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The Strip bridge connecting MGM and NY-NY that's been closed for repairs will open for the July 4 weekend. It will close again on July 5 through late September. The bridges at that intersection have been up for 22 years and are used by an average of 130,000 pedestrians daily.
Bob Dancer discusses strategy differences for two volatile video poker games and Blair Rodman continues his reporting on the World Series of Poker, mixing in some cool stories from poker's glory days, on GamblingWithAnEdge.com. Jean Scott tally's several July promotions in her Frugal Vegas blog. And check out our July 4 events round-up and Richard Munchkin's review of one of the best breakfast places in town at VegasWithAnEdge.com.
So far, the only announced paid parking at the Wynn has been for valet, but it looks like work has started on a gating system in the self-parking garage. A contributor sent us this pic today with the comment, "Those guys in yellow aren't puttin' those up for visual enhancement."
There are rumors that the German grocery chain Aldi intends to move into the Las Vegas market, possibly by buying several of the stores vacated by the withdrawal of the Fresh ‘N Easy brand. Aldi is a low-price grocer that doesn’t even provide bags to keep prices low.
The merger of DFS powers FanDuel and DraftKings has hit a wall with news that the Federal Trade Commission plans to block the deal after determining that the combined companies would control up to 90% of the market. The DFS companies have not responded. Meanwhile, Vermont has become the 12th state to legalized daily fantasy sports.
Caesars Entertainment has unveiled a new entertainment studio that it’s touting as the “only full-service studio space in Nevada.” The 48,000-square-foot complex located next to Bally’s can facilitate full-scale television, movie, and eSports production.
It's 4th of July weekend and we will be posting our big round-up over on our Vegas with an Edge blog very soon but in the meantime here are some other things going on around town:
Summer pricing for bowling at Texas Station is $1.50 (per person, per game), everyday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. On Thursdays through Aug. 10 it’s just $1, and there are hot dogs and other items at the bowling alley snack bar are also a buck.
Two guests from Phoenix cashed big on a penny slot machine at Harrah’s. Apparently playing together, the two will split $944,337.37 hit on a Willy Wonka: World of Wonka machine.
The first member of Tuscany’s Club 365 has been confirmed. Membership requires drinking a one of every beer on the Pub 365 menu and there are 365 of them. The inaugural inductee was awarded an all-expenses-paid trip to San Diego to, what else, tour breweries.
Downtown's Mermaids casino is open, at least for a little while. Today is the day a remote casino opens for eight hours to preserve its gambling license. Yesterday was the eight-hour stint for the Las Vegas Club, but we didn't know the hours it was open. It was 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Mermaids is operating on the same schedule today. There will be machines only (no table games), and with bad schedules, no doubt.
MGM Grand has announced that it's expanding its convention area, adding 250,000 square feet of space to bring its total to 850,000 square feet by 2018. The cost of the expansion was not disclosed.
A mandatory FAA filing has revealed that the height of the Raiders stadium will be 225 feet. By comparison, the nearby Luxor is 350 feet. Work can’t begin on the project until the FAA analyzes safety factors and signs off.
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear New Jersey's case to legalize sports betting. The court had previously declined to accept the case, but it now appears that it will be argued later this year.
A new show called Circus 1903—The Golden Age of Circus will take residence next month at Paris. Reviews suggest that it mimics a real circus, featuring a ringmaster, jugglers, aerialists, and giant elephant puppets. It opens July 25 with tickets starting at $49 base.
Charlie's Saloon on Durango has closed. It was a decent video poker bar that ran several good promotions over the years. No word yet about whether it will become another Dotty's-type establishment.
Tickets went on sale last week for the Canelo Alvarez/Gennady Golvkin fight, scheduled for Sept. 15 at T-Mobile Arena. They start at $300 base and top out at $5,000.
Kevin Lee is a -140 favorite over Michael Chiesa in tonight's UFC main event. In the other featured match, Johny Hendricks is -150 over Tim Boetsch.
Now here’s a Sunday-night banger. Porchlight Grill at Desert Inn and Durango celebrates its 10th anniversary tonight with a big party that includes a performance by Zowie Bowie. It’s not often that you can see a band like this in an intimate bar setting, and for free. The party starts at 7 p.m. and ZB is expected to play around 10. There’s also a $20 matchplay deal till 2 a.m.
