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Bill Benter was elected to the Blackjack Hall of Fame at the annual Blackjack Ball last night. Benter was famous for running several blackjack teams, including some that used computers before they were banned. He later created a powerful horse-racing model that put him among the most successful gamblers ever for money won. The skills competition was won by Lee Jensen, a professional player attending the event for the first time.
Las Vegas cable customers are sweating their ability to watch next week's Super Bowl. A contract dispute between Cox Cable and Channel 8, the channel airing the game, has left Cox customers without a signal. If the dispute isn't resolved by next Sunday, Cox customers won't be able to tune into the game. The alternatives are switching to satellite, installing an antenna that will receive the signal, or going to a sports book or bar to watch.
Hawaii has become the latest state to categorize daily fantasy sports as illegal gambling under its laws. At the same time, however, a bill has been introduced there to make it legal under state regulation.
Anthony Johnson is a -260 favorite over Ryan Bader in tonight's UFC main event. In the other featured match, Josh Barnett is -130 over Ben Rothwell.
Following years of mainly gloomy news from the east coast gambling enclave comes word that Caesars Entertainment is hiring, with 355 openings across its three Atlantic City properties, including more than 150 full-time positions with benefits. In addition, the Tropicana has announced a $25 million renovation that will see 500 rooms upgraded and various casino upgrades, plus the addition of five new shows to its outdoor multimedia light-and-sound show this summer. The Borgata, meanwhile, will invest $50 million in additions and upgrades in 2016, with a new nightclub slated to open in the spring and a new outdoor pool/outdoor entertainment venue planned. A new "celebrity-chef"-helmed restaurant, plus additional meeting and conference space, area also planned.
Nevada gambling revenue was up by a modest one percent in 2015 compared with the previous calendar year, according to figures released Friday by the Gaming Control Board, which record a casino win of $11.1 billion. This included a less-than-one-percent drop in Strip gaming revenue and a six percent increase for downtown.
In related news, 2015 was the third-busiest in its 67-year history for McCarran International Airport, with a passenger count of more than 45 million people. This reflects a 5.8 percent increase over 2014, with the biggest gains seen by domestic airlines.
Don't forget that at appox. 10 a.m. the Strip will be closed for the arrival of the Budweiser Clydesdales, in town to celebrate the grand opening of the new Beer Park at Paris.
Following last year's departure to host the 50th-anniversary event from the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX, the Academy of Country Music Awards returns to Vegas this year for its annual award show on on April 3, which takes place in conjunction with a massive three-day "Party for a Cause" hosted by MGM Grand's Festival Grounds -- the first event to be hosted by the North Strip venue since Rock in Rio last May. Headliners for Party for a Cause will include Carrie Underwood on April 1 for the "ACM Women of Country Night," Dierks Bentley (co-host of the Awards show itself) on April 2, and Kenny Chesney on April 3.
First announced by "Eater Vegas" earlier this month, the blog now has additional details regarding plans for a Strip-side "retailtainment" project at Wynn. According to the latest paperwork submitted to Clark County for approval, Wynn Plaza will occupy two stories, plus a storage basement, and will add a total of 86,502 square feet of retail and dining space, accessible both from Las Vegas Boulevard and from the property's interior.
With the exterior of the new MGM Mirage/AEG venue now looking pretty complete, work continues apace on the interior ahead of the April 6 grand opening, with the first of more than 17,000 seats to be installed Friday -- a process slated to take six weeks to complete.
As predicted earlier this month (see Stiffs & Georges 1/5/16), Sheldon Adelson has been revealed as one of the backers behind a new $1 billion domed stadium for Las Vegas, a project that now appears to be moving forward in conjunction with UNLV, which recently closed a $50 million deal to extend the university campus by 42 acres incorporating a site located near Tropicana Avenue and Koval Lane. According to information provided to FOX5 News by UNLV president Len Jessup, the land is to become home to a new special-events arena, long-proposed by the university, which is also in talks with the Oakland Raiders, currently in search of a new home.
A planned initial public offering by Station Casinos has reportedly been called off, at least for now. While no public statement has been made by Station, Deutsche Bank, which owns about 25% of the company, cited "[poor] market conditions" as the reason for the postponement.
The newest hamburger joint to hit town will be Burger Lounge, coming to Aria in March. After being founded and expanded to several locations in California, this will be the first to open outside of the state.
It's a pretty quiet one, as everyone gears up for their Big Game parties. Still, "quiet" in Vegas is definitely a relative term and there's still plenty to keep you from being bored. Here are some of the highlights:
Beer Park at Paris opens this weekend with a ceremony that will feature an appearance by the Budweiser Clydesdales. The Strip will be closed around 10 a.m. Saturday so the Clydesdales can make their way to the front of Paris. Located above the Chateau nightclub, Beer Park features a 10,000-square-foot deck with an outdoor grill, picnic tables, food served from roaming carts, and a selection of more than 100 beers.
Two weeks ago, the signage spotted this lunchtime on the casino floor at downtown's El Cortez would have meant nothing to us, but thanks to a typically "Vegas" example of synchronicity, it just so happens that a mere two weeks ago this writer's long-time hair stylist, who is of a fastidious and diamante-toenail-accessoried inclination, happened to offer the most unlikely recommendation for a massage parlor located in the totally sketchy neighborhood opposite the Orleans casino. She waxed lyrical about the quality, price, cleanliness, and professionalism, and how her professional-boxer ex had been taking their eight-year-old daughter there for some time. And now, out of the blue, we discovered that Happy Feet has opened a second, equally unlikely venue, upstairs at the El Cortez (where there's also a secret barber shop - who knew?!) We have yet to try either, but the initial recommendation was so compelling, and the prices are so ridiculously reasonable, that this is now a top LVA priority because frankly, our feet are completely miserable. The original Happy Feet location on Arville Street even offers a free shuttle from/to the Strip, just like a strip club, except not! Our only remaining question is how our long-time friend could have withheld knowledge of this hidden gem for so long, but we will rise above and not be a hoarder!
It's that time of year ... and the latest resort looking for seasonal staff is Stratosphere, for both its "toptional" RADIUS Rooftop Pool & Wet Lounge and for the former '8' resort pool, now known as Elation Pool. The casting call is on Feb. 3 inside the Theater, from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and currently they're looking exclusively for cocktail servers for both venues. Interested parties should apply in advance online at acepcareers.com.
This Friday marks the last opportunity for all you "model" types out there to be a part of Hard Rock's Team Rehab for the summer, with the final open casting call taking place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. inside Body English. You know the score, but just in case here's a link for more info and to submit your online application.
Having been operating in a seriously scaled-down form during the winter months, following last summer's transition to non-profit status (and the exit by Downtown Project's Tony Hsieh and his Zappos cohorts, whose brief ownership of the monthly arts festival had seen the event escalate to almost out-of-control proportions, with the loss of some of its intrinsic charm), February 5 will see a return of First Friday in a more-familiar form. Apparently, the popular Green Street eco-attraction will be missing (a sponsor is being sought), but the inaugural event promises a move back to the art-centric vibe of yore and less live music, street performance and fewer street closures. The upcoming event, dubbed "Back to Our Future," will be centered around the Arts Factory and Art Square, with about 30 artists' and artisans' stalls expected to participate, in addition to the brick-and-mortar vendors and galleries in the neighborhood, plus some 30+ food trucks, while the family-friendly KidZone will operate from 5 to 9 p.m. in the adjacent Boulder Plaza, so head on down and show your support if you can make it.
Speaking of props, the casinos will put up their hundreds of Super Bowl prop bets this week. Many won't come out till the weekend, however, because they wait to form their lines off the prop leader, Westgate. The Westgate props are due to come out some time on Thursday.
In more Westgate Las Vegas news, the newly revamped SuperBook, home to the famed SuperContest, is now offering the first-ever SuperProps Challenge in conjunction with the Gamblino points-based sports-betting app. This expansion of the SuperContest Satellite Series will be the first nationwide prop-picking contest for the pro football championship, with a first-place prize of free entry to the 2016 SuperContest (reg. entry is $1,500 value). Get more info about the SuperContest Satellite Series, download Gamblino, and register for the mobile tournaments at SuperContestSatelliteSeries.com.
