Las Vegas News

Last Day for Southwest Vegas Deal:

For bookings made today only, Southwest Airlines is offering 50% off all flights to Vegas. Fly roundtrip on a "Wanna Get Away" fare from any Southwest Airlines city to Las Vegas between January 13 and March 11, 2009 and get half-off the ticket price. Book online here or or enter promotion code LASVEGAS on southwest.com to take advantage of the offer.

Ill-Gotten Casino Gains?:

An aggregate $6.5 million paid to Caesars Palace and Binion's by Fry's exec Ausaf Umar Siddiqui may be the proceeds of Siddiqui's alleged criminal activities, federal authorities tell the Las Vegas Sun. The Palms has been unable to sue Siddiqui for a $2.4 million binge because it reclassified the marker as a loan. (Whoops.) Mohegan Sun and Trump Taj Mahal are among the casinos suing Siddiqui for unpaid markers.

Moonlight Madness at PT's:

Every Monday through Friday from 12 a.m. to 4 a.m. starting Jan. 5, all 32 PT's locations in the Vegas Valley will be offering 50% off all drinks, including draft beers, signature drinks like Vodka Citron Splash, and Whiskey Jack of Clubs, in addition to cocktails like The Sartini and The Dirty Arcana.

Cash Crunch at Gold Coast:

An LVA employee who sought to cash his paycheck at the nearby Gold Coast this morning found that the casino was out of $100 dollar bills and had been since 4 a.m. On New Year's Eve, no less. (No fifties either, but then that's not unusual for casinos, since $50 bills -- or frogs -- are considered unlucky by many patrons. This, and other gambling superstitions, has been the subject of previous Questions of the Day for 3/29/07, 8/11/05, and 7/4/05, all of which can be found in the archives which yes, we will finally be opening up to all in 2009.)

Curtis Meets Mr. Sun:

In yesterday's Ask Mr. Sun, LVA's Anthony Curtis tackled the question, "Have they loosened the slots up so we can enjoy our gambling jaunts again?" The short answer appears to be "No." Or, as Anthony elaborated, "You can look at a slot machine and without inside information you can’t say what it’s paying, but you can with video poker ... and we absolutely have witnessed a tightening of video poker payouts." He added that the overwhelming public perception is that, yes, the slots are tighter.

Black Steps Aside:

Black Gaming VP of gaming Anthony Toti has been named COO and will assume some of the operational reins from CEO Randy Black. The latter has been in full control of the company for the past 15 months, during which time it began to flounder, culminating in the partial shutdown of the Oasis earlier this month. Black's CasaBlanca and Virgin River casinos, also in Mesquite, remain fully operational.

Elvis Still Leaving Building:

Yet another stake may soon be driven through the heart of an ultra-high-end, Elvis Presley-themed casino envisioned for the current site of Hawaiian Marketplace on the Strip. The Las Vegas Review-Journal is reporting that Robert Sillerman's FX Real Estate & Entertainment has defaulted on a $475 million loan and doesn't expect it can repay it within the next week. The Elvis-resort plan was ditched last September, FX failed to consummate the purchase of an 85% stake of Elvis Presley Enterprises and now is at risk of having its Strip acreage confiscated by the bank.

Maddison Disses Knievel:

"A joke." That's what Australian motorcyclist Robbie Maddison is calling rival cyclist Robbie Knievel. The much-younger Maddison is piqued at what he sees as Knievel's copycat-ing of his own Las Vegas Strip stunt tonight. The cyclist from Oz plans to propel his hog over 120 feet into the air, landing (hopefully) atop Paris-Las Vegas' Arc de Triomphe. "If he lands safely he will conduct an interview with the US television broadcaster of the event, sports TV giant ESPN," reports Perth Now. (If he doesn't land safely, Maddison will presumably be eschewing interviews in favor of a trip to the emergency room.) Knievel, meanwhile, plans a 200-foot jump across the new Mirage volcano, an event to be aired on the Fox network. Maddison says that when he called up Knievel to complain, the latter responded with an obscenity.

What Does 2009 Portend?:

That's the subject of 21 predictions made by casino industry consultants Spectrum Gaming Group. Stiffs & Georges breaks it down.

Have Act, Will Travel:

Today's Las Vegas Sun examines the trend toward "four-walling" at some of Las Vegas' second-tier casino properties (an arrangement in which the host venue merely acts as landlord). Among those "doing the hustle" are impressionists Larry G. Jones and Tom Stevens, who plays the Riviera.

High Roller in the Cross Hairs:

HP author John L. Smith takes a look today at the curious case of Omar Siddiqui, who achieved a high-rolling Vegas lifestyle on a $225K salary from Fry's Electronics. The feds have charged Siddiqui with extorting over $65 million in kickbacks to finance his casino splurges. It's one more tale of an overextended high roller who, shut out at one Strip casino, found the welcome mat awaiting him at another. The San Jose Mercury News has more, much more on the Siddiqui saga.

Kerkorian Out of Ford:

MGM Mirage owner Kirk Kerkorian has decided that Ford Motor Co. isn't a good vehicle for investment, after all. Yesterday, his Tracinda Corp. announced that the 91-year-old billionaire had offloaded his remaining 5% of Ford stock.

Free Penn & Teller Tix:

We've just been informed by an in-the-know LVA reader that, through Dec. 31st, if you donate blood at any United Blood Service Center you'll receive a voucher for two Penn & Teller tickets.

Funky Free Concert at Primm:

On Saturday, Jan. 10, Terrible's Star of the Desert Arena will host a gig featuring the inimitable funky sounds of the Village People, Rose Royce, and Sister Sledge. And once again, they're offering 500 FREE tickets to the show to the first people who book online at www.primmconcerts.com, where you'll also find listings of all the other upcoming free concerts (booking fees may apply). The offer's limited to two tickets per household. After the free ticket allotment, tickets are $38.45 and $21.95 For more information, please call 1/800-FUNSTOP or visit www.primmvalleyresorts.com.

Good News for Harrah's:

Harrah's Entertainment took one step back from the brink this morning when Standard & Poors upgraded the company's debt and credit ratings. S&P was mollified by, among other things, cost-cutting at Harrah's and the scrapping or postponement of new development.

IGT Fills CFO Slot:

After going a year without a chief financial officer, International Game Technology has promoted its popular veep of investor relations and corporate finance, Patrick Cavanaugh. Earlier, JP Morgan reported that IGT's newest batch of multi-line/denomination games were getting a cool reception from slot-floor bosses.

Boating Accident Closes Casino:

Penn National's Alton Belle riverboat casino, in Alton, Ill., was closed for a day last weekend after a nearby barged slipped its moorings and careened into the Belle's employee cafeteria. Like Illinois casinos needed any more problems these days!

Six Months, No Deaths on Strip:

Safety conditions at the mammoth construction sites along the Las Vegas Strip led to a one-day strike last June. That impasse was broken and progress has evidently been made. A local union official is applauding the "marked difference" that has seen no construction fatalities in six months. "There's been a palpable effort by all parties. It's not just Perini, but everyone has really taken stock," an ironworkers rep told the Las Vegas Sun.

A.C. Gamblers Pay, Don't Play:

"Billboards boast of $10 table games all day at casinos where $20 to $25 minimums were once the norm." That's what you can expect to see when driving in to Atlantic City, according to a story in today's Bloomberg. It details the

NYE Monorail Discount for Locals:

The Las Vegas Monorail is offering a $1 deal on tickets for locals on New Year's Eve. In order to take advantage of the offer, you have to show up at either the Sahara or MGM station between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Dec. 31st and you'll be eligible to purchase the discounted ticket. The Monorail will be running for an extra hour -- until 3 a.m. -- that night.

MGM/Ruffin Alliance to Last One Year:

If you want to use MGM players' club points at Treasure Island, you may not want to wait too long. In today's Las Vegas Sun, new owner Phil Ruffin says his agreement to remain affiliated with MGM Mirage has a one-year lifespan, whereupon "We'll have to stand alone for a while." This raises questions again about the future of Mystere (Cirque du Soleil has a Nevada exclusivity agreement with MGM Mirage). And no, Ruffin says, he's not shopping around for another Strip property: "We're tapped out."

Last Day to Purchase NYE KRAVE Tix:

If you haven't finalized your New Year's plans yet, there are still tickets available for the party at KRAVE nightclub, which, among other things, will feature headliner Hex Hector, host Derrick Barry as Britney Spears, a bunch of special acts including fire breathers, stilt walkers, a sword swallower, and a magician. And, just when you thought you couldn't ask for more, there will also be a free champagne toast at midnight and a balloon drop filled with tix to see the real Britney, the real Cher, and other prizes including cash and drink tickets. But today's the last day to get tickets online -- visit http://www.kravenewyears.com/ for more info.

Minimum Stays No NYE Deterrent:

A 22% drop in room rates over the New Year's holiday period has translated into sellouts at Bellagio, THEhotel and Planet Hollywood. The latter is particularly remarkable, given that Planet Ho was requiring a four-night minimum stay. Except for the Mirage and Circus Circus, MGM Mirage has lifted the minimum-stay requirement at all its Strip properties. An expanded incentive package at Excalibur includes 50% off Tournament of Kings, two free spa admissions plus a discounted spa treatment and two free drinks. An alternative package throws in the comped spa admissions plus a $25 dining credit.

Encore Garners JP Morgan Rave:

Stock analysts visiting Encore on behalf of JP Morgan have pronounced it the "place to stay for Wall Street investors (corporate travel budgets permitting) and high-end resort guests." Morgan staffers praised the standard rooms (100 square feet larger than a Wynn LV, the TV sets, and especially the spa. Perhaps most important of all: "Bathrooms are likely the best on the Strip, in our view."

Chip Scam in Missouri:

When some $100 chips proved too bulky to fit into the storage rack, employees at Argosy Casino Hotel & Spa, in Riverside, Mo., smelled a rat. In all, 1,100 counterfeit chips had been passed to Argosy, which lost $100K because of the scam.

Bluhm Gets Third Casino:

Chicago-based developer Neil Bluhm has been awarded the 10th (and last) casino license in Illinois, beating out two rivals who offered larger upfront fees for the license. Bluhm is currently finishing the former Majestic Star casino in Pittsburgh and proceeding with his SugarHouse casino in Philadelphia. Bluhm's bested rivals include former MGM Mirage boss Alex Yemenidjian, who proposed Rosemont, Ill., site. The Illinois Gaming Board preferred Des Plaines, where Bluhm's casino will go.

Comped at Encore, Elsewhere:

An LVA source tells us that, although he's but a $75-a-hand, $25-minimum blackjack player, he's been offered three free nights plus dining comps at Encore. He added that, although he's not a premium player, he's receiving multiple New Year's Eve invitations for the first time ever.

Railroad Scheme Back on Track?:

Plans for a high-speed rail link from Las Vegas to Anaheim, Calif. – something that’s been mooted for over 20 years but dismissed by critics as a fanciful pipe dream – may have a new lease on life. According to a report in the Las Vegas Sun, Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger have agreed to move forward with the proposed magnetic levitation train line, which would transport passengers from southern California to Las Vegas at 300 mph and take as little as 86 minutes. The project, which would cost an estimated $12-13 billion, could be a candidate for federal economic stimulus money by creating jobs in both states and encouraging Las Vegas tourism.

9X Points -- and More -- at Silverton:

On January 1, 2009, Discovery Club members will earn nine-times points at the Silverton. The property also just announced that Club members will have the chance to win a $25,000 entry into the WPT finals, to be held in April at Bellagio, by earning points through daily tournaments and live play from Jan. 12-March 22. Visit the Discovery Club for more details.

Roma Deli II Debuts -- At Last:

After several delays due to licensing complications, the sister property to the former LVA "Local Corner" is scheduled to have its soft opening on Monday, December 29th. The new venue's located at the intersection of Sahara and Durango and, we're guessing, will feature the same mix of authentic Italian lunch, dinner, take-out, and deli-counter options that makes the original Spring Mountain location one of our faves.

Points and Cake:

The Orleans is running another 6X-points day today. And at 6 pm, there will be free cake and Champagne near the sports book.

Airport Traffic Down Again:

Traffic at McCarran Airport fell by a big 14.7% in November. It was the 13th consecutive monthly decline, the longest since a 15-month drop in 2001-2002.

Tower Man Back:

The Texas-based developer who wanted to build a 1,064-foot tower on the Strip parcel where Wet 'n' Wild used to stand is making another bid for the land. Christopher Milam has entered an agreement to purchase the 27-acre site for $618 million. The price comes in just under $23 million per acre, which is a hefty premium over the orginal buying price of about $18 million per. Whether or not the tower is still in Milam's plans wasn't disclosed.

HTZ Seeks Sexy Babes:

On Tues., December 30, Hawaiian Tropic Zone (inside the Miracle Mile Shops) will host a contest to find the next official ring girls for the "Vegas and the Islands" mixed martial arts fight to be held at Planet Hollywood. To register, women must sign up at the door by 11 p.m. and are encouraged to wear their sexiest outfit or bikini. Three winners will be chosen by a panel of judges, including two Playboy talent scouts, and all three will be featured ring girls for the MMA fight, which takes place Sat., January 10, 2009. The first place winner will receive an additional $500 prize.

Silverton Poker Promo:

Following on from yesterday's promo announcement for slot players, the south Strip property's announced a promotion for poker players. Nightly now through Dec. 31, one live poker table will be randomly selected at 8 p.m., 10 p.m., and midnight to have $100 added to the next pot in the "rack attack giveaway." In addition, various prizes will be given out randomly to selected players each night at 7 p.m., 9 p.m., 11 p.m., and 1 a.m. To be eligible for the bonus pot or prizes, you must use your Discovery card while playing a minimum of one hour of live poker.

Car Giveaways at Silverton:

The Silverton's giving away 54 cars in 37 days today through Jan. 31, 2009. Discovery Club card holders have two ways to win: Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday during the promo, one person using their club card while playing a slot, video poker, or video keno machine between 3 and 6 p.m. will be chosen at random to receive a car. In addition to the random weekend winners, a second car will be given away daily based on level of play. Players using their Discovery Club card will earn points towards entries into a daily drawing at 8 p.m. All winners have until 11 p.m. on the day of the drawing to claim their car, with eight various Honda models available to choose from.

