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The Pittsburgh Penguins are -135 favorites over the Nashville Predators in tonight's Game 1 of the NHL's Stanley Cup finals. The goal line is 5.5 under/-140.
The 48th World Series of Poker begins today with the traditional Casino Employees tournament and a new event called the Tag Team No-Limit Hold 'em Championship. This year's meet will have a record 74 bracelet tournaments, culminating with the 10K buy-in Main Event that will run July 8-22.
Bavette’s Bar & Bouef, one of Chicago’s most acclaimed steakhouses, is headed to the Monte Carlo. The restaurant is scheduled to open in the space that housed Brand in October.
Silverton is running "Welcome to Summer Swipe N' Win" today and tomorrow. Pick a day for one free swipe of your players club card to win free-play, dining comps, and up to $1,000 cash. Get one additional swipe after earning 300 points.
A 150,000-square-foot practice facility for the Vegas Golden Nights hockey team is being built in Downtown Summerlin near Red Rock Resort. A tourist-friendly restaurant and bar will reportedly be part of the facility, which will be the largest of any in the NHL and is expected to be completed this year.
The 13,000-square-foot Boulevard Food Court has opened on the south Strip, just north of the giant Coke bottle. Among its nine tenants is El Dorado Express, a satellite of the El Dorado Cantina adjacent to the Sapphire strip club, a Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, and Reb Dog.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are -165 favorites over the Nashville Predators in tonight's Game 1 of the NHL's Stanley Cup finals. The goal line is 5.5 under/-145.
An Atlantic City strip club called Stiletto is suing the city over a law that prohibits advertising its BYOB policy, claiming it violates rights of free speech. As of now, the club still can’t advertise that customers can bring their own beer and wine to the club, but it’s good to know the policy should you find yourself looking for a gentleman’s club near the Boardwalk with a six-pack in tow.
Several Memorial Day specials are running today. On machines, Boyd casinos are offering 15X points on penny slots, 11X on other slots, and 6X on video poker; South Point has 15X points on pennies, 5X on other slots, and 2X on video poker; Station casinos have 3.3X points on slots and 2X on video poker; Silverton has 10X points on reel slots; and earn 50 points at Rampart and get a candy bar, 100 of which contain $50 in free-play. South Point is offering a free buffet for two with military ID; Westgate has 50%-off buffets for military; and Silverton has 50%-off buffets for everyone, swipe at a kiosk to get a voucher.
A freeway connecting Las Vegas and Phoenix is in the works. Interstate 11 will bypass Boulder City with a 15-mile stretch that will provide a spectacular panoramic view of Lake Mead, while also shortening drives that used take U.S. Highway 93 through the city. As of now, Las Vegas and Phoenix are the only neighboring cities in the U.S. with populations above 1 million that aren’t connected by a major interstate. While the Nevada portion is expected to be open by June 2018, construction on the Arizona section hasn’t even begun. Plans call for I-11 to eventually run from Mexico to Canada.
Alexander Gustafsson is a -325 favorite over Glover Teixeira in today's UFC main event. In the other featured match, Misha Cirkunov is -450 over Volkan Oezdemir.
Scott Dixon and Fernando Alonso are co-favorites at +500 to win today's Indianapolis 500. They're followed by Will Power (+800), Helio Castroneves (+1000), and Juan Pablo Montoya (+1100).
Not one, but two Las Vegas shows have recently banned cell phones during performances. The first was Dave Chappelle this month at MBay, and now Chris Rock says he’ll do the same when he plays at Monte Carlo in June. Customers must either leave their phones somewhere or have them “pouched” (locked up and held) at the door.
Floyd Mayweather's long-promised strip club opens tonight. Located at 2580 S. Highland Dr. (behind the Artisan). Girl Collection is unlike any other topless club in town, starting with the admission fee of $50 that isn't waived for locals. It's fashioned to cater to the affluent customer, using Mayweather's celebrity and the expectation that big names from the sports and entertainment world will go there to party. For much more on this fascinating club, check out LVA's adult counterpart, ToplessVegasOnline.com. (NOTE: Topless Vegas Online is fully illustrated throughout and contains adult language and imagery. NSFW!)
