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In the first quarterfinal of the College Football Championship, Penn State is a -11.5 favorite over Boise State. The total is 55.
In today’s Texas Bowl, Baylor is a -3.5 favorite over LSU. The total is 63.
In today’s Citrus Bowl, South Carolina is a -8.5 favorite over Louisville. The total is 50.5.
In today’s Sun Bowl, Washington is a -1.5 favorite over Illinois. The total is 51.
In today’s Reliaquest Bowl, Alabama is a -16.5 favorite over Michigan. The total is 45.5.
Bally's announced today that it's selling a 25% share of its permanent hotel-casino in Chicago. The IPO seems a little strange to us; investment amounts can range from $250 to $25,000 in an effort to raise what looks like around $420 million (25% times the projected $1.7 billion price tag of the project). Furthermore, Bally's has already taken a loan of $2.1 billion from its landlord, Gaming and Leisure Properties, with an additional $940 million in construction financing. So we're looking at somewhere around $3 billion in funding for a $1.7 billion resort and Bally's is now trying to raise another $400 million or so in $250-$25,000 increments. Luckily, Bally’s has a Host Community Agreement (HCA) with Chicago, in which 25% of the project’s equity is reserved for investors who meet the city's Qualified Investor (QI) Criteria, prioritizing women and people of color. We're sure 1,700 QIs are lining up to invest $25,000 each (or roughly 1.7 million at $250). The reason we're making a point of this is that Bally's is the same company that's building the resort-casino around the Oakland/Sacramento/Las Vegas A's stadium on the old Tropicana site. Maybe. Someday. If we live that long.
Las Vegas visitors from all over the world can celebrate their hometown new year by looking to the Sphere at the appropriate time. Starting at 5 a.m. PST on Tuesday, a New Year’s countdown for a different time zone will be featured every hour on the Exosphere (outer shell), starting with Sydney, Australia.
In tonight's Monday Night Football game, the Detroit Lions are -4 favorites over the San Francisco 49ers. The total is 50.
In today’s Music City Bowl, Missouri is a -2 favorite over Iowa. The total is 40.
The Las Vegas Raiders won their second game in a row, beating the Saints in New Orleans by a score of 25-10. A week ago, they beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 19-14 at home. Those two wins came after losing 10 games in a row. Their record is now 4-12 with one game to go against the L.A. Chargers on Sunday at home. Yesterday, rookie tight end Brock Bowers (U. Georgia) broke a 63-year-old record set by Mike Ditka in 1961 for the most receiving yards by a rookie tight end, Ditka with 1,076 and Bowers with 1,144 and counting. With his 108 receptions so far for the year, Bowers also broke the NFL record for most receptions by a rookie of any position, set by Puka Nacua last year at 105. Finally, late in the game, Bowers broke the Raiders' record for receptions in a single season set by Darren Waller in 2020.
More than 400,000 New Year's Eve revelers are predicted to party downtown and along the Strip tomorrow night, about par with the last few years since COVID. As such, law enforcement will be out on foot en masse, enforcing restrictions that disallow glass bottles, large bags, strollers, and carts in the tourist corridor. They'll also be patrolling the city streets, catching drunk drivers. The RTC buses will be free from around 6 p.m. tomorrow night to 8 a.m. Wednesday morning. It's going to be brisk at midnight, with the forecast calling for 37 degrees.
The Washington Commanders are -3.5 favorites over the Atlanta Falcons in tonight’s Sunday Night Football game. The total is 46.5.
Caramella, an Italian restaurant, bar, and speakeasy, has opened at Planet Hollywood in the space formerly occupied by Koi, a Japanese restaurant on the mezzanine near the entrance to Criss Angel Theater. Caramella's theme is 1970s Italy and features an expansive terrace overlooking the Strip, a candy shop packed with Italian sweets in the center of the restaurant, and "a kitschy swanky lounge dressed in ‘70s wallpaper and centered around a mirror mosaic DJ booth" behind the usual secret door. As you might imagine for the Strip, the prices are high: appetizers such as garlic bread, Caesars salad, and veal parmesan meatballs are in the low $20s, pastas from $30 to $48, steaks, seafood, and specialties $40-$96, and desserts $20 for tiramisu to $25 for cheesecake.
In a surprise announcement, Dave Kaval, president of the Oakland A's for eight years, is leaving the team on December 31. Speculation on the real reasons is running rampant in the sports media. But the only public indication came from Kaval, who said he wanted to spend more time with his family. Just kidding. He actually said, "I will be staying in California to explore new opportunities at the crossroads of business and government."
In today’s Independence Bowl, Army is a -15.5 favorite over Louisiana Tech. The total is 44.5.
In today’s Alamo Bowl, Colorado is a -3 favorite over BYU. The total is 54.
In today’s Military Bowl, NC State is a -7 favorite over East Carolina. The total is 61.
In today’s Arizona Bowl, Miami Ohio is a -2 favorite over Colorado State. The total is 42.
In today’s Pop-Tarts Bowl, Miami Florida is a -4.5 favorite over Iowa State. The total is 62.5.
In today’s New Mexico Bowl, TCU is a -9.5 favorite over UL Lafayette. The total is 60.5.
In today’s Pinstripe Bowl, Nebraska is a -3.5 favorite over Boston College. The total is 47.
