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There's big news on the development side of the gaming industry with the announcement of the acquisition of DEQ Systems by Scientific Games. Both are big players in the game-design sector and are discussed at length in our new book
The Essentials of Game Design—From the Cocktail Napkin to the Casino Floor.
A $99 million 352-foot air-traffic-control tower that was delayed for more than a year due to multiple problems during construction has opened at McCarran International Airport. It’s nearly double the height of the previous control tower that’s been in use since 1983 and solves the problem of controllers encountering "blind spots" created by the growth of the airport.
Apparently feeling enough heat from recent rumors of the Alon project's demise, the company's CEO, Andrew Pascal, was quoted in today's LV Review-Journal saying that "the project hasn't been suspended," but didn't convey any solid timetables for initiating construction. Pascal acknowledged that the process is moving more slowly than anticipated due to funding hang-ups
Regarding the former, of which we posted and tweeted vague and unconfirmed rumors yesterday (see Today's News: The End of the Line for Alon?), overnight updates remain nebulous. We learned from fellow members of the gaming industry media (including Chris Grove, Senior Consultant at Eilers Research and contributor to LegalSportsReport.com and OnlinePokerReport.com, and Global Gaming Business publisher Roger Gros) that they'd heard the same rumblings as our source and that James Packer's Alon resort project appears to be dead in the water. But to counter this came feedback from @VegasTripping that as recently as last Friday he had "talked to Alon folks" and that "they're still hard at work." Then our friend @VitalVegas chimed in somewhere in the middle, confiding, "Our guy says two high-level execs are moving on. Could signal beginning of the end." And that his source says "pushed back to '17 last week, and 'shuffling' the size/scope of the project. Infrastructure plans with City nixed." So, right now, your guess is as good as ours and all we can say is, watch this space (and we'll watch that space!)
Meanwhile, our own Stiffs & Georges blogger (who's on fire today!) drew our attention to this easily missed nugget, buried within the latest post at Asian-gaming blog ggrasian.com, that reveals Genting's ambitious Resorts World Las Vegas project, first announced back in March 2013 following the company's purchase of Boyd's abandoned Echelon hulk, and originally set to open round about right now, has been postponed yet again.
Having failed in its bid to open casino megaresorts in both Florida and New York, on Friday Genting Bhd gave an update on its Las Vegas plans, stating that "work mobilisation would only start in early 2017" and that the mythical opening date of the resort was now to be some time in the second half of 2019 - six months later than the most-recent of the myriad schedules the project has consistently failed to adhere to. Needless to say, we're not holding our breath, nor placing any bets on any of this actually having any substance on the ground, which has seen zero action since a meaningless groundbreaking ceremony in May of last year.
Our advantage-play experts remain busy at GamblingWithAnEdge.com, with new posts today from Bob Dancer, who takes a departure from his usual field (no pun intended) of video poker to share his thoughts having watched local star Connor Fields score his Olympic gold medal, and DFS expert Bill Ordine, who discusses the recent debut of Club Purple, the "luxury fantasy lounge" that's part of the Minnesota Vikings’ new stadium. Sports bettors and APs of any hue, along with DFS fans and aficionados, should also check out Bill's previous post (Aug. 25), titled DFS: Exploiting Week 1 Pricing Inefficiencies.
Feedback from the city's race and sports books reveals that the betting public chose not to take advantage of the newly legalized wagering on various Olympic sports, and the crowds who flocked to venues were there to view the events on the hi-tech big screens, but not to bet on them. "We probably have taken about as much in Olympic wagers as we would on a big baseball game, regular season," observed the MGM race and sports book director Jay Rood. For more on this, plus the latest twists and turns in the Caesars' bankruptcy and Trump Taj Mahal battles, check out our casino-business blog, Stiffs & Georges, by veteran commentator David McKee, who somehow manages to make digestible and entertaining sense of even the most complex and impenetrable industry machinations. Highly recommended.
As announced back in February, Boyd Gaming continues its wholesale dining revamp at its Las Vegas properties, with the debut of Cornerstone, the new classic American steakhouse and lounge at the Gold Coast. Open for dinner nightly from 5 p.m. (the lounge opens at 4 p.m.), the menu that features eight different beef selections and a "liquor library" that offers more than 60 types of whiskey from around the world. Craft beers, specialty cocktails, and a lounge menu of small-plate items, including oysters served various ways, steak tartare, and prime rib sliders, are also available.
An LVA source has given us an as-yet-unconfirmed report that not only has James Packer scrapped his Alon casino-resort, slated for the old New Frontier site on the Las Vegas Strip, but that the architectural firm attached to the project has taken a big financial hit as a result, forcing it to lay off most of its staff. Earlier, the start of construction had been pushed back into mid-2016, pending "improvements in the Malaysian markets." Plans filed with Clark County consisted only of some renderings and a nebulous cover letter. Finally, Packer has sold down his position in Alon owner Crown Resorts from 53 percent to 48%. The reasons given for the sell-down were to raise capital for a casino development in Sydney and to ramp up an "IT venture capital" project in Israel. No mention was made of Alon. We'll keep you posted as and when we hear anything more substantiated regarding the fate of Alon.
Lucky's Lounge video poker and 49ers bar, which has North (8025 Farm Rd.) and South (7345 S. Jones) locations, is hiring experienced cooks. Bring your resume to the South venue any day after 5 p.m. (via @LuckysLoungeLV).
Well, $650 million is more pocket change than "digging deep" for the Chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands Corp., but following his board of directors' rejection of the proposal to help fund a 65,000-seat football stadium and bring the Oakland Raiders to Las Vegas, Sheldon Adelson has announced that he'll be putting his money where his mouth is and is willing to make the necessary contribution toward construction and startup costs from his own personal funds.
Downtown's California casino debuts a big new bar and lounge today. Located on the first floor, it's outfitted with 20 or so TVs around the perimeter. Also at the California, the Redwood Bar & Grill has been moved to Main Street Station while the room is renovated and Aloha Specialties is set to reopen on Aug. 30.
One of Las Vegas' most famous abodes will soon be history. Penn Jillette's former home, which he dubbed "The Slammer," will be used in scenes for an upcoming horror movie, then is scheduled to be demolished in October. Jillette says he moved his family to a traditional environment to provide his kids with a more normal lifestyle (or as normal as it can be with names like Zoltan and Moxie CrimeFighter).
