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In today's Orange Bowl, the second of two semi-final games in the college-football National Championship playoffs, Georgia is a -8 favorite over Michigan. The total is 47.
In today's Cotton Bowl, the first of two semi-final games in the college-football National Championship playoffs, Alabama is a -12.5 favorite over Cincinnati. The total is 56.5.
In today’s Sun Bowl, Washington State is a -7 favorite over Central Michigan. The total is 57.5. Note, this line was posted with the game in progress.
In today’s Gator Bowl, Wake Forest is a -17.5 favorite over Rutgers. The total is 63.
Several thousand people expecting to ring in the new year with David Lee Roth at the House of Blues at Mandalay Bay tonight and tomorrow night (both shows were sold out) will be getting their money back instead. Both shows have been canceled "due to unforeseen circumstances related to COVID and out of an abundance of caution." In addition, one of the musicians in Roth's backing band has tested positive. These were the first two shows of Roth's residency; he's still scheduled to perform seven more shows throughout January.
Wednesday evening's Powerball drawing produced no winners, so the $444 million jackpot has gone up to $500 million for tomorrow's drawing. The cash value is estimated at $365 million, give or take a few mil.
Dave’s Hot Chicken, which has a cult following all over the western and midwestern U.S., is opening a new location today at the Grand Bazaar Shops in front of Bally’s. It's Dave's second Vegas restaurant; the first is on West Sahara near S. Fort Apache. Dave's is known for the escalating heat of its sauces, with the top three being hot, extra hot, and (grim) reaper. But the big news here is the closing time: 2 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 4 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Late-night food availability in Vegas has been tough since the pandemic started; now you can get chicken at the center Strip into the wee hours.
In today’s Las Vegas Bowl, Wisconsin is a -7.5 favorite over Arizona State. The total is 42.5.
In today’s Peach Bowl, Michigan State is a -3.5 favorite over Pittsburgh. The total is 55.
In today’s Music City Bowl, Tennessee is a -7.5 favorite over Purdue. The total is 65.5.
In today’s Mayo Bowl, North Carolina is a -12 favorite over South Carolina. The total is 57.5.
As of January 3, all rooms and suites at Downtown Grand are non-smoking. It’s not a first, but it is rare for a hotel in a casino to be 100% smokeless. Smoking is still allowed on DG’s gambling floor.
Lawry's the Prime Rib on Howard Hughes Parkway off E. Flamingo has announced that it's closing for at least a week. Staffing and, perhaps, supply-chain issues are being blamed: "unforeseen challenges and staffing issues related to the pandemic in recent weeks." Lawry's will be closed "until at least the first week of January," if not longer. Several other locals restaurants, including Gritz Cafe and Good Pie downtown, have also shuttered until they can resolve their staffing issues.
Nevada set a new record in November by generating more than $1 billion in gambling revenue for the ninth straight month. That broke the previous record of eight in a row between October 2006 and May 2007, just before the Great Recession. The state's November revenue of $1.32 billion was slightly less than the revenue record of $1.35 billion in July. Sports books set a couple of records of their own: two consecutive months that the handle exceeded $1 billion; and a win of $72 million on a handle of $1.1 billion (a 3.5% hold). The win beat the previous record of $61.8 million set in November 2020 by a significant 14.2%.
In today’s Alamo Bowl, Oklahoma is a -7 favorite over Oregon. The total is 64.5.
A new bar, currently called, simply, Secret Bar, has opened at Circa. It’s located on the second floor in the High Limit Table Games room behind a solid wall that can be raised and lowered. As of now it’s open Thursday through Saturday only.
In today’s Cheez-It Bowl, Clemson is a -1.5 favorite over Iowa State. The total is 44.5.
In today’s Pinstripe Bowl, Maryland is a -4.5 favorite over Virginia Tech. The total is 55.
Less than a month after being honored when the name of the Las Vegas airport was changed from McCarran to Harry Reid International, Harry Reid passed away peacefully, with his family at his side, after losing a four-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Reid, a native of Searchlight, Nevada, a tiny mining town 60 miles south of Las Vegas, had a long and low-key career as a Nevada attorney and politician. He first served for five years as chairman of the Nevada Gaming Commission, where he waged a long campaign to rid the casino business of the likes of Frank Rosenthal, Tony Spilotro, and Allen Glick. He was then elected to two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and five terms in the Senate. He retired in 2016. He's survived by his wife of 62 years, Landra, whom he met at Basic High School in Henderson, and four sons, one daughter, and 19 grandchildren. Politico.com has an excellent retrospective on Reid and his life.
Look out below. The Sierra Nevada are getting pummeled by snowstorms. Interstate 80 reopened with limited lanes this morning after being closed for nearly four days and get this, a new record for snowfall has been set at Donner Pass, the highest point on I-80 west of the state line. The record of 179 inches (just under 15 feet) was set 51 years ago in 1970; at the last measurement late yesterday, it stood at 202 inches (nearly 17 feet) and it's still snowing! The Sierra snowpack was below 50% of normal earlier this month, but thanks to the series of storms, it's risen to around 160% of normal -- a huge swing over a few weeks.
We have it on good authority that Lotus of Siam, Las Vegas' perennial favorite Thai restaurant, will be opening out at Red Rock Resort "in early 2022." We can't wait to try it there; should be as good, if not better if that's possible, than the existing two locations.
In today’s Guaranteed Rate Bowl, Minnesota is a -6 favorite over West Virginia. The total is 45.
In today’s Birmingham Bowl, Auburn is a -1 favorite over Houston. The total is 51.
If you're on the Strip tomorrow through Friday during the day and see a twin-engine Bell 412 helicopter flying in a grid pattern right overhead (a minimum of 150 feet of altitude), here's why. It's the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) conducting tests to measure background radiation levels. Or so we're told. The NNSA says, "Flyovers will take an estimated two hours to complete per area." The announcement didn't mention anything about flying between 600-foot-tall towers, or what kind of radiation they're measuring right over Las Vegas Boulevard, or why they're conducting such tests on the busiest few days of the year.
