In what must have been the least publicized demolition in Strip history, the Klondike was recently leveled (we don't know exactly when). Both the casino and the adjacent motel are gone and you can now see back into the airport runways. All that remains on the site is the vacant next-door visitor center, which retains its Klondike-style marquee. A new sign advertises the 10.3 acres for sale. The asking price has been reported at $18 million per acre.
The 39th World Series of Poker is underway, kicking off yesterday with the $10,000 buy-in world championship pot-limit hold 'em event. This is one of the changes in this year's series -- certain $10,000 events, including this one, will be designated "world championships." The field had 352 entrants. After the first day's action (it's a three-day event), the leader is known quantity Eli Elezra, with 70 players left.
That's what California authorities aim to determine, as they investigate 300 controversial machines at Sycuan Casino, in El Cajon. Sycuan says they're plain old bingo machines and thus don't count against the tribe's 2,000-slot cap. Both California's Gambling Control Commission and the National Indian Gaming Commission think otherwise, contending that -- because the machines have been adjusted to run faster -- they qualify as slots. "They say they'll investigate whether the Sycuan Band is skirting its compact with the state by making the modifications," reports the San Francisco Chronicle.
Detroit's Greektown Casino has applied for bankruptcy protection, citing the need to borrow an additional $150 million to complete a new, $500 million hotel-casino adjacent to its current facility. Greektown is two months overdue on a $315 million loan. In New Jersey, state-appointed trustee Gary Stein wants to reopen bidding on the Atlantic City Tropicana. Among the factors he cited were continuing expressions of interest in the property. For additional coverage, see Stiffs & Georges.
Galaxy Neonopolis is offering a free family-friendly movie series every Monday morning in June. Featured films are The Princess Bride (June 2), Ghostbusters (June 9), Top Gun (June 16), Short Circuit (June 23) and Grease (June 30). The movies start at 10 a.m. and free parking is available on location at the corner of Fremont and 4th St.
The sport of kings will be married to the sound of slots when Hoosier Park unveils its new casino facility on Monday. Counting licensing fees, it cost Hoosier Park (in Anderson, Ind.), $375 million to "up-convert" from a mere racetrack. If all goes according to plan, Hoosier Park will be followed by a second new racino, Shelbyville's Indiana Downs, the following Monday.
Resorts World, part of Genting's massive casino-based 'integrated resort' in Singapore, won't be serving shark's fin to its customers. Well, not to some of its customers. The resort says the gesture "is meant to highlight the resort's commitment to the environment" -- a commitment that might be called "fin-deep," considering that high rollers will still be served shark's fin at Resorts World. "We did our sums, and we cannot say no to the high rollers," remarked spokesman Krist Boo. The practice of 'finning' sharks -- slicing off their fins and throwing their carcasses back into the sea by the thousands -- has come under sharp criticism of late.
A variety of misdemeanor criminal complaints have been filed against Harrah's Entertainment by the Clark County district attorney's office, according to KLAS-TV. The charges over the cannibalization of fire-safety equipment at the Flamingo, and unauthorized fire-alarm-system modifications at the Rio and Harrah's Las Vegas. The first hearing on the matter is scheduled for July 7.
For the third consecutive year, the World Series of Poker has a big-eventa insert in the "Sports" section of USA Today. Except for a full events schedule, it's not that handy, as it's made up mostly of player profiles. But it's interesting in the context of the level of exposure the event is generating.
Add Plaza to the list of summer pool parties. Eat, drink, play & party at "Thurst Thursdays" FREE pool parties every Thursday in June from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Features hottest DJs, live bands, basketball, volleyball and fully loaded cabanas. For cabana information, contact Jarrett Applewhite at 702/501-2274.
In a Friday travel feature, the Los Angeles Times lauds Laughlin as "Vegas on Valium ... There's no edginess here, but for some that's part of the attraction." The city is praised for its accessibility to Californians, affordability, recreation options ("even for folks who aren't exactly buff"), water sports, and its nearby petroglyphs in Grapevine Canyon.
"If Las Vegas is the rock star of the gambling world ... then Laughlin is the lounge singer -- thinning on top and slightly off-key. Still," concludes the LAT's Jay Jones, "that lounge act is entertaining in a curious sort of way." One LVA staffer had to take issue with tourist Chris Connelly's contention that "You can dress in shorts and sandals [in Laughlin] and you don't feel like you're underdressed" -- unlike Vegas. Au contraire! A Tuesday-night visit to the Strip's Monte Carlo found the floor packed with tourists dressed in -- you guessed it -- shorts and sandals.
The comedy whodunit that holds the Guinness Book Records' title for longest-running play in the history of American theater is coming to the new Town Square entertainment and retail complex in Las Vegas. Apparently, a seven-year deal has been signed and Shear Madness has a projected opening date of September, 2008, in a custom-built 300-seat theater that's being constructed on the first floor of the movieplex at Town Square. Tickets go on sale July 1st and Vegas.com will be handling the ticketing.
Los Angeles Times blogger Richard Abowitz made a midweek stay at the Las Vegas Tropicana and VegasTripping.com has a detailed (including video and copious photography) on-the-spot report from Hooters Hotel & Casino. Read about them in Stiffs & Georges.
Could and would Harrah's Entertainment be contemplating a purchase of Wynn Resorts? Sounds crazy, right? That's what we thought. But it comes from well-connected source, so we consider it our civic duty to pass it along.
As anticipated, the Flamingo announced today that the remaining dates of Toni Braxton: Revealed have been canceled to allow for the singer to focus on her health.
The production show that began in Aug. 2006 was scheduled to run through mid-Aug. '08 but has been on hiatus since the singer was hospitalized with a heart problem back in April. Tickets purchased to the show are fully refundable -- contact the Flamingo box office at 702/733-3333 for assistance.
Don Barden, owner of downtown's Fitzgeralds hotel-casino, has until June 11 to tell the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board exactly how he's going to finance the $760 million Pittsburgh casino that the Keystone State awarded him. The PGCB has indicated it wants the matter wrapped up by June's end and meets only once more after today, although no deadline or ultimatum has been issued. Pennsylvania gaming regulators have been under considerable fire of late, in part for choosing Barden's Majestic Star project despite the casino company's poor recent financial performance. The PGCB also approved a casino owner who was subsequently indicted for perjury.
There's a distinctive country twang to the music scene in Vegas this weekend with the Summer Country Bash taking place at the Cannery and the Volunteer Jam at over at the Orleans Arena co-headlined by the Charlie Daniels Band and .38 Special, both on Saturday. Plus, the Orleans Arena gets the nod as the most versatile venue in the valley as it lays down the ice for hockey playoff games 'tween the Wranglers and Cyclones this weekend, in addition to putting on the sixth annual Best in Show pet adoption event on Sunday afternoon.
An obscure New York gambing company, Coastal Marina, has been announced as the next owner of Trump Marina Hotel Casino, which sold for $316 million today. The new owner intends to re-dub the property "Margaritaville," pursuant to an agreement with Jimmy Buffett's company. Trump Marina has been on the block for a while, with Mohegan Sun among the prospective buyers who have kicked its tires but decided not to buy. Coast's parent company, Coastal Development, is a major shareholder of Boston's Suffolk Downs racetrack.
Employees of Venetian Macao have donated $325,000 to victims of the May 14 earthquake in Sichuan, China, reports the Macau Daily Times. This largesse comes atop the $730,000 donated by Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson.
Starting July 1, casinos in Colorado -- acting at the behest of the state -- will start garnishing the winnings of players who are listed as delinquent in their child-support payments. West Virginia is three months away from applying a similar regime to slot jackpots, one unilaterally imposed by the state's Department of Health & Human Services. On-the-spot collection of child support by casinos has also been mandated in Mississippi and New Mexico, but neither state has been able to actually implement its law. When Colorado casino operators complained to state Rep. Joel Judd, "I told them, There is no other line of business better equipped to handle an angry customer than yours."
According to the Las Vegas Weekly the live-music/after-hours/nightclub venue received an eviction letter on Thursday, May 22 demanding more than $400,000 in back rent by 5 p.m. that day. When said rent failed the materialize, the doors were locked on May 23 just hours before a scheduled appearance by Scooter & Lavelle. The promoter sent out an e-mail blast at 6:16 p.m. that evening stating that the scheduled Empire Afterhours event had been moved to Asia at Planet Hollywood and the show went on. Saturday’s performance by New York DJ Danny Tanaglia was moved to Privé. This weekend's Friday and Saturday events with Empire residents Joey Mazzola and Jordan Stevens will also take place at Asia.
Station Casinos having garnered many a headline with its eight-hour, casino-in-a-trailer stint on the site of the imploded Castaways, Marriott went Station one better. What could be more transitory than a casino in a construction trailer? A casino in a tent, of course! Marriott was spotted by KLAS-TV erecting a white-tented slot spot on the site of The Beach, in order to maintain the site's gambling-enabled status. Even a tent costs big bucks these days: Yesterday's 6 a.m.-2 p.m. casino camp-out set Marriott back 50 grand.
The humor of the situation wasn't lost on Marriott veep Mark Birtha, who told KLAS, "We are taking donations to help fund our new hotel, and so we will see how the day goes." Long before it was The Beach (let alone a tent on a vacant lot), the site was home to the Sport of Kings, a financially and legally troubled casino that lasted 14 months in business, back in 1992-3.
As the in-foreclosure Cosmopolitan casino-hotel continues to rise, just next door to City Center, a new owner may be waiting in the wings. The latest scuttlebutt in the blogosphere has Related Cos. stepping in to either manage or purchase the troubled project, rebranding it as a W hotel. Related, it will be recalled, was involved in a massive "W" resort project on Harmon Ave., one which evaporated along with the condo bubble.
Indicted Chicago businessman Tony Rezko is the latest high-profile player being sought for dishonored casino markers. The Clark County District Attorney's office is pursuing Rezko -- who is standing trial in Chicago on an unrelated matter -- for over $470,000 in markers and bounced checks owed to Caesars Palace and Bally's Las Vegas. According to the Las Vegas Sun, a judgment of $331,000 is already on record against Rezko for defaulted debts at Bellagio. Rezko is a former fundraiser for Sen. Barack Obama and close ally of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
Globalysis Ltd. projects that Macao will hit $13.5 billion in gross gambling revenues this year. That benchmark would move the Special Administrative Region ahead of Clark County for the first time ever. Globalysis' Jonathan Galaviz adds, "it will be critical for Macau to begin fully developing its airline sector to allow more direct flights from key cities in Asia in order to feed tourism traffic." Market risks identified by Globalysis include spillover effects from the U.S. recession, a glut of resort product in Macao and/or changes to visa rules for Mainland China -- as we saw yesterday in Guangdong Province.
Joe Brunini is MGM Mirage's first-ever president of marketing and customer development, the company anounced today. In addition to identifying "emerging customer markets and [creating] methods of attracting new audiences" to MGM's properties, Brunini will coordinate marketing efforts for MGM Grand Atlantic City and with the company's international marketing division. Brunini has been in the industry, starting in 1980 as a table games dealer at Caesars Atlantic City. He was part of the executive team at MGM Grand Las Vegas from 1998 to 2000, first as senior VP of slot and table game operations, then as executive VP of marketing. He's spent the last eight years as MGM's president of national marketing. The Brunini appointment and other marketing developments are covered in Stiffs & Georges.
MGM Mirage isn't in Kansas anymore, having left the bidding war for a Wichita-area casino-management contract, saying acceptable terms couldn't be reached. "It just wasn't economically viable for them," Kansas Lottery director Ed Van Petten told the Kansas City Star. Las Vegas Sands and Harrah's Entertainment are still in the running, as are locally headquartered Golden Gaming, Olympia Gaming, and Pinnacle Entertainment, as well as Baltimore-based Corish Co. Penn National Gambling is the lone pursuant of a Cherokee County license.
