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The March Las Vegas Advisor is up and ready to read online. This month’s topics include the best prime rib value in Vegas, a $50 loss rebate in a bar, March Madness parties, Las Vegas’ best low-priced restaurants, a premier foosball den, a super sashimi play, the first all-night buffet in a decade, an underground entertainment showcase, a St. Patrick’s Day matchplay offer, and a look at how the casinos are going overboard on fees. If you’re already a member, log on here to access. If you aren’t, you should fix that.
A Seton Hall poll of 626 adults on their attitudes toward sports betting came in at 46% in support and 42% opposed. Pretty much a dead heat, but it's being compared to an often referenced Fairleigh Dickinson poll run in 2010 that showed only 39% for and 54% against, once again pointing to an evolving stance toward acceptance. The recent poll also revealed that the younger the respondent, the more likely they are to be in favor, with 67% of those under 30 supporting legalization compared to only 30% of those 60+.
The Gold Coast is handing out cards to get 20% off at Cornerstone Steakhouse tomorrow night only. There's no catch, just a discount. The cards are available at the bell desk near registration.
In his latest blog titled "Mean Streets," Blair Rodman discusses the wayward methods of the "road gamblers" who used to rule the poker world. Get some first-hand insight into the way guys like Puggy Pearson, Amarillo Slim, and Johnny Moss operated by checking out the post at GamblingWithAnEdge.com.
Yesterday we posted that two of four BJ's Cocktail Lounges had closed, but an LVA member reports that BJ's South has also closed, leaving only the Decatur location open. The three that closed are thought to have been sold to PT's and Dotty's.
The Westgate SuperBook has posted over/under lines for MLB season wins. The highest total is 96.5 for the defending champion Chicago Cubs, followed by 94.5 for the L.A. Dodgers, 93.5 for the Cleveland Indians, and 92.5 for the Boston Red Sox. At the bottom are the San Diego Padres at 67.5.
In gambling there are bad beats, and then there are BAD BEATS. Everyone who watched the Academy Awards tonight understands how tough it had to be for the producers and cast of La La Land when the movie was named Best Picture, then it was announced that there had been a mistake and the winner was Moonlight. But there's also a lot of betting on the Oscars and there was plenty of money on La La Land at odds of around -1000 (bet $100 to win $10). Losing a "bridgejumper" like this is one thing, but getting to sigh relief and then lose in this fashion is something completely different. Given the unlikelihood of it happening on such a big stage puts this beat right up there for all-time worst.
In tonight's Academy Awards, La La Land is the favorite for Best Picture at -1000. Casey Affleck is -105 to win Best Actor for Manchester by the Sea. Emma Stone is -1500 to win Best Actress for La La Land. Mahershala Ali is -1200 to win Best Supporting Actor for Moonlight. And Viola Davis is the night's biggest favorite at -5000 to win Best Supporting Actress for Fences.
Two of the four BJ's Cocktail Lounges have closed. BJ's on Tropicana and BJ's West on Tenaya are closed (the Trop bar was a cool stop to or from the airport). BJ's South and BJ's Decatur remain open.
Wynn Las Vegas will hold its ninth annual Oscars viewing party today, starting at 4 p.m. in the sports book. It's open to the public and free to attend, with contests and prizes that include tickets to Le Reve and buffet passes. Also hosting free viewing parties tonight are Alto Bar at Caesars Palace and Bound at the Cromwell. The Palms is holding a fundraiser for Variety The Children's Charity in Brendan Theaters with a $25 fee that includes $25 in theater concessions.
Station Casinos will run its "Last Man Standing" contest for the March Madness college basketball tournament. Entry fee is $25 and if you buy four you get a fifth free. There's a guaranteed winner-take-all prize of $50,000, which may grow larger depending on participation.
The new steakhouse from Michael and David Morton at the Hard Rock will be called MB Steak, which stands for Morton Brothers. It’s scheduled to open in the new-tower section in May.