There's a major traffic jam on southbound I-15 at 9 a.m. starting from the downtown area. We don't know the reason, but all traffic is being forced to exit at Spring Mtn. Road. Northbound travel is normal.
Carlos Condit and Demian Maia are pick'em in tonight's UFC main event. In the other featured match, Anthony Pettis is -200 over Charles Oliveira.
Las Vegas' Bishop Gorman, the high school football national champion the past two years, opens its season today against top-5-rated Cedar Hill of Texas. The game will be broadcast nationally at 6 p.m. PST on ESPN2. Gorman's star running back, Biaggio Ali-Walsh, is the grandson of Muhammed Ali.
Two hugely influential figures in Las Vegas' history died this week. E. Parry Thomas was the banker behind the successes of countless casino owners, including Milton Prell, Howard Hughes, and most famously, Steve Wynn. "Everything I built, the Golden Nugget, Mirage, Treasure Island, Wynn-Encore, were because of him" Wynn told the LV Review-Journal upon hearing of Thomas' death. Thomas is profiled in our book The First 100. Similarly, Joel Bergman is considered among the most influential designer/architects of the modern-day casino. While he had a hand in many projects on the Strip, including Paris and the Signature Towers at MGM Grand, he too was most closely associated with Wynn, with whom he designed the Mirage and Treasure Island, along with several other Wynn properties outside of Nevada. Thomas was 95 and Bergman was 80.
In the ongoing game of football-stadium-roulette, the developers say they have a purchase agreement in place for a 62-acre parcel on the Strip across from Mandalay Bay and north of Russell Road. The land is owned by a consortium of banks who have been shopping it for a big project in recent years. The sales price is expected to be in the area of $375 million, which is about $6 million per acre.
With the Alabama House of Representatives having narrowly approved Gov. Robert Bentley's proposal for a state lottery Thursday night at the conclusion of a fraught 10-hour session, supporters of of the bill were optimistic as it headed to the Alabama Senate Friday. Any cause for celebration proved to be short-lived, however, as support in the Senate rapidly disintegrated in a domino effect triggered by dissension from both sides over the proposed rules regarding electronic gambling and under what circumstances electronic gaming devices, including lottery terminals, should be allowed.
SuperContest Weekend begins tonight at Westgate Las Vegas. Several free handicapping seminars are scheduled, beginning at 6 p.m. It's an interesting scene both in the sports book and back in the convention area, with many sports-betting luminaries making appearances.
We have received copious feedback from various readers around the country, protesting what appears to be some misinformation in today's Question of the Day regarding the potential effects (if any) on Social Security payments following a relocation to a different state. Our writer was under the impression from a conversation with the Executive Director of Helping Hands of Vegas Valley--a nonprofit offering services to seniors in the Vegas area--that benefits are tied to the cost of living in the region in which you live, and that hence can be affected by moving to more or less expensive locale; however many readers have written in refuting this concept and the Social Security office here is not returning our calls, leaving us currently still in the dark. We have left messages and sent emails out to various relevant parties, who we're confident will help us get to the bottom of what turned out to be a quagmire, but we're unlikely to hear back today. Stay tuned for an imminent and definitive update over the weekend or early next week, once all the nuances of this thorny subject have been clarified by those in the know, and in the meantime our apologies for any inadvertent confusion or panic we may have engendered.
There's a 40 percent chance of thunderstorms in the Vegas Valley this afternoon, perhaps extending through Saturday afternoon, warns the National Weather Service, so take precautions when driving, with wind gusts of up to 40 mph also possible.
In a disturbing indictment of the escalating level of violent crime in Las Vegas, the owner of Scoundrels Pub has agreed to surrender both his own and the property's gaming license, following a series of shootings at the property, located at 4360 S. Decatur Blvd. Deputy Attorney General Ed Magaw described the bar, which was closed down in December, as residing in "an unfixable location," while an attorney representing owner David John Zderik concurred, noting that the area and immediate vicinity are familiar sites of shooting incidents that the Zderik was powerless to prevent.
Consider it a warm-up for Life Is Beautiful, perhaps, when on Saturday, Sept. 10, Mix 94.1 hosts its 20th (bravo!) annual Bite of Vegas festival at Desert Breeze Park on the west side of town, featuring food vendors, DJs, and live music from FITZ & THE TANTRUMS,
Better Than Ezra, Blue October, Purple Reign, Olivia Holt, Almost Normal, Naked Elephant, and a special acoustic performance from Daughtry. Advance GA tix are on sale now, priced at $20 (plus booking fee).
The justly famous Chandelier Lounge at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, which extends to three levels of sparkly bejewelled luxury, has been closed awhile for a remodel; well, the good news is that the remodel is complete, the wraps are off to reveal a a plush new purple theme, and the entire venue is open for business once more (with both cigarette and cigar smokers welcome on Levels 1 & 3, we note from a recent property tweet).
The Lucky Dragon has released its restaurant line-up, which comprises five eateries, all Chinese-themed. They include a night market, a dim sum-specialty restaurant, a tea garden near the pool, a gourmet room, and a 24-hour coffee shop. There is no buffet. The opening date has still not been set and is being quoted only as "late 2016."
U.S. Soccer has terminated the national contract of women's national team goalkeeper Hope Solo, who has also been suspended for six months for what is being termed conduct "counter to the organization’s principles." The ruling, which is being described as disproportionately harsh by many observers, comes in the wake of comments made by Solo about the Swedish national team after the latter knocked the U.S. out of the Olympics. The U.S. Women's National Team Players Association has said it plans to file an appeal against the ruling on Solo's behalf.
Caesars Entertainment Corp.'s two biggest shareholders, Apollo Global Management and TPG Capital, have rejected the company's request for an additional $990 million needed to help get the company's main operating unit out of bankruptcy and save it billions in potential lawsuits filed by dissident bondholders, reports Bloomberg. The refusal to chip in, while simultaneously demanding that all lawsuits implicating them be dropped, flies in the face of a rebuke from the nonplussed federal judge tasked with overseeing efforts to save the casino empire. Stay tuned... (To follow the many twists and turns that the ongoing Caesars bankruptcy situation has taken to date, check out our Stiffs & Georges casino-business blog.