A promotional text today from the Rounders Bars reads “Purchase a bottle of wind & receive any free menu item.” We don’t know what wind is going for these days or how many menu items at Rounders are free, but this doesn’t sound like a bargain.
Today is the 20th anniversary of Drai’s After Hours nightclub at the Cromwell. It’s an amazing accomplishment considering most clubs stay around for less than five years. Drai’s has made it on its after-hours concept, usually operating Thursday through Sunday mornings from 1 to 10 a.m. Drai’s is also given credit for originating bottle service, which is a key revenue source for all the major clubs today.
In a rare Bellator Pay-Per-View event, Chael Sonnen is a -190 favorite over Wanderlei Silva in the main event. In the other featured match, Matt Mitrione and Fedor Emelianenko are Pick 'Em. With Bellator trying to get footing in the market, there's also a strong TV card airing on Spike, with Phil Davis a -135 favorite over Ryan Bader in the featured match.
In the most unlikely story so far in this year's World Series of Poker, James Moore won the Super Seniors event (65 or older) for the second year in a row. There were a record 1,720 players in the field, making the repeat all that more impressive. Moore got $259,230 for the win.
Originally announced as a makeover, the closing of the Biscayne steakhouse at the Tropicana will be permanent. A new restaurant called Oakville Steakhouse has opened in the same space.
According to a report from Eater Las Vegas, Downtown Grand plans to build a dining, entertainment, and retail district bordering the resort that will be called The Quad (haven’t we heard that before?). It would be built in areas surrounding the resort and might include the bottom floor of the current parking garage. No timetable for the ambitious project was released.
Ellis Island held a press conference on Thursday to unveil details of its new dining and bar space, "The Front Yard." The two-story structure will be located in off Koval Ln. and feature a brewpub and restaurant. Building is in progress and it's scheduled to open before the end of the year.
SLS Las Vegas has debuted its new players club. Formerly The CODE, the new Club 52 awards .4% in free-play or comps for slots and .2% for video poker. There are four tier levels, with the highest “Legend” level requiring 150,000 points (and approval) earned within a six-month period.
The new PT’s Gold at 4880 W. Silverado Ranch Rd. holds its grand opening tonight from 6-10 p.m. There will be an extended happy hour, plus a $50 matchplay offer -- that is, if you you can get to a machine at the bar.
The 25th Annual Convention of the Casino Chip and Gaming Token Collectors Club (CCGTCC) runs begins today at South Point in Exhibition Hall D. Multiple dealers will be in attendance buying and selling casino collectibles and vintage gaming memorabilia. Admission is $10 today, $5 on Friday, and it's free on Saturday. Ages 18 and under are free when accompanied by a paying attendee.
• Ricky Martin is live in concert at The Park at Monte Carlo (6/23-24)
Max Casino at the Westin is closing. Finally. A closing announcement was made a year ago, but the leased-out casino that's name is a nod to its predecessor, the Maxim, continued to operate. Machines are now being removed and we're told the casino will close completely by June 30. The main bar of the Westin is also scheduled to close for a remodel, apparently as part of a complete redesign of the Westin.
Our new book, Rock Vegas -- Live Music Explodes in the Neon Desert, is back from the printer and shipping. If you're a fan of rock music and its players, this book is for you, including what might be more name references than any book we've ever done. If you've already ordered, your book will be on the way as early as tomorrow. If you want to order, do so by June 30 for the deepest discount we will offer -- $12.98 including shipping (normally $19.95).
Tonight is prime rib night at Jackson's bar. Not for eating, but for earning one for that you can eat next Monday. Earn 100 points ($100 coin-in) before midnight and get your voucher. Excellent prime rib. Excellent play. Jackson's is located at 6020 W. Flamingo.
The Golden State Warriors opened as -200 favorites to win the NBA Championship next year. According to the Westgate SuperBook, they are the biggest preseason favorites ever in any of the four major sports. The Cleveland Cavaliers are the second choice at 3-1 and the San Antonio Spurs are 12-1.
Jean Scott and her new book The Frugal Gambler Casino Guide are the subjects of two recent podcasts, the first on HouseofCardsRadio.com, and the second from the American Casino Guide YouTube video series. Follow the links for both, or access from Jean's recent posts at Frugal Vegas, where you can also check out an excellent paid/free parking update and Jean's list of good Internet resources for gamblers.
