You have until tomorrow morning to take advantage of the publisher's discount for Eating Las Vegas 2016. The $9.95 price, which includes shipping, will be good until noon EST tomorrow.
MGM Resorts International has announced that it will buy out Boyd Gaming's 50% share of Atlantic City's Borgata for $900 million. MGM and Boyd had been 50-50 partners in Borgata since it was built for $1 billion in 2003. Boyd, which recently purchased Cannery, Eastside Cannery, and Aliante, appears to be concentrating its efforts in Las Vegas.
Our current hot-topic Reader Poll on the subject of whether or not you'd support an NFL team in Las vegas closes at midnight. We've been contacted by movers and shakers in this area who are very interested in the result, so be a part of it and get your vote in if you haven't already.
The latest exclusive weekly column from video poker guru Bob Dancer has been posted -- just click the link to read.
The question of whether or not Las Vegas will get an NHL team in the near future may be answered on June 22, when the league votes on the expansion issue. If approved, Las Vegas could get its own NHL team as early as 2017, though that may be optimistic, at least in terms of the timing.
The Golden State Warriors opened -210 favorites over the Cleveland Cavaliers to win the NBA Championship. The series begins Thursday at Golden State.
The Golden State Warriors are -7 favorites over the Oklahoma City Thunder in tonight's deciding Game 7 of the NBA's Western Conference Finals. The total is 219.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are -135 favorites over the San Jose Sharks in tonight's Game 1 of the NHL's Stanley Cup finals. The goal line is 5.5, over +125 and under -145.
After the Golden State Warrior's 108-101 victory over the Oklahoma Thunder in Game 6 of the NBA Championships was in the books, part of the book changed when the official scoring total for Warrior's star Stephen Curry was amended from 29 to 31 points. No big deal, unless you were one of many bettors who had Curry over or under 30.5 points, which was the prevailing line. What should you do? Contact the sports book at which you made the wager, because different ones handle these situations differently. As Westgate sports book director Jay Kornegay told the L.A. Times, "It's all up to the house rules, and even how you interpret those rules." If nothing else, it's a good example of why it's sports betting basic strategy to cash winning tickets immediately and hold on to losers for a while.
Some holidays get overlooked by the casinos, but Memorial Day isn't one of them. On machines, Boyd casinos are offering 15X points on penny slots, 11X on other slots, and 7X on video poker; South Point has 10X points on pennies, 5X on other slots, and 2X on video poker; and Station casinos have 3.3X on slots and 2X on video poker. South Point is offering a free buffet for two by showing military ID. Get one free buffet at Rampart for showing military ID, plus all bingo players get free hot dogs and chips. Silverton is offering one free buffet for veterans, active military, Nevada police and fire, and NHP personnel. El Cortez has free White Castle cheeseburgers for players from noon to 6 p.m. Other restaurants with deals are McCormick & Schmick's with a free lunch or dinner for veterans, active military, and National Guard, and Bistro 57 at Aliante and Cabo Wabo in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood with 20% off food and drink and Trevi in the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace with 10% off for veterans and active military. And all day today, rides on the High Roller observation wheel are free by showing a retired or active military ID at the box office.
Powerful representatives of two of the four major sports leagues made public comments in support of gambling this month. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who has spoken in favor of sports betting legalization in the past recently told ESPN, "It should be legal, it should be regulated, it should be transparent." Earlier this month, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft addressing the possibility of an NFL team coming to Las Vegas said, "We're living in a different world, technology wise. The risks in Vegas are no longer exclusive to Vegas."
Thomas Almeida is a -195 favorite over Cody Garbrandt in tonight's UFC main event. In the other featured match, Renan
Barao is -155 over Jeremy Stephens.
A construction worker in New York won his second $1 million-dollar lotto jackpot last month. After winning the first in 2012, the man fell on hard times when medical expenses for his dying wife used up the windfall. He then hit a second $1 million scratch-off at the same convenience store. The odds of winning on the first ticket were 2.5 million-to-1, while the odds the second time were 7.7 million-to-1.
It's crowded at the top of the odds board for today's 100th Indianapolis 500 race. Simon Pagenaud is the slight favorite at +600, followed by Scott Dixon, +610 and Juan Montoya and Will Power, both at +660, and Helio Castroneves at +715.