Amaya, the company under which PokerStars operates, is changing its name to The Stars Group. The change is designed to deflect negative perceptions created during a recent problematic period for the company during efforts to move into new markets.
This is one of the busier weekends in Las Vegas, as partiers come to town to officially kick off the summer pool season. A projected 328,000 visitors are expected over the three-day weekend, taking up more than 96% of the 149,262 available rooms, and snarling traffic throughout the city.
The closing of the Loose Caboose on W. Flamingo near the Palms has a special significance. Though simply a local bar in recent years, the building opened as Tramps, one of Las Vegas’ first disco-style nightclubs, in the late '80s, then later became another nightclub called LJ’s. The location is being prepped to open as a Dotty’s-run Bourbon Street.
World Series of Poker gold bracelet winner and author of Kill Phil, Blair Rodman, will post regularly on his experiences playing in the 2017 tournament. Blair's done this to varying degree for the past few years and his reports are always from a perspective that only a dedicated player could have. Plus he's vigilant in monitoring comments and answering questions on the blog. His first post is up now at Gambling With an Edge.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are -175 favorites over the Nashville Predators to win the NHL's Stanley Cup. Game 1 is Monday in Pittsburgh, where the Penguins are -165 favorites.
The Golden State Warriors have settled as -250 favorites over the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Championship, but shop around -- the lines have ranged from -220 to -260. Game 1 is next Thursday at Golden State, where the Warriors are -7 favorites after opening -5.
A stolen tractor-trailer driven by a disgruntled truck driver was backed into the Moonlite Bunny Ranch brothel at 4 this morning. The driver was wearing full body armor and a mask. He'd stolen the truck from his ex-employer, which had fired him a few months ago for "inappropriate behavior," from a terminal in Sparks, then drove to Mound House, outside of Carson City, and crashed the trailer through the front door of the brothel. None of the five employees, 30 prostitutes, and 10 customers present were hurt in the incident and none knew the driver. The Moonlite Bunny Ranch was featured in an HBO documentary in 2002 and 2003, which led to two seasons of reality TV in 2005 and 2007.
The sale of Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem to MGM Resorts International is off. No reason was given for the dissolution of the deal, but there's speculation that recent changes in Pennsylvania gaming regulations may have been to blame. It’s unknown whether or not owner Las Vegas Sands will resume a previously announced $90 million expansion of the resort.
Big weekend, comedy-wise, with Bob Saget performing at the Brooklyn Bowl (5/26); Joel McHale doing stand up at Treasure Island (5/26); Kathy Griffin center stage at the Mirage (5/26); followed by Gabriel Iglesias (5/27-28); Whose Live Anyway at Tropicana (5/27-28); and George Wallace at South Point (5/26-28)
Music-wise, there's the Little River Band at the Golden Nugget (5/26), The Lon Bronson Band at the Smith Center (5/27), Carlos Santana returns to The Joint at Mandalay Bay (5/26-28), MGM Garden Arena is host to Dead & Company (5/27), Foster the People perform at The Chelsea at Cosmopolitan (5/27), and Usher is poolside at Hard Rock (5/28)
Or get out and enjoy the weather with the Punk Rock Bowling & Music Festival Downtown Las Vegas (5/26-28) or you might enjoy the Summer of Fun Kick-Off-Festival & Car Show at the Cannery (5/27)
Three collectibles-laden houses of former Nevada Lieutenant Governor Dr. Lonnie Hammargren are being foreclosed on by bankers, forcing the sale of many of their famous contents. An auction is planned for a yet-to-be-announced date at Modern Mantiques downtown, where items that include a paper mache dinosaur, a vintage gondola, and two statues of Abraham Lincoln will be sold off if they can be retrieved from the houses.
We've posted our Memorial Day weekend events list on the Vegas With an Edge blog. Check it out and watch this space for late-breakers through the end of the 3-day holiday.
In his weekly blog post, Bob Dancer examines the value of excessive study of video poker strategy. Are the countless hours he's spent learning proper penalty-card decisions and other of the game's fine points paid for in increased expected value? Read his conclusion at GamblingWithAnEdge.com.