This week's vlog is an abbreviated version, being very busy around here at the end of the year. But Anthony and Andrew sit down for 11 minutes to discuss a few things, the first of which is the news about resort fees. Don't get your hopes up. Then they do a brief update on the tax-reporting threshold, which has been threatening to be raised for many years. Will it? Anthony gives his take. Anthony also witnessed the Jackpot of the Week, so he has a good story. Finally, we've found a couple of New Year's Eve parties that won't cost you an arm, leg, and first-born, in case you're coming for America's Party and are looking for a frugal option or two.
In today’s Fenway Bowl, North Carolina is a -2 favorite over Connecticut. The total is 53.5.
In the latest episode of Gambling with an Edge podcast, hosts Bob Dancer and Richard Munchkin discuss what they've been up to since the last episode, along with sports betting, beatable slots, and more. Tune in and spend an enjoyable hour with the guys.
In today’s Allegiant Bowl, Texas A&M is a -3.5 favorite over USC. The total is 56.
In today’s Holiday Bowl, Syracuse is a -17.5 favorite over Washington State. The total is 58.5.
In today’s Liberty Bowl, Texas Tech is a -2.5 favorite over Arkansas. The total is 54.
In today’s Birmingham Bowl, Georgia Tech is a -2.5 favorite over Vanderbilt. The total is 48.5.
In today’s Armed Forces Bowl, Oklahoma is a -1 favorite over Navy. The total is 44.
The winner of a $1.128 billion Mega Millions jackpot showed up to claim his or her $537.5 million (before taxes) on Christmas Eve. The winning ticket was sold at a ShopRite supermarket on March 26, but New Jersey residents have a full year to claim their lottery prizes. All the New Jersey lottery said was that the winner "values privacy." A law passed in New Jersey in 2020 allows lottery winners to conceal their identities in public records in perpetuity. Meanwhile, the MegaMillions drawing on Tuesday produced no winner, so the jackpot rose to approximately $1.15 billion for the drawing tonight. It's now the fifth largest jackpot in MegaMillions history. The last jackpot was hit on September 10 for $810 million in Texas.
In today’s Ventures Bowl, Bowling Green is a -10 favorite over Arkansas State. The total is 54.
The Seattle Seahawks are -4 favorites over the Chicago Bears in tonight's Thursday Night Football game. The total is 42.
In today’s Rate Bowl, Kansas State is a -7.5 favorite over Rutgers. The total is 52.5.
You have until 5 p.m. PST today to reserve your two free tickets to the Yachtley Crew concert in Kaos at the Palms this Saturday or Sunday night. This is a $35 ticketed show that the Palms is comping for LVA members. Click here and follow the instructions to get your tix. This offer is open to Diamond and Platinum members (if you're reading this item, you qualify).
In today’s Sports Bowl, Pittsburgh is a -6.5 favorite over Toledo. The total is 48.
Today is the 42nd day of the Culinary Union strike at Virgin. And there's no end in sight. The union and management are as far apart on wages and benefits as they've been for a year and a half and neither side seems willing to budge. Short of some holiday miracle, it looks like this will be a long walkout.
A restaurant we've been curious about, Gjelina, opens today at the Venetian. The first Gjelina, named for the owner's grandmother, opened in Venice Beach, California, in 2008 and since then has expanded into a diverse business, with Gjusta Bakery, GTA (take-out), Gjusta Goods (retail), Gjusta Grocer (market), Gjusta Flower Shop, and Gjelina Hotel. This is their third Gjelina restaurant; the other is on Bond Street in Lower Manhattan. Gjelina menu is "guided by conversations and long-standing relationships with southern California farmers, ranchers, fishermen, and co-ops." The Las Vegas version features a raw bar and charcuterie; a dozen interesting vegetable dishes, such as delicata squash and green curry, roasted Brussel sprouts with an everything-bagel topping, oyster mushrooms, beet tartare, and sunchokes; nine entrees, including lamb shoulder and lamb sausage, ribeye, pork chop, seabass, roasted chicken for two, ricotta gnochi, and short rib, all with exotic accompaniments; and a dozen pizzas with gourmet cheeses and mushrooms, plus anchovy, lamb sausage, chorizo, bottarga (fish roe), and guanciale (cured pork). No prices accompany the Vegas menu (of course), but those on the Venice and New York menus seem reasonable: charcuterie and pizzas $12-$15, vegetables $8, and plates $15-$25. We strongly suspect that the financial aspect of the Venetian Restaurant Row's Gjelina will be, shall we say, an elevated experience. But we'll check it out soon. Lunch is served daily 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and dinner 2-10 weekdays, till 11 Fridays and Saturdays.
The Baltimore Ravens are -6.5 favorites over the Houston Texans in today’s second Christmas game. The total is 47.
The Kansas City Chiefs are -2 favorites over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first of two Christmas games today. The total is 45.5.
New3LV has posted a half-dozen photos of the stunning "Sphere of Cheer" display on Sphere's exoskeleton. No more needs to be said; just click and have a little 20-second tickle over the holiday-themed images.
Our holiday greeting is found in today's QoD, so here, we'll just say that traditional Christmas dinners are being served in many of the buffets and restaurants around the city. We recommend you get to the buffets early (or late) and try to make reservations at the restaurants; everything is crowded. That includes the sports books, with two NFL and five NBA games running throughout the day and evening.
In today’s Hawaii Bowl, San Jose State is a -2.5 favorite over South Florida. The total is 65.
