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The Washington Redskins are -2 favorites over the Dallas Cowboys in tonight's Thursday Night Football game. The total is 47.
Downtown’s driverless-shuttle experiment got off to an unsteady start when the eight-seat vehicle was involved in a fender bender less than an hour after launching. The accident was judged to be the fault of a truck that backed into it, but witnesses say the shuttle took no evasive action (which might have been the safest maneuver given the low level of contact with the truck). No one was injured and the shuttles are still operating.
At a meeting this morning of the 12-member Gaming Policy Committee chaired by Governor Brian Sandoval, the state and casino industry reaffirmed the Nevada Gaming Commission’s policy that casinos cannot have anything to do with Nevada's newly legalized cannabis business. This means casinos won't tolerate marijuana consumption anywhere on the properties or host marijuana-related conventions and trade shows. The three-day Marijuana Business Conference (MJBizCon), with more than 18,000 participants (compared to 6,000 last year), was held a couple weeks ago in Las Vegas, but at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
A 4-foot-tall “humanoid robot” toting a tablet has taken residence in Mandarin Oriental’s 23rd floor Sky Lobby. The “female” robot, Pepper, doesn’t move around or talk, but uses the tablet to answer questions from guests.
The poker cage at Bellagio was robbed yesterday afternoon of an undisclosed amount. It's the latest in a series of robberies at the casino in recent years. There were no injuries; the suspect was armed and remains at large.
A lone gunman fired shots from the eighth floor of the Montage, a luxury high-rise condominium in downtown Reno, last night. The suspect was killed while being apprehended and there were no other fatalities. In a strange link to the Las Vegas shooting, Stephen Paddock reportedly owned a unit and may have lived at the Montage at one time.
The first casualty of the start of construction on Steve Wynn’s Paradise Park resort will be the Country Club steakhouse. The Wynn Las Vegas restaurant will close on January 14.
The latest restaurant to offer pho at discounted prices is no more. Pho D’licious has closed on Spring Mtn. Road. It’s been replaced by Yasik Nara, a Korean restaurant out of Los Angeles.
A Clark County Commissioner has floated the idea of banning private vehicles on the Strip, the rationale being that gawking visitors and mobile-billboard vehicles snarl traffic. While the suggestion has garnered a lot of discussion, the likelihood of the plan coming to fruition is low.
The Baltimore Ravens are -7.5 favorites over the Houston Texans in tonight's Monday Night Football game. The total is 39.5.
The mainstream media and gambling never have gotten on too well. The latest case of not getting it comes from AJC.com, the digital newspaper of the Atlanta Journal Constitution. A story from AJC that hit the wires states “No. 1 Clemson isn’t Vegas’ Betting Favorite to Win the National Championship,” then goes on to quote odds from Bovada. Bovada is a casino with a sports book and sophisticated oddsmakers, but it’s an offshore book with ties to Canada, Antigua, and Costa Rica, a long ways from Las Vegas, not just in distance, but also in operating style and U.S. legality.
The sale of the Moulin Rouge site to Clark County is off. Public pushback against the county’s plans to build a government building on the site led to its pulling out of the purchase. An alternate bidder has agreed to meet the purchase price; however, it’s not known what that buyer has in mind for the property.
One of Las Vegas’ longest-tenured deals has finally sustained a price increase. After many years of selling Michelob (and before that, Beck’s) in the bottle for $1, Casino Royale has raised the price to $2. It’s still an excellent 24/7 deal considering the location at center-Strip, but it marks the passing of a truly classic Vegas value.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are -14 favorites over the Green Bay Packers in tonight's Sunday Night Football game. The total is 43.
Troy Liquor Bar out of NYC opened Friday night at the Golden Nugget, taking over the spot formerly occupied by Gold Diggers. Open Thursday-Sunday, it’s billed as the “only nightclub under the Fremont Street Canopy.”
As expected, approval has been granted for an extension of the Las Vegas Monorail from MGM Grand to Mandalay Bay. Given the many details that still need to be ironed out – including particulars of design, permissions, and financing – it’s expected to take up to two years before the extension is completed.
Two more holiday winterscapes have opened. Green Valley Ranch has debuted “Winter’s Village,” which includes an ice-skating rink ($20, includes skate rental) and Santa on Saturdays. And Sam’s Town’s “Mystic Falls Park Winter Wonderland” is back in the atrium, with its laser light show and real snow. Catch “Cowboy Santa” at Sam’s Town from 4 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays and noon to 8:30 on Saturdays and Sundays. The casinos are nearby on the east side, so you can easily do both of these in an afternoon.