Following multiple delays and then a seeming complete cancellation, a residency for '80s funksters Cameo is back on at the Westgate Las Vegas, where they'll be commencing performances March 2 in the Westgate Cabaret with shows Wednesday through Sunday at 7 p.m. Tickets, on sale now, start at $69.
The opening date for The Park has been announced for April 4. The outdoor dining and entertainment district that connects NY-NY, Monte Carlo, and the T-Mobile Arena will include several bars, as well as "small cafés and bistros," including the Beer Garden, with an outdoor play area offering bocce ball, darts, and ping pong; Sake Rok, a sushi joint that morphs into a Japanese-influenced nightlife venue; and a California Pizza Kitchen.
Virgin America has just launched a three-day sale on select nonstop fares from Las Vegas to locations including Los Angeles (starting at $39, including taxes!), San Francisco (from $59), Dallas ($129), JFK ($149), and many other destinations. Most flights depart on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, Feb. 9-May 25, and restrictions apply, so check out all the fine print, but we just experimented and were able to book a round-trip fare to LAX in early February for $70.60. Sale ends at 11:59 p.m. CT Thursday, so hurry!
The jobs are real, but the hiring process for MGM Resorts' 700+ summer pool positions in Las Vegas has gone "virtual," with applicants now able not only to complete the application process online, but also to submit an initial recorded video interview using a webcam or their mobile device. Those who successfully make it to the next stage of the hiring process will then have a live online interview with a hiring manager, cutting out the whole (often day-long) "cattle call" process of showing up in swimwear and sneakers, while opening up opportunities for candidates who can't make it in person for an audition. In addition to the hundreds of seasonal pool/restaurant positions for bartenders, lifeguards, hosts, food servers, etc. at MGM Resorts' nine Strip resorts, the company also plans to use the new "virtual" recruitment process to fill 200 positions soon to be available at the new $350 million T-Mobile Arena. Hiring is already underway for the seasonal positions; here's the link to get the application process underway.
The Spa and Salon at the Golden Nugget, which is the only downtown Las Vegas' only hotel to offer such an amenity, has just completed an $800,000 renovation. The 15,000-square-foot full-service facility features eight treatment rooms, including couples massage rooms, and now offers refurnished locker rooms and a state-of-the-art fitness center, among other upgrades.
The perennially popular family-owned Italian restaurant that opened in 1991, with a modest seating capacity for just 12, has been expanding ever since and will soon be moving to new premises. To coincide with its 25th anniversary this year, at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 26, Nora's Italian Cuisine will break ground at its brand new two-story home-to-be on the northeast corner of Flamingo Road and Duneville Street, which is scheduled for completion sometime this August and will feature additional seating, including an outdoor patio and a bocce court, plus large private dining rooms and a wine cellar.
In a recent interview with Roger Gros, publisher of Global Gaming Business magazine, downtown heavyweight Derek Stevens explains that his purchase of the Las Vegas Club was a surprise move, even to him, but was motivated by plans of previous owners Tamares Group to install a mega-drug store there, on the grounds that this would have given Fremont Street tourists ready access to liquor outside the casinos (presumably not from the perspective of competition, but that it might further add to the issue of unruly intoxication on the street?) While still unsure what the future holds for the historic property, Stevens did disclose that "there will be a combination of demolition, rehabilitation, [and] new construction," but that they're "not even at the design phase at this point," so don't expect any grand announcements anytime soon. Click here to catch a podcast of the full interview, which took place last month.
Following his December purchase of one million shares in Wynn Resorts, Chairman Steve Wynn last week ponied up for another half-million shares (522,850, to be precise) of his company's stock, at a cost of just over $31.8 million, further cementing his status as the largest stakeholder by far.
Additional 2016 dates have been announced for Mariah Carey's #1 to Infinity residency at Caesars Colosseum, with 18 more show dates running from June 7 through September 11, 2016. Tickets go on sale this Friday, Jan. 29, at 10 a.m. PT.
The Carolina Panthers opened as -4 favorites over the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl. There were some 3.5s, mostly offshore, but they quickly moved to 4. The total is 45.
In today's NFC Championship, the Carolina Panthers are -3 favorites over the Arizona Cardinals. The total is 47.
The spot formerly occupied by the Rio's Village Seafood Buffet, which was incorporated (sort of) into the main Carnival World Buffet at the end of last year, is to become the new home of KISS Monster Mini Golf, which debuted three years ago in The Shoppes at Harmon Square (across from the Hard Rock Hotel) and is slated to open this April, according to the VitalVegas blog, giving another rock 'n' roll dimension to the off-Strip property that's soon also to become the new home to the Rock of Ages show, formerly at Venetian. The plaza where the KISS attraction is currently located was sold back in 2013 to a local developer and is zoned for H-1 for high-rise and hotel development, although whether this signals an upcoming redevelopment of the site remains to be seen.
In today's AFC Championship, the New England Patriots are -3 favorites over the Denver Broncos. The total is 45.
We're experimenting with a mini-Sunday Funday poker tournament today, with some good prizes for the first three positions. The first-place prize is Advanced Advantage Play by Eliot Jacobsen, which retails for $50. Registration is open now and play begins at noon PST/3 p.m. EST today at LVA Casino (once signed in, click on "Poker Tournaments" and register for Tourney ID 10241). This tournament is completely free to play.
The inaugural reunion concerts from Axl, Slash, and the boys, scheduled for April 8 and 9 as part of the grand opening of Vegas' new T-Mobile Arena, officially sold out almost immediately after going on sale Saturday morning. If you missed out, tix are available via re-seller sites, with the cheapest we've seen to-date starting at $169 for the April 9 show or $192 for the April 8 debut.
Mark Cuban, billionaire owner of the Dallas Mavericks basketball team, has come out in full support of daily fantasy sports. Cuban called decisions in New York, Illinois, and Texas labeling DFS as illegal gambling "absolutely wrong" in an address at the winter meeting of the Fantasy Sports Trade Association. An investor in the DFS site Fantasy Labs, Cuban went on to say "And if this leads the charge to really define what gambling really is, without nuanced definitions depending on what state you're in and who's reading it, that's a good thing. If this leads to gambling being legalized and brought above ground, that's a good thing." Get the whole DFS story in our new book, Fantasy Sports Real Money.
After tearing out its big center bar at the front of the casino, Hooters has brought it back again. There was apparently a plan for the space, but nothing happened for months before someone decided it made more sense to sell drinks and offer video poker (the machines aren't in yet) than to have the big space sitting empty.
More than 60 flights at McCarran International Airport have been canceled over the last two days as a result of the east coast snowstorms. It's expected that associated delays will continue into next week, so monitor your flights closely if you're flying in or trying to get out this week.
Since our shock discovery Friday that apparently there were no tickets available for any future dates for Legends in Concert at the Flamgino, a fact confirmed by a call to the Box Office, we've been informed by a source close to the show that it's merely on extended hiatus during this "slow season," but will be back Feb. 13 (a fact supported by the fact that tix are now available on Ticketmaster from that point forward, which they had not been the previous time we checked). Phew!
All future performances of Legends in Concert at the Flamingo have been cancelled, effective immediately. Our monthly routine times/prices-verification call to the Box Office just revealed this fact, with the reservationist with whom we spoke informing us that he'd just learned two days ago. We'll keep you posted as and when more details become available -- the show traditionally has been dark on Fridays, but now it's also dark Saturday through Thursday; if you already have a ticket for a scheduled future performance, we assume the normal protocol applies and that refunds will be issued by/available from original point of purchase.