Celebrity chef and uber restaurant owner Gordon Ramsay has opened his 89th restaurant worldwide, eighth in Las Vegas, and second Vegas Gordon Ramsay Burger outlet. This one's at the Flamingo; the other is at Planet Hollywood. The standard beef burgers are $27 (substitute ground chicken at no charge), the vegan $29, specialties (short rib and truffle cheese) $34, and wagyu $50. They come with fries, which cost $10-$13 on their own. Caesar or chicken salads and footlong dogs are also $27, three milkshakes are $12-$15, and a toffee pudding ice cream sandwich is $15. The prices are a little rich for our blood. We figure a total of $125 ($61 for a standard and short rib burger, $18 for a soda and Fiji water, and $15 for dessert, plus tax and tip), so if you try either one, let us know how you liked it for the money.
In tonight's Monday Night Football game, the Green Bay Packers are -14 favorites over the New Orleans Saints. The total is 43.
Will you be in town this weekend? If yes, you can get two free tickets to the Yachtley Crew concert in Kaos at the Palms. This is a $35 ticketed show that the Palms is comping for LVA members. Click here and follow the instructions to get your tix. This offer is open to Diamond and Platinum members (if you're reading this item, you qualify).
It was just announced that Vegas Indoor Skydiving, located just off the Strip on Convention Center Drive, will close next month. Tickets are on sale through Saturday January 25, but the long-time attraction (Anthony Curtis actually worked there for a few months in the '80s) will close at the end of that day. No reason has been given so far. A new indoor skydiving attraction has been threatening to open on the third level of Neonopolis for a while.
In today’s Potato Bowl, Northern Illinois is a -2.5 favorite over Fresno State. The total is 41.
In today’s Myrtle Beach Bowl, UTSA is a -13.5 favorite over Coastal Carolina. The total is 55.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are -4 favorites over the Dallas Cowboys in tonight’s Sunday Night Football game. The total is 48.
Whiskey Pete’s Hotel-Casino in Primm shut down on earlier this week. Owner Affinity Interactive announced it as "an initial step in the realigning of Primm Valley Resorts to meet the changing consumer demand." Affinity also owns Buffalo Bill's and Primm Valley Resort in Primm, as well as Silver Sevens in Las Vegas. Affinity says the closure is temporary, while the company works on "developing amenities that will better fit our new and current customers.”
A lucky slot player at Venetian landed a jackpot worth $1,426,361 on a Wheel of Fortune 2X Wilds machine on Tuesday.
In the third of today’s three Round 1 games in the College Football National Championship tournament, Ohio State is a -7.5 favorite over Tennessee. The total is 47
In today’s big Heavyweight Championship boxing match, Oleksandr Usuk is a -145 favorite over Tyson Fury. The total is 10.5 rounds, with over the favorite at -230.
In the second of today’s three Round 1 games in the College Football National Championship tournament, Texas is a -13.5 favorite over Clemson. The total is 49.
In the first of today's three Round 1 games in the College Football National Championship tournament, Penn State is a -9.5 favorite over SMU. The total is 52.
Seigel's 1941, the all-purpose restaurant at El Cortez, is now open until 3 a.m. Sunday through Thursday nights and 24 hours on Friday and Saturday night. We're told these hours are contingent on staffing and traffic. But it's worth a call if you're looking for somewhere to go downtown in the wee hours.
Today is "Beer Friday"! Join Anthony and Andrew for a YouTube livestream starting at 4 p.m. PST. Watch the show live, interact online, and drink along with the guys to start the weekend. Log in to join at LVA YouTube live channel.
In the first Round 1 game in the College Football National Championship tournament, Notre Dame is a -7 favorite over Indiana. The total is 49.5.
In today’s Gasparilla Bowl, Florida is a -9.5 favorite over Tulane. The total is 49.5.
It's the weekend before Christmas and there are plenty of holiday activities to enjoy. Here are some of the highlights:
In today’s Cure Bowl, Ohio is a -6 favorite over Jacksonville State. The total is 58.
The 56th Annual World Series of Poker will take place at Paris and the Horseshoe from May 27 to July 16. The $10,000 Main Event will start on July 2 and the final table will be contested on July 15 and 16 at the Horseshoe Events Center.
The Los Angeles Chargers are -2.5 favorites over the Denver Broncos in tonight's Thursday Night Football game. The total is 41.5.
In today’s New Orleans Bowl, Georgia Southern is a -3.5 favorite over Sam Houston State. The total is 48.5.
"America's Party 2025" will continue the 24-year-old tradition on the Strip. An eight-minute fireworks show will be launched from the rooftops of nine hotel-casinos: MGM Grand, Planet Hollywood, Aria, Caesars Palace, Treasure Island, Venetian, Resorts World, Fontainebleau, and STRAT. Upwards of 80,000 fireworks will be choreographed to a sountrack broadcast over local radio stations KOMP 92.3 and 97.1 The Point. The Strip will be closed from 5 p.m. till 3 a.m. A record crowd isn't expected, but 340,000 people are for the “Making Vegas Memories” New Year's Eve celebration.
What's the UFA? It's the Ultimate Frisbee Association and we're sincerely excited. We've been watching Ultimate, as it's known for short, for years and it's in our top two spectator sports. It's a combination of non-contact football, basketball, and soccer and what these pros can do with a frisbee is honest-to-goodness physics-defying. It's a lesser league, to be sure, but the new Las Vegas Bighorns round it out to 24 teams, including two in Ontario. The regular season comprises 12 games played between April and July, with a weekend playoff round in August, and these are exciting high-scoring games (each goal is good for one point; first team to score 15 goals and lead by two wins with a cap of 20). The games are typically played on high school fields, so spectators are nice and close to the action, and tickets ridiculously inexpensive (starting generally at $8 for single games.) Are you accurate with a frisbee and can you run up and down a soccer-size field for four 12-minute quarters? If so, tryouts will be held on February 1. (And thanks to VitalVegas for breaking this news.)