Las Vegas tied an all-time record yesterday with the temperature officially hitting 117 degrees around 4 p.m. It's happened three times before, on July 24, 1942; July 19, 2005; and June 30, 2013, making this the earliest date of the four 117s. Temps are expected to ease back to 115 today.
Here’s one that caught us by surprise. The sports book at the Riverside in Laughlin is no longer managed by South Point as it has been for several years. It’s become a William Hill shop, leaving only four different books operating in Laughlin.
Our GWAE bloggers were busy today. Blair Rodman posted on his deep run in the World Series of Poker's Senior's event, FrankB discusses the new $5K-entry-fee NFL-handicapping contest at the Westgate, and Bob Dancer's weekly post explains how he attacked a video poker promotion at the M. Read them all, hot off the keyboards, at GamblingWithAnEdge.com.
The public loves a long shot. Money has come in strong on Conor McGregor for his August 26 boxing match against Floyd Mayweather. The Westgate reports that to this point, 90% of the wagers have been on McGregor, pushing the line on Mayweather down to -700 after opening at -1100 (it was as high as -2700 before the fight was signed) and bookmakers believe it will go lower.
A 34-year-old man from California died at the Electric Daisy Carnival over the weekend. The cause of death has not been reported, but the extreme heat is suspected to have contributed. The man had attended previous EDC events and had run an event-safety consulting company. According to an article in the LV Review-Journal, this was the seventh death associated with EDC since 2012, with at least one person dying each year except one. Public records indicate that there were 1,090 responses to medical calls during the event, up from 617 last year. There were also 282 ejections, up from 111 last year.
Mark your calendars for one last play at the closed, and soon to be demolished, Las Vegas Club and Mermaids. In another instance of being required to operate within a two-year period to preserve their slot licenses, the Las Vegas Club will open for eight hours of live machine play on June 27 and Mermaids will open on June 28. The exact hours haven’t been specified and it’s likely that only a small area in each casino will be accessible.
A $1.1 million jackpot was hit at the El Cortez on Friday. A player who bought in for $20 hit on a Big Bang Theory slot with a $2 bet.
Record temperatures are forecast this week, including a projected 117 degrees on Tuesday, which would tie the all-time record. Cooling stations are set up at multiple recreation centers around town, including the Black Mountain, Cambridge, and Downtown Rec Centers. Matt O'Brien, author of our book Beneath the Neon, told the LV Review-Journal that many homeless seek refuge in the tunnels beneath the city where temperatures are 20 to 30 degrees lower. However, it's also monsoon season, so tunnel dwellers risk dangerous flash floods in the drains.
Olivia’s Mexican restaurant has closed at the Boulevard Mall. It’s the second bar/restaurant to close recently at the mall, following Hatari last month.
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, and copies of our just-released The Frugal Gambler Casino Guide and Blackjack for Blood. Prizes will again be awarded to the first 14 finishers. There will also be a bounty on Anthony Curtis, with the player who eliminates him receiving an autographed copy of our new book, Rock Vegas. 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 12708). 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.
Special meals are being served all over town today, but additional promotions are light. Boyd casinos are paying 15X points on penny slots, 11X on other slots, and 6X on video poker. Silverton has 8X points on reel slots and a free swipe at a kiosk to win $100 in free-play. Fathers get unlimited rides on the High Roller wheel today when they buy one regular ticket. And don't forget our free Father's Day online poker tournament today; there'll be a link in this space to sign up at 10 a.m. PST.
Going into today's final round of the U.S. Open golf tournament, Justin Thomas is the +325 favorite to win. Brian Harman, sitting on a 1-stroke lead, is +410, and Rickie Fowler and Brooks Koepka are both +470.
In tonight's championship boxing match, Andre Ward is a -125 favorite over Sergey Kovalev. The total is 11.5 rounds, with over the favorite at -310.
The hotel at the Skyline in Henderson opened today. There was no press or fanfare, so we don’t have details, but will drop in to take a look and report. Indications are that there was also a revamping of the casino, which hopefully didn’t affect its great video poker schedules or Top Ten shrimp cocktail.
Reserve some time tomorrow to play in our 41st 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 The Frugal Gambler Casino Guide, Blackjack for Blood, the just-released Rock Vegas, and more 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.
After starting slow, the numbers have been better for a couple of the premier events at the World Series of Poker. The Millionaire Maker drew 7,761 players, the most ever and up 7.9% from 2016. The Seniors event also set a record with 5,389 players, up a big 19.8%.