From Thurs., June 5th-Mon., June 9th, the Hard Rock's inviting patrons to enter in their $10,000 Double Your Stimulus drawing. Cash your stimulus check at the Bank of Hard Rock and receive fifty free entries for the big drawing to be held at 7 p.m., June 9. Players will receive an additional entry for every 100 points earned while playing their favorite slot and table games and for each sports bet valued at $100 or more. For additional info and complete rules visit the Rockstar Players Club or visit www.hardrockhotel.com.
Style savvy local ladies are invited to bring up to 10 next-to-new/gently worn items to the Sierra Gold ultra-tavern (515 S. Jones Blvd.) from 6 p.m. this evening for a Style Swap. There will be complimentary cocktails, hors d’ oeuvres, goody bags, and mini-makeovers available, with all untraded items being donated to HELP of Southern Nevada. The event's free and open to the public but you must RSVP to [email protected] or call 702/990-8180.
Boarding fees for Baton Rouge riverboats could soon be displaced by a 6% tax on net gambling revenues, after the Louisiana Senate overwhelmingly approved the change. Baton Rouge is currently home to two riverboat casinos.
Chinese governmental ambivalence toward gambling -- and Macao's economic dependence on it -- appears to have surfaced again. According to the Macao Daily, the rulers of Guangdong Province are going to halve the number of visa applications. Currently, residents of Guangdong can apply for two visas per month, but that will go down to one a month on June 1. Guangdong, which surrounds both Macao and Hong Kong, is China's most heavily populated province and the one with the highest gross domestic product.
Guests booking a room at the Las Vegas Tropicana for stays now through August 28 will have a chance to participate in their "Roll 4 Gas" promotion. Upon arrival, when you check-in at the front desk you'll have the chance to roll four dice for a chance to win. Here's how the prize structure breaks down:
Three of a Kind = Buffet for two
Straight = Island Tower Jacuzzi Suite Upgrade
Four of a Kind = $100 Cash for Gas
Everything else = Funbook worth over $200
The promo's valid for Sun. through Thurs. arrivals only. One roll of the dice per room. Must be 21 years of age to roll the dice.
Yup, it's just been confirmed that Madonna, to whom the press release refers to as "the world's sweetheart," has announced she'll be bringing her "Sticky & Sweet" tour to the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sat., Nov. 8.
Tickets are priced at $357, $252, $167, and $72 (plus taxes & fees) and go on sale this Sat., May 31 at 10 a.m. at the MGM Grand Garden Arena box office and all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations. Sales are limited to four per person. To charge by phone call the Mandalay Bay box office at 702/632-7580 or Ticketmaster at 702/474-4000. They'll also be available for purchase online at www.mandalaybay.com or www.ticketmaster.com.
Although it's been almost four years since voters in Broward County approved slot machines at local parimutuels, a seemingly settled issue is back up in the air. A legal challenge, containing allegations of petition fraud, has been sent back to a court in Tallahassee for trial. An appeals court reversed Judge Nikki Ann Clark, who ruled that the '04 electoral results rendered the petition challenge moot. Should the opponents, who include the Humane Society of the United States, prevail at trial, it won't just be a setback for operators like Isle of Capri Casinos and Boyd Gaming: The state's Seminole Tribe, which has been able to add Class III gambling at its casinos, largely on the strength of the Broward precedent, could also see its Class III compacts threatened.
Casinos in Colorado, caught between the double-whammy of a smoking ban and the recession, got a break from the government today. The Colorado Gaming Commission is promising tax rebates to casinos in the $4 million-$15 million annual-revenue bracket. Those casino at the upper end of that scale could see $80K in fiscal relief.
Louisiana's House has approved a bill that would permit voters in Ibreville Parish, near Baton Rouge, to vote on whether to go ahead with a $90 million racino project. If it passes the state Senate, Gov. Bobby Jindal has promised a veto.
Country nightclub operator Stoney Gray (formerly of Gilley's at the New Frontier) will be parlaying the popularity of Stoney's Rockin' Country on Las Vegas Blvd. to bring country nightlife to Santa Fe Station. Stoney's North Forty is tentatively scheduled to open in late 2008/early '09 and will feature full-service bars, DJ's playing country/western music, a dance floor, and of course Stoney's signature mechanical bull.
Scientific Games knew of a flaw in its "quick pick" betting software on Oct. 30 last year but, while working to rectify the problem, didn't alert horse players -- or authorities, reports the Palo Alto Daily News. A bettor at Bay Meadows, in San Mateo, noticed the glitch (which omits the last-numbered horse in every race) when placing wagers on the Kentucky Derby. Winning horse Big Brown appeared on none of the man's 1,300 randomized bets. Scientific, which traces the problem to the rollout of its BetJet machines, also holds the contract to run Instant Lottery games in California.
A gambler at Wynn Macau was arrested Sunday after being found with over $28,000 worth of forged chips on his person -- plus the materials to make dozens more. Blog Macau reports that the player took advantage of inattentive croupiers when passing the phony chips, and "and the Judiciary Police in Macau said that the possibility for faking casino chips in large quantities cannot be ruled out."
Sheldon Adelson wanted the Les Ambassadeurs badly enough to threaten other suitors with lawsuits. But the $148 million deal was running behind schedule and now appears to be dead, according to the London Times. Planet Hollywood owner Robert Earl is also rumored to be shopping around Fifty, another London casino. The mooted buyer for both is Mike Ashley, owner of soccer team Newcastle United.
Unlike Las Vegans, denizens of Atlantic City seem to shrug off the presence of a statue of Vladimir Ilich Lenin, the prototypical Communist dictator, outside the local Red Square bar. (Mandalay Bay's Lenin was decapitated to placate complainants, not long after the casino's 1999 opening.) Atlantic City resident Al Garrett, though, has no use for Lenin on the Boardwalk and has been lobbying for three years to get the statue banished. He's come up with what he thinks is an unassailable argument, according to The Press of Atlantic: Point to Lenin as the cause of a run of bad luck at the Trop that included being sold to Columbia Sussex Corp., an ensuing run of bad publicity, and the loss of the company's gaming license. Red Square General Manager Joseph Massari's rejoinder to Garrett was a terse, "Thanks for the advertising."
Boyd Gaming gave The Press of Atlantic City an advance peek at its new Water Club "signature hotel," and the newspaper evidently liked what it saw. Water Club, it wrote, "is a cosmopolitan setting reminiscent of the trendy, boutique hotels of New York and Miami. The contemporary decor includes exotic stone and wood finishes imported from throughout the world - from Africa to Asia and Europe to South America. Even with room rates as high as $700/night for weekends (and a $329 top rate midweek), Boyd says Water Club's price tag hasn't dampened demand. Amenities will include five swimming pools -- indoor and outdoor alike -- plus spa treatments costing from $220-$1,000. Boyd is taking bookings for June 10 onwards, although the formal opening won't be until June 26.
If you've already read today's Question of the Day with interest, check back for an interesting eye-witness account of the post-Tyson-vs.-Holyfield biting debacle at the MGM Grand.
Is the family-friendly Vegas of the Nineties making a comeback? While it may be too soon to say, Sin City has made a surprising appearance on MSNBC's Ultimate Family Road Trip, in a "Special Sponsor Edition, presented by Walt Disney World." Touting Las Vegas as a center for, among other things, eco-friendly learning, the seven-video "road trip" highlights, among other attractions, Springs Preserve, Adventuredome at Circus Circus, "Tournament of Kings" at Excalibur, and Lance Burton.
Add South Point and Coast to the Memorial Day point-multiplier list. Today, South Point is awarding double points, while Orleans, Gold Coast, Suncoast, and Sam's Town are awarding 6X points.
The culmination of the year-long Flair Vegas bartending contest takes place tomorrow night from 9 p.m. at the Red Room Saloon (3101 W. Sahara), with ten finalists competing for the title. Flair fans also have another event to look forward to when Harrah's hosts the Ultimate Flair Bartending Championship from June 3-5. We'll post more details on that one nearer the time -- watch this space.
The Hard Rock is offering a good free-play bonus until the end of May. For every 3,750 points earned, you get $50 in free play without affecting your points. Check with the booth to confirm, but ads indicate it takes $1 in play to earn a point for slots and $2 for video poker. That works out to a 1.33% premium for slots and .67% for video poker.
Today and tomorrow, Fiesta and Silverton are awarding 5X points. On Monday, Fiesta is offering a 2-for-1 buffet and Silverton's buffet is $5. Look for more tomorrow.
The Red Room Saloon (3101 W. Sahara) hosts Pajama Jam '08 from 11 p.m. until late tonight. DJs Mike Attack (atomic), Edgar Reyes (soul kitchen), and Johnny Rox (snap shot) will be in da house, with drinks specials courtesy of Coors Light and p.i.n.k. vodka (ladies drink free from 11 p.m.-midnight). No cover, 21+ only, and dress code is your best pjs.
The Tropicana's famous swim-up blackjack tables opened for business this weekend and will be in operation for hotel guests* until Labor Day. The two aquatic card tables can accommodate up to seven players each and are open from 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. daily. Bets of $5-$25 a hand are accepted and towels are on-hand to keep your hands and chips dry.
*In theory, these gaming tables should be open to any gambler who wishes to play, hotel guest or otherwise. Some gaming regulation changes took place in order to accommodate the Playboy Club at the Palms, but when we checked with Gaming Control last season, they confirmed that poolside tables should be open to all and were annoyed that a couple of casinos, (which shall remain nameless, but you can check out the QoD archives...) were in defiant non-compliance. We'll report back once we've dug into this issue a little deeper. In the meantime, lots more information about the Trop's and all the other top pools in town can be found in our Cool Pool feature.
Hooters Casino will be celebrating Memorial Day weekend with the grand opening of Dixie’s Dam Country Bar (formerly the Dam Restaurant) with a concert by country star Joe Diffie (available for advance purchase only by calling 800/726-7366). Guests will also be entertained by Miss Hooters International 2006, Michelle Nunes and some of Hooters’ sexy "Rack Pack," celebrating the release of their new $5 gaming chips and autographing Hooters calendars, individual photos, and issues of Playboys February, 2008, featuring the Rack Pack—all of which will be on sale.
Brand Steakhouse, the newest venture from the Light Group, opens for business this weekend at the Monte Carlo. The opening was to be in April but got pushed back because of the fire.
After being threatened with prosecution from the Clark County D.A.'s office, NFL player Adam "Pacman" Jones quickly paid $20,000 in markers (plus fees) that were owed to Caesars Palace. This follows a similar incident involving ex-NBA star Charles Barkley and Wynn Las Vegas. Barkley also paid after a threat from the D.A.
The Art of Peter Max Gallery in The Forum Shops at Caesars will host a gallery exhibition today from 7 p.m.-9 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m.-4 p.m. The artist will be on hand to meet fans and inscribe a dedication on paintings purchased during the month of May. The event is open to the public and admission's free.
Our managing editor finally got off his duff and cranked out a slew of blog entries. Customer complaints about a newer, cheaper regime at Harrah's Strip properties keep rolling in, and they may be symptomatic of bigger problems for the casino giant. There's also been some corporate culture shock for American casino operators in Macao, as the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday. And while we're on the subject of Harrah's, just why was Caesars Palace doling out 20 dimes in credit to unemployed footballer Adam 'Pacman' Jones?