Our DFS specialist Bill Ordine has been busy posting over at our advantage play sister site, GamblingWithAnEdge.com, where his most recent contribution is the lowdown on an imminent daily fantasy freeroll opportunity, courtesy of FantasyDraft and Drew Brees (of whom Bill is a big fan, for reasons which he also explains in the post).
As an aside, today saw a fascinating in-depth feature titled "Welcome to the Big Time' go live at ESPN.com, in which the authors chronicle the meteoric rise, and subsequent implosion, of FanDuel and DraftKings. An interesting read.
There's a big drawing at your local casino and yours is one of the 10 lucky names called: What are your chances of winning? Ask Bob Dancer - he knows! Or just read his latest column at GamblingWithAnEdge.com. And speaking of EV ("Expected Value"), which Dancer does, you'll also find a new post at GWAE by AP Nicholas Colon, who explains the whole concept of EV in detail for those unfamiliar, and then pinpoints some of the ways to maximize your return from the casino. Definitely a worthwhile and accessible read for any level of player.
Affinity Gaming, owners of Silver Sevens and 10 other casinos in and outside of Nevada, has been sold for $580 million. The new owners are Z Capital Partners LLC, a private equity firm out of New York. No immediate plans were announced for the properties and the deal won't close until 2017.
From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Rio Spa & Salon is hosting its seventh annual Cut-A-Thon to benefit Locks of Love. Donate at least 10 inches of hair to score a complimentary blunt cut (colored and permed hair is okay, but no bleach or highlights, please).
It looks like the most notable canceling of a football contest this year will be at Aliante. This was easily the best contest in terms of equity over the past few years (it often paid out more than was taken in), which might be why it was stopped -- although, the casino's pending sale to Boyd may also have something to do with it. Also discontinued is the free-to-play kiosk contest there.
Things are also popping at Wynn Las Vegas, where a visitor from Hawaii hit a $10.8 million jackpot on a penny slot this weekend. The big win came on a Megabucks Wynn Wheel, a slot machine that was custom-built for the Wynn.
After multiple delays, the $4.1 billion Wynn Palace opened last night on Macau's Cotai Strip. The $4.1 billion resort with 1,700 rooms features Macau’s biggest spa, $125 million in artwork throughout, and a Bellagio-style fountain show outside.
Donald Trump has canceled a rally that was scheduled to have taken place at Las Vegas' South Point Arena this Friday, Aug. 26. No explanation has been given for the change of plan.
The Downtown Grand hotel-casino is staking a claim to be the satellite party-central hub for this September's Life Is Beautiful Festival, with its own complementary entertainment lineup, including: "pop up" live performances for the duration of the three-day event both in the casino and at the rooftop pool; after parties; a soon-to-be-announced new dining venue being added to the existing lineup in time for LIB; a variety of room-and-festival-pass packages; and a convenient transportation hub for taxis and Ubers on 3rd Street (which it owns).
Music legend Bob Dylan will be coming to Las Vegas for one night only this October 13, for a concert in The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan. GA tix start at just $49. Prior to that, it's been announced that comedian Martin Lawrence will bring his "Doin' Time: Uncut Live" tour to the venue on Friday Oct. 7, with tickets starting at $45.
Following the ignominious departure of former resident magician Jan Rouven (now in jail awaiting trial on child pornography charges), the Tropicana is giving the currently popular entertainment genre a second chance, with word that "Band Of Magicians" will embark on a residency at the property, commencing Oct. 26. Billed as "The World's First Magic Supergroup," the ground-breaking and family-friendly show from a quartet of multi-national (one Brit, one Aussie, and two homeboys) young magicians has been described as a "truly baffling, hilarious and even strangely moving marvel of a show." Tickets, which start at $39 (plus taxes/fees), are on sale now.
Rock legends Styx, featuring guest star Don Felder (formerly of the Eagles) will perform a five-night limited engagement in The Venetian Theatre January 6,7, 11, 13, and 14, 2017. Tickets for "Styx & Don Felder: Renegades In The Fast Lane," go on general sale Friday, August 26 at 10 a.m. - prices have yet to be announced.
Advertised as "the longest-running free football contest" in Las Vegas, Boyd Gaming has announced that it will run "Pick the Pros" again this year. Same as last year, players club members get three to five entries (depending on tier level) by swiping at a kiosk, with a chance to win $30,000 every week of the NFL season.
Registration is now open for our "Sunday Funday 31" poker tournament. Play begins at noon PST/3 p.m. EST today. Along with $100 for first, prizes include an autographed hard cover of The Law for Gamblers, the classic blackjack reference book Blackjack Attack, and our new books, Cherry Picker and Mad Dog Coll. Prizes will again be awarded to the first 14 finishers. 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 11536). 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.
The USA is a -15.5 favorite over Serbia in today's Olympics men's basketball final. The total is 181.5.
Connor McGregor is a -130 favorite over Nate Diaz in tonight's UFC main event. In the other featured match, Anthony Johnson is -225 over Glover Teixeira.
Downtown's "Rock of Vegas" summer concert series at the Fremont Street Experience continues tonight with Melissa Etheridge. The free concert begins at 9 p.m. on the 3rd Street Stage.
Reserve some time tomorrow to play in our 31st Sunday Funday online poker tournament. First place gets $100, and prizes will be awarded to the top 14 places. Prizes include the autographed hard cover of our new book, The Law for Gamblers, the new Eating Las Vegas 2016, and and the classic Blackjack Attack. 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.
The USA is a -23 favorite over Spain in today's Olympics woman's basketball final. The total is 154.5.
Congratulations to Las Vegas' Connor Fields, who won the Olympic gold medal in men's BMX. Connor is the son of Mike Fields, a top executive at Action Gaming and sometimes source for our "Question of the Day."
Forbes has published its annual Electronic Cash Kings list, detailing the highest-paid club DJs in the world, with Hakkasan resident and music consultant Calvin Harris continuing to top the list for 2016, with earnings of $63 million. Next comes Tiesto, another familiar Vegas face, who banked some $38 million, with Wynn resident David Guetta rounding out the top three, with earnings of $28 million.