Another PT’s Gold has opened at 4880 W. Silverado Ranch Rd., near Decatur. It's the second PT’s to open in as many weeks and the third this year. There will be a grand opening celebration on June 22, with a $50 matchplay offer from 6 to 10 p.m.
Station Casinos will present a big fireworks display on July 4. The “We Love Locals’ July 4th Fireworks Blast” will be made up of two nine-minute shows emanating from Green Valley Ranch and Red Rock Resort, beginning at 9 p.m.
The Strip location of Tacos El Gordo is planning a move to a vacant tattoo parlor later this year. The new location is within walking distance of the current shop, which has become a go-to place for late-night Strip partiers. An exact date for the move has not been announced.
Up to 140,000 festival-goers are expected to descend on the Las Vegas Motor Speedway this weekend for the 3-day Electric Daisy Carnival. You'll want to avoid I-15 north of downtown beginning today and running through Monday morning. Read about the history of EDC, as well as many other Las Vegas-based music extravaganzas, in our new book Rock Vegas, shipping next week and available now at a deep publisher's discount.
The Space Invaders slot machine has debuted in Atlantic City as part of the roll-out there of skill-based games. The machine has a bonus screen that allows you to play the Space Invaders video game that was the rage in the ‘70s. Players have the option to bypass the base game and pay to go directly to the Space Invaders screen. The game is expected to show up in Las Vegas this summer.
Yup, folks, it's Electric Daisy Carnival time once again; if you're interested in all that psychedelic shenanigans, may we respectfully direct you to the EDC website, which gives you the full run down on parties, events, headliners, and more.
In the meantime, here's a bunch of other stuff going on:
Defending champion Dustin Johnson is the +700 favorite to win golf's U.S. Open. He's followed by Roy McIlroy, Jason Day, and Jordan Spieth, all at +1200.
According to msn.com, which is running a feature today on the oldest restaurants in all 50 states, the oldest restaurant in Nevada is Casale's Halfway Club in Reno, which opened in 1937 in the location it occupies today at 2501 E. Fourth Street. MSN writes, "Casale’s was originally a small takeout stand known for its homemade ravioli. Over the years, the small shop expanded into a full-service restaurant with a dive-bar feel, and the Italian-themed menu grew with it."
It's on. Floyd Mayweather and Conor McGregor will meet on Aug. 26. The fight will be in Las Vegas at T-Mobile Arena. It will be a boxing match with boxing rules and gloves. The opening line makes Mayweather a -1100 favorite with McGregor +700.
In this week's blog post at GamblingWithAnEdge.com, Bob Dancer uses a live-poker example to convey a gambling concept that also applies to video poker. This post has attracted a lot of reader feedback and may have spawned a second discussion on the merits of re-buying in a poker tournament.
The Palms has announced its revamped restaurant roster. A new 24/7 coffee shop called Lucky Penny will open July 1. The Bistro Buffet will close a day earlier for a conversion to a “food hall concept.” And a restaurant called Social Table will open in mid-July in the space that used to be Hooters.
A visit to Casino Royale revealed that the casino is no longer dealing 100X odds on craps. A floorman told us that it's been a year since, which doesn't jibe with our information, but we can confirm that it's no longer available there (but Michelob in the bottle is still $1). The Cromwell continues to deal 100X.
More Restaurant Maneuvering at Cosmo
No one can accuse the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas of being stagnant when it comes to its restaurants. Blue Ribbon opened last week, replacing the former Blue Ribbon Sushi. And it’s been announced that D.O.C.G. Enoteca will close June 20. It’s just the latest in a year-long list of openings and closings at the resort.
Naked City Tavern has closed. The eastside bar and restaurant was operated by the owners of the Naked City Pizza restaurants that still operate at Moon Doggies, the Blue Diamond Saloon, and on Paradise.
The summer display at Bellagio’s Conservatory & Botanical Gardens is up. Billed as the conservatory’s first Italian-inspired display, it features 16-foot stone archways, multi-tiered fountains, and a 20-foot lemon tree. The display is available for viewing 24/7 through September 9. The Venetian’s Waterfall Atrium is displaying a temporary art piece called “Another Sky.” It features 3,590 ribbon strands dangling over the pond. Admission is free for both.
The Golden State Warriors are -9.5 favorites over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4 of the NBA Championship series. The total is 231.