Palace Station Decides to Go Bonkerz:

Palace Station will open the Bonkerz Comedy Club on Jan. 15 in the space that was Sound Trax. There was talk of putting in a country nightclub following the departure of magician Jeff McBride, but comedy turns out to be the choice. Tickets will be $29, with locals getting a $10 discount.

Fry's Schemer Into Vegas:

Or perhaps it's more accurate to say that Vegas was into him. Reports are putting the Las Vegas gambling debts of Ausaf Umar Siddiqui, the former Fry's VP accused of stealing more than $65 million from the company, at more than $12 million. He's apparently been on the Clark County DA's bad-debt list since 2001. Reports say he bet in excess of $100,000 per hand, and "is among the top five debtors ever to pass through the bad-check unit."

Strip Retains NYE Clout:

In today's USA Today list of "10 Great Places Around the World to Greet 2009," the Las Vegas Strip is listed first. The Strip fireworks and party on Fremont are touted.

Boxing Day Play:

The traditional day-after-Christmas British holiday is being celebrated today at, where else, the Crown & Anchor (Tropicana location). A dinner including prime rib and Christmas pudding is $19.95.

The Real Deal Folds:

As predicted in this column last week, The Real Deal, the interactive poker-based show at the Venetian, has closed. Various reasons for the show's demise have been cited, not least the host property's own financial woes and reduction of the show's advertising budget.

Merry Christmas:

Merry Christmas to all. For those hitting the casinos for multi-points today, there's 6X points at Gold Coast, Suncoast, Orleans, and Sam's Town.

Las Vegas This Weekend:

UFC Fight night at the MGM Grand is the biggest game in town this weekend as many entertainment venues take a holiday breather and get prepared for next week's citywide New Year's extravaganza. Forrest Griffin vs "Sugar" Rashad Evans headlines the multi-fight card and after parties will be held at Studio 54, Tabu, and Hawaiian Tropic Zone. This is the final weekend to catch the holiday display at Springs Preserve but many of the others will stay up through the end of the month. Music: The Silverton Entertainment Pavilion picks up some of the live music slack with the Pointer Sisters (12/26) and Davy Jones (12/27); Tiesto takes his "In Search of Sunrise 2008 Tour" to Jet Nightclub (12/25-12/26); Kool & the Gang are in concert at the Las Vegas Hilton (12/26-12/27); House of Blues welcomes Maz Jobrani (12/26) and the The Cab, The Maine, The Higher, Ashbury, and Phoenix Forever (12/27); the Gipsy Kings play the Mandalay Bay Events Center (12/27); Imelda Papin sings in the Orleans Showroom (12/27); Devil Doll and Will & The High-Rollers entertain the crowd at Revolution Lounge (12/28); Planet Hollywood goes international with Iranian musicians Moein and Andy Mansour (12/26) and Bijan, Morazavi, Shahram, Leila, Arash and Siavash Ghomayshi (12/27) Sports Events: UFC 92 takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena (12/27) and you can catch the after parties at Studio 54 (hosted by Chuck Liddell), Tabu Nightclub (hosted by Wanderlei Silva), and Hawaiian Tropic Zone; The Las Vegas Wranglers face Phoenix (12/26) and Alaska (12/27-12/28) on the ice at the Orleans Arena Other: Nevada Ballet Theatre wraps up this year's production of The Nutcracker at UNLV's Judy Bayle Theatre (through 12/28); Comedian Jo Koy stops by the South Point Showroom (12/26-12/28); and LL Cool J hosts a special edition of Sunday School at Body English (12/28) For more details about these and other events, plus full listings of all the production shows Las Vegas currently plays home to, click here for our "Shows & Nightlife" section. And check out Special Events for details of all the ongoing Christmas and upcoming New Year's events. HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM EVERYONE AT LASVEGASADVISOR.COM!

One More Free Buffet:

The Station Casinos free-buffet blitz ends today. Check today's LV Review-Journal for a coupon for a buy-1-get-1 at any Station or Fiesta property.

Poker Room Closes:

The Tropicana's poker room has closed. This wasn't one of the popular rooms on the Strip, but it's a rarity when any poker room closes these days.

Weekend Play at Lucky's:

The good NFL contest at Lucky's sports books (Plaza, Terrible's, and Primm casinos) gets better for the last week of the season. This weekend the prize has to be paid, so rather than require a perfect record, the prize will be split among entrants getting the most correct picks. Plus, there's been five weeks of carryovers, so the prize is $36,000. This is a good play on this free-to-enter contest. You have until 9 am on Sunday to submit your picks.

Sparks Silver Club Casino in Jeopardy:

The 26-year-old Sparks hotel-casino will close its doors January 10, according to Spokesman Tom Clark. Managers of the hotel-casino that's been operating in Sparks for more than a quarter century announced earlier this month that it might have to close if a pending sale fell through and in a recent memo, employees were told that this scenario was looking like a distinct possibility. Clark said as long as the talks continue, however, they will remain open, despite some recent layoffs. The Silver Club opened in 1982 on what is now Victorian Square adjacent to John Ascuaga's Nugget.

Encore Opens Tonight:

It's only three more hours until the doors open on Steve Wynn's newest megaresort, Encore, but if you can't wait 'til then, Stiffs & Georges has an extensive report with photos. See you there!

Sands Cuts More Macao Staff:

As at the Venetian and Palazzo, Las Vegas Sands has also imposed a 2% staff cut on its Macao casinos, with one-fifth of the cuts coming in management. It will also save money by going from a 48-hour to a 40-hour work week and "will try to relocate some of its affected staff to the $4 billion Marina Bay Sands resort in Singapore," according to a JP Morgan investor note.

New Deals at Wynn, Encore, NY-NY:

Guests who stay two nights or more at either Encore -- which debuts tonight -- or Wynn Las Vegas will received a $50 dining credit. Not resting on its laurels, New York-New York rolls out a choice of one free room night for every three nights booked or $25 off a round of golf (plus free club rentals) at your choice of: Desert Pines, Royal Links and Primm Valley-Lakes & Desert Course. Free room upgrades are also being offered to all guests.

M Open for Bookings:

M Resort, Spa and Casino, whose March 2009 opening on S. Las Vegas Blvd. has been heralded by the big blimp that's been circling our skies for some weeks now, has started to accept reservations. The 390-room resort will offer in-room amenities including Bose Wave sound systems, iPod docking stations, and 42" HD LCD flat-screen TVs. You can book online now at www.theMresort.com or by calling toll free at 877/673-7678.

THEhotel Available New Years Eve:

Although previously listed as "sold out" for New Years Eve, THEhotel at Mandalay Bay is now reported as having rooms available -- at $369. While two-night minimums are the norm at Harrah's properties, Planet Hollywood takes the cake with its four-night-minimum requirement ... albeit at a steeply discounted $109/night.

KS Casino Breaks Ice, er, Ground:

Despite subzero temperatures, ground is scheduled to broken today for the first -- and so far only -- casino scheduled to be built in Kansas. Boot Hill Casino & Resort, in Olathe, will cost $87 million and take one year to build. The first phase will offer 20 table games and 875 slots. Casino projects by Penn National, Harrah's Entertainment and Cordish Co. have all fallen by the wayside in Kansas.

Safety Issues at Bill's:

Fire-safety equipment at Bill's Gamblin' Hall & Saloon was found deficient by Clark County inspectors, according to a wire service report. Emergency lighting systems were a particular source of concern. Clark County's diligence in the matter may also have been deficient, as the inspection was supposed to have taken place when the former Barbary Coast was transferred to Harrah's Entertainment (which says the defective lighting has been fixed) ... almost two years ago.

Trump – Guess What? – Sues:

You didn't get a casino in Pennsylvania? Whaddya do? Sue the state, of course! Donald Trump and some of his fellow investors, who include former Philadelphia 76ers President Pat Croce – are suing the state over iits 2006 license denial to the Keystone Development/TrumpStreet casino project. Trump Entertainment Resorts execs want Pennsylvania to revoke licenses issued to Foxwoods and Chicago developer Neil Bluhm, as neither has broken ground on their Philadelphia slot parlors. Previous Trump pleas have received a deaf ear from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Keystone State regulators saw Trump casinos in Philadelphia as "gambling-incubator(s)" for growing Trump's customer base in Atlantic City, where The Donald enjoys lower taxes and higher margins.

FL Blackjack Spreads:

Add the Seminole Casino in Immolakee, near Fort Myers, to the list of tribal casinos in Florida that aren't waiting for state approval before going forward with blackjack. The Immolakee casino installed a dozen blackjack tables on Dec. 4, going "live" one month earlier than planned. It's part of an overall doubling of the facility's size that will result in 300 more slot machines and 525 additional jobs for Floridians.

MGM Still Owns Detroit:

Even though casino revenues were down 7% in Detroit last month, it was little felt at MGM Grand, which was off by less than a percentage point. Chapter 11-residing Greektown Casino had the worst of it (-16%), with MotorCity Casino occupying the middle ground at -7%. MGM also enjoys a 44% market share, Greektown half as much.

Chanukah Points:

Orleans, Gold Coast, Suncoast, and Sam's Town are awarding 6X points today in honor of the first day of Chanukah. Another 6X points day is scheduled for December 25 to recognize Christmas.

CityCenter to Start Hiring in New Year:

Beginning January 5, 2009, CityCenter will be accepting applications to fill more than 12,000 jobs via www.citycentercareers.com. Start dates will begin in September, ramping up through December, 2009. For additional information, call 702/590-CITY (2489) or 866/909-CITY (2489).

Mystery of Today's Poll Results:

As a number of you pointed out, at some point this morning all the labels identifying the different segments in today's poll pie mysteriously disappeared. One moment they were there (we know, we checked!) and then suddenly -- poof! -- they were gone. We think we've fixed the problem, so check back if the labels were missing when you looked previously.

More Pleas in Borgata Bust:

Five Philadelphia men and one New Jersey citizen have pleaded guilty to third-degree charges of promoting gambling, in connection with a 23-man sports-betting ring that operated out of Atlantic City’s Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa. Other charges against the sextet, each of whom could face as much as a year in jail were dropped. They were nabbed in November 2007 as part of a sting called Operation High Roller.

Give Blood, Get Points at Cannery:

Today (Saturday) and Monday, Cannery Casino Resorts patrons can win 1,000 Cannery Awards points if they donate blood. United Blood Services is supervising the collection effort.

'Real Deal' to Fold?:

A source in the local poker community informs LVA that the Venetian's poker-based game show, The Real Deal, is about to fold its hand, attributing the info to a source with the show itself. Real Deal had recently halved at least one of its local ad buys. If the show busts, it will come as no surprise to many in the local gaming community who had been skeptical about its prospects from the get-go. LVA members, however, love it, awarding the show five out of a possible five stars.

Wednesday Deal at PT's:

From 8 p.m.-11 p.m. on Wednesdays, all PT's locations are going to be offering 50% off all food and beverages. For your nearest location, visit goldentaverngroup.com

Landslide in Cripple Creek:

Colorado voters in Cripple Creek voiced 95% approval for a series of new gambling rules in their town. Cripple Creek's casinos will now remain open around the clock, betting limits have been increased to $100 a hand (from $5), and both craps and roulette may now be offered.

Las Vegas This Weekend:

Now that the cowboys have ridden into the sunset, Las Vegas puts the spotlight on the holiday season and even Mother Nature got into the act with record snowfall earlier this week. This weekend’s schedule offers up a full slate of Christmas concerts, parties and toy drives while the Nevada Ballet Theatre offers up their annual presentation of The Nutcracker. Football fanatics will flock to the Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium where the University of Arizona plays BYU and David Hasselhoff will sing the National Anthem. The Eastside Cannery officially gets into the nightlife business with the debut of One Six Sky Lounge on Friday night. The new venue features a unique martini and cocktail menu, extensive wine list, and panoramic views of The Strip. Music: The Joint hosts X-107.5 Xtreme Radio Holiday Havoc ’08 with Papa Roach, Hoobastank, Hollywood Undead, and more (12/19); Big Bad Voodoo Daddy swings into Ovation Lounge at Green Valley Ranch (12/19); Clint Homes and Friends perform at the Suncoast Showroom (12/19-12/21); Paul Anka promotes his "Rock Swings" album with three performances at the Orleans Showroom (12/19-12/21); Friday Night Blues at Texas Station’s South Padre features Rod Piazza (12/19); Susan Anton brings her "Magic of Christmas" concert to the South Point Showroom (12/19-12/21); rock out at the Nightmare Before Christmas Party at the Canyon Club with Bang Tango, Beautiful Creatures and Karneval (12/20); Appetite For Destruction is back in black to perform their AC/DC tribute at the House of Blues (12/20) Sports Events: The Las Vegas Wranglers take on the Ontario Reign (12/19) and the Utah Grizzlies (12/20) at the Orleans Arena; BYU and the University of Arizona play each other in the Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium (12/20); the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels Basketball team hosts a game against Arizona at the Thomas & Mack (12/20) Other: Terry Fator performs for the final time at the Las Vegas Hilton before he makes the move to his permanent location at Mirage (12/21-12/22); Nevada Ballet Theatre dances The Nutcracker at UNLV’s Judy Bayley Theatre (through 12/28); the 35th Annual Kruse Las Vegas Collector Car Auction takes place at South Point (12/19-12/20); LAX at the Luxor celebrates the birthdays of resident mindfreak and Cirque "star" Criss Angel and his squeeze du jour Holly Madison (12/19); The Bank at the Bellagio is giving away a $10,000 Rosalina jewelry cocktail ring (12/19); Jet Nightclub at Mirage gives away a $5,000 Marciano shopping spree (12/19) and throws an All American Rejects album release party (12/20); $500 cash prize is up for grabs for the worst holiday sweater at Cherry Nightclub’s Holiday Sweater Party (12/19) For more details about these and other events, and full listings of all the production shows Las Vegas currently plays home to, click here for our "Shows & Nightlife" section. Plus, check out Special Events for all the upcoming Christmas and New Year's events.

