Vegas next week

agree with Kevin: I notice that a lot of corporations consider the casino model as one way of success. It's no longer Nevada-or-nothing. There are casinos basically everywhere. Plus the Online Competition, online sports betting. The cruise lines , offering gaming off-shore, etc.

Once that's all said, I still do not understand why the casinos on the center strip (quoting Kevin: Toilet-Casinos) are still trying to maximize and nickel-out-and-dime the customers that are still coming. I mean, duck-it, resort fee is already too high, plus the parking fee, and for elderly people, a reservation fee if reserving a room by phone and not online. And all the taxes, and of course, as always, and MANDATORY, THE TIP, whether or not service is good or not (strip restaurants offering lousy service because of their arrogance and their attitude..."we get it, regarless"). So once again, here's my question: What's the point, after all?

When I was in Mesquite, I experienced a little friendlier service than what I was used from visiting Strip Casinos. But still , it ain't like 20 years ago. I don't understand why some personell believes that arrogance and laughing at you is the way to go. We are in 2026. Competition doesn't sleep. Casinos can go in bankruptcy because of their debt-load. Never foget that. From that point-of-view it's  a mistake to believe that once again, tourists are all idiots and when they come to visit you have to nickel-and-dime them out.  It's time for a change!!! And don't forget: There's a lot of tourists that are currently refusing to visit the United States for the things that are going on , ordered by your government. Your hotels feel it, your casinos feel it, guaranteed. There is no way to neglect that, whatever you think. IT's a failed concept what's currently being sent out by your government, period.

summary: Instead of giving us tourists a warm welcome, what we get after a 12 hours flight from Europe into Vegas is a harsh and strict verbal advise where to line up for the immigration office to ask me how much money I am carrying, what's the purpose of my stay and if I plan to look for a job.  Compare this to any US citizen arriving in Zurich and showing his passort: Such questions are not being asked. You are being treated with respect, but fair. But not so sure if they will every understand how the ball rolls and what has to happen until the party is over completely.  (HONESTLY, i sometimes have the feeling that the U.S. does not want any tourists at all). 

I know how Vegas was built. I read the history. And I know where the money came from, and where it went after the skimming. There's no question about it. But still, if you think about and compare to today's conditions...which one do you like better?  I wished we were in 1975 , still. I don't need a 75 storey hotel tower from where it takes 25 minutes until I hit the coffee shop. All I want is good gaming, a clean room, quiet, and good food at decent costs. Is it so hard to understand?

From Switzerland

Boris

Hi, Boris, I don't think Europeans realize what an aberration our current pseudo-government really is. We're a multicultural, mercantile nation founded on human rights and personal freedoms, but at the moment, we're a paranoid, isolationist, proto-fascist police state. It breaks my heart to see how our former friends, allies, and neighbors are being treated.

I also get the sense that Europeans are utterly baffled that we keep electing Trump and the mutant things who cling to his coattails. It's as if Hitler had survived the war and was elected Chancellor in 1947. Didn't we learn anything?? To understand why, you have to realize the existential fear that is at the heart of American conservatism and the gross bigotry that still rules the lizard brains of Republicans. Hatred and fear are still two of the most powerful human emotions. Love, compassion, and optimism should be even stronger. But in America...sadly...they're not. Not any more.

So I say to you and the rest of the world: Trump has fulfilled his most fervent wish; he's made us a pariah. Don't come here until he's gone, ideally, dangling from a noose on the White House lawn.

I say come now while they are offering some deals.  Remember the Gouge was here before Trump too.  Some people hate Vegas, and that is fine.  All the better for the rest of us.

and now that this is said, another important thing to bring up to this friendly conversation: Your country will be hosting  FIFA world cup of soccer tournament in your country for the upcoming 7 or 8 weeks. Besides that, games will also taking place in Canada and Mexico. Both countries have been severely discriminated and provoced by your leader. I am very curious how this all will work out under such a regime.

 Under normal circomstances, such an event is a big thing for everybody. Soccer is very popular worldwide, but not so in the U.S. from what I've seen.  The fans, the players, also for the people watching the games on television from all over the world.

This year, however,  it's probably gonna be completely different: People, not all though, are tired to visit the U.S. and being asked those ridiculous questions at the immigration counter after already having filled out those visa applications online and after having paid the entry fee, which, btw has more than doubled-up in the past years, for what reason ever. People are tired of such discrimiational treatment. And that's why a lot of soccer fans are not going to visit the games live.  But not only because of that: The ticket prices have been exorbitantly raised in a way that it's no longer normal. I'm curious how you plan to fill the stadiums....without using illusionary AI pictures to make the statiums look full....