For the first time in 41 years, the PGA Tour won't make a stop in Las Vegas. The Shriners Childrens Open at TPC Summerlin was dropped from the Tour schedule after the Shriners withdrew its sponsorship, which lasted 17 years, of the Las Vegas event. According to the report, seven Tour events had new title sponsors in 2024, but no new sponsor stepped up to subsidize the 2025 Las Vegas event. GolfWeek quoted a PGA spokesperson: "The PGA Tour looks forward to returning to Las Vegas in the future." This is rare instance of a sporting event pulling out of Las Vegas due to lack of corporate interest.
In today’s LA Bowl, UNLV is a -3 favorite over California. The total is 45.
In today’s Boca Ratan Bowl, James Madison is a -7.5 favorite over Western Kentucky. The total is 49.5.
Announced in October, the conversion of Delano, the 43-story 1,117-room all-suite non-casino hotel located next to Mandalay Bay, to a W Hotel has been completed. Delano opened in 2003 as THEhotel. In 2014, in a partnership with Morgans Hotel Group, THEhotel was rebranded as Delano (adopting the middle name of Franklin Roosevelt, a high-end brand owned by Morgans). Now, Delano has been rebranded again as a W Hotel, as part of MGM Resorts' partnership with Marriott International. Starting today, Marriott Bonvoy members can book stays and earn and redeem points at the W Las Vegas, now part of the MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy.
The Jewish Festival of Lights this year begins on Christmas day, a week from today. Eater Vegas has a list, with descriptions, of Las Vegas restaurants that will serve traditional Hannukah dishes for the eight-day holiday. They include HaSalon at Venetian and Safta 1964 at Wynn (both owned and operated by Israelis), Siegel's 1941 at El Cortez, Bar Zazu at Resorts World, Bottiglia Enoteca & Cucina at Green Valley Ranch, and Honey Salt in Summerlin. The Market Place Buffet at Rampart also offers several Hannukah foods. Check out the Hannukah menus at these places on Eater Vegas' page.
As it does every year during the holidays, South Point is running its “Pay Less with Your Points” promo, during which almost everything is half-price when you use club points. This includes all restaurants and bars, rooms, shows, bingo, bowling, spa and salon, movies, and the gift shop. Drinks at the bars are $2 ($1 with points). The promo runs through December 24.
In today’s Frisco Bowl, Memphis is a -5 favorite over West Virginia. The total is 60.
Caspian’s Cocktails & Caviar opens Friday night at Caesars Palace in the space formerly occupied by the long-time Cleopatra's Barge lounge. It's a caviar bar on the outside, with a "secret passage" to a rock 'n' roll venue with live music Tuesday through Saturday and -- are you sitting down? -- no cover charge (other than "specialty nights"). Local rockers Indie Florentino Band will play on opening night, followed by Badd Juju, the Commonwealth, Wild Wolves, and the Regulators. The music will go on till 2 a.m. and start at 8 p.m. during the week, 6 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. According to John Katsilometes, the Review-Journal entertainment columnist, "The latest nightlife creation of Clique Hospitality, Caspian’s is attempting the unlikely. The club is mixing live rock ‘n’ roll on a regular basis with high-end food fare (especially caviar) for those apt to snack on Pringles." The menu is all about (farmed) caviar -- Royal White and Siberian sturgeon, Kaluga, and osetra -- accompanied by deviled eggs, waffles, latkes, Maine lobster in a roll, oysters, and, yes, Pringles. We couldn't find prices, but if you have to ask, you can't afford any of it.
When the Major League Soccer team Inter Miami meets two-time defending Liga MX champion Club America in a preseason game just announced for January 18 at Allegiant Stadium, soccer superstar Lionel Messi will make his first appearance in Las Vegas. The 37-year-old Messi, who's played for Inter Miami since is widely considered one of the best fútbol players in history, if not the best. It's expected he'll play in the game, so tickets when they go on sale "at a future date" are sure to sell out fast. Messi has been to Las Vegas before (he was photographed at a pool party at the Wynn in July 2013), but not to take the field that we know of.
In the second of tonight's simultaneously played Monday Night Football double-header, the Atlanta Falcons are -5.5 favorites over the Las Vegas Raiders. The total is 44.5.
In the first of tonight's simultaneously played Monday Night Football double-header, the Minnesota Vikings are -7 favorites over the Chicago Bears. The total is 43.5.
The teardown of the temporary bridge erected over Koval on E. Flamingo for the Las Vegas Grand Prix began last night. That intersection will be closed completely through Saturday at 9 p.m. It's a mess over there, so we recommend steering clear if you can.
The first of what could be an annual Asian food festival will run at the Downtown Events Center on February 14, 15, and 16 to coincide with the Lunar New Year. According to the press release, it will be "the largest Asian food festival in the U.S., featuring more than 90 vendors representing the cuisines of East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Central Asia." This "full-blown celebration of Asia’s rich and diverse cultures" will also include cultural activities and live performances, "including a special anime-themed section called AnimeNightMart." Tickets are $12-$45, depending on day, time, and package, and available at the Downtown Events Center website.