Free Service from Designated Drivers:

From 5 p.m. this evening right through New Year's Day, Designated Drivers is offering a free service to businesses and individuals who want to do the sensible (not to mention legal) thing and not drive while impaired. They pick you up and drive you home in your own vehicle, so there's no hassle the morning after, and they offer the service 24/7, so there's really no excuse. The number to call is 702/456-RIDE(7433) so keep it in your wallet, just in case. It's a great service and they're offering the free rides through the holidays even though they're around $20,000 short, so if you're looking for a worthwhile cause to support,

12K Workers Needed:

MGM Mirage's long-anticipated CityCenter won't open for another year but it's already started hiring. Because employees at other MGM Mirage properties get first dibs on CityCenter jobs, this is expected to create a cascading series of opportunities as vacancies open elsewhere up and down the Strip. Application forms for CityCenter are available online.

'Nutcracker' Discounted:

Tickets for tonight's and Saturday's performances of The Nutcracker are 30% off (six tix, max), provided you visit or call the UNLV Performing Arts Center box office and say the magic words "sugar plum." Call 702/895-2787. Performances are at 8 p.m. and (Saturday only) 2 p.m. in the Judy Bayley Theater on the UNLV campus.

Show Reviews Galore!:

That Mike Weatherford is one busy guy. He reviews Yuletide variants of no fewer than three Strip shows today. Xtreme Magic's Dirk Arthur "didn't exactly knock himself out with the Christmas thing." Drive-by scrutiny of Marriage Can Be Murder "uncovered a fun atmosphere with cocktail servers dressed like elves." Donny & Marie "already have a huge head start in spreading good will, high-fives and hugs to longtime fans," while Donny Osmond gets extra credit "for singing 'A Soldier's King,' which is not only an actual religious song, but an obscure one at that."

Trump to Take Casinos Private:

That's the next move The Donald is said to be mulling. His pair of Atlantic City casinos are heavily laden with debt and the stock trades at less than 25 cents a share (it once went for nearly $5/share). By skipping an interest payment, Trump has accelerated the chance that Trump Entertainment Resorts may have to file Chapter 11.

MI Smoking Ban Fails:

House and Senate conferees in Michigan couldn't come to terms on a proposed ban of smoking in public places. Senators took a hard line while their colleagues from the lower house sought exemptions for casinos, horse tracks, bingo parlors and tobacconists' shops.

Las Vegas This Weekend:

Now that the cowboys have ridden into the sunset, Las Vegas puts the spotlight on the holiday season and even Mother Nature got into the act with record snowfall earlier this week. This weekend’s schedule offers up a full slate of Christmas concerts, parties, and toy drives, while the Nevada Ballet Theatre offers up their annual presentation of The Nutcracker. Football fanatics will flock to the Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium where the University of Arizona plays BYU and David Hasselhoff will sing the National Anthem. The Eastside Cannery officially gets into the nightlife business with the debut of One Six Sky Lounge on Friday night. The new venue features a unique martini and cocktail menu, extensive wine list, and panoramic views of The Strip. Music: The Joint hosts X-107.5 Xtreme Radio Holiday Havoc ’08 with Papa Roach, Hoobastank, Hollywood Undead, and more (12/19); Big Bad Voodoo Daddy swings into Ovation Lounge at Green Valley Ranch (12/19); Clint Homes and Friends perform at the Suncoast Showroom (12/19-12/21); Paul Anka promotes his "Rock Swings" album with three performances at the Orleans Showroom (12/19-12/21); Friday Night Blues at Texas Station’s South Padre features Rod Piazza (12/19); Susan Anton brings her "Magic of Christmas" concert to the South Point Showroom (12/19-12/21); rock out at the Nightmare Before Christmas Party at the Canyon Club with Bang Tango, Beautiful Creatures and Karneval (12/20); Appetite For Destruction is back in black to perform their AC/DC tribute at the House of Blues (12/20) Sports Events: The Las Vegas Wranglers take on the Ontario Reign (12/19) and the Utah Grizzlies (12/20) at the Orleans Arena; BYU and the University of Arizona play each other in the Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium (12/20); the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels Basketball team hosts a game against Arizona at the Thomas & Mack (12/20) Other: Terry Fator performs for the final time at the Las Vegas Hilton before he makes the move to his permanent location at Mirage (12/21-12/22); Nevada Ballet Theatre dances The Nutcracker at UNLV’s Judy Bayley Theatre (through 12/28); the 35th Annual Kruse Las Vegas Collector Car Auction takes place at South Point (12/19-12/20); LAX at the Luxor celebrates the birthdays of resident mindfreak and Cirque "star" Criss Angel squeeze du jour Holly Madison (12/19); The Bank at the Bellagio is giving away a $10,000 Rosalina jewelry cocktail ring (12/19); Jet Nightclub at Mirage gives away a $5,000 Marciano shopping spree (12/19) and throws an All American Rejects album release party (12/20); $500 cash prize is up for grabs for the worst holiday sweater at Cherry Nightclub’s Holiday Sweater Party (12/19) For more details about these and other events, and full listings of all the production shows Las Vegas currently plays home to, click here for our "Shows & Nightlife" section. Plus, check out Special Events for all the upcoming Christmas and New Year's events.

"The Most Beautiful Thing I've Ever Seen":

If you're an LVA reader living outside of Nevada and haven't seen local newscasts, you can get an excellent idea of yesterday's surprise snowstorm (the biggest in three decades) from a series of video and photo essays provided by the Las Vegas Sun, which also has an update on travel conditions. The Las Vegas Review-Journal has a haunting music video of the snowfall, along with an audio-only forecast and a slideshow. Among those stranded at McCarran International Airport were 100 denizens of Cranfills Gap, Tex., here on an all-expense-paid trip courtesy of the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority.

GGP Gets Breathing Room:

General Growth Properties, owner of five major Las Vegas malls, has had hundreds of millions of dollars' worth of pressing loans extended into late January and mid February, thereby staving off bankruptcy. GGP's Vegas-area holdings include the Fashion Show and Grand Canal Shoppes malls on the Strip.

Coyote Springs Gets Casinos:

Finally there's a reason to drive out to Coyote Springs, the just-add-water, 60,000-home suburban development being laid out northwest of rural Moapa, overlapping the Clark County/Lincoln County border in Nevada. Although not a single home lot has been sold in Coyote Springs (yet), it's just been green-lit for one casino and über-lobbyist (and sometime casino developer) Harvey Whittemore says he'll be asking for "one or two" additional gaming sites up there. It might be 2016 before ground is broken on the first casino-hotel and frontrunner for the honor is Peppermill Casinos, an investor in Coyote Springs and owner of Wendover- and Reno-area casinos.

'Raw' out, 'Stomp' in:

Add Fuego Raw Talent Live to the list of Strip shows going permanently dark on Jan. 4 (along with Stomp Out Loud and Mamma Mia!). However, Stomp may get a reprieve, as it will reportedly inherit Fuego's space at the Sahara. It had been playing to 1/3 of capacity in Planet Hollywood's showroom. The Sahara narrowly beat out the Rio and Imperial Palace as a new home for Stomp, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. LVA readers have awarded Stomp four and a half stars but have given Fuego a measly two stars.

Gulf Coast Casinos Becalmed:

November revenues for nine casinos along Mississippi's Gulf Coast continued what is now a five-month part of declining business. However, unlike the severe drops seen in Nevada, Illinois and New Jersey, the Biloxi-Gulfport area was off only 5%.

Louisiana Casinos Up:

Except for Harrah's New Orleans, which lost some business, Louisiana casinos had nothing but good news to report about November business. The Shreveport-Bossier City area, which competes with tribal casinos in Oklahoma, is flat but not losing ground and all other markets reported growth -- nearly 20% in Lake Charles, which is fed by the Houston area. Business was further helped by the fact that November '08 had five weekends, compared to the previous November's four.

MS Casinos Hang by Thread:

After a Biloxi casino project was canned because it didn't meet Mississippi's "800 foot" rule for building casinos along the Gulf Coast, project supporters asked legislators to "tweak" the law so more would-be casinos could qualify. The lawmakers' response, in essence, was: Don't rock the boat. "There are forces out there that could kill the whole industry said state Rep. Earle Banks. "I’m telling you it may not survive," if HB 45 is brought back up for amendment. The bill that moved Biloxi-Gulfport casinos onshore after Hurricane Katrina passed by only three votes, in October 2005, and at least three supporters have since been voted out of office. Mississippi casinos' main legislative priority will be to get the same tax credits as are awarded to other businesses that create tourist amenities.

Frontier Sign Removal Updated:

Only a "T" and an "I" (two initials that have been much in the Vegas news this week) were all that was left of the New Frontier sign when an LVA staffer scoped out the scene this morning. Each letter, incidentally, is large enough to fill the flatbed of a freight truck. Contrary to what LVA previously reported, the sign is not headed for the Neon Museum but merely for a garbage dump somewhere, having collapsed during the removal process. Also, Steve Wynn's contribution to the sign's demolition is only $75K, not $150K. And, since owner El Ad properties apparently can't be bothered to beautify or even mask its vacant lot across from Encore, Wynn will plant 200 trees along the front of the former Frontier site. The 10-score trees were obtained from, of all unlikely places, Nellis AFB.

'Believe' Discounted:

According to Twitter.com's 'LuxorLV' stream, tickets for Cirque du Soleil's Criss Angel showcase, Believe, are being discounted 40% through Dec. 31. This may help explain why Believe has recovered from a post-opening swoon in ticket sales and is now at #7 on the TicketNews.com "Top Vegas Events" ranking, behind Cirque's O and Love (#4 & 5, respectively). Still, writes blogger Steve Friess, "It is absolutely without precedent for Cirque to be discounting a 10-week-old show."

'Casino-ology' Reviewed:

David G. Schwartz, director of UNLV's Center for Gaming Research, has reviewed Bill Zender's Casino-ology, noting that "Finding someone who truly understands the complex mix of variables in the gambling business is both rare and valuable." Zender passes Schwartz's test with flying colors. He writes that Casino-ology "makes tremendous sense" and is "densely-laden with valuable insights," concluding that "Casino-ology is a rare find–a book that’s got a high expected return for both the house and the player."

RateVegas Previews Encore:

Not only does RateVegas.com's Two Way Hard Three blog have a new look as of today, it also has a Steve Wynn interview by Jeff Simpson ofIn Business Las Vegas. Not surprisingly, Wynn calls Encore "the best [resort] we've done, by far." More newsworthy, Wynn tells both Simpson and Reuters he "is no longer going to accept lower occupancy rates to keep his room rates artificially high," and that his basic mandate is, "Fill the rooms." Oh, and the "secret tunnel" to eastbound Desert Inn is still there and functioning.

Encore Opens at 8:

The great mystery is finally solved. It was known that Encore would open on December 22, but when on the 22nd seemed to be a heavily guarded secret (like many other things about what's inside that place). Perhaps it was because they didn't know themselves. It looks like the official opening time will be 8 pm. We're fairly confident, but will amend if we learn otherwise.

2009 LVA Member Rewards Book:

The Las Vegas Advisor 2009 Member Rewards Book is complete. This is the package of coupons good throughout all of next year that we've created exclusively for LVA members. In addition, members also get 12 issues of the Las Vegas Advisor, access to members-only sections of LasVegasAdvisor.com, and special deals and discounts throughout the year. The list is up at www.lasvegasadvisor.com/whyjoin-mrb2009.cfm.

Cathedral Way No More:

Visitors and Las Vegans looking for Cathedral Way, just off the Strip, can forget about it: It's been quietly renamed Wynn Boulevard. Las Vegas Review-Journal gossip columnist Norm Clarke discovered the change but was unable to get an explanation, not from the Diocese of Las Vegas, nor from R&R Partners nor even from Clark County.

Even Bigger Snow:

Straight from the U.S. Weather Service: "... Extremely Rare Snow Event Across the Desert Southwest... An unusual combination of subtropical moisture and cold ... low level air has produced a rare snowstorm across the lower elevations of the Mohave Desert ... including the Las Vegas Valley. This snowstorm will produce significant impacts to the Las Vegas Valley as 3 to 6 inches of snow are likely at most locations including the Las Vegas Strip. Higher amounts are possible ... particularly across the western portions of the valley[,] where total accumulations of up to 10 inches are forecast. "This will likely be the biggest snowstorm to impact Las Vegas since 1979 ... when 7.8 inches of snow was measured at McCarran International Airport. "Snow removal equipment is extremely limited in the Las Vegas Valley and the effects from this storm will likely linger into Thursday ... as the temperature will not climb out of the 30s."

Big Snow:

Unlike Monday, when only part of Las Vegas got snow, the entire valley appears to be getting snowed on today. It's coming down hard in some areas east and west of the Strip. Streets are slick, but sidewalks and casino entrances are far slicker. Be careful. Heavy snowfall has even reached the Strip. From the second floor of LVA's offices, the nearby Rio is still barely visible but the three Palms towers have vanished from sight. Other than the Mirage's I-15 marquee, nothing of the Strip can be seen.

$1 Christmas Cheer:

Now through Christmas Eve, ALL drinks at ALL casino bars at South Point are $1 apiece. Yes, even premium liquor and imports. Proclaims owner Michael Gaughan, "When I say every drink, I mean it." Better still, "Pay Le$$ with Your Points" Club members only pay $.50 when they buy their drinks with Club points.

Don't Leave Now!:

Snow at the higher elevations -- and traffic problems on I-15 -- has forced the closing of the El Cajon Pass, which leads into and out of Nevada, by way of Primm. Travelers are advised to either consider alternate routes or, better yet, stay put.

Locals Offer at Trump:

Monday's Las Vegas Business Press reports: "Trump International Hotel and Tower is offering locals a special $99 per night rate through Jan. 6. Certain blackout dates will apply and customers must present a Nevada driver's license to qualify for the offer."