Carve, the steakhouse at Eastside Cannery, has introduced a new menu that features multiple cuts of prime rib. The timing is good given the conversion of the ECan buffet coupon in the Member Rewards Book to a 2-for-1 entrée in a choice of restaurants that includes Carve.
SLS Las Vegas has been sold to the Meruelo Group for an undisclosed price. Meruelo is involved in multiple businesses and owns the Grand Sierra in Reno. The sale is pending regulatory approval and no additional information about plans for the resort have been revealed.
Add lottery to the list of gambling-industry sectors lamenting the lack of interest from millennials. Lottery officials say that only about 33% of Americans age 18 to 29 play, down from 39% in 2007 and compared to 61% in the 50-64 age group. One reason cited for disinterest is the lack of instant gratification -- “Most millennials don’t want to wait two days to see if they won the Powerball.”
Wheel of Fortune paid off again last weekend. A jackpot of $304,000 was hit at Casino Royale on a 25¢ Wheel of Fortune Pink Diamonds machine.
The $8 instacomp for the Lucky Dragon’s Bao Now that was supposed to run throughout May was abruptly discontinued after only a few days. The casino promoted the deal in press releases, but gave no notice of rescinding the offer. Not cool.
In Sagos bar at Spring Mountain and Decatur, all natural video poker 4-of-a-kinds spin the bonus wheel during NBA or NHL playoff games, and any Los Angeles Angels game. The wheel has minimum $5 slots, so likely has a lower average value per spin than standard wheels with $10 minimums. But Sagos deals 7/5 Bonus Poker and runs other good gambling promos. Plus you can use the excellent 100-coin bonus on quads from LVA’s Member Rewards Book.
Planet Hollywood is being sued by a man who claims he sustained injuries when he mistook a mannequin in his room for a human and tried to flee. The mannequin, which was encased in a glass cabinet, was part of the room’s décor. The suit claims that the man “suffered undefined injuries to his body, limbs, organs, mind, and nervous systems” that have caused him a “loss of life enjoyment.” That must’ve been one badass mannequin.
Check off another poker room. Luxor will close its 9-table room on June 18. It follows the closing of the rooms at Hard Rock and Monte Carlo earlier this year, leaving the Strip area with 18 poker rooms, down from a high of 26.
Jean Scott has updated her free-parking list. Get the latest on where and how to avoid the Strip parking fees by checking out her Frugal Vegas blog.
Hold on there. This deal isn't as it was portrayed. After hitting a royal you draw for free-play, with double the payout being the best you can get. There are other bonus amounts in the drum. Both Gold Coast and Orleans have good video poker schedules, so the bonuses make this a decent deal, but it's nothing close to a double-royals event.
After announcing last week that a name change was coming, the under-construction New York casino that was expected to be called Montreign has settled on Resorts World Catskills. The change was made to leverage the Resorts World name, which is recognized worldwide, and particularly in the area for its successful New York City property.
Registration is now open for our Sunday Funday 40 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 12676). 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.
According to an article in today's LV Review-Journal, Crown Resorts is seeking a buyer for the center-Strip site where it planned to build Alon. The asking price is $400 million for the 34.6-acre parcel. Alon bought the land for $280 million in 2014, and it went for $1.2 billion when purchased in 2007 for a project called The Plaza.
Gold Coast and Orleans are paying double for royal flushes today on 25¢ and 50¢ games, and possibly $1 (we have conflicting reports). The ads say “on select machines,” so it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to play it on the best schedules, but this should be a good opportunity to build some points playing a game near breakeven.
Reserve some time tomorrow to play in our 40th 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 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.
Rapper Ja Rule performs today at the Flamingo's GO Pool party. He'll play starting at 3:30 p.m.; tickets are $20 ($10 for hotel guests). Go to gopoolvegas.com for more information.
The current odds for the Preakness Stakes make Always Dreaming the favorite at 4-9, followed by Classic Empire at 2-1 and Hence and Gunnevera at 5-1. The long shots are Term of Art and Senior Investment, both at 38-1. For a good betting angle, check out FrankB's post "NO Triple Crown" at GamblingWithAnEdge.com.
