Hard Rock guests will receive 50% off when they purchase Chevron gas cards or Rockstar Cash during the casino’s "Get Tanked" promo from July 1 through July 10, 2008. Points may be earned by playing slots or table games, but must be earned during the promotional period (200 points = $1). Gas or Rockstar Cash redemptions will be handled at the Rockstar Players Club in $50 increments.
For additional information and complete rules call the Rockstar Player Club at 800/693-ROCK.
An LVA source says "Bodies: The Exhibition" will take up residence at its new home, Luxor, in the first week of August. The accompanying Titanic exhibit will reportedly open at an undisclosed, later date. Both shows are currently in residence at the Tropicana, which has yet to announce a closing date for either.
Beat the heat with the Silverton's new complimentary parking lot tram, which offers free air-conditioned rides between the parking lot and main casino entrance from 8 a.m.-11 p.m. daily.
Come the fall, the property's scheduled to unveil a 1,500-space public parking garage complete with a temperature controlled indoor valet waiting area and VIP parking.
Tickets for the red-headed comic's July 4 performance at the Luxor are 30% off if booked online. No promo code is needed -- online prices shown for the July 4 performance reflect the discount.
Eight weeks from now, "Star Trek: The Experience" will boldly go where many Las Vegas attractions have gone before -- into memory. After an 11-year run, the tourist attraction, with its "Klingon Encounter" and "Borg Invasion 4-D" rides will be shut down, to be replaced with as-yet-undisclosed amenities. In a prepared statement, Paramount Parks Director of Marketing Chad Boutte wrote, "We’d like to thank all the fans and friends of Star Trek, whose constant and amazing support we’ve enjoyed throughout our tenure at the Las Vegas Hilton ... We share the memories of time spent in the most unique place in the Galaxy, and we carry those memories into our futures with us."
As though Fitzgeralds owner Don Barden weren't having enough trouble financing his Pittsburgh casino, his lead contractor walked off the job today. However, real estate developer Neil Bluhm is expected to kick in $120 million. Meanwhile, KDKA-TV has analyzed financial filings and projects a $25 million loss in the casino's first year. Another casino operator told KDKA he'd been invited in on the deal but had turned it down because of "too much bad paper." The Allegheny Institute's Jay Haulk added, "The Gaming Board just didn't do their homework ... They could have ... seen the level of debt and degree of leveraging that he has in his other operations, the fact that his net worth in his other casino operations is a negative $175 million."
Blogger Steve Friess reports that Cirque du Soleil's new show, Believe, "won't open as scheduled for its previews on Sept. 1," or -- as a Luxor reservationist told Friess -- "They say they've been having some problems." The Sept. 12 gala opening will now happen sometime in October, with a soft opening in mid-September.
Wynn Las Vegas is dropping the National Basketball Association as a defendant in a $50,000 lawsuit, The Associated Press reports. Wynn LV had named NBA Properties and NBA Entertainment in litigation stemming from the 2007 NBA All-Star Week, held in Las Vegas. The casino is seeking payment from Alonzo Mourning Charities for alleged non-payment for the use of convention and meeting space. Inclusion of the NBA in the suit, filed earlier in June, was an "administrative error," according to Wynn spokeswoman Jennifer Dunne, a mistake that will be rectified today.
Scotty Nguyen secured his reputation as one of the world's great tournament-poker players by winning the H.O.R.S.E. event at the World Series of Poker. First prize was just below $2 million. Runner-up was Mike DeMichele. Previous winners were Chip Reese and Freddie Deeb.
The Trump International condo-hotel may have only 19.5% of its units available for use as hotel rooms. However that may not be an entirely bad thing. According to today's Las Vegas Review-Journal, the tower "carries some of the Strip's highest single-night room rates, starting at almost $350 a night."
On July 2, an agreement to restart development on the defunct Lady Luck downtown will go before the Las Vegas City Council. In return for a number of concessions from the City of Las Vegas, the Lady Luck's owners will commit to make certain improvements and additions to the Lady Luck. More details can be found in Stiffs & Georges.
Today's European Championship soccer final will be broadcast in all the sports books today, as well as in the English pubs (both Crown & Anchors, McMullen's, etc.) around town. Spain is a 3-2 favorite.
The $50,000 buy-in H.O.R.S.E. champion will be decided today. Leading the final table is Erick Lindgren with 3,680,000. Other final-table contestants include Scotty Nguyen (3,535,000), Barry Greenstein (1,955,000), Lyle Berman (1,430,000), and Huck Seed (1,200,000).
The LV Review-Journal reported today that the Stage Deli in the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace has closed. It was one of the first eateries with a big name earned elsewhere (New York City) to open on the Strip.
Lots of big names populate the top of the H.O.R.S.E. event at the World Series of Poker. With it's $50,000 buy-in, it's second only to the WSOP main event for prestige in the poker world. With 24 left, the leader is Michael DeMichel with 1,351,000. Near the top are Barry Greenstein (1,311,000), Daniel Negreanu (1,226,000), Scotty Nguyen (1,033,000), Lyle Berman (939,000), and Doyle Brunson (777,000). There were 148 entrants and the first prize is $1,989,120. Play resumes at 3 pm today.
The second World Series of Golf airs today and tomorrow on CBS (11 am PST). Poker Phils Ivey and Gordon played, while Kill Phil author Blair Rodman caddied.
After a rough week on the stock market, casino operators and slot manufacturers had reason to celebrate today when the Kansas Supreme Court ruled that the state's newly legalized casinos meet the definition of a state-owned-and-operated lottery. Private companies will build and operate the four casinos (and two racinos), as contractors for the state. Quoth the court: ""While the state is not the exclusive owner and operator of all aspects of the lottery enterprise ... the state owns and operates the enterprise itself and owns and operates key elements of the lottery."
PR Week reports that Harrah's Entertainment's London Clubs "is embarking on a covert lobbying drive as it attempts to get the green light to run a number of casinos across the UK." Prime Minister Gordon Brown is carrying forward predecessor Tony Blair's plan for eight "large casinos" (i.e., 150 slot machines, max) in cities like Leeds, and correspondingly smaller casinos in eight smaller cities. Harrah's move represents something of a reversal, as it had been attempting to swap its London Clubs subsidiary for a share of Rank Group. Harrah's VP Jan Jones released a statement saying, in part, "Harrah's Entertainment and London Clubs International are engaging in the gaming public policy debate to ensure the regulatory and policy environment is balanced for customers, the communities where gaming is located and the industry alike."
For what is believed to be the first time in its history, Foxwoods Resort Casino in Ledyard, Conn., has cut staff, laying off 200 employees, both hourly staffers and middle managers. Foxwoods is calling it "a strategic organizational review," and a spokeswoman was quoted as saying, ""I’ve been told that this is it, but I can’t really be quoted and say for sure." The cuts are described as part of an overhaul that began with the ouster of then-President John O'Brien in January. Pink-slipped employees (none of whom were staffers at MGM Grand Foxwoods) will receive two weeks severance per every year worked, back to 1995, plus continued health benefits. Another 600 positions are being eliminated via attrition.
Scarcely was the ink dry on Gov. Jim Gibbons' endorsement of closing a loophole in Nevada law that exempts comped meals from sales and uses taxes when Jon Ralston sent the following to a Las Vegas Sun colleague: "Gaming lobbyists just filed out of Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley's office, offering their opposition to a bill that would close a tax loophole, ... that has benefited casinos and is known as the food comp tax break." Erasing that break would net the state -- and cost casinos -- an extra $150 million.
Blaming a new no-smoking law for an 11% revenue drop, two Cripple Creek, Colo. casinos are electing to ignore the law. Or rather, they are characterizing themselves as "cigar bars," on the contention that 5% or more of their revenue is derived from tobacco sales. Cripple Creek's police chief, after issuing one citation each to the two casinos, is waiting for the court system to adjudicate the impasse. "To write them citation after citation after citation I feel clogs our system up," he told the Denver Post, prompting this retort from the chairwoman of Smoke Free Gaming of Colorado: "What's alarming is here you have a casino industry out there that is, in a sense, dictating to the Police Department how laws should apply to them."
Time is drawing short to see Spamalot at Wynn Las Vegas -- and to cash in on a locals-only offer. The show, which closes July 13, is offering two-for-one tickets to the Monty Python-inspired show. The offer is good for Category Two and Three seats ($89 and $69 apiece, respectively), maxes out at eight tickets a package, and expires July 12. To take advantage of the deal, call 702/770-9966 and cite the keyword "laughter."
Macao casino operator Galaxy Entertainment named the senior surveillance supervisor of its Grand Waldo Casino, Fong Kuo Man, its "Employee of the Year" yesterday.
His prize? A trip for two to Las Vegas.
In his latest proposal for addressing Nevada's budget shortfall, Gov. Jim Gibbons has proposed amending state law to make comped meals eligible for sales and use taxes. The idea is already drawing support from both sides of the Legislature. When the state sought to collect taxes on the order for $150 million for comps, earlier this year, the Nevada Supreme Court rules that the state's sales and use tax was not applicable. "I want them to close that loop so that we don’t get ourselves in a further problem dealing with it down the road," Gibbons told the Las Vegas Sun.
It's grand opening time for Atlantic City's newest hotel tower, the luxury-oriented Water Club, a 43-story, $400 million adjunct to Boyd Gaming's Borgata. There's no gambling at Water Club itself but there are no fewer than five heated pools and opening-weekend guests "can expect every meal during their stay to be prepared by renowned chef Geoffrey Zakarian," reports The Press of Atlantic City, which also has a photo and video gallery.
We didn't make it out to Wildfire Boulder, but we dropped in on last night's opening of Wildfire Lanes. It's a small place, with slots only. There are two pool tables near the front between the sports book and the bar and the bowling lanes are in the back. The restaurant closes late-night, but there's a bar menu if you're hungry. The video poker schedules are surprisingly weak -- 7/5 Bonus, 9/6/5 Double Bonus, and the best we saw, DW Bonus with a 98.8% schedule. Most of these have progressives. You can get $20 in free-play if you're a new member of the Wild Card players club, though it's doled out over two days ($10 each). A sign of the times -- the crowd was sparse.
The two new Wildfire Casinos open tonight at 8 pm. One is the former Magic Star on Boulder Hwy., the other is the former Renata's on Sunset Road.
Formerly the sidekick of Kenny Einiger on the radio show "Play to Win," Joe Pane's back with his own gambling show on Thursday nights at 7 p.m. EST, commencing this evening. It's accessible via the Internet at holdemradio.com and Joe’s an excellent gambling talent. Tune in.
The weekly Elimination Blackjack tournament runs tonight at Sunset Station. Preliminary rounds are at 6, 7, and 8 pm. Entry fee is $25 and the first prize is guaranteed at $2,000. These have been running close to full. Good tournament.