LV Dancer Named Stern's Babe:

Exotic dancer and fashion school dropout Arbor Marie Bellocchio has been named Miss Howard TV for January's "Howard TV On Demand" telecasts. The Californian plies her trade at Rick's Cabaret under the moniker "Melrose." According to advance PR, Bellocchio/"Melrose" will tout the recession-proof nature of her career. "She also discusses being single and how her job affects her dating life as well as sexual experiences she’s had with other women." Well, that oughta jolt the ratings a bit.

MI Mulls Smoking Ban:

Two bills banning smoking in Michigan's public areas are being hammered into one in the Michigan Legislature. A House bill would exempt the state's casinos; the Senate version would not. The House version would also cut slack for bingo halls, racetracks and cigar stores. Well, dangnabbit, if you can't smoke at a tobacconist's, where CAN you smoke?

PA Casinos to Get Smokier?:

Pennsylvania casinos, by law, are supposed to limit smoking to only 25% of their gaming floors. However, an obscure provision allows them to re-petition the state for larger smoking areas if cutting back on smoking areas cuts into revenue. Three racinos are expected to take advantage of this and two have already set plans in motion to go 50/50 smoking/non-smoking. One of them, The Meadows, estimates that slot play is 100% higher on the smoking-permitted parts of the casino floor.

IL Licenses Postponed:

Regulators in the Land of Blagojevich have decided to take another month to scrutinize applicants for Illinois' 10th and last casino license. An also-ran from 2004's licensing process, Canadian firm Trilliant Gaming, is back for a second try, along with newbies Midway Gaming & Entertainment, and Waukegan Gaming. Trilliant is headed by former MGM Mirage President Alex Yemenidjian, whose executive team includes former Grand Casino Biloxi boss Karen Sock. Trilliant is offering $435 million for the license, compared to the $100 million and $225 million ponied up by Midway and Waukegan, respectively. The Illinois Gaming Board will next meet on Jan. 13.

Overheard about Encore:

An Encore employee, making the morning commute, was overheard saying the property had just had its first "play day" and "it didn't go well." A spate of mechanical problems apparently aren't making life easier, either. (The most experienced Wynn dealers are remaining at Wynn LV, because of union talks that are in progress there. According to Wynn dealer Jesse Guest, Encore is being primarily staffed with Wynn LV "extra boards.")

Ruffin, MGM Tell Varying Tales:

Yesterday, on the RateVegas.com blog, In Business Las Vegas Editor Jeff Simpson reported, "I had a nice chat with Phil Ruffin this morning and he said that he didn't also buy Mirage because he couldn't afford it and couldn't borrow to buy it. (Undoubtedly north of $1b)." Simpson later clarified that he asked Ruffin if he'd made an offer or asked for an option on the Mirage, to which the billionaire "said he couldn't afford Mirage," which is considerably larger than Treasure Island and has more amenities, despite being four years older. So how did Ruffin know he couldn't afford the Mirage? It's not clear because Ruffin didn't explain and MGM Mirage is denying any such discussion took place. According to MGM's Alan Feldman: "Nothing is or was 'on the table.' Phil made a very credible offer for TI, one that deserved consideration and, eventually, acceptance." Ruffin additionally told Simpson he believed that Penn National Gaming "was an also-ran in the TI purchase." He later added, "Regardless of what MGM says, I think Mirage is on the market. (Other, reliable sources)"

PartyGaming Boss Cops a Plea:

Anurag Dikshit, co-founder of PartyGaming.com is pleading out to one count of violating the Federal Wire Act, for which he will pay a $300 million fine, according to various news sources. In return for avoiding jail time, Mr. Dikshit will cooperate with further Department of Justice investigations. PartyGaming is negotiating a separate settlement with the DoJ, one considerably less costly than Dikshit's. Co-founders Russ DeLeon and his wife, Ruth Parasol, are said to be hanging tough, however. Between them, they control 28% of PartyGaming.

Golf Course Plan Stokes Debate:

Two of the ex-owners of Lake Las Vegas have taken issue with plans by current ownership to abandon The Falls golf course, which has been losing approximately $2 million a month. "It can be another tract community, and that’s not what anybody out there intended," Transcontinental Corp. Senior VP John Plunkett said of the idea. Current owner Atalon Group is keeping its options open regarding Reflection Bay Golf Club, which wraps around Loews Lake Lake Vegas.

Today's QoD on Train Travel:

There's been a lot of feedback from various readers, including a BNSF conductor, regarding today's QoD, so check back for the updates if you're interested in train travel.

Sands Posts Bond:

Las Vegas Sands has put up nearly $76 million to cover a jury award to Richard Suen, a Chinese businessman who prevailed in litigation against Sands last spring. Sands is appealing the verdict but has been ordered to secure the jury award ($44 million), plus interest ($15 million), plus court costs. At least $15 million of the money posted by Sands appears dedicated toward future interest payments. In other Sands-related news, General Growth Properties reports it is still unable to work out a deal on extending $900 million in loans on its Las Vegas malls. GGP owns both the Grand Canal Shoppes and the Shoppes at Palazzo.

Hawaiian Adds LV Flight:

For years, Hawaii has been a steady bulwark of the Vegas market. It looks like that's still the case, as Hawaiian Airlines will add a third flight to McCarran International Airport. The expanded service starts Feb. 23 and will run on a Mon.-Wed.-Fri. schedule, departing McCarran at 5:05 p.m.

Schwartz on Treasure Island Sale:

Roll the Bones author David G. Schwartz was not only kind enough to plug LVA's own analysis of the Treasure Island sale, he adds even further perspective. He says it makes sense in the context of MGM Mirage "positioning itself as a casino builder and hospitality brand manager," and doing more and more joint ventures, whether with Dubai World, Kerzner or now Phil Ruffin. He adds that "the price absolutely vindicates those who thought the Tropicana Atlantic City was not worth $1 billion." It's slated to sell for $550 million.

Wynn Guests Downgraded:

Hunter Hillegas, of RateVegas.com, reports that guests who have booked online at the Wynn Resorts Web site for suites at the opening of Encore are being downgraded from Tower Suites rooms to Resort ones. Hillegas, who made his own reservation Oct. 31, was told he got the Tower room due to a "computer glitch," and the resort had "just figured it out" on Dec. 15.

Hooters (Casino) Drooping:

Liz Benston of the Las Vegas Sun reports that Hooters Casino Hotel "is on bankruptcy watch," its cash flow going toward paying interest on its $137 million debt. Moody's has downgraded Hooters debt yet again and default is seen as likely within the year. Revenues are down at Hooters are losses are widening. Concludes Benston, "Those orange short-shorts aren't cutting it in this downturn."

Commerce Casino Stakes Six:

A half-dozen tournament winners during the LA Poker Classic, being held in the Commerce Casino (in Commerce, Calif.), will be gain comped entry to a Commerce championship tournament of their choice in 2009. Buy-ins for these events, including the WPT's $10,000 No-Limit Hold 'em Championship, with its $6 million pot, are a hefty $10K apiece. The lucky six will be selected from the winner of a Feb. 11 H.O.R.S.E. match and from a series of No-Limit Hold 'em contests, Feb. 12-16.

Slot Play down in CT:

Slot handle fell almost 13% at Foxwoods and was flat at Mohegan Sun last month. Slot revenue at both properties fell, by an average of 6.4%, for an aggregate total of $121 million, mostly from Mohegan Sun.

MBay Deal Doesn't 'Bite':

Mandalay Bay has rolled out an "All You Can Bite" buffet deal, running through Christmas Eve. For adults, $30 gets you a parlay of one admission apiece to the Shark Reef and to the MBay buffet ($25 for kids ages 5-12). It's an especially good deal for grown-ups because it represents a $13.94 savings over the separate prices of the buffet and the Reef. Presentation of a Nevada state I.D. or an MBay room key is necessary to qualify for the value play.

DE Considers Sports Betting:

Delaware's General Assembly is strongly expected to debate legalized sports betting when it convenes in January. Like Nevada, Delaware is one of a handful of states grandfathered by 1992 federal law that banned sports betting in most of the U.S. Only parlay bets would be taken, under the proposed Delaware law, but it could give Delaware a slight edge against casino-enabled neighbors Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey, none of which enjoy federal exemption.

New Frontier Owners Want More Time:

Elad Group, owner of the site on which the New Frontier once stood, has asked for a second extension on a $625 million purchase loan. Elad told the New York Times it will "begin building after it receives financing for the construction." The company plans a plus-sized replica of New York's Plaza Hotel on the site, which it purchased for approximately $42 million an acre.

Wynn's Mountain Explained:

For years, Vegas observers have been puzzling over why Steve Wynn built a mountain that masks much of Wynn Las Vegas from the Strip. According to Wynn, as told to gossip columnist Norm Clarke, it was quite simple: He wanted to mask the "cloud" light feature at Fashion Show Mall, across the street. Also, until Wynn ponied up $150K, Elad Properties -- owners of the nearby New Frontier site -- evidently had neither the dough nor the inclination to take down the casino's sign, the only part of the New Frontier left standing. Next up, Wynn would like to see the dormant Echelon site artistically "wrapped." Does he have Christo on speed-dial?

Increased Comping Profiled:

Today's Las Vegas Sun has a piece on a resurgence in comping at area casinos. Some, however, continue to lament the lack of discretionary comping, an activity now the province of "conservatively programmed computers," quoth the Sun.

TI Sale Confirmed:

MGM Mirage has confirmed earlier reports that it has sold Treasure Island to Kansas businessman (and former New Frontier owner) Phil Ruffin. The latter will pay $500 million in cash, plus $275 million in secured notes to consummate the sale, with the first payment of the notes due six months after closing.

SushiSamba Still Alive & Kicking:

Contrary to reports from reliable sources that had SushiSamba at The Palazzo closing in early December, the fusion restaurant is still very much open for business. In fact, it was promoting its New Years Eve event when we visited earlier today.

Project Seized in Reno:

Montage, a 22-story condo project in Reno, is being surrendered by L3 Development to Corus Bank. L3 made headlines recently by closing down the Fitzgeralds casino-hotel in downtown Reno at the end of November, putting over 400 people out of work.

TI Sold:

Treasure Island has reportedly been sold to former New Frontier owner Phil Ruffin for $775 million. It had been expected that MGM Mirage might sell off some of its properties and Ruffin is flush with cash after his juicy $1.24 billion sale of the New Frontier last year. Ruffin retains ownership of the seven acres of land where the Trump tower stands. J.P. Morgan estimates that the sale would go a long way to closing the financing gap that remains on City Center.

Free Wings at Hooters:

From today till December 28, you can get free chicken wings at Hooters Casino. Show your Owl Rewards card at the club booth to get a coupon for an order of 10 wings, which you can redeem from 11 am to midnight daily. You can do this only once, but it's a great free deal.

David Spade Coming to Venetian:

Tickets went on sale Friday for a series of limited engagements by the comedian and actor, who'll be bringing his stand-up act to the 742-seat showroom next year. The first run's scheduled for 8 p.m. Jan. 1-3 and tickets, priced at $49, $69, and $89 (plus tax and handling fees) are avaialable at www.venetian.com, by calling 702/414-9000, or from any Venetian Box Office.

Sign-up Bonus at Westin:

The Westin Casuarina is offering a $50-loss rebate for new players club sign-ups. "It does not appear to be" a limited-time offer, says a well-traveled local player. However, Westin is notorious for abruptly terminating more than one too-generous club offers in the past.

FL Caves on Seminole Pact:

After months of harrumphing defiance toward a gambling compact signed between Gov. Charlie Crist and the Seminole Tribe, it looks as though Florida lawmakers have decided their need for revenue trumps their indignation. Speaker of the House Ray Sansom has announced his intent to hammer out an amended compact that would extract $1.1 billion from the Seminoles in 2009-11 and $100 million/year thereafter, so long as casinos elsewhere in the state don’t expand beyond slot machines.

Rebound in Macao:

Visitation to Macao grew 17% in October, following a disappointing September. Even travel from visa-restricted mainland China was up 15%. A huge (38%) growth in Taiwanese traffic helped, too. The number of guests checking into hotels was up 10%, although occupancy rates have been diluted by a gargantuan influx of new rooms.

Neon Museum Gets Federal Grant:

The Federal Highway Administration has announced that the city of Las Vegas will receive a federal grant of over $800,000 to complete major work on the non-profit Neon Museum through the National Scenic Byways Program. The $807,039 will be used to restore and renovate the historic La Concha motel lobby for use as the official visitor’s center for the museum and the downtown Las Vegas Boulevard Scenic Byway. The seashell-shaped building was moved last year from its previous home on Las Vegas Boulevard just south of the Riviera hotel-casino to its current location off Las Vegas Boulevard just south of Washington Avenue.

Drag Queen Walk Off at Krave:

Doors open at 11 p.m. tonight for the charity event benefitting Street Teens of Nevada at Krave nightclub at Planet Hollywood, featuring DJ Morningstar and a drag queen runway fashion show. No cover for Vegas locals before 1 a.m.; for VIP table service call 702/677-1740.

Carryover Alert:

The Lucky's football-contest carryover is up to $24,000 for tomorrow's slate. Pick the winners straight-up (no pointspreads)of all the games to win the prize. Enter for free at Terrible's, the Plaza, or the Primm sports books.

Station Free Buffets Continue:

Every day this week, including today, there have been coupons in the LV Review-Journal for 2-for-1 buffets at any Station or Fiesta property. There's one for both and they're good until December 16.

Venetian Macao Loses Ad Agency:

The Web site BrandRepublic reports that ad agency OMD has terminated its contract with Las Vegas Sands on account of it being a "credit risk." A source explained, "As an Omnicom agency, OMD has been asked to avoid work with clients with great risk exposure." OMD had been repping Venetian Macao, whose contract was valued at $1.4 million.

KS Reopens, Place Your Bids:

Three casino applications are up for rebidding in Kansas, where the state’s lottery has issued a new timetable. Would-be applicants for the Cherokee/Crawford County area have until Jan. 21. The mandatory $225 million construction budget, at which Penn National ultimately balked, remains in place. There is no indication yet of any flexibility regarding budgets or timetables for the Wichita and Kansas City areas. Applications for those are due on April Fool’s Day.