Naked City Pizza has announced that it will open an outlet at the El Cortez, it's first casino location. An exact date hasn't been announced, but it will likely open some time in January in the space formerly occupied by Pizza Lotto.
The four-day Thanksgiving weekend is one of Las Vegas' busiest holidays, but there was some worry about whether or not visitation would be affected by the Strip shooting. Apparently it wasn’t, as 317,000 visitors are projected, just marginally down from last year’s 318,000. Although 60% come by car, Sunday will be busy at McCarran Airport, so plan accordingly.
Keep an eye open for gift-card deals between now and Christmas, including these three expiring soon. Until Monday, buy a $100 gift card for STK at the Cosmo and get another $50 card added on, and these can be purchased online. The same deal is available at Big Dog's Brewing Co. at 4543 N. Rancho Dr., today only and must be purchased at the bar. And the best we've seen is at Bandito Latin Kitchen & Cantina located at 325 Hughes Center Dr., Ste. 100, where they'll match your gift-card purchase up to $500 (buy $500, get $1,000). Act fast, this offer is good today only and you must buy the cards at the restaurant.
Several Nevada authors will be signing their books today until 3 p.m. at the Mob Museum. One of them is Brian Rouff, signing our new book The House Always Wins. The event takes place in the bookstore, where there's no admission fee to get in.
In today's final Thanksgiving game, the Washington Redskins are -7 favorites over the New York Giants. The total is 45.
In the second of today's three NFL Thanksgiving games, the Los Angeles Chargers are -1.5 favorites over the Dallas Cowboys. The total is 46.5.
In the holiday spirit and looking for activities around town? Here's a quick run down of what's already open.
In the first of today's three NFL Thanksgiving games, the Minnesota Vikings are -2.5 favorites over the Detroit Lions. The total is 46.
There's a full-page ad in today's LV Review-Journal with coupons for a free bottle of wine when you purchase two entrees at several of the best Boyd casino restaurants. There are nine in all, including Alder & Birch at Orleans, MRKT at Aliante, and Cornerstone at Gold Coast. The coupons are good through most of December.
Special Thanksgiving meals are being served in buffets and restaurants all over town. Stations, Fiestas, and the Palms are awarding 3.3X points on slots and 2X on video poker today. South Point is giving away $32,000 in the form of 320 random issuances of $100 in slot free-play to players. It's also a big day in the sports books. Check back here for lines on today's three NFL games.
Our holiday catalog is up, offering lots of ideas for Christmas gifts, including new book releases, strategy cards, gambling software, and stocking stuffers of all varieties. Bargain hunters will find excellent discounts, and this year we've teamed up with a new online gambler's shopping outlet called the CasinoMegaStore that has about every gambling-themed knick-knack you ever thought might exist. Order early to ensure delivery by Dec. 25.
You know the holidays have arrived when Ellis Island brings out its holiday egg nog. This is the 15th straight year that the nog has been mixed and sold from the bar at the casino (contains alcohol). The price is the same as last year: $6 per glass and $30 per bottle.
Several new restaurants have or are preparing to open in the next few months. Peng Zu Asian Cuisine is already open at Suncoast. Jake & Eli will open in December at the Westin, joining the recently reopened Savona Bistro. Osteria Costa, an Italian restaurant featuring the cuisine of the Amalfi Coast, is set to open at the Mirage early next year. And Palace Station has announced the coming of the gastropub BBD’s (beers, burgers, and desserts) and the Boathouse Asian Eatery.
With six weeks remaining in the year, the number of pedestrians who’ve died from being hit by vehicles in Clark County has already reached a record 62. The most dangerous area is Boulder Highway, logging eight fatalities so far this year.
After 16 years, Alize will serve its last meal at the Palms on New Year’s Eve. It's part of the huge overhaul in progress at the Palms; however, no announcement has been made of what will take over the restaurant's prime location at the top of the hotel tower.
Although we wrote in the November Las Vegas Advisor that the new location of Lotus of Siam had opened at 620 E. Flamingo, that announcement was premature. The new restaurant still hasn’t opened and the original at Commercial Center remains closed after roof damage was sustained last summer.
The Seattle Seahawks and the Atlanta Falcons are pick 'em in tonight's Monday Night Football game. The total is 46.