We knew we'd seen an informal chat on Twitter between various "show"-type peeps recently that indicated the Scintas show had a new Vegas gig in the works and would be reverting to their original name (having performed under the name of frontman Frankie Scinta at the D for a couple of years). But when we recently came to tackle a Question of the Day on the subject earlier this month, we could find no trace of said tweet, while no one in the entertainment world with whom we consulted had a clue what we were talking about (a query sent to Frankie himself was not returned). Now, however, vindication is ours (and sanity restored!), having yesterday discovered in passing that the act will be moving into the showroom at the Plaza with performances commencing Feb. 19 and running through May 14. The show is to perform at 7:30 p.m. on select Fridays and Saturdays and tickets start at $29 (plus tax/fees) for GA, with dinner-and-show packages featuring Oscar's Steakhouse available for $99.
Having hiked the 24-hour "Buffet of Buffets" pass price again by $5 last summer, to $54.99 with a Total Rewards card or $59.99 without on weekdays and $69.99/$74.99, respectively, on the weekend, Caesars Entertainment has now scrapped the discount for Total Rewards card members, meaning everyone is now obliged to pay a flat rate of $59.99 during the week and $74.99 on Fri./Sat. The "upcharges" for using the pass at Caesars' Bacchanal Buffet and the Seafood Buffet at the Rio the remain the same ($15 for breakfast, $25 lunch/brunch, and $30 for dinner at the former and $25 for the latter), but Rio has also axed the former $1 discount for Total Rewards members at the Seafood Buffet, so it's $47.99 during the week and $49.99 on the weekend now, regardless of whether or not you have a players card. Got that?!
Evidently the revolving door at the Ogden residential tower continues, and along with Itsy Bitsy having supplanted Wild (after the sampling the worst pizza we've ever tasted and a mojito made with tequila, can't say we're surprised) it turns out the short-lived Scullery bar quietly transformed last summer into Oddfellows Vegas, billed as the city's "first video bar and dance club." We doubt there will be anything quiet about tonight's happenings in Oddfellows, however, as it hosts "Hardcore Comedy: Las Vegas Edition" with a lineup of comedic talent from the world of porn, present and past (including the legendary Ron Jeremy) and other XXX-rated stand-up artists. There will be some real-life Penthouse pets in the house and giveaways from Fleshlight and Dallas Novelty, all as part of the ongoing Adult Entertianment Expo happenings taking place around town through 1/23. Tix are $15 (but free with AEE/AVN attendees with ticket/badge), doors at 7:30 p.m. (For a roundup of all the other hardcore happenings the city'd strip clubs and other venues now through the weekend, check out ToplessVegasOnline.com.)
Phase 2 of the $70 million convention center upgrade and expansion at Mandalay Bay has now been completed, it's been announced, with the debut of the 70,000-square-foot Oceanside Ballroom, which now brings the total footprint of the facility to 2 million square feet. Other aspects of the project that were finished last year included a new underground parking garage, a massive new foyer, additional exhibit space, and 8 additional acres of solar arrays (bringing the total to an area that covers almost 30 acres -- sufficient to power the equivalent of 1,300 homes). The ongoing upgrade of the hotel's 3,000 rooms and suites remains ongoing, but is slated for completion in February.
Unrelated to the music festival, Harvest by Roy Ellamar, the replacement for what was Sensi, is now open for business in Bellagio’s Spa Tower, serving a dinner menu of "New American" dishes with an Asian twist, focusing on locally sourced and sustainable seasonal ingredients, in line with Chef Ellamar's typical MO. Of note, Harvest features a stone oven for the preparation of dishes like whole fish and Maine lobster, plus signature quick bites served from its "Snack Wagon."
For the third consecutive year, a slew of country stars, including Luke Bryan, Toby Keith, and Brad Paisley, plus Little Big Town, Chris Young, and More Poised, will be headlining the now-annual Route 91 Harvest music festival hosted by Las Vegas Village (the outdoor venue across from Luxor) this Sept. 30 – Oct. 2. Passes (which sold out fast last year) go on sale Jan. 29 at 10 a.m. local time at RT91Harvest.com, with VIP upgrades including access to the shaded Neon Lounge with a private cash bar, premium elevated viewing and lounge seating, express festival entrance, air-conditioned restroom facilities, private food vendors, complimentary massage services, a dedicated festival concierge, and more, but prices have yet to be announced.
Last night saw the debut of J-Lo's residency stint, titled All I Have, at Planet Hollywood, while after the sold-out show the singer, and a significant portion of the star-studded audience, crossed the Strip to Caesars Palace for the official grand opening of MR CHOW.
Itsy Bitsy Ramen & Whisky, located at - hold on, we can't tell you that! - is hosting a Ramen-a-Day contest, with the victor winning 56 complimentary bowls of ramen noodles to be consumed during the month of February (so that's one a day for the winner and a dining companion throughout the month, although with this year being a leap year, shouldn't that be 58 bowls?) Click here for the official rules and how to enter and you'll see why we can't divulge the restaurant's location.
For more than a decade, author Matt O'Brien has been "shining a light" on what before was the out-of-sight, out-of-mind reality of hundreds of homeless people living in the dark, dangerous storm drains and flood channels that run underneath Las Vegas. We at Huntington Press are proud and honored to have published his compassionate exposé, Beneath the Neon, which has since caught the attention of not only national, but international media. Matt's mission has a very practical dimension too, however, and right now he has 24 hours to raise $10,000 that will help with everything from providing socks and other warm clothing to the tunnel dwellers, to buying phone cards so people can contact their families, to helping with drug-rehabilitation. So, if you can spare a little (or a lot) to help someone who's definitely having a much-worse day than you are, please give to the Crowdrise campaign and do it RIGHT NOW, as the fund-raising window runs for just 86,402 seconds, and the clock is already ticking... Thank you.
For more information about Matt O'Brien, his "Shine a Light" non-profit, and what life is like "Beneath the Neon," please visit his official website.
The hiring process is already well underway for Hard Rock's Rehab, and now M Resort is ready to start auditioning for 90 seasonal workers at its Resort Pool (looks like it's no longer called Villagio del Sole, mercifully!) and DayDream Pool Club. Available positions include: cocktail servers, bartenders, barbacks, lifeguards, security officers, cashiers, pool supervisors, VIP sales representatives, and cooks, and interested candidates are encouraged to apply online in advance of the three-day job fair, scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 26 through Thursday, Jan. 28, by visiting www.themresort.com and clicking on the "Employment" link at the bottom of the page. Here's the lowdown on which auditions are happening when (as to the "where," all will be taking place in Ravella Lounge):
Since 2006, the Year of the Dog, LVA's Question of the Day column has had an annual tradition of listing those casino cages that were "selling" commemorative chips to mark Chinese New Year. Only "selling" chips is technically a violation of gaming regulations and, perhaps as a result of our coverage, the practice has become all but extinct. It's still a little early for all details to be released, but our initial inquiries have revealed that the most notable change this year comes from Venetian/Palazzo, which is not offering their $25 Year of the Monkey commemorative chips upon request at either property's cage, but are sticking to the letter of the law, meaning they're already in circulation on the gaming floor and if you buy in, you may or may not receive one. Other properties we checked with either aren't sure yet what they'll be offering, if anything (The Cosmopolitan and Gold Coast); Palace Station will have $5 chips but they're not sure when; and, starting Feb. 13, Wynn/Encore will be offering $1 chips, by request, at both cages.
What perhaps began back in 2010 as a Facebook petition to bring the iconic Swedish furniture-and-lifestyle store to the Las Vegas area is finally coming to fruition, with the IKEA store under construction at Durango and Sunset (on the northern side of the 215 Beltway) now set to open this summer. And this week it's been announced that there are some 300 positions to be filled in home-furnishings sales, interior design, customer service, safety and security, cashier roles, facility-management, receiving, stock-replenishment, and the warehouse. Candidates interested in working there should apply online at IKEA-USA.com. There will also be approx. 60 positions in food service, since the store will feature a restaurant, Swedish Food Market (they're known for their meatballs and check out the Dime Bar candy - highly recommended!), Cafe Bistro, and a workers' cafeteria. The company prides itself on its worker-benefits package, which includes paid vacation, paid maternity/paternity leave, store discounts, and full medical/dental insurance (that's how they do in Scandinavia!)