'Trek' Slots Everywhere:

Boy, those "Star Trek" slots sure are popular. In addition to several Harrah's properties, Tuscany and Casino Royale, our readers inform us that they can also be played at the Venetian, Palazzo, Eastside Cannery and an unspecified Arizona Charlie's.

More 'Star Trek' Machines Spotted:

Not content to let the Tuscany get all the glory for having WMS' "Star Trek"-themed slot machines, a reader advises us that Casino Royale has a pair and has had them "for at least 12 weeks." Our vigilant readers deserve our thanks yet again.

The Ultimate Vegas Bargains:

In today's Las Vegas Sun, reporter Rick Velotta gives an eight-stop tour with video of free attractions on the Las Vegas Strip, starting with the indoor rainstorm at Miracle Mile and ending with the Conservatory at Bellagio.

SWA Offers Dining Points:

Members of Southwest Airlines' Rapid Rewards program will be able to accrue points by eating, as well as flying, now. Rapid Rewards Dining awards credits to members who visit participating restaurants. According to the Las Vegas Sun, there are 88 Southern Nevada participants (some as humble as Quizno's), all listed at Southwest.com.

'Whale' Sues Packer's Casino:

High-rolling gambling addict Hary Kakavas is suing James Packer's Crown Casino, in Melbourne, for allegedly luring him into a costly baccarat spree at a a time when he was banned from all Australian casinos. The $909 million lawsuit further alleges that Kakavas has audio tapes of Crown executives enticing him to play. We have no intention of responding to the allegations made publicly," said Crown spokesman Gary O'Neill.

Jobs, Bonuses Cut at LV Sands:

According to The Associated Press and other news outlets, 216 employees of Las Vegas Sands, owner of the Venetian and Palazzo, will be let go today. More job cuts are possible in the future. Management will forego $6.5 million in bonuses for 2008, a year which saw Sands stock lose 94% of its value.

Las Vegas This Weekend:

This is the last weekend to party with the cowboys as the NFR draws to a close at the Thomas & Mack Center on Saturday, but Las Vegas has a lot more than country western music concerts on the schedule. Holiday events include the City of Henderson’s annual WinterFest and the Festival of Lights at The Lakes, where even the boats are decorated for the season. Celebrities will gather at the Hard Rock for the Poker Jingle charity tournament and Rock 'n Roll Wine throws a rare winter event at Celebrity Theatre on Fremont Street. Music: Nine Inch Nails rolls into Planet Hollywood (12/13); Sully Erna sings solo at Ovation Lounge inside Green Valley Ranch (12/12) and then heads over to Access Showroom at Aliante Station (12/13); House of Blues welcomes Gary Allan (12/11-12/1212) and Smash Magazine’s birthday bash featuring Escape the Fate and special guests (12/13); The Canyon Club at Four Queens has Jeff Allen (12/12) and the Rodeo Wrap Party with Leon Russell and Jeremy McComb (12/13); Marilyn’s Lounge at Eastside Cannery presents Johnny Potash (12/12-12/13) while the Casablanca Room features Lorrie Morgan (12/13); Jo Dee Messina checks out the Orleans Showroom (12/12-12/14); Gretchen Wilson performs at the Las Vegas Hilton Theater (12/12-12/13); check out the Big Damn Holiday Jam at The Joint with Bloc Party and others (12/12); Brian Culburtson brings "A Soulful Christmas" to Boulder Station’s The Railhead (12/12); Blaine Gray's onstage at the South Point Showroom (12/11-12/13); Blake Shelton tries out the Silverton Entertainment Pavilion (12/12-12/13); Rock 'n Roll Wine throws the Winter Wine Bash at Celebrity Theater, with entertainment by Low vs Diamond (12/13); The Las Vegas Philharmonic performs at UNLV’s Artemus Ham Hall (12/13); get in on the Bad Santa and Naughty Ms. Claus Party and Costume Contest at Ovation Lounge with live music by Steel Panther (12/12); and he Charlie Daniels Band is onstage at the Golden Nugget (12/11-12/12) Comedy: Rodney Carrington wraps up a week at the MGM Hollywood Theatre (12/11-12/13); Bill Engvall's at TI (12/11-12/12); Larry the Cable Guy completes the blue collar comedy trifecta with a show at the Orleans Arena (12/13); Jay Leno celebrates his new primetime TV contract with a stand up gig at the Mirage (12/12-12/13); and Playboy Comedy at the Palms Lounge brings in Doug Benson (12/13) Sports Events: See Luche Libre Wrestling at Star of the Desert Arena (12/13); The Ultimate Fighter finale pits Team Noguieira vs Team Mir at the Pearl inside the Palms -- the show will air live on Spike TV (12/13); and UNLV Runnin’ Rebels take on Western Michigan at the Orleans Arena (12/14) Other: David Copperfield returns to the MGM Hollywood Theatre (12/14-1/14); Henderson Events Plaza hosts the annual WinterFest celebration (12/12-12/13); spectators are welcome to check in on the Poker Jingle Tournament at the Hard Rock Poker Lounge (12/12); play blackjack with guest bunny dealer Carmen Electra at the Playboy Club (12/13); McFadden’s throws their "Toys For Ta-Tas" party (12/13); The Lakes shows off their Festival of Lights (12/13); and Team Mir holds their after-fight party at Hawaiian Tropic Zone (12/13) For more details about these and other events, plus full listings of all the production shows Las Vegas currently plays home to, click here for our "Shows & Nightlife" section. Plus, check out Special Events for all the upcoming Christmas and New Year's events.

Las Vegas This Weekend:

This is the last weekend to party with the cowboys as the NFR draws to a close at the Thomas & Mack Center on Saturday, but Las Vegas has a lot more than country western music concerts on the schedule as we slip into the holidays... Holiday events include the City of Henderson’s annual WinterFest and the Festival of Lights at The Lakes, where even the boats are decorated for the season. Celebrities will gather at the Hard Rock for the Poker Jingle charity tournament and Rock ‘n Roll Wine throws a rare winter event at Celebrity Theatre on Fremont Street. Music: Nine Inch Nails rolls into Planet Hollywood (12/13); Sully Erna sings solo at Ovation Lounge inside Green Valley Ranch (12/12) and then heads over to Access Showroom at Aliante Station (12/13); House of Blues welcomes Gary Allan (12/11-12/1212) and Smash Magazine’s birthday bash featuring Escape the Fate and special guests (12/13); The Canyon Club at Four Queens has Jeff Allen (12/12) and the Rodeo Wrap Party with Leon Russell and Jeremy McComb (12/13); Marilyn’s Lounge at Eastside Cannery presents Johnny Potash (12/12-12/13) while the Casablanca Room features Lorrie Morgan (12/13); Jo Dee Messina checks out the Orleans Showroom (12/12-12/14); Gretchen Wilson performs at the Las Vegas Hilton Theater (12/12-12/13); check out the Big Damn Holiday Jam at The Joint with Bloc Party and others (12/12); Brian Culburtson brings A Soulful Christmas to Boulder Station’s Railhead (12/12); Blaine Gray's onstage at the South Point Showroom (12/11-12/13); Blake Shelton tries out the Silverton Entertainment Pavilion (12/12-12/13); Rock ‘n Roll Wine throws the Winter Wine Bash at Celebrity Theater, with entertainment by Low vs Diamond (12/13); the Las Vegas Philharmonic performs at UNLV’s Artemus Ham Hall (12/13); get in on the Bad Santa and Naughty Ms. Claus Party and Costume Contest at Ovation Lounge with live music by Steel Panther (12/12); and the Charlie Daniels Band is onstage at the Golden Nugget (12/11-12/12) Comedy: Rodney Carrington wraps up a week at the MGM Hollywood Theatre (12/11-12/13), Bill Engvall's at TI (12/11-12/12); Larry the Cable Guy completes the blue-collar comedy trifecta with a show at the Orleans Arena (12/13); Jay Leno celebrates his new prime-time TV contract with a stand up gig at the Mirage (12/12-12/13); and Playboy Comedy at the Palms Lounge brings in Doug Benson (12/13) Sports Events: See Luche Libre Wrestling at Star of the Desert Arena (12/13); The Ultimate Fighter finale pits Team Noguieira vs Team Mir at the Pearl inside the Palms -- the show will air live on Spike TV (12/13); and UNLV's Runnin’ Rebels take on Western Michigan at the Orleans Arena (12/14) Other: David Copperfield returns to the MGM Hollywood Theatre (12/14-1/14); the Henderson Events Plaza hosts the annual WinterFest celebration (12/12-12/13); spectators are welcome to check in on the Poker Jingle Tournament at the Hard Rock Poker Lounge (12/12); play blackjack with guest bunny dealer Carmen Electra at the Playboy Club (12/13); McFadden’s throws their "Toys For Ta-Tas" party at the Rio (12/13); The Lakes shows off its Festival of Lights (12/13); and Team Mir holds their after-fight party at Hawaiian Tropic Zone (12/13) For more details about these and other events, plus full listings of all the production shows Las Vegas currently plays home to, click here for our "Shows & Nightlife" section. Plus, check out Special Events for all the upcoming Christmas and New Year's events.

'Legends' Relocation Delayed:

Legends in Concert will not close at the Imperial Palace until Jan. 17, not the originally scheduled Dec. 6. Its scenery has to be rebuilt for its new home, Harrah's Las Vegas, where Legends will reopen on Jan. 19. A Yuletide version of the show is playing from next Monday through Dec. 30.

'Believe' Retooling:

On the day that Believe opened, Cirque du Soleil head honcho Guy Laliberté told a press conference that there would be "fixations" made to the show over the course of six months. It looks like the "fixate"-ing is beginning in earnest. Laliberté is back in town this week to start show-doctoring Believe. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that show director Serge Denoncourt was sussing out Steve Wyrick and his Planet Hollywood show last week.

Another 401(k) Suspension:

Resorts International Holdings, owner of the Atlantic City Hilton and Resorts Casino, is suspending its 401(k) contributions. Resorts Int'l is a subsidiary of Colony Capital, majority owner of Station Casinos and the Las Vegas Hilton. Not only are Resorts' two Atlantic City casinos the smallest ones in town, they were also among the ones who did the least to accommodate smokers after a 75% cutback on smoking in casinos was imposed.

'Gay-Friendly' Companies Identified:

Anti-GayVegas.com, a site dedicated to punishing supporters of California's Proposition 8, has published a list of gay-friendly businesses which Nevadans are urged to patronize. Harrah's Entertainment and the Eldorado Casino in Henderson are the only gaming companies on the list. (LVA neither supports nor opposes boycotts, but does have its own list of gay-friendly Vegas and even a guide book to the scene.) No gaming companies or prominent executives made Anti-GayVegas.com's blacklist -- but several local politicians did.

Casino Patrons Targeted for Robbery:

A three-man gang was arrested in Hollywood, Cal., this week as they were shadowing a Commerce Casino patron. The trio is suspected of perpetrating as many as eight robberies of casino winners in Southern California. Their alleged modus operandi was to identify their victims in the casino, then follow them home and rob them of their winnings. One of the three men in custody is an active-duty member of the U.S. Army.

Bette Midler Presale:

For three days only, starting at 10 a.m. today (12/11), Caesars Palace is making tickets available to Bette Midler's The Showgirl Must Go On. The new season of Showgirl also brings a new poster, showcasing Midler's gams. The presale offer (Web only) is for the March 24-April 5 run of Showgirl and can be accessed using password SHOWGIRL09.

Identity-Theft Scheme Busted:

U.S. Attorney for Nevada Greg Bower says his office has cracked down on a 23-person identity-theft ring that bilked Las Vegans of $1.5 million. Operating out of smoke shops, convenience stores and restaurants, the accused are said to have used a "wedge" or "skimming device" to scan information off the magnetic strips of credit cards as they were being processed. The skimmed data would then be used to manufacture counterfeit credit cards.

Boyd 401(k)s Cut:

Boyd Gaming is halving its contributions to its employee 401(k) plan, starting Jan. 1. Previously, Boyd has been chipping in 50 cents for every employee-invested dollar.

'Trek' to Tuscany:

Although Harrah's Entertainment garnered some press earlier this week with a cautious commitment to WMS' "Star Trek"-themed machines, a rated player tells LVA that the games are no stranger to Vegas properties and can already be found in action Tuscany Suites & Casino. Plot a course, Mr. Sulu.

Motley Crüe Closes The Joint:

After 13 years of hard rocking, The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino closes on Feb. 6-7 with shows by heavy metal band Motley Crüe. After that, the Hard Rock will be rock-less for a couple of months, until a totally new Joint opens in April 2009. Doubled seating capacity is promised for the new venue, including 700 stadium-style seats and seven VIP suites. The new Joint, run by AEG Live, will double as a site for wrestling, mixed martial arts, boxing and trade show events, along with movie screenings and premieres.

Club Grazie Expanded:

Las Vegas Sands is augmenting the values available through its Club Grazie program at the Venetian and Palazzo. Expenses charged to one's hotel room qualify for Club Grazie points and earn resort amenities, in addition to the traditional cash back, gift cards and slot credits which were Club Grazie's previous rewards. Depending on one's point level, new goodies include retail discounts, preferred check-in access, free limo rides to and from the airport, and 20% off Canyon Ranch Spa Club.

XS, Tryst Make Big Charity Buy:

According to Wynn Las Vegas, Cy Waits and staffers from the Tryst and XS nightclubs showed up at Wal-Mart this morning. They dropped $20K-$30K at the Spring Mountain and Rainbow-located store on toys, which will be donated to a charity drive sponsored by KLUC 98.5 FM.

Viva McDonald's Debuts Tomorrow:

On Thursday, December 11 at 11 a.m., McDonald's new flagship restaurant will open next to Circus Circus and adjacent to the existing McDonald's, which will tomorrow serve its last customer after 25 years in business on the Las Vegas Strip. Being dubbed a "technology-inspired" restaurant that will be the first of its kind and is the largest McDonald's in Nevada, doors open to the public at the new Viva McDonald's at 11 a.m. and the first 111 guests will receive gift items. Festivities throughout the day will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony involving the omnipresent Mayor at 2 p.m. and an appearance by magician "Big" Mac King, who'll be behind the counter serving customers from 5 p.m.- 6 p.m. to raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Las Vegas.