Memorial Day is one of the big holidays in Las Vegas, as partiers officially kick off the summer pool season. A projected 315,000 visitors will come to town over the three-day weekend, taking up more than 98% of the 149,563 available rooms.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are -140 favorites over the San Jose Sharks to win hockey's Stanley Cup. The series begins Monday in Pittsburgh.
For National Burger Day today, Railroad Pass is running a special of two burgers with fries for $5 in the coffee shop. If you don't want a burger, check out the $1 hot dogs or shrimp cocktail at the front bar.
The new poker room at Encore is open. The 8,600-square-foot area features 28 tables, 37 TVs, and an exclusive poker menu with dishes out of the kitchens of Wazuzu and Jardin.
The Ainsworth has closed at the Hard Rock. The funky bar off the main floor that opened in 2012 always seemed to be an afterthought to the hopping center bar, so you might not expect that another bar will replace it. Then again, the Hard Rock has a long history of running a main bar and a side bar, so we wouldn't be surprised if another bar took its place..
"I Love the '90s" is the theme of the latest in the Concerts on the Beach series from Mandalay Bay this Saturday, May 28, with performances from veteran rappers including GRAMMY Award-winners Salt-N-Pepa, plus Tone Loc, Young MC, Kool Moe Dee, and others, and Rock 'n Roll Wine will be on hand with a side party at Moorea Beach, featuring 25 wines from around the world to sample. Tix for the "Wine Amplified" party, which includes access to the concert, are $59 in advance, with a $10 surcharge on the day (if space is still available, which it probably won't be, so hurry!)
The Plaza has announced that it's completely redesigned pool complex will open July 2 and be open free of charge to hotel guests and locals of all ages. New features for the rooftop pool include cabanas, a 12-person hot tub, and renovated tennis, basketball, and pickleball courts. The opening day festivities will conclude with a fireworks show.
Rampart is unveiling two new video poker games today -- Lucky Stud Draw Poker and Pyramid Poker. Everyone who plays between 5 and 7 p.m. today gets a free T-shirt.
While for many this holiday weekend has come to mark the beginning of pool-season in Las Vegas, with headliner-hosted parties throughout the three days, we don't want to lose sight of what Memorial Day is actually about, so here's a link to the Nevada Office of Veterans Services website, where you can find details of the official ceremonies state-wide, commencing May 27.
Entertainment-wise, here are the highlights:
It looks like comedian Vinnie Favorito is heading to Hooters. Favorito posted on his Facebook page that as of June 16 he'll be "Wingin' it at Hooters." No price information was disclosed and there's been no official confirmation, but Favorito says the deal's done.
Las Vegas Sands has announced that it will partner with Madison Square Garden Co. to build a 400,000-square-foot arena behind the Venetian and Palazzo. The 17,500-seat venue will feature luxury-seating options, clubs, and lounges, and be specifically designed for music and entertainment, but will also be suited to host sporting events and serve as a general conference center for trade shows and conventions. If the project is a go, it would likely be completed in 2018.
An under-the-radar "groundbreaking" ceremony was held at the site of the old Moulin Rouge yesterday. A group called Moulin Rouge Holdings says it plans to build a $100 to $150 million hotel and casino there, though no solid timetables or funding information was forthcoming.
Not so fast. While the former Diamond China on W. Sahara is closed, as reported in this space yesterday, the restaurant remains open under new management and with a new name, Fortune Fountain.
The William Hill sports book at Hooters was robbed at gunpoint last night. A single perpetrator left on foot with an undisclosed amount of money and remains at large. No one was injured.
Our new book, Cherry Picker -- A Literate Look at Losing at Slots, is back from the printer. This is a book for those of you who play the slots with pride and don't care what anyone thinks of you for it. Really? We published that? Yep. Loved the writing (though a bit high-brow) and thought the premise was cool. It's available now from ShopLVA.com for the best discount we'll be offering -- $11.98, includes shipping.
Norwegian Air Shuttle will initiate Las Vegas-to-London routes beginning Oct. 31. The airline will fly 291-seat twin-engine Boeing 787 Dreamliner jets, with one-way tickets announced at an introductory price of $199. The airline currently provides service between Las Vegas and Copenhagen and Stockholm, and will soon add Oslo.
Intelligent game playing or cheating a casino promotion? Check out what Bob Dancer has to say in his weekly video poker column.