The lead story in the "Sports" section of today's USA Today is titled "NFL Inconsistent on Gambling." While it's a light piece that's focusses mostly on stadium-naming rules that exclude casinos, it's likely a harbinger of more to come with regard to sports-gambling-related news spurred by the Raiders' move to Las Vegas.
A single ticket sold in Menifee, California won Saturday’s Powerball drawing worth $447.8 million, the 10th largest lottery prize in U.S. history. The winning numbers were 20-26-32-38-58 with the Powerball 3.
The Vegas Vickie sign, currently perched above downtown’s Girls of Glitter Gulch, will be taken down today as part of the demolition process there. The plan is to refurbish the weathered sign and relocate it somewhere else in Las Vegas. There’s been no comment from Vegas Vic, who still stands over the closed Pioneer casino and “married” Vickie in a 1994 PR stunt.
Golden Entertainment has entered into an agreement to acquire American Casino & Entertainment Properties for $850 million. Golden is Nevada's largest slot-route operator and the owner of the huge PT's Tavern group. The acquisition brings the Stratosphere, both Arizona Charlie's, and the Aquarius in Laughlin into the Golden fold. The deal is expected to close this year.
The Nashville Predators are -115 favorites over the Pittsburgh Penguins in tonight's Game 6 of the NHL's Stanley Cup finals. The goal line is 5.5 under/-140.
In honor of National German Chocolate Cake Day, get a free slice at Texas Station when you order any entree in the Grand Cafe. The offer is good today from 2 to 8 p.m.
Our monthly Sunday Funday online poker tournament that was scheduled for today has been postponed till next week, due to technical problems. We apologize for any inconvenience. Join us next Sunday at noon PST for the tournament.
In news that won’t help what appears to be lagging participation in the World Series of Poker, the Nevada Health District reports that two guests of the Rio contracted Legionnaires’ disease, traced to the hotel’s water system. The Rio released a statement that says, “The company is working closely with the Southern Nevada Health District and taking aggressive remediation actions to ensure the safety of Rio’s water.”
Rafael Nadal is a -450 favorite over Stan Wawrinka in tomorrow's French Open men's tennis final. The match starts early, at 9 am EST.
Derrick Lewis is a -160 favorite over Mark Hunt in today's UFC main event. In the other featured match, Derek Brunson is -260 over Daniel Kelly.
This weekend only, The Animal Foundation’s Lied Animal Shelter is waiving fees on all dogs six months and older. Stop by the shelter at 655 N. Mojave Road today and tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. to view the prospective pets. A press release bills it as the “largest volume single-site animal shelter and pet adoption center in the nation.”
The current odds for the Belmont Stakes make Irish War Cry the favorite at 3-1, followed by Lookin at Lee at 5.5-1 and Senior Investment at 6.5-1. The long shot is Hollywood Handsome at 33-1.
The Golden State Warriors are -5 favorites over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 4 of the NBA Championship series. The total is 227.5.
Saturday's Powerball drawing is expected to hit $435 million, its highest level since the $1.6 billion record in early 2016. We've taking the over on that number -- it's always higher than predicted when the jackpot gets large.
We got a quick look inside Legends today, the soon-to-open strip club on Valley View, just east of the Rio, that used to be Velvet Lion and Striptease. The club will have a couple of elements that set it apart. One is a private club-within-the-club that's accessible by membership only. Another is it will be bitcoin friendly. UFC Hall-of-Famer Stephan Bonnar is connected to the effort and will be involved in marketing the club that's slated to open in July.
It's been reported that plans are in place for the razing of the Las Vegas Club, Mermaids, and Glitter Gulch in preparation for the building of a new resort in that space. Rather than an implosion, there will be a systematic demolition of the buildings that will begin on July 15. While details of the end product haven't been disclosed, you can read a complete detailing of the demolition plans at VitalVegas.com.
Thomas Pomponio was the winner of Colossus III and its $1 million first prize. Joe Mitchell won the Online event and the first prize of $122,314 generated by a surprisingly low 2,509 entries considering the low $333 buy-in. Blair Rodman has posted his Week 1 round-up of the tournament at GamblingWithAnEdge.com.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are -160 favorites over the Nashville Predators in tonight's Game 5 of the NHL's Stanley Cup finals. The goal line is 5.5 under/-135.
Las Vegas isn't the only city in Nevada with cool and odd things to see. Falling in line on the odd side is the Clown Motel in Tonopah with it's neighboring cemetery, labeled "creepy" in a story today at didyouknowfacts.com.