Caesars did it two weeks ago, now MGM is following suit. MGM Resorts International has announced that it will raise resort fees at most of its hotels as of March 2. The CET increase was $1 to $3; MGM's is $1 to $5 and now range from a low of $30.61 (including tax) per night at Circus Circus to $44.22 at Aria and Bellagio.
The Downtown Crown won't be coming back after all. When the third Crown & Anchor closed in the Arts District, management stated that they intended to reopen it in the same spot. Instead, an LGBT bar called the Urban Lounge has announced that it will open there this weekend.
What's your favorite machine game? Double Double video poker? Jacks or Better? Deuces Wild? Video keno? This is a good one that's producing an interesting result. Let us know what you play by voting in our new Reader Poll that's live now.
Two weeks after a crash that killed a customer and an instructor, the SpeedVegas driving facility has reopened. SpeedVegas owners say they've conducted an exhaustive review of the operation and have determined that there were no overlooked precautions involved in the crash; however, an investigation by the Nevada Occupational Safety and Health Administration is ongoing.
Additional details of the $1.4 billion expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center have been released. When the project is completed in 2020, the convention center will be the second largest in the U.S. with 2.5 million square feet of exhibit space, trailing only Chicago's McCormick Place with 2.6 million. The plan and budget will be considered for approval in May.
The Gridiron Grill opens today at Red Rock Resort. It replaces the Wiener's Circle as the food outlet in the sports book area.
Downtown's e-sports arena has announced an opening date of March 3. Millennial Esports at Neonopolis will feature a 200-seat "stadium" and a competition area that will accommodate another 500 spectators. A release describing the venue says it will also have "food and beverage establishments," which we take to mean restaurants and bars, and an arcade.
Add Melco Crown Entertainment to the competition to build a casino in Japan. Following a statement by Sheldon Adelson that LV Sands Corp. would spend up to $10 billion on a resort in Japan, Melco's CEO, Lawrence Ho, countered that he would spend "whatever it takes." Others in the hunt are MGM Resorts International and Hard Rock.
Every day is National-Something Day, but today's designation as National Margarita Day will pay dividends in Las Vegas. For example, house margaritas are 2-for-1 at Texas Station, but lots of bars figure to be running specials today, especially those with Mexican themes, such as Cabo Wabo Cantina, El Segundo Sol, Hussong’s Cantina, and Margaritaville at the Flamingo.
What should you do if you see someone drop money in a casino, keep it or hand it back? That's the subject of a new Bob Dancer post at GamblingWithAnEdge.com that's prompted several readers to post their opinions.
Lucky Dragon has initiated "Tea Tuesdays," featuring 50% off exotic teas in Cha Garden. The promotion is running every Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
The Neon Museum is expanding thanks to a $425,000 grant from the city of Las Vegas. The museum at 770 Las Vegas Blvd. N. has purchased an adjacent parcel of land that will provide space for 30 more signs to be displayed.
The prices have been raised on the breakfast and hamburger specials at the Sourdough Cafes at both Arizona Charlie's. Formerly $4.99, the steak or ham & eggs breakfasts are now $5.55 and the hamburger & fries is $5.99 (when you show a club card).
Just three months after opening its first restaurant on Harmon across from the Hard Rock, a second Papaya King is preparing to open on the Strip according to Eater Las Vegas. The distinctive yellow and red Papaya King building is already in place in the Hawaiian Market enclave just north of MGM Grand, though an opening date hasn't been announced.
In this weekend's Parade Magazine feature on comfort food in all 50 states, Nevada’s entry was "Thai food." The entry cited "more than 450 restaurants in Las Vegas alone," but didn’t name any.
Several casinos are running Presidents' Day promotions today. Boyd casinos are awarding 15X points on pennies, 11X on other reels, and 6X on video poker. SLS has 10X points on slots and 3X on video poker. South Point has 5X points on slots and 2X on video poker. Earn 300 points at Stations or Fiestas and get a cherry pie. Earn 50 points at Rampart and get a candy bar, 100 of which come with $50 in free-play. Silverton club members get 2-for-1 buffets from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. And yes, we choose "Presidents'" over "President's" and "Presidents" in the spelling of this holiday, for which all three choices have precedents.