In a face-off between Congressional lions Reps. John Conyers (D-MI) and John Dingell, the former emerged victorious. Dingell's bill to permit two Michigan tribes to build off-reservation casinos went down to a crushing 121-298 defeat. Conyers, who represents parts of the Detroit area, contended that "would undermine the revenues of existing gambling operations that are a major source of tax revenue for the city," reported The Hill. All three Nevada congressional representatives voted "nay."
Friday is the day the Kansas Supreme Court will hand down its long-awaited ruling on the validity of casino gambling in the state. At issue is the constitutional question of whether state-owned casinos are permissible. The state plans to open four casinos, run by private operators but owned by the state's lottery commission.
A challenge to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act died on a 32-32 vote, mostly along party lines, in the House Financial Services Committee. Rep. Peter King (R-NY) had sponsored an amendment which would have impeded the drafting of rules for implementing UIGEA. Poker Source Online's Jay Lakin was downcast, saying, "we're going to have to wait at least until 2009 until there is a light at the end of the tunnel." King's only Republican allies on the committee were Reps. Ron Paul (TX) and Dean Heller (NV). King's principal adversary, Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-AL), penned an "American Banker" op-ed that online-gaming lobbyists deemed so fact-impaired they issued an online rebuttal.
Red Rock Resort's just announced its latest summer poolside entertainment, an eco-charity concert series called "Bottle Rock It." Featuring wine tasting and live rock headliners including Slash and Perry Farrell, the series kicks off July 5. It's a $30 cover ($15 upgrade gets you access to the wine pit) and proceeds benefit the Las Vegas Springs Preserve.
For more information about all this summer's Las Vegas pool parties, concerts, and other events, plus the latest poolside celebrity sightings, photos, reader reviews, Las Vegas Pool FAQs, and Top 10 pools in Vegas, check out our Las Vegas Cool Pools section.
Tonight one lucky guest at Ivan Kane's Royal Jelly will take home a one-of-a-kind Liquid Salvation Epiphone Les Paul Guitar.
Royal Jelly's the weekly rock 'n roll night at Ivan Kane's Forty Deuce burlesque club at Mandalay Bay. It features three musicians wielding electric guitar, electric bass, and tricked-out drum kit who "shred and pound through two acts and ten songs...as five hot dancers step into the spotlight and out of their clothes." Call 702/632-9442 or visit www.fortydeuce.com for more info or VIP reservations.
The installation by Brian "Paco" Alvarez, based on the book of the same title by Matthew O’Brien, hosts its grand opening tonight from 6-9 p.m. downtown.
Located in the Arts Factory at 101 E. Charleston Blvd., this Contemporary Arts Collective exhibit will give you a chance to explore a side of Las Vegas that few have ever seen. Check out our current "Spotlight" feature for more information and a preview of some of Danny Mollohan's evocative black-and-white photography, which illustrates the book and comprises part of the multi-media exhibit.
Aside from being a star-studded movie and not a stage show, the film version of Mamma Mia! will bear some significant differences from the version that's playing at Mandalay Bay. Stiffs & Georges discusses what's in and what's out, along with some enigmatic hints of a Harrah's project between Audrie and Koval, and Echelon's solution to pedestrian/vehicular gridlock along the Strip.
An eight-screen, 1,300-seat, digital-projection cineplex is being added to the Pahrump Nugget Hotel & Casino, slated for a Memorial Day 2009 opening. "VIP seating [and] a large-scale children’s arcade" are promised. Casino owner Golden Gaming is building the movie theater itself, while it looks for an operator. Other features of the expansion are an enlargement of the gaming floor that will accommodate 200 additional slot machines.
Having turned around the former Aladdin, Planet Hollywood Int'l is thinking even bigger, launching "a new division to oversee its plans for international brand expansion." Planet Hollywood was recently revealed to have been one of the four initial bidders for the Atlantic City Tropicana (bids which the state of New Jersey recently tossed out, through no fault of the companies involved). President of new Planet Hollywood Resorts Management is William "Bill" Feather, a veteran Starwood Hotels & Resorts executive. Feather will continue to manage food and beverage operations at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in addition to his new role.
Galaxy Cannery Theatres will provide one free "WALL•E" T-shirt as well as digital "WALL•E" watches to the first 500 children that come through the door and purchase tickets to see "WALL•E" Friday, June 27.
The Mirage celebrates the Mop Tops as host venue for The Fest for Beatles fans beginning on Sunday. The 3-day event promises full immersion in all things Beatles including art, photo and fashion exhibits, contests, collectibles’ auctions and, of course, music. Special guests include singer/songwriter Donovan and model/actress/photographer Pattie Boyd the inspiration behind the song "Something" (and "Layla"). Other options include the LiveBrew beer tasting event at Studio 54 and the U.S. Air Guitar Championships at Carnaval Court. Read on to sample the best of the rest.
A fire that broke out about an hour ago at the troubled Strip construction site has been successfully extinguished without injury, a fire official has just confirmed. Fire and OSHA investigators will investigate what sparked the brief blaze that ignited a large block of plastic and rubberized insulation just before 2 p.m. this afternoon that briefly sent out a thick plume of smoke.
It's the latest incident to beset the site, which, like CityCenter, has suffered from a less-than-stellar safety record and saw three construction workers hurt in a 40-foot fall last year (one of whom later died from his injuries) and the collapse of part of the parking structure.
From June 30 through Sept. 4, Treasure Island is offering a "Red, White, Blue and Green" promotional package that includes: room rates starting at $76 (with Petite Suite upgrades available for an extra $20); a $15 "midday food and beverage credit"; a $35 discount on cabañas; -35% on "Mystere" tickets and $25 in free casino play. It's available to the first 200 customers who book online, using the 'TIRWBG' promo code, or by calling 800/288-7206. Despite the limited number of openings, MGM Mirage assures LVA, "There are still rooms available at Treasure Island for those days and that deal."
KDKA-TV is reporting that subcontractors "have walked off the job complaining that they are not being paid" for their work on Don Barden's in-progress Pittsburgh casino. The station has also confirmed that Barden has told contractors he's "out of money" but has assured them the issue will be resolved in the next 10 days. Barden's primary contractor is remaining on the job. As for the casino owner, he's pledged nearly $40 million to the project -- to be derived through the sale of Fitzgeralds in downtown Las Vegas -- but is reported to be $150 million short at present.
Fourth of July weekend rates on the Strip are down 18% from last year, JP Morgan reports, culminating a 13-week downward trend in Strip room prices. Percentage-wise, Caesars Palace was among the deepest discounters, its $220/night average a 42% reduction from July 6-7 of last year. Prices at the Venetian were down by a third and even the Tropicana was found to be cutting room rates 25%. Bucking the trend, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, is Planet Hollywood, up 18%, buoyed in part by promotional allowances that owner Robert Earl described as "one or two goodies."
Although it had three express hotel-check-in sites available at McCarran International Airport and solicited bids from 15 prospective candidates, Clark County only got two offers, leaving the largest check-in area vacant. To find out who the winning bidders were, and about the collapse of a casino purchase in Pahrump, see Stiffs & Georges.
... but only for eight hours. On June 17, the City of Henderson granted Capado Gaming Corp. permission to run slots for eight hours at the defunct Roadhouse casino on Sunset Road, to preserve the site's gaming entitlement. At least Capado had a building in which to put its slots. Station Casinos had to put them in a construction trailer on the Castaways site and Marriott was reduced to erecting a tent where The Beach once stood.
The opening of Aliante Station has been announced for Nov. 11 at 11:11 pm. That's 11/11,11:11. Nice.
You've witnessed "Trailer Station" and "Tentyard by Marriott." Now comes the latest in United Coin Machine's string of one-day (actually, 8-hour) casinos, with tomorrow expected to see some kind of temporary gaming facility on the site of the former Moulin Rouge casino, pending approval from the Nevada Gaming Commission. These transitory slot parlors allow a location to retain its gaming rights for at least two years.
Jean Scott scopes out the video poker scene at the Venetian, and notes some recent changes. For one thing, no 9/6 JoB machines "below the $10 level." For another, new paytables.
Monticello Raceway will relocate to a former Catskills resort and expand from 1,500 VLTs to 4,000, per an agreement hammered out with state Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno. The state's share of the take will also be cut back from 58% to 25%. The project is budgeted at $2.5 billion.
Ian Bruce Eichner has definitively left the building -- and suits from Deutsche Bank have taken his place, "critiquing plans that called for a black-and-white decor" at the Comsopolitan Resort & Casino, according to Bloomberg. A Perini veep told reporters, "They are considering changing the color palettes and finishes." And it may take another $1.1. billion from Deutsche Bank to get the $3.5 billion Cosmo across the finish line. The story also notes that commercial mortgage-backed securities, like those used to finance the Harrah's Entertainment buyout, are finding few takers in the current market.
Lorraine Bracco, Carmen Electra and Frank Vincent were among the celebrities who turned out for the debut of table games at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, in Hollywood, Fla. Fifty-five of the casino's 71 tables are dedicated to blackjack, with some tables offering limits as high as $10K/hand. Most of the tables have $25 minimums. Spectrum Gaming Group VP Joe Weinert told the Sun-Sentinel newspaper, "They [the Seminoles] can compete with any casino anyplace else in the country for premium players" now.
MGM Mirage isn't releasing any attendance figures but assures LVA that its new Komodo Dragon's "first weekend at the Shark Reef Aquarium was a huge one! Attendance was up significantly over the same weekend last year." Guess you can't go wrong with a seven-foot-long, hyper-deadly lizard.
First the bad news: According to Gambling in Space's David Matthews, the Venetian has scrapped all the $5 JoB machines in its high-limit slot salon, leaving only $25 JoB games. The good news is that Matthews was able to 'test drive' some of the Venetian's new hand-held gaming devices, which he reviews with pictures. He also finds the odds somewhat better on blackjack than video poker.
In a follow-up to his discovery of a $100-free-slot-play promo at Caesars Palace, Matthews alerts readers to a $100 slot rebate at Station Casinos, "even more attractive than the Harrah's offer where you're sent a voucher to redeem on your next trip."
Strip casinos have been rumored to be making a push to bring in local players, to shore up a soft lower- and middle-market tourist base. Now the Sahara is making it official, announcing "a designated part of the casino floor called Locals Lane." This new area "will feature machines that have better odds and payback percentages, comparable to those offered in neighborhood casinos ... In conjunction with the designated local’s [sic] area, the Sahara has a new 'Gold Card' for locals that offers bigger incentives and discounts for meals, shows, drinks, hotel rooms and merchandise." What may make this press release especially newsworthy is a Strip casino's explicit admission that its normal slot holds and payback schedules are inferior to those found off-Strip.