In today’s Liberty Bowl, Mississippi State is a -10 favorite over Texas Tech. The total is 58.
In today’s First Responder Bowl, Air Force is a -2 favorite over Louisville. The total is 55.
The Vegas Golden Knights return from a week-long holiday-COVID break to play division rival L.A. Kings tonight at the newly named Crypto.com Arena (formerly Staples Center). But the break didn't do them any favors: Head Coach Pete DeBoer and center Brett Howden are out after entering the NHL’s COVID protocol, while Max Pacioretty and Mark Stone, two of the three first-liners, and starting goaltender Robin Lehner are "game-time decisions with lingering injuries." In other pro sports news, with their win on Sunday against the Denver Broncos, the Las Vegas Raiders can still make the playoffs. All they have to do is win their last two-regular season games, though one website put the odds of that at 18%. Still, we wish them the best; the Raiders haven't made the playoffs for five years.
The Miami Dolphins are -3 favorites over the New Orleans Saints in tonight's Monday Night Football game. The total is 37.5.
If you're headed this way this week, the weather will be somewhat variable, with a chance for helter-skelter rain and even snow . The most probable day will be Thursday, which is a pick 'em for precipitation, primarily in the afternoon. But on Tuesday and Wednesday, chances are 15%-40% the skies will open up a bit. Temperatures will be roughly 10 degrees colder than normal, with highs in the mid-40s and overnight lows dropping as low as 26 over the weekend and 33 on New Year's Eve.
As it does every year, OpenTable, the giant online restaurant-reservation system, analyzes more than 10 million reviews on its platform of restaurants across the country, all submitted by verified OpenTable diners. "The result is a selection of spots across the country that constantly serve up creative dishes, unparalleled hospitality, and one-of-a-kind dining experiences for all occasions." Las Vegas weighed in with four of the best: Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab at the Forum Shops, La Strega at Town Center out in Summerlin, Partage right around the corner from our office on Spring Mountain at Valley View, and Elia Authentic Greek Taverna on West Sahara at Durango. It's interesting to us that only one restaurant is on the Strip and it's not in a casino, from which we infer that OpenTable reviews are submitted more by locals than out-of-towners. If you're visiting and want to try some of best locals restaurants in Las Vegas, you can't go wrong at these. Elia and Partage, by the way, are among the Essential 52 Restaurants in our Eating Las Vegas restaurant guidebook.
As it does every year, the Regional Transportation Commission is offering free rides on all of its 39 routes around the valley from 6 p.m. on New Year’s Eve until 9 a.m. on New Year’s Day. In addition, several routes will run for extended hours. The RTC's press release cautions that bus riders "can expect heavy traffic delays and are advised to plan for extensive transit detours" anywhere near the Strip, which will be closed starting at 5:30 p.m. on Friday.
In today’s Quick Lane Bowl, Western Michigan is a -7 favorite over Nevada. The total is 57.
The Dallas Cowboys are -10 favorites over the Washington Football Team in tonight's Sunday Night Football game. The total is 46.
FlightAware, an airline-schedule-tracking website, reports that almost 1,000 flights in U.S. airspace were canceled yesterday and so far 250 have already been canceled for today. In announcements on Friday, Delta, United, and JetBlue, which accounted for more than 10% of the cancellation total, blamed the problem on staffing problems -- “COVID-related sick calls" -- due to the rapid spread of omicron. FlightAware also reported that more than 6,000 flights around the world were canceled between Friday and today so far, with 30% of those coming to, going from, or flying within the U.S.
The "Fabulous" Flamingo Hotel-Casino opened its doors 75 years ago today. It was a decidedly subdued affair, as the property was hardly ready for guests. The hotel rooms weren’t finished, construction workers scurried around, a huge storm in southern California shut down L.A. airports and only a few B-list "stars" made it over El Cajon Pass, and the headliners, Jimmy Durante and Xavier Cugat, played to a half-full showroom. In addition, the "slick players and tricky dealers," in one description, took the Flamingo for hundreds of thousands of dollars. By the end of that weekend, it was clear that the Flamingo's grand opening was a flop. The property promptly closed. Still, today's the day we celebrate the House That Bugsy Finally Finished a couple of months later on March 1, 1947,. Either date makes the Flamingo the oldest resort on the Las Vegas Strip. Happy anniversary.
GameWorks, the chain of entertainment centers that featured a major selection of video games, plus a restaurant and full-service bar, is closing all its doors, blaming the pandemic for its downfall. The one in Las Vegas, one of six that had remained nationwide, opened in 1996 at the Showcase Mall and operated there until 2011, when it moved to Town Square on the south Strip. Its sudden closing is a definite blow to local and visiting video gamers.
The Arizona Cardinals are -3 favorites over the Indianapolis Colts in the second Christmas game today. The total is 48.
The Green Bay Packers are -8 favorites over the Cleveland Browns in the first of two Christmas games today. The total is 46.5.
In today’s Camellia Bowl, Georgia State is a -6.5 favorite over Ball State. The total is 52.5.
The big storm traveling east from California yesterday dumped up to a quarter-inch of rain in some parts of the valley and nearly a foot and a half of snow at Lee Canyon, where the ski resort opened the Bluebird chairlift to the top of one side of Mt. Charleston at 9,370 feet. Today, the black Winter Wonderland, End Chutes, and Flying Home runs, the blue Strip and Bimbo runs, and the orange Line terrain park are all open to skiers and snowboarders. Lee Canyon says it will open the Sherwood lift, up to 9,310 feet, "in the next few days."
"There’s a case to be made that Las Vegas is Christmas, but all year round." So sayeth Scott Roeben of the ever-insightful ever-entertaining VitalVegas blog. "Some Christmas traditions and terms, though," he adds, "mean something entirely different in the context of Las Vegas." And he goes on to annotate 12 common holiday terms with Vegas-centric definitions and images. To savor the post fully, it'll take you five minutes and it's well worth the three-hundredths of one percent of your Christmas Day to enjoy Scott's inimitable brand of sparkle and magic.