It should be a competitive UFC card tonight. Travis Browne and Derrick Lewis are pick 'em in the main event. In the other featured match, Hector Lombard and Johny Hendricks are also pick 'em.
The West is a -6 favorite over the East in tonight's NBA All-Star Game. The total is a majestic 352.
Registration is now open for our "Sunday Funday 37" poker tournament. Play begins at noon PST/3 p.m. EST today. Along with $100 for first, prizes include LVA membership with the 2017 Member Rewards Book, copies of our just-released The Frugal Gambler Casino Guide and Blackjack for Blood, and several new prizes. 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 12293). 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.
Get a box of Girl Scout Cookies today after earning 300 points ($300 coin-in) at Gold Coast, Suncoast, Sam's Town, or Orleans. Earn the points on any machine between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. and swipe at a kiosk to redeem.
Here's one way to beat the resort fees. More than 340,000 Nevada visitors stayed at an Airbnb rental in 2016, up 150% from the year before. Airbnb is the home-sharing equivalent of Uber or Lyft for ride-sharing. While it's currently a small piece of the lodging pie, experts expect a growing number of home-sharing services to increase their market share as visitors become more comfortable with the process.
Reserve some time tomorrow to play in our 37th Sunday Funday online poker tournament. First place gets $100, and prizes will be awarded to the top 14 places. Prizes include LVA membership with the 2017 Member Rewards Book, copies of our just-released The Frugal Gambler Casino Guide and Blackjack for Blood, and several new prizes. 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.
Recent developments indicate that New York and Pennsylvania are the top candidates to be the next states to legalize some form or online gambling. New York has a bill on the table that would allow poker only, while Pennsylvania is pursuing broader legalization that includes casino games. By comparison, whereas New Jersey's total online poker revenue in 2016 was $27 million, New York's estimated first-year market is $120 million. The Pennsylvania market for all games is estimated at $300 million, compared to about $200 million in New Jersey.
Perhaps paid parking isn't inevitable after all. The Seminole Hard Rock in Tampa, Florida, which instituted paid parking last year, has reversed its policy. Similar to Las Vegas, customers of the Tampa HR were vocal in their displeasure, and enough so to cause the tribe to once again make parking free.
Donald Trump's name has been taken off the Boardwalk entrance to the Taj Mahal in Atlantic City. It's not a protest move; Trump had an agreement with owner Carl Icahn that his name would be removed from the property if certain standards weren't maintained and the casino is currently closed. The Trump name still appears in other areas of the building, most likely to be removed soon.
Here's a little more to hate. Caesars Entertainment is raising resort fees by $1 to $3 at all of its hotels as of March 1. The new fees will be $30 at Bally's, Flamingo, Harrah's, The LINQ, and Rio, and $35 at Caesars Palaces, Cromwell, Nobu, Paris, and Planet Hollywood.
According to the National Weather Service, winter storms have accounted for more than 40 billion gallons of water being added to Lake Tahoe since the beginning of the year. This followed a two-day span in December when 8.9 billion gallons were added in just two days. The conditions have alleviated drought concerns, as the water level rose to 6,222.97 feet, reaching the lake's natural rim at 6,223 feet.
The new Taco Bell Cantina on the Strip is adding weddings to its menu. Beginning this summer, the restaurant will offer a $600 Taco Bell-themed wedding package that come with a Taco 12-pack and a Cinnabon Delights wedding cake for the reception. It doesn't get much more romantic than that.
Floyd Mayweather has opened as a -2500 favorite (25-1) over Conor McGregor if a boxing match between the two can be set. The odds were posted by the Westgate Superbook and require that the fight take place by May 31, 2018. Westgate didn't put up a line on the fight ever taking place, the odds on which would probably be significantly longer.