Horrid Month for Nevada:

There are bad months and then there are bad months. For Nevada casinos, October was one of the latter. On the Strip, casinos were hit by a quadruple whammy in the form of declining drop for both baccarat and other table games, and reduced hold for both. Even with an extra weekend day, compared to '07, statewide gambling revenues were off by 22%, a comparison aggravated by a strong October last year, when revenues were up 10%. Noting that October 2007 was the strongest month of that year -- and October '08 is this year's weakest to date -- Stiffs & Georges contends that things aren't quite as bad as they look.

Job Cuts at Sands Macao:

... with possibly more to come. Blog Macau has reported the sacking of 50 non-Macanese workers at Las Vegas Sands' first Macao casino, with another purge expected by mid-month. While this could be a response to the current flatness of the Macanese gaming economy, casino companies there have been under pressure to reduce the number of employees jobbed in from the mainland.

MGM Forms Global Division:

Now that MGM Mirage is extending its brand to Vietnam, it is forming a division of Global Gaming Development. (The company has also been reported as investigating business prospects in the Philippines.) MGM's Vietnam involvement extends to licensing and managing a hotel, the MGM Grand Ho Tram, owned by Canadian firm Asian Coast Development.

Sands Awards Big Contract:

Construction of the hotel and retail phases of Sands Bethlehem, in Pennsylvania, may have ground to a halt, but work on its casino continues full speed ahead. As part of that, Las Vegas Sands has awarded a blanket contract to A.C. Coin & Slot to provide the slot bases, seating and customized signage for its gaming floor. No dollar value was attached to the contract, but when you're talking 71 signs, 4,500 slot bases and 5,000 chairs, it's a good day at the office.

'Freecations' at Primm Valley:

Between tomorrow and Dec. 31, Clark County residents can qualify for a "freecation" at Terrible's Primm Valley Casino Resorts. The package deal includes a free night's stay at any of the three Primm Valley hotels (Buffalo Bill's, Whiskey Pete's and Primm Valley Resort), a pair of passes for the Desperado rollercoaster, Attraction Zone arcade, Turbo Drop and the Adventure Canyon Log Flume, plus complimentary tickets for two to the Sin City Kitties revue. ("Better than any topless act on the Strip," says our Managing Editor.) To take advantage of the promotion, call 800/386-7867 or visit the

Elvis' Plane for Sale:

A restored 1962 Lockheed Jetstar JT 12-5 formerly belonging to Elvis Presley will be auctioned during the 35th Annual Vegas Collector Car Auction, held Dec. 19-20 at South Point Hotel & Casino. The Jetstar, currently stored in Roswell, N.M., doesn't have engines, but those can be had for an extra $35,000 or so. Of Elvis' three airplanes, this is the only one not owned by Graceland. Also on the auction block will be a customized trailer owned -- and being sold in person -- by Pamela Anderson, as well as two of Wayne Newton's cars: a 1982 Mercedes and a Jaguar XK8 Convertible from 2001. Attendance at the auction is $75/person. For more information, call 800/968-4444.

Mirage Volcano 2.0:

More eyewitness commentary, plus some bird's-eye-view video footage has been posted at Stiffs & Georges.

Mirage Blows Stack:

Three-plus years after it was announced, The Mirage's new, augmented volcano made its debut last night. An even higher jet of volcanic spume is now enhanced with dozens of tongues of fire that sprout from the lagoon in front of the volcano itself. The entire spectacle is set to percussive music by Mickey Hart, late of the Grateful Dead. A photo and B-roll of the occasion can be seen at Stiffs & Georges.

'Sirens' for Kids?:

In the current Steve Friess poll, "What are the best Vegas attractions for kids?", you could say "None of the above" is winning. Actually, the answer with the most votes is "Vegas is not for KIDS!!!", followed closely by Adventuredome and, at a distance, MBay's Shark Reef. Strangely, "Sirens of T.I." gets as many votes as Ka, Steve Wyrick, Jersey Boys, Phantom and the Liberace Museum combined.

A.C. Population Down, Income Up:

Over the last eight years, the population of Atlantic City has fallen 12%, according to a new set of census estimates. African- and Hispanic-Americans represent the city's two largest blocs of residents, with Caucasians third. The number of A.C. residents with high school degrees is up 18%, though, and the median income ($30,790) is up 14% since 2000.

Christmas Comes to Downtown:

Mayor Oscar Goodman will be on Fremont Street tonight to light Las Vegas' official Christmas tree at 6 p.m. The Holiday Lights on Ice skating show will debut on the 1st Street Stage immediately following the tree-lighting ceremony. The show's free and performances run nightly from Dec. 9-20 at 7:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m., and 9:30 p.m.

Lon Kruger Book Signings:

UNLV Men's Basketball Head Coach Lon Kruger will host meet and greets and autograph session for his first book, "The Xs and Os of Success: A Playbook for Leaders in Business and Life" today and tomorrow. The first event takes place from 5-6:30 p.m. this evening at PT's Place (Charleston & Decatur), while the second will be held at the same time on Thursday at the PT's Pub at Tropicana and Maryland Pkwy. Proceeds from the book ($19.95 plus tax) will support local youth charities.

Adelson Rebuffed, Twice Over:

Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson was back in court Monday, seeking a new trial against Richard Suen, the Chinese businessman who won a $58.6 million verdict against Sands last spring. Judge Michelle Leavitt refused Adelson's motion as well as a request to reduce the amount of the jury award. Adelson's attorneys will now appeal to the Nevada Supreme Court. The rehearing before Judge Leavitt proved additionally costly to Adelson, as $204,000 in interest payments and legal fees were tacked onto Suen's award.

Deal Season:

We're getting into it. Todays LV Review-Journal contains a coupon for a 2-for-1 Feast buffet at any Station casino and 2-for-1 Festival buffet at either Fiesta. They are good until December 12.

Hefner out at Playboy:

Not Hugh, but rather his daughter Christie, who will step down as CEO on Jan. 31. According to Reuters, "Playboy has a brand name that is more widely known than read. Circulation has fallen as more people looking for adult entertainment and racier pictures of nude women turn to free sites online." One of the company's few predictable sources of revenue is the stream of licensing fees it receives from the Palms, host to a Playboy Club.

Jethro Gets His Sign:

Its taken more than a decade but Max Baer Jr. finally has achieved the most fervently pursued wish of his lifetime: a ginormous sign promoting his planned Beverly Hills casino-hotel. Baer, who played Jethro on "The Beverly Hillbillies," first tried to sell Reno on the project, back in 1998. Finding little enthusiasm there, he subsequently peddled it to Carson City and now to Minden, Nev. Although Douglas County rules restrict signage to a maximum height of 30 feet, county commissioners OK'd Baer for a 90-foot-tall sign, though they shaved down its overall square footage by 30%. Baer's original request was for a 200-foot oil derrick, from which would hang a 2,600-square-foot sign. The Great Sign Saga finally put to bed, Baer can move forward on the next stage of his $150 million casino-hotel. It is scheduled to hold 240 rooms and a 40,000-square-foot casino.

Hard Rock Filming Update:

We've just received word that tonight's filming's been moved forward to 6:30 p.m.

'Phantom' Locals Mega-Deal:

From now through March 31, Nevada residents qualify for $50 off Golden Circle and Orchestra tickets for Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular. Better still, your Phantom stub can earn you 15%-25% off meals at Bouchon, Pinot Brasserie or Postrio.

There Is Such a Thing as a Free Lunch...:

Yup, this Weds., December 10, Southern Hills Hospital is helping the community safeguard against the flu by hosting a free "Lunch & Learn" class presented by internist and pediatrician Dr. Constantine George, who'll be on hand after the class to answer questions about flu symptoms and treatment options for children and adults. The event, which is free and open to the public, is due to take place from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. and the hospital's located at 9300 W. Sunset Rd (at I-215) Seating's limited so call soon to reserve your space (702/233-5300).

Britney Tickets on Sale:

Tickets for Britney Spears' 2009 North American tour went on sale at the weekend and are still available in all price tiers for the April 25 show at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. They start from $55 for General Admission, going up to $595, and are available from the MGM Grand box office and all Ticketmaster locations. Visit ticketmaster.com or call 800/745-3000 for more information.

Movie Films at Hard Rock Tonight:

One of the most frequent QoDs we receive is from people wanting to know when they can catch a TV or movie shoot going on. Well, if you're in town tonight, you're in luck. The Hard Rock's porte cochere will be a featured location in the new movie Middle Men, about the birth and early days of the online porn industry, which stars Luke Wilson, Giovanni Ribisi, Gabriel Macht & James Caan. The former three are in the scene that's due to begin shooting at 7:30 p.m tonight.

'Mr. Cooper' Star Plays Harrah's:

Mark Curry, former star of "Hangin' with Mr. Cooper" and host of "Showtime at the Apollo," will be appearing at The Improv at Harrah's Tuesday-Sunday, flanked by comedians Jeff Burghardt and Jim McCue. The trio will play twice nightly, at 8:30 and 10:30, with regular tickets priced $31.95 and VIP tickets $5 more. Harrah's is also offering a $105/night Improv package for two that includes accommodations, buffet admission (a $22/person value) and the show. Subtract $64 in show tickets and $44 for the buffet, and Harrah's is essentially paying you $1.50/person to stay there. Sweet!

Bookie Boss Bombed:

A BMW X5 belonging to the wife of one of Australia's leading bookmakers was firebombed Sunday. Had the blaze spread to the adjacent Sydney home of Sportingbet CEO Michael Sullivan, it could have meant the deaths of Mrs. Sullivan and her two children. (Mr. Sullivan was out of town on business.) Sportingbet Australia did $895 million in business last year.

New Volcano Debuts Tonight:

The Mirage's new volcano spectacle, featuring a design by WET, the company responsible for the Bellagio fountain show, and a soundtrack by Grateful Dead drummer Mickey Hart and Indian tabla sensation Zakir Hussain, is due to be unveiled at 5 p.m. this evening.

Adelson Worth Thousands ... of Berries:

Las Vegas Sands stock is worth 44,544 cranberries/share, according to a puckish calculation made by Las Vegas Review-Journal Assistant Business Editor Dan Behringer, based on Sands' most recent closing price of $5.05/share. Don't worry, Sands shareholders: The 225K cranberries poured into Palazzo's reflecting pools as a holiday garnish were donated, not purchased.

Herbst Misses Payment:

As reported last week in Stiffs & Georges, Herbst Gaming missed a $5 million interest payment last week. Although this could trip over $1 billion in debt, Herbst says it has an agreement with its banks that postpones the day of reckoning until Feb. 2. Herbst's losses have tripled during the first three quarters of 2008, as the company has been hobbled by diminished slot-route revenue and the debt burden associated by a pair of acquisitions, including three Primm, Nev., casinos that set Herbst back $394 million.

New Years Eve Still a Relative Bargain:

J.P. Morgan's latest room rate survey finds New Years Eve prices -27% from last year, with only Paris-Las Vegas and Caesars Palace requiring a Mon.-Wed- booking. THEhotel at Mandalay Bay is the first (and so far only) hotel to sell out for the holiday. Morgan found that Harrah's properties were dropping three-night minimums in favor of two-night ones (with the exceptions noted above), but that MGM Mirage was now requiring two-night stays instead of the no-minimums it had favored earlier. Treasure Island is offering a series of 10%-20% discounts (accompanied by $10-$20 in free play), commensurate with advance bookings: The earlier you reserve your room, the bigger the discount you'll receive.

LV Sign Now More Welcome:

The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new parking lot by the famous "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign on the south Strip takes place at 10 a.m. this morning. The new facility provides 12 spaces for cars, two of which are for handicap parking, plus there are two parking spots for buses. "This project has been a long time in coming ... Untold thousands have had their photos taken in front of the sign. Now they can do so without having to dodge speeding cars," said a showgirl-flanked Clark County Commission Chairman Rory Reid. Although it's marked the southern entry to the Strip for a half-century, the familiar sign, probably the most popular site in Vegas for having one's photo snapped, has been effectively off-limits to disabled people until now, as it's been primarily accessible by dashing across Las Vegas Boulevard traffic. (Note: The new lot can only be accessed from southbound Las Vegas Blvd., and exits in the same direction.)

LVCVA Flies TX Town to Vegas:

At least 120 of the 350 residents of Cranfills Gap, TX, will be flown to Sin City at Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority expense next weekend. Cranfills Gap, a town 75 miles southwest of Fort Worth with no traffic lights and one filling station, was selected from among 125 American hamlets representing the prototypical American small town. The LVCVA isn't just being generous; it's also going to chronicle the adventures of the Cranfills Gap 120 (including a drive-by wedding) for a series of tourism spots that will air next year. The Texans will enjoy five days in Las Vegas, staying at undisclosed locations.

Station to Denny-ize by Spring:

"(B)ased on an overwhelmingly positive guest response" to the introduction of Denny's to Fiesta Rancho in October, Station Casinos has detailed the rollout of five more Denny's restaurants, which will replace in-house eateries currently owned and operated by Station. The new Denny's will be phased in, starting at three Wildfire-branded casinos (2000 S. Boulder Hwy.; 4451 E. Sunset Rd.; 1901 N. Rancho Dr.) in February. Wild Wild West (3330 W. Tropicana Ave.) gets Denny-ized in March, followed by Fiesta Henderson (7777 W. Lake Mead Blvd.) in April.

Lone KS Casino Goes Ahead:

Avionics firm Butler National Service Corp. received the green light from the Kansas Racing & Gaming Commission on Friday. Butler Nat'l and partner Boot Hill Gaming will be constructing an $88 million casino in the Dodge City area. The partners say the recession has had no impact on their plans and they expect to start construction later this month.

'Star Trek' Beams into Harrah's:

WMS Gaming's "Star Trek" machines, which debuted at G2E 2007, are being -- cautiously -- rolled out by Harrah's Entertainment. The casino company has committed to 120 Star Trek Adaptive machines for its 40-odd properties next year.