The Green Bay Packers are -2.5 favorites over the Seattle Seahawks in tonight’s Sunday Night Football game. The total is 48.
In the inaugural 12-team College Football National Championship, the co-favorites are Oregon, Texas, and Georgia, all at +400. The long shot is Clemson at +5350. The first games will be played December 20.
A story on Wired.com reports on a cheating method at casino table games, including poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, and blackjack, that involves a modified smartphone camera with mirrors, allowing the cheaters to see card faces as they're dealt. The piece provides examples of the "mini-camera" cheating and reveals how a couple of cheaters were caught in France, leading to the discovery of the new technique. It's an interesting development and confirms our conclusion in a recent Question of the Day concerning the prohibition of cell phones on table-game layouts. You can read the Wired story here. And thanks to Canada Roy for the link.
Joaquin Buckley is a -225 favorite over Colby Covington in tonight’s UFC main event. In the other featured match, Billy Quarantillo is -150 over Cub Swanson.
In today’s Salute to Veterans Bowl, South Alabama is a -7.5 favorite over Western Michigan. The total is 56.5.
Quarterbacks have won college football’s Heisman Trophy 11 of the last 13 years, but that doesn’t figure to be the case when the winner is announced tonight, given that the two frontrunners, Travis Hunter (Colorado) and Ashton Jeanty (Boise State) are both non-quarterbacks. Hunter is a rare two-way player (wide receiver/cornerback) and Jeanty is a running back. Hunter is the solid favorite at -2500, Jeanty is +1,000, and QBs Dillon Gabriel (Oregon) and Cam Ward (Miami) are both +25000 long shots. Another rarity: None of the nominees are from the SEC, which has produced four of the last five winners.
In yesterday's LVA vlog, Anthony and Andrew first acknowledge Friday the 13th, then get right into it with Anthony's eyewitness account of the strange parking situation at OYO. From there, they discuss a new buffet on the Strip (hint: at a Chinese restaurant at Resorts World) and Anthony's visit to the $99 Sunday brunch buffet at M Resort. Then, they're off and running to downtown and the price raise for the hot dog and beer at Downtown Grand and the Circa Survivor update. The Question of the Week concerns "taxable" jackpots and the Jackpot of the Week is perhaps the coolest one ever! When you watch the video, if you don't get a vicarious buzz, you're not human.
The college football bowl season starts today with the Celebration Bowl, where South Carolina State is a -3 favorite over Jackson State. The total is 54. We’ll be posting lines for most of the bowls in this space.
Six Las Vegas Chinese restaurants appear Yelp's top 100 in the country, based on customer reviews. It's the first time Yelp has issued a list of the best Chinese restaurants that aren't a chain -- no Pick Up Stix or P.F. Chang's. We're not surprised that China Mama placed #1 in Las Vegas and #8 in the nation. It's one of our favorites, as well as many other locals', having expanded to five locations since it opened originally in the Shanghai Plaza in Chinatown (the latest opened last week at Palace Station). Shàng Artisan Noodle on W. Flamingo was ranked #15, followed by Magic Noodle (#19), Yun Noodle & Dumplings (#25), Big Dan Shanxi Taste, a James Beard finalist a couple of years ago (#61), and Noodlehead (#67). Number one in the country is Maxi’s Noodle, in Queens, New York.
NightlifeInternational.org has issued it annual list of the world's top 100 nightclubs and dayclubs and Las Vegas claims eight of them, all in the top 50. At #15 and #5 in the U.S. is Omnia, the nightclub at Caesars Palace. Number 21 is Wet Republic, the dayclub at MGM, followed directly by Zouk (#22), the day and nightclubs at Resorts World. Hakkasan at MGM Grand came in at #27, then Encore Beach Club at Encore (#31), Marquee at Cosmopolitan (#38), Drai's at Cromwell (#42), and XS at Wynn (#48). The number-one club in the world is HÏ in Ibiza, Spain; Ibiza has nine of the 100, the only locale with more than Las Vegas. For countries, Spain has 26, the U.S. 22, and the UK 10.
Dominique Ansel Marché has opened at Paris. Dominique Ansel is an award-winning pastry chef known for two inventions in particular: the Cronut, a cross between a donut and croissant, and the Chocolate Chip Cookie Milk Shot, made with a soft chocolate-chip cookie shaped like a shot glass and lined with chocolate. Ansel won a James Beard Award in 2014 for "Outstanding Pastry Chef" and was named the World's Best Pastry Chef in 2017 by the prestigious World's 50 Best Restaurants. Marché is Ansel's second shop on the Strip; the other is at Caesars Palace. It's open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day.
The San Francisco 49ers are -3 favorites over the Los Angeles Rams in tonight's Thursday Night Football game. The total is 48.5.
The featured image at the top of an article in the Clinton (Mississippi) Courier titled "Top Elopement Hotspots: Where the U.S. Elopes" is an aerial of none other than the Las Vegas Strip at night. That's based on Las Vegas' spot atop the top 10 most searched elopement destinations in the U.S. Las Vegas garnered an average of 3,250 monthly searches, nearly three times more than the number-two destination, Colorado, with 1,150. Hawaii placed third with 1,100 and Gatlinburg (Tennessee) fourth with 900.