While U.S. casino customers perhaps take a plethora of amenities for granted when staying at a casino resort, British Columbia casinos are just now discovering the virtues of diversification. Edgewater Casino has introduced a burlesque show, while a sports bar has been added to Starlight Casino complex. "There are restaurants in casinos but this type of Vegas-style sports book facility attached to a casino has never been done here before," declared Schanks Sports Grill VP Sam Jablonka. Boxing events will be among the amenities augmenting Coquitlam's Boulevard Casino, while two B.C. racinos are contemplating holding outdoor concerts. Great Canadian Gaming Corp. VP Howard Blank credits the trend to "Millennials," people "that grew up on video games and ... have short attention spans. So it's great to give them lots of choices for one evening instead of expecting them to play blackjack all night."
By approving one new casino for Luton, the British government may have forced another out of business. Mint Casino says it "is now in consultation with its 42 staff about possible closure," according to Luton Today. Mint is owned by Stanley Casinos, a subsidiary of Malaysian colossus Genting. "Stanley's executive deputy chairman Peter Brooks said new gaming taxes, an economic downturn and the smoking ban had put pressure on Mint and resulted in a 'review' of the site's viability." Luton currently is home to three casinos and its council has the option of not granting the license for a fourth.
In lieu of the $2.50 per passenger boarding fee that Baton Rouge casinos now fork over to the state, some Louisiana lawmakers want to substitute a tax, in the form of 6% of net gambling revenue. Both Penn National and Columbia Sussex operate riverboats in Baton Rouge and a Pinnacle Entertainment casino just got the go-ahead from voters. Bear Stearns opines that the tax, if passed, would not make a "material" difference but "the chances of passage are less than likely."
Transportation authorities in both Macau and Hong Kong have given Las Vegas Sands the green light to run its Cotai Jets ferries around the clock and with greater frequency. No date for the expanded service has yet been announced.
Today marks the opening of Ameristar Vicksburg's $100 million expansion, bringing an additional 500 gaming positions to the riverboat property. The dynamic in Vicksburg is becoming more competitive, with Nevada Gold taking over the Horizon from Columbia Sussex and yet another new riverboat on the way.
While two Republican senatorial candidates differed on virtually everything else, on one issue they closed ranks. Both lobbyist Dick Zimmer and college professor Murray Sabrin support the legalization of sports betting in Atlantic City. The issue is picking up traction as Atlantic City loses gambling business to Pennsylvania. The sports-betting question arose during a debate last night between the duo, who are vying for the chance to run for Sen. Frank Lautenberg's seat.
Sometime NFL player Adam "Pacman" Jones can't stay out of trouble. Clark County District Attorney David Roger wants a warrant issued for Jones' arrest, in order to enforce $20,000 in markers held by Caesars Palace, which issued the credit to Jones last September. Being arrested is nothing new to Jones; this would be his seventh. He's still embroiled in a Las Vegas criminal case involving a shooting that broke out after Jones "made it rain" at Minxx. Three people were shot, one was paralyzed and Jones pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor, turning state's evidence against the alleged shooter. Jones' attorney told the Las Vegas Sun he was going to dial up Roger and "get this straightened out," adding, "When it comes to casino markers, $20,000 is next to nothing."
The second annual Binion's Poker Classic returns later this month, featuring 43 events over 41 days beginning May 28 and running through July 8. The buy-in for some events is as low as $100, with the highest price tag attached to the Championship Event, which runs July 7-8 with a $2,000 buy-in. All registered players will be extended a special rate for rooms at Binion's. For more information visit www.binions.com/gaming/poker_classic.html.
The all-girl band will be performing their new single "When I Grow Up" live on stage in the Pussycat Dolls Lounge inside Pure nightclub at Caesars Palace tonight. Must be 21+; dress code enforced.
It's Miller Chill, which is not for your beer purist, but what the heck -- free beer's free beer. The coupon comes on the wrap of the current issue of Las Vegas Weekly, the free entertainment/listings magazine that you can pick up in bars, restaurants etc. and it's redeemable at all Palms bars (one per person) while stocks last. The previous time the Palms ran a promo like this was for free Peronis and we noted that Weeklies on the rack were being robbed of their coupons by the unscrupulous, so make sure you pick up an intact copy.
With gas prices what they are, RV's are sounding like a pricey vacation option, but if you're considering visiting Las Vegas with your own wheels and accommodation, be aware that the Silver Nugget RV park is the latest to close (yesterday), its land having been bought by the City of Las Vegas. The good news is that there are still a good few options to choose from, including a couple that allow tents, so check out our newly updated RV Park listings for the latest on venues, prices, and amenities.
Nothing says summer like a three-day weekend and in honor of Memorial Day, Vegas is pulling out all the stops. A-list acts blanket the city from The Police, to Andrea Bocelli, to comic superstar Dane Cook. The Palms hosts the 2nd annual "Summer of Love," another one of their famously over-the-top casino-wide celebrations with events scheduled at Rain, Moon, and the pool. And over at the Monte Carlo, Light Group will introduce its newest eatery with the grand opening of Brand Steakhouse.
A computer glitch that invalidated hundreds, possibly thousands of bets has brought Scientific Games beneath the spotlight of the California Horse Racing Board, which learned of the matter on May 7, although its probe was not disclosed until last Sunday. The story has now been picked up by various California news outlets, although the San Jose Mercury News has the best rundown of the situation.
The problem was uncovered by a bettor at San Mateo's Bay Meadows track who placed 1,300 $1 superfecta bets on the Kentucky Derby, using Scientific's randomizing software. However, not one of the 1,300 tickets listed eventual winner Big Brown. Seems Scientific's "quick-pick" function had been routinely omitting the last-numbered horse in the Derby and other races (Big Brown was #20). This isn't Scientific's first brush with notoriety: In 2002, an employee of Scientific subsidiary Autotote pled guilty to an attempted pick-six fix of the Breeders' Cup, a scam that -- had it been successful -- would have netted $3 million.
The new aerial spectacular is simply called 'Show in the Sky.' We've heard on the grapevine that it's a little racier than the former Masquerade Show, which it looks to be from the picture on the Rio's Web site. We'll let you know all about it once we've seen for ourselves.
After an almost two-month hiatus, spawning rumors of this free spectacle's demise, the Rio's popular Masquerade Show in the Sky is set to debut this evening in its new incarnation. According to the online schedule, it will perform Thursday through Sunday on the hour from 7 p.m. until midnight and you can still purchase tickets to ride in one of the floats. We'll post a review once we've seen it but in the meantime click here for more information or to purchase tickets ($12.95 per person).
New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine has come off the fence regarding a bill that would keep the Garden State's casinos operational in the event of another government shutdown, like the one that silenced slot machines and stilled roulette wheels in July 2006. The bill, authored by state Sen. James Whelan (former mayor of Atlantic City) would permit the state's 11 casinos to regulate themselves in the event of another government crisis (2006's cost the industry $55 million). The governor would have the power to unilaterally close any casino found to be flouting regulations. Whelan's bill, and its House equivalent, are still in committee.
In other news, the United Auto Workers Union has scheduled a rally for June 21, to protest the lack of progress in talks between dealers at four Boardwalk casinos and management. Bally's Atlantic City has balked at negotiating, Trump Plaza is trying to have its election results tossed out, and negotiations are underway at Caesars and the Tropicana, even though the latter has no owner at present, being under state trusteeship.
Not even a video poker tournament was enough to keep David Matthews away from Border Grill, at Mandalay Bay, last weekend and he's got the vibrant photography to prove it. The skirt steak was a big hit, as were the dessert selections. To find out which one David chose, as well as how big a VP jackpot he scored, see Gambling in Space.
... or so LVA overheard last night at a Station Casinos promotional event at Green Valley Ranch. Station brass have previously said they want to see some firm results from MGM Mirage's City Center, which begins a staggered opening with Vdara, in August 2009. (The casino, newly dubbed "Aria," won't open until Dec. 19, 2009.) Since Station has identified Viva as its top-priority project, this appears to spell additional delay for Station projects slotted for master-planned developments Inspirada and Rhodes Ranch, to say nothing of Station's even-further-in-abeyance Cactus Avenue and Castaways sites.
In a meeting with representatives of Deutsche Bank, Clark County Aviation Director Randy Walker laid down some bad news. The "relief airport" planned for Ivanapah likely won't break ground for a year and a half later than planned, meaning a possible 2019 opening, not the 2017 one originally envisioned. According to Deutsche Bank analysts, McCarran International Airport will max out its passenger-handling capacity sometime in 2010-11, just as tens of thousands of new hotel rooms come online.
A British entertainment outlet reports that Britney Spears is in talks to become resident headliner at the Palms hotel-casino, citing a mix of tabloid stories and unsourced quotes. A Tuesday-night sighting of Spears having dinner at Il Sole in Los Angeles with longtime friend (and Palms owner) George Maloof fueled exisiting speculation. According to World Entertainment News and British Yahoo!, "Spears is reportedly in negotiations to perform a string of shows for an estimated GBP5 million." That'd be a $9.9 million payday -- if it happens.
BLT Burger will be opening this summer at Mirage (in the former location of the Royal White Tiger Habitat) and they’re looking for a few good men and women. The open interview will be conducted in Antigua, Room A at Mirage May 22-23, 9 a.m.-noon and 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Front of house positions included Restaurant Manger, Assistant Restaurant Manager, Server, Busperson, Food Runner, Bartender, Bar Apprentice, Host/Hostess, and Fountain Worker. Back of House workers needed include Assistant Chef, Line Cook, Pastry Cook, and Prep Cook.
A summit meeting involving Macao's six casino owners turned fractious, according to XinhauNet.com, when a representative of Las Vegas Sands took umbrage at new casino regulations, rules to which Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson initially gave public support. Macao CEO Edmund Ho's new regulations would cap the commissions which reward junketeers for bringing in high rollers at 1.25% (0.1% than the going rate now paid by PBL Melco Entertainment). Sands, which recently reversed itself and decided to raise commissions, argued that the rate should be at least 1.5%. The company also opposes Ho's freeze on gaming positions, with LVS Asian Region President Steven Weaver urging that both the number of tables and the size of the commissions should be left up to market forces, adding, "It isn't the table that attracts players ... unless there is a reason for people to visit there, the table would be unused." Ho's new rules still enjoy the support of Wynn Resorts, PBL Melco and market leader SJM.
Galaxy Entertainment halted play in its Macao casinos for three minutes Monday to mourn the victims of an earthquake on the Chinese mainland that has claimed tens of thousands of lives. Galaxy declined, however, to follow the lead of mainland cinemas, karaoke bars, online-betting shops, amusement parks, clubs, performing-arts facilities and others who ceased operations to observe a 72-hour period of mourning. More substantively, Galaxy donated $380,000 toward relief efforts aiding victims of the catastrophe.
It's come down to 11 bidders and four counties but the Kansas Lottery Commission has pushed its selection back to next week. No bidders have signed the required management contracts, hence the procedural hiccup. (Would-be casino managers must pay a privilege fee and commit to anywhere between $50 million and $225 million in basic investment.) All parties are also said to be dickering over the size of the KLC's "cut," currently 22%.
Penn National, the sole candidate for Cherokee County's site, appears to have a clear shot. Elsewhere, the KLC must weight two Gunsmoke-themed casinos for Ford County, five proposals for Wyandotte County, including ones from Las Vegas-headquartered Pinnacle Entertainment, Golden Gaming and Las Vegas Sands (which has multiple Kansas projects in the running), plus four pitches for Sumner County. The KLC's recommendations will be passed onto a review board. Hearings will be conducted over the summer with bids being awarded Aug. 21-Sept. 19.