We knew something was up with Diamond China on W. Sahara, and now that's confirmed with the closing of what had been one of our favorite Chinese restaurants in town. Even if reopened under new management, many of the best dishes had already been changed or discontinued before the closing.
MGM Resorts International has released its playMGM mobile betting app, which can be downloaded from the Apple iTunes store. MRI's app was somewhat late to the party, but it's the first to allow 24/7 betting, making it the most accessible in the state. The app can be funded at any of MRI's 10 Las Vegas sports books.
After more than a year of dormancy, the poker room at Trump's Taj Mahal in Atlantic City has reopened. The room was Atlantic City's busiest in the late '90s when it was used for key scenes in the movie Rounders.
The water level at Lake Mead dropped to 1,074.7 feet above sea level last week, its lowest point since 1937 when the lake was first filled. It’s expected to drop to below 1,071 feet by the traditional low point of the year in June.
After its meteoric rise during poker's heyday and nearly equally fast fall when its funds were seized in the Black Friday government shutdown, the online poker platform Full Tilt has been discontinued. Its players were merged into the PokerStars system last week. PokerStars acquired Full Tilt in 2012 and had been running the sites separately.
The excellent hot dog cart in the sports book at the Gold Coast now includes chili as an option for $1 additional. You can still get a dog for $1.50, with onions, kraut, and relish at no extra charge. A chili dog with the works is $2.50.
Jet Suite, a public charter operator, is set to begin service between Las Vegas and Burbank, California by June. Because the airline operates out of private terminals, the security regimen is lessened and waits are reduced. The airline will fly 30-seat twin-engine Embraer 135 jets Sun.-Fri., with one-way tickets announced at $129 when purchased in advance.
As expected, the betting pool for the Preakness Stakes has straightened itself out. Nyquist is again the favorite at 3-5, while the interloping Stratavari is back at 8-1.
In the past week, two of the league's most influential owners have come out in support of an NFL franchise in Las Vegas. First it was Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys indicating that he would back a move by the Oakland Raiders to Las Vegas and yesterday Robert Kraft of the New England Patriots voiced similar sentiments. Addressing gambling's potential influence, Kraft said, "Whatever the risks, they're no greater [in Las Vegas] than playing a game in New Jersey." Whether or not Las Vegas could support a team is the subject of our current Reader Poll. Tell us what you think.
There's been a huge shift in the odds for today's Preakness Stakes resulting from a $80,000 wager being placed on Stradivari. The effect of the large bet on the pari-mutuel pool makes Stradivari the new favorite at 1-2 and moves Nyquist to 5-2. It's unlikely to stay this way; however, as money will come back on Nyquist at those odds. We'll update close to post time.
The morning line for today's Preakness Stakes makes Kentucky Derby winner Nyquist the favorite at 4-5. Exaggerator is 9-5 and Stradivari is 7-1. The long shot is Laoban at 60-1.
From May 26 to July 10, Planet Hollywood will once again host the PHamous Goliath Poker Series, with well over 100 tournaments, featuring a total of $8,250,000 in guaranteed prize money, and featuring highlights including the Main Event and five GOLIATH events, plus events from the Charity Series of Poker, the LIPS Poker Tour, and the Deaf Poker Tour.
The Hoover Dam Bypass, and more specifically its key feature, the Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, has made the Top 25 Landmarks list, as picked by users of TripAdvisor.com, coming in at #22. The arch bridge, located within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, about 30 miles southeast of Las Vegas, and spans the Colorado River between Arizona and Nevada. It opened in 2010. Top of the list was the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, followed by a double-whammy for San Francisco, with the Golden Gate Bridge at #2 and Alcatraz #3.
Golfer Phil Mickelson Mickelson has reached an agreement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to return profits of close to $1 million, apparently reaped from his part in the alleged insider-trading scandal that led to the arrest earlier this week, by the FBI, of legendary Las Vegas sports bettor Billy Walters. Mickelson reportedly became involved in the scheme as a means of repaying Walters substantial gambling debts he'd accrued; he has cooperated with the S.E.C. and is not named in the criminal complaint brought against Walters and former Dean Foods Co. chairman Tom C. Davis.