Grab your kids and head downtown for Safari Day. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. today, Container Park will turn into a fairgrounds with games, prizes, a bounce house, and other attractions. Tickets are $9. Get more information at downtowncontainerpark.com.
Gambling on golf is a subject in two blogs today. Part 2 of Blair Rodman's series on golf gambling at Gambling With an Edge gets into the realities of how the game changes when played by gamblers, including details on the most important aspect -- the bet negotiations. The subject is also touched on in a post by Richard Munchkin about one of the city's iconic landmarks, White Cross Drugs, at Vegas With an Edge.
South Point will host a Preakness seminar today, with Ralph Siraco and handicappers Patrick McQuiggan and Donald Harris. It will be held in the race and sports books starting at 6 p.m. and is free to attend.
Analysts are predicting that casinos in Japan will have a higher concentration of slot machines than other Asian gambling destinations, which are much more table-games oriented (slots account for just 5.1% of the gambling win in Macau). Japan’s familiarity with electronic pachinko games and the fact that some of the industry’s top slot manufacturers are headquartered in the country are cited as reasons that slots will have a bigger role.
Updated information has been released regarding the timetable for Resorts World Las Vegas. According to a report in the LV Review-Journal, tower cranes will be installed on the property over the next 90 days, with construction beginning in the third quarter of this year. This is the type of vague timetable that has been put forth in the past and been followed by several delays. However, it was confirmed that the budget is still $4 billion (there were reports of a downsizing) to build a 3,000-room resort with two towers that will likely debut in stages. The theme and design focus has been changed from ancient to modern-day China, pushing back the scheduled completion date from late 2019 to 2020.
• The Gin Blossoms are center stage at the Golden Nugget (/5/19)
• Mandalay Bay welcome Carlos Santana to The House of Blues (5/19-21)
• Country music duo Thompson Square will perform at the Tropicana (5/19)
• Cher returns to The Park at Monte Carlo (5/19-20)
• Mirage is host to comedian Bill Maher (5/19-20)
• Hard Rock welcomes Journey to The Joint (5/19-20)
• The Billboard Music Awards take over the T-Mobile Arena (5/21)
• And you can catch The Temptations at the Orleans (5/21)
The speed limit is about to be raised. Not in Las Vegas, but on a 134-mile stretch in Northern Nevada. The speed limit will go from 75 mph to 80 on I-80 between Fernley and Winnemucca; however, the change won’t take effect until new signs have been posted. Other areas of the state are also under consideration for the adjustment.
Two new posts are up at our visitor's blog, VegasWithAnEdge.com. The first is a giant trip report from one of the best trip report dudes on the planet, Westie. The second is a first-person description of a one-of-a-kind steak & lobster Bloody Mary by Anthony Curtis. This is a blog we're intending to become interactive with lots of TRs and other reader input. Give it a look and chime in if you like.
When is it better to play a lesser schedule? More often than you might think. One such example is provided in Bob Dancer's new post titled "When 9/5 Was Better than 9/6" at GamblingWithAnEdge.com.
Even before it opens, New York's Montreign Resort Casino is getting a new name that will reflect the Resorts World brand (the official name has not yet been determined). Originally announced with a budget of $630 million, the new Resorts World Something that will open in the Catskills area in 2018 is now quoting a building cost of $1.2 billion.
You won't find the Cosmopolitan on Jean Scott's list of casinos with free parking. True to its schedule, the Cosmo began charging today, with daily self-parking charges of $7-$10 and valet charges of $13-$18, depending on length of stay. The first hour is free for everyone and upper tiers of the Cosmo players club are not charged.
It's a moving target, but Jean Scott has assembled a list of places on the Strip where you can still park for free, along with some other alternatives to avoid paying fees. It's a good list that you can check out on Jean's Frugal Vegas blog.