Mississippi's casinos had a soft April, their revenues down 13% overall, with two-thirds of the decline (-$31 million overall) coming from the riverboat counties. Few operators or experts interviewed by the Biloxi Sun-Herald expressed surprise, given current economic realities, especially for drive-in markets. Traditional slowness in April was also cited. International tourism lured by the weak dollar, and progress on Harrah's Margaritaville Casino were noted as causes for optimism, while Royal D'Ibreville Casino developer Mark Seymour says he believes a sluggish economy will make construction more affordable, adding, "there's going to be a lot of deals now."
"... a potential takeover of the Isle of Capri complex is being discussed," revealed Britain's Coventry Telegraph last week. Isle's U.K. delegates confirmed that a bid has been received but would not reveal anything further. Isle's 100,000-square-foot casino sits beneath Ricoh Arena and features mostly table games, plus 30 slots, five bars and three restaurants. In true 'Isle style,' it also features a man-made waterfall, the largest of its kind in Britain. Isle built the casino at a cost of $71 million but it hasn't performed up to expectations, and Wall Street is pressuring Isle to sell its overseas casinos and concentrate on U.S. operations, which have manifested problems of their own.
In an interesting alliance, Continental Airlines is celebrating its OnePass program's coming-of-age party (the frequent flyer program turns 21 this year) by inviting its top customers to take part in a no limit Texas hold'em tournament at the Golden Nugget this August 6-10, with a grand prize of 21 million OnePass miles -- take your whole family to the moon for your next vacation!
OK, even if Continental did offer a moon service, you have to redeem the prize in up to 400 round-trip economy SaverPass tickets within the U.S., or you can redeem them to bid on OnePass online auction items. The entry fee's 50,000 OnePass miles and registration is limied, plus you must book the event package with the Golden Nugget. To register and for more information go to www.continental.com/onepass/news.
Flamboyant Minneapolis-based funksters The Time have been booked into the Flamingo's showroom for three weeks this summer, starting June 24. The Time, which broke through in the lively Twin Cities music scene of the early 1980s features frontman Morris Day, personal valet Jerome Benton, and band that includes producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (who helped craft many a chart-topper for Janet Jackson). The Time will play at 7:30 p.m., Tue.-Sat., June 24-28, July 1-5 and July 29-Aug. 2; tickets run from $65-$150 and are on sale at the Flamingo box office, 702/733-333 or 800/221-7299, as well as at the casino's Web site.
If you can't make it to any of these shows, don't forget the excellent tribute band Purple Reign, whose performances feature a showcase by celebrity characters playing Morris Day and Jerome Benton of "The Time" and which was the subject of a recent Spotlight feature on our site.
According to this morning's Las Vegas Sun, although TNT basketball analyst Charles Barkley has made good on his $400,000 gambling debt to Wynn Las Vegas, he's still not in the clear. The Clark County District Attorney's office intends that Sir Charles satisfy on a $40,000 investigation fee, pay $100 in bank-processing costs, and take a bounced-check course administered by the D.A.'s office -- at a cost of $50. Oh, and Barkely will have to fill out and return the workbook, "How to Bounce Back From a Bad Check ... and Stay Financially Healthy." Small wonder that Barkley says he's sworn off gambling for two years -- or less.
"Rock the Slots" at the Hard Rock Casino Hotel through Saturday, May 31. Players receive $50 in Rockstar Cash (free slot play) with every 3,750 base points (points vary by machine) earned. The earning period began May 20 and runs through May 31. Rockstar Cash may be redeemed up to $10,000 at the Rockstar Players Club and guests keep their points.
If you haven't already, don't forget to vote in our current poll on the best pool in Las Vegas, which closes at midnight tonight. We've had a great response and there's some jostling for the top positions, so make sure your favorite gets its dues and let us know why you recommend it. Plus, we're adding more information and functionality each day to our Cool Pool feature, where you can now add your comments, upload your pics, search for events by date, check the FAQs, and see when a venue was last updated. Soon you'll be able to sign up for an RSS feed to be alerted each time anything's added, too. Check it out...
Stung by a perception that Internet gambling in South Africa was "generally plagued" by unlawfulness, that country's parliament has moved to put 'Net betting (a $2 billion industry) on a more-respectable footing. Online punters will have to register with licensed Internet gambling providers, as well as submit an affidavit stating that they are 18 or older. Electronic monitoring systems, to help screen for "potentially addictive behavior" and excessive credit allowances, are also mandated under the law, which awaits Prime Minister Thabo Mbeki's signature. A rider to the bill said of unregulated Internet gambling, "This situation has resulted in a considerable loss of revenue to the national fiscus and compromises the country's reputation as a responsible global citizen."
Aurora-based Hollywood Casino got swatted with an $800,000 fine after it sent promotional mailers to 146 self-excluded problem gamblers, as part of a larger mass mailing. This isn't the first time the Hollywood riverboat has found itself in hot water: It was docked $200,000 two years ago for failing to enforce self-exclusion rules. In the wake of this latest incident, three Hollywood executives -- including the casino's marketing director -- found themselves suspended without pay. The Illinois Gaming Board acted on the matter after its switchboard lit up with complaints.
Got a Vegas casino property you'd like to unload? Can you wait a while longer? If so, Justin Leong may want to talk to you. The grandson of Genting Group founder Lim Goh Tong, Leong says it's a bit early to steer any of Genting's $25 billion market capitalization into Sin City -- the company's got heavy casino obligations in Singapore and the U.K. already. But Leong admits to Forbes that he did a recon of the U.S. market not too long ago. Given the economy, he liked what he saw: "Prices have become more attractive, and I think there may be even more attractive opportunities in the next 6 to 18 months." In the meantime, Genting will focus on its Sentosa Island megaresort, in Singapore, slated for a 2015 opening.
Aficionados of the Japanese movie genre have a couple of treats in store. Tonight and tomorrow at 7:30 p.m., theater screens around town including Orleans 18, Sam's Town 18, Santa Fe Station 16, Red Rock 16, and Village Square 18 will be showing Death Note, the English-dubbed anime that brings to life Tsugumi Ohba's popular manga series, including an exclusive interview with the director and behind-the-scenes footage.
A two-night special follows next month on June 11 and 12 when the epic action anime hit Bleach the Movie: Memories of Nobody makes its North American debut in more than 300 theaters nationwide, including those listed above in Las Vegas.
Tickets for these and tonight and tomorrow's screenings are available from the presenting box offices or online at www.FathomEvents.com
If you're looking for a catering job, don't forget that this afternoon (noon-5 p.m.) sees the final casting call for the Light Group's new restaurant/bar at Bellagio, with positions up for grabs at all levels from food runner to sake sommelier. The event's taking place in The Bank nightclub.
In a newly released comparison of the first quarter of 2008 to January-March 2007, Boyd Gaming's Borgata leads the market in net revenue, operating profit and actual profit, making $28 million. In terms of profit margin, it was third, outpaced by Harrah's Marina and Caesars. Harrah's and Trump Plaza were the only casinos to increase their profit margins, year over year, while Resorts Atlantic City suffered a dizzying 78% dive. Except for Borgata, Caesars and Harrah's, all Atlantic City casinos operated at a loss, according to figures released by the New Jersey Casino Control Commission. A full set of 2007-08 comparisons were unavailable, but Tropicana had the worst of it, dollar-wise (-$30 million), while Harrah's suffered the greatest percentage dropoff (-70.5%, to eke out a $1.5 million profit), closely followed by Showboat and Caesars -- three casinos that tightened their comping policies. Resorts still finished in the red but reduced its losses 59%.
The developers of M Resort on the far south end of town have announced that they'll incorporate a 1 million-square-foot mall into their complex. This is roughly double the size of the Grand Canal Shoppes at Venetian. The mall is scheduled to open in 2011 at the soonest, about a year after the M Resort opens.
Las Vegas' high temperature reached 108 degrees yesterday -- not only a record for the day, but one degree off the all-time May high set in 1951 and 2003. Today's forecast is for 105 degrees, another record, then a 20-degree drop is expected for tomorrow.
We've lost track of how many emails we receive from people wanting to know about opportunities to be an extra in one of the many TV and film projects that get filmed in Las Vegas. Well, here's your chance (and thanks to Carol Cling's Shooting Stars column in today's R-J for the heads-up).
The big-screen update of the 1975 Disney favorite Escape to Witch Mountain, starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, is scheduled to begin a week-long Las Vegas shoot next week and Wild Streak Talent's looking for over 300 extras for the shoot. If you're interested, register from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at 3355 W. Spring Mountain Road, No. 264; e-mail questions to [email protected].
In the most bizarre eco-friendly awareness-raising promotion we've heard of ever, Tommy Lee and Ludacris are tackling the issue of water conservation today at the Planet Hollywood pool, where they're hoping to bag the Guinness World Record™ for the "World's Largest Group Shower." If you're a like-minded environmentalist, bring your friends and your bathing suit to the pool on the sixth floor about 1 p.m. today. Apparently, after the party all the water will be cleaned and dumped back into Lake Mead.
For information about all the other pool-oriented activities proliferating around town this summer, check out our expanding Cool Pool feature, where you can now add your comments about the pools you visit and upload your own party pics.
Suncoast, Gold Coast, and Sam's Town combine forces today to offer a $500,000 Mega Bingo event running through tomorrow. The doors open at 8 a.m., with warm-up games beginning at 11:30 a.m. The Mega Games start at 12:30 p.m and the $345 entry fee covers both days and includes food. Top prize both days is $100,000.
Sunday's high temperature raged up to 104 degrees, breaking the May 18 record of 103 set back in 1973. Today's temperature is expected to reach 107 degrees, shattering the 2006 record of 102.
The primary gambling component in the CityCenter complex will be called Aria Resort & Casino. Aria will feature a 61-story hotel tower, the Cirque du Soleil theater that will house an Elvis-themed production, and a convention center. It joins the non-gaming hotels Mandarin Oriental, the Harmon Hotel, Spa, & Residences, and Vdara Condo Hotel, as well as the all-residential Veer Towers and The Crystals, a 500,000-square-foot retail and entertainment district.
As an apparant marketing tool to combat slowed casino visitation, Station Casinos is publishing a magazine called My Station. The first issue is available in today's LV Review-Journal. It's almost exclusively promotional articles about Station properties, but it also includes lots of coupons, including free and 2-for-1 drinks, 2-for-1 buffet, $100 off a cabana rental, free line pass and cover to Cherry nightclub, and a $25 matchplay.
Don't forget it's Hogs & Heifers 3rd annual Hog Wild for Kids charity bike ride today, raising money to benefit the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation. If you haven't yet registered, you might just make it (closes at 10 a.m.) -- the ride kicks off at 10:30 a.m. and will cruise the scenic backroads through Red Rock and out to the Mountain Springs Saloon for a rest stop and group photo, before heading back to H&H downwtown on 3rd Street. The after-party's open to all (non-riders are encouraged to make a $5 donation).
The long-vacant Alystra casino in Henderson was destroyed by a fire last week. The casino, owned by tennis player Jimmy Connors, was located near the junction of Boulder Hwy. and Sunset Road (across from Tom's Sunset casino). It operated for a short time in the '90s.
Open auditions for "The Gong Show with Dave Attell" kick off Monday, May 19 at the V Theater at Planet Hollywood from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Performers should submit their name, phone number, type of act, and any links or videos to [email protected] or call 310/840-5721 to register for the open audition. The show's due to premiere on Comedy Central on July 17.
If you're looking for something more permanent, the Light Group's holding an open casting call for jobs at Yellowtail Sushi, their new restaurant & bar scheduled to open this summer at Bellagio. The positions they're looking to fill include: Marketing Host, Marketing Host Server, Marketing Bar Host, VIP Table Host, Food Runner, Bus Person, Cook, Prep Cook, Apprentice Bartender, and Sake Sommelier. Interviews will be held Monday, May 19 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and from noon-5 p.m. Tuesday, May 20 in The Bank nightclub at Bellagio.