‘XTreme’ Holiday Cheer:

Through New Year’s Eve, Dirk Arthur is presenting a holiday version of his XTreme Magic at the Tropicana Las Vegas. Christmas songs will be incorporated into the show, Tilly – Arthur’s new baby Liger – will be introduced to Vegas audiences – and St. Nicholas will drop by. (That St. Nick’s he’s a busy guy, pulling duty both for Arthur and in The Showgirl Must Go On.) In addition to the regular slate of 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. performances, Arthur will add a 7 p.m. show Dec. 12-25. Tickets start as low as $20, while dinner packages are available for $25 and upward.

Pansy Ho Plans New Hotel:

MGM Mirage's Macao business partner, Pansy Ho, is teaming with Dubai's Jumeirah hotelier to build a Jumeirah-branded hotel on the Cotai Strip, one block west of

New Encore Site Launched:

RateVegas.com and VegasTripping.com are joining forces to launch EncoreOpening.com, dedicated to all things related to the opening of Steve Wynn's newest resort. It will feature real-time reportage, photo and video uploads, and reviews of restaurants, rooms, etc. Flickr and Twitter feeds will stream fresh content onto the site. Users of Netscape, AOL, and anything but the latest version of Internet Explorer are encouraged to upgrade to Firefox, Safari, or Google Chrome.

Closing Proposed for Falls at Lake Las Vegas:

Bighorn sheep may soon have The Falls at Lake Las Vegas golf course all to themselves. Privately owned Lake Las Vegas, which is in bankruptcy, has requested permission to close and cease maintenance of the hilly, 18-hole course. The course is projected to lose $1 million a month if kept open.

A.C. Wins It:

Anthony Curtis won the final of the Sunset Station blackjack-tournament series. First prize was $10,000. This was billed as potentially the last Elimination Blackjack Tournament to be played at a major casino. Ironically, Anthony was one of the original supporters of the format and played in several televised tournaments, without winning a major until this final event. The format never caught on and is no longer being actively offered or promoted.

Marathon Snarl:

Traffic will be detoured throughout the city today for the Las Vegas Marathon. Barriers impede travel mostly around the Strip and streets on the west side of town.

Sunset Santas:

Add Sunset Station to this year's list of casinos with cocktail waitresses donning sexy Santa-style uniforms. Hard Rock and Palms are the others we've seen so far. Several of the world's best blackjack players will be at Sunset today playing in the finals of this weekend's blackjack tournament.

AVN Deals at IP, Venetian:

Jan. 10 marks those Academy Awards of porn, the AVN Adult Movie Awards. While the prestigious awards ceremony itself is being held at Mandalay Bay, AVN is offering attendees a pair of three-night packages, tickets included. One, at the Venetian, starts at $1,099 per person. But if you’re on a budget, there’s an Imperial Palace deal, starting at $679/person.

BJ Tourney at Sunset Station:

This evening marks what will probably be the swan song for the Elimination Blackjack format, with the end-of-season tournament final at Sunset Station. You must enter by 6 p.m. and the buy-in is $220.

Station out, Denny's in:

In another cost-cutting move, Station Casino is scrapping three owned-and-operated restaurants in favor of Denny's franchises. The Dantes Cafes at all Wildfire-branded casinos, Wild Wild West's Gambler's Grill and Fiesta Henderson's Baja Beach Cafe have been -- or soon will be -- replaced with Denny's outlets.

Silver Mining in Vegas?:

The art of "silver mining" -- sussing out slot machines with unused credits -- is among the topics of a National Public Radio report on Huntington Press author Matthew O'Brien. The NPR Web report contains text, audio and a photo gallery. O'Brien's Beneath the Neon now also comes in an e-book download format.

'Price is Right' to IP:

Speculation about the Imperial Palace's demise has proven premature, as it is being discussed as the new home for The Price is Right - Live, currently in residence at Bally's. In other news, Mike Weatherford reviews The $1,000,000 Vegas Game Show and concludes that "anyone who actually paid $43.49 might wish they had opted for the trained cat show that follows in the theater."

Strange Coincidence for Sands:

As reported by Howard Stutz, Judge Michelle Leavitt has some sort of karmic connection with Las Vegas Sands. Not only did she preside over the trial in which Richard Suen won a $59 million verdict against Sands, when two shareholders sued the company recently over its plummeting share price, on whose docket did the case land? That's right: Judge Leavitt.

Illinois Revenues Plunge Again:

Casinos in the Land of Lincoln continue to choke on a smoking ban, down 24% in November. A repeal of Missouri's buy-in limits is also blamed for the crunch. Penn National's Alton Belle suffered the worst percentage decline, off 32%. Penn remained the market leader in revenue, with $38 million last month, followed by Harrah's Entertainment, which pulled in $32 million.

Another casino quits KS:

Cordish Co. has pulled out of its commitment to build a Hard Rock-branded casino at the Kansas Speedway. This means that only one of the four companies awarded the right to build a casino in Kansas is still going to do so. Cordish, Penn National and Harrah's Entertainment have all walked away. Full details are in Stiffs & Georges.

‘Mamma Mia!’ Locals Deal Ends Soon:

When all is said and done, whether it’s a question of money, money, money or needing to send an S.O.S., the chance for Nevada residents get two-for-one tickets to the final performances of Mamma Mia! at Mandalay Bay is slipping through your fingers. Click on MammaMiaOffers.com or MammaMiaMail.com to take advantage by Dec. 21.

Las Vegas This Weekend:

The National Finals Rodeo is celebrating its Golden Anniversary in Las Vegas and that means an entertainment schedule that’s jam packed with country western headliners from Brooks & Dunn at the Las Vegas Hilton to Travis Tritt at the Trop. You’ll find all the NFR-related activities and concerts listed in our "Special Events" section (scroll down this page). This weekend also marks the annual running of the Santas downtown on Saturday as well as the Las Vegas Marathon down The Strip on Sunday -- look out for major road closures all over the place. Last, but not least, it's fight night Saturday at the MGM Grand with The Dream Match between Oscar De La Hoya and Manny Pacquiao for the welterweight championship. Music: Tesla rocks The Joint (12/5); Oasis performs at The Pearl at the Palms (12/6); Shaw/Blades performs at Green Valley Ranch’s Ovation Lounge (12/5) and then at Aliante Station's Access Showroom (12/6); the Orleans Arena features Teena Marie, Morris Day and the Time, and Cameo (12/5); the David Benoit Quartet brings you A Charlie Brown Christmas at UNLV’s Artemus Ham Hall (12/6); LA Guns hits the stage at the Chrome Showroom inside Santa Fe Station (12/6); the Star of the Desert Arena in Primm welcomes Three Dog Night and Herman’s Hermits (12/6); the OMG Jingle Jam takes place at the House of Blues (12/6, 2 p.m.) followed by Wu Tang Clan (12/6, 8 p.m.); the Fifth Annual Toys for Tickets All-Star Jam talks place at Ovation Lounge with surprise performers (12/7) Sports Events: Oscar "Golden Boy" De La Hoya and Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao fight it out in the ring at the MGM Grand with viewing parties scheduled at all MGM/Mirage properties (12/6) and after party at Studio 54 hosted by De La Hoya Other: Ron White brings his brand of blue-collar comedy to the Mirage for the first time (12/5-12/6); the Bellagio Conservatory debuts its Winter Wonderland tableau (12/7); the South Point Equestrian Center hosts the Benny Binion Bucking Horse & Bull Sale (12/4-12/5); the College of Southern Nevada holds their Fall Dance Concert (12/5-12/6); John Edwards "communicates" with the dead at the Flamingo (12/6); and the Iced Out party at McFadden’s will be hosted by Vanilla Ice with one lucky lady to win a diamond necklace (12/6) 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 Special Events for all the upcoming and ongoing Christmas and New Year's events.

'Blue Man Group' Locals Special:

Proclaiming it "A gift better than fruit cake" (no argument there), Blue Man Group is offering a 50% discount on tickets, but only for Nevada residents. The $42.50 tickets are good for performances from now through Jan. 4. To take advantage of the special, call 702/414-9000 and mention promo code "PB1 Locals 241" (two-for-one, geddit?).

Morgans Defies Recession:

Under the interesting corporate banner of "F**k the Recession," the Morgans Hotel Group, owners of the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, is refusing to take the economic downturn lying down. Properties in the group will be hosting various feel-good promotions, including the Hard Rock's "Cheers Las Vegas!" holiday party on Dec. 17. From 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17, they'll host a massive open-bar event offering complimentary cocktails and hors d’oeuvres throughout the entire property, including Center Bar, Pink Taco, AGO, Wasted Space and the Poker Lounge. "Given the state of the economy, many companies have scaled down or canceled altogether, traditional holiday parties," said Yale Rowe, senior vice president and general manager of operations for the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. "It has been a very trying year for many, and the Hard Rock wants to give our local community an opportunity to escape the day-to-day grind, if even for only a few hours."

'Believe' This or Not:

Scuttlebutt on the Two Way Hard Three blog has it that Cirque du Soleil will fold its widely razzed Criss Angel showcase, Believe, and rotate touring Cirque shows through the customized Luxor theater, up to six months at a stretch. It's only a rumor but it would put an interesting new wrinkle in Cirque's Vegas presence.

A.C. Employment at '87 Levels:

As casino revenues slump in Atlantic City, November has seen almost 1,000 layoffs at the city's casinos, bringing gambling industry employment to levels not seen in 20 years. The news prompted New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine to make some vague rumblings that could be interpreted as calling for a federal bailout of the industry. Atlantic City's employment decline, however, has been long and steady, its casinos having peaked with nearly 52,000 workers in 1997.

Celebs Line up for New Year's Eve:

If the days of the VIP nightclub "host" were over, somebody forgot to tell Las Vegas. Fergie will topline the Dec. 31 bash at LAVO (admission is $250), while Usher holds court at The Bank. If you're fortunate enough to snag LAVO tickets, they're also good for the New Year's Eve party at Tao, featuring the ubiquitous Carmen Electra. Tao-only tix are $150 each. Denise Richards is co-hosting Privé's New Year's Eve party, along with DMC. For full details on all the New Year's parties, concerts, and other happenings, don't forget to check out our Special Events listings.

NFR Underway:

Las Vegas is currently inundated with cowboys and gals for the 50th annual National Finals Rodeo. While the main event at the Thomas & Mack Center is sold out, there are plenty of other associated festivities around town that aren't -- just check out our Special Events section for the lowdown on the hoedowns.

NPR Piece to Air Today:

The feature about Huntington Press author Matt O'Brien and his adventures in the storm drains beneath Las Vegas is due to air on NPR's "Day to Day" show at noon today. If you miss the show, you can listen to the interview and read more about Matt and Beneath the Neon by clicking here.

Midler Offers Holiday Variant:

Not resting on the laurels of having the top-selling show on the Strip, Bette Midler is performing a holiday-season version of The Showgirl Must Go On through Dec. 10. She's adding two songs from her "Cool Yule" album (none of which have been performed by Midler in concert until now), including the title track, and doing a seasonal variant of "From a Distance." "These special shows also feature updated choreography, costumes and video elements topped off by a visit from jolly old St. Nick," says the official press release. Tickets are $95, $140, $175 and $250.

Station Debtors Say 'No Dice':

According to Reuters, bondholders for Station Casinos have ixnayed the company's offer to buy back senior debt at 54 cents on the dollar and subordinated debt at 20 cents/dollar. The promise of secured debt at a 10% rate wasn't enough to persuade holders of Station debt to exchange existing notes for new ones. Said bond analyst Barbara Cappaert, "If the situation is not resolved and the pending bank violations are not fixed, Station is at risk of a chapter 11 filing."

Segway Rolls out of Downtown:

Lost amidst Thanksgiving, Black Friday and other end-of-November news was the closing of Segway of Las Vegas, which found that few tourists were interested in motorized tours of Fremont Street. (Too bad. It sounded like fun.) More than the $40/hour fee, it seems that an adverse location, across from Neonopolis, is what jinxed business most.

From the Rumor Mill ...:

Two possible casino consolidations are being rumored at TheDeal.com. One has Pinnacle Entertainment merging with Boyd Gaming, the other -- and we're not making this up -- has Wynn Resorts absorbing Las Vegas Sands. We'll believe that one when we see pigs flying past our office windows, given the long-standing antipathy between Steve Wynn and Sheldon Adelson. Pinnacle/Boyd is also dogged with improbabilities, beginning with Pinnacle's inability to finance its Atlantic City project and Boyd's comparable problem with its Echelon metaresort. But if it happens, don't say we didn't warn you.

Free Movie Passes From CineVegas:

CineVegas is giving away passes to attend the advance screening of Valkyrie starring Tom Cruise and Kenneth Branagh. The screening is scheduled for Dec. 9 at 7 pm at the Brenden Theatres at the Palms. To get your free pass, stop by the new CineVegas office at The District at Green Valley Ranch (next to the Cheesecake Factory) from 1 p.m.-5 p.m. today or tomorrow. Each pass is good for two people and offer is limited to one pass per person. Seating is on a first come, first served basis and is not guaranteed.

Casino Lasts 8 Weeks:

A casino in Huddersfield, U.K., which opened Sept. 23, shut its doors two months later, citing "unforseen circumstances." The former Princess Cinema had become Casino Red, a three-story gambling venue, with three bars, 20 tables and live entertainment. Its closure leaves 100 Britons out of work.

Isle Suspends Biloxi Work:

An expansion of Isle of Capri's Biloxi casino has been suspended, after the company lost $14 million in the third quarter of this year. No new building projects are planned, either. Over-expansion has been blamed for Isle's current struggles. Wall Street reacting favorably to the news, with ISLE up 29% to close at $3.53/share.

Harrah's Vice-Chair Retires:

On Dec. 19, Charles Atwood is retiring as both vice chairman of Harrah's Entertainment and chairman of the charitable Harrah's Foundation. According to Harrah's, Atwood has initially planned to retire at the start of 2008, as the company was taken private, but ceded to CEO Gary Loveman's pleas that he stay on. Atwood is a 29-year veteran of Harrah's and its former CFO. He cited a growing interest in philanthropy as his reason for retiring: "In the last few years, my work with the Harrah’s Foundation has shown me the remarkable impact that individuals can have on the world around us."