According to a report issued by The Economist, Australians remain the world's biggest gamblers, losing a whopping $990 per resident. The number checks in well ahead of second-place Singapore at $710. The Australian total was also more than $200 higher than reported by a similar study in 2016. The biggest aggregate loss, however, was by U.S. citizens, which tallied $116.9 billion. Analysts say it hammers home how much potential remains for more gambling legalization in the U.S.
What do you add to the casino that has everything? A Starbucks, of course. The Bellagio didn't quite have everything, but with the opening of a new Starbucks, maybe it does now. Hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
This week's Bob Dancer article discusses the video poker variation Dream Card as part of an explanation about how to use the Dancer-Daily Video Poker Strategy Cards. The blog is supported by some very interesting comments from readers. Check it out at GamblingWithAnEdge.com.
While Las Vegas gets lots of prep attention for its high ranking high school football (Gorman) and basketball (Findley Prep) teams, the girls are doing their share. Perennial power Centennial is ranked #4 in the nation in girl's basketball by USA Today, with a record of 26-2.
A driving instructor and customer were killed when a Lamborghini Aventador hit a wall at the SpeedVegas driving facility on Sunday. The car crashed while the customer was driving. SpeedVegas has been closed since, pending an investigation.
The Hakkasan Group has announced its pool openings, the first of the 2017 season. March 10 will be opening weekend for Wet Republic and MGM Grand, Liquid Pool Lounge at Aria, and Bare Pool Lounge at the Mirage. Expect the others to be close behind.
Are you stuck? If you've tried getting Valentine's Day flowers delivered today, you were probably declined, but we found one that's still delivering -- JustFlowers.com. We did it to verify. Read about it along with one more same-day out at GamblingWithAnEdge.com.
In the February Las Vegas Advisor we wrote "A lot has changed at the Trop since it was sold to Penn National and not much for the better, but the [$200 rebate-on-loss for new club members] is one good deal that’s been left alone." Oops. Not so. Although we were told by a players club employee that it was, that info was incorrect and the deal is gone. Our apologies. The only major rebate deals currently running are at Cannery and Eastside Cannery, both of which offer $200 rebates for new members.
Frankie Moreno, formerly a heralded headliner at the Stratosphere, has signed on for a six-week engagement at the Golden Nugget. Moreno will perform in The Showroom on Thursdays, March 2 through April 13 (excluding March 30).
After opening without craps, we've heard that a table will soon be added to the games mix at Lucky Dragon. Additionally, it looks like the new noodle bar that we wrote about previously in this space will be in addition to, not replacing, the existing Bao Now noodle bar. There's currently an easy instacomp available at Bao Now, details about which are provided at GamblingWithAnEdge.com.
A second sports book robbery in less than a month took place at South Point last Sunday following the Super Bowl. An armed man was able to get out of the sports book with $58,000, but he didn't get much farther. A silent alarm summoned security and the suspect was apprehended in valet. It's not known whether or not this robbery was connected to last month's at Silverton.
It's only rumor, but there's a buzz that a sale is pending for CG Technologies, formerly Cantor Gaming. It makes sense given CGT's stormy history in recent years, starting with the arrest of its sports book director for illegal betting in 2012. The likely buyer appears to be Ireland's Paddy Power, which has been angling for a U.S. entry.
The new Oyster Bar is open at the Hard Rock. Run by the former owner/chef of downtown's recently closed Glutton, it's located in the All-Suite Tower and open daily from 11 a.m.
Germaine de Randamie is a -130 favorite over Holly Holm in tonight's UFC main event. In the other featured match, Derek Brunson is -135 over Anderson Silva.
Movie-theater developer Maya Cinemas North America has purchased a 32-acre parcel in North Las Vegas with plans to build a 70,000-square-foot theater complex that could also include restaurants and retail. The location across the street from the Silver Nugget is near a potential retail-and-housing project that could combine with the theater to create a central "downtown" area in North Las Vegas.
Get in on rollback specials today and tomorrow at Papaya King on Harmon across from the Hard Rock. Celebrating the opening of the original New York City shop in 1932, dogs and beers are both buy-two-get-one-free and 32-ounce tropical drinks are 32¢ until 9 p.m.