According to Eater Vegas, Holsteins, the long-time burger and milkshake restaurant at Cosmopolitan that opened with the hotel-casino in 2010 and closed in early July, has found a new location in the Arts District at 1216 Main Street, next to the Velveteen Rabbit bar. According to the Eater report, when the new Holsteins opens sometime this spring, the menu will be similar to the one at Cosmo, "with boozy milkshakes" from the large bar. We haven't heard anything about what will replace Holsteins at Cosmopolitan.
A visitor in from Texas for the National Finals Rodeo was playing a Wheel of Fortune machine at Binion's, betting $5 a hand, when he hit the jackpot for $1,494,585.
As it does every year, the Regional Transportation Authority of Southern Nevada will provide free rides for New Year's Eve celebrants. The free public buses will run from 6 p.m. on New Year's Eve to 9 a.m. the next morning. Buses will operate on a Sunday schedule for New Year's Day (and Christmas).
A blockbuster classic-rock trio of acts will tour together this summer. "Toto's 2025 Tour With Christopher Cross and Men at Work" will kick off on July 18 in Florida, play 28 dates through August, and make a one-night stop at Fontainebleau on August 23. Toto is known for such hits as "Rosanna," "Hold the Line," and (our favorite) "Africa," while the Aussie band Men at Work had a smash with "Down Under," plus hits "Who Can It Be Now" and "Be Good Johnny." Christopher Cross is known for "Ride Like the Wind" and "Sailing." The pre-sale starts today and the general-public tickets will be available on Friday, both at 10 a.m. PT.
According to a story in the Review-Journal, more than nine out of ten buyers for events in Las Vegas in 2024 have been from out of town. The story cited StubHub, the secondary ticket platform: The 92% of StubHub's event-goers from outside the market places Las Vegas as the number-one destination in the nation for visitors attending events. Second-place New York was a distant second at 56%. The Super Bowl was StubHub's "best-selling single-day sporting event worldwide this year." The Super Bowl outsold last year's game in Arizona by 76% and StubHub handled double the number of tickets for the entire five-game NBA Finals. The rest of the top five Sin City events were all multiple-date concerts, with "Weekends with Adele" the number-one seller at Caesars Palace, the Super Bowl number two, and the Eagles third, U2 fourth, and Phish fifth, all three at Sphere.
Eataly, the extensive food hall at Park MGM, opened in December 2018 and is celebrating its sixth anniversary on December 27 from 1 to 4 p.m. If you're here for the holidays, you can stop by for complimentary wine or cocktail and a slice from a 22-pound panettone (a cross between a Christmas fruit cake and sweet bread). It's free (unless you have to pay to park), but you need a ticket to enter; register here.
A slot player at the Rampart was firing up a Dollar Storm slot machine at the two-cent denomination with $1 per bet when he ran out of money. His wife "came to the rescue" by handing him a $20 bill to keep playing. That money lasted 10 minutes until the player hit the progressive jackpot of $945,119.
The Cincinnati Bengals are -4.5 favorites over the Dallas Cowboys in tonight's Monday Night Football game. The total is 50.
A major jackpot of nearly $2.9 million was hit on a Dragon Link progressive slot machine at the Seminole Casino Hollywood in south Florida. It was a record jackpot for Dragon Link's manufacturer, Aristocrat Gaming, and the second highest ever at the Seminole Hollywood. But the reason we were interested in it involved a couple of details about the play. First, it was a $25 machine with a 10x bet of $250. Second, the jackpot photo showed a credit balance of nearly $38,000. We know that Dragon Link isn't an advantage-play machine, so we have to assume that the player is a slot whale taking a long shot, with a bankroll of, say, $50,000-$100,000, at the huge progressive and accruing stratospheric comps in the process. And that he or she got very very lucky. Yu can see the winning screen and read the press release here.
Two years after its last five-show mini-residency at the Venetian, progressive-rock band Styx, with such hits as "Lady," Come Sail Away," and "Too Much Time on My Hands," will do another five shows at Venetian Theater on January 24, 25, 29, and 31 and February 1. Tickets start at a very reasonable $45 and are on sale now at Ticketmaster.
The Kansas City Chiefs are -4.5 favorites over the Los Angeles Chargers in tonight’s Sunday Night Football game. The total is 43.
Golden Gai Cocktail Club has opened at the Venetian. According to the press release, the bar “draws on the spirit of the neon-lighted blocks of the Golden Gai district in the Shinjuku ward of Tokyo, where hundreds of bars, clubs, and dining spots populate narrow alleys and passageways.” It’s located inside Wakuda, so you can order off the menu to pair with premium Japanese sakes and whiskeys. Joining Golden Cai is Caspian’s Cocktails and Caviar, which debuts at Caesars Palace later this month. It’s described as a “hidden live-music venue,” which makes sense, given that it occupies the space formerly Cleopatra’s Barge, where live music performances took place for decades.
if you remember the ultimate Sunday brunch, the Sterling, at Bally's (now Horseshoe), you'll know where M Resort’s Sunday-only brunch in Anthony’s Prime Steak & Seafood is coming from. The Sterling wound up at $125 per person before closing for good in 2020, whileAnthony's is $99. How does Anthony's compared to the Sterling? And is it worth $99? To find out, read our in-depth review and see numerous photos in our current blog post.
Alexandre Pantoja is a -290 favorite over Kai Asakura in tonight’s UFC main event. In the other featured match, Shavkat Rakhmonov is -385 over Ian Garry.