Sheldon Adelson once again ranks highest in the casino industry on the Forbes list of richest people. Adelson is 20th on the complete list with a net worth of 30.4 billion, down $1.4 billion from last year. Other notables from the casino world are Carl Icahn ($16.6 billion), Ed Roski ($5 billion), Tillman Fertitta ($2.9 billion), Steve Wynn and Phil Ruffin ($2.4 billion each), and Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta ($1.4 billion each).
The signing of a new TV agreement with ESPN and Poker Central will adjust the structure of the World Series of Poker Main Event and eliminate the November Nine format that has been in place since 2008. This year the final table will convene after only a two-day delay and be concluded in July. The new deal will also create many more hours of live coverage (slightly delayed to satisfy gaming rules) of the Main Event.
The Sands Regency and Gold Dust West casinos, along with nearby land and buildings in downtown Reno, have been sold to Colorado-based gaming operator Jacobs Entertainment for about $40 million. Jacobs says it will redevelop the area to create an “urban neighborhood” setting. Also, in Reno, the former Siena casino has reopened as the non-gaming Renaissance Hotel.
The Orleans buffet has been closed for a remodel. The following notice is posted on the Orlean's website: "Effective Monday, May 15th, we have temporarily relocated across from our current location during our remodel. We will be offering breakfast and lunch only, we apologize for the inconvenience." The 2-for-1 offer in the Member Rewards Book should be accepted for meals that are being offered.
The Cosmopolitan is bringing back Dive In Movies for the summer. Running every Monday night from May 29 through Sept. 4, a classic movie will be run in the pool area and guests will also be able to use the pool. It’s open to everyone for a $5 charge. Movies include Pulp Fiction, The Departed, Top Gun, The Big Lebowski, and Bull Durham. Admission is free for hotel guests and children under 5.
A new barbecue joint called Tennesseasonings has opened at 7315 W. Warm Springs Road. It’s being promoted as the first Las Vegas restaurant to feature East Tennessee-style BBQ, which differs from the Memphis style that’s already represented in town. What’s the difference? According to the owner, “East Tennessee primarily focuses on pork and is best enjoyed dry – no sauce required.”
According to Mike Weatherford, author of our book Cult Vegas, the longest running show in Las Vegas is Legends in Concert at the Flamingo, having played for 34 years. It’s followed by Divas Las Vegas at The LINQ (31 years), Crazy Girls at Planet Hollywood (29 years), and Tournament of Kings at Excalibur (26 years). All have either changed names or casinos. The longest running show that’s changed neither is TI’s Mystere at 23 years.
If you're in town today, check out the Vegas With an Edge blog for several Mother's Day options. For gamblers, Boyd casinos are paying 15X points on penny slots, 11X on other reels, and 6X on video poker. Silverton has 8X points on reels. Red Rock, GVR, and Santa Fe and Sunset Stations are awarding 3.3X points on slots and 2X on video poker today.
Stipe Mioci is a -160 favorite over Junior Dos Santos in today's UFC main event. In the other featured match, Joanna Jedrzejczyk is -200 over Jessica Andrade.
What's the biggest problem casinos have as a result of advantage players? They overreact to them, according to James Grosjean. But it may not be the casinos' fault as much as the way that games are designed. Get JG's take on how poorly designed games are painting casinos into a corner in his latest blog post at GamblingWithAnEdge.com.
The Floyd Mayweather-owned strip club, Girl Collection, had a soft opening on Cinco de Mayo. Scattered reports have been negative, citing a $50 cover charge (even for locals) and sparse activity in the club. Nearby, it looks like Pussycats is done for good. The famous sign (featured in the opening scenes of The Hangover) has been removed and there’s a notice advertising the building for lease.
The new MB Steak from Michael and David Morton has opened at the Hard Rock. While it was orginally stated that the MB stood for "Morton Brothers," a press release from the Hard Rock says it's "My Brothers."
Professional poker player Todd Brunson (son of Doyle), along with fellow pros Max Pescatori and Fabio Coppola, has purchased Roma Deli on W. Spring Mountain Road. Brunson says there are no plans to change the name or menu, which is a good thing. It figures Roma will become a place to run into poker notables, especially during the World Series, which begins at the end of May.