There's more information available concerning the Chick-fil-A sighting across from Palace Station that we reported last week. Las Vegas' third Chick-fil-A will be located at 2477 S. Rancho Dr. and is scheduled to open March 30.
MGM Resorts International has announced that Monte Carlo Brand Steakhouse will close on May 11. It's the latest change at the resort as it moves toward its conversion to Park MGM.
After just two months, changes and modifications are underway at the Lucky Dragon. Scratch off another night market, as Dragon's Alley is closed and the large dining area inside will become the new location of the excellent Pearl Ocean restaurant. There will also be a new Dragon's Alley Noodle Bar, which will likely take the place of Bao Now. The former Pearl Ocean space on the second floor will be converted into an expanded VIP gambling area. We've also heard that steps are being taken to deal with the glare on the video poker machines at the center bar, and those former fastest-in-the-west elevator doors have been slowed down to cruising speed.
After an impressive 32% increase in online gambling revenue in 2016, analysts are predicting the growth rate for New Jersey's online component may be cut by up to 50% this year. The potential decline is pegged to waning interest in poker. Participation in casino games is expected to continue to increase.
Do you cut lines or wait your turn? Jump from serving island to serving island? Sneak food out? This is a fun survey about how you handle the challenges of eating at buffets and dealing with the crowds. Let us know your style by voting in the new Reader Poll that's live now.
The $330 million Rivers Casino opened yesterday in Schenectady. It's the third of four private casinos licensed for upstate New York. While the first three all opened within the last few months, the fourth, Montreign Resort Casino in the Catskills, isn't scheduled to open until March 2018.
One of the interesting stories connected with this year's Super Bowl was that it produced the first overtime in the game's history, and the first loss for the no-OT proposition bet. Find out how professional bettors view long-odds wagers such as this in Frank B's post, "Anatomy of a Bridgejumper," at GamblingWithAnEdge.com.
Another live poker room bites the dust with the closing of the room at Monte Carlo on April 25. There's been no word on what will replace it.
The Plaza has covered its entire north-facing tower wall with a giant mural created by Shepard Fairey, best known for his poster of Barack Obama titled "Hope" and Obey clothing-line designs. The Plaza mural, which includes images of the four card suits, will be officially unveiled this Saturday. A second mural by English artist D*Face is also slated to be presented in an undisclosed spot.
Bob Dancer's regular weekly article at GamblingWithAnEdge.com describes this year's Blackjack Ball. It's a good look at this annual event that brings together many of the best and most successful blackjack players in the world.
We've just learned that Du-Par's at the Golden Gate has ceased operations as of this afternoon. That means our cool MRB offer for free pancakes bites the dust, but also puts in question where you can now get the great GG shrimp cocktail, which has been served from DP's for the last few years. We'll let you know when we do.
Our current hot-topic Reader Poll is on the subject of trip reports. Do you read them? Write them? Want to see more of them at LVA? We're contemplating a dedicated trip reports section on our soon-to-debut redesigned website, so this input is important to us. The poll closes at midnight, so there's still time to get your vote in.
This year's Super Bowl handle was a record $138.5 million, a 4.5% increase over last year's prior record. The state's 196 legal sports books reported a $10.9 million profit, which is a 7.9% hold. The public's increasing fondness of betting on sports and the advent of mobile apps continue to push the numbers up; the largest reported bet was $1.1 million on the Falcons +3 made on the CG Technology app.
A man from Pennsylvania who was in town for the Super Bowl hit big today at the Cosmopolitan. After playing the same Wheel of Fortune machine off and on over the weekend, he hit for a jackpot for $1.1 million.
Monday is movie day at the Palms. Earn 300 points ($100 coin-in) and get a free Brenden Theater movie ticket. You have to earn the points on Monday, but the ticket is valid anytime; excludes 3D films, Sony, IMAX, & special engagements.