Earlier this week, the Nevada Gaming Control Commission unanimously granted signed off on a series of approval applications, including suitability assessments on various key executives and corporate entities, marking the most significant progress in a year for the long-awaited Strip megaresort. Phase I of the project was originally slated for completion in 2015, with a grand opening of the finished resort slated for sometime this year; now the latest estimated opening date is early 2019.
The steel construction phase of the Hard Rock's new 18,000-square-foot convention-space expansion has been completed; however, due to the inclement weather, the traditional topping off ceremony has been postponed until Monday, June 23. When the new addition is completed, which is scheduled to be toward the end of this year, it will bring the total meeting/event space at the property to 110,000 square feet.
Actor Jamie Foxx is the celebrity host of tonight's grand opening of Jewel, the new nightclub at Aria in the space formerly occupied by Haze.
Enjoy being outdoors while it's still humanly possible, with a whole raft of al fresco activities to choose from, plus the usual eclectic offerings on the comedy/music/fighting front; here are some of the highlights:
The official 2016 Life is Beautiful Music & Art Festival lineup has been released, with headliners to include Mumford & Sons, J. Cole, Jane’s Addiction, Platinum, The Lumineers, Major Lazer, and dozens of other acts, performing during the three-day downtown extravaganza that takes place September 23-25. Early Bird tix are already sold out, but Advance 3-Day Passes are currently available.
In a surprise development, the man who's been called "the most-dangerous sports bettor in Nevada," and a founding member of the legendary "Computer Group," was arrested in Las Vegas Wednesday by the F.B.I. on both criminal and civil charges stemming from a long investigation into possible insider trading by Walters and his associates. Walters, who also owns Las Vegas' Bali Hai golf course and back in 2011 was the subject of an in-depth profile by "60 Minutes," is being charged with securities fraud by the United States attorney in Manhattan, while the Securities and Exchange Commission has also filed civil charges; Thomas C. Davis, the former chairman of Dean Foods who stepped down last year after being suspected of leaking insider tips to Mr. Walters, has also been arrested.
The current situation is not Billy Walters' first brush with the law, having previously been acquitted on charges of both illegal gambling and money laundering. For more on Walters and his legendary sports-betting career, check out our exclusive collection of interviews and stories, available only from ShopLVA.com.
We checked out the press opening for Topgolf last night and it's impressive. The majority of the complex is the huge driving range that takes up almost the entire area that used to be the MGM Grand Theme park, but the indoor portion provides lots to do for non-golfers, with pools, live music, several bars, and an extensive food menu. We didn't get prices because everything was complimentary, but the place is loaded with TVs of all sizes tuned to sports, making it an excellent option for catching a game.
If an NFL team came to town, would you go to the games? It's a subject of great debate in Las Vegas and also our new Reader Poll. We're interested to see these results.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board has filed a complaint against CG Technologies (formerly Cantor Gaming) for underpaying customers on winning sports bets. The complaint alleges underpayments of $700,000 over more than 20,000 wagers, apparently all parlays. The underpayments were caused by a software glitch (about $100,000 was also overpaid), but the complaint alleges that CGT knew about it, didn't rectify it, then tried to block the state's investigation. Gaming is seeking a $600,000 penalty and disciplinary action. CGT has 30 days to respond.
Las Vegas' Topgolf venue, the 25th location and new flagship for the state-of-the-art driving-range attraction, debuts at MGM Grand at 8 a.m. Thursday, May 19. The eight-acre, four-story facility not only features 108 climate-controlled hitting bays, but is also equipped with two pools, five bars, a concert venue and special-event spaces, and more and will operate daily from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. (4 a.m Sat./Sun.), with bay rentals starting at $30 (GA admittance is free).
As announced in dramatic style Monday night, when the TV chef rappelled down the facade of the Tropicana, Chef Robert Irvine of Food Network fame will be opening a new restaurant at the Strip resort in 2017. It's the first major news from owners Penn National since they purchased the resort and promised that a major dining overhaul would be top on their list of priorities for the resort-casino, so expect more announcements to follow in due course.
For a current culinary map of Sin City, and top tips on what to eat and where, check out the brand new 2016 edition of Eating Las Vegas, available for a limited time from our online store, ShopLVA.com, at a publisher's discount and with reduced shipping [you won't beat this price anywhere else, but hurry while the offer lasts!]