We hear from one of our more reliable sources (the one-and-only Sparkydog) that Donny & Marie are searching for dancers to be in their new show at the Flamingo, which is due to open Sept. 9. Auditions should be submitted on CD, DVD, or VHS and must contain both visual and audio content and all prospective candidates must be 21 or older. All submissions must be received no later than May 25, 2008 and should be sent to "Donny and Marie" at 1000 N. Green Valley Parkway, Suite #300, Henderson, NV 89074. Good luck!
The Silverton's recent hosting of 102.7 FM's "Pink Poker" events must have been a success, as the property is launching its only regular ladies-only poker nights. Beginning tonight, May 16, the property launches a weekly, ladies-only tournament at 9 p.m. every Friday. A $37 buy-in gets each participant $2,000 in chips and one of 30 seats in the tournament. Players also have the option to purchase an additional $1,000 in tournament chips for $3 at registration. Entry's limited to female Discovery Club members and those interested in playing are encouraged to visit the Silverton's poker room for complete rules and prize structure breakdown.
The Gold Coast has discontinued its great $10.95 T-bone steak special. In the process of converting the Monterey coffee shop to a new name, the Cafe, the deal was eliminated.
Hold tight to your Ferragamo bag when you visit Macao: Purse-snatchings are up 34% in the first three months of 2008, compared to January-March of last year. It's part of an almost 9% increase in crime in the fast-growing Special Administrative Region (including over 19,000 cases of illegal immigration), says its Secretary for Security. Drug trafficking and arson rose 56% and 157%, respectively. If theft was up, serious assaults were down (-56%). Also on the wane were blackmail, intimidation, forgery and the passing of counterfeit currency. At least casino growth doesn't appear to be contributing to juvenile delinquency: 'JD' stats were flat with last year.
Las Vegas Sun columnist Jeff Haney, who set off a Nevada Gaming Control Board investigation when a Harrah's sports book refused to take his bets, has unearthed another instance of an advantage player allegedly being stiffed. UNLV adjunct professor and "Wizard of Odds" Michael Shackleford has a case before the Control Board after the Stratosphere's sports book refused to honor a $2,900 winning ticket 126 days after its purchase (and 6 days after it expired). Haney writes, "It has been an unwritten rule in Nevada sports betting for decades: A sports book will virtually always cash a winning ticket even if the bettor redeems it after its expiration date." Although Stratosphere tickets have a 120-day lifespan, Shackleford's ticket (and others) listed the expiration period at 60 days because the casino decided "it was not cost effective to reprint new wagering tickets."
Last night's media event at Simon, in Palms Place, provided an impressive showcase of the restaurant-and-bar, to say nothing of its wraparound pool and cabañas. It also supplied some amusing mishaps, as recounted in Stiffs & Georges.
In celebration of the Helldorado Days festivities downtown this weekend, the Neon Boneyard will be open for tours on Saturday, May 17 from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. for $5 per person. Tours are normally conducted by appointment only for $15 per person. Remember to take your camera for some great photo ops.
The Helldorado Days celebration downtown on Saturday will feature a parade, beard-growing contest, and a fireworks show. The parade consists of more than 100 entries and will take place on Fourth Street between Coolidge Avenue and Fremont Street beginning at 7 p.m. Road closures will begin at 4 p.m. The Whiskerino beard-growing contests will take place prior to the parade on the First Street stage at 4:45 p.m. Fireworks will be launched from the roof of Fremont Square (formerly Neonopolis) at 450 Fremont St. at approximately 9:15 p.m.
Yup, that's the second annual World Series of Golf, which was won yesterday by Michigan car salesman Andrew "AJ" Johnson. He outlasted a field of 80 amateur golfers -- including poker legends and celebrities Alan Cunningham, Erick Lindgren, Phil Gordon, Phil Ivey, Daniel Negreanu, Ray Romano, Chris "Jesus" Ferguson, and Emily Jilette (wife of magician Penn) -- to take home the $250,000 top prize. The event, which took place at the Paiute Golf Course in Las Vegas, will air nationally on CBS Sports on June 28 and 29.
In Macao, Melco PBL Entertainment's Crown Macau casino has done a zero-to-60, gobbling up market share and seemingly beating even the Las Vegas titans at their own game. Today it reported a $.03/share profit for the first quarter of 2008, having doubled its revenue from the last three months of '07. But because the company recorded lower gaming hold and missed revenue estimates, its stock closed down in afternoon trading. In an official statement, CEO Lawrence Ho wrote, "Crown Macau has become the busiest casino in the world in terms of gaming volume, impressive given the physical size of the property compared with many of its competitors, and the relatively modest capital investment cost of $382 million (excluding land value.)" PBL Melco recorded a $43 million profit for the quarter, having lost $27 million in the same period a year earlier.
The Academy of Country Music steps into the spotlight this weekend with their 43rd annual award ceremony at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday. Related festivities around town include free concerts on Fremont Street Friday and Saturday night, featuring headliners Randy Owen and Sugarland. Also on Saturday, you’re invited to sample the adult beverage of your choice at either Vino de Lago at MonteLago Village or Lee’s Beer Experience inside Tuscany Suites and Casino.
Whatever problems U.S. casinos might be having at the moment, they're nothing compared to what's happening "across the pond." A massive, proposed expansion of casino gaming in Great Britain under Tony Blair has turned into an ongoing collapse on the watch of Blair's successor, Gordon Brown. Smoking has been banned, "fruit machines" (slots) curtailed and gaming taxes increased. Seven casinos have closed in recent weeks and two were added to the "endangered" list today: Genting Stanley's Mint (in Luton) and Triangle (Bristol). On top of that, Harrah's London Clubs subsidiary has pushed back the opening of its Alea casino, in Leeds, by another three months. It's already a half-year past its scheduled opening and is now slated to debut in September. The company has dispersed Leeds staffers to existing casinos in Nottingham and Manchester.
Wynn Las Vegas' race and sports book has issued its odds for the "Dancing with the Stars" season finale, May 19, giving Olympic medalist Kristi Yamaguchi the nod over her two remaining rivals. Yamaguchi is 4-5 to win, followed by the Miami Dolphins' Jason Taylor at 5-2. (As anyone who followed the Dolphins' abysmal 2007-08 season knows, Taylor is no stranger to adversity.) Chilean actor Cristian de la Fuente is the long shot, at 5-1.
It's a closer call on the "American Idol" finale, with David Cook at even money, compared to David Archuleta's 5-6. Wynn LV is not taking action on either show, merely posting these odds "for entertainment purposes only."
ICE: The Show from Russia is celebrating its first anniversary at the Riviera by offering locals "one day, $1 tickets," available for purchase on May 21 (tickets normally start at $76.77 plus tax and fee). The deal's open to all Las Vegas residents on a first come, first served basis (valid ID required) to commemorate the ice-skating spectacular's first successful year on the Strip.
The anniversary $1 ticket (plus tax and fee) will be available for purchase on the day of the show only. Guests may purchase tickets by calling 702.794.9433 or by visiting the Versailles Theater box office.
Our Stiffs & Georges bureau (all one of him) went to the Colosseum last night and reported back with one verdict on CHER the show, another on Cher the performer. It's not been a good week: He also checked out Nathan Burton and found Burton "almost made one nostalgic for Hans Klok." During his show, Burton plugged all other acts appearing in the Flamingo showroom -- except Toni Braxton. A portent of things (not) to come?
Threatened with criminal charges by Clark County District Attorney David Roger, TNT basketball analyst Charles Barkley has said he'll pony up a $400K gambling debt dating back to October. Reached in Birmingham, AL, Barkley said, "My mistake. I'm not broke and I'm going to take care of it." Saying this was the first time he'd dishonored a marker in two decades, Barkley put some of the blame on Wynn Las Vegas. "All they had to do is call and say, 'Hey, you owe us this money,'" something the former NBA star says Wynn staffers never did. Barkley has six months to make good on the markers, plus pay a 10% penalty.
In a filing with the SEC, MGM Mirage has amended the estimated budget for CityCenter to $9.2 billion, up from $8.4 billion. Most of the increase reflects rising construction costs.
The project yesterday commemorated the "topping out" of its 57-story Vdara Condo Hotel, the first of six distinctive high-rise towers that will be topped within the coming months as this new urban metropolis moves toward opening in late 2009.
MGM Mirage's board of directors has green-lit the repurchase of 20 million shares of stock through various means, possibly including another tender offer to shareholders. The move comes at a time when MGM joint-venture partner Dubai World recently agreed to pay a higher interest rate on its share of the two companies' projects and as the Las Vegas Sun reports that it might be cheaper for MGM to finance the completion of City Center by borrowing from itself rather than third parties. The news was also music to Wall Street's ears, with MGM stock closing the day 2% up.
In other MGM Mirage news, the company said goodbye to board member Ron Popeil. The Ronco founder and Veg-O-Matic inventor tendered his resignation, effective yesterday. Popeil, inventor of Mr. Microphone, had been on the board since 2000.
... but better times are probably around the corner, as half MTR Gaming's 10 cents/share loss was the result of discontinued operations at the recently unloaded Binion's Gambling Hall and at the Speedway Casino, whose sale is still in progress, slated to close this June. The two transactions should yield over $31 million. MTR actually had a banner quarter in terms of overall revenue, which leapt 26%, thanks to the addition of table games and poker in West Virginia and a full quarter of of revenue from Presque Isle Downs, MTR's Pennsylvania racino. The new table game income in West Virginia helped make up for a defection of slot players to nearby Pennsylvania casinos. MTR's cash flow grew 24% in 1Q08.
One in every four U.S. citizens patronized a casino last year, many going an average of seven times annually. That's among the findings showcased in the American Gaming Association's latest State of the States survey. Tracking the 1998-2007 period, the AGA reported an over-100% increase in gaming-tax revenues and a 73% increase in non-tribal gambling revenue. Over that decade, casino wages grew 25% while employment was up 10%. Last year, private-sector casinos reported $34 billion in gross gambling revenue, with Mississippi and Iowa enjoying the biggest increases, percentage-wise, from 2006. Racino openings in Florida, New York and Pennsylvania contributed to a 46% jump in horse tracks' contribution to the grand total. According to the Las Vegas Sun, AGA President Frank Fahrenkopf dismissed AGA-commissioned poll data that showed slipping public support for casino gambling, which was recently nixed by legislators in Kentucky and Massachusetts, and vetoed by the governor of Rhode Island.
If there's an upside to Nevada leading the nation in rate of foreclosure, it's that it's resulted in a large inventory of real estate bargains, whether one is in retirement-home market or looking for potential property to rent out to others. In today's House Advantage, Robin Camacho walks would-be buyers through five regions of the Vegas Valley, pointing out where bargains are thick upon the ground and where they are comparatively sparse.
Sheldon Adelson, who was questioned late Monday night by Israel's National Fraud Investigations Unit, was interrogated "under warning," meaning that he himself is not a suspect in a bribery probe involving Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. "Police suspect that Adelson was one of the businessmen whom Olmert contacted at Moshe Talansky's behest, and asked to buy the mini-bars that Talansky was marketing for hotels that they own. Adelson told police he did not recall that Olmert ever made such a request," reports Israel National News.com. No quid pro quo for Talansky's support of Olmert has so far been uncovered.