Yesterday's wild Super Bowl finish had different results for the books. The first ever overtime that paid 7-1 in most places cut into some profits, and William Hill reported losses on in-game wagering with many bettors piling on the Patriots at high odds when they were down 28-3, but most books reported having a winning day.
The New England Patriots are -3 favorites over the Atlanta Falcons in tonight's Super Bowl. The total is 57.
Get your smartphones ready to time the singing of the Super Bowl's National Anthem. The over/under number on how long it will take Luke Bryan to sing it is 2:10, with under a -130 favorite.
Jean Scott provides information on some of the better February deals in her latest post at FrugalVegas.com. This month's focus is the Palms and Boyd casinos.
The parties will be on all over town today. If you don't have plans, check out a good list at GamblingWithAnEdge.com. And watch this space the rest of the day for the line on the length of the National Anthem and the closing line on the game near kick-off.
Dennis Bermudez is a -200 favorite over Chan Sung Jung in tonight's UFC main event. In the other featured match, Alexa Grasso is -340 over Felice Herrig.
We've spotted what might be Las Vegas' next Chick-fil-A location. The C-f-A sign is on a building that looks close to opening on the northeast corner of Sahara and Rancho, across the street from Palace Station.
In a new blog post, James Grosjean gets into a prickly social issue, discussing a bias against women that extends to the pro gambling ranks. Check out his position (and the comments), along with a post from Richard Munchkin about cheating slot machines at GamblingWithAnEdge.com.
The American Gaming Association predicts that $4.7 billion will be wagered on the Super Bowl, and of that, 97% of that will be bet illegally. While the numbers are informative relative to the magnitude of the game, the primary reason for the AGA's release of information is to shine a light on how much is being bet and untaxed in spite of existing prohibitions in its push for national legalization of sports betting.
The $440 million del Lago Casino opened near Syracuse on Wednesday. It's the second of four casinos that were approved for the upstate region. The third, Rivers Casino, opens on Feb. 8.
The new VSiN sports and sports-gambling station unveiled its studio today at the South Point. The network will officially launch on Feb. 27, but will broadcast a one-off Super Bowl show hosted by Brent Musburger at 3 p.m. EST this Sunday on SiriusXM Rush (channel 93).
The band Sin City 4 plays a pre-Super Bowl gig tonight at Hammer's Bar & Grill, located at 771 E. Horizon Dr. in Henderson. The band plays a good mix of rock, funk, soul, R&B, country and alternative, but we like them because bass player Alf Musketa is a well-respected sports-betting handicapper. Show starts at 8 p.m.
If your first name begins with "T," head over to Tom’s Urban at NY-NY to get 50% off your meal through the end of February. The deal is only for those with T-names and valid ID (no bonus if it's actually "Tom"), not your entire party.
The latest edition of the Gambling With an Edge podcast focuses on the Super Bowl, with guests Anthony Curtis and Frank B. Check it out for the latest information on the betting lines, party opportunities, and more.
According to John Katsilometes of the LV Review-Journal, the race and sports book at the Wynn is getting a makeover. The book is closing in April and a temporary book will operate out of Encore. The upgraded Wynn book will reopen in August.
If football's not your thing, there are plenty of other diversions for your entertainment enjoyment. Here's a quick round up of events:
Bob Dancer's regular weekly article at GamblingWithAnEdge.com discusses the interesting case of a Stanford math professor who won an excessive number of lotteries. Was she talented or just lucky? And if you're interested in the Super Bowl prop bets, the entire list from the Westgate SuperBook is posted.
The first all-night buffet in years has just opened at the Palms. The Bistro's graveyard buffet runs from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m. daily and is $10.99, or $8.99 if you show a players card.
It's happened. On two occasions in January, computers defeated expert-level human players in extended no-limit hold 'em poker matches. The first was a program called DeepStack, that beat a group of 11 lesser-known players. More attention is being paid, though, to the Carnegie Mellon poker program Libratus, that played a 20-day match against four top-rated pros. Libratus didn't just win, it dominated the human players, finishing up $1.8 million.