Copies of her new autobiography, Audition, that is, which she'll be autographing by the Fountain of the Gods inside the Forum Shops from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. tomorrow. "The View," the show she hosts for ABC (Channel 13), will be broadcasting live from Caesars Palace at 10 a.m. daily through June 27.
Among a rash of postings at VegasTripping.com was the news that the Vegas and Laughlin Golden Nuggets "have a new online look, wiping away one of the last vestiges of the Tim & Tom era into the internet trash heap.The site is flush with lots of large dimension photographs of the property with only a handful of stock usage photos added to the mix." The Nugget sites also sport a spiffy new black-and-gold color scheme.
According to VegasTripping.com, the link on the Las Vegas Tropicana's Web site touting Columbia Sussex's $3.5 billion, 9,000-room makeover of the property has been deep-sixed, one more indication that Columbia Sussex CEO Bill Yung's dream of erecting what has been described as "the world's biggest building" has sunk into the sunset.
Legendary comedian and Strip regular George Carlin died last night in Santa Monica, Calif. His demise was attributed to heart failure. Carlin, 71, came to prominence during the countercultural upheavals of the late 1960s, achieving wide currency both with his comedy LPs and appearances as the hopelessly spaced-out Hippy-Dippy Weather Man on the "Flip Wilson Show." He went on to gain additional notoriety through his routine, "The Seven Words You Can Never Say on TV," which later became the pretext for a landmark Supreme Court case on broadcast-decency standards. A part-time resident of Vegas, Carlin played a raft of major venues over the course of four decades, including Bally's, the Frontier and the MGM Grand. Most recently, he was a headliner-in-residence at The Orleans, where he performed last week.
In his Los Angeles Times blog, "The Movable Buffet," Richard Abowitz has a look-in on The Rio, deeming it "one of the undiscovered gems of Vegas." Opining that The Rio "offers far nicer accommodations than some of [Harrah's Entertainment's] Strip holdings, such as Imperial Palace or Harrah's," Abowitz places particularly emphasis on the property's new amenities, particularly Sapphire Pool and the revamped iBar. Concludes Abowitz, "by turning up the sexy, the Rio may finally get the attention the resort has long deserved."
Thanks to a unanimous vote by the Nevada Taxicab Authority, taxi rides in the Las Vegas area will cost 20 cents more per mile, starting July 6. Also imposed was a 25-cents-per-mile fuel surcharge that can be revoked if gas prices fall below a certain threshold -- or increased if they go higher.
Louisiana's state Senate gave its thumbs-up to a bill that would permit Ibreville Parish, in the greater Baton Rouge area, to vote on whether its residents want a $110 racino project. Both houses of the Louisiana Legislature have now approved this measure, which the Gov. Bobby Jindal promises to veto.
Our managing editor tried the Sunday brunch at Vox Wine Lounge, and found it both remarkably delicious and affordable. More details are in Stiffs & Georges, which also has an editorial on the ongoing regulatory Chinese fire drill at Atlantic City's Tropicana.
The long-running tribute show at the Stratosphere, which opened with the property back in April 1996, has signed a contract extension through November 2009. The show features performers impersonating Elvis, Rod Stewart, Michael Jackson, Tim McGraw, and Christina Aguilera and you can catch American Superstars Sun. through Tues. at 7 p.m. and Wed., Fri., and Sat. at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. For tickets click here.
Steve Friess, acclaimed podcaster and author of Huntington Press' Gay Vegas guide book, was responsible for a feature in yesterday's New York Times about the Casino Chip & Gaming Token Collectors Club convention, which took place at the Riviera Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas last week. Each year the event attracts a couple of thousand vendors and enthusiasts who sometimes score big, like the guy last year who sold a $100 Desert Inn chip for $20,000.
You can read the article by clicking here, while The Strip Podcast is accessible via the link on our home page.
Las Vegas Sands CEO Sheldon Adelson is the subject of a massive profile in The New Yorker, penned by Connie Bruck. It focuses primarily on Adelson's involvement in Israeli politics and on the recent lawsuit Sands lost to Macao businessman Richard Suen, but delves into several other facets of Adelson's controversial public persona as well.
Station Casinos will open two new Wildfire casinos on Thursday. Wildfire Casino & Lanes is at 4451 E. Sunset Rd., at the site of the former Renata's. Wildfire Boulder Hwy. is at 2000 S. Boulder Highway. We don't know for sure, but both are expected to be slots-only. Both open at 8 pm.
In celebration of its remodeling, fêted with a red-carpet gala last week, Casino Windsor will pick up the tunnel tolls for up to 4,000 Windsor-bound passenger vehicles (excluding trucks and buses) from 3 p.m.-8 p.m. today. A passport is not yet madatory for travel to Canada but you will need an official photo ID and proof of citizenship.
This time it's the magazine of the same name adding to the woes of the Cosmopolitan resort on the south Strip. The project, which has experienced several financial setbacks, has now been cited in a trademark challenge by Cosmopolitan magazine. Observers indicate that the challenge likely has merit.
Oakland Raiders receiver Javon Walker's story that he was knocked unconscious in his room at Bellagio prior to being found on a backstreet behind the Imperial Palace is taking some hits. It was reported in today's LV Review-Journal that Walker was caught on tape entering a car at Bellagio under his own power, though it appears on the tape that he was "being coerced."
Apparently there's a strong table-games promotion in progress right now at Wynn Las Vegas. As the details were explained to us (and verified as well as possible via the phone), every 30 minutes the dealers at all the lower-limit blackjack tables deal out one card to each player on the game and the one dealt the highest card gets a $50 matchplay coupon. The promotion runs 10 am to 6 pm Monday-Friday, so it's nearly done for today. But check in Monday to see if it's continued.
Comedy magician Mac King's going to be hosting a magic show for kids tomorrow morning at North Las Vegas Library (9:30 a.m.) and Aliante Library (11 a.m.) as part of the "Catch the Reading Bug" Summer Reading Club to promote children's literacy.
The Rock ’n Roll Topless Club will hold its grand opening celebration tonight, with festivities starting running through Sat, June 28. Tonight's fiesta features Bacardi mojitos, with other planned activities including live radio remotes, a pajama party, and a beach party.
Italian trattoria Le Golosita (9500 S. Eastern Ave.) is celebrating the official onset of summer with a complimentary scoop of gelato to all customers who purchase any of the restaurant's large takeout pizzas now through Monday, June 30. The gelateria offers 22 flavors of homemade gelato made fresh daily, including classics such as Italian cream, chocolate and strawberry, as well as unique flavors like blackberry, fig, pear parmigiano, rice and saffron, panna cotta and more.
For other suggestions on how to cool down, check out our latest "Spotlight" item.
Los Angeles Times Vegas correspondent Richard Abowitz has taken to his Movable Buffet blog to swat away rumors of a Michael Jackson comeback in Vegas ... or a Jackson-themed show with occasional (very occasional) appearances by the Gloved One. Consigning such talk to the realm of "urban myth," Abowitz writes, "Las Vegas resorts do not believe in gambling when it comes to their entertainment. When considering if the Las Vegas Hilton would take a risk on Jackson, it may be instructive to note that Barry Manilow is its current headliner ... with a contract that runs through 2009."
George Geddes, correspondent for RateVegas.com, has returned from a sojourn in Macao with travel tips (be sure to savor the local architecture) and reviews of MGM Macau ("nice place, but stale and corporate), Crown Macau, Venetian Macao ("home to about the best steak in Macau") and more.
Today's edition has a two-page spread on Las Vegas in the "Life" section, with a focus on the economy's effect on pricing. Though city officials want to downplay the discounting, it comes through loud and clear in this treatment. Also, another guest commentary from Phil Hellmuth appears in "Sports."
In his current Las Vegas Business Press column, UNLV's David G. Schwartz argues that
Las Vegas legend Jackie Gaughan, who recently sold his share in the El Cortez casino but still lives on-property, will be throwing out the first pitch for the Las Vegas 51s tonight at Cashman Field. After the game, fans presenting a ticket stub are invited to enjoy one free wine, beer, or well drink at any of the downtown casino's bars.
Actor Lou Ferrigno, who played The Incredible Hulk in the '70s TV show, will be at the Gallery of Legends memorabilia store inside the Miracle Mile Shops from 1 p.m.-5 p.m. today through Sunday for a meet and greet and autograph-signing session with fans.
The Las Vegas City Council has denied a liquor license for the shuttered Crazy Horse Too strip club, which faces a June 30 drop-dead date to reopen.
Council members cited the club's troubled past Wednesday and unanimously said they're not satisfied would-be buyers David Dupont and Mahesh Patel have the financing to complete the deal. Dupont and Patel are trying to buy from the federal government, which seized it to satisfy judgments and fines levied against the former owner, Rick Rizzolo, who served almost a year in jail after pleading guilty to conspiracy to evade taxes.
CineVegas puts a wrap on their 10th anniversary celebration with a poolside reception at Planet Hollywood on Friday to honor award winners James Caan, Angelica Huston, and others. On Saturday, Brenden Theatres at the Palms screens the closing night film, The Great Buck Howard. Summer officially arrived today and Sin City’s pool scene takes full advantage with concerts, parties, and BBQs galore. Free outdoor concerts can be found at the Clark County Amphitheater, MonteLago Village and the District at Green Valley Ranch. So, there’s no excuse not to get outside and soak up some sun.
Sunset Station will be hosting its weekly Elimination Blackjack tournament tonight at 6 p.m. The entry fee's $25 and there's a guaranteed $2,000 first-place prize (part of which comprises the entry fee for Sunset's $220 event on September 5).
Realtor Robin Camacho releases the second installment of her virtual tour of the Strip in today's House Advantage.
Even though California voters gave their approval to a compact that would allow the Sycuan Band of El Cajon to expand its slot inventory, the Sycuan tribe itself has yet to ratify the compact -- despite a Jan. 1 deadline, which Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger says he will not enforce. This delay is, according to the State of California, expected to cost the state $30 million in lost tax revenue. Possible reasons for the Sycuan government's foot-dragging include taking a wait-and-see attitude on litigation to cap future state taxation of tribal-casino revenue and/or hesitancy to increase the size of the Sycuan casino in the face of an economic slump.
On July 17, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs rolls out a $208 million expansion. The 1,100-slot racino will add another 1,300 machines, along with restaurant and retail amenities -- including a Ruth's Chris Steak House and a Marshall Rousso store. A third phase of expansion is on the drawing board, should business warrant it. "We’re obviously still fighting players going to Atlantic City," explained Pocono Downs spokesman Jim Wise.