The go-go days when Nevada's population growth, and Las Vegas', led the nation year after year are long past, essentially squashed by the Great Recession and years of high unemployment rates. Still, according to data just released by the U.S. Census Bureau, Nevada does continue to gain more residents than it loses and in 2021, the Silver State placed 10th highest in population growth. Texas (310,000), Florida (211,000), and Arizona (98,000) ranked at one, two, and three, while South Carolina, Utah, Tennessee, and Idaho came in at 6-9, all in the 50,000s of new residents. Nevada was a distant 10th, gaining 29,000 in births over deaths and in-migration, which is slightly less than 1% of the total population (3.1 million). Idaho gained the highest percentage (3%), while the District of Columbia (2.9%) and New York (1.6%) lost the most residents. California lost the fifth-most of its population at 0.7%, thousands of whom now live here.
Yesterday, Clark County reported 1,107 new cases of the coronavirus, the highest increase over a 24-hour period since July 28 (1,160). That was in the middle of the summer surge of delta cases that prompted Governor Steve Sisolak to impose the face-covering mandate that is still in effect; cases started dropping and continued into November, when they began rising again. The county’s case rate per 100,000 people, measured as a seven-day moving average, was nearly 37% higher than last week's.
Azilo Ultra Lounge at the Sahara will hold its grand opening on New Year's Day. It will party like its 2022 on Friday and Saturday nights from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. The Frenchies will do live DJ sets on Saturdays; the duo hails from the South of France, with one immersed in hip-hop, the other house. On Fridays, DJ Marloun Dasoul incorporates his electric violin into Top 40 hits starting at 9:30 p.m.; the Cuban DJ started playing violin when he was six. Admission is free; table reservations are available.
The San Francisco 49ers are -3.5 favorites over the Tennessee Titans in tonight's Thursday Night Football game. The total is 45.
In today’s Gasparilla Bowl, Florida is a -6.5 favorite over Central Florida. The total is 56.5.
In today’s Frisco Football Classic, Miami Ohio is a -1.5 favorite over North Texas. The total is 56.5.
Quick-stop airport concessionaire HMSHost has installed touchless checkout point-of-sale registers at its seven Fresh Attractions eateries, six at the airport itself and one at the Car Rental Center. When you've made your selections, you place the food and drink under the scanner at the POS station, which employs cameras and artificial intelligence to instantly recognize your purchases. The screen shows your charges, you insert your credit or debit card in the reader or show it your e-wallet, and off you go. We've used them at Sky Harbor Airport in Phoenix and the whole process is so intuitive that it took us less than 10 seconds the first time we tried it. Admittedly, we were second in line and watched the customer in front of us, but by the time we got to the station, we were experts.
All the casinos in Quebec Province, along with VLTs, bingo, and bar games, have been shut down in an effort to contain the spread of the new COVID variant. In Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, casinos have been ordered to cut capacity to 50% and two doses of a vaccine are required for entrance. According to the Canadian Gaming Association, Canada has 114 casinos and 200 permanent bingo halls and community gaming centers.
In today’s Armed Forces Bowl, Army is a -6.5 favorite over Missouri. The total is 54.5.
Looking for more holiday events around the valley? Be sure to check out our 2021 Christmas in Vegas blog.
With the huge Consumer Electronics Show scheduled to begin two weeks from today, a number of tech companies are canceling physical attendance in Las Vegas. So far, Amazon, Twitter, Pinterest, and Meta (the new name of Facebook) are reacting to the rapid spread of the omincron variant. COVID cases are surging in Las Vegas and Nevada and the post-holiday peak is expected right around the same time that the city and state's largest convention comes to town.
A study conducted by ConsumerAffairs.com has ranked Nevada number nine out of all 50 states for the condition of its roads. The website polled 1,000 readers, then looked at the Federal Highway Administration's road rankings, Department of Transportation's dollar per mile spent, and total number of fatal crashes per state to arrive at its rankings. The study found that only 8% of Nevada's urban roads are in poor condition and none of the rural roads surveyed by the federal government are considered poor on the International Roughness Index. Residents agreed that the roads are "very smooth" and that the state is "always keeping up old streets and roads building more for expected growth.” Rhode Island, Hawaii, Wisconsin, California, and Massachusetts have the worst roads, while Kansas, Alabama, North Dakota, and Kentucky have the best. Meanwhile, earlier this year, Nevada's drivers continued to receive failing grades in a nationwide study by CarInsuranceComparison.com, falling to sixth worst from 10th in its 2020 study, primarily due to careless driving and failure to obey the rules (translation: a lot of drunks). Nevada ranked 50th out of 50 in 2014.
The website VegasChanges.com reports that it appears BLT Steak and the famed Sterling Brunch, which was served in BLT, are gone for good at Bally's. Both failed to reopen after last year's shutdown and VegasChanges writes, "Workers at Bally’s removed all signage and placed construction drapes in front of the restaurant. BLT Steak and the Sterling Brunch have been removed from the Bally’s website. Caesars Entertainment has not confirmed permanent closure, but several employees have stated so."
In today’s Frisco Bowl, San Diego State is a -3 favorite over UTSA. The total is 48.
In today’s Potato Bowl, Wyoming is a -3 favorite over Kent State. The total is 59.5.
The Wynn Millions tournament series will return for the second time in less than a year and take place from February 21 to March 20. Again, the main event will feature a $10 million prize pool, while two other tournaments will pay out $1 million and one will go up to $500,000. The Wynn Millions winter tournament will host 16 events with more than $15 million in prize money.
Along with proof of vaccination and masks required (enforced by "safety ambassadors"), the Consumer Electronics Show will provide the Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 Self-Test kits. Each kit contains two tests and the show "requests" that attendees test for COVID within 24 hours before entering a CES venue. CES will also provide complimentary PCR testing for non-U.S. based attendees who require testing prior to their return flights home; according to organizers, 30% of attendees are arriving from abroad. The world's largest consumer tech trade event, CES will take place January 5-8 and at this time, more than 200 companies have committed to the show.