Las Vegas takes its Halloween festivities very seriously and Circus Circus' is already preparing for the 14th annual transformation of the usually benign Adventuredome into its notorious Frightdome alter ego. The hiring process gets underway today, with positions open for actors, sideshow and strolling entertainers, guides, promotional staff, makeup artists, FX specialists, and retail sales staff, among others. Interviews are being held in the Skyrise Casino Tower (promenade level) today and tomorrow, from 2-6 p.m., and again on Aug. 26-27 and Sept. 10. Applicants must be aged 18+ and are required to bring a valid government-issued form of I.D. and Social Security card (no live face paint etc., but by all means bring a portfolio). Frightdome is set to open for business (its business being to scare the crap out of people) on Sept. 30.
According to blogger Vital Vegas, veteran Vegas entertainer Tony Sacca is set to open a matinee song-and-storytelling show at Bally's, where Wayne Newton is already performing something similar with his Up Close & Personal show. Sacca's version is called Vegas, The Story and apparently spans the 1930s up to the present day; no details regarding the show have been officially announced by the property, however.
We just learned that Inna Gadda di Pizza and Pawn Donut & Coffee have both closed at Pawn Plaza. They join Smoke’s Poutinerie, which shuttered abruptly earlier in the week. Rick’s Rollin’ Smoke BBQ & Tavern remains in operation.
Want to catch popular musical-variety act tonight, for FREE? LVA paid members and "LVAGold" sign-ups can receive up to two free tickets for performances by The Scintas tonight or Saturday (or for shows Aug. 26/27) - must be a member of the Plaza players club (new sign ups welcome!). Click the link for more info and to print redemption voucher.
An observant @LVA_Tweet follower (cheers, @orbitrocks!) alerted us last night to a not-so-subtle clue that less than a year after debuting, the Pete Rose Bar & Grill may now be operating sans Charlie Hustle. The blacked-out name on the restaurant marquee turned out to be no coincidence - Pete Rose has been out of the picture since earlier this week, blogger VitalVegas.com has since confirmed, although the sports bar/restaurant will apparently continue to operate without its controversial former figurehead.
Here's a link to the full Taste Lineup for this year's Life Is Beautiful festival, taking place downtown Sept. 24-26, when a wealth of local and Vegas-area restaurants, food vendors, trucks, and celebrity chefs will by plying their trade and showcasing their skills for hungry festival goers.
On August 24, the Spa & Salon at the Rio will host its Seventh annual Cut-A-Thon to benefit the Locks of Love charity and create high-quality wigs and hairpieces for children undergoing chemotherapy or suffering from other illnesses or injuries that have resulted in hair loss. Guests who are able and willing to donate at least 10 inches of hair will receive a complimentary blunt cut and a 30% discount on any additional styling or coloring treatments, so head on over with a full head of hair (sorry, no bleached or highlights, although regular color and perms are okay) between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. next Wednesday and get a free cut for a great cause.
In deference to the record-breaking sweltering summer temperatures we've been experiencing, UrbanDaddy.com has compiled a list of the coldest cocktails in the nation. If there's one thing we know here, it's "hot," so we're happy to report that Las Vegas makes the list once firmly -- courtesy of Tony Abou-Ganim "Queen's Park Swizzle" at Libertine Social -- and once by proxy, thanks to the liquid nitrogen "LN2 Caipirinha" from Miami's The Bazaar by José Andres, also available at Bazaar Meat at SLS Las Vegas.
One libation that's not on the list, but which we feel really should have been included, is the draft beer at Four Kegs, which not only comes in a frozen glass but also features actual shards of beer ice floating in it. And you won't need to purchase a new outfit and remortgage your home in order to enjoy a pint at the Keg, either.
Here are the highlights, all of which are mercifully indoors (or at night), we note with relief:
Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut is to gain a new attraction next spring, with the addition of a zipline, to extend from the 350-foot Fox Tower, down to the site's Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center -- a 3,700-foot "run" that's expected to reach "high speeds." The zipline could be up and running before the end of the year, with a possible soft opening as early as November, depending on the weather, according to CEO Felix Rappaport.
As of 10:45 am both I-15 northbound and southbound through Cajon Pass are now open. Although crews made some progress against the blaze, which was 4% contained as of 6:30 am, a red flag warning is still in effect, so everyone be careful and stay safe.
The World Poker Tour and FOX Sports have announced a five-year deal for the network to broadcast the WPT through Season XIX and to produce and air 13 additional hours of original programming each season, plus a minimum of two World Poker Tour marathons each season. The WPT broadcasts are also available for live streaming on FOX Sports GO.
With the Blue Cut fire having burned at least 30,000 acres within its first 24 hours and still evading containment, smoke from the wildfire is now clearly visible in the air around the Las Vegas Valley, prompting the Clark County Department of Air Quality to issue an air-quality advisory for potentially elevated and unhealthy levels of ozone and smoke, currently effective through Friday. Masks are recommended for those obliged to work outdoors and everyone is advised to avoid direct exposure whenever possible and to limit any type of outdoor exertion.
In addition, the fire has resulted in multiple evacuations and road closures, prompting California Highway Patrol to issue a number of recommended alternate routes for drivers currently needing to navigate around Southern California.
As the summer vacation draws to a close, Wet'n'Wild water park is partnering with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and 104.3 NOW FM to host a "High School Neon Night" bash, featuring a foam pit, inflatable obstacle course, contests, giveaways, DJs, and more from 7 to 11 p.m. August 25. Tickets start at $20 (use promo code NEON16); more info at wetnwildvegas.com.
Applications are open for the 2016-17 Artist Residency program at downtown's Neon Museum. Interested and qualified* working visual artists, writers, and poets are invited to submit proposals for creating original work inspired by the Neon Museum’s sign collection (and they have some pretty cool stuff in their gift store already, so the bar is set high). Check out the official blog for more information. *Must be 18+ and residing within the state.
Today's Las Vegas Sun has a cool photograph, plus video of last night's controlled demolition of the last remaining hotel tower at the Riviera, if you missed it and want to catch a historic Strip hotel's final moments.
Celebrity chef Carla Pellegrino's Henderson bistro has been shuttered for at least the next two weeks, following an incident earlier today that apparently saw a truck lose control in the parking lot and slam through the front of the restaurant. Some graphic pictures of the damage have been uploaded to the restaurant's Facebook page, where updates on the reopening date will also be posted in due course. We understand that there was no one inside at the time and that the driver of the vehicle is doing okay.