• Comedy-wise you have Daniel Tosh at the Mirage (6/9-10), followed by funnyman Trevor Noah (6/9-11), and Chris Rock is center stage at the Monte Carlo (6/10)
• Brooklyn Bowl welcomes 40oz To Freedom - Sublime Tribute (6/9)
• The Commodores will perform at the Cannery (6/10)
• Patti LaBelle is in the spotlight at The Star of The Desert Arena at Primm (6/10)
• It's Beers, Gears, and Bikinis at M Resort (6/10)
• And the 16th Annual Reggae in the Desert takes place at Clark County Amphitheater (6/10)
This week's post by Bob Dancer touches on a few subjects that will be of interest to casual machine players, although the overriding motto is that regardless of the rationale you want to credit for your results, it's the games and game conditions you play in that matter. Check out "Who Cares" at GamblingWithAnEdge.com.
Play $100 coin-in at Jacksons bar today and get a voucher for a free prime rib dinner next Monday. This is one of the best instacomps in town. Jacksons is located at W. Flamingo and Jones.
The Orleans holds an excellent mini-baccarat tournament tonight with a $3,000 prize pool and no entry fee. Yep, it's free, and the first round is at 8 p.m., but you won't get a seat if you're not there before the opening of registration at 6 (remember, it's free).
The Golden State Warriors are -3.5 favorites over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 3 of the NBA Championship series. The total is 228.
Several Las Vegas taxi companies have come together to form a new hailing system that eliminates the need to make a phone call. Yellow Checker Star Transportation, Whittlesea Blue Cab, Henderson Taxi, and Desert Cab have created a dispatch system using a button called a "kabit" (cab-it) that's installed at businesses throughout the city. When a store employee pushes the button, the nearest available cab is sent to pick up a rider. An interesting of this story is how the once-competing taxi companies are now joining forces to combat the ride-sharing companies, e.g., Uber and Lyft.
Possibly to dispel rumors that last week's attack on a Philippines casino was terrorism-related, Resorts World Manila has released surveillance video of the ordeal. The video shows a lone gunman, who seems to be focused more on destroying tables and slot machines than harming people (he appears to be firing warning shots as he walks through). Be forewarned that while the footage tracing the gunman's steps in the casino is not particularly graphic, it's discernible toward the end of the clip that he was wounded by police gunfire.
We're thinking hard about how to structure LVA membership and have taken the question to the poll. Is the newsletter important to you? Would books and products be better? Or would you rather get the Member Rewards Book at a lower price? Here's your chance to make your preferences known (and we're interested in the feedback of everyone, even if you've never joined LVA before). Let us know your thoughts by voting in the new Reader Poll that's live now.
Two Wheel of Fortune jackpots were reported over the weekend. A 25¢ progressive hit at the Wynn for $343,000 and a $1 progressive hit at Arizona Charlie's Decatur for $1.67 million. Kind of seems like those two jackpots should have been switched around.
Professional poker player Doug Polk was the winner of the High Roller for One Drop event and its $3.7 million first prize at the World Series of Poker. Polk came from way back to catch Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier, who finished second for $2.3 million.
Are you looking for a good bet for Game 3? In a new blog post, FrankB describes a betting strategy that's been very successful when a team is 0-2 in a series and coming home, which is where the Cleveland Cavaliers find themselves. Read the discussion at GamblingWithAnEdge.com.
The Nashville Predators are -145 favorites over the Pittsburgh Penguins in tonight's Game 4 of the NHL's Stanley Cup finals. The goal line is 5.5 under/-140.
Spurred by the recent rash of terrorist-related attacks in big cities around the world in which motor vehicles have been used as weapons, Las Vegas officials are considering installing more than 1,000 bollards (steel poles) between the Strip and sidewalks. It sounds like a good idea, but that’s enough to protect pedestrians on only about a one-mile stretch of the Strip. If approved, the bollards could be in place before the end of the year.
Participation was way down for this year’s Colossus event at the WSOP. Although the field was one of the largest ever at 18,054 players, that was down 16.5% from last year’s 21,613. A big factor in the drop is likely this year’s introduction of two tournaments with lower entry fees -- an in-process online event with a $333 buy-in and “The Giant,” which begins June 9 with a $365 buy-in.
The Golden State Warriors are -9 favorites over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 2 of the NBA Championship series. The total is 222.