The impromptu memorial for the victims of the Strip shooting that sprang up at the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign has been moved. The crosses and mementos at the site have been boxed and transported to the Clark County Museum at 1830 S. Boulder Highway and will become part of the museum’s permanent collection.
After more than a year of silence, details about the joint-venture arena between Sands Corp. and Madison Square Garden have been disclosed. The size of the arena, which will be located on Sands Ave. behind Venetian/Palazzo, has grown from 400,000 square feet and 17,500 seats to almost 600,000 square feet and 18,500 seats. Sands says it will be the “world’s largest venue built specifically for music and entertainment.” Originally planned to be operating by 2018, construction is now slated to begin next year and completed in 2020.
The Philadelphia Eagles -6 favorites over the Dallas Cowboys in tonight's Sunday Night Football game. The total is 48.
Major steps are being taken to ensure safety during the outdoor Strip and downtown celebrations on New Year’s Eve. Whereas the security budget in past years has been about $120,000, this year’s budget is nearly tripled at $340,000. There will be 348 Nevada National Guard troops in place this year compared to 160 in past years, and busses will be positioned as roadblocks against potential vehicle attacks.
Station Casinos has filed a challenge over the recent vote to unionize at Green Valley Ranch. The complaint alleges improper conduct in the voting process. A similar complaint was lodged by the union following a losing campaign at Palace Station and led to an undisclosed settlement.
Caesars Entertainment has acquired Centaur Holdings LLC for $1.7 billion. Centaur is a racing company that owns the Hoosier Park and Indiana Grand racinos in Indiana. Caesars says that additional acquisitions may be on the way.
Joey Scinta, eldest of the Scinta’s performing family, passed away yesterday after suffering a series of strokes. While less focal than brother Frankie, Joey was a masterful impersonator and musician and a key cog in the show. There’s been no announcement regarding the show’s future; however, The Scintas took the stage last night at the Plaza, where they recently signed to play an expanded schedule.
A Las Vegas resident staying out late scored big last weekend with a $820,000 jackpot at the Cannery. The jackpot was hit at 2:30 a.m. on a Buffalo Grand machine.
Employees at Green Valley Ranch have voted to join the Culinary Union. It's the third Station Casinos property to unionize, joining Boulder and Palace Stations.
Taking over where Bishop Gorman dropped off in football, Henderson's Findlay Prep opens the season as the nation's number-one-ranked boys basketball team. It's not unfamiliar ground for Findlay, a hard-recruiting basketball factory that has finished atop the nation's standings three times in the last decade and is a perennial contender.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are -7 favorites over the Tennessee Titans in tonight's Thursday Night Football game. The total is 44.5.
Despite ongoing rumors of a Strip residency for the multi-grammy-winning singer Adele, no solid plans appear to be in the works. The question was addressed recently by well-connected LV Review-Journal columnist John Katsilometes, who wrote, “there are no ongoing discussions to bring Adele to the Strip.”
Billed as the "largest student-run farmers market" in the nation, more than 200 students from 27 Las Vegas schools will sell there garden-grown produce downtown today. Proceeds go back to the schools to maintain their garden programs. The market will be open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Approval for the purchase of the former Moulin Rouge site by Clark County has been delayed. A town-hall meeting has been set for tomorrow to discuss what will be done with the site, which could lead to the approval of another buyer.
All Boyd properties have gone to a 48-hour rule for entering rooms with “Do Not Disturb” signs displayed. Termed a “safety and welfare check,” the policy was dropped from three consecutive days to two following the Strip shooting, where the shooter displayed a DND sign for several days. Wynn Resorts earlier announced that it would conduct checks after only 12 hours.
Raiding the Rock Vault, currently playing at the Hard Rock, will celebrate its 1,000th show Nov. 25-29. The shows during that period will feature the return of former cast members, extended shows with encores, and a prize giveaway.
A $1.3 million jackpot was hit on a Wheel of Fortune machine at Paris in late October. The winner was visiting from Texas and made it two consecutive months of WoF $1 million winners following a September jackpot at Caesars Palace.
The groundbreaking for the Raiders stadium was held last night, with 600 invited guests that included Las Vegas business, political, and entertainment luminaries, along with former Oakland Raider greats. More ceremonial than anything else, the groundbreaking was heralded as the final confirmation that the NFL is coming to Las Vegas, something that was considered a near impossibility only a few years ago.
Sunday’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon drew 25,000 runners participating over multiple events. The featured marathon was won by Giles Rubio in the men’s and Marisa Hird in the women’s events.