Although the closing of Zarkana has officially been couched in terms of the production being a victim of Aria's convention-center expansion, it's the second Cirque show to close in Sin City (the first being Viva Elvis! at the same venue) and now comes word that both Beatles LOVE at the Mirage and CRISS ANGEL BeLIEve at Mandalay Bay are to undergo major revamps, reports the LV Sun, with behind-the-scenes preparations already well underway. LOVE will go dark mid-February for a couple of weeks or so while the changes are implemented in preparation for the show's 10th-anniversary celebration sometime this summer, while BeLIEve is set to close temporarily in April and return "70 percent different" in May.
This Thursday night at 10 p.m., the well-named 14-piece Lon Bronson All-Star Band is performing a special David Bowie tribute show in Sunset Station's Club Madrid, which is sure to be a treat for any fan and there's no cover (must be 21+). The band now has a twice-monthly gig at the venue on every first and third Thursday, plus you can catch the Emmy-nominated rockin' funksters showcasing Beatles' classics tomorrow night in the Cabaret Jazz venue at the Smith Center, where they also perform once a month (tix start at $15).
It was strongly rumored and now it's official: For the first time in 23 years, this April 8-9 will see the iconic rockers together again on stage as Guns N' Roses joins the line-up of big-name acts debuting the T-Mobile Arena, prior to headlining this year's Coachella festival. Tickets for the show start at $79.50 (plus fees) and go on sale Saturday, Jan. 23, at 10 a.m.
Having heard Jonathan Jossel on KNPR's State of Nevada this morning, we were perusing the Plaza's website and came across this, hidden in their entertainment section! On Jan. 24 at 4 p.m. (bet he doesn't come on til 4:20), Doug Benson ("Last Comic Standing," "Super High Me," and High Times' 2009 Stoner of the Year) has a one-off gig in the Plaza's showroom and tickets start at just $18!
The popular sandwich chain is opening a new Aliante store soon at 2600 Nature Park Drive and when the big day comes, the first 100 customers will be rewarded with free "Bobbies," the signature turkey-and-cranberry sub, for a year. Follow on Facebook for event details.
On Wednesday, January 27, Bob Dancer's free video poker seminars resume at South Point in the Grandview Lounge, with classes dedicated to different games and player levels, from beginners to advanced strategy. Anyone aged 21+ is welcome to attend, but you'd be advised to pick a class that's appropriate to your level of play, and if you're not sure what that is, take a look at this week's column, in which he focuses on advanced strategy for 8/5 Bonus, and you'll probably know pretty quickly if this is for you or not. (If not, then check out one of the beginner's classes on Feb. 3, where 9/6 Double Bonus and 9/7 Double Double Bonus will be the games he teaches -- and if you don't know what the heck 9/6 or 9/7 means, that's okay, all will be revealed!)
The new Crown & Anchor as opened in the Arts District. As of now, the "Downtown Crown" is not offering the lunch comp in place at the two other C&As in town, though we're told it will be instituted soon.
The word on the street is that at some point later this week, the Strip will likely be shut down while a massive car-chase sequence for the new Jason Bourne movie gets filmed on a stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard that spans all the way from Aria to the Riv. See VitalVegas.com for more, plus some tips on good vantage points (which we could've done ourselves, but frankly we're busy with more-important things, and why reinvent the wheel?)
Thanks to the reader who drew our attention to this recent article in the LA Times pointing out the introduction of new self-service check-in kiosks at Caesars Palace, Flamingo, and The LINQ ... with a hint that this a pre-cursor to Caesars Entertainment eliminating all human interaction whatsoever at guest registration (which would signal the death knell, once and for all, of that old "$20 trick", at least as far as Las Vegas is concerned).
The Rogers Foundation, described as "Southern Nevada's premier champion of arts and education," is accepting applications now through March 25 for $300,000 in the form of three separate grants to be awarded to three new ventures designed to offer children within the Clark County School District the Gift of Imagination, Gift of Knowledge, and Gift of Assurance, respectively. For more information, and to submit a proposal for consideration, visit therogers.foundation. Recipients will be announced at the end of May.
Excalibur, one of the few MGM Resorts hotels on the Strip that still offers smoking accommodation (see Question of the Day 12/24/2015), is remodeling 1,995 guest rooms* and suites in its newly renamed Royal Tower, although we note that the upgrade to these rooms will introduce "a completely smoke-free experience, new carpeting and bedding, modern furnishings, and 40-inch flat-screen TVs." Some of the rooms are already available to book, with the complete overhaul expected to be completed in April. In addition, the pool deck is also receiving another** face-lift, including the addition of new dining areas, cabanas, and "furnishings and surfaces".
*In total, the property features 3,981 rooms and 41 suites.
**We don't recall exactly when the pool-deck area received its last upgrade, but it was within the past few years, and strangely even the hotel's own new website still displays the same artist's rendition of the facility that was released the last time around.
Not to be out-done by its Fashion Show neighbor across the street, the "Eater Vegas" blog reports that plans are in the works for an expansion to the Strip resort in the form of "Wynn Plaza," a proposed extension that will add new retail and food-and-beverage offerings to be located somewhere in the vicinity of the main entrance, likely occupying space freed up by the closing of the Ferrari store and the relocation of the poker room to Encore.
TJ Dillashaw is a -155 favorite over Dominick Cruz in tonight's UFC main event. In the other featured match, Anthony Pettis is -335 over Eddie Alvarez.
In next week's NFC Championship game, the Carolina Panthers are -3 favorites over the Arizona Cardinals, with a total of 47. In the AFC Championship, the New England Patriots are -3 over the Denver Broncos, with a total of 44.5.
In today's AFC playoff, the Denver Broncos s are -7 favorites over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The total is 41.
Registration is now open for our "Sunday Funday 24" poker tournament. Play begins at noon PST/3 p.m. EST today. Along with $100 for first, there are several new prizes, including the acclaimed poker book, The Course, from Ed Miller; Advanced Advantage Play by Eliot Jacobsen, and our new books Cheating at Blackjack and Fantasy Sports Real Money, both just back from the printer. There are prizes for all final-table contestants and a "bubble" prize for 10th place. See the entire prize pool and register to play at the LVA Casino (once signed in, click on "Poker Tournaments" and register for Tourney ID 10267). This tournament is completely free to play. There will also be other tourneys running all day for gift cards and play chips. Come have some fun! See you at noon.
In today's NFC playoff, the Carolina Panthers are -2.5 favorites over the Seattle Seahawks. The total is 41.5.
The Westgate Superbook will debut its long-awaited mobile app on Tuesday. Director Jay Kornegay says the app will allow remote betting (within the state) of all of its Super Bowl props, "almost 400" of which will be posted this year.
It's been announced by his family that Daniel Dion, brother of Celine and eighth in the family of 14 children, passed away on Saturday, also of cancer, just days after the death of René Angélil. The latter's funeral has been scheduled for Friday, while a public visitation will be held a day before, followed by a public memorial for fans in Las Vegas on Feb. 3, at Caesars Palace Colosseum.
A new post is up from advantage player extraordinaire James Grosjean at Beyond Numbers blog. Grosjean discusses what to do if you lose your ID in a casino where you have heat -- including a step-by-step method for retrieving it with minimal damage to your longevity there.
In today's NFC playoff, the Arizona Cardinals s are -7 favorites over the Green Bay Packers. The total is 49.
In today's AFC playoff, the New England Patriots s are -5.5 favorites over the Kansas City Chiefs. The total is 44.5.
Reserve some time tomorrow to play in our 24th Sunday Funday online poker tournament. First place gets $100 and everyone at the final table will win prizes. To start the 2016 season, we've added several new prizes, including our new books, Cheating at Blackjack and the revised third edition of Knock-Out Blackjack, both of which have just arrived from the printer. The game kicks off at 3 p.m. EST/noon PST. It's completely free to play, with registration beginning two hours before the tournament at the LVA Casino.