Arnold Snyder, author of our hot new book Radical Blackjack, is in high demand from radio shows and podcasts lately. Here's a link to one he just did with Fred Wallin for his "Sports Overnight America" podcast. You can move the bouncing ball forward to 35:40 to get right to Arnold's segment if you don't want to listen to a half-hour of sports talk and commercials.
In the regularly scheduled Monday Night Football game, the Minnesota Vikings are -7 favorites over the Chicago Bears. The total is 47.
In an added Monday Night Football game caused by a COVID rescheduling, the Las Vegas Raiders are -3 favorites over the Cleveland Browns. The total is 41.
In today’s Myrtle Beach Bowl, Tulsa is a -7.5 favorite over Old Dominion. The total is 55. Note, this line was posted with the game in progress.
According to a report issued by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the global illegal sports betting handle amounts to somewhere between $340 billion and $1.7 trillion every year and that up to $140 billion is laundered by organized-crime cartels through illegal sports books annually. The report estimates that up to 80% of Internet sports bets are made illegally. It cited an American Gaming Association study that found that in 2020, 52% of U.S. sports bettors made bets at illegal offshore sports books and 82% of those were surprised to learn they were using illegal websites. The report recommends that "governments work with payment companies to identify illegal transactions and develop regulations that require licensed betting operators to publish lists of shareholders, parent companies, and subsidiaries."
The Las Vegas Monorail will remain in operation for 44 straight hours over the New Year's holiday weekend, from 7 a.m. on Friday Dec. 31 through 3 a.m. on Sunday Jan. 2. The Monorail will be it for public transportation -- or any motorized vehicles -- along the Las Vegas Strip on New Year’s Eve. Single rides will cost $5 ($1 for locals) onDecember 31. Note that no backpacks or containers will be allowed.
MJ Live, the Michael Jackson tribute show that's been at the STRAT for years, is moving to the Tropicana. The last STRAT show will take place on December 30; it will reopen at the Trop on February 7 with performances Wed.-Mon. at 5:30 p.m. Tickets will start at $57.50.
Emagine, a northern Midwest chain of 25 movie theaters, is opening a "Vegas-style sports lounge" in its theater in Royal Oak, Michigan, just outside of Detroit. The lounge features a 20-by-40-foot screen for live sports; like a sports book, it's capable of broadcasting multiple live sporting events simultaneously. All the seats inside the theater-within-a-theater come equipped with laptop tables and the lounge has free high-speed wifi for sports bettors. Admission is free. The lounge opens on December 30.
A Three-Card Poker player and frequent Vegas visitor from Bay City, Michigan, wound up with a royal in diamonds at the Flamingo late last week to win $946,945. He credited the jackpot to his "lucky charm" (his wife) and plans to use the windfall to retire.
Wynn Resorts, Las Vegas Sands, Genting Group, Bally’s, Hard Rock International, and Rush Street Gaming are among the casino companies that responded to the Request for Information about opening one of three hotel-casinos in New York City and/or surrounding suburbs sometime after 2023. Some companies that expressed interest by the Dec. 10 deadline were redacted from the public disclosure by the New York Gaming Commission, which is allowed in the process, so others might also be considering submitting an application.
In today’s Lending Tree Bowl, Liberty is a -9.5 favorite over Eastern Michigan. The total is 58. Note, this line was posted with the game in progress.
In today’s Independence Bowl, BYU is a -7 favorite over UAB. The total is 55.
In today’s New Mexico Bowl, Fresno State is a -10.5 favorite over UTEP. The total is 52.5.
In today’s Celebration Bowl, Jackson State is a -10 favorite over South Carolina State. The total is 42.
In today’s Boca Raton Bowl, Western Kentucky is a -1 favorite over Appalachian State. The total is 69.
A story in the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority "estimates that the cost for the Las Vegas host committee will run between $55 million and $60 million." But that's only a little more than 10% of the potential gross from the event, which could hit the $500 million mark. That projection is based on the city's take from the 2019 Super Bowl, which attracted 310,000 visitors to Las Vegas to watch and bet on the game in played in Atlanta; the Vegas economic-research company Applied Analysis pegged the impact that year at $425 million. Some estimates we've seen put the crowd for the 2024 Super Bowl in Las Vegas at 500,000, which would make it the largest event ever in Las Vegas by a long shot.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority has made a deal with the Professional Bull Riders to bring the PBR Team Series Championship to Las Vegas. The inaugural event will take place next November 4-6 and continue for four more years under the five-year sponsorship contract. The deal names Las Vegas as the Official Resort and Global Gaming Destination for PBR and PBR Teams.
Las Vegas Review-Journal entertainment columnist John Katsilometes reports this morning that the Rio is expanding its five-year-old glow-in-the-dark Kiss By Monster Mini Golf with a Kiss museum and an eventual 15,000-square-foot all-Kiss-all-the-time attraction. The museum, scheduled to open in March, will consist of "three tractor-trailer loads" of memorabilia collected by Kiss frontman Gene Simmons, including "costumes, stage props, and gold and platinum albums." Eventually, the area will also comprise a selfie zone and an interactive video feature onstage with Kiss. Simmons told Katsilometes that Kiss will definitely resurrect its canceled Vegas residency within the year.
In today’s Cure Bowl, Coastal Carolina is a -12 favorite over Northern Illinois. The total is 64.
The college football bowl season starts today with the Bahamas Bowl, where Toledo is a -10.5 favorite over Middle Tennessee. The total is 49.5. We’ll be posting lines for most of the bowls in this space. Note, this line was posted with the game in progress.
The Nevada Gaming Commission yesterday gave final approval to the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians to close its $650 million purchase of the Palms from Station Casinos. The San Manuel thus become the first Native American tribe to own a Las Vegas hotel-casino. The Palms will invite its former employees to return to work there, then try to fill up to 1,400 jobs in the coming weeks. The resort is scheduled to open sometime this spring.