Several years after the Ferguson Motel was purchased by Tony Hseih’s Downtown Project, work is underway to create a “mixed-use campus,” combining residential and retail. A spokesperson says the original plan for the space is “no longer accurate,” but that several original components remain, including the “Big Rig Jig” sculpture made from two semi-trucks. The space is expected to be ready for its first occupants by June.
Here’s something kind of cool for mom. Earn 3,000 points between today and Sunday (Mother’s Day) at the Hard Rock and get a $100 gift certificate for the spa. That’s a hefty $12,000 coin-in, but the numbers work out close to a breakeven for good video poker players to score the comp.
• The Las Vegas Village welcomes Las Vegas Heldorado Days (5/12-14), this 3 day event includes a rodeo, carnival, parade, and more. If you're an LVA member you can score free tickets through your Theater Extras account.
• Golden Nugget features the Spring Wine Fest 2017 (5/12-13) and a performance by Johnny Rivers (5/12).
• Journey takes over The Joint at Hard Rock (5/12-13).
• Sara Evans is center stage at the Tropicana (5/13).
• Mo5aic entertains at Aliante (5/13).
• Three Dog Night is in the spotlight at the Orleans (5/13-14).
• And The Clark County Amphitheater brings you the Jazz in The Park Series with Lindsey Webster, Halsey Harkins, and the Shapiro Project (5/13).
The debate rages on. Was Las Vegas better in the “good old days” when the Mob ran the town, during the go-go years of the 2000s, or was it another period in time? Let us know your thoughts by voting in the new Reader Poll that's live now.
Las Vegas Advisor Diamond and Platinum members can get free Helldorado rodeo tickets this weekend through Theater Extras. If you’re already a paid LVA member, make sure your Theater Extras account is activated and select your tickets (there's a $4.50 handling charge). If you’re not a paid LVA member, you can read about our arrangement with TE here.
Vdara is the latest MGM Resorts International property to raise its resort fee. The daily fee will increase by $4 to $39 effective June 8.
Documents filed with the SEC reveal that the selling price of Atlantic City's Trump Taj Mahal, built for $1.2 billion, was just $50 million. The shuttered resort was sold by Carl Icahn to Hard Rock International, which is owned by Florida's Seminole Indian tribe. It will reopen as an Atlantic City Hard Rock after a $375 million renovation.
In this week's blog post titled "Paying to Avoid a Royal Flush," Bob Dancer covers the intriguing subject of when it's proper to make play with a lower game EV due to related considerations. Also, at GamblingWithAnEdge.com, check out the story of a crazy prop bet involving McDonalds food.
Several casinos are offering deals in May for Military Appreciation Month. One of the best is a 50% discount for all active and retired military with confirming ID at SLS Las Vegas, good at all restaurants except Bazaar Meats. The discount is also valid at the Center and Monkey Bars, along with a 20% discount on rooms.
Looking Forward -- Poll Ends Tonight:
Our current hot-topic Reader Poll is on the subject of how well you play blackjack. Are you a seat-of-the-pants player? Do you know basic strategy? Count cards? Use even more advanced techniques? Or don't you play the game at all? Let us know where you stand. Fhe poll closes at midnight, so there's still time to get your vote in.
The Las Vegas Stadium Authority has released a timeline for the building of the domed stadium that will be home to the Las Vegas Raiders. According to the schedule, site work will be initiated in December, with construction beginning in January 2018. Construction will conclude in June 2020, in time for the opening of the 2020-21 NFL season.
A new restaurant called China Tang Las Vegas is coming to MGM Grand. The restaurant specializing in Cantonese cuisine will open later this year in the spot that used to be Pearl.
More than a decade after it closed on Harmon across from the Hard Rock, Hamburger Mary’s may be making a Las Vegas comeback. The LGBT-themed restaurant (that makes good burgers) is reportedly due to reopen as part of the Flair nightclub on E. Flamingo, possibly this summer.
The opening line for one of the most highly anticipated boxing matches in years makes Gennaday Golovkin a -160 favorite over Canelo Alvarez in their recently announced middleweight championship unification fight. The fight is scheduled for September 16 although a location has not yet been determined.