Although when the possibility of MGM Resorts International introducing paid parking at its Las Vegas Strip resorts was dismissed by the company late last year as "rumor and speculation," (see LVA Question of the Day 10/28/2015), this morning an official press release announced a complete reversal, both of the no-parking-fee policy and of previous statements that the new T-Mobile Arena would not be receiving its own parking structure, in a move reminiscent of Caesars Entertainment's volte-face regarding hotel resort fees. The media was given one hour's notice of a press conference that is taking place right now, but via social media company representatives so far have already stated that while members of the M life players club will be able to earn points off-settable against the new parking fees, diners wishing to visit any of the company's Strip property's will not be eligible to validate for free parking and will face "slightly less than $10" (which we assume translates as $9.99, or thereabouts). The move, which will apply both to valet and self-parking, is being couched in terms of the company's decision to "enhance the guest parking experience" by way of a $90 million investment in a new $54-million, 3,000-space parking structure near the northwest corner of Excalibur, mobile technology allowing visitors to check space availability prior to arrival, upgrades to lighting, escalators, elevators, and a redesign of existing parking-facility layouts to improve accessibility.
WOW.
As anticipated, following the death this week of her husband René Angélil, who had been fighting a long battle with cancer, Celine Dion's two shows at Caesars Colosseum this weekend have been canceled but the singer is currently planning to return Feb. 23, when her next performance is scheduled to take place. For those holding tickets for this weekend, refunds will be issued from the original point of purchase.
If you didn't make it to the first recruitment session for "model" bartenders, servers, hostesses, barbacks, food runners, and the like that took place earlier this month, Hard Rock is offering a second shot, with an additional casting call just announced for Friday, Jan. 9. The event will take place inside Paradise Tower’s Studio 4A-4E, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and we assume the same dress code will be required for those auditioning, namely swimwear and sneakers. For the non-model positions of lifeguard, security, cashiers, and promoters, the final recruiting session (announced to date) takes place today from 1 to 4 p.m. inside Muse Hall, and note that for these roles, applicants should come dressed in business attire.
On Saturday, Jan. 23. from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., the parking lot of the Thomas & Mack Center (4505 S. Maryland Pkwy.), will host the Living Green Super Recycle Day, with a broad spectrum of items accepted, including computers, printers, cell phones, flat-screen monitors and TVs (nut no tube or projection TVs), gaming consoles and games, wires and cables, clothes and accessories, shoes, all housewares, furniture, décor and art, tools, small appliances, linens, sporting goods, musical instruments, new and gently used children's books, up to four bags/boxes of documents for shredding, and unused or expired medicines. There's no mention of a fee in the official press release, while RC Willey will have a limited supply of $25 gift cards for participants.
According to Billboard.com, a reunited GUNS N' ROSES — featuring singer Axl Rose alongside guitarist Slash and bassist Duff McKagan — has joined the lineup of artists slated to play the new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas as part of what's currently in negotiation as a 25-stadium North America tour this summer. While no firm date has been announced, tickets will apparently be topping out in the $250 to $275 range.
Following his long battle with cancer, Céline Dion's husband René Angélil passed away at their Lake Las Vegas home this morning. Anthony Curtis had known René for many years having played on the same tournament-gambling circuit together (where Angélil was affectionately known as "Frenchie") and regrets never paying attention to the cassette tape of a young unknown female Canadian singer that Frenchie would urge his fellow gamblers to listen to in his quest for investors to help launch her career...
So far we've heard no word as to how this may affect the singer's upcoming performances at Caesars' Colosseum -- Céline is already dark tonight and Friday, but the singer currently has shows scheduled for this coming weekend, which we suspect may well be canceled.
It's a mixed bag entertainment-wise, mainly of the throwback kind, but here are some of the highlights:
Now that all the results of last night's epic Powerball lottery draw have come in, it's been confirmed that the record $1.6 billion jackpot will be split between three winners in California, Florida, and Tennessee, although to date no one has stepped forward to claim their prize.
Despite an encouraging December, when the casino win was up slightly on the previous year, overall Atlantic City's casinos won less than $2.6 billion from gamblers last year, representing a 50 percent decline over the past decade, indicative of the ongoing malaise besetting the east coast gaming destination. And with municipal tax revenues having been so hard-hit thanks to the drop in casino profits and the city now facing a $90 million shortfall next year, New Jersey lawmakers this week threatened to end Atlantic City's casino monopoly and either face a state takeover of its finances for the next 15 years or else be forced to file for bankruptcy. Senate President Steve Sweeney minced no words when stating, "This is a very clear statement to Atlantic City: Get your act together, knock off the B.S. and start addressing what you need to address. The state is not going to come in and bail you out any more. You need to fix this." Hence, this November voters will be asked to approve the expansion of casino gambling to northern New Jersey and a sharing of the revenues to help get Atlantic City back on its feet.
According to Yahoo! Travel, Connecticut's Mohegan Sun is the top casino in the nation outside of Las Vegas, earning the accolade for reasons including its vast size and the diversity of its gaming options, which include the ability to wager on horse-racing in the U.S., Australia, and U.K. The resort destination's amenities, including an extensive restaurant lineup, multiple nightclubs, golf course, spa, luxury hotel, and an arena that’s home to the WNBA Connecticut Suns were also cites. Other high-ranking picks include Thunder Valley, located near Sacramento, with its ease of access as a weekend and Morongo, which is among the largest casinos in California and one of only four AAA four diamond casinos in the state. Click here to view the complete list.
Conflicting information has been released, but it looks like there were three winning tickets in last night's Powerball drawing. Players in California, Florida, and Tennessee will reportedly share the record $1.6 billion jackpot. Everything doesn't figure to be final and official for another day or two.
The Powerball jackpot has finally been hit, with at least one winning ticket sold in California, lottery officials have confirmed, while still awaiting word from other states regarding any possible additional winning tickets. The lucky numbers drawn tonight were 8-27-34-4-19 and the Powerball number was 10.
Here's another Powerball play. Following the announcement of the numbers, bring a losing lottery ticket from tonight's drawing to Ellis Island to get $5 in slot free-play. One ticket per person. The offer is good through this Sunday. Who's next?
With the filming of lastest movie in the Bourne franchise currently underway all over Las Vegas (Matt Damon and fellow cast members have been spotted filming scenes at various locations along the Strip, including Aria and McCarran International Airport), statistics just released show that 2015 was a record year for the number of film permits issued by Clark County, with a total of 440 (compared to 343 two years ago). A permit is required only for any commercial filming, whether film or TV, that impacts public rights of way or other property (roads, sidewalks, parks, etc.) so that figure actually understates the total number of projects that chose to feature Las Vegas as a location.
P.S. Note that the Bourne crew is slated to be in town filming through the end of the month, and there are still opportunities to be a part of the production -- sign up here if you're interested in being an extra.
The popular family-owned Lebanese restaurant formerly located on the east side of town was this week ranted its Special Use permit by City Hall, meaning that Khourys is now all set to reopen at its new location at Village Square (9340 W. Sahara) and promises that the Sangria will soon be flowing. Here's a sneak peak at the new venue.
Aliante Casino + Hotel has debuted a new Players Club and will commence issuing new, redesigned cards starting Monday, Feb. 1. The new casino loyalty program features four levels -- Premier, Celebrity, Headliner, and Legend -- and has eliminated the former "Elite" tier while adding additional benefits, including the new "Paycheck Payday" promo, where players who cash their paycheck at the cashier's cage get the chance to swipe their card at the kiosk for prizes ranging from a free drink, up to $500 in slot free play.