Work seems to have started on the Fontainebleau, with some signage visible on the south-facing wall of the tower. The "fb" logo is reportedly being tested, just as it appears in the rendering of the finished hotel-casino. About a month ago, it was announced that the Fontainebleau will open sometime in 2023. Though we've been hearing similar projections for more than 15 year, this time, perhaps it will.
Station Casinos' proposal for a one-story, 21,000-square-foot Wildfire Casino, situation on five acres on Fremont Street just south of Charleston Boulevard, was discussed by the Las Vegas Planning Commission yesterday. If approved and built, it would probably be similar to Stations other Wildfire casinos, with slots, a sports book, and a restaurant.
The Kansas City Chiefs are -3 favorites over the Los Angeles Chargers in tonight's Thursday Night Football game. The total is 54.
This one's a Zoom video, with Andrew in Los Angeles and Anthony in Vegas. They cover the big news of the 2024 Super Bowl coming to Allegiant Stadium, about which the whole city is going crazy -- "everyone's jumping out of their shoes," as Anthony puts it. The also discuss the Mirage being sold to the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Adele ticket prices, the Circa survivor situation, the current status of the LVA Member Rewards coupon book, and the ongoing mask mandate. See what Anthony's office looks like here.
Nearly two feet of snow dumped Tuesday and Wednesday on the Lee Canyon Ski Resort, which will partially open tomorrow. The beginner quad chair, coffee shop, grill, and bar will open for the season; the more advanced lifts will open "in the coming days." Lee Canyon is the closest skiing to Las Vegas, 50 miles and an hour from the center Strip.
Garth Brooks has announced that he will do two one-man shows at the Dolby Live at Park MGM on February 4 and 5. "Garth Brooks: The ONE Man Show will start a 8 p.m. and tickets, which will start at $150, go on sale next Wednesday, Dec. 22, at 10 a.m. Pacific Time at Ticketmaster. Dolby Live seats 5,170 for residency shows, so the 10,000-plus tickets will surely sell out in minutes.
As it does every year during the holidays, South Point is running its “Pay Less With Your Points” promotion, during which almost everything is half-price when you use club points. This includes all restaurants and bars, rooms, shows, bingo, bowling, movies, and the gift shop. The promo runs through December 23.
Looking for more holiday events around the valley? Be sure to check out our 2021 Christmas in Vegas blog.
Preliminary work has begun on the $52 million construction project that will add a second bridge across the Colorado River between Laughlin and Bullhead City, Arizona. The bridge is a joint venture between Bullhead City and Clark County, which share a local economy, as many Arizona residents cross the river to work in Laughlin. Construction is expected to begin in the next two weeks and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2023.
MGM Resorts has found a buyer to take over operations of the seminal Mirage. Hard Rock International, owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida, is buying the Mirage for $1.075 billion in cash, after which it will operate the center Strip hotel-casino and have use of the Mirage name for a maximum of three years; MGM will retain rights to the brand. Hard Rock will eventually rebrand the resort with its trademark guitar-shaped hotel. Hard Rock will pay rent to VICI Properties, which owns the real estate. The sale is expected to close in the second half of next year. When it does, the Mirage will be the first tribal-owned casino on the Strip.
According to a story in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Allegiant Stadium has been selected as the venue for Super Bowl LVIII in February 2024. Final approval is expected to come from the owners tomorrow after they meet in Dallas. The selection was at least a year earlier than expected, but New Orleans, the original host city for Super Bowl LVIII, had a conflict with Mardi Gras when the 17th week was added to the NFL schedule as of this year. The 2022 Super Bowl will be played at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and the following year's game will be played at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.
This year, according to the Nevada State Police, has seen the most traffic fatalities statewide in 14 years. Through the first 11 months of 2021, there have been 349 crash-related fatalities. That is 24 fewer than 2007’s 373 deaths and with December being "an extremely deadly time" on Nevada roads, the number of total deaths for this year is expected to equal or surpass that. Of the total fatalities statewide, 209 (60%) took place in Clark County. The record for road deaths in Nevada is 431 in 1991.
The Arizona Cardinals are -3 favorites over the Los Angeles Rams in tonight's Monday Night Football game. The total is 51.
For the first time in two years, New Year's Eve in Las Vegas will be greeted by the traditional fireworks show along the Strip. The eight-minute extravaganza, comprising 80,000 fireworks, will be launched at midnight from the roofs of MGM Grand, Aria, Planet Hollywood, Caesars, Treasure Island, Venetian, Resorts World, and STRAT. The Strip will be closed from Sahara Avenue to Russell Road starting at 5 p.m. and reopening at 3 a.m. The standard 300,000-celebrant crowd is expected to clog the Strip and downtown.
As of tomorrow morning, McCarran International will change names to honor Harry Reid, whose five terms (1987-2017) made him the longest serving senator in Nevada history. No public funding was used to pay the nearly $5 million the name change cost. An official ceremony will launch the new name tomorrow. The Las Vegas airport's FAA code, LAS, remains the same.
Construction has begun on Project63, the four-story 230,00-square-foot retail complex at the southwest corner of the Strip and Harmon Avenue at City Center. According to a story in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, framing should be completed by March, with the center opening by around this time next year. Project63 is, reportedly, 30% leased, though no tenants have been announced. The two-acre site was sold to a Las Vegas developer earlier this year for $80 million, setting a record for the price of Strip property.
The Green Bay Packers are -11 favorites over the Chicago Bears in tonight's Sunday Night Football game. The total is 43.
When the official Weather Service thermometer dropped to 32 degrees yesterday at 6:20 a.m., it was the first time the temperature in Las Vegas had hit the freezing mark since Feb. 5, 2020. Some areas of the valley dipped into the 20s. It warmed all the way up to 50 yesterday, surprising any number of visitors out on the Strip in T-shirts, shorts, and flip-flops. But it was great news for skiers and snowboarders; the ski resort at Lee Canyon is blowing a lot of snow from its snow-making equipment. Temperatures warm up today and tomorrow, but just by a few degrees, before rain is forecast for most of Tuesday.