A big thank-you shout out to Forbes magazine, and more specifically to contributor Nicholas G. Colon, for the in-depth feature that takes readers inside the notorious and uber-secret annual gathering known as the "Blackjack Ball." A "Who's Who" of the most skillful blackjack players in the world, at which each year the "World's Greatest Blackjack Player" is crowned following a rigorous test of skills, Colon's account also reads like a "Who's Who" of Huntington Press authors, with publisher Anthony Curtis, Rick "Night Train" Blain (Blackjack Blueprint, three-time Blackjack Ball champ James Grosjean (check out his table-game strategy cards, exclusive to ShopLVA.com), Max Rubin (Comp City, and Bob Nersesian (The Law for Gamblers, our brand-new release) also receiving extensive coverage in the piece.
Does the couple that plays together stay together? Is blissful ignorance a good thing, and does that depend on whether or not it's costing you money? How competitive are you with your partner? These are some of the important life considerations touched upon by Bob Dancer in his video poker column this week.
In some rare positive economic news to emanate from New Jersey, in April the state scored an all-time high, at $17 million, for its monthly online-gambling win (although this still falls far short of the original estimates, which predicted cyber wagering to be a $500 million-to-$1 billion industry in the state, prior to its launch back in late 2013). The latest figures continue a trend started back in March, when the previous record of more than $15 million record was set and reflects an almost 40 percent increase on the same month the previous year.
For Caesars Entertainment, however, prospects are less rosy, with word that the company is now considering various unsolicited bids for Caesars Interactive, its mobile- and social-gaming subsidiary, as the parent company joins its operating company, CEOC, in facing the genuine specter of bankruptcy. According to reports in the Wall Street Journal, offers could top $4 billion for the fast-growing unit that owns numerous online games, including the iconic World Series of Poker brand, plus social and real-money online casino entities in Nevada, New Jersey, the United Kingdom, and elsewhere.
Monday marks the commencement of a two-week national safety campaign, being run locally by Nevada Highway Patrol, in conjunction with other law-enforcement agencies across Southern Nevada, and targeted primarily at the enforcement of seat-belt wearing laws, but also with an eye to catching speeding and distracted drivers, and other dangerous behaviors behind the wheel. Las Vegas Metro, together with the North Las Vegas and Henderson police, are participating in the annual nationwide "Click It or Ticket" event, which aims to increase safety awareness and compliance, save lives, and reduce injuries and traffic accidents.
The lines are forming already, although Las Vegas' first IKEA home-improvement store doesn't officially open its doors until 9 a.m. on Wednesday, May 18. The reason for the queues is the announcement by the company that inaugural shoppers will be rewarded with a slew of freebies over the first three days of opening, ranging from sofas, mattresses, and gift cards, to plush toys, cinnamon buns and, a year's supply of family meals featuring IKEA's famous signature Swedish meatballs. But the early bird catches the meatball, so to speak, with the top swag being awarded to the first customers through the door Wednesday through Friday; the store's located at Durango and the 215 Beltway (and, if you click the link, you can also get a sneak-preview tour of the facility courtesy of FOX5 News).
Cherry Boom Boom (not to be confused with Lady Gaga's frequent musical collaborator, who has an extra 'Cherry'), is the new topless burlesque revue coming to the Tropicana and bills itself as a "One-of-a-Kind RockNRoll-A-Go-Go Theatrical Dance Show." While that description might sound dubious, the show is already an established performing entity in the Los Angeles area and comes with some impressive credentials, including boasting Pussycat Dolls founding member Lindsley Allen as its co-producer (with actress Shana Betz) and choreographer. (Allen is also known for portraying the "Darling Nikki" character for Prince's "Around the World" tour and, more recently, for her involvement with Charlie's Angels and "Dancing With the Stars"). According to the official Twitter, auditions are already underway, with callbacks having taken place last week, so this is definitely a "thing."
Registration is now open for our "Sunday Funday 28" poker tournament. Play begins at noon PST/3 p.m. EST today. Along with $100 for first, prizes include an autographed hard cover of The Law for Gamblers, the new Eating Las Vegas 2016, and the classic blackjack reference book Blackjack Attack. Prizes will again be awarded to the first 14 finishers. See the entire prize pool and register to play at the LVA Casino (once signed in, click on "Poker Tournaments" and register for Tourney ID 11112). This tournament is completely free to play. There will also be other tourneys running all day for gift cards and play chips. Come have some fun! See you at noon.