The latest venue to enter the pool party fray is the Tropicana, which was actually the runner-up in our own "Best Pool in Vegas" poll and has recently added a new sound and lighting system and stage. "Mint Mondays" commences June 23 and will be a recurring weekly event from noon-11 p.m., featuring DJ, live band, pool volleyball, swim-up blackjack, cocktail service, and food served straight from the BBQ.
Similar pool parties will also take place on Fridays and Saturdays commencing tomorrow, June 20. For the full lowdown and pictures, check out the Trop's entry in our Las Vegas Cool Pools section.
MGM Mirage CEO J. Terrence Lanni stepped down from the American Gaming Association's board of directors, the Las Vegas Sun reported. Although Lanni tried to minimize any perceived conflict between his views and those of AGA Chair Gary Loveman (who favors a room-tax increase that Lanni opposes), he also said, "I needed time from the AGA to focus on trying to find a solution to the bigger problems of this state." Lanni has been sounding more and more like a 2010 gubernatorial candidate of late, making statements like, "Why education should only be paid for by visitors I’ve never quite understood. Businesses that operate here should be willing to fund education," and generally taking a higher profile on state budgetary issues. In recent year, MGM Mirage has also backed out of the Nevada Resort Association and the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce.
A strong Memorial Day weekend is being credited with an increase in Mississippi Gulf Coast casinos' revenue both from a weak April and from May 2007. The state's 11 casinos reported $108 million in revenue, a 4% rise over last year. Riverboat casinos on the Big Muddy, however, were $7 million off last year's pace, dragging overall statewide casino revenues down 1%, for a grand total of $237 million.
So says former Las Vegas star James Caan, who proves typically outspoken in Steve Friess' most recent "Strip Podcast" (accessible through the LVA home page). According to Caan, "Their thoughts were that we’re not allowed to even mention Las Vegas according to the NFL. Like God forbid somebody should gamble. I mean, I didn’t know that people gamble on football! So they put a show there they could promote, Sunday night for Monday and moved us to Friday, which is like a death sentence." Caan also discloses that the NFL barred NBC from even plugging Las Vegas during its Sunday night games. Given that the NFL was able to leverage its relationship with ESPN to kill the series Playmakers, a harsh depiction of pro football, Caan's words have a considerable ring of truth.
At 10:30 p.m. tonight JET nightclub at the Mirage will be hosting the casting call for this year's Blondeshell awards. The three week competition begins Monday, June 23 and will see local ladies competing for the chance to drive away in JET's customized pink Convette. General admission's $30.
A coding error at this end meant that the links in today's QoD weren't working earlier. Now fixed.
David Matthews is back from the WSOP, just in time to alert readers to a promotional offer for $100 in free slot play. David has the skinny in today's Gambling in Space.
It's early in the voting, but "Vegas Happens Here"'s current Stripper Poll (on the R-hand side of the page, a click or two down) is rating the top pools in Vegas. No surprise that early returns show Mandalay Bay running away from the field, with 19% of the vote, trailed by Bellagio and The Mirage with 10% each. Red Rock Resort is in fourth, with 8%. A surprise no-show is The Palms, whose pool has yet to garner a single vote.
Mandalay Bay was the winner of our own recent reader poll on best pools in Las Vegas. Click here to view the rest of the results and comments and check out our Las Vegas Pool FAQs for the answers to all your burning pool questions.
Update: Now that the plight of the Palms pool has been publicized, it's started garnering votes in the poll.
New Jersey has given Atlantic City Tropicana trustee Justice Gary Stein an extra four months to peddle the orphaned casino-hotel, which Stein believes could fetch in excess of $1 billion. The state's Casino Control Commission will vote tomorrow on whether to allow Stein to throw out the four bids in contention and start from scratch. Today's hearing provided one surprise when it was revealed that, in addition to the three bidders already announced, Planet Hollywood had also put in a bid on the Trop, which the State of New Jersey confiscated last year after finding owner Columbia Sussex unfit to hold a casino license.
Tomorrow sees the kickoff of the 16th Annual Casino Chip & Gaming Token Collectors Club show at the Riviera -- the world's largest casino collectibles sale. Featuring over 100 dealer tables, attendees can buy, sell, or trade casino chips, tokens, slot cards, room keys, dice, playing cards, ashtrays, matchbooks, swizzle sticks, TITOs, postcards...the list is enormous. The show's open to the public from 10 a.m. daily and one-day floor pass is $10, or pay $25 for a 3-day pass. For more info visit www.ccgtcc.com
Shark Reef Aquarium's deadly new star attraction, Nevada's first Komodo Dragon, makes his debut June 20. To mark the occasion, Mandalay Bay is having a one-day bargain admission of $8 (50% off regular adult admission). Dragon enthusiasts waiting in line can expect to have their anticipation further heightened by the free cups of Komodo Blend coffee that Starbucks will be doling out to the expected crowd. Starlight Tattoos is also giving free tats to kids. Don't worry, parents: They're only temporary.
Further to yesterday's item in this column revealing that Harrah's was closing the musical HATS! ahead of schedule on July 10 comes a last-minute revision: The show is now folding tomorrow. Any tickets purchased for shows beyond June 19 are fully refundable at point of purchase.
Economic troubles aside, gambling revenues are predicted to grow 6.5% annually worldwide, according to a PricewaterhouseCoopers report released to day, going from last year's $114 billion to $155 billion in 2012. Asia will lead the way, with casino expansion in Macao, Singapore and elsewhere expected to drive yearly increases of 15%, more than doubling current revenue to an eventual $37 billion. In the U.S., above-average growth at regional casinos will make up for near-term declines in Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Vegas is predicted to eventually turn it around, hitting $15 billion in 2012 but Atlantic City is not expected to regain 2007 levels of business. Overall U.S. gambling revenues are projected to grow from $60 billion last year to $73 billion in 2012 -- $106 billion if tribal casinos are included.
Economic-stimulus checks appear to be finding their way straight into Pelican State casinos, according to a CNBC report on Louisiana's 10% jump in casino revenue last month. The state's 18 casinos pulled in $15 million more than in May 2007. According LSU economist Loren Scott, ""Surveys showed people were going to spend about half [their tax rebates] and stash the other half. So, there's some discretionary income there." The May splurge partially made up for revenue growth that, according to the Casino Association of Louisana's Wade Duty, has been half what it ought to be. He predicted hard times ahead for the Lake Charles and Shreveport-Bossier City markets, heavily dependent on drive-in business from Texas.
While on the proverbial congressional fact-finding mission to Estonia, Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D) won $1,700 playing slots at Olympic Casino. Cardoza was part of a 13-member delegation led by Minority Leader John Boehner (R) and the House of Representatives chaplain, but was flying solo at the time of his big score. According to his press secretary, a jet-lagged Cardoza, finding himself sleepless in Tallinn, went for a walk and stumbled across Olympic Casino. He also introduced the Estonian casino industry to Rep. Devin Nunes (R), who joined him for some blackjack. Nunes' impression: "not as big as a Vegas casino, but it was a nice place."
Housekeepers at the Imperial Palace who find themselves having to clean an above-average number of rooms per day have approached the Culinary Union and asked it to organize at the Pacific Rim-themed property. The Culinary's response: No dice. The official line is that the Culinary doesn't choose to unionize at hotels that are on the verge of being torn down. The unofficial line, according to the Las Vegas Sun, is that the Culinary is saving its ammo in order to take on Station Casinos, a longtime foe. As for imminent demolition of the IP, owner Harrah's Entertainment finally added it to Total Rewards last year, after a multi-year delay. Also, major building projects at all Harrah's properties except Caesars Palace have gone into a deep-freeze, following the 2007 buyout of the company.
The four Atlantic City casinos owned by Harrah's Entertainment received license renewals today. Each license has a five-year term. The New Jersey Casino Control Commission also gave its thumbs-up to the new ownership of Harrah's, which consists of Apollo Management and TPG Capital.
Wynn Resorts' soon-to-open (well, if December qualifies as "soon") Encore is taking room reservations from Feb. 6, 2009 onwards. According to RateVegas.com, standard rooms will be 700 square feet and feature L-shaped couches. If you upgrade to a suite, you can expect to find WiFi access and 42-inch plasma TVs. Rooms and suites will be segmented on discrete floors.
Today MGM Mirage disclosed a joint-venture deal in the northeastern China port city of Tianjin. The non-gaming project will include two hotel towers, with condo and convention components, a replication of MGM Grand's admired Skylofts and an MGM-branded boutique hotel. The announcement drew a less-than-rave review from Tianjin visitor Steve Friess, who writes of the city, "It's a gross place. ... Polluted like Beijing, but no culture, no important historic monuments, nothing but an overcrowded port ... It would be like opening up in Trenton" In its favor, Tianjin will be an hour's drive from the Chinese capital and is home to 10.2 million souls, a far bigger customer base than Las Vegas.
Oops! As many of you spotted, we forgot to offer a "Nothing has changed in my travel plans" option. We've now added that, so if that's your preferred voting choice, please call back and select. Thanks!
New Jersey authorities have indicted a trio of casino execs -- including Borgata's VP of relationship marketing -- for allegedly pilfering a list of 20,300 Atlantic City Tropicana players valued at $108 million. The conspiracy supposedly began in 2005, when the Trop was still owned by Aztar Corp. and the three men were contemplating moving to other jobs and seeking "future leverage." One subsequently was hired by Bellagio, but later resigned, while a third stayed at the Trop until purged by new owner Columbia Sussex in a mass firing last year.
The player info -- including casino ratings -- was smuggled out of the Trop on a trio of computer discs labeled 'Bette Midler.' Charges against the trio include computer theft, conspiracy and receipt of stolen property. Ten-year prison terms and $150,000 fines accompany the most serious of the indictments.
The musical comedy HATS!, which opened at Harrah's Las Vegas in January, and The Second City comedy improv show at the Flamingo, will both be closing this summer. The last chance to catch HATS! is July 10, while The Second City ends its seven-year run on August 1.
Tickets for both shows are $49.95 (plus taxes & fees). To book either of these or any of the other 100 or so entertainment options listed in our Shows & Nightlife section, click here.
Security guards at Mandalay Bay have declined to organize under the auspices of International Union of Security, Police & Fire Professionals of America. Friday's vote went against the union 53%-47%, culminating an inflammatory campaign that included threats of using homeless people to picket the resort. A parallel vote at Luxor is on hold, pending the resolution of a National Labor Relations Board complaint.
Hard to believe it's been almost a decade since Mandalay Bay opened but evidently it was high time to re-do the room product. A mostly rave review of the remodeled rooms, complete with pictures and video, can be found at VegasTripping.com.