The Carolina Panthers are -8 favorites over the Miami Dolphins in tonight's Monday Night Football game. The total is 38.5.
Both directions of U.S. 95 near downtown will be closed tonight from 10 p.m. till 5 a.m. for sign installation. Several freeway ramps in the area and Martin Luther King Dr. will also be closed.
If you could eat at only one buffet during a trip, which would it be? We’ve run successive polls on the best buffets in different price categories. Now we’re looking for the best of them all. Let us know your choice by voting in the new Reader Poll that's live now.
The New England Patriots are -7 favorites over the Denver Broncos in tonight's Sunday Night Football game. The total is 44.5.
The Las Vegas Rock 'n' Roll Marathon will cause road closures all over the city today. The greatest impact will be felt from 2:30 p.m. on, when the entire Strip, several access ramps to I-15, and major downtown streets will be closed until about 8 p.m. Get more information at runrocknroll.com. An estimated 40,000 people will participate in several races.
The cover story in today's LV Review-Journal is titled "Looking for an Edge" and discusses the video poker playing of Strip shooter Stephen Paddock. Jean Scott is focal in the article and Anthony Curtis is quoted. More information is provided in the blog post by A.C. and the many comments at GamblingWithAnEdge.com.
Anthony Pettis and Dustin Porier are pick 'em in tonight's UFC main event. In the other featured match, Matt Brown is -375 over Diego Sanchez.
Add South Point to the list of casinos offering free buffets to veterans today, and this one includes one guest. Show your military ID at the cashier until 10 p.m. for the deal. See yesterday’s post in this space for other Veterans Day offers.
For the first time ever, revenue from video gambling in bars and other outlets has exceeded the win from casinos in Illinois. In the most recent fiscal year, the state made $296 million in taxes from the machines compared to $270 million from its 10 casinos. At last count there were 27,681 machines in 6,249 businesses statewide.
The IRS has amended the way it taxes pari-mutuel winnings. That includes dog racing and jai alai, but it predominantly affects horse racing. The change comes in the relaxing of withholding rules for multi-horse or multi-race wagers like the Pick 6, which will be treated in a way that avoids breaching reporting limits. The change is expected to be a boon for the race industry, as it will keep more money for betting in horse-players’ pockets.
The Glittering Lights, Nevada's largest drive-thru light show, featuring millions of lights along a 2.5-mile course at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, opens tonight ($20-$30). Ethel M Chocolates 24th Annual Holiday Cactus Garden light display opened earlier this week and is free to enter. There's also a new skating rink ($10-$20).
Several casinos are running deals today and tomorrow for Veterans Day. All active and inactive military get a free buffet today at Station Casinos properties. Station is also running specials for veterans on Mondays in November, including 2-for-1 buffets, a free Starbucks coffee, and drink discounts. Free buffets for veterans are available tomorrow at all Boyd casinos and Rampart. The Plaza is comping veterans two tickets to the Scintas and running a free slot tournament. Dunkin' Donuts has free donuts for veterans. All offers require military I.D. and players cards where applicable.
The Seattle Seahawks are -6 favorites over the Arizona Cardinals in tonight's Thursday Night Football game. The total is 40.
It’s being reported by TMZ that OJ Simpson was 86’d from the Cosmopolitan last night. He was allegedly involved in a late-night altercation at a casino bar that led to a confrontation with employees and Simpson being trespassed, meaning he is no longer allowed to set foot on the property.
Wildfire Lanes on E. Sunset is running a Thursday-night bowling special. From 9 p.m. to midnight, bowling games, shoes, and select beer and cocktails are $1.50 each.
Red Rock Resorts announced yesterday that it will embark on a $485 million renovation program for the Palms, aimed at restoring the resort to its opening status as one of Vegas' hippest hangs. The project will include room redesigns and renovations, several new celebrity-chef-led restaurants, a nightclub and year-round pool club operated by the Tao Group, a new wellness spa and salon, and a revamping of the Pearl Theater. This Phase 2 plan will follow the in-progress renovation of the casino floor and the addition of bars and restaurants, including the new buffet opening in December.
It looks like Caesars Entertainment will beat Steve Wynn’s Paradise Park in bringing the first zip line to the Strip. The Fly LINQ zip line will travel the length of the LINQ Promenade, which is a distance in-between the length of Fremont Street’s SlotZilla zip and zoom lines, and will have a top height of 122 feet compared to 77 feet downtown. Fly Linq is expected to be completed by “late next year.”