A total of 130 players ponied up the $111,111 entry fee for this year's High Roller for One Drop event at the World Series of Poker. With 23 remaining, Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier, author of our book The Raiser's Edge, leads with 7.0 million chips. He's followed by Dario Sammartino with 6.1 million and Scott Seiver with 4.9 million.
Information has been updated regarding the casino shooting in the Philippines. A single gunman was involved and authorities say he was acting alone with robbery the motive. The man, who was known to the casino and had substantial gambling losses, had recently been banned from the country’s casinos. There were more than 30 fatalities, but none from gunshots. The victiims died from smoke inhalation after trying to hide in a room where an associated fire broke out. The gunman was able to obtain about $2.3 million in high-denomination casino chips, but did not escape and killed himself before he could be apprehended.
Several changes have been announced for the Westgate Las Vegas SuperContest, including a new $5,000-entry-fee winner-take-all contest called “SuperContest Gold.” There will also be three $15,000 bonuses awarded to the leaders after four weeks, after eight weeks, and the winner of the end-of-season mini-contest. For the first time, championship rings will be awarded to the winners of the two main contests. The bonus for hitting 67% or better has been eliminated. Registration for both contests opens July 1.
Jose Aldo is a -150 favorite over Max Holloway in today's UFC main event. In the other featured match, Claudia Gadelha is -345 over Karolina Kowalkiewicz.
The Nashville Predators are -145 favorites over the Pittsburgh Penguins in tonight's Game 3 of the NHL's Stanley Cup finals. The goal line is 5.5 under/-140.
The annual Junefest music festival takes place today in the Sunset Station outdoor amphitheater. The bands are Martha Davis & The Motels, Don Felder, and REO Speedwagon. Doors open at 5 p.m. and tickets are $29. The following is an excerpt from our new book, Rock Vegas -- Live-Music Explodes in the Neon Desert, available for purchase now at our deep publisher's discount.
"Las Vegas’ first music festival, Junefest, took place June 5, 1993. It cost $10 to get in and $4 for a 16-ounce beer. Those were the two critical components of financial success—tickets and beer. That year, Junefest went through 605 kegs, selling 72,600 beers. The first band went on at 1 p.m. and the show ended at 10. The stellar lineup headlined the Allman Brothers and featured Eddie Money and Stephen Stills. The Allman Brothers played only an hour, because, of all things, snow! It was the coldest June 5 on record."
A new PTs Gold has opened at 3835 W. Martin Ave., near Valley View and Sunset. It's the second of seven new taverns being opened by Golden Entertainment this year and the 55th overall. There will be a grand opening celebration on June 15, with a $50 matchplay offer from 6 to 10 p.m.
Today is National Donut Day and Dunkin' Donuts is giving away one free donut with the purchase of any beverage. The promotion runs nation-wide at participating locations.
Should you gamble on a wheel spin or take a lesser buy-out. Bob Dancer discusses an important expected value vs. utility decision in his latest blog post at GamblingWithAnEdge.com.
Funding for a new free shuttle service downtown has been approved. The “Downtown Loop” will connect the Arts District, Premium Outlets North, the Mob Museum, Pawn Plaza, and other downtown areas via two shuttles that will operate nine hours a day. The service is expected to launch this month.
The Golden State Warriors are -8 favorites over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the NBA Championship series. The total is 225.
Jean Scott has posted a list of June promos, including good deals at South Point, Tuscany, and Boyd properties. Check it out on her Frugal Vegas blog.
• Downtown brings you First Friday, this week's theme is Jammin' June (6/2) and will feature a battle of the bands where local musicians compete in a monthly “Rock & Review” contest on the main stage.
• Herman's Hermits will perform at the Golden Nugget (6/2)
• Josh Turner is in the spotlight at the Tropicana (6/2)
• Comedian Ron White is center stage at the Mirage (6/2-3)
• Mandalay Bay hosts Local Brews Local Groves at the House of Blues (6/3)
• And the Cannery welcomes Peace Frog - Tribute to The Doors (6/2)
Uncle Angelo's Pizza Joint at Jerry's Nugget has closed. It was announced in early April that the restaurant would undergo renovations, but there's been no work done and it appears closed for good.
There are reports today of bombs exploding and gunfire at Resorts World Manilla in the Philippines. The reports indicate that multiple gunmen were involved and that the attack is suspected of being terrorist-connected. The casino has been locked down while the situation is addressed by the Philippine National Police.