That's what Tropicana Entertainment CEO Scott Butera tells Bloomberg, saying that tight credit markets hinder any possible sale of the debt-strapped Las Vegas Tropicana. As for redevelopment, a former attorney for Kirk Kerkorian says, "Making an investment to build a new casino probably feels a lot like making an investment in subprime mortgages, in terms of speculation that isn't paying off." Butera says closure of the Trop isn't on the table and his "current plan is to invest in the asset and re-evaluate down the road." The Trop is losing its popular Bodies and Titanic exhibits to Luxor, but has counterattacked with new marketing initiatives, including steeply reduced ticket prices for Folies Bergere and Dirk Arthur's magic show.
Johnny Chan held the lead for a while, but finished fourth in yesterday's pot-limit Omaha w/rebuys event. Chan was attempting to win his 11th WSOP bracelet and tie Phil Hellmuth, who was also on the final table and finished eighth, for the all-time bracelet count. Philip "OMGClayAiken" Galfond was the winner.
What may be the most star-packed World Series of Poker final table of all time is set to convene this aftenoon to contest the $5,000 buy-in pot-limit Omaha w/rebuys championship. The field includes the top two WSOP championship winners of all time: Phil Hellmuth (119,000 in chips today) with 11 bracelets, and Johnny Chan (624,000), who has 10. Also in the field are David Benyamine (1,041,000), John Juwanda (694,000), and Daniel Negreanu (460,000). The leader is Phil "OMGClayAiken" Galfond with 1,393,000. Action begins at the Rio at 3 pm.
Harrah's Entertainment is bringing its high-limit policy to Windsor, Ontario, preparing to take action as large as $50K a hand when its expansion of Caesars Windsor opens next week. Craps and blackjack will be the main beneficiaries, with lower limits applied to roulette ($25K) and Pai Gow poker ($15K). Table game bets in the three nearby Detroit casinos max out at $5,000/hand. Said Caesars Windsor CEO Kevin Laforet, "When you put out those kinds of limits you attract the upper level player. It reinforces that the Caesars brand is for your serious table game players."
New Hampshire's ultra-conservative Union Leader has published an op-ed piece by restaurant owner Tom Boucher, who concludes -- on the basis of an overnight visit to Foxwoods Resort Casino -- that legalized gambling would be the Granite State's downfall. His reasoning? He observed people "playing slots at this insanely late hour of 1 a.m." Worse still, nobody was smiling. Armed with the fruits of this research, he informs his wife, "I'll gladly pay the $200 plane ticket to fly to Vegas and enjoy gambling entertainment. It works for Vegas, but it's wrong for New Hampshire. Good night, honey."
Two hundred bucks to fly to Vegas? We want the phone number of this man's travel agent.
Australian publisher heir and Cannery-owner-to-be James Packer is buying into a Philippines casino project. Or is he? The state-run Filipino gambling conglomerate Pagcor announced that Packer was on the verge of committing $1.5 billion to a $10 billion casino resort, to be built on land reclaimed from Manila Bay. Packer's Bloombury company, reports said, had already put down $100 million.
Not so fast, replied Packer's office, which issued a statement "saying that neither Mr Packer nor Crown was in advanced talks to build a $1.5 billion casino and that neither had entered into any binding agreement," according to The Australian Business. Crown said its commitment, if any, would consist of "minimal equity" and voiced displeasure with Pagcor's disclosure. If Packer pulls back, Pagcor won't be at a loss to replace him: Malaysian casino operator Genting holds a gaming license on the site and Japan's Aruze corporation has also shown interest.
Missouri's Gaming Commission is scheduled to debate a casino-license moratorium today. This could be bad news for Wild Rose Entertainment's proposed, 1,200-slot Sugar Creek casino, which could get frozen out. JP Morgan's daily investor note says a halt to casino expanson would be good news for everybody else, particularly Ameristar, which has the closest casino to Sugar Creek.
North Las Vegas' Planning Commission has green-light a request from Boyd Gaming and Olympia Group to re-zone 56 acres of Park Highlands for a 1,200-room hotel-casino. If approved by the city council, Boyd will break ground in 2010. Station Casinos has announced it will seek a gaming entitlement for 54 nearby acres on Losee Road. In recent years, North Las Vegas Mayor Michael Montandon made it city policy not to approve new casino sites until all the city's undeveloped gaming enterprise zones had been built out.
Economic doldrums aren't hurting all casino markets. Just ask Missouri, whose riverboats reported 13% higher revenue last month than in May 2007. Having five weekends in the month didn't hurt -- nor did gas prices, which simply curbed longer trips. ""The ballparks, the theaters and the casinos are all going to benefit from that," Harrah's North Kansas City GM Tom Cook told the Kansas City Star. Even without new St. Louis powerhouse Lumiere Place, Missouri revenues still grew 2%, with Kansas City enjoying its third-best month ever. Ameristar Kansas City Casino & Hotel continues to dominate that market.
After a last hurrah at Luxor's now-closed IMAX theater, our managing editor partook of Luxor's buffet. He found that "More" (the buffet's moniker) is not always more.
Soboba Casino, owned by the Riverside Indian Band, may have to close, according to a warning from the National Indian Gaming Commission. The NIGC cited an escalating series of violent incidents, including a shootout that claimed two lives. For a time CalFire of Riverside County stopped answering calls from the area, citing hazards to its personnel. Service has since resumed "after law enforcement and fire officials noted that the situation appears to be calming down, and acts of violence stopped," according to KCAL-TV.
Golden Nugget owner Tilman Fertitta has reached an agreement with Nugget parent Landry's Restaurants to take the entire corporation private for $1.3 billion. Fertitta, who is Landry's CEO, would pay $415 cash and take on $885 million in debt to swing the acquisition, valued at $21/share. Landry's (ticker symbol: LNY), which ended the week trading between $16-$17/share, opened trading today well over $19/share. The company is coming off a quarter in which profits fell 93%, partly due to interest payments and flat business at Landry's restaurant chains. Fertitta's new bid is $1.50/share lower than his January buyout offer. Wrote Motley Fool columnist Tim Beers, back in April, "no one else is interested in what Fertitta now hopes to get on the cheap."
Today's U.S. Open golf championship playoff pits Rocco Mediate against Tiger Woods for 18 holes. Tiger was nearly a 4-1 favorite at one point before the match began. However, Rocco leads by a stroke as we write this.
Barry Greenstein has won the $1,500 Razz event, continuing a string of high finishes by name players. It's Greenstein's third bracelet.
Happy Father's Day. For those looking to cash in on some related deals, both Station and Coast Casinos are awarding 6X points today. Four kings on a video poker game wins a 100-coin bonus at Jokers Wild and Eldorado.
The big names are showing up at this year's World Series of Poker. So far, Daniel Negreanu, Mike Matusow, and Erick Lindgren have all won bracelets (Lindgren has also taken a 4th and a 10th in other events) Several other big names -- including Ted Forrest, Phil Ivey, "Miami" John Cernuto, Erik Seidel, Chris "Jesus" Ferguson, and Marcel Luske -- have had high finishes.
It happens fast in the big game. Blair Rodman ran into a couple of queens that held up to send him packing in 10th place with a $25,000 prize.
Those are the players club multiples today, and every Friday in June, at the Silverton. Slot players get 5X points; video poker players get 2X.
Kill Phil author Blair Rodman is among the final 12 in the $3,000 buy-in H.O.R.S.E. event at the World Series of Poker. Blair has 115,000 chips. Marcel Luske leads with 370,000. The tournament will be decided tonight.
Goa, the only region of India to permit casinos, has decided to bar any new gambling vessels from its Mandovi River, where the proliferation of casino boats was causing problems for barge traffic. The Corporation of the City of Panaji stopped short of banning all casinos, as was initially proposed, but clamped down on new riverboats due to infrastructure strains on parking, sewage and garbage.
Harrah's Las Vegas, that is. As much as players may like to complain about Harrah's, it appears they like playing there even more. In Majestic Research's latest ranking of Strip casinos by physical amount of play, Harrah's LV took the top spot for the second quarter of 2008. MGM Grand, Bellagio, Wynn, and Caesars Palace rounded out the top five. All Harrah's Strip properties except the Rio either held their ground or improved their rankings. Planet Hollywood showed the most dramatic improvement, jumping from #18 a year ago to #8. MGM Mirage's middle- and lower-tier properties appear to be in the doldrums, though, with Luxor and Monte Carlo falling out of the top 20 altogether, displaced by newcomer Palazzo and by the Las Vegas Hilton.
"The Hard Rock Casino in Las Vegas has revamped its slot club –- for the umpteenth time in the last year or so," reports Jean Scott, adding "there are good and not-so-good changes." For the full skinny, see today's Frugal Vegas.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority will award James Caan with the first Vegas Icon Award during the honorees reception at the 10th annual CineVegas Film Festival on Friday, June 20 at Planet Hollywood. The actor was apparently selected for his "embodiment of the exciting spirit of Las Vegas and delivery of memorable performances" in films including Honeymoon in Vegas and television shows set in the world-famous city, including the popular NBC series "Las Vegas,"
Other award recipients include Anjelica Houston, Don Cheadle, Rosario Dawson, Viggo Mortsensen, and Sam Rockwell and tickets for the event are $25 and can be purchased online at www.cinevegas.com or by calling 888-8VEGAS8.
I-Bar's new Microsoft Surface-enabled tables, the latest treat for the techno-savvy, lured our managing editor over to The Rio to check out the new bells and whistles. While there, he took in the revamped (with the emphasis on "vamp") version of Show in the Sky. His verdicts can be found in Stiffs & Georges.
MGM Mirage Hospitality has added what used to be called "an old China hand" to its brain trust. Will Hay, a 20-year veteran of real estate financing and development, comes to MGM from Hong Kong's China Property Group Ltd., the most recent of six different stints as a general counsel, partner or director of Hong Kong operations like GE Capital Asia Pacific. Fluent in Mandarin, Hay holds degrees in Chinese history and in political science, and is a graduate of Harvard Law School. His brief at MGM will include identifying target markets, developers and joint-venture partners, as well as structuring development deals in the Pacific Rim.
Tomorrow may be Friday the 13th, but don't let superstition get in the way of enjoying the weekend's entertainment delights. CineVegas gets underway with tonight’s premier of The Rocker and the 10th anniversary pool party tomorrow night, both at the Palms. If Dad’s not a film buff, there are other ways to enjoy his special day, including Reggae in the Desert and BBQs at the Cannery and Springs Preserve. Sorry guys, Kevin Federline's already wrapped up Father of the Year honors, but there’s always next year!