The California town of Nipton, located off I-15 just past the Nevada border, has been purchased by American Green Inc., a cannabis company out of Arizona that plans to turn the entire town into a “pot tourism destination.” The purchase price was $5 million and the company says it will invest about $2.5 million over the next year to create the weed mecca. Meanwhile, back in Nevada, the Southern Paiute tribe has opened a 15,800-square-foot store called Nuwu Cannabis Marketplace, which it says is the largest stand-alone retail marijuana facility in the U.S. The store is located north of downtown at 1225 N. Main Street.
Las Vegas Sands Corp. says it will modify its Sands Cotai Central resort to reflect a London theme. The Londoner follows the successful branding of Sands’ nearby Parisian and Venetian resorts.
The Detroit Lions are -2 favorites over the Green Bay Packers in tonight's Monday Night Football game. The total is 42.5.
The Plaza has added a third mural to its outer hotel walls. The latest is 21 stories on the north-tower wall facing I-15 and was inspired by the famous art piece, Dogs Playing Poker.
Additional dates have been added for Jennifer Lopez—All I Have at Planet Hollywood. In addition to already announced dates (Sept. 6, 8-9, 13, 15-16, 20, 22-23, 27, 29-30; Oct. 4, 6-7), the new dates are Feb. 21, 23-24, 28; Mar. 2-3, 24, 28, 30-31; Apr. 4, 6-7, 11, 13-14, 18, 20-21; May 16, 18-19, 22, 25-27, 30; June 1-2, 6, 8-9. Tickets start at $59 base.
The Oakland Raiders are -3 favorites over the Miami Dolphins in tonight's Sunday Night Football game. The total is 45.
A second location of The Halal Guys is opening at Caesars Palace. The Mediterranean fast-food outlet from New York City will open in the Forum Food Court and will stay open late to serve after-hour clubbers. The first Las Vegas Halal Guys opened last year at Spring Mtn. and Valley View.
Don't forget to move your clocks back one hour for the end of daylight savings time. Sports bettors and contest players have an extra hour to get their NFL bets in today.
Georges St. Pierre and Michael Bisping are pick 'em in tonight's UFC main event. In the other featured match, Cody Garbrandt is -210 over T.J. Dillashaw.
Canter’s Delis have opened in Tivoli Village and the LINQ Promenade.They may not be the same as the famous Los Angeles version, as the name has been licensed. However, the owner (of the Tivoli location) says it will “stay true to the original.” And after 23 years operating at MGM Grand, Stage Deli has closed.
A $100 million renovation of the 1,181-room Palace Tower has been completed. Ten new villas ranging in size from 2,750 square feet to 4,085 square feet were added, each with more than $1 million in exclusive furniture and design. Caesars is listing them for rent starting at $3,109 per night (not including resort fee, we presume).
There’s a new food challenge in The Still at the Mirage, but be careful with this one ’cause it can cost you. The challenge is to eat 75 hot wings in 60 minutes. If you do it the wings are free and you get your picture on the wall. If you don’t, you pay the $99 tab. Adding insult to injury, that’s a distinctly un-bargain-like $1.32 per wing!
It looks like the days are numbered for the former Trump Plaza on the Atlantic City Boardwalk. Indications are that the former casino will be demolished early next year. The resort opened in 1984 as Harrah's at Trump Plaza, but the name was changed within the year to simply Trump Plaza. It closed in 2014 and did not reopen.
The Buffalo Bills are -3 favorites over the New York Jets in tonight's Thursday Night Football game. The total is 42.5.
A 4.5-acre parcel just off the Strip has been purchased by Triple Five, a company that already owns an adjacent 5.4-acre parcel near the site of the former Riviera. Triple Five says that it has plans for a 35- to 40-story hotel in the space that may include a casino. There’s been no announcement about plans for the Vegas Indoor Skydiving facility that was part of the recent purchase.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are -165 favorites over the Houston Astros in tonight’s deciding Game 7 of the baseball World Series. The total is 7.5.
What looks to be the last remaining restaurants at Monte Carlo are closing in preparation for the transformation to Park MGM. The Minus5 Ice Bar closed last weekend. It will be followed by 800 Degrees Neapolitan Pizzeria on November 5, and Sambalate and Diablo’s Cantina on November 7. Customers are being referred to the restaurants in The Park.
It should, with one of the biggest conventions of the year in progress this week. The SEMA auto show attracts 140,000 attendees and 2,400 exhibitors at the main trade show. Plus the attendees are involved in evening dinners and events, packing the Strip through Friday.