Topgolf International, the four-story, 105,000-square-foot golf "experience" currently under construction at MGM Grand has announced that it will open in May and will be hiring for 850 positions, including servers, bartenders, golf instructors, bussers, kitchen, maintenance, guest-services staff, and other rolls. More details and application forms are available at topgolf.com/vegascareers and interviews will begin immediately at the Topgolf Office (4305 Dean Martin Ave., Suite 185) on Mondays and Tuesdays from 3-6 p.m. Call 702/963-0000 to schedule an appointment once you've completed the online application process. In addition to its 108 hitting bays, the attraction will include five bars, two kitchens, a concert venue, two swimming pools, a retail shop and Callaway club fitting center, and private-event spaces, and employees are promised lots of perks, including free Topgolf game play and on-site food and beverage discounts.
It's all Plaza, all day today, evidently, with news that the rooftop pool at downtown's Plaza, which was briefly slated to be joined by an ice rink, recently commenced a $4 million upgrade. Work began Jan. 4 on the 70,000-square-foot rooftop pool deck, which will be gaining new cabanas, bars, daybeds, and a whole new look. It's the continuation of a property-wide upgrade that's been ongoing since 2010 and when the work's completed -- which should be in time for this summer - the facility will host live entertainment, gaming, and full food and beverage service.
Looking for an edge in today's Powerball drawing? Here it is. Bring your lottery tickets to the Plaza and get their cost reimbursed up to $25 in slot free-play. Must be a slot club member. Tickets have to be dated Jan. 10-13 and the offer is good until Jan. 17. It's the closest thing to a lottery free roll that we know of.
And they're bringing their food! [I can say that, I am one :-)] Hot on the heels of The Smashed Pig comes the third venue from the Crown & Anchor brand (the others being the original, on E. Tropicana, and its smaller sibling on W. Spring Mtn.), with the Downtown Crown Pub apparently slated to open tomorrow. Located at 107 E. Charleston Blvd., on at the former location of Bar + Bistro, it actually had a temporary "soft" opening last September, when it debuted briefly to host a pre-Parade party as part of Gay PRIDE festivities, but Wednesday will mark the official opening of the new venue, which promises to be a little "edgier" than the other two Crowns, in keeping with the artsy downtown vibe, but will offer similar pub grub, video poker, and bar games.
The resort continues in its quest to find the right entertainment mix, it would seem, with word that the Strip will be gaining yet another comedy club, following the departure last year of LA Comedy Club from Bally's to the Stratosphere. Commencing Jan. 14, Jokesters Comedy Club will be performing nightly at 9:30 p.m. in the Windows Showroom and featuring, so the PR blurb promises, a "constantly rotating line up of some of the funniest comedians to play the Las Vegas Strip." The shows will run for 75 minutes and tickets start at $37.99 (plus tax/fees).
While many people are under the misconception that blackjack card counting requires advanced math and memory skills (in fact, at its basic level the ability to add/subtract one at a time is all that's needed), in this week's column video poker pro Bob Dancer addresses some of the requisites of being a skilled video poker player, where a more advanced ability to make accurate calculations and understand the nuances of a pay schedule, the implications of a progressive-meter level, or the expected value ("EV") of scratch-card bonus, is as crucial component of playing with an edge as knowing which cards to hold or discard in any given hand.
The new entertainment impresarios on the block, Clique Hospitality (the collaboration between Light Group co-founder Andy Masi -- who was not among those tainted by the various scandals that saw the once-dominant group effectively evicted from the Vegas nightlife scene -- and renowned Chef Brian Massie), will soon launch a new venue at the Mirage. The Still, slated to open in March in time for St. Patrick's Day, is described as "the ultimate man cave and sports destination," featuring a restaurant serving bar food with an upscale twist, like flounder fish and chips with black truffle tartar sauce, plus simpler fare like classic street tacos and sliders (all prepared by a kitchen housed in an Airstream trailer), plus a full bar specializing in more than 50 craft beers from around the world. Diversions will include billiards and shuffleboard in addition to the de rigueur multiple hi-def TV screened tuned to sporting events.
With the Powerball jackpot level having reached the stratospheric height of some $1.5 billion, it's not just the long lines of ticket-buyers that could be causing headaches for those vendors who sell them: According to a report by the Associated Press, the sheer number of digits is causing issues regarding electronic billboards and other advertising signage that simply wasn't designed to accommodate numbers higher than millions. Hence, it's reported that in Texas there were billboards touting the prize as $999 million - the highest number they could depict - while in Iowa the message printed Sunday at the bottom of all lottery tickets said the next Powerball jackpot would be "$1,300 million," which was a technically correct but amusing workaround that had been corrected to $1.4 billion by Monday.
Meanwhile, for a breakdown of whether or not the Powerball jackpot has reached the tipping point to make it a "positive-expectation" proposition to buy a ticket, and what factors need to be taken into account to determine this, you'll find the complete lowdown from a professional-gambler perspective in today's Las Vegas Advisor Question of the Day.
Following two sold-out shows when she opened the "Comedy Rocks" series in Red Rock's Rocks Lounge, veteran comedian Rita Rudner is returning for for, with new dates scheduled for Friday, April 22 and Saturday, April 23. Tickets start at $25 and go on sale on Friday, Feb. 5 at 10 a.m.
In the college-football National Championship, Alabama is a -6.5 favorite over Clemson. The total is 50.5.
The "Happiest 5K Run on the Planet" will revisit the streets of downtown Las Vegas this February 27, with bi-peds of all abilities, ages, and speeds invited to participate in the charity race and its Island-style Rainbow Beach Finish Festival. There will be music, dancing, and a massive color-throw celebration, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Three Square Food Bank.
Tickets go on sale at noon today for the sixth annual Jay Cutler Desert Classic, to be held inside The Pearl at Palms on Saturday, March 26. The NPC national qualifier competition comprises male and female contestants from around the country competing in body building, physique, and fitness categories and in addition features an array of specialist vendors of fitness gear, supplements, etc. Tix for the finals, hosted by four-time Mr. Olympia Jay Cutler, are $48 and there will be an after party at Ghostbar.
No, it's not an infestation of predatory arachnids that's just been announced, but a mini-residency for the veteran German rockers, following their sold-out show at The Joint last October. The five-night run commences May 13, with additional dates May 14, 18, 20, and 21, with special guests Queensrÿche also returning for each show. Tickets for "Blacked Out in Vegas" start at $49.95 go on sale Friday, Jan. 15.
In today's second NFC Wild Card Playoff game, the Washington Redskins are -1.5 favorites over the Green Bay Packers. The total is 47.5.
A new 10-week semester of Bob Dancer's free video poker classes has been announced. Beginning January 27, classes will be held at South Point on Wednesdays. The specific schedule will be published in the February Las Vegas Advisor.
In today's first of two NFC Wild Card Playoff games, the Seattle Seahawks are -4 favorites over the Minnesota Vikings. The total is 40.
The biggest lottery prize in history will continue to grow, as Saturday's Powerball drawing for a $949.8 million jackpot failed to produce a winner. The record prize is expected to climb to the vicinity of $1.3 billion by Wednesday's drawing.
In today's second AFC Wild Card Playoff, the Pittsburgh Steelers are -2 favorites over the Cincinnati Bengals. The total is 45.5.
Check out tomorrow's Question of the Day for the scoop on something new coming to the V Theater in the not-too-distant future, but in the meantime we've learned that Puppet Up! -- Uncensored, an irreverent production featuring six puppeteers and 60 muppet-style characters developed by an arm of the original Jim Henson Company, will be coming to the Venetian for a residency sometime this spring. The show, which is for audiences aged 16+, is the result of a collaboration between director, producer, and writer Brian Henson and actor, director, and improvisational guru Patrick Bristow and features live musical accompaniment.
If you're watching the NFL playoffs in a Station sports book today, it'll cost you a little more for a beer. The price of Bud or Bud Light sold from the sports book carts has gone up from $2 to $2.50. Hot dogs are still $1.
In today's first of two AFC Wild Card Playoffs, the Kansas City Chiefs are -3 favorites over the Houston Texans. The total is 39.5.
If you still haven't disposed of that holiday Christmas tree, you have until next Friday, but it's something you probably want to get out of the way over the weekend. Here's a link to the list of 34 drop-off locations around the valley, so do the right thing and make mulch, not war!