When asked at a press conference if Las Vegas would be the Major League Soccer's next franchise, MLS Commissioner Don Garber said, "Yes." He noted, however, that talks are also ongoing with Phoenix and San Diego. The MLS' 30th team "should be announced" by next October, but won't start playing until 2024 at the earliest; a stadium will have to be built first. Earlier this year, a group of Las Vegas investors filed a trademark application for the name Las Vegas Villains.
Starting in the spring and continuing for roughly a year, the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood will undergo an extensive facelift. The big news is that the rainstorm feature will be upgraded and the restaurant zones will be completed altered. Inside, new flooring, lighting, and seating areas will be installed and the sound system will be upgraded; outside, the Strip and Harmon Avenue entrances will be remodeled with new LED screens and signage and updated landscaping. Most stores will remain open during construction.
Justin Poirier is a -140 favorite over Charles Oliveira in tonight’s UFC main event. In the other featured match, Amanda Nunes is -1200 over Julianna Pena.
Bryce Young is the solid favorite to win college football’s Heisman Trophy tonight at -6000. Aidan Hutchinson is +1800, Kenny Pickett is +3000, and C.J. Stroud is +4000. If Young wins, it will be back-to-back awards for an Alabama player.
Sports betting finally began in Maryland on Thursday, after an excruciatingly slow rollout, when the governor placed a futures bet on an all-Maryland Super Bowl, featuring the Baltimore Ravens and the Washington Washingtons at MGM National Harbor’s BetMGM Sportsbook. The Horseshoe Casino in Baltimore and the Live! Casino in Hanover open in-person sports betting on Friday.
With nearly two months of reporting yet to come, total gaming revenues for 2021 have already surpassed the all-time record for a year set in 2019. Thus far in 2021, according to the American Gaming Association, gaming revenues of $44.15 billion are a half-billion higher than the previous record of $43.65 billion two years ago. Fully 23 of the 25 states with commercial casinos are above their 2019 totals and six states — Colorado, Iowa, Massachusetts, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and South Dakota – have already beaten their own state revenue records. Sports betting increased 165% over 2019 and igaming won six times (608.8%) what it did two years ago. October’s total gaming revenue was $4.75 billion, second highest ever, behind the $4.93 billion in July 2021. Finally, October, was the eighth consecutive month that gaming revenue reached $4 billion or more. Prior to this year, that had never happened in a single month.
A report issued by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Thomas B. Fordham Institute, a conservative education-policy think tank, ranked Clark County second to last for "school quality" out of the 50 largest metro areas in the U.S. The report, “America’s Best and Worst Metro Areas for School Quality,” compared pre-pandemic standardized test scores and high-school graduation rates. Only Honolulu placed lower on the list. Las Vegas schools "perform really poorly across the board” in the examined metrics, according to the director of the think tank, "one of the few places that looks bad at either raw academic achievement or growth-focused outcomes.”
As Anthony Curtis says in the latest LVA YouTube video, pop superstar Adele is being treated like the biggest entertainer ever to grace a Las Vegas stage. Billboard and a number of UK gossip papers report that Adele could rake in $50 million from her 24-show residency at the Colosseum at Caesars next year. The $2 million or more per show would double Lady Gaga's guaranteed million per. Billboard also reported that $50 million worth of tickets sold out on Wednesday in six hours. That's amazing enough, but especially given the ticket prices, which started at $315 for nosebleed seats, then rose to $450 for the third- and second-to-the-back sections, $600 for the front upper balcony, $860 for the front of the theater, and $4,500 in the orchestra.
This week's LVA YouTube video update is posted. On it, you'll see Anthony discuss all the interesting -- and some unusual -- details about Adele's recently announced upcoming residency, along with an explosion of new residences on their way to the Entertainment Capital. There are also new developments on cannabis lounges and the mask mandate, a player's two royals in a row in Mesquite, Huntington Press' new sports betting book, and much more more. Tune in!
New technology at McCarran International now eliminates the requirement of showing a boarding pass to Transportation Security Administration examiners at checkpoints into terminals. Credential Authentication Technology (CAT) installed at all checkpoints now scans, analyzes, and validates photo IDs to confirm flight reservations; the new tech also "provides enhanced fraudulent-document-detection capabilities," according to the press release. All travelers 17 years old and under, however, will still have to show a boarding pass; boarding passes are also still necessary to get onto airplanes. McCarran is often among the first airports in the nation to test-drive new TSA technology; the agency says that Las Vegas is one of only a few airports to be fully equipped with CAT.
The Minnesota Vikings are -3.5 favorites over the Pittsburgh Steelers in tonight's Thursday Night Football game. The total is 45.
The Ohio Senate passed a bill legalizing sports betting in the state yesterday by a vote of 31-1, followed by the state House approving a slightly amended bill 72-23. The legislation now goes to the governor, who has indicated that he supports sports betting. It's a sweeping bill that distributes 25 Class A five-year licenses to casinos, racinos, and sports teams and 42 Class B and C licenses; the B's allow casinos, racinos, and sports teams to operate on-site sports books for in-person betting and the C's will go to restaurants, bars, and bowling alleys with on-premises liquor licenses that can operate up to two sports-betting kiosks each. Sports betting is expected to launch in Ohio "no later than January 1, 2023." Operators will pay 10% tax on net revenue.
Pro Football Hall of Famer and three-time Super Bowl champ, Emmitt Smith will open Emmitt's Las Vegas, a 30,000-square-foot restaurant and event venue sometime this spring. Emmitt's will offer fine dining, live concerts, watch parties, and other events. According to the press release, Emmitt's will be located "within walking distance from numerous Las Vegas hot spots and have access to some of the heaviest foot traffic in the city, as it will be accessible via a unique pedestrian footbridge that spans high above the Las Vegas Strip." We've learned that Emmitt's will take over the former Sugar Factory space at the Fashion Show Mall. Of all the celebrity restaurants announced recently, this one is, to us, the coolest; in his 15 NFL seasons, 13 with the Dallas Cowboys, the now-52-year-old Smith became, and remains, the NFL's all-time leading rusher and His Smoothness was the winning celebrity on Season 3 of "Dancing with the Stars."