A new show called Wow Splash has been announced for the Rio. The name and description -- the set includes an open pool -- is reminiscent of Splash at the Riviera, a show that was part of the transformation from the stuffy showgirl extravaganzas to the fast-paced modern-dance-dominated variety shows. Wow Splash is scheduled to open in July.
The south end of the Strip will be closed to traffic tonight and Monday night for street paving in connection with the renovation of the four pedestrian bridges at Tropicana. All or most lanes will be closed from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. both nights.
Recycled Percussion has ended its run in the Saxe Theater. John Katsilometes of the LV Review-Journal reports that the group has gone on the road and is concentrating on an online TV show, with a return to a Las Vegas stage also an option. However, the box office indicates only that the show would be dark till October, so a return may already be planned.
MGM Resorts International is entering the online-gambling space with the playMGM casino. Planned to launch in New Jersey later this year, the iGaming platform will offer poker and casino games. It will operate under the license owned by the Borgatta and has been built to move into other states as online gambling is legalized around the country.
In one of the bigger boxing events in some time, Canelo Alvarez is -460 over Julio Cesar Chavez, Jr. in tonight's bout. The total is 9.5 rounds, with over the favorite at -210.
Station Casinos is in the midst of its "100 Cars in May Giveaway," a promotion that helped make the brand famous when it began years ago as "Car A Day in May." In addtion to the daily car giveaways, everyone playing with a club card inserted when a car is won gets $25 in free-play.
Las Vegas aerospace company AviSight has been granted permission to operate drones over the Strip. It’s not clear how they’ll be used, though possibilities include movie shoots, construction surveys and observation, and casino-marketing functions.
Many race books are running Derby specials today. South Point will host a free party in the ballroom. Get a free logoed T-shirt for a $25 bet at Station and Fiesta casinos and a mint julep in a souvenir glass for a $20 bet at the William Hills at Hooters, Plaza, Silver Sevens, SLS, and Railroad Pass.
The current odds for the Kentucky Derby make Always Dreaming the favorite at 4-1, followed by Irish War Cry at 5-1 and McCraken at 7-1. The sentimental favorite, the one-eyed Patch, has dropped from 30-1 on the morning line to 14-1. The long shot is Untrapped at 59-1.
The desert produces a lot of drastic temperature swings and this weekend will see a doozy. After daily highs climbed steadily all week to a projected 99 degrees today, Saturday’s high is projected to be 89 and Sunday’s 67. That’s a 32-degree drop in two days. Better keep that sweater in the suitcase.
Anthony Curtis will be a guest today on the gambling show "Follow the Money." It airs on the new Vegas Stats and Information Network beginning at noon PST and A.C. will be on during the 12:30 segment. You can watch live at VSiN.com.
Station Casinos will run Kentucky Derby handicapping/betting seminars today at Boulder Station (6 p.m.), Texas Station (6:30 p.m.), and Palace Station (8:30 p.m.). South Point will host a seminar at 6 p.m. All will be held in the race and sports books and are free to attend. Boulder Station is advertising free beer, soda, and water for attendees.
Lots of Cinco de Mayo-themed parties and specials are running today. Check out our list at VegasWithAnEdge.com for options. Station Casinos is advertising half-price fajitas, $5 Sauza margaritas, $3 Sauza shots, and $2 Dos Equis in its Mexican restuarants, Amigo's, Cabo Cantina, and Garduno's, and related festivities from 5 to 10 p.m. at Texas Station.
Looking for something different to do tonight? We’ve heard that the monster Bloody Mary featuring a filet and a lobster tail that was introduced, then discontinued, at the Porchlight Grille will be resurrected tonight at Brooksy’s Bar on W. Flamingo. It was $25 at Porchlight, but you could also get it comped if you played. We’ll be there tonight to get the details.
• Downtown brings you First Friday, this week's theme is El Grito de Dolores (5/5).
