker and its particular jargon. It's called MonkeySee and was founded by the Executive Poker Tour's Rick Rahim. It features several instructional videos on poker, and even ones on chess and how to solve a Rubik's Cube.

CityCenter One Step Closer:

MGM Mirage has disclosed that it's secured another $1.8 billion toward the completion of CityCenter, its joint venture with Dubai World. The loan, which comes due in 2013, leaves MGM Mirage still $700 million-$1.2 billion short of the amount it estimates is needed to fully fund the project. With an interest rate of 3.75%, the loan is collateralized against CityCenter itself. The total cost of the project is in the neighborhood of $12 billion.

Celine Steps in for Christina:

From October 10-27, the American Superstars show at the Stratosphere will feature Elisa Furr as Celine Dion for a special limited engagement while the show's Christina Aguilera tribute artist takes a break. Furr, who's opened for or shared the stage with artists including Lou Rawls, Mickey Thomas, and Mike Reno will perform a set of some of Dion’s biggest hits including "All Coming Back," "Power of Love," and "River Deep Mountain High."

Free Food at Famous Dave's:

Our managing editor, David McKee is making new plans for Oct. 14, because anybody named "Dave" or "David" gets a free entrée at Famous Dave's BBQ, at 9695 W. Flamingo Rd., between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. You must present a valid photo I.D. *and* you must bring a "non-Dave" date who purchases an entrée of his/her own (unless, like a proper gent, you purchase it for them). "Alcohol will not be included," the press release continues, "as liquor has been known to make 'Dave’s' rowdy. (See: David Hasselhoff and cheeseburger.)"

Cher Cancels All Shows:

The singer, who was due to perform tonight, has canceled all remaining dates for her show at Caesars' Colosseum venue through the end of the year. The official line is that it's due to "ill health." We'll bring you further information as and when we get it. In the meantime, refunds for tickets already obtained are refundable at the point of purchase.

TV Highlights:

Today sees the premiere of the new ClubWPT poker tournament series, which airs on Fox Sports at 4 p.m. this afternoon with repeats throughout the week. Check out the current Spotlight item for more information and the schedule. Plus, you can catch LVA/Huntington Press CEO Anthony Curtis on the "Today Show" tomorrow morning, where he'll be discussing cheating in casinos alongside Dirty Poker author Richard Marcus. The segment's scheduled to air at 8:09 a.m.

Station Mag Curtailed:

If you think you may have missed the most recent edition of My Station magazine, you didn't. The Station Casinos magazine that was filled with coupons every month has been discontinued. "My Station was a summer program that we may bring it back in the future but no specific plans at this time," says Station spokeswoman Lori Nelson. "It was very well received by our guests."

More Tickets for Bette:

18 new dates have been announced for Bette Midler's The Showgirl Must Go On at Caesars' Colosseum. She returns to the stage on Thursday, Oct. 9 for performances scheduled through Dec. '08; the new block of tickets, which go on sale tomorrow, include performances on Tues., Weds., Fri., Sat., and Sun. from January 2-25.

Simpson Found Guilty:

O.J. Simpson was found guilty on all 12 counts in the robbery in a room at Palace Station. The verdicts were rendered last night. The most serious of them, first-degre kidnapping with a deadly weapon, carries a minimum 15-year sentence. Simpson's attorneys say they will appeal.

Viva Laughlin:

No, the extremely short-lived CBS show isn't coming back. Rather, customers surveyed by the Laughlin Tourism Commission and the LVCVA reported a 97% satisfaction level. Better still, customers are spending more -- $790 on average. They're not spreading it around, preferring to center their visits on one or two casinos. The LTC will presumably use the data to bolster its case for maintaining the minimum required amount of casino investment at $50 million, rather than reverting to the lower statewide level.

First Online Casino Goes Dark:

Lasseters Corp., which opened the first regulated Internet casino in 1999, has stopped accepting wagers at Lasseters Online, AusVegas and Lasseters Euro. Lasseters Sportsbook continues to operate. Lasseters sustained heavy financial losses last year and "the board of Lasseters is of the view that the ability of the online casino to turn around is very remote," read a company statement.

Gaming Stocks End Week Down:

Casino executives at publicly traded companies were probably glad to see the end of trading this week. Gaming-group stocks, slightly down in morning trading, steepened their slide in the afternoon. In dollars and cents, Wynn Resorts lost the most, -$3.42, but continues to far outstrip all others in share price, at $70.42. Percentage-wise, Isle of Capri, Las Vegas Sands, MGM Mirage and Penn National all had a much rougher day.

Retirees Squeeze Slots:

Or are the slots squeezing retirees? That's the question addressed in today's Las Vegas Sun. On one side of the discussion are seniors who say locals casinos have ratcheted up slot holds. On the other side are Jeffrey Compton and LVA's own Anthony Curtis, who say it's an anecdotal perception rather than reality.

Aliante Concert Tix on Sale:

Tickets for concerts at Station Casinos' new Aliante Station, opening Nov. 11, are on sale. Except for the inaugural Smokey Robinson show (11/14-15), at $59, all other shows fall into the $35-$49 range. These include Bret Michaels (11/28), trumpeter Chris Botti (11/29), Merle Haggard (12/5) and Etta James (12/12). For additional info, cal 702/547-5300.

'Ultimate Manilow' Reviewed:

Our Stiffs & Georges correspondent reports back on Barry Manilow's somewhat revamped Las Vegas Hilton show. Now slugged Ultimate Manilow: The Hits, it's 90 minutes of unadulterated Manilow and our reviewer finds the singer/songwriter's vocal powers still intact and admirable as ever.

Packer's #2:

Declines in the value of James Packer's casino and media holdings have taken him from Australia's richest man to its second-richest, with a net worth of $4 billion. Packer is in the process of buying up the Cannery casino chain and holds a minority stake in Fontainebleau.