Oops, apologies for the last posting but this week just got away from us somehow. Here are your entertainment highlights:
The chances of rain on Saturday are estimated at 30-40 percent, so you're a a LOT more likely to get wet than you are to hit the lottery. Low of around 35 degrees expected tonight, so stay snuggly.
There's still plenty of time to buy a ticket ahead of Saturday's drawing, so the prospect of the first billion-dollar lottery jackpot is not without question. As it currently stands, a single winner opting for an instant cash payment, as opposed to installments paid out over a 29-year period, would be looking at a $496 million payday right now. And the odds of being that lucky player? 1 in 292 million.
From Feb. 3-22, REO Speedwagon lead guitarist Dave Amato will be joining the cast of rock icons in Raiding the Rock Vault at the Tropicana, having previously joined the band on stage for an impromptu jam session when he attended the show back in Dec. 2014. (Don't forget, LVA members can score a 45% discount on tix to this production with the 2016 Member Rewards Book!)
The January issue of gaming publication Raving Solutions Magazine, from widely respected industry consultant Dennis Conrad, carries a "4/4 thumbs-up" review of LVA's Stiffs & Georges blog. Penned by long-time casino-business observer and columnist David McKee, Dennis nails it when he cautions, "Don't read Stiffs & Georges if you want anything other than smart, honest, opinionated, hard-hitting reporting and commentary on the worldwide gambling industry" and how "McKee is not afraid to call a spade a spade, or dig past the usual fluff." He concludes, "No matter your level of interest in this crazy industry, Stiffs & Georges will leave you smarter, savvier, and more entertained than you were before you discovered this online gem. And that is McKee's magic."
We couldn't agree more and are proud to host this blog, plus McKee is also a much-valued regular contributor to our "Question of the Day" feature. Hence, we feel zero compunction about tooting our own horn here, just for a moment. Bravo, David!
No, it's not the Betty Ford clinic looking for nurses, it's the Hard Rock pool party looking for servers, lifeguards, bartenders, hostesses, hosts, security, and so on. The hiring process kicks off this weekend, so get your beautiful on right now if you're interested. The first round of casting calls takes place this Saturday, Jan. 9 and Sunday, Jan. 10 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. inside Body English. There will be a second round Thursday, Jan. 14 and Friday, Jan. 15 from 1-4 p.m. inside Muse Hall. NOTE: This weekend's event is for the "model" positions (i.e. servers, bartenders, barbacks, hostesses, etc. - bathing attire and sneakers is the required look for your audition) while the second recruitment session is for lifeguards, security, cashiers, promoters, and so on (business attire, please). Everyone must be 21+ with valid ID.
So-called "tavern" chains like Dotty's and Jackpot Joanie's could be in trouble, with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals having summarily rejected the brands' appeal against the enforcement of Clark County regulations covering the operation of the gambling devices, of which their current operating model is in direct violation. Unless the slot-parlor venues comply with certain stipulations, including operating full-service kitchens and embedding more than half of their gaming machines into "bar tops," then they must either be able to prove that less than half of their revenue comes from gaming, or else face the prospect of being able to operate a maximum of seven gaming machines (as opposed to the current 15), which would likely render the businesses financially unviable. One new Dotty's location, at Hualapai and Sahara, has already had its requested machine inventory rejected and was effectively awarded only half a gaming license at the end of last year.
With Wednesday night's drawing failing to find a winner, the Powerball jackpot has now officially reached a new record level at $700 million and rising, and with lottery officials reporting a peak in ticket sales of $800,000 per hour in Maryland on Wednesday night, while Pennsylvania recorded sales of $1.2 million per hour. If the ticket-buying frenzy continues at anything like this rate through Saturday, we could be looking at the creation of the first lottery billionaire.
Since we penned the Penn National/future of the Trop answer, some more information has been forthcoming courtesy of a Deutsche Bank gaming analyst, who recently toured the property, so we've expanded today's answer to reflect this.
What has to-date been known as the "Las Vegas Arena" -- the collaborative 20,000-seat venue from AEG and MGM Resorts that's slated to open on Wednesday, April 6, with a concert featuring perhaps the most-unlikely lineup of all time (The Killers, Wayne Newton, and Shamir, who will be sharing the stage not from any remote musical kinship, but cos they're all Vegas boys), now has an official sponsor, which means it also has an official name: Say hello to the T-Mobile Arena!
In other (weird) news, which we have only just found the time to report and which readers may not have heard, someone is making noises about opening a gargantuan other arena, five times the size of the T-Mobile affair, and it's someone secretive who has enough land on the Strip and money in their back pocket to do it -- for our best guess, check out recent "Stiffs & Georges" post Another Day in Adelsonia.
In yet MORE arena news, it looks like it's still all systems go for the proposed 5,000-seat live-music venue at the Monte Carlo, with an ambitious time-frame of "late this year" confirmed to complete the complete remodel and expansion of the former Lance Burton/Jabbawockeez/Blue Man Group theater. It's part of a plan to "out-Cosmo the Cosmopolitan" by being "hotter and hipper," according to gossip columnist Robin Leach, who is also bandying-around names of the "celebrity" chefs who are in discussions with MGM Resorts to open venues at the Strip property, which will eventually receive a new name.
Plans for arenas have been coming thick and fast over the past few years, with most having fallen by the wayside (see Question of the Day Archives 2/2/14; 9/18/14, and 9/19/14), or at least turned deafeningly quiet, so we're not holding our breath about the latest mega-project for a plethora of reasons, but mainly because it sounds completely insane.
Having already changed hands several times since it closed in January 2014, last summer it looked as if the future of Atlantic City's shuttered Atlantic Club had finally been settled (see Today's News 6/30/2015), but the sale by TJM Properties to Endeavor Property Group, which planned to convert the property into an non-casino resort featuring an indoor-outdoor water park, fell through this week after the buyers failed to raise sufficient deposit funds to realize their plan. So it's back to square one for the defunct casino.
Today's Question of the Day, which is all about the future of the Tropicana, including "will they, won't they?" regarding the resort fee, has now been fixed. It required actual real-life time travel on the part of the editor, but she's now back at her desk at the office and she returned from the past with the answer!
We are currently having a problem with the QoD generation today. Please bear with us while we work on the problem.
2016 will see ongoing additions and expansions for The Cosmopolitan casino. In addition to the previously announced new race and sports and an expansion of the Talon Club high-limit "speakeasy" table games lounge, a new high-Limit slot lounge debuted on New Year's Eve, featuring its own dedicated cage and exclusive Fastpay Jackpot processing. Expect some general upgrades to the main casino floor, too.
Now, that's one big Kahuna, although short of the all-time record of $656 million set in 2012, and you still have a couple of hours to make it across the state line to purchase a ticket in a neighboring state where the lottery is legal: Tonight's drawing can be viewed live on ABC at 11 p.m. ET.
Following the successful negotiation of a sales tax increase to pay for additional officers, Metro is once again responding to non-injury traffic accidents, but at the discretion of the drivers involved. In the spring of 2014, police ceased responding to to minor crashes where no DUI was suspected, placing the onus on the drivers involved to detail the incident, photograph the scene, and exchange personal and other relevant vehicle information for the purposes of pursuing insurance claims. Metro also ceased accepting/processing accident reports at police substations. Now, if any driver involved feels that police intervention is necessary, for example if another driver involved is uncooperative, the other party should dial 311 to report a non-injury crash and wait for a unit to respond to the scene.
Station Casinos' northwest-valley property will no long be the odd one out, with news that popular dining concept The Oyster Bar, first introduced at Palace Station 20 years ago and now also operating at Texas and Sunset Stations, will debut at Santa Fe Station later this month. The Oyster Bar will showcase a number of the brand's signature seafood specialties, including pan roasts, gumbo, cioppino, seafood jambalaya, and a a choice of chowders, and will be open for dinner nightly from 5 p.m.