A visitor from Texas hit a $1 million jackpot at the Golden Nugget earlier this month on a Wheel of Fortune machine. It was the second million+ jackpot at GN this year after another guest hit for $2.8 million in March.
Fabricio Werdum is a -175 favorite over Stipe Mioci in today's UFC main event. In the other featured match, Ronaldo Souza is -300 over Vitor Belfort.
Reserve some time tomorrow to play in our 28th Sunday Funday online poker tournament. First place gets $100, and prizes will be awarded to the top 14 places. Prizes include the autographed hard cover of our new book, The Law for Gamblers, the new Eating Las Vegas 2016, and and the classic Blackjack Attack. The game kicks off at 3 p.m. EST/noon PST. It's completely free to play, with registration beginning two hours before the tournament at the LVA Casino.
The Helldorado Days Festival runs through tomorrow in the area across from Luxor that's now called Las Vegas Village. The festival features rides, food vendors, and a rodeo. Tickets are $10 to enter the grounds; rodeo tickets are separate. Note that there will likely be traffic disruptions downtown till early afternoon, due to streets being closed off for this morning's Helldorado Days parade.
It doesn't even have to be your birthday to enjoy the monthly b'day festivities at Railroad Pass. From 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today there's free cake and champagne for everyone, regardless of your star sign (but while supplies last).
Citing "personal reasons," the 27-year-old Swedish DJ today abruptly canceled all remaining Las Vegas performance dates at Encore's XS Nightclub and Encore Beach Club, which already were being billed as "farewell" shows following his recent retirement announcement. Anyone holding tickets for scheduled Avicii performances in Las Vegas "will be contacted via email with further instructions" according to Encore's official Twitter; on Sat., May 14 he'll be replaced by Dillon Francis and on Sun., May 15, by Marshmello.
Men, are you you held back by self-doubt? Conquer your fear at the Limitless Man Summit lifestyle conference, coming to Las Vegas May 25-27! (Click the link for details; just be aware that confidence don't come cheap: Tix start at $300 for one day.)
The newest eatery to join the ever-evolving lineup at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas is the much-anticipated Beauty & Essex, which debuts Saturday, May 14. The restaurant/cocktail lounge/retail store-concept from TAO Group is modeled after the original B&A in New York City and features a menu of upscale modern-American cuisine.
While a top temperature of 98 degrees was predicted for Friday, apparently official thermometers have passed the 100-degree mark, making today the first of many triple-digit days the Vegas valley can look forward to.
We just completed the first (it's an ongoing labor of love all summer long) major update to our long-running and popular Cool Pools feature, where you can find details of which Las Vegas pools are "toptional"; who has pool parties/concerts; where to find swim-up and poolside blackjack; which facilities are open to non-hotel guests (with or without a cover charge); and more!
Evidently the dust is settling in the Entertainment Department at the New Tropicana, in the aftermath of the Jan Rouven scandal, and following news earlier this week of the new topless revue, Cherry Boom Boom, comes word that veteran Strip comedian Rich Little has extended performances of his family-friendly show at the Laugh Factory comedy club through January 2017.
If you're simply gambling to have a good time and money's no object, go ahead and be as "george" as you like; but if you're playing with a finite bankroll and/or actually trying to eke out an advantage over the casino, over-tipping can be deadly. James Grosjean teaches the rookies among us how to wise up in his latest post at Beyond Numbers.
The "kiss" we refer to, of course, is KISS Monster Mini-Golf, debuting soon at its new home at the Rio, and by the looks of the pictures that the almost-complete attraction just teased on Twitter, there's nothing "mini" about the production values of the new location, which looks pretty awesome!
On May 15, Las Vegas' first Burger Lounge will debut at Aria, near the poker room. An "eco-conscious" chain out of Southern California, the upscale fast-food outlet features non-GMO sustainable ingredients and will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
MGM Resorts International says that it will begin charging for parking at New York-New York, Monte Carlo, Bellagio, Aria, and Vdara on June 6, with others following a few days later. However, there are several departures from MRI's originally announced blanket plan. Notably, locals will not be charged at least through the end of the year. There will also be no charge for stays of less than one hour and for members of specified high tier levels in the M life players club. Others, including hotel guests, will apparently be charged fees ranging from $5 to $10 for garage parking and $8 to $18 for valet, depending on length of stay and the property. Free parking for locals will require scanning a Nevada driver's licenses at a kiosk.