This week, Anthony first acknowledges Andrew's 47th birthday and recent and upcoming appearances at some comedy clubs around town. Then they hit it hard, with the ongoing strike at Virgin, resort and parking fees rising on the south Strip, the deets from our twice-annual room rate survey and once-annual call-around for New Year's Eve rates, a great NYE play at the Plaza downtown, and our holiday catalog that features a couple of new books we have coming out. The "pretty" in the title concerns the royal flush in hearts featured in the Jackpot of the Week segment (plus being a family affair), which also leads to the Question of the Week. Click the red arrow and get it all in 24 minutes.
According to WorldCasinoDirectory.com, four plaintiffs are suing IGT for allegedly "rigging" the Wheel of Fortune bonus wheel. The plaintiffs claim they lost an unspecified amount of money playing Wheel of Fortune and were deceived by the wheel, which "features equal-sized segments that create the illusion of fairness, but in reality, the outcome of the wheel is determined by an computer program that manipulates the results, stopping on segments with lower monetary values." The suit, filed in U.S. District Court in Nevada, also targets MGM Resorts, Bally’s, Penn, Station, and Boyd, all of which "knowingly profit from machines that allegedly mislead players about their odds of winning." The lawsuit accuses IGT and the casinos of violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), fraud, unjust enrichment, and negligent misrepresentation and argues that the rigged bonus wheel has led to “illegal siphoning of billions of dollars” from players." WorldCasinoDirectory opines, "The allegations in this lawsuit could have significant ramifications for the gaming industry," though we'd bet against that.
The latest restaurant and bar from reality-TV star Lisa Vanderpump held its grand opening last night with a collection of other reality stars there to celebrate, including the cast from Vanderpump’s latest show, “Vanderpump Villa.” Pinky’s by Vanderpump (named after Vanderpump’s nickname “Pinky”) "features playful and decadent dishes that complement uniquely Instagrammable cocktails and the restaurateur’s signature design aesthetic and bespoke decor," gushes the press release, "and has been a true labor of love." Pinky's comprises a 198-seat restaurant, 32-seat bar, and 40-seat lounge. Pinky's is Vanderpump's third Vegas location, along with Cocktail Garden at Caesars and Vanderpump a Paris at, you guessed it, Paris.
Eataly, the extensive food hall at Park MGM, has changed its lineup of food outlets for the first time since it opened exactly six years ago. Three new stations that are already open are Le Polpette (meatball dishes, burgers, pizza, and salads), La Pasta Fresca (salads and appetizers, plus nine types of fresh pasta), and La Carne e Il Pesce (chicken, pork, beef, and seafood, including a raw bar). A couple of days after Christmas, Eataly Bar and Pizza al Padellino will replace the Wine Shop and Italian marketplace that used to be at the Strip entrance; Pizza al Padellino is the Italian pan pizza, a style endemic to Torino, Italy, where Eataly was originally introduced.
In N Out has confirmed that it will open a "retro" outlet at the BLVD shopping complex on the Strip across from Aria. The restaurant space will be more than 8,000 square feet, smaller than only the largest location in Barstow, with a large outdoor patio overlooking the Strip. In addition, merchandise will be sold in conjunction with the burgers at a "unique company store." The second Strip location of the popular chain won't open until sometime in 2026.
The media is all agog and local dignitaries are all self-congratulatory over the putative Las Vegas Athletics' "clearing the last major hurdle" on their shambling way to building a stadium here -- as if anyone on Earth or beyond doubted that it would happen. What happened was that the Las Vegas Stadium Authority approved some paperwork the team finally handed in that allowed the Authority to approve the development, non-relocation, and lease agreements, which makes the whole deal official. Or does it? At the meeting, it was revealed that two investment banks "will offer" a $300 million loan, though we interpret that to mean they haven't yet. If they do, along with $380 million in public funds, that leaves roughly $1.144 billion that A's owners, the Fisher family, have to pony up. The big revelation at the meeting was that the Fishers have "already invested $40 million." Hm. Let's see. Only $1.14 billion to go. (Next time we want to buy something for $10,000, we'll spend $40 and call it a done deal.) In addition, the team still needs a development agreement with Clark County. And with a scheduled groundbreaking in a few months, time is a-tickin' on that other change o' change.
The Detroit Lions are -3 favorites over the Green Bay Packers in tonight's Thursday Night Football game. The total is 53.
Details are sparse, but a new attraction called "Interstellar Arc" has been announced for Area15, just as construction commences on the 20,000-square-foot venue slated to opennext fall. According to the press release, Interstellar Arc will "transport guests to the 26th century, where they will take on a deep space mission." The attraction is being designed by Montreal-based Felix & Paul Studios, a virtual reality company, which has earned five Canadian Screen Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Daytime Emmy for its many VR experiences and TV programs, including "Jim Henson's The Storyteller: The Seven Ravens" and "Space Explorers: THE INFINITE," touted as "the world’s largest immersive exhibit about life in space."
The Clark County Commission at their meeting yesterday approved several use permits for the construction of the tentatively named LVXP project on the defunct Wet 'n Wild and All Net Arena site on the north Strip. Though no information has been forthcoming about the financing for the presumably multi-billion development, the commissioners were unanimous in moving it along. If it comes to fruition, LVXP will consist of three towers, including one planned to be 725 feet tall, housing a 2,605-unit hotel/condo component, an 18,000-seat NBA-ready arena, a theater for live entertainment, a big shopping center, and an underground parking garage.