The Mirage today welcomed its newest addition to Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat -- six-week-old white, white-striped, and golden tiger cubs. They'll be on display to the general public in the special nursery created for them from tomorrow, June 13, which also happens to be Siegfried's 69th birthday. Admission's $15 for adults and $10 for children (free for those aged three and under) and the attraction's open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
A $0.25/mile surcharge is being proposed by Nevada's Taxicab Authority, along with an increase in fares from $2.20/mile to $2.40/mile. The surcharge could also be increased if gas prices hit $5/gallon for five straight days. The additional charges would result in a 6.6% increase in cab fares, the Authority says. "Under the proposal, the fuel surcharge would be revisited by the board next January and could be extended, increased, decreased or eliminated," reports the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
It looks like tickets are still available for the opening night presentation of The Rocker at the Palms' Brenden Theatres. Tickets are $15 and the screening's at 7:30 p.m. tonight with red carpet arrivals at 6:30 p.m. The after party at Moon is sold out, although some wait list tickets will be available at the box office. Please contact [email protected] with any questions.
The addition of Pinnacle Entertainment's Lumiere Place to St. Louis' array of riverboat casinos appears to have boosted both admission figures and revenue in that market. For May, St. Louis casinos reported a 12% increase in revenues and a 24% jump in admissions over May 2007, i.e., prior to Lumiere's opening. The other outright gainer in the market was Ameristar's St. Charles casino. Casino Queen in East St. Louis, Ill., took in more passengers but less revenue. Admissions and revenue alike were slightly down at Harrah's St. Louis, in Maryland Heights, moderately down at Penn National's Alton Belle riverboat in Alton, Ill., and steeply down at Pinnacle's President riverboat in downtown St. Louis.
Stressed? In need of a little pampering? Treat yourself with New York-New York's special 15%-off deal for locals from now through the end of July. Treatments are available from 8 a.m.-7:30 p.m. daily; click here for the full list of services.
Don't forget Sunset Station will be hosting its weekly Elimination Blackjack tournament tonight at 6 p.m. The entry fee's $25 and there's a guaranteed $2,000 first-place prize (part of which comprises the entry fee for Sunset's $220 event on September 5).
Robin Camacho reports today on harbingers of recovery in the Vegas housing market, including a rising number of sales and less money down being required on home loans.
The Flamingo Las Vegas has started peeling off the multi-story building wrap of R&B star Toni Braxton, which long had adorned the hotel's western façade (and which, according to the Las Angeles Times prompted requests for rooms located in strategic parts of the faux Braxton's pulchritude). Call us cynics, but we won't bet against the Braxton wrap giving way to a giant Donny & Marie Osmond one, portending their long-term engagement in the Flamingo's showroom.
Here's one of those glass half-full/half-empty stories. This April, over 450,000 more guests checked into Macanese hotels than last April. But ... a 3,000-room increase in hotel capacity meant that occupancy rates were lower -- 75% on average. But ... four-star rooms are doing better, posting an 82% occupancy rate. And the average length of stay is up to 1.33 nights. So it looks like a net positive for the Chinese city.
Pennsylvania's state Senate voted through a statewide smoking ban, sending it to Gov. Ed Rendell for his signature. Like a failed effort in Atlantic City, it imposes a 25/75 smoking/no-smoking ratio on Keystone State casino floors. However, if Pennsylvania casino operators can show material financial distress as a consequence of that restriction, it can be loosened to 50/50. Since smoking will be barred from Atlantic City casino floors starting Oct. 15, Pennsylvania's legislative action may blunt an expected defection of Boardwalk patrons to Pennsylvania.
Luxor has posted closing dates for both its IMAX theater and "Tomb and Museum of King Tutankhamen" exhibit. The IMAX showcase will close June 15, to be followed on June 22 by the King Tut museum. Both are being shut down to make room for "Bodies ... The Exhibition" and "Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition," both of which have been playing across the street at the Tropicana.
President Casino, for many years the dominant riverboat on the St. Louis skyline, has been forced to suspend operations by rising Mississippi River floodwater. However, there's a silver lining for owner Pinnacle Entertainment, which is diverting President customers to its newer (and flood-unaffected) Lumiere Place, which superseded President last year. "At this time, we do not believe the closure will impact our 2Q 2008 estimates for the President," reads a sanguine JP Morgan report.
Station Casinos has confirmed that its Feast Buffet at Boulder Station closed last Sunday "for a complete and significant overhaul and expansion." Post-renovation, "It will be twice as big and everything brand new," says Station Director of Corporate Communications Lori Nelson, who added that the timeline for reopening the buffet is four to six months.
It took a year, but Isle of Capri has finally re-branded the felts, cards, chips, dice and riverboat at Casino Aztar, in Caruthersville, Mo., to "Lady Luck Caruthersville." As part of a turnaround strategy, Isle of Capri is re-dubbing some of its locals-oriented properties "Lady Luck" (Isle, it should be noted, no longer owns the shuttered Lady Luck in downtown Las Vegas). Isle bought the vessel from Columbia Sussex for $45 million, after it became apparent the Columbia Sussex's chances of getting a Missouri casino license were nil. "Throughout the year [Isle] management plans to add new exterior finishes and interior decor of the casino floor. New features also will be added to the restaurant, including a newly renovated screened back porch, multipurpose bar and a large stone fireplace," reports The Daily Dunklin Democrat.
After four years of litigation, MGM Mirage has prevailed in a tussle involving 14 acres next to Trump Marina in Atlantic City. Seaboard Towers Development sued an MGM subsidiary for $22 million after a purchase agreement collapsed in July 2004. The land is not contiguous to MGM's own Atlantic City project, slated for completion in 2012. It originally came into the acreage as part of its 2000 acquisition of Mirage Resorts. According to The Press of Atlantic City, "MGM is considering its options for the land, including the possibility of partnerships with other companies to jointly develop the property."
The popular Beatles tribute show, Fab Four Mania, is quitting the Sahara and moving back to its former home at what was the Aladdin, now Planet Hollywood. Saturday's the last day you can catch the show at the Sahara -- it opens Monday, June 16 in the V Theater but they don't even have it on their schedule yet, so for now continue to book your tickets via the Sahara box office on 702/737-2111. The good news is, looks like the ticket prices will be lowered from the current $60.90/$71.90/$93.90 to $56/$66.
Station Casinos’ newest property, scheduled to open in late-2008 in North Las Vegas, will begin taking hotel room reservations from tomorrow, June 12. Although Aliante Station's scheduled to open in late-'08, Jan. 1, '09 will be the first date for which hotel reservations will currently be honored.
The 202 guest rooms and suites at Aliante Station range from 400 square feet up to 1,500 square feet, with amenities including 42-inch plasma TV, CD player with iPod jack, in-room audio entertainment system, and hi-speed Internet. Room rates start at $59.99 and can be booked from tomorrow onwards by calling 877/477-SOAR (7627) or online at www.AlianteCasinoHotel.com
In his blog, Steve Friess reports yet another price increase for tickets to Mandalay Bay's Shark Reef. The new prices, according to Friess (and not including tax), are $14 for locals, $17 for all others. "This occurs the day after [June 21] they unveil the newest attraction, the Komodo Dragon," writes Friess.
As table game revenue rose almost 10%, Atlantic City posted a rare and welcome month of positive casino revenue growth in May. Of the $415 million left behind by gamblers, $126 million was dropped at the tables and $289 million went into the slots. One-armed bandits made slightly less than in May '07, off by 1.5%. Full coverage can be found at Stiffs & Georges.
The accident-plagued Atlantic City casino-hotel is in the news again. This time it's a toppling 10-foot light fixture.
One of the catalysts for Las Vegas Sands' stock slide yesterday may have been Goldman Sachs analyst Steven Kent's removal of Sands from his "Americas Conviction Buy List," where it had lasted but three weeks. Kent retains a "Buy" recommendation on the stock but cautions that "many of the positive catalysts have played out, but the shares have not responded," continuing to decline.
... at least for gaming revenue collections. The Nevada Gaming Control Board reports a 5% decrease statewide, compared to April '07. South Lake Tahoe, a volatile market, posted double-digit gains and Wendover was flat with the previous April. North Lake Tahoe led the decliners (-38%), closely followed by Mesquite (-35%) and North Las Vegas (-22%). Even downtown Las Vegas, which has shown resilience of late, was off 7%. The Strip, however, weathered the month fairly well, down only 1.3%.
Even top pros like Robert Williamson, Phil "The Unabomber" Laak, Jennifer Tilly and Jamie Gold were bested in the opening events of The Grand Poker Series, held at the Golden Nugget in downtown Las Vegas. A field of 220 women was ultimately topped by North Las Vegas' Siriwan Sukmekerd, while Englishman Matthew May won the bracelet for the "Cards, Celebrities and Cause" tourney, which raised $29,000 for the Montel Williams Multiple Sclerosis Foundation.
Not meaning to trump our earlier posting about the cheap Heinekens at the Gold Coast, but if you're young and beautiful, we've just learned that E!'s week-long filming at the Hard Rock pool for the "Daily 10" is offering an open bar with Miller Light Lime from 12:30-5:30 daily. Cabanas will also be available from 12:30 p.m. each day. First come, first served.
Spotted by Anthony Curtis earlier today: A giant marquee message at the Gold Coast, advertising "$2 Heineken. All casino bars." So if you're jonesing for a cold one, you know where to find them right cheap.
Las Vegas' Chinatown was the recipient of a write-up in Sunday's New York Times. It described how local developer James Chen devised the commercial hub in 1994, to cater to a Chinese community that was gaining critical mass. "After a few bumpy years, Chinatown has lately become a surprisingly popular destination for residents, who come to eat, shop ... and get the Chinese newspaper, which is published on the site," wrote the NYT's Bonnie Tsui. But, she noted, Chinatown's not just for locals -- Chinese tourists often make it their second stop, right after the Strip.
Shares of Las Vegas Sands hit a two-year low today, trading as far down $56.14 before bouncing back to close at $57.04. (Within the last year, the stock has traded as high as $148.76/share.) The drop follows a pair of investor reports that identified various market problems for Sands, including visa restrictions within China, tight margins in Macao, cutbacks of flights to Las Vegas, and a weakening U.S. economy. Sands has already said it's losing VIP market share in China to MGM Grand Macau. For additional coverage, see Stiffs & Georges.
GamingFloor.com Editor Ian Sutton, posting reports from G2E Asia, notes that table games popular in U.S. casinos are also catching fire in Macao. "The Venetian and Grand Waldo also have craps and reports from both venues are that the game is doing well," he writes. "On my visit to the Grand Lisboa every Poker table was open with a small waiting list of players." Sutton theorizes that the availability of online craps and poker has created a ready-made audience for games that are otherwise new to the Macanese scene.