The wildfire that erupted earlier today in the mountainous Cajon Pass canyon area east of Los Angeles, and which had engulfed 1,000 acres within 90 minutes, is forcing evacuations in the remote area and has closed portions of Highway 138 and Interstate 15 to be closed. We'll post updates as they become available.
If you happen to espy a 75-foot-long Boeing 747 en route to Reno, you're likely not hallucinating or witnessing a mirage -- it's more likely to be the Big Imagination Foundation non-profit's ambitious art installation, wending its way to Black Rock for this year's Burning Man festival. Accompanied by a motorcade of highway patrol cars and multiple other vehicles, the plane is moving on a flatbed and should reach the playa by Friday, Aug. 19, where it will remain throughout the festival, which runs Aug. 28 through Sept. 5.
Sometimes getting lucky is the worst thing that can happen to a player, as Bob Dancer discusses in his new post at GamblingWithAnEdge.com, where you can also find a preview of this week's GWAE podcast episode, and a run-down on Nevada mobile sports-betting apps from FrankB, so go check it all out!
It's one hour (fifty four minutes, actually), until the Summerlin and NY-NY Shake Shack locations dole out a free burger each to the first 100 guests through the door (see yesterday's item for full details), so hustle!
Having rapidly bounced from the Tommy Wind Theater, where he debuted in June (we think? did he ever actually play there?), to Hooters Casino, where he opened in July, Vinnie Favorito continues his northward migration, with word that the shock comedian is now set to open at the Westgate September 7. His new show, Vinnie Favorito Unfiltered, will perform Wednesday through Sunday at 9 p.m. inside the Cabaret Theater; ticket prices start at $49 for GA.
At 2 a.m. Tuesday, the Monte Carlo wing of the Riviera is slated to come down; the implosion comes two months after the demolition of the taller Monaco tower.
Earlier this afternoon, the Fire Department responded to a two-alarm fire at Rumor Hotel on East Harmon. Staff and guests were evacuated but crews apparently had the blaze under control in under 15 minutes and no one was injured in the incident. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
The recently knighted rocker, Sir Rod Stewart, whose current tranche of dates at Caesars Palace ends August 21 (for which a limited number of tickets are still available), has added seven new dates to his residency, with tix going on sale Friday for seven additonal performances scheduled March 15 through April 1, 2017.
To commemorate the opening of the 100th Shake Shack location, which will debut at Boston Seaport on Tuesday, August 16th, starting at 10:30 a.m. local time, the cult burger brand will offer a complimentary single ShackBurger (of a burger of equal/lesser value) to the first 100 guests through the door at each of its locations (ball parks and stadiums excepted), including the Las Vegas venues at New York-New York and in Summerlin (but not T Mobile Arena). Offer ends at noon.
The most recently announced casualty of the Monte Carlo rebranding is Andre's Restaurant and Cigar Lounge. The long-running restaurant that first opened in 1980, downtown in a converted house on Sixth St., will close for good in October according to Las Vegas Eater. Founding chef Andres Rochat will continue to run Alize at the Palms.
On Sundays and Wednesdays in August, bring an electric bill in your name to Ellis Island and get free-play based on the amount of the bill as follows:
$5-$49 bill = $5 free-play
$50-$99 = $10
$100-$149 = $15
$150-$199 = $20
$200+ = $25
You can do it one time this month and you must have a players card in the same name. There are no other listed restrictions.
An interesting event at an even more interesting venue today is "Boy Chic: My Golden Years at the Finocchio Club." It's a tribute to Judy Garland performed by David de Alba at the MVIG Cultural Arts Center inside the Boulevard Mall. The show is at 3:30 p.m. with tickets priced at $18 and $20.
Steve Wynn reportedly told a conference gathering that one of the features at the planned Wynn Paradise Park in Las Vegas will be a King Kong attraction. He said that an 8-story Kong will emerge daily on one of two islands at the resort. It sounds very Wynn-like, similar to the Lake of Dreams' giant frog at Wynn Las Vegas.
Las Vegas' first Halal Guys has opened at Spring Mountain and Valley View. Originating as a food cart in New York City, the restaurant serves Middle Eastern cuisine featuring Halal meats, and is known especially for its chicken and gyros served in a bowl or wrap.
Absinthe, the edgy production show that recently announced that it's closing at Caesars Palace, is moving to the Cosmopolitan. The last show at Caesars will be October 21, then it's expected to reopen in the theater space at Cosmo's Rose. Rabbit. Lie in November.
A savvy bartender and @LVA_Tweet follower with whom we're acquainted just alerted us to this cool twofer offer from the Pioneer in Laughlin, which is offering a second night for free, plus $20 each in free play (assuming there are two guests in the room). Check it out if Laughlin's in your upcoming travel plans, or even if it isn't!
There has been an unusual amount of activity on the regulatory front of late, with the Nevada Caming Comission and State Gaming Control Board having in recent memory sanctioned mobile wagering; outlawed and then regulated/reinstated daily fantasy sports; agreed to the concept of skill-based casino games; and allowed betting on the Olympics for the first time.
Now the GCB's at it again, with pre-funded casino-wagering accounts the latest topic up for discussion, with members of the Board having conducted a workshop to examine the future and integration of ecommerce into the casino-gambling experience wholesale, much as race and sports bettors already have the option of wagering using funds already deposited into a bookmaking account. If the concept is greenlit, it will require several amendments to existing state gaming laws.
At our sister "advantage play" site, GamblingWithAnEdge.com, the most recent post contains links not to one, but to two recent articles by national gambling columnist Michael Kaplan. One is for Thrillist.com, the other for the New York Post, but we feel each will potentially be of interest to our readers, particularly: the first comprises the story of a female professional gambler and member of the former so-called "Hole Card Mafia" and her roller-coaster career at the tables; the latter likely has wider appeal, since it concerns Kaplan's recent trip to Vegas and first-hand experience of being nickel-and-dimed at every turn, from worsening odds on the casino floor to the dreaded hotel resort and parking fees. It may strike a cord with some of you...
Located in St Mark's Square in the Grand Canal Shoppes, and billing itself as "market-style," the new Mercato della Pescheria (which somehow sounds, and probably even smells better than "Fish Market"), offering more than a dozen stations serving "Pescheria, Macelleria, Pasta Mista, Il Forno, Crudo, Salumeria, and Formaggio," for example, plus beer, wine, and cocktails. Guests may choose from the family-style [read: buffet] or à la carte dining, and with fresh fish being flown in daily from the Adriatic and Mediterranean for preparation in the Pescheria, the new restaurant looks to be gving Estiatorio Milos at The Cosmopolitan a run for its money.