Following truncated runs for the Elvis tribute and Suzanne Somers shows, and a complete non-happening for Cameo, Westgate Las Vegas is evidently trying a new tack entertainment-wise, with word that February will see the debut of Twisted Vegas. The brainchild and vehicle for French comedian Alex Goude (described as the French equivalent of Neil Patrick Harris), the production is described as an "all-you-can-handle, insanely interactive Las Vegas highlight reel" featuring singers, dancers, acrobats, aerialists, magicians, contortionists, impersonators and, if the publicity drawing is anything to go by, even a Smurf. Twisted Vegas is set to open Feb. 9 in the International Theater, with performances nightly at 7 p.m. (dark Mondays). Tickets, which start at $59 (inclusive of tax/fees), are already on sale at twistedvegas.com.
This Thursday, Jan. 7, Sunset Station will host the Henderson Diversity Job Fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is free to attend and various local companies will be represented. For more information and to register, visit the official jobertising.com website (where you'll also find a whole heap of other truly diverse positions currently available throughout the Vegas valley).
Jean Scott has posted her regular monthly round-up of casino promos and offers at Frugal Vegas, primarily with regard to the main "locals" properties, although not exclusively so. The beginning of a new year tends to bring changes and this one is no exception, although some casinos evidently are still figuring out their fine print, so expect additional updates from the "Queen of Comps" going forward. For now, you'll find lots of offers and/or changes already announced by Boyd, Silverton, Palms, and SLS; among the more interesting developments that has yet to be felt will be the merging of the Tropicana into the same Marquee players club as fellow Penn National property M Resort, which is slated to take place later in the spring. (We're also particularly intrigued to see what will happen with their respective resort-fee policies going forward, and whether the Trop will follow M's lead and drop their nightly charge or ...? Time will tell and we'll definitely keep you posted!)
In a departure from the norm, in his first article of the New Year, Bob Dancer poses some casino-comp scenarios and wonders where his readers stand, ethically. As a professional video poker player, in order to earn a living it's a necessity for him to take full advantage of any profitable casino scenario or offer that comes his way, but is there a line that a player shouldn't cross, even if they can? At what point does maximizing your opportunities become ethically questionable, or even downright fraudulent?
The upscale video poker bar and restaurant on the west side of town, which boasted Andre Agassi among its owners, closed on New Year's Eve after 13 years in operation.
Apparently it's a little dusty over at the Silverton right now and will continue to be so for around a month while a construction crew resurfaces the floor in front of the aquarium. On the upside, if you spend $10 or more at the nearby Bass Pro Shops, present your receipt on the same day at the Silverton Rewards Club and receive a $10 dining coupon for use at Silverton restaurants.
The Goodwich, the popular sandwich shack on Las Vegas Boulevard that debuted two years ago this month and provides take-out service to patrons of Dino's dive bar, finally has a tentative date for completing its move to roomier digs in Soho Lofts (900 S. Las Vegas Blvd.). According to an LVA dining scout who recently chatted with one of the owners, they're hoping to complete the move sometime this month, which will see a return to normal (extended) daily operating hours.
For what the boxer claims will be his last professional fight, prior to retiring from the ring to focus on his political career in the Philippines, Manny Pacquiao has selected Timothy Bradley Jr. as his opponent for a match scheduled for April 9 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. It will be the third occasion on which the two have come face to face, with Bradley having been awarded the victory in 2012 by a controversial split decision, while Pacquiao won decisively in their 2014 rematch.
"America’s Got Talent" finalist Seth Grabel, acclaimed for his interactive comedy acrobatics and illusions, has joined the cast of Luxor's long-running Fantasy topless revue, complementing the hilarious impersonator antics of cast stalwart Sean E. Cooper who remains with the show, alongside the bevy of topless dancers.
Today's the day, if you're done with the turkey, ham, and prime rib holiday meat fest; but in terms of celebratory pasta promos, so far all we've located is half-off at Buca di Beppo if you've signed up for their free email newsletter program, you'll have received a coupon valid Jan. 4 only, for 50% off spaghetti Marinara, spaghetti with meat sauce, or spaghetti with meatballs (dine-in orders only). Popular Mediterranean restaurant Paymon's (locations east-side on Maryland Pkwy. and on W. Sahara on the west) serves a daily $9.95 all-you-can-eat pasta special (spaghetti, angel hair, fettuccini, penne, or farfalle, served with your choice of marinara, alfredo, Bolognese, roasted garlic cream, lemon-butter, or pesto sauce, and if we hear of any other specific specials, we'll pass it on.
Sandwiched between two of the residency stints from Jennifer Lopez (kicking of Jan. 20), with whom he's collaborated on more than one previous hit, Pitbull will be returning to the AXIS at Planet Hollywood this year, for performances of his "Time Of Our Lives Las Vegas" show from 3/12-26. Tickets for the seven dates go on sale to the general public Tuesday, Jan. 5 at 10 a.m. PT.
From 3 a.m. - 11:59 p.m. every Monday in January, earn 25 same-day base points at Gold Coast then swipe your B Connected card at any kiosk for the chance to win up to 1,000,000 points (all swipes win something). Also, look out for a similar Friday/Saturday promo at Gold Coast, Orleans, Suncoast, and Sam's Town, where earning 10 base points on slots from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. each day to qualify for a Swipe and Win for various prizes, including 1,000,000 points or $1,000 in cash.
The Green Bay Packers are -3 favorites over the Minnesota Vikings in tonight's Sunday Night Football game. The total is 43.5.
With all the reports in from New Year's Eve, it may go down as one of the most peaceful ever. Police reported just 10 arrests for unruliness, down significantly from 22 last year. A larger-than-normal police presence that was in place in response to recent worldwide terrorism activity was given much of the credit.
Wynn Las Vegas’ Johnny Avello has made Spotlight the 2-1 favorite to win this year’s Academy Award for Best Picture. Leonardo Dicaprio is the 1-2 favorite for Best Actor for The Revenant and Brie Larson is even-money to win Best Actress for Room. The lines are for entertainment purposes only and can't be bet in Las Vegas books.
A Cracker Barrel Old Country Store is planned for Silverton. The brand, famous for its rustic décor and Southern-style food, has 650 outlets in 42 states, but this will be the first for Nevada. A precise timetable for the opening wasn't disclosed, but it's expected later this year.
Robbie Lawler and Carlos Condit are pick 'em in tonight's UFC main event. In the other featured match, Stipe Miocic is -220 over Andrei Arlovski.
In today's Cactus Bowl, West Virginia is a -3 favorite over Arizona State. The total is 62.5.
In today's Alamo Bowl, Oregon is a -6.5 favorite over TCU. The total is 74.
In today's Liberty Bowl, Arkansas is a -13 favorite over Kansas St. The total is 56.
The counting isn't complete, but Las Vegas has passed 42 million visitors for 2015. That breaks 2014's record of 41.1 million, and the final tally will be higher when all the December numbers are in.
In today's Taxslayer Bowl, Georgia is a -6.5 favorite over Penn St. The total is 44.
In today's Sugar Bowl, Mississippi is a -7.5 favorite over Oklahoma St. The total is 73.5.
In today's Rose Bowl, Stanford is a -5.5 favorite over Iowa. The total is 52.5.
In today's Fiesta Bowl, Ohio St. is a -4.5 favorite over Notre Dame. The total is 58.
In today's Citrus Bowl, Michigan is a -3.5 favorite over Florida. The total is 41.
Alabama opened as a -7 favorite over Clemson in the college-football championship game that will be played Jan. 11 and was bet down to -6.5. The total is 53.
In today's Outback Bowl, Tennessee is a -9.5 favorite over Northwestern. The total is 49.
The city is packed for the New Year's weekend. Thousands packed the Strip and downtown last night for the fireworks display and no major altercations were reported, thanks in part to a heightened security force in both areas. If you're in town today, the buffets and restaurants will be serving New Year's specials and the sports books will be humming with the college bowl games. Check this space all day long for the betting lines before the games go off.