Travelzoo, the online bargain-finding travel specialists, have selected a summer room offer at the Luxor as among this week's Top 20 best deals. Here's the skinny:
For only $59 per night through Aug. 31, you can stay at this 4-star hotel right on the Las Vegas Strip -- plus, you'll also receive these extras (per stay):
* $20 dining credit
* $10 in free play (for new players club sign-ups)
* 50% off suite upgrade charge (for Spa and Luxury suites)...upgrades start at only $35 more per night
You can stay on a Sunday through Thursday for $59 on more than 30 dates through Aug. 31. Every other midweek date starts at just $10 more per night and weekends are also available from $129 per night. Click here for a rate calendar showing all dates included in the special and to book online with the resort. You must book by May 24. Plus, check out the Travelzoo feature on our home page for more great Vegas deals.
Figures released at the end of last month show Las Vegas Sands posting a net profit of $199 million on its Macao operations, trailing only the $227 million in net profit shown by Stanley Ho's SJM. Galaxy Entertainment showed a $71 million profit (driven down by junket commissions, it is believed) while MGM Mirage's Macanese outpost, newest of the lot, lost $88.5 million. Sands was, however, cited as first in profit margin (10%), besting SJM's 5.4% and Galaxy's 4.7%. A government representative also singled out Sheldon Adelson's corporation for having the highest level of regulatory compliance, compared to rival operators whose reports were "over-simplistic."
This just in: Blush Boutique Nightclub at the Wynn is looking for a Director of Marketing, specializing in innovative creative events. Nightclub experience is preferable. The successful candidate will be responsible for all marketing initiatives including special events, long-term branding opportunities, and sponsorships/partnership developments.
If you think you've got what it takes, send your resume to Rosine Frangie (the current Director of Marketing) at [email protected].
Some unsubstantiated and unrelated items we've heard about recently:
a) We were informed by a source who chooses to remain anonymous that Toxic Audio is set to close pretty soon, after a very short run at the V Theater in the Miracle Mile Shops. We haven't seen it but we heard members of this off-Broadway show on KNPR and it sounds really cool, so we're going to try and catch it while we can ...
b) A totally different anonymous source informed a member of LVA staff that the Station Casinos group is planning to sell off all its smaller outlying properties (Barley's, Wildfire, Gold Rush etc.) to the Golden Gaming group, owners of PT's pubs. Since Golden Gaming founder and CEO Blake Sartini is married to Delise Fertitta, sister of the Station Casinos Fertittas, this seems pretty plausible as rumors go.
c) We've also heard that 40/40, Jay Z's sports ultralounge or whatever it is at Palazzo, is going to close. This is the sketchiest of the three rumors and on a recent visit there an LVA staffer noted that it seemed to be pretty busy, although the service was lousy. We've also heard reports of some bad scenes in there, however, plus it's always seemed like an odd fit for the Palazzo. We'll keep our ear to the ground, but just remember where you heard it first :-)
High-performance automobiles and high art merge at Lamborghini Las Vegas (7700 Dean Martin Dr., Ste. 301), which plays host to a display of photographs by Robert M. Knight. One of the lensman who centered their careers around the documentation of the rock-n-roll era, Knight was among the earliest to photograph Jimi Hendrix. He was also the last to shoot Stevie Ray Vaughan, prior to the latter's fatal plane crash. Lamborghini Las Vegas is open 9 a.m.-9 p.m. on weekdays, and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturdays. Additional information can be obtained at 702/671-0025 or at the dealership's Web site.
Add Station Casinos to the list of companies experiencing the impact of the ongoing U.S. recession. Diminished business, coupled with the cost of taking Station private, caused the company to go from posting a $23 million profit in the first quarter of '07 to reporting a $30 million loss for the first three months of '08. Station says the results will not affect its development pipeline. Once its Aliante Station opens, the company moves on to its W. Tropicana Ave. "Viva" metaresort, which appears likely to break ground in 2010.
Metroplex President Paul Murad's first edition of Manhattanizing Las Vegas was such a success that he's back with a second edition, subtitled How to Profit from the Second Phase of Vertical Growth. (Some people are still having trouble figuring out how to make a profit from the first phase.) In his new edition of Manhattanizing, Murad organizes the valley around a trio of "epicenters" -- downtown, the Strip and the South Strip -- to "help readers to determine the best prospects for investment." He describes the overall market from having gone to an initial phase of "exuberance" to one marked by more-measured growth. Murad's book is so updated that it takes into account the current recession -- and the profit opportunities it may conceal.
At noon today at the Bellagio Fountain's main alcove, the United States Postal Service, along with Frank Sinatra Enterprises and Tina Sinatra, will participate in a first-day-of-issue ceremony for the official USPS Frank Sinatra stamp that's launched today. Postal Service Governor James Bilbray and artist Kazuhiko Sano will also attend. Joint ceremonies will take place in New York City and Sinatra’s hometown of Hoboken, NJ.
Today's Las Vegas Review-Journal "Neon Extra" email has an exclusive presale offer for tickets to the American Idols Live tour, which comes to the Thomas and Mack Center on Saturday, July 5. This Friday, May 16 from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. if you click on this link and type in the password: AI2008, you'll be able to purchase tickets for the show, which don't officially go on sale to the general public until 10 a.m. on May 17. Ticket prices have not yet been announced.
Even the departure of out-of-town guests and two conflicting banquet invitations couldn't crimp the style of bargain huntress Jean Scott, who cut a wide swath through the valley on Mothers Day. Armed with coupons, promo mailers and a sixth sense for 6X points, Jean made stops at Green Valley Ranch, the Hard Rock Hotel, Ellis Island, Silverton and the Palms. For full details of this noon-to-midnight odyssey, see Frugal Vegas.
Does title insurance cover your property in case of physical damage? Is Nevada homeowners' insurance affordable? Why type of policy should you get? These and other questions are answered by Robin Camacho -- with an assist from Liberty Mutual's Lorin Bronston -- in the latest House Advantage.
Our trusty source just contacted us in a panic -- he'd missed a vital part of the explanation! Thankfully, this is the Internet not print, so no harm done. Here's the rest of the story:
"I missed a part of the game: At the start of the race, the first member of each team drinks his or her beverage. When finished, the cup is placed right-side up at the edge of the table, and the person who drank it tries to flip it upside down onto the table. If he or she is not successful on the first try, the cup must be reset and re-flipped. Only after the first teammate is done flipping the cup successfully, can the next person proceed. Whichever team finishes drinking and flipping all its cups first is the winner."
So now you know.
The new Irish pub inside the Rio is launching a regular Beerfest every Thursday from 10 p.m., with specials including $2 pints of Bud Light, $5 pitchers, and $3 well drinks. Plus, get there at 8 p.m. and enjoy a solid hour of open bar for just $10. The Beerfest will feature games including Beer Pong and Flip Cup* with $50 in cash prizes up for grabs.
For details on other specialty nights at McFadden's through the week, check out their entry in our Bars & Pubs listings (in "Shows & Nightlife), and watch the Spotlight spot for an upcoming feature on best happy hours around town...
*Don't know what Flip Cup is? We didn't either, so we asked the marketing folks for McFadden's, who kind supplied the following explanation: "Flip cup is sort of a relay race for beer drinkers. Two teams on opposite sides of a table line up a bunch of cups of beer. When they start, the first person from each side drinks a beer as fast as possible. Once they’re done, the second person steps up and starts drinking. Winner is the first team to get through all of their beers."
Rao's at Caesars Palace is getting into the swing of summer with a new Bocce Bar & Grill menu, available poolside from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily starting today through September 12. Enjoy a frozen cocktail, a game of bocce ball, Italian ices, and lunchtime snacks including Italian-style hot dogs, Rao's burgers (made from their famous meatballs), sausages and peppers, chicken wings, or a grilled chicken sandwich. Sexy "Bocce Bellas" will be on hand to help guests perfect their game.
We posted an incorrect Web address for the Parade online-poker poll. Click here for the proper address and to vote. Meanwhile, it's now 78%/22% in favor of legalizing. Every poll on this subject we've ever seen comes in at about this percentage.
Acccording to Norm Clark of the LV Review-Journal, Terry Fator, the "America's Got Talent" winner who's been taking Las Vegas by storm, has been announced as the replacement for Danny Gans at the Mirage. Fator's singing/impersonations act is very Gans-like, and should fit well in the opening created by Gans' defection to Encore.
Fiesta is holding one of the Station's "Last Man Standing" contests for NASCAR. These are fun and low-priced ($25 to enter). Plus, they return 100% of the money taken in, so if you know a little something about NASCAR, you're probably playing with a small edge. Sign-up is May 12 to May 25 at either Fiesta.
If you're in town today, check out the Spotlight feature for Mother's Day options in the casinos. South Point is paying double players club points all day.
Today's Parade magazine asks if online poker should be legalized. You can vote in the poll at parade.com, go to "Intelligence Report." The vote is currently Yes 77%, No 23%.
Sunday's not only Mother's Day, it's "Vegas Day" again on Travel Channel, with four back-to-back shows all about your favorite city and featuring Anthony Curtis and other LVA family members and associates.
1 p.m. - "Vegas Cheaters Exposed"
2 p.m. - "Las Vegas: Sucker Bets"
3 p.m. - "More Las Vegas FAQs"
4 p.m. - "More Las Vegas Dos and Don'ts"
For information about all the week's other upcoming Vegas/gambling televisual viewing opportunities, check out our popular Vegas TV feature.
The Guggenheim Hermitage gallery at the Venetian closes for good tomorrow, so it's your last chance to catch the "Modern Masters of the Guggenheim" exhibit. The good news is that admission is free; we're guessing there's a good chance of long lines to get in, however.
We received this email from a reader in Cleveland, Ohio:
"I do enjoy reading the results of your polls, and I especially enjoy reading the personal comments your readers send in. Why didn't you publish these comments from your April 23, 2008 - May 6, 2008 poll on gambling products/education? Could you possibly publish them in a later Q of the Day?"
The entirely truthful answer is that we did get some great feedback from voters, as usual, but we simply ran out time this week to compile it in time to hit the deadline for when the answer ran. Please bare with us and we'll certainly post the highlights as a future QoD.
Until 10 pm tonight, the Cannery is running a blackjack pit with female dealers in bikinis. The Red Flag Bikini Party honors local military. Blackjack players get a free T-shirt.
The statewide gambling win dropped by 1.52% in March, making it three for three down months in 2008. Strip win was down 4.82%. March visitor numbers were down by 1%.
Hmm. Some technical shenanigans are throwing a wrench in the works and the photo-upload function in our Cool Pools section is currently not working as it should, so hold tight if you're trying to add pics. We'll get it straightened out on Monday and let you know when it's working smoothly -- keep taking pics in the meantime and have a great weekend.
It's been a big week. The Hilton's free nightly "Cool by the Pool" parties are up and running and Platinum's confirmed that last year's (also free) Dine & Unwind series is definitely coming back -- just don't know the start date yet. The next event in the Mandalay Bay Beach concert series has been announced and it's a biggie...
For details about all this and everything else you could possibly want to know about the Vegas pool scene, check out our ever-expanding Cool Pool feature, where you can now not only add your comments about the pools you visit, but also upload your own pics. We've just added our first review of the season for the Palms' Ditch Fridays, with photos, plus check out the Rehab entry for updates and pictures for first two events of the season. This Sunday it's "MILF Mayhem" with free admission to all ladies and special prizes for sexy moms... Just click on the "Cool Pool Countdown" link in the "Features" column on our home page.
Eight percent off. That's the short version of Atlantic City's April casino-win report. Slots had it worse (-9%) than did table games (-5.5%), out of combined winnings of $365.5 million. A fully detailed breakout is here. Harrah's Marina actually managed a revenue gain, while Trump Plaza and Marina were virtually flat with April 2007. The Boardwalk's hard-luck story, the Tropicana, is leveling out, down only $1.7 million, year over year. In terms of sheer dollars, the biggest declines were felt at Showboat (-$6.2 million) and Trump Taj Mahal (-$5.9 million).