In a month that's normally slow for Las Vegas real estate, the median price for an existing single-family house set a new record, rising to $420,000, 2.4% higher than October's record of $410,000, up 22% from the price in November of last year, and nearly four times more than the low of $118,000 recorded in 2012. The median price for condos and townhomes also set a record at $240,000, up from $200,000 last year (16.6%). Around 30% of last month's real estate was sold to cash buyers, meaning investors were particularly active. Supply remains historically low, less than a month's worth.
Yesterday's hotly anticipated ticket presale for Adele's residency at the Colosseum at Caesars, beginning Friday January 21 and running Friday and Saturday nights for 12 weekends in a row through April 15-16, was delayed by a major outage of Amazon Web Services. Instead, Ticketmaster announced that the presale will begin today. Ticketmaster also noted that all members of Adele's audiences will be required to prove that they've been fully vaccinated and show a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than 48 hours before the specific concert. A negative result from an at-home test will not be eligible for admission. Will the double mandate hold up? Ticketmaster noted that the requirements "are subject to change."
Singer John Legend, a 12-time Grammy winner, will play 24 dates at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood next year: April 22, 23, 27, 29, and 30; May 4, 6, and 7, August 5, 6, 10, 12, 13, 17, 19, and 20; and October 14, 15, 19, 21, 22, 26, 28, and 29. “Love in Las Vegas” will showcase Legend’s greatest hits. Tickets go on sale next Monday at 10 a.m. PT.
The Las Vegas Bowl will take place on December 30 (starting at 7:30 p.m.), making its first appearance at Allegiant Stadium. The two teams were announced yesterday: Arizona State and Wisconsin (both 8-4 this season) will meet, with ASU representing the Pac-12 and Wisconsin the Big Ten. Both fan bases are quickly filling the seats; as of this writing, only 15,000 or so tickets, starting at $50, remain.
The best-selling comedy recording artist of all time, Weird Al Yankovic will make a stop at the Venetian Theater on June 8, 10, and 11. The five-time Grammy winner, who has his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and is one of only five artists to have Top 40 singles in each of the last four decades (along with Michael Jackson, Madonna, U2, and Kenny G), Yankovik is reprising his last tour with The Unfortunate Return of the Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour -- Lower Your Expectations. Though he sells out arenas, these shows are not only in a more intimate setting, but the ticket prices are quite low, starting at $39, and will go on sale this Friday at 10 a.m. Opening the shows each night will be Al’s long-time friend, comedian Emo Philips.
Las Vegas-based Allegiant Airlines and Mexican ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) Viva Aerobus have announced plans to "dramatically expand options for nonstop leisure air travel between the United States and Mexico, while lowering fares to make travel more accessible and affordable for residents of both nations." The alliance is purported to be the first of its kind in the airline industry between two ULCCs. The joint venture will enable Allegiant and Viva to coordinate operations, including their data systems, loyalty programs, marketing, scheduling, and routes; Allegiant will also enter the Mexican market, to which it currently doesn't fly. The pair's plans for a "fully integrated Commercial Alliance Agreement" require antitrust immunity from the U.S. Department of Justice and permission from the Department of Transportation.
The Buffalo Bills are -3 favorites over the New England Patriots in tonight's Monday Night Football game. The total is 40.
According to reports, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak called California Governor Gavin Newsom and told him, "We can't take it anymore." Sisolak was referring to the epic 25-mile backups after holiday weekends caused by Interstate 15 narrowing from three lanes in Nevada to two lanes in California at Primm. Sisolak's call seems to have hit home: The two governors held a joint press conference yesterday morning, in which Newsom pledged a temporary solution to be implemented by this summer and a promise to address the situation long-range. That's a complete 180-degree reversal by the California Department of Transportation, which had "no projects on the books" before Newsom intervened. The initial work will cost $12 million and open a third lane on a five-mile southbound stretch beyond the state line when needed; Newsom guaranteed "some relief" by spring and completed work by summer. The long-term strategy is to make the third lane permanent.
Construction is under way on what will be Las Vegas’ only indie-movie and performance venue. The Beverly Theater recently broke ground on a $30 million, two-story, 14,306-square-foot facility funded as a non-profit by the Rogers Foundation, among the largest privately funded charitable foundations in Nevada. Once completed in mid- to late 2022, the Beverly Theater will host independent film, music happenings, artistic performances, literary experiences, and educational programming seven days a week on Bonneville Street near Las Vegas Blvd. downtown next to the indie Writer’s Block bookstore.
On the heels of his sold-out residency at the Wynn, Lionel Richie has added 12 shows at the Encore Theater in early 2022. Richie’s show "Lionel Richie: Back to Las Vegas!" will continue on January 26, 28 and 29; February 2, 4, and 5; March 30; and April 1, 2, and 6. Richie has sold more than 125 million albums worldwide and performs all his hits, including “All Night Long,” “Hello,” “Easy.”
The Kansas City Chiefs are -8.5 favorites over the Denver Broncos in tonight's Sunday Night Football game. The total is 46.5.
The four teams in the College Football National Championship are, in seed order, Alabama, Michigan, Georgia, and Cincinnati. In the two semi-final games, the opening lines make Georgia a -8 favorite over Michigan and Alabama -14 over Cincinnati. Both games will be played on New Year’s Eve.
After a second legal defeat, the Seminole Tribe of Florida has suspended its remote sports betting operation in the Sunshine State via its Hard Rock Sportsbook app. On Friday, a federal appeals court panel upheld a lower court's ruling that the agreement between the state and the tribe violates a federal rule requiring patrons to be physically on tribal land when making bets. A spokesperson for the tribe said account balances will be refunded while it continues to pursue the appeal.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that Station Casinos has sold an 88.7-acre parcel in Reno to a warehouse developer for $32.6 million. The parcel, at a busy intersection in south Reno across from the Summit, an open-air 65-store upscale retail center, was originally planned to be a 900-room hotel-casino. It will now be developed as a mix of industrial, multi-family, office, hospitality, and retail properties. Construction is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2022.