Las Vegas Advisor/Huntington Press publisher Anthony Curtis is quoted in today's Wall Street Journal, which carries a feature regarding Nevada's recent decision to allow betting on Olympic Events.
If you're not tied up (so to speak) at Vegas Exchange, here are some of the more mainstream entertainment options to choose from:
Already home to Drag Queen Bingo, from today through August 14, Alexis Park is hosting Vegas Exchange 2016, a swingers convention and "lifestyle vacation," with a diverse entertainment lineup that includes a bikini contest this Saturday (featuring a serious first-place prize package), plus couples workshops, seminars, vendors, and more, so check it out if you're looking for something different to do in Sin City this weekend.
It's too late for today's free slot tournament (sorry!), but you can still earn points for next Thursday's video poker tournament until 6 p.m. this evening (and there's another one scheduled for August 25 - both free, both taking place at 10 a.m.). There's a prize package valued at $5,000 for each event; visit the official website for all the details.
They won't last for long, but a limited number of GA ($125) and VIP ($295) single-day passes are now available for the 2016 Life is Beautiful music and lifestyle festival, which will be taking over downtown Las Vegas this Sept. 23-25. Three-day passes are also still available at the GA and VIP level; visit the official website for the full performer lineup, by day, plus other entertainment and attractions at this year's event.
Despite Tuesday's summary rejection by UK bookmaking giant William Hill of a $4.2 billion takeover offer from 888 Holdings and Rank Group Plc, the bidders have presented the case for their plan to join forces, citing advantages that include projected annual cost savings in excess of $100 million and revenue-boosting cross-selling opportunities. The suitors have until Aug. 21 to make a formal offer for William Hill, with their current bid considered to an undervaluation by both the object of their takeover and by the majority of independent analysts.
David J. Stern, who in 2014 retired from his position as commissioner of the NBA, 30 years to the day since he took the position, and close to a half century since he first joined the organization, is to be a prominent featured speaker at this year's G2E Global Gaming Summit, to be held at the Sands Expo Center in Las Vegas Sept. 26-29. Stern and current AGA President and CEO Geoff Freeman will be discussing the future of sports betting, its potential impact on major professional sports, and other related topics before an audience of 25,000 gaming-industry representatives.
The observation wheel at The LINQ is offering a good discount on tickets throughout the month of August, with regular daytime (11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.) tix available for just $15, as opposed to the standard adult ride price of $23. (Note that locals with valid ID continue to receive an even steeper discount.)
William Hill has turned down a $4.2 billion offer to sell to a partnership of 888 Holdings and Rank Group. The 888 group hasn't said whether or not it will continue to pursue Will Hill, but expect more dealing as the industry continues maneuvers to take advantage of impending sports-betting legalization.
Our current survey concerning your feelings about Las Vegas entertainment and the recent demise of so many Strip productions, ends in an hour and a half; so, if you're sick of Cirque (or not); lamenting the extinction of the showgirl (ditto); smarting at ticket prices; loving/hating the trend toward smaller, more intimate/informal showrooms; or just generally very happy with things just the way they are, please let us know by casting your vote, before we turn into a pumpkin! (At midnight, a new poll goes live, but we won't spoil the surprise by telling you what it's about ;-)
That's the topic under Bob Dancer's microscope this week at GamblingWithAnEdge.com -- and the questions he poses may cause some reader squirming, but a little soul-searching every now is a healthy practice that may open your eyes to habits and consequences you may not have considered, or not from someone else's perspective. Highly recommended reading, and only you will now how you answered his questionnaire, so that's between you and your conscience.
P.S. Also new at GWAE, check out FrankB on the new William Hill 100+% College Contest and two new posts on the subject of daily fantasy sports, from Bill Ordine and Richard Munchkin, plus fellow GWAE blogger, poker pro Blair Rodman is the author of today's Question of the Day, right here on this site. If you're an Advantage Player, or just a serious recreational gambler looking for sound and comprehensible advice and insights about maximizing the bang for your buck, GamblingWithAnEdge.com should definitely be self-imposed compulsory reading!
New Jersey has failed, once again, to overturn its ban on sports betting, meaning that wagering on sporting events remains verboten at the state's casinos and racetracks. The legal arguments for and against are complex, and the ruling was not unanimous but, in a nutshell, the case before the Third District Court of Appeals today was another attempt to determine whether SB 2460 (known colloquially as the "2014 Law"), which partially repealed some of the prohibitions on sports betting, was in violation of the federal Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act ("PASPA"). On a split decision, the court ruled that repealing certain aspects of a law does not equate with actually legalizing something -- a concept that is making our brain bleed, but feel free to pore over this detailed legal analysis, courtesy of NorthJersey.com (part of the USA Today family), if you have the stomach for it.
The new outlet of the popular restaurant-cum-adult-arcade concept, Dave & Buster's, first announced for Downtown Summerlin back in October of last year, opened on Monday, and apparently already had a line outside on day one, eager to hit the 180 video games within.
Virgin America has just launched a 48-hour sale on California routes (and others) from Las Vegas for travel into winter, with example one-way fares as low as $39 to Los Angeles, $49 to San Francisco, and $59 to Dallas. The fares are good for travel on select Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays between Aug. 23 and March 1 (holidays excluded) but must book by 11:59 p.m. CT on Wednesday.
The cult HBO TV series "Game of Thrones" is taking to the road as Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience Featuring Ramin Djawadi (catchy), featuring a full orchestra and choir, with a tour stop at MGM Grand Garden Arena scheduled for Saturday, March 25 next year. Tickets, starting at $39.50, go on sale this Saturday, Aug. 13.
Having blazed a trail by becoming the first operator to receive the Nevada Gaming Commission's stamp of approval, veteran sports book entrepreneur Vic Salerno is poised to reintroduce daily fantasy sports to Nevada, reports U.S. Gambling Compliance contributor (and KNPR staffer) Chris Sieroty. With four decades experience in sports betting, including having developed Nevada's inaugural self-service sports wagering kiosk and first mobile sports betting application, Salerno's USFantasy is poised to debut later this month, offering DFS contests to approximately 60 locations statewide, all members of the Nevada Pari-Mutuel Association.