• It's a pretty big weekend comedy-wise, with Dave Chappelle performing at Mandalay Bay (5/5); Jon Lovitz & Dana Carvey are in the spotlight at The Foundry at SLS (5/5-6); Wayne Brady takes center-stage at the Mirage (5/5) while Tim Allen performs the following evening (5/6); and Jim Gaffigan does "Fully Dressed" at Caesars Palace (5/6-7).
• Billy Idol continues his mini-residency at Mandalay Bay's House of Blues (5/5-6).
• You can catch Cher at The Park at Monte Carlo (5/5-6).
• And Journey takes over The Joint at Hard Rock (5/5-6).
Don't forget to check out the Cinco de Mayo round-up over at VegasWithAnEdge.com.
The lead story in the "Sports" section of today's USA Today titled "Gambling Issues Await Raiders" discusses how the Oakland Raiders' move may force the NFL to change its policies on gambling. The issues are complicated, but the gist of the article is that efforts to expand legal sports betting will be aided by the location of the franchise in Las Vegas.
Caesars Entertainment says it will continue to invest in room renovations for its Las Vegas hotels, bolstered by an increase in room rates. CET spent almost $60 million in the first quarter of this year on renovations, much of which went toward improvements at Harrah’s, Flamingo, and Planet Hollywood. By the end of this year, CET says it will have renovated more than 50% of its Las Vegas room inventory.
Our Cinco de Mayo listing is up, but in a place that's likely unfamiliar to many. We're preparing to launch a new blog called VegasWithAnEdge.com that will be our outlet for detailed reports like this. But it will also be an area for reader input in a collective blog-style mode -- specifically, a place we hope to soon be reading some awesome trip reports! We're still working out the details and the blog isn't completely integrated into the website, but VWAE is live, so check it out.
The casinos may be recovering from tough economic times, but Las Vegas homeowners aren’t keeping pace. A new report from the listing service Trulia indicates that Las Vegas has the country’s lowest percentage of homes that have fully recovered from the housing decline, with only .6% having reached their pre-recession value. The next lowest, Tucson, is four times higher at 2.4% and the national average is more than 50 times higher at 34.2%.
Despite a flurry of discussion this year, Florida will again stand pat in its casino offerings. Legislators were unable to reach agreement on a bill to allow more casinos and gambling options, including an attempt to legalize slots at several horse and dog tracks. Expansion advocates have faced strong resistance from Florida’s tourism industry, which doesn’t want the competition from additional gambling options.
The Lee Canyon ski resort is seeking permission to expand with new ski runs and lifts, zip lines, bike trails, and a "mountain coaster" thrill ride. The $35 million project requires an environmental review and permission, which is expected to take 18 months, before work can begin
The unfinished Fontainebleau on the Strip will be covered by a wrap to hide its weathered exterior. Only the three bottom stories will get the treatment, with work begininng within 180 days. The projected cost is $500,000.
Some players will get a a nostalgia rush from Bob Dancer's latest blog post, in which he discusses the glory days playing a version of Deuces Bonus in bars that had a base return of 100.35%, plus extras. Bob discusses this juicy opportunity and predicts that other good plays will pop up at GamblingWithAnEdge.com (and there are some cool photos, too).
The Oakland Raiders have purchased a land parcel for their new stadium, essentially finalizing the site selection. The parcel is located behind Mandalay Bay and across (west of) I-15. The purchase price for the 62-acre site was $77.5 million. There's no current schedule for the start of construction, as there's still a lot of paperwork necessary before plans can be firmed up. The biggest question mark now appears to be where space will be made for parking.
There's been another resort-fee increase on the Strip. The Monte Carlo has raised its RF by $5 to $35 per night, effective today. You can check the RFs at all Las Vegas hotels on our resort-fee page.
Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay made it official today that he will open the world's first Hell's Kitchen restaurant at Caesars Palace. Branded for the TV show of the same name, Ramsay's fifth Las Vegas restaurant will open this winter. The location within Caesars wasn't designated, but its been speculated that it may be in the corner space bordering the Strip.
A new blog post from Blair Rodman discusses gambling on golf -- who does it, how the terms are negotiated, what it takes to be successful. It's the first of a multiple-part series on the subject that you can read at GamblingWithAnEdge.com.