Our favorite news item of the day comes from The Times of London and concerns the plight of a cat-catcher charged with clearing strays out of the area slated to become the 2012 Olympic Park.
After catching 186 cats during her tenure as a feline-trapping specialist, Celia Hammond says only one elusive stray remains in the area. Despite her well-funded operation and network of informants, Blackjack the cat has always remained one step ahead of her.
"I have never known a cat cover such a huge area," she said. "We would get a phone call saying, 'Blackjack was here' but when we arrived he would be gone. Everyone says I should just leave it, but of all the cats I have saved, the one I remember is the one I can't catch. If only I could convey to him that I'm trying to help him," she said.
Hammond said her organization, the Celia Hammond Animal Trust, has found new homes for three quarters of the 186 cats; some in loving homes, and other, wilder cats at farmyards and stables.
David Matthews takes a look at how attitudes towards smoking have changed, as illustrated by several vintage TV commercials. Jean Scott, meanwhile, shares feedback from her readership.
According to an article in yesterday's Des Moines Register, the Meskwaki Indian tribe is planning to offer poker to 18-to-21-year-old gamblers next month at its Tama, IA casino. State regulators say the young players will be barred from playing slots, blackjack, and other casino games.
Iowa state law prohibits under 21s from casino gambling, but the tribe has notified state officials that it will offer poker to those aged 18 and up under a provision of the federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. Apparently, the plan is for the young players to play only against each other and the casino won't take a rake of the pot. Marketing of what they're dubbing a "non-house banked game" is set to begin on May 15, with the game being offered from June 1.
If you're a fan of king crab legs, especially the hot ones, like we are, there are some interesting updates to yesterday's QoD, thanks to a number of readers who wrote in with tips. Check out the updated version in the archives. (If you're not an LVA member, hang tight -- our big overhaul of the QoD archives is still a work in progress, but we'll be true to our word and open them up to all once they're ready.)
New Year's Eve will probably be curtains for "Star Trek: The Attraction" at the Las Vegas Hilton, after 10 years of going where no casino has gone before, says TrekMovie.com. Don't blame the LVH: The owner of the "Trek" franchise, CBS/Paramount, isn't renewing its contract with the operators of the attraction, apparently due to declining attendance at the home of Quark's Bar and its space-themed casino.
Attendees to Creation Entertainment's annual "Star Trek" convention can rest easy, though: The company says it intends to keep the fan gathering in Las Vegas. (A proposal to move the Burbank "Stargate SG-1" convention to Las Vegas was voted down in an online poll, though. This was a grave disappointment to our managing editor, who lives, eats and breathes "Stargate.")
You don’t have to be a mom to have a good time in Sin City this weekend, although there are plenty of options if you are (see our "Spotlight" feature). Diversity’s our middle name, from the soulful sounds of Alicia Keys to the complex yet classic styles of Burt Bacharach to the hard driving power chords of Rush, there’s something to please virtually every musical palate. Miss Hawaiian Tropic International hopefuls will tour the town this weekend and if you keep your eyes to the skies you may even catch a free air show courtesy of Nellis Air Force Base as they hold their annual Red Flag exercise in and around Las Vegas air space. And, of course, Cher completes the first week of her multi-media, multi-decade, multi-costume spectaculars at the Colosseum on Saturday night
The legendary Jackie Gaughan has sold his stake in the El Cortez, the last of his once-lengthy list of casino holdings. At age 87, Gaughan finally decided it was time to pass the reins on to longtime partners Kenny Epstein, Mike Nolan, and Joe Woody, a group that figures to keep many of the best aspects of the EC intact. Gaughan's run in Vegas spanned 57 years, beginning from the time he moved from Omaha, Nebraska to get into the gambling business and ultimately become an integral part of the city's ascent.
USA Today dispatched Steve Friess for a first-night look at Cher's Colosseum show, initially clocking in at two hours. Friess described the evening as "generous helpings of her multi-era hits in that distinctly nasally, low rumble of a belting voice," culminating in "a rousing, 30-chorus rendition of her over-you anthem Believe." Friess' inventory of the show: 17 songs and almost as many costume changes, leading him to characterize it as "a Cher-scored Bob Mackie fashion show" and "far more a straight-up concert than what her counterparts have done with the vast room."
Following up on his blog, Friess offers a few suggestions for possible improvements and reports that the show will be shortened to roughly 90 minutes.
A Missouri woman scored big at the weekend when a $1 chip from the defunct Showboat Casino that she'd kept in a jewelry box for nearly 48 years went for a staggering $29,000 on eBay. It's only the third known surviving $1 chip from the casino, which operated in Las Vegas from 1954-2001 and seller Sandy Marbs recalled picking it up during a visit in 1960. She kept it because the boat on it reminded her of Missouri.
A spokesman for the Casino Chip & Gaming Token Collectors Club (ccgtcc.com) noted that this is the richest known price ever paid for a $1 chip. The current record for the most expensive recorded price belongs to a rare $100 denomination chip from the Sahara depicting a Sphinx, which sold for $100,000 cash in 2007.
For more information about high-priced rare chips, LVA members can check out the Question of the Day archives for 8/20/2007.
Many thanks to all who are sending in their votes for the current Reader Poll on Vegas' best pool. Just one request: If you send in an email to the "Why I picked this pool" link (and please do!), either include in the email body which pool you're referring to, or put that in the subject line. Clicking that email link doesn't count as a vote, and we can't tell from this end which pool you voted for unless you tell us. Thank you!
Yup, the Vegas Euchre folks will be gathering for a round-robin tournament at 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Buffalo Wild Wings located on Las Vegas Blvd. Sth. It's a non-ranked event that's open to everyone -- you don't have to be a member. As usual for these events, the entry fee's $15 and 100% will be paid out, along with gift certificates (and a free drink for all contestants) added by the venue. Next week they'll be back at the regular MVP's location.
For more information on this tournament, check out our Las Vegas Tournament Schedule (where we also list poker, blackjack, slots, video poker, backgammon etc. etc.) You can find out more about vegaseuchre.com on their Web site.
Only one night into her new engagement at Caesars Palace and already new dates have been announced for Cher's show. They are:
September 2, 3, 6, 7, 9,10, 16, 17, 20, 21, 23, 24, 27, 28, and 30
October 1, 4, and 5
A new Globalysis report takes a gander at the Dubai tourist economy and "estimates that international visitor arrivals into Dubai will grow at approximately 8% in 2008 driven by robust airline connectivity and favorable marketing efforts of the destination." The report does caution that a high rate of inflation in Dubai, a vast abundance of tourism-targeted projects and "regional geopolitical risks" need be taken into account. Still, says Jason Pereira of Globalysis, "the combination of increased airline service to Dubai and high-quality tourism offerings is attracting the globally minded leisure tourist and sophisticated business traveler."
MGM Mirage is not only a business partner with Dubai World, it has also committed to building hotel projects in Dubai (as well as in Mainland China).
New Year's Day 2008 ushered in a ban on smoking in all Illinois casinos. Revenue growth, it appears, has been snuffed out like so many Marlboros. In April, Illinois casinos reported revenue declines of 20% in the northern half of the state and 15% toward the southern end of the Land of Lincoln. With multiple casinos in the market, Harrah's Entertainment ad Penn National got the worst of it. For a detailed breakout, see Stiffs & Georges, which also has more Tropicana updates, including a possible new round of bidding on the Atlantic City Tropicana.
Since Nevada leads the nation in the rate of home foreclosures, it's inevitable that Las Vegas would be the top destination of people looking to buy foreclosed houses. So says this week's House Advantage.
If you're looking forward to a $16 breakfast at Payard Patisserie, you'd better pack a little extra $$: The price has gone up. Also, the free VP player's menu at Al's Garage may have been a chimera. Gambling in Space has the skinny.
Today's USA Today, in the cover story in the "Money" section, asks whether Americans will trade casino visits for gas money. Yesterday's New York Times looks at the "New Titans of Las Vegas." Anthony Curtis is quoted.
Nope. While the Megabucks jackpot did hit at the Palms, we've confirmed that it happened at 9:50 am, 10 minutes before today's free pulls commenced.
We've just heard that Megabucks was hit for $21 million today at the Palms. This isn't confirmed, but if it did, it's likely the result of a massive Megabucks free-play promotion the Palms has been running for its club members. If it is, it would be the biggest club benefit, by far, ever awarded. No doubt.
The official word from the Flamingo box office is that Toni Braxton's show will now remain dark until June 6, following her hospitalization with chest pains in early April. Tickets are on sale again from that date onwards -- we'll keep you posted of any further scheduling changes.
According to Standard & Poor's, Detroit tycoon Don Barden needs $35 million to increase his equity stake in a $790 million Pittsburgh casino project. (Barden was chosen over Isle of Capri Casinos and a Harrah's-backed group of local investors.) Solution? Sell the downtown Fitzgeralds casino. Barden also purchased a downtown office building as part of an expansion into the Las Vegas market. Since then, Vegas has taken a back seat to Pittsburgh in Barden's plans.
In celebration of the its 20th anniversary and the serving of nearly 1.5 million guests, Kristofer's Steakhouse at the Riviera is saying "thank you" by offering Las Vegas locals a complimentary cocktail or non-alcoholic beverage with the purchase of every entrée now through the end of May. The restaurant's open daily from 5:30-10:30 p.m. Must show valid ID.
One of today's agenda items for the Clark County Planning Commission is "Lifestyle," a condo/hotel/casino project that would encompass 2,650 hotel rooms (in three towers), 98 condos (ditto) and 75K apiece of casino and meeting space. It would sit on 9.4 acres bordered by Highland Drive on the west, the Desert Inn arterial to the north and the Union Pacific train tracks to the east, land currently occupied by warehouses. For more details, see Stiffs & Georges. The Clark County Commission has Lifestyle on its June docket.
The current poll on gambling products and what you think of them closes at midnight tonight, so get your vote(s) in, if you haven't already. It's had a great response and the more data you can give us, the better we can cater to your desires. A new one goes live tomorrow on the subject of... Well, you'll just have to tune in find out.
Actually, it's more like a sprint, as Stiffs & Georges attempts to keep pace with the implications of Tropicana Entertainment's Chapter 11 filing, which affects the Las Vegas Tropicana, Laughlin's Tropicana Express, two Lake Tahoe casinos -- but not the Westin Casuarina. Updates can be found here, here, here and here. Uff da!
In related news, the landlords of Tropicana Entertainment's Horizon Lake Tahoe have revealed that they intend to convert the hotel-casino to non-gaming uses in 2011, when Tropicana's lease expires.
Following on the heels of a 3-year "farewell" tour, then a period of rumored reclusedom, and then what seemed like years of speculation, Cher is officially here. Her new show, which completes the trio of divas currently in rotation at Caesars Colosseum (the other two being Bette and Sir Elton), opens tonight for an initial month-long run. Then she'll be back again in August.
Tickets are $112.65/$159.95/$197.75/$276.45, plus fees (the lady's not called "Cher" for nothing!) and show times are Tues., Wed., and Sun. at 7:30 p.m. They're sold out for this week -- surprise, surprise -- but more tickets are available from the 13th onwards. They're selling like hot cakes, however, so buy soon to avoid disappointment.
Popular long-time Vegas comedy magician Mac King will be appearing on the "Late Show with David Letterman" tonight as part of its "Magic Week." A different magic act will be featured on the show each night this week. Tune in tomorrow to catch Dirk Arthur, with Steve Wyrick appearing on Thursday, and Penn & Teller on Friday.
The "Late Show" airs nightly on CBS at 11:30 EST/PST. For the unique weekly schedule of all shows Vegas or gambling-related compiled by the LVA research dept., don't forget to check out Vegas TV in the "Features" section on our home page.