Dead & Company, minus bass player Phil Lesh who passed away in late October at age 84, likes playing Vegas. And why not? The band's 30-date residency at Sphere over the summer was a huge success, both musically and financially, selling 476,945 tickets and grossing $131.4 million. The new residency will be for 18 shows (so far) from March to May: March 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, and 29; April 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, and 26; and May 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, and 17. The presale begins on Tuesday at 10 a.m. PT and tickets start at $145 (all-in pricing). Only singer-songwriter-guitarist Bob Weir remains from the original Grateful Dead.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports this morning that parking and resort fees go up as of today. It's the second increase in resort fees this year; the first was in January. The RF at Aria, Bellagio, and Cosmopolitan are now $55 per day, up $5. MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay, and Delano are also up $5 to $50. Park MGM, Nomad, and the Signature have increased by $8 to $50. Luxor and Excalibur are up $3 to $45 and New York-New York is up $8 to $45. Parking fees are up $2 Mon.-Thurs. to $20 and Fri.-Sun. to $25; hotel guests now pay $20 all days, also up $2. Valet parking is $40 across the board, up $15 at some properties and $0 at others.
The good folks at VegasChanges.com posted some photos of the new restaurant at the Flamingo, Havana 1957. The construction walls, in place for nearly a year and a half, have been removed and the space formerly occupied by the Tropical Breeze Cafe is just about ready for Cuban food. Havana 1957 has five locations in south Florida and this one will be the first beyond those. The big online menu for the Miami locations shows appetizers such as a tamal, empanada, yucca fries, and masitas (fried pork) in the $12 to $18 range, ceviche $19, burgers and a Cubano $17-$21, and soups and salads $6-$18; entrees include chicken, pork, flank and skirt steak, shrimp, salmon, and seafood stew, prepared with either Cuban mojo (citrus-onion sauce) or criolla (tomato sauce) $21-$38, along with a whole fried snapper ($49), grilled lobster tail and shrimp ($65), and surf and turf ($95). We haven't seen fancier Cuban food in Las Vegas, so this one sounds interesting.
The Plaza will again celebrate New Year’s Eve with downtown’s only live fireworks show. It will start, as it has for many years, at midnight on Tuesday Dec. 31.
According to a comparison on VisualCapitalist.com, Nevada's unemployment rate of 5.7% is the highest in the U.S. The national average is 4.1%, the lowest rate is South Dakota's at 1.9%, Washington, D.C., is tied with Nevada at 5.7%, and California's is second highest at 5.4%. The Golden State is followed by Illinois (5.3%), Kentucky (5%), and Michigan (4.7%).
Australian hard rock, blues rock, and heavy metal band AC/DC will hit Allegiant Stadium on April 26 as part of its first tour in nine years. The band formed in Sydney in 1973 and co-founder Angus Young, known for his schoolboy short-trousers outfit, is still the lead guitarist at age 69, the only original member. The tour is named after their 2020 album, POWER UP, which achieved the number-one spot in 21 countries. Tickets for the tour will be available on Friday at 10 a.m. PT.
The Denver Broncos are -6 favorites over the Cleveland Browns in tonight's Monday Night Football game. The total is 41.
The December meeting of the Las Vegas Stadium Authority is looming; it meets on Thursday to discuss agreements with the Oakland A's that finalize the length of the initial lease on its stadium (30 years at the moment), what happens if the team tries to relocate before 2058, and construction costs. In anticipation of the meeting, the A's have revised the price tag of its stadium, which has gone up from $1.5 billion to $1.75 billion. According to the team, the increase "wasn't a surprise," due to new stadium features and inflation. That raises the team-owner Fisher family's stake from $820 million to $1.07 billion and will include any further cost overruns. It's also expected that the team will announce plans for funding its share of stadium construction, including but not limited to bank loans and an equity investment by potential partners.
Nevada’s fourth and Las Vegas’ first Mountain Mike’s Pizza opens this month at 785 E. Craig Road. The northern California chain with more than 300 outlets is known for its “crispy curly pepperonis” and will reportedly have a lunch buffet.
In response to the controversy surrounding the winner of this year's World Series of Poker Main Event in July, WSOP has introduced a
new rule on electronic assistance and coaching that eliminates the possibility of spectators on the rail assisting players, as happened in the Main Event. The rule, thus far, is just for the WSOP 2024 Paradise tournament in the Bahamas that starts this week, but now that it has been activated, it can presumably be enforced for the tournament in Las Vegas. The rule states: "Players and spectators are not allowed to use charts, apps, or any other form of electronic assistance in the tournament room. Spectators are also prohibited from providing live assistance or coaching." Spectators can be banned from the tournament for breaking the rule; players can be penalized "up to disqualification."
The Buffalo Bills are -6.5 favorites over the San Francisco 49ers in tonight’s Sunday Night Football game. The total is 45.
John Wayne said it best: “Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway.” The 66th annual Wrangler National Finals Rodeo will commence on Thursday and run through Dec. 14 at the Thomas & Mack Center at UNLV. The NFR is the world's richest and most prestigious rodeo and features the top 15 contestants in seven events: bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing, and bull riding. Making their first appearance at NFR are 28 competitors, including 21 former event winners, seven with more than 10 appearances and no wins, and six rookies. Total prize money is $16.2 million. Upwards of 200,000 admissions are expected at the UNLV arena over the 10-day event. The Cowboy Channel will provide live coverage of the NFR.
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.