Come October 3, several staple venues at the Monte Carlo will close, including those located on the so-called 'Street of Dreams,' which number among them The Pub, along with the hotel pool. The closures represent the next phase in the property's $450 million transformation to Park MGM and The NoMad; during the construction phase, guests of the former Monte Carlo will be informed at check-in regarding access to the pool facilities at various MGM sister properties.
While our mailbox remains full of questions and complaints regarding the introduction of paid parking by various Las Vegas hotel-casinos, most notable among them all of MGM Resorts' Strip properties, the "experiment" continues to spread to other gaming destinations, including Florida's Seminole Hard Rock Casino, which recently introduced a $10 parking fee, much to the chagrin of its heretofore regular guests, reports the Tampa Bay Times.
We can't say it comes as any surprise, but after struggling for years -- and with the conclusion of a $45 million remodel apparently in sight, if not within grasp -- the owner of Lake Tahoe's historic Cal Neva property has been forced to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Developer Criswell Radovan explained in the filing that the move was made in order to stave off the threat of a foreclosure sale by its lenders, when a $6 million load was defaulted on back in February. $40 million in the red, and with an estimated $24 million required to complete the current renovation, the future is looking distinctly uncertain for the property once part-owned by Frank Sinatra and which boasted such stars as Marilyn Monroe among its guests -- the last time we checked the Cal Neva's gaming license was also living on borrowed time and was set to expire at the end of last June.
Lots of bars around town are wooing daily fantasy players to pick their joint as your Fantasy Football draft-party venue, but Crazy Horse III gentlemen's club is offering a package with a twist: Today through Wednesday, September 7, party packages are available starting at $329, which includes limo transportation to the club, VIP club entry, main room seating and a bottle (from a choice of eight) with mixers, plus a CHIII board girl who'll organize your draft board. There will be also be buckets of Bud Light for $20 -- a strip club steal, especially when compared to average Strip bar prices -- and note that any existing CHIII package you've booked is upgradable to the Fantasy Draft Party package, if so desired.
Legendary British singer/composer Van Morrison is to headline for two nights at Caesars' Colosseum on Friday, January 13 and Saturday, January 14. Tickets, which start at $56.50 and include a free CD of the performer's upcoming album, go on sale Friday, August 12 at 10 a.m.
Smoke from Southern California's Pilot wildfire has led the Clark County Department of Air Quality to issue an Air Quality Advisory due to elevated levels of ozone and smoke, both of which can aggravate respiratory conditions.
A grounds-keeping snafu that rendered the pitch unplayable, has led to the cancellation of tonight's scheduled Hall of Fame Game, so you can forget about that line we posted earlier.
The Indianapolis Colts are -3 favorites over the Green Bay Packers in tonight's Hall of Fame Game that opens the NFL season. The total is 34.
Locals who show a B Connected card pay just $8.88 for a dinner buffet Sun.-Thurs. at Gold Coast, Suncoast, Orleans, or Sam's Town. The offer will run through the end of August.
The 25-acre site on Fremont St. where the Castaways casino (formerly Showboat) used to stand is up for sale. Station Casinos is asking $6.6 million for the parcel, which it bought for $33.8 million. Station bought the property in 2004 and imploded the building, but never developed the parcel.
There's a new front runner in the location derby for Las Vegas' proposed domed football stadium. The Bali Hai golf course, which borders the Strip just north of Mandalay Bay, has been named as the current preferred choice. Its 140 acres are owned by Clark County, but are currently leased to notorious gambler and real estate dealer, Billy Walters. Notably, the estimated price of the stadium, originally announced as $1.45 billion, is now being quoted as $1.7 to $2.1 billion.
Yair Rodriguez is a -275 favorite over Alex Caceres in tonight's UFC main event. In the other featured match, Dennis Bermudez is -250 over Rony Jason.
The USA men's basketball team is such a prohibitive favorite in Rio, at some sports books there's no line on them to win gold. The only betting lines are on who will win silver and which teams will advance out of a group that doesn't include the USA.
That didn't last long. After citing Jokers Wild's $1.89 special as the least expensive eggs-and-meat (bacon or sausage) breakfast in the August Las Vegas Advisor, the casino's already raised the price to $2.25. That leaves $1.99 as the new lowest breakfast price, offered at Club Fortune and the Rainbow Club, both in Henderson.
If you've tried to determine from printed listings when Olympics events will take place, you know it's not an easy task, especially when further complicated by tape delays. Here's a trick. Check the board at a sports book or log onto an offshore book and check their listings. The books won't take a bet after an event begins, but they want to accept bets right up to post time. Hence, you'll get good information by noting the start time listed there.
The Olympics competitions begin today and you can find a way to bet on just about every sport somewhere. While the Vegas books are sticking mostly with the high-profile events -- track and field, swimming, boxing, and men’s basketball prominent among them -- the offshore books are hanging lines on just about everything. After labeling the Olympics a non-event for betting, the Las Vegas bookmakers have changed their tune slightly, indicating that they're getting a vibe that action may be more brisk than originally anticipated.
China's Hainan Airlines is seeking approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation to commence operating a nonstop service between Las Vegas and Beijing. If permission is granted, the airline hopes to begin service this December, initially with flights operating three days per week.
ShowStoppers, the tribute to Broadway spectaculars, produced by Steve Wynn himself, has been granted a limited reprieve and will now run through the end of the year (previously, it was announced that the only Strip show to feature a full orchestra would be closing, abruptly, Sept. 30).
August 5 is that day in the culinary calendar, and McCormick & Schmick's is celebrating by serving $1 oysters all day Friday. In addition, Vegas Magazine has a good list of where to find some good regular $1-oyster happy hour deals, plus Anthony Curtis (a lover of all things raw) is on a permanent quest and shares his findings with the readership of Las Vegas Advisor newsletter, with a recent addition to the list being a $1 oyster play during happy hour (4-7 p.m.) at the new Le Pho Vietnamese Kitchen in Downtown's Juhl condo tower. Wherever you choose to partake, enjoy (if bivalves are your thing).