Not entirely, mind you, but Reuters reports that casinos in the Chinese city are cutting back on their slot offerings, even though the revenue margins are better for slots than table games. Crown Macau alone yanked 350 slots from its gaming floor, replacing them with tables."I don't now if it's a short-term or long-term issue," Shuffle Master CEO Mark Yoseloff told Reuters. "If we were only in the slot machine business, I'd be concerned."
President Bush has signed into law a "technical corrections" transportation bill that includes $45 million for a proposed maglev (magnetic levitation) train between Anaheim and Las Vegas. The money would go toward an environmental-impact study of the initial Las Vegas-Primm leg of the route. A rival, conventional-rail project, promoted by Sig Rogich, would cost less ($3 billion to the maglev train's $12 billion), but would also travel at a slower speed and cover less ground, going only as far as Victorville.
According to our 'eye in the sky,' MGM Mirage has leveled Nevada Landing, in Jean, clear to the ground -- except for its sign. Asked what plans the company had for the sign, MGM Mirage spokesperson Yvette Monet replied, "The decision as to what to do with the sign will be made further down the road in the design and development process for the underlying land. The Neon Museum would likely be our first choice -- once we are closer to a specific time frame." The company had intended to build a large-scale housing development on the site, but subsequently backed off of that idea.
Beginning today, June 10, the Las Vegas Hilton's offering the following "Tuesdays Ladies Night" specials:
Tempo Lounge – Ladies drink free - 6 p.m.-9 p.m.
The Spa – 50% off spa services (25% off facial treatments) – Noon-6 p.m.
Teru Sushi – 50% off sushi – 6 p.m.-9 p.m.
Play table games for drawings at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. for cash and prizes. Ladies earn 2X drawing tickets noon-8 p.m.
The cause of the fire that caused the evacuation and closure of the Speedway Casino and Ramada Inn in North Las Vegas is still under investigation. The adjacent office building is a total loss but there were no reports of injury. As far as we know, both the casino and hotel remain closed at this time.
In response to a reader inquiry about our earlier posting re the South Point sign-up promo in today's R-J, yes it is in the online version, although it's well buried. We'll save you the legwork: click here for the direct link.
A private equity buyout of Penn National Gaming has been extended for four months, after it became apparent that Fortress Investment Group and Centerbridge Partners wouldn't be able to meet the June 15 deadline for closing the deal. This will make the purchase more expensive for Fortress and Centerbridge, and more lucrative for Penn shareholders: After June 15, the $67/share buyout price increases by a penny and a half per share per day.
Controversial Tropicana Entertainment CEO (and sole shareholder) William Yung has been forced to step down from the financially troubled company, although he retains a seat on its newly formed board of directors. According to the Wall Street Journal, Yung's resignation was forced by Silver Point Capital as a condition of providing financing to Tropicana while it undergoes Chapter 11 reorganization. Tropicana debtors had been clamoring for Yung's removal for weeks, in part because he still had the power to overrule the company's president, Scott Butera, who now succeeds Yung as CEO and who has proposed moving Tropicana HQ from Kentucky to Las Vegas.
South Point is offering $25 in free slot play to new club sign-ups. The offer's in an ad in today's LV Review-Journal, which says you have to bring the ad to get the deal.
At least for now. The deal to sell the casino has been terminated, which means the Hooters theme isn't going away for the time being. The owners have indicated they will assess the situation to determine whether they "continue to operate under current ownership, look at another sale, or expand the property."
Firefighters are battling a three-alarm fire at the Ramada Inn Las Vegas Speedway hotel at 3227 Civic Center Dri., North Las Vegas. We haven't heard of any casualties but will keep you abreast of developments if and when we hear more.
The 2008 Las Vegas Fest for Beatles Fans, which takes place June 29-July 1, is offering the ultimate Beatles-centric package for those in the Los Angeles area interested in traveling to Vegas on a Magical Mystery Tour Bus.
Chris Carter, host of the "Breakfast with the Beatles" show on KLOS-FM, will be the emcee on the Magical Mystery Tour Bus and will be showing rare Beatles DVDs and playing trivia games etc. The bus will depart from LA around 8 a.m. June 29 and arrive in time for the first day of The Fest, returning around noon on July 1. The package costs $249 per guest and includes a 2-night stay at the Mirage. (Prices are based on two guests per room -- a $100 supplement's added for those wanting single occupancy.)
The 2008 3-day Fest will take place at The Mirage and feature all things Beatles, including music, guest speakers (such as Pattie Boyd, who'll be signing copies of her new autobiography), art, photo and fashion exhibits, contests and games, and memorabilia. Each night, The Fest will culminate with concerts from artists that performed with, worked with or were great friends of the Beatles like singer-songwriter Donovan, among others. For more information and tickets visit www.TheFest.com.
"Dancing with the Stars" diva Karina Smirnoff, fashion designer Christian Audigier, pro Motocross rider Carey Hart, and actor Bill Pullman will be among the celebrities joining co-host Catt Sadler at the Hard Rock pool this week as "Daily 10" broadcasts from the summer hotspot today, June 9 through June 13. The public's encouraged to drop by and join in the fun every day starting at 1:30 p.m. and the shows will air at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT each day.
For a full schedule of this week's Vegas/gambling programing, check out Vegas TV and for more information on poolside events, visit our Cool Pools feature.
Rok Vegas™, a new rock-centric nightclub, is due to open this August at New York-New York. Featuring rock 'n' roll mash-ups, rock-inspired imagery, and resident VJ (Video Jockey) as well as DJ, the club will apparently surround guests with concert footage, live club feeds, lasers, and animation, and offer an exclusive outdoor VIP lounge.
South Point is running a June-long promotion by which players club points are worth double their cash value if redeemed for gas cards. Since everyone needs gas, it's the same as using points to get it at half Las Vegas' going $4-per-gallon price.
Wilbert Cantey, one of the famed "Four Horsemen of the Aberdeen Proving Grounds" who developed the first accurate blackjack basic strategy, has died. He is survived by his three co-developers, Roger Baldwin, James McDermott, and Herbert Maisel.
The pointspread dynamics of today's game 2 of the NBA championship series are interesting, but you can't react by making a bet at Harrah's. The games are off the board at all Harrah's properties, due to CEO Gary Loveman's small ownership stake (2.4%) in the Celtics.
Back to the pointspread, the line has moved from Boston being a 2.5-point favorite to L.A. being favored by 1.
The popular conservation attraction turns one year old today and to celebrate, Las Vegas Springs Preserve is holding an all-you-can-eat ice cream festival from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. today. For today admission's $6 (usually $18.95), which includes access to the festival, galleries, and museums, plus performances by Killians Angels, The Pickadillos, and other musical guests. Catch behind-the-scenes tours of the flash flood exhibit and animal and reptile habitats, or join in the garden-party games, including badminton, hoola-hoop, and horseshoes. The Springs Preserve is located at 333 S. Valley View Blvd.(between US 95 and Alta Dri.). For more information call 702/822-7700.
Sunset Station is paying 11X points today only, in celebration of the property's 11th anniversary. Get a free Sunset Station T-shirt from noon to 6 pm, and cake and champagne from noon to 8 pm.
The upset of Big Brown in the Belmont showed again why, as gamblers say, there's no such thing as a lock. The victory by long shot Da' Tara paid $79 (on a $2 ticket). The exacta returned $659, and the trifecta paid either $3,703 or $3,954, due to a dead heat for third.
Big Brown is an overwhelming favorite to win today's Belmont Stakes and complete horse racing's Triple Crown. He's currently about 1-4 and those odds will likely get even shorter, given that the race's second favorite, Casino Drive, has been scratched.
Meanwhile, there will be plenty of race-related events in the sports books today, including formal parties at Coast casinos, Station Casinos, both Fiestas, both Arizona Charlie's, and the Palms. Palms is also paying 3X points all day.
From 7 p.m.-10 p.m. tonight, Village Square Shopping Center (corner of W. Sahara and Fort Apache will host "Brew's Best," a world beer tasting event to benefit New Vista Community. Taste more than 30 international beers with live music, free raffles, and more. Tickets are $30 per person or two for $50. For advance ticket purchase and more information call 702/755-2912 or visit www.NewVistaCommunity.org
We have a refunded reader to thank for the heads-up on this one: Apparently Elvis tribute artist Trent Carlini performed his last show at the Sahara on May 31, although the box office only got word today that it was his last performance. Sounds like anyone with tickets for canceled shows is being automatically refunded but if you haven't been, contact the box office on 702/737-2515.
Today's USA Today contains a "Guest Commentary" from Phil Hellmuth that shows a different side of the "Poker Brat." Phil writes about the circumstances and emotions involved in winning the WSOP main-event championship in 1989. He outlasted runner-up Johnny Chan, who was seeking his third straight championship. But the best part reveals Phil's feelings about his father being present when he won. Worth a read.
Pole Position Raceway, the new uber go-cart track opposite Palms Place, is throwing a summer kickoff party from 6 p.m.-10 p.m. tonight. Festivities include a meet and greet with X Games gold medalist Mike Metzger, live radio remote, a raffle to race against Metzger, and half-price racing. The facility's located at 4175 S. Arville and is open daily 11 a.m.-midnight.
Euro 2008 kicks off at 8:50 a.m. tomorrow with Switzerland v. Czech Republic and if you're looking for like-minded fans to catch the games with, the two Crown & Anchor locations (1350 E. Tropicana and 4755 Spring Mountain) and the newly refurbished Fadó Irish Pub (9470 Eastern Ave.) are a good bet. They're all screening the whole tournament live and without cover charge; click here for more information about coverage at the C&A and here for Fadó's events.
As we mentioned in Vegas This Weekend yesterday, not only is the Palms awash with burlesque dancers this weekend, but also with burly firefighters. Yup, some of Las Vegas' hunky heroes will be at the Palms Pool from 1-2 p.m. today for the weekly "Ditch Fridays" pool party, where they'll be on hand to meet-and-greet and to promote the "Fire and Rain" Firefighter Bachelor Auction that takes place tomorrow from 6-10 p.m. at the Rain Nightclub.
For the full line-up of poolside events this weekend, of which there are many, check out our ever-expanding Cool Pools feature, which not only added new venues this week, but also now includes a handy Event Search calendar, Pool FAQs, Las Vegas Top 10 Pools, and more...
Erick Lindgren has won his first World Series of Poker bracelet, taking the $5,000 mixed (limit and no-limit) hold 'em event. First prize was $374,505. The final table included notables Roland De Wolfe, Howard Lederer, and David Williams.
Event #3 at the World Series of Poker, $1,500 pot-limit hold 'em, was won by David Singer for a first prize of $214,122. The tournament had 713 players and the top finishers were mostly unknowns.