In a unanimous 6-0 vote, the Las Vegas City Council rescinded the existing citywide ban on drive-thru retail sales for cannabis dispensaries. The city joins Clark County and North Las Vegas that has allowed the marijuana drive-thrus since last summer. The move is expected to promote commerce and safety during the ongoing pandemic. Dispensaries will need to adhere to regulations that govern all drive-thru operations, from fast food to weddings, such as creating lanes for queued cars and the proper use of landscaping to block views of the lanes, as well as prove that adequate security -- in-camera coverage, personnel, and methods to check for underage riders -- is in place.
Rob Font is a -150 favorite over Jose Aldo in tonight’s UFC main event. In the other featured match, Brad Riddell and Rafael Fizziev are pick 'em.
An unidentified slot player hit a $1.19 million jackpot at the Golden Nugget on a Wheel of Fortune machine on Wednesday night. Reportedly, the player didn't understand why the machine locked up and was taken somewhat aback when told about the jackpot.
Ashley Madison, the infamous Canadian online-dating service marketed for people who are married or in relationships (70 million users worldwide), has issued its list of "wintertime infidelity cities in the U.S.," drawn from information on its own database. Atlanta ranked first for infidelity among Ashley Madison users, followed by Miami and Orlando. Las Vegas came in at number four, ahead of Cincinnati, St. Louis, Boise, and St. Paul/Minneapolis. Reno hit the top 20 at number 20. We could draw all kinds of conclusions, but we won't.
Reno-based writer and blogger Doresa Banning, author of A Bold Gamble at Lake Tahoe: Crime and Corruption in a Casino's Evolution (about the history of the Hyatt Regency in Incline Village), has posted an excellent page that traces the series of paintings by Cassius “Kash” Marcellus Coolidge in which dogs play poker. The page contains all 10 paintings, with annotations, and a short comment about the paintings' critical reception. It's definitely worth the few minutes to scroll through and get the story of this iconic sequence of images produced over a 15-year period around the turn of the 20th century. While you're there, sign up for Doresa's email list; she sends out always-interesting blasts full of gambling history.
Concerned about a winter surge, the new omicron variant, and the holiday crowds increasing the risk of COVID, the state announced yesterday that Las Vegas and the other high-risk areas of Nevada will remain under the mask mandate through the end of the year and into 2022. Metrics have been rising for more than a month and are expected to continue upward through New Year's; state officials will continue to evaluate the mask mandate, which has been in place since July.
Every year for more than 20 years, the Las Vegas Advisor has conducted what we call AEOTYMRRRU or “Annual End-Of-The-Year Monster Room Rate Round-Up." We call every casino in Las Vegas and vicinity with hotel rooms; this year, it was 97. Then we group them: Under $20 Club, Under $30 Club, Under $40 Club, and High-End (before resort fees). Typically, around half come in at less than $40. This year, not surprisingly, it was half of the half, only 21 base room rates of $39 or less. You can hear which ones by tuning into this week's LVA YouTube update, along with a look at room rates for New Year's Eve, a couple of strong video poker deals downtown, the prognosis for omicron, and more.
Fergusons Downtown is hosting a full day of seasonal festivities tomorrow. The downtown community gathering place will offer pictures with Santa, holiday-specific popup workshops, carolers, and a special tree lighting. The event starts at 11 a.m.; photos with Santa will run 12-4 p.m., and the tree lighting will take place at 5:15 p.m. Fergusons Downtown is at 1028 E. Fremont Street.
The Mint 400, most venerable and prestigious off-road race in the nation, is in town through Saturday, along with the National Finals Rodeo that starts today and runs through a week from Saturday. A total of 500 race teams are participating this year and a parade along the Strip yesterday was massive; a festival Friday and Saturday downtown is expected to attract 65,000 enthusiasts. You can read all about the Mint 400, which was launched in Las Vegas in 1968 and was covered by Hunter S. Thompson, whose classic book Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, was framed around the event, at our Question of the Day.
We know that the Oakland Athletics MLB team has made an offer on an undisclosed site to build a new 35,000-or-so-seat stadium in Las Vegas. Yesterday, CNBC reported that the site is currently occupied by the Tropicana. CNBC also noted that two other sites on the Strip, one owned by Caesars and the other by Wynn, have "piqued the team's interest." None of the parties responded to requests for comments.
McCarran International Airport processed 4.18 million travelers in October, making it the airport's busiest month since the pandemic began.
It was also the second time McCarran's passenger count broke the four million mark; 4.15 million passed through in July. Even so, the October total fell 6.6% short of October 2019's and McCarran's count through the first 10 months of 2021, 31.85 million passengers, is 26% less than the 43.11 million travelers during the same period two years ago.
Nevada casinos won more than $1 billion in October for an eighth straight month, tying the previous billion-dollar streak set in 2007. Statewide, casinos held slightly more than $1.2 billion last month, while Las Vegas's $702.1 million in gaming revenue was a major 23.4% increase over October 2019. The sports betting handle also broke a record at $1.1 billion worth of bets in October, beating the previous record set a month earlier of $786.5 million by 28.5%. For the books, however, the results were disappointing, just $29.8 million for a hold of 4.1%, with a majority of favorites covering the spread three weeks in a row.
Further bolstering the rise of the North Strip, the Las Vegas City Council has given the go-ahead to begin design work for adding pedestrian bridges at Sahara Avenue. Construction isn’t expected to start until 2023. An average of 69,000 vehicles pass through the intersection daily.
Normally, the month of December has a very narrow temperature range. The average highs start out at 59 and spend a few days at 58 and 57 before settling down at 56 through the rest of the month. Similarly, the lows are 41 to 39 through the first 13 days of the month, then stay at 38 through New Year's Eve. The record highs and lows, of course, have a much broader range: from 78 (Dec. 2, 1940) all the way down to 11 (Dec. 23, 1990). Average precipitation is .6 of an inch.