Corporate profits at the casino giant were down 30% last quarter, due in no small part to the fire at the Monte Carlo hotel-casino, which was subsequently closed for nearly a month. Analysts expected 43 cents per share and MGM delivered 40 cents/share (down from 57 cents a year ago). However, MGM Mirage stock enjoyed a 7% bounce, possibly because CEO J. Terrence Lanni floated the idea of bisecting MGM Mirage into discrete hotel and casino companies. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Lanni said "he has been frustrated by the favorable multiples pure hotel companies enjoy compared with gaming companies."
Citysearch online lifestyle guide has awarded the Silverton the "Best free attraction 2008" award for its aquarium, and we don't blame them.
The 117,000-gallon artificial reef is home to over 4,000 tropical fish from all over the world, six species of shark, and four species of stingray, which are particular favorites of ours. Watch them glide about (their undersides look like smiley teddybears!) as you sip a cocktail in the Mermaids Restaurant and Lounge (which is also home to two cool 500-gallon LED-lit jellyfish tanks). Much better than TV.
The hotel-casino also received the "Best budget hotel" award.
In honor of National Tourism Week (May 10-18), the Sahara's offering guests the chance to win an instant upgrade to either the "Beatles Suite," where the Fab Four stayed in 1964, or the Presidential Suite, which hosted Elvis Presley and Ann Margret while they were filming Viva Las Vegas.
Once each month from May through August, a lucky winner will be selected at random and informed of their instant upgrade upon check-in. As the VP of Hotel Ops put it, "Just think, you show up for your $40 room and you end up with a room that goes for up to $1,500 per night."
A problem gambler, identified only as "S.D.", attempted unsuccessfully to have his "no-gambling" status reversed by the New Jersey courts. Now publisher Sam DiGirolamo wants to know who "S.D." is. Why? According to PR Newswire, "people have been calling him insisting that he must be the S.D. mentioned in the news." Even DiGirolamo's friends think so, due to certain, unspecified "striking similarities." To clear his name, DiGirolamo has retained one of his own authors, Ken Isaacson. Ironically, Isaacson's Silent Counsel centers upon a lawyer seeking to keep his client's identity confidential.
The Silverton continues to host its series of ladies-only "Pink Poker Nights" this month, in conjunction with Fresh 102.7 FM. The final live-play night takes place this Wednesday, May 7, with a $20 registration fee that includes a free poker lesson prior to the warm-up round and live play action. Registration begins at 6 p.m. but you must sign-up online in advance and seats are limited.
On May 14, there will be a special Pink Poker Tournament with a $30 buy-in and those who've played in all three live-play events (sorry, we didn't hear about this until two of them had already taken place) will qualify to win a diamond tennis bracelet.
The events are hosted around special pink felt tables and feature complimentary cocktails provided by PINK vodka, plus a goodie bag. For more information and to register, visit 1027fresh.fm
According to David Matthews, MGM Mirage has tightened its point awards for video poker, thereby reducing free play by one third. For all the details, see Gambling in Space. Elsewhere, Jean Scott gets wind of an alleged 20% cutback on food purchases by casino F&B departments.
Good news for fans of "Trailer Station" -- the casino-in-a-trailer that operated for eight hours earlier this year on the former Showboat/Castaways site: Since Station Casinos is putting its Viva project in front of all others (including Durango Station and its oft-postponed Palace Station redevelopment), and because Viva may not get rolling for as many as four years, that could mean at least two more reappearances of "Trailer Station." The company has to operate slots on the property for one day every two years, lest the gaming entitlement on the proper lapse, reverting to plain old commercial real estate. For more, see Stiffs & Georges.
Citing "two people familiar with the matter," the Wall Street Journal reports that Tropicana Entertainment -- parent company of the Las Vegas Tropicana and the Tropicana Express in Laughlin -- missed an interest payment on $1.32 billion in debt last Friday and isn't expected to make it up. Having missed that payment, Tropicana Entertainment is planning to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy, according to both the WSJ and Tropicana itself. The paper calls this "the largest corporate filing of the year, a startling reversal of fortune for the new owner of one of the most historic casinos in Las Vegas." Additional coverage can be found in Stiffs & Georges.
Orleans and South Point are both awarding 5X points today for Cinco de Mayo. Both are part of larger celebrations casino-wide. Other casinos will also be running specials; several are listed in "Las Vegas This Weekend" further down in "Today's News."
Steve Wynn is one of the featured contributors in today's USA Weekend Sunday newspaper supplement cover story about Frank Sinatra. Wynn tells of the singer explaining how he approached the recording of new songs -- one of many conversations the two had on flights to Atlantic City, where Sinatra would perform at the Golden Nugget.
Steve Wynn has made an announcement regarding the next stage of his resort build-out. The land behind Wynn Las Vegas and Encore (the former DI golf course) will be used for a giant convention center and two more hotels. Timetable details were not divulged.
The ESPN coverage of the Kentucky Derby is full of gambling coverage and not just the usual updating of the pari-mutuel. Much of the discussion with the celebrities is about which entry they'll be betting and there's ongoing coverage of betting-expert Hank Goldberg's picks (at this posting, his $500 bankroll is down to $110).
The Kentucky Derby will bring a party atmosphere to the sports books all over town today. Parties are advertised at Gold Coast, Sam's Town, Orleans, Terrible's, Cannery, Rampart, Jerry's Nugget, El Cortez, and South Point. The morning-line favorite in what's being called a wide-open race is Big Brown at 3-1.
The California celebrates May Day this weekend with its 11th annual Lei Day festival. It's a free two-day all-day event staged in the parking lot of the California and featuring Hawaiian arts, crafts, food, and music, with a performance by Tony Conjugacion at 7 p.m. tonight (tickets $20 from the California Hotel's Players Gold) and an "Island Fever Block Party" commencing at 3 p.m. tomorrow (free admission).
The legendary Tom Fazio-designed golf course that was originally exclusive to high rolling guests of the Mirage will close temporarily May 19 for "course enhancements." Tee boxes and greens will be rebuilt and reseeded, the course's irrigation system's to be upgraded, and a world-class short-game area will be added.
The work's due to take about seven months to complete, with the course scheduled to reopen in December 2008.
What on earth could bring Joe Pesci, Willie Garson, La Toya Jackson, Frankie Valli, Siegfried & Roy, John Cleese, Billy Crystal, Michael Urie, Wayne Brady, and Rita Rudna together on one carpet? Well, Frankie Valli was the big hint: The carpet's a red one and it's for the Vegas premiere of Jersey Boys, which opens at Palazzo tonight. You might even catch a glimpse of Anthony Curtis, too...
We previewed the Jerry's Nugget Kentucky Derby Day promos in this column earlier in the week, culminating in a viewing party in the race and sports book tomorrow.
There will be plenty of other festivities around town, with those we've come across so far including a viewing party at the Gold Coast from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. in the Arizona Ballroom, featuring big screen TVs, betting windows, and giveaways, plus a similar deal in South Point's Grand Ballroom from 8 a.m.-3 p.m., including live betting stations and coupon packages* with a $20 wager, which will be good for a South Point cap, one food item, and one cocktail. (*Limited to one per person, while supplies last.)
The El Cortez has a Kentucky Derby special, with players receiving an official Kentucky Derby glass for every $20 bet at the race book tomorrow (limit two per person). And Dick's Last Resort at Excalibur will be hosting a party, with patrons able to catch the race on 46 flat screens while sipping Mint Julep Mojitos.
For ideas about other venues to catch the race in, check out our Sports Bar section in Shows & Nightlife (you'll find all bars, clubs, ultralounges etc. listed in the "Nightlife" sub-section).
Las Vegas gets two stories in today's edition (both in "Living"). The first is a brief look at the Convention and Visitors Authority's attempts to draw tourists with a roadshow and the theme "Vegas Right Now." The second is a look at the state of residential high-rise developments on the Strip, with some interesting information about those planned for CityCenter.
Our David Matthews has been keeping out of mischief and filling the cyber-pages of Gambling in Space instead. He checks out the "extreme flavor" (in a very good way) of Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill, clues us in to a good bargain play at The Lodge at Hualapai, and explores the pros and cons of tipping during tournament play. The floor is open for debate.
David McKee has been spending a lot of quality time in buffets lately and shares some impressions (he's got a soft spot for the ones at Station properties) in today's Stiffs & Georges. He also reports on the Flamingo's "Go" rooms and the fate of the Gold Coast's shoeshine stand.
Red Rock Resort will be giving away a $1,000 gift card each to 25 winners both today and tomorrow. Activate your entries from 3 p.m.-8 p.m. each day and drawings will be held at 8 p.m. Contact the players club for more details.
Of course, there's never a dull moment in Las Vegas but this weekend’s positively out of control as Cinco de Mayo meets poolside concerts, festivals, and much, much more. The District at Green Valley Ranch presents the Spring Festival of the Arts where they'll unveil their newest attraction – Las Vegas' first and only outdoor carousel. Scheduled entertainment includes live music in The Courtyard, jugglers, magicians, outdoor movies on The Green, and carousel rides. Best of all, it's all free! Throw in Lei Day, May Day, Derby Day, and First Fri-Day and you can’t help but find something to celebrate.
"$250,000 Game Show Spectacular" at the Las Vegas Hilton is a thing of the past. It shut down with so little fanfare that blogger Steve Friess only learned of it when trying to arrange an interview with Jamie Farr, one of the afternoon show's three rotating hosts. The LVH's Ira Sternberg told Friess that renting out the showroom had crimped the rehearsal schedules of Barry Manilow and others, so a replacement act is unlikely.
Friess also, by way of Robin Leach, reports that Celine Dion is in negotiations to return to the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in 2009-10, possibly as a successor to Elton John's "Red Piano" show. Hopefully, if Celine returns, she won't bring "Powder," Franco Dragone's creepily omnipresent whiteface-clown figure with her. Celine, oui! Dragone, non.
Former Cosmopolitan Resort & Casino CFO Robert Kocienski has joined colleague Scott Butera in making the exodus to Tropicana Entertainment, parent company of the Las Vegas Tropicana and the Tropicana Express in Laughlin. Kociesnki, who was also CFO of the downtown Golden Nugget (1992-2000) and The Mirage (2000-03), will hold the same title at Tropicana Entertainment. He replaces Theodore Mitchel, who remains CFO of Tropicana's parent company Columbia Sussex. Butera, new president of Tropicana, has been on an aggressive campaign to turn around the company's image and shore up its financial position.
As predicted in the May issue of the Las Vegas Advisor and David Matthews' Gambling in Space blog (April 15, 2008), it's been officially confirmed that The 2008 Main Event Final Table of the World Series of Poker will not take place until November 9-10, three months after the field has been whittled down to the final table of nine players. The climatic event will be screened in a two-hour special on ESPN, just hours after the winner has been crowned (which will probably be in the early hours of November 11). The slight time delay in the final broadcast will allow time for editing and guards against potential cheating possibilities.
Drink $2 Coronas all day every day in May at the Plaza and Vegas Club and $2 Absolut martinis or $4 top shelf martinis from 4-7 p.m. every day all month.
In the Philippines, gambling is a government-owned business. And now the U.S. State Department has pointed a finger at the Philippines' 15 state-run casinos as possible hotbeds of cash smuggling and money laundering. The State Dept. notes that many Pagcor casinos are "are located near small provincial international airports that may have less rigid enforcement procedures and standards for cash smuggling. Pagcor is the sole franchisee in the country for all games of chance, including lotteries." Nor has has Pagcor complied with the Philippines' own currency transfer-reporting.
For the this and other news of the day, plus Managing Editor David McKee's review of Tom Breitling's Double or Nothing, see Stiffs & Georges.