The Palms will host another of its regular premium denim sales Fri., June 6 & Sat., June 7 in the Ballroom. Receive discounts up to 80% on name brands like True Religion, Diesel, Christian Audigier and many more. Sale runs noon to 8 p.m. Admission's $5 at the door or free with RSVP at www.TheWarehouseSale.com. Free admission also with ad found in local publications.
The art of the striptease takes center stage at the Palms Resort Casino, where entertainers from around the globe have gathered for the Burlesque Hall of Fame Weekend. Friday’s Ditch pool party will transform into a circus sideshow with live vaudeville acts, burlesque performances, and circus games. On Saturday, tassels will twirl poolside as tantalizing teasers compete in the Miss Exotic World Pageant. The opening night gala will be held at Ghostbar tonight and it all wraps up with the closing party at the Playboy club hosted by pin-up models Sabina Kelley and Heidi Van Horne. Other activities on tap for this weekend include First Friday festivities downtown and Springs Preserve’s one-year anniversary celebration and all-you-can-eat-ice-cream festival on Sunday.
The Elimination format is back with a new live tournament kicking off tonight at Sunset Station. Entry fee is $25 and there's a guaranteed $2,000 first-place prize. Part of that prize will be the entry fee for Sunset's $220 event on September 5. This will be a weekly event. The first round tonight is at 6 pm. Anthony Curtis will be there to play tonight along with other tournament-blackjack players you've seen on TV.
In today's Las Vegas Review-Journal, Mike Weatherford reports that the Tropicana has cut ticket prices on Folies Bergere and Xtreme Magic by 23%-39%, depending on price category. This means that a $68.90 ticket for Folies, for instance, now sells for $42.50. However, with the lower prices comes a cutback on promotional offers like 2-for-1 deals. According to Weatherford, the Trop will continue to do a small amount of discounted-ticket business with independent vendors, "but there won't be any more half-price offers in-house or through tourist publications."
A long-brewing acquisition of Cyberview Technology by slot giant International Game Technology came to a boil yesterday. The $76 million deal has something for everyone: Cyberview -- which still isn't licensed in either New Jersey or Nevada -- will get its products into the U.S. market sooner. IGT, for its part, takes a big leap forward in server-based gaming by purchasing Cyberview, which already years of experience with it in the European market. IGT has been contracted to create an all-server-based casino for Aria, centerpiece of MGM Mirage's CityCenter.
Galaxy Cannery Theatres will provide one free "Kung Fu Panda" T-shirt to the first 500 children that come through the door and purchase tickets to see "Kung Fu Panda" Friday, June 6.
Las Vegas Dealers Local 721, an affiliate of the Transport Workers Union, announced this afternoon that dealers at the Rio had filed for union representation. "An election date will be established soon," read the announcement. Dealers at Caesars Palace have already voted to unionize, although no contract has been reached.
A survey of casino executives and other experts, released yesterday at G2E Asia, in Macao, predicts Asian casinos will surpass the take of their U.S. counterparts in four years. Seventy-nine percent of those surveyed deemed it "very" or "somewhat" likely, with most leaning toward "very." Slot machine companies will have to be patient, though: Survey respondents think slot revenues in Asia won't match table game lucre until 2015, at the earliest.
To paraphrase Freud, sometimes a cigar bar is just a cigar bar -- and sometimes it's a casino. Bronco Billy's Casino, in Cripple Creek, Colo., is claiming it qualifies for the "cigar bar" exemption to the state's new ban on smoking in public places. By so doing, Bronco Billy's is able to open a quarter of its casino floor up to smoking. It's not the first: Over in Black Hawk, Wild Card Casino also says it is now a cigar bar. No citations have been issued to date.
That'd be anybody holding casino debt according to Bloomberg, noting a recent spate of casino bankruptcies and a Deloitte & Touche warning that Herbst Gaming could be next. Also: Casino Aztar loses its third GM in 17 months, and Internet polling finds that people aren't crazy about KA ... the name, that is, not the show.
Robin Camacho has kicked off an online tour of major new commercial real estate projects in Las Vegas. First stops: The Palazzo and City Center. It's the first installment in a series pointing to harbingers for future growth in the local housing market.
To kick off its Grand Poker Series, the Golden Nugget is hosting a charity poker benefit for the Montel Williams Multiple Sclerosis Foundation on Friday night. Host -- and MS sufferer -- Williams will be manning the red carpet from 5-6 p.m., and poker pros expected to attend include Daniel Negreanu, Jamie Gold and Dan "Who's Your Daddy" Fleischman. The non-gaming celebrity contingent will be represented by Robin Givens, illusionist Nathan Burton and impressionist Gordie Brown.
Now it's official. Crown Ltd. and Texas-based developer Christopher Milam have announced the cancelation of the Crown Las Vegas Resort & Casino, which had been planned for the former Wet 'n Wild parcel on the north Strip. The announcement takes few by surprise, as trouble and uncertainty had followed the project from the outset.
The epic $1,500 buy-in no-limit hold 'em event has concluded with Grant Hinkle taking top honors. James Akenhead was second and Chris Ferguson finished third.
Final table number-two in the WSOP includes Chris "Jesus" Ferguson, who has 1.2 million chips to leader James Akenhead's 2 million. This tournament had nearly 4,000 starters, generating a big $831,462 first prize.
Breaking news: Having reached an agreement with the contractor, workers at CityCenter (and, we assume, Cosmopolitan) are readying to return to work this evening. Plumbers' union head Tate McGinty said the deal will tighten safety measures and improve training at the work site.
As if the Cosmopolitan casino-resort project didn't need any more problems, word comes this afternoon that a picket line at the neighboring City Center site has halted construction on the Cosmo. Perini Building Co., the object of construction workers' ire, is also the general contractor on the Cosmo.
Nenad Medic is the winner of the first event of this year's World Series of Poker, the pot-limit hold 'em world championship. Andy Bloch was second and Kathy Liebert was third.
Following on the heels of the announcement that Toni Braxton has curtailed her appearance at the Flamingo for health reasons comes news from the property that one of their other shows, "X" Burlesque, has extended its run through July 2009. The sexy production is housed in the 180-seat Flamingo Second City Theatre. The show performs Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday at 10 p.m. with additional shows Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday at midnight. Tickets are $44.95 General Admission and $55.95 VIP (plus tax and fees).
Thirty-one percent revenue growth is nothing to sneeze at, save perhaps in Macao, where expectations run high. April's gambling revenue in the Chinese city grew 44% year/year, followed by May's 31%. Macao is in the process of absorbing massive new amounts of casino capacity, particularly at Venetian Macao. Wall Street reacted adversely, with Las Vegas Sands, Wynn Resorts, Melco PBL and MGM Mirage falling 3%, 1%, 6% and 3% respectively. Sands, though, increased its Macanese market share to over 25%, according to Lehman Bros.
An article in today's Las Vegas Review-Journal looks into the boardroom tensions that led to the ouster of CEO John Boushy yesterday. Boushy, a onetime Harrah's executive, was tapped to succeed company found Craig H. Neilsen upon the latter's death in late 2006. Apparently what worked at Harrah's didn't play so well at Ameristar, as the article alludes to a clash of corporate cultures, as well as a controversial move into the East Chicago market. Two of three analysts surveyed thought Ameristar was positioning itself for a sale.
The majority of union workers on MGM Mirage's $8.5 CityCenter project went on strike late yesterday after negotiations with the developer and construction company regarding the construction site's safety broke down.
Last Saturday saw the work-related fatality since construction began sixteen months ago and workers and their representatives are demanding an immediate work-site safety assessment, an on-site OSHA training course, and full job site access to be granted to union officials and safety directors. As one iron worker commented, "We're all behind this. Whatever has to be done to stop the men dying continuously. One man per month is what we have going right now. That's not okay."
While lead contractor Perini Building Co. has informally agreed to a list of safety-related demands by the Southern Nevada Building Trades Council, it has not done so in writing. MGM Mirage, for its part, released a statement placing the responsibility for work-site safety on individual workers. In a note to investors, JP Morgan analysts assured them "we think Perini will reach an agreement with the unions within the next day or so."
For a view of the dormant construction site, check out the link to the Polo Towers in our Las Vegas Webcam section in the LVA Visitor Guide section.
The most bizarre story of the day (so far) comes courtesy of the Houston Chronicle, which reports how Arkansas' highest court has ordered an inmate off of death row, citing a 1940 court decision that gave an escape clause from an aggravated-robbery conviction to people trying to recover gambling losses.
Justices ordered a new sentencing hearing for Michael B. Daniels, who said he was attempting to recover $20 he lost in a game of three-card monte when he stabbed and killed James Williams, 52, on Jan. 8, 2006. Daniels said during the trial that Williams had cheated in the game.
In the majority opinion, Associate Justice Robert Brown acknowledged that some could argue the 1940 case was not in the public's interest, but said, "it is nonetheless still good law in Arkansas." While prosecutors said there was no evidence that Williams cheated during the card game, three-card monte is by its very nature a sleight-of-hand con, so Williams was almost certainly practicing a deception on Daniels, who was unquestionably guilty of gullibility.
For a full history of three-card monte and explanation of how it works, check out the QoD archives for March 20, 2006. (If only we'd posted it a couple of months earlier, maybe this whole sorry saga wouldn't have happened...)
It comes as no great surprise to report MGM Grand's announcement that, due to "overwhelming demand," they're adding a second show for Madonna's "Sticky & Sweet Tour," just as they did the last time she passed through town. The second show will take place on Sun., Nov. 9 at 8 p.m. and tickets -- priced at $357, $252, $167, and $72 (plus taxes & fees) -- go on sale at 10 a.m. this Sat., June 7 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena Box Office and all Ticketmaster outlets.
June 12-21 marks the 10th annual CineVegas film festival and tickets for the numerous screenings, including world movie premieres, the latest indie offerings, documentaries, acclaimed animation shorts, a one-off drive-in downtown, and a bunch of parties, all go on sale today. Check out our new "Spotlight" feature for the lowdown on the festival and click here for information about the various packages that are available and for purchasing tickets to individual events.
As anticipated, there's been a bunch of good feedback re today's Question of the Day, so if you've already checked it out, tune in again for the updates and some more useful transportation tips.
We get many questions about Las Vegas' water situation, and we've answered them from time to time via Question of the Day or in LVA. If you want to get the latest on this subject, a five-part series on water is appearing in the Las Vegas Sun portion of the weekend R-J. The first part is in today's newspaper and subsequent installments will run every Sunday until June 29.
This year's first WSOP champion will be determined today and several big names are in the hunt. Leading the pack on the final table of the pot-limit hold 'em world championship is Andy Bloch, with 2,115,000. Other notables in the final nine are Mike Sexton(1,200,000), Phil Laak (425,000), Kathy Liebert (285,000), and Patrik Antonius (230,000). Play begins today at 3 pm; first prize is $794,112.