The weather promises to be nice, which is good, as there are plenty of outdoor activities this weekend. Here are the highlights:
The debut of Mind Live!", the new re-imagined Criss Angel production at Luxor which the TV magician had planned to "soft" open tonight, has been pushed back to an unspecified date, reports LV Sun entertainment columnist Johnny Kats, as the cast continues to work on the show. Presumably this will have a knock-on effect of delaying the planned June 23 Grand Opening performance, too, although nothing has been announced; we'll keep you posted.
As the Tropicana deals with the fallout following the overnight shuttering of Jan Rouven's illusion show, the latest announcement is that a burlesque comedy, Cherry Boom Boom, will be sharing the showroom with Tropicana Theater as the 10:30 p.m. complement to Raiding the Rock Vault. Additional details TBA.
Don McLean is bringing his American Troubadour Tour to Las Vegas for a special one-night-only performance at The Railhead inside Boulder Station on Friday, July 1 at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $27.50, plus tax and fees, and go on sale Friday, May 13 at 10 a.m.
Even though our dining scene no longer specializes in graveyard steak-and-eggs* specials, and our tours are not the cheapest, the combination of low hotel room rates and other advantages won out among Trip Advisor users, who picked Las Vegas as top of the list for Summer Vacation Value destinations this summer. Sin City beat out other popular hotspots, including Cancun, Punta Cana, and Orlando, even though at $2,224 for the average cost of a one-week trip, Las Vegas actually works out a couple hundred bucks more expensive than the popular Florida family pick.
(While Las Vegas is now deservedly acknowledged as a fine-dining destination with world-class chefs, the new section in Eating Las Vegas 2016 dedicated to the city's best steakhouses spans the spectrum from wallet-crushing Wagyu, to some bargain-beef deals that are still to be had, so carnivores of all persuasions would be well-advised to check it out because John Curtas knows his onions, and his cow.)
While he could not confirm anything specific, John Knotts of CBRE's Global Gaming Group casino real estate advisory and brokerage services, dropped some hints while guesting on KNPR's "State of Nevada" show this morning, saying that "I think we are fairly close to making a deal" to sell Fontainebleau, and that the purchaser (there are several candidates in the race) would be buying the property with a view to completing it, since demolition would not be cost-effective.
As Las Vegas Advisor reported yesterday, Red Rock Resorts (formerly Station Casinos) has released official confirmation regarding the company's purchase of the off-Strip Palms for $312.5 million.
The delightful chef behind the eponymous restaurant at Caesars Palace is celebrating 10 years in Las Vegas by debuting a brand new eatery, Brioche by Guy Savoy, inspired by his quick-service pastry-and-savories Goût de Brioche concept in Paris and open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. In addition, Restaurant Guy Savoy is serving a $300 five-course celebratory chef's menu now through the end of May, featuring signature dishes including: "Golden" osetra caviar; roasted turbot; Savoy's signature artichoke and black truffle soup (looks like a puddle of ditch water, tastes awesome); veal chop; and a strawberry dessert. Merci, et bon anniversaire, M. Savoy!
In an interview with Las Vegas Sun gossip columnist Robin Leach, published Monday, the male half of Donny & Marie, has a tough decision to make in the next week or so, regarding whether he'll continue the show at the Flamingo or take up the offer of a role on Broadway. (Our money's on him quitting Vegas for New York, for what it's worth, and we won't have to wait long as apparently Caesars Ent. has given the performer an ultimatum and time's running out...)
In this week's column, the video poker pro calls on the wisdom of Sir Winston Churchill to support the topic under discussion which, in a nutshell, is that to be ignorant about something -- say, an expert gambling strategy -- is both forgivable and "curable;" mental incapacity, however, is not. Which category do you fall in to, if either? Read Bob's column and weep find out!
Throughout the month of May, show a bona fide ticket stub as proof of attendance at any qualifying headlining show currently performing at Planet Hollywood, including Britney Spears' Piece of Me, Frankie Moreno's Under the Influence, or Lionel Richie's All the Hits, and receive 15 percent off your bill. (Follow this link for discounted show tickets, too!)
Having previously been hosted by the Flamingo, and then the Riviera, for its 11th year the WSOPB is moving to Westgate Las Vegas, where it's going down July 6-10, with more than $65,000 in prize money up for grabs.