Kudos for Colosseum:

Harrah's Entertainment sure could use good news and it got some today when Billboard designated the Colosseum at Caesars Palace as the 'Top Venue under 5,000 Seats.' The accolade was presented as parting of the Billboard Touring Awards. The Colosseum hosts Elton John, Cher and Bette Midler, whose The Showgirl Must Go On leads all Strip shows in ticket sales.

Weidner Causes Ruckus:

A copy of Las Vegas Sands President William Weidner's Oct. 28 speech to the Anti-Defamation League has been obtained by Jon Ralston, who posted it online, quickly setting message boards aflame. The flash point of the six-page speech, which Ralston characterizes as "incendiary," comes at the end. Weidner concludes, in part, by saying, For Hitler, Sadaam, Ahmadinejad, Jimmy Carter and now Obama, oratory is only the way they are presented. Barack Obama is one of the best orators in history ... It is in his own words, not in his delivery, where truth can be found."

Electra to Deal at Playboy Club:

A bunny-suited Carmen Electra is scheduled for a stint as a celebrity guest dealer at the Playboy Club, atop the Palms, on Dec. 13 at 10 p.m. Her appearance will publicize Playboy's 55th anniversary, in which Electra has an eight-page pictorial (minus bunny suit). Playboy has been making a lot of headlines lately, following its decision to scrap DVD sales and publish only 11 issues in 2009.

How Wynn Did It:

Yes, that really was Steve Wynn sitting at the apex of Encore, not some CGI wizardry. Steve Friess has corralled two videos. The first shows how Rush Hour director Brett Ratner choreographed the stunt, while the second is an extended version of the promotional spot that you've been seeing on TV.

'Season of Cirque' Continues:

Cirque du Soleil is reiterating its limited-time offer of discounted tickets for Southern Nevada residents. No expiration date is given on the offer, which makes tickets to Ka, Mystere and Zumanity available at $49 apiece. Call 702/531-3850 and request "the locals offer."

Towers and Rodeos in the News:

Today's Wall Street Journal contains a piece on troubles at the real estate company Whitehall, owners of the Stratosphere. And USA Today runs a good round-up of the National Finals Rodeo today, complete with TV-coverage schedules.

Super Dining Deal at Silverton:

We reported on this last weekend, but erroneously thought the deal ended in November. Silverton is offering buy-one get-ones in all of its restaurants until December 30. Buy one entree and get a second free, even in Twin Peaks, no coupon required. This is a very strong offer.

They Want (to Read) Oscar:

Recently, Steve Friess posed the poll question: Other than Steve Wynn, which Vegas-related figure's memoir would you most like to read? The winner, with 39 votes, was Mayor Oscar Goodman, followed by "a Vegas prostitute" (37 votes) and Kirk Kerkorian (31 votes). For all those who voted for the Mayor, we have good news, since we actually published his memoir, written by esteemed local political commentator John L. Smith, in 2003. Of Rats & Men is the no-holds barred account of the life of our "Mob Mayor," who, for 35 years, was the pre-eminent defense attorney for alleged gangsters, with an endless client list that included the likes of Meyer Lansky, Nick Civella, Anthony Spilotro, Frank Rosenthal, Jimmy Chagra, Natale Richichi, Nicky Scarfo, and Vinny Ferrara, along with many others. It's available from ShopLVA.com in both hard-cover and e-book formats (just click the link above). As far as the poll's concerned, Danny Gans might want to hold off penning his autobiography, though. Along with Terry Fator, he brought up the rear, with two votes. As regards other Strip entertainers, more respondents wanted to read about Penn & Teller (23) than Cher, Bette Midler, Wayne Newton or Siegfried & Roy. And, where casino owners are concerned, George Maloof and Jackie Gaughan (21 votes apiece) were deemed (just barely) more interesting than Sheldon Adelson and far more so than J. Terrence Lanni and Gary Loveman, who mustered 10 votes between them -- half as many as Adelson alone. Friess is now polling on the subject of best kids' attractions.

Moulin Rouge in Trouble:

According to the Las Vegas Business Press, the Moulin Rouge has filed for bankruptcy, as unpaid bills and loans mount. "We are very optimistic about obtaining financing and reorganizing so that the project will move forward," said lead investor Dale Scott. Adds another investor, "It represents a ground-level opportunity for someone who is a contrarian." A $1 billion casino resort had been planned for the Moulin Rouge site.

Bankruptcy for Trump?:

If Trump Entertainment Resorts can't close the sale of its Trump Marina casino, in Atlantic City, it's back to Chapter 11 for the company, which emerged from bankruptcy three years ago. The company is cutting back its 401(k) contributions to employees' retirement plans, as it endeavors to avoid layoffs.

In-N-Out in, Strip out:

According to Doug Elfman's column, cabbies are doing a brisk business taking local hotel guests to In-N-Burger -- and to area grocery stores. Put off by high food and retail prices along the Strip, tourists are fanning out into Las Vegas to find a better deal, apparently. Downtown Vegas is another beneficiary of bargain-conscious tourists who balk at paying seven bucks for a brewski.

Maloof, Oscar on 'Nightline':

On this evening's episode of "Nightline," Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and Palms owner George Maloof are scheduled to be interviewed by Martin Bashir about the Vegas economy, as is Las Vegas Review-Journal gossip columnist Norm(!) Clarke. The latter is reporting that Penthouse magazine is close to a deal for "a fixer-upper property." Hooters and the defunct Golden Palm are still on the market, but could Sahara owner Sam Nazarian be ready to bag it now that his dream of $200/night hotel rooms appears to be a chimera?

Black Closes Oasis:

Making good on a previous threat, Black Gaming will close the former Si Redd's Oasis (now simply the Oasis) for an unspecified period of time. Five hundred employees will be idled by the move, but the Oasis' golf course and gun club will remain open.

BeeGees Musical Rumored for Wynn:

The rumor du jour has Steve Wynn presenting a Jersey Boys-style revue at the Encore Theater. Entitled Stayin' Alive, it will feature the music and biography of the BeeGees, those falsetto disco divos of the Seventies. Allegedly it will play on a split schedule with Danny Gans, who only works four nights a week.

Galaxy Buys Up Debt:

Galaxy Entertainment, the owner of several Macao casinos, is offering to buy back floating-rate notes at 53 cents on the dollar and fixed-rate notes for 38-45 cents on the dollar. Galaxy will spend no more than $180 million on the buy-back plan.

CT Slot Win Off:

Casinos don't usually say they had bad luck at the slots (unlike baccarat, say), but that was the case for Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods in October. Slot win at the two megaresorts was down 7% and 9%, respectively, exceeding falloffs in slot handle, which was only down 1% at Foxwoods. Between them, the two casinos booked $123 million in slot win, mostly from Mohegan Sun.

Harrah's Swap a Qualified Success:

While an offer by Harrah's Entertainment to swap existing bonds for ones with longer maturities has proven so popular that it's been extended, it appears that the bondholders taking advantage of the offer are the ones already holding long-term notes. Of the notes nearest maturity (in 2010-11), only 19% have been liquidated, mostly for cash. "They didn't really get the bonds they most wanted," bond expert Adam Cohen told a wire-service reporter. "This was not a good showing."

Ozzy at Revolution?:

According to a rumor on MGM Mirage's "Vegas Concierge" news service (avialable via Twitter/Facebook), Ozzy Osbourne is planning to celebrate his birthday at the Mirage's psychedelic Revolution Lounge this evening.

Tip-Reporting Rules Stir Ire:

While the Internal Revenue Service (in what some might call a rare fit of reasonableness) has agreed with Las Vegas casinos to reduce by 20% the amount of tip income is withheld, the Culinary Union is crying foul. The union says that, thanks to the recession, tipping is down by 50% and, therefore, the deal between management and the IRS doesn't go far enough. As a consequence, many casino workers may drop out of the voluntary tip-reporting program, thereby making it harder for the IRS to collect tipped income.

Vendor's Goof Costs Penn Millions:

Hollywood Casino at Penn National Racecourse, in Pennsylvania, made the most generous player offer of the holiday season ... by accident. Hollywood meant to offer 1,000 players five weeks each of $100 free slot play/week plus two free buffets. But somehow the offer was sent to 55,000 patrons instead. (Penn Nat'l blames an outside vendor for the goof.) Even so, Penn is going to have to offer each recipient of the direct-mail piece $100 in one-time slot play and two free buffets. Now there's Christmas generosity for you!

Station Suspends Benefits:

Employees of Station Casinos are seeing employer contributions to their 401(k) plans indefinitely suspended, beginning Jan. 1. According to the Las Vegas Sun, Station will "periodically evaluate" whether or not to reinstate the 401(k) payments. The company said layoffs were the alternative. Station made headlines last month by sacking hotel reservationists and moving their jobs overseas.

First Part of Echelon Opens:

OK, so it's a McDonald's, relocated from a spot on the Strip proper to the north end of Echelon, a coin's throw from Slots-a-Fun. But it's not any old McDonald's. Rather, it's Viva McDonald's, replete with LED and LCD screens, some of which will show McDonald's-only content that management has likened to the Bellagio fountains. Steve Friess got the grand tour (with photos).

Keg Tapping Tonight:

Gordon Biersch Boca Park at 750 S. Rampart will hold its Winter Bock keg tapping this evening from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. and everyone is invited. This is usually a members-only event but the brewery has opened it up to the public for a $5 donation to the New Vista Community. Your donation gets you complimentary beer samples and appetizers.

MGM Bargain Plays, Corrected:

Thanks to a mental slip-up, we accidentally flip-flopped certain details of MGM Mirage rooms offers. The correct information is: Both Monte Carlo and New York-New York have 'buy two room nights, get a third free' promos running (expiring 1/6 and 1/15, respectively). Monte Carlo has an alternate package that includes free slot play, free drinks, free buffets and a spa discount in lieu of free room nights. While MGM Mirage tells J.P. Morgan "there are no current offers to discount the rate beyond the basic fare, except for Mandalay Bay/THE Hotel," that doesn't mean the welcome mat isn't out. Weekday rates for MBay and THE Hotel are $90 and $120, respectively. An suite-upgrade package also throws in some 'twofers,' cash credits and coupons. MGM Grand has three packages running, including a 30%-off MasterCard promo. There's also a two-nights-for-one room offer (expires 1/5), as well as a promo that includes restaurant credits and spa discounts. Similar deals are available at Excalibur and Luxor, which Mirage ponies up a $50 buffet credit. Not to be outdone, Circus Circus provides a choice between "buy 2 nights get 1 night free" (expires 12/23) or a $50 gift card for Wal-Mart.

Chapter 11 Forecast for 4 A.C. Casinos:

Both Trump Entertainment and Colony Capital have missed interest payments on their Atlantic City casinos (each owns two). This has led Spectrum Gaming Group to raise the prospect of bankruptcy for Trump Taj Mahal and Trump Plaza. He also mentioned Colony's Resorts Atlantic City and A.C. Hilton as Chapter 11 candidates. The upcoming sale of the Tropicana will have to be approved by a bankruptcy court, since property owner Tropicana Entertainment is in Chapter 11 protection right now. Weinert made his comments in an Associated Press interview.

New Mirage Volcano Filmed:

Dec. 8 is still the official date for re-ignition of the the volcano at The Mirage, but some lucky Strip passersby happened upon a test-firing of volcano 2.0 and captured it on video. Don't be surprised if it looks like a clip from Cloverfield.

Fergie Added to New Year's Roster:

Grammy Award-winner Fergie (Black Eyed Peas) will perform live at The Venetian and The Palazzo for New Year's Eve, after which she'll join the revelry at LAVO in The Palazzo, where she'll MC the New Year countdown along with NYC's DJ Reach. Fergie's performance will be immediately followed by another Grammy Award-winning artist, Skip Martin, who continues to be lead singer of Kool & the Gang and the Dazz Band, in addition to having a successful solo career, and will entertain the audience with hits including "Celebration" and "Ladies Night." Meanwhile, it's just been announced that Kid Rock's adding a second night to his New Year's stint at The Pearl at the Palms. Tickets for the Saturday, Jan. 3 performance are scheduled to go on sale Saturday, Dec. 6 at 1 p.m. For details about ticket prices for all these events and where to purchase them, check out our Events listings.

Good Month for Macao:

After two months of worrisome declines, casinos in Macao recorded 3% more revenue last month than they did in November '07, beating the Macanese government's own revenue projections. Sheldon Adelson's archrival, Stanley Ho, has caught up with him; each controls 25% of the Macao market, while Steve Wynn has lost a few points to Galaxy Entertainment, but remains in third place. Melco Crown and MGM Mirage continue to tussle over the remaining fifth of the market.

From the Rumor Mill ...:

General Growth Properties' struggling Shoppes at the Palazzo may claim another victim this week. An LVA source pegs Sushisamba as the next to go.

Vegas Rooms Plentiful for New Years Eve:

J.P. Morgan analysts have conducted a survey of room availability in Las Vegas and "no property ... has rooms sold out for New Years Eve." Better still, rates are -19% from last year, for an average of $386. Harrah's is requiring Mon.-Wed. stays at Caesars Palace, Paris-Las Vegas, Harrah's LV and Bally's, and Mon.-Tues. stays at the Flamingo and Rio. Likewise, MGM Mirage mandates Mon.-Tues. stays at THE hotel at Mandalay Bay, New York-New York, Treasure Island, Monte Carlo and even Circus Circus. Ditto the Las Vegas Hilton and the Tropicana, along with Planet Hollywood, which previously imposed no mandatory dates.

Mainland Closed:

LVA staffers visiting Mainland last Saturday afternoon found the Chinese bistro closed. A group of formerly decorative, potted trees had been arrayed across the front of the restaurant like a barrier and a handwritten note providing a phone number for Mainland employees to call regarding their paychecks.

Poker Scandal in the News:

Sunday was the day that "things" hit the fan with regard to the online-poker cheating scandal at Ultimate Bet and Absolute Poker. A big investigative article was published in the Washington Post yesterday. You can read it at Washingtonpost.com Also, the "60 Minutes" segment is available at the WaPo Web site.