The celebrations started awhile back, and will continue through the summer, but today's the day that Caesars Palace celebrates the anniversary of its official debut, 50 years ago. What is widely considered the most iconic casino not just in Las Vegas, but anywhere in the world, will kick off the weekend birthday festivities with a fireworks display at 10:20 p.m. (official opening time) tonight. There's also a poolside party for guests of the hotel, hosted by notorious TV chef Gordon Ramsay, who operates two venues at the property and is himself also turning 50 this year.
For more on the history of Caesars and its now world-famous brand, check out the extensive retrospective feature by UNLV Gaming/History professor and Jay Sarno biographer, David Schwartz, in the current issue of Vegas Seven magazine. (And check out the Question of the Day archives for lots QoDs concerning various aspects of Caesars' colorful history, of which there's more to come...)
No chance of being bored, with some big names in music and comedy on the entertainment roster this weekend:
The Angry Butcher Steakhouse is now open in the spot that formerly housed Willy and Jose's Cantina. The new steakhouse is open Sun-Thus, 5 p.m.-10 p.m. and Fri & Sat, 5 p.m.-11 p.m. with daily Social Hour at the bar and patio from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. We also learned that Billy Bob's Steakhouse and Saloon, which has been a staple at Sam's town for over 20 years, closed last week. No word yet on what it will be replaced with but with the opening of The Angry Butcher we can confidently say it won't be another steakhouse.
The second hotel tower at the Riviera is set to be imploded at 2 a.m. on August 16, reports the Associated Press, following June's demolition of the first tower. The entire process of razing the historic Strip property to the ground is set to cost an estimated $42 million.
After being closed for two years, Klondike Sunset reopens in Henderson tonight as a slots-only casino. Following a private VIP party, the doors open to the public at 9 p.m.
Registration's now open for two football contests from William Hill Sports Book, including the return of the Pro Pick'em contest, plus a brand new College Pick'em, contest for the 2016 season. The Pro Pick'em contest comes with a $25 entry fee and $300,000 in cash prizes (a $10,000 weekly cash prize paid to the entry with the most winners, plus the entry with the most wins at season's collects a $20,000 Grand Prize and there's a $100,000 bonus to the season winner if they finish with 200 or more wins). In addition, William Hill's College Pick’em will be Nevada's only college football handicapping contest, with a $500 entry fee (max. 3 entries per player)and 100% payback (players choose seven games against the spread from a menu of 25 designated weekly games). The season top finisher will collect 70% of the final prize pool and is eligible for an additional $25,000 cash bonus if they finish with 49 wins or more.
The entry deadline for Pro Pick 'em is 8 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 11; for College Pick'em it's 8 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10th. For more info visit www.WilliamHill.US. and if you'd like to play in one or more football contests but won't necessarily be in town every week to post your picks, check out tomorrow's Question of the Day, which is all about "proxy" services, how they work, and how much they cost.
Atlantic City's Trump Taj Mahal has announced that the casino will close "after Labor Day." The ongoing labor strike there, which tomorrow becomes the longest in the city's history, was cited as the primary reason for the decision. The closing will be the fifth in Atlantic City since 2014 and will reduce the number of operating casinos there to seven.
We didn't know about this in advance (so lucky there are repeats and podcasts!), but Huntington Press author Matt O'Brien was a featured guest on KNPR's "State of Nevada" show this morning, discussing the recent catastrophic floods that caused three deaths among the population living, as Matt's acclaimed book describes it, Beneath the Neon. Also a guest on the show was the long-time boyfriend of one of the victims killed in June's flash floods, who describes what happened in harrowing detail. Now a veteran of Las Vegas' storm channels and tunnels, June was the deadliest episode O'Brien has encountered in the 14+ years since he first ventured into Las Vegas' underworld and he has an edifying perspective on the entire issue of homelessness, and who is living in the tunnels and why, so catch the repeat this evening, or tune into the podcast at your leisure if you missed it.
A gambler's gotta do what a gamler's gotta do -- that is unless he's disciplined enough to resist some of those urges. Bob Dancer takes a look at how an everyday player can fall into the casino's trap in his new article just posted at GamblingWithAnEdge.com.
Station Casinos has announced that the Gridiron Glory football contest is returning for a second year. Sign-up begins Aug. 3 for the free contest that's again advertising $750,000 in weekly prizes.
Less than a week after opening, there's trouble in Cracker Barrel paradise. This morning a big sign reading "Shame on Cracker Barrel" was up at the entrance road to the Silverton, the resort at which the restaurant is located. It references a labor dispute of some sort, but it's not clear if there will be an ongoing presence by protestors.
With the completion, Monday, of Boyd Gaming's sale of its 50 percent stake in Atlantic City's Borgata, the upscale resort-casino and neighboring non-gaming Water Club hotel, and now fully owned by MGM Resorts International. Boyd reports that it received $589 million in the deal, after deductions for its share of outstanding corporate debt, and the company could still be in line for a substantial tax rebate following favorable court rulings regarding an estimated $160 million in disputed payments.
In his new post at GamblingWithAnEdge.com, advantage player James Grosjean puts on his "civilian" head to pick his top hotel-casinos and resorts to stay at, as opposed to play at, based not on weak dealers and miscalculated casino promotions, but on things like ambiance, the quality of the fresh fruit at breakfast, the comfiness of the sofas, and their provision of novel amenities like bowling, historical magic exhibits, and the quality of the BBQ -- in other words, yes, things that normal people like! [As an aside we note, as does he, the preponderance of picks whose names start with the letter 'H' - coincidence? Yes.]
We have it on good authority that the on-again, off-again poker room at The LINQ, which closed last year, only to reopen in a smaller (four-table) incarnation, will shut up shop again this week -- this time for good, we're guessing.
Thanks to a strong June finish, which saw Nevada's casinos collectively post a 6.8 percent gaming win, the industry was able to post a modest 0.66 percent annual revenue increase for the fiscal year that ended June 30, for a 12-month total of $11.1 billion.
Jean Scott has posted her regular monthly review of what's newsworthy in the world of Las Vegas casino promos and players club offers at FrugalVegas.com, including confirmation -- from her personal experience, learned the hard way -- that MGM Resorts' Total Rewards points now expire after just six months, not 12 as in the past, so don't let yours slip away if you've been stockpiling points. On the upside, August is apparently "buffet month" at many casinos, with free food to be earned all over the place, proving there is such a thing as a free lunch (and breakfast, and dinner).