It's National Burger Week and, to celebrate, each day this week Dog Haus, the new gourmet hot dog joint on Paradise Road, is rolling out a new burger each day this week, for the special price of $5 (Monday's burger du jour is the classic cheeseburger, BTW). This is all building up to the grand crescendo that is May 28, a.k.a. National Hamburger Day, when diners will also be offered a free burger upgrade, comprising an extra patty, plus cheese.
By the way, if you're looking for the best patties in town, you'll find some choice picks, at both ends of the price spectrum, in the "Best Burgers" list in Eating Las Vegas 2016's "Additional Recommendations" section.
It has not been officially announced, but Las Vegas Advisor has it on extremely good authority that the Palms, which was recently placed on the market, is being bought by Station Casinos in a move that would make sense. The company previously purchased the original Fiesta (now Fiesta Rancho) from Palms founder George Maloof, which also adds a certain pleasing symmetry to the transaction. Stay tuned for updates!
What was dubbed "The Max Casino" back in late 2013, as a nod to the property's former incarnation as the Maxim, is to close in order to make way for a restaurant. Presumably that also means the end of the line for the William Hill race and sports book at the off-Strip Westin, which has struggled to lure tourists from the Strip and is now firmly positioning itself for convention trade.
Last night's $429 million Powerball jackpot was hit by a single ticket in New Jersey. The winning numbers were 5-25-26-44-66 and a Powerball of 9.
Alistair Overeem is a -225 favorite over Andrei Arlovski in today's UFC main event. In the other featured match, Stefan Struve is -210 over Antonio Silva.
There are plenty of special menus and drink deals in honor of mothers today if you haven't yet made plans, but for something a little different, take your mom to Vegas Indoor Skydiving and she'll get to ride for free and receive a complimentary cupcake from The Cupcakery if you purchase one regular adult ticket. And while the San Genaro Festival seems to have skipped its tradition of free carnival rides for moms there will be a Mother's Day fireworks show at 9 p.m. at the new Craig Ranch Park location. If mom's a player, South Point has 5X points on slots today and 2X points on video poker.
In tonight's Middleweight Championship fight, Canelo Alvarez is -515 over Amir Khan. The total is 9.5 rounds, with under the favorite at -130.
Local chanteuse Avana Christie, plus a cast of friends, pays tribute to Aretha Franklin this evening at Ron Decar's Event Center (1201 S. Las Vegas Blvd.) Doors at 6:30 p.m. showtime's 8-9 p.m., and tickets start at $22.
Will there be back-to-back Triple Crown winners in horse racing? Following last year's Triple Crown campaign by American Pharoah, talk swirls around the chances of the Kentucky Derby favorite, Nyquist, or any horse in today's race, duplicating the feat. Don't count on it. The NO is -800, meaning you have to bet $800 to win $100 if betting that it won't happen. The YES is +600.
The casinos promote hard for the Kentucky Derby. For our round-up of the best places to catch the race, check out Friday's post in this column, and add that Station Casinos is serving $3 Stella Artois, $3 shots of Jack Daniel's, and $5 mint juleps in the race and sports book bars.
The current odds for the Kentucky Derby make Nyquist the favorite at 2-1, followed Exaggerator at 5-1 and Gun Runner at 9-1. The long shot is Shagaf at 72-1.
It's the first full weekend of the month, which means today and Sunday Bank of America/Merrill Lynch card holders can enjoy complimentary admission to participating museums; in Nevada, includes Springs Preserve, DISCOVERY Children's Museum, and the Natural History Museum in Las Vegas, plus the Museum of Art in Reno.
Having first dipped a (perfectly honed) toe in Las Vegas waters back in February, with a mini run at downtown's Las Vegas Country Saloon as Men of Steele, recently came word that male revue STEELE was moving to the Strip, with a gig in the Tommy Wind Theater. Tickets to these shows, which start at $49.95, are available Wednesday-Sunday through June 26, but apparently this is just a prelude to greater things for this production from the makers of Magic Mike.
HOWEVER, in big breaking news earlier this week, the Hard Rock is to convert the former Body English nightclub space into a showroom that will host a rival male-stripper production backed by Channing Tatum, the stripper-turned-actor upon whom Magic Mike allegedly was based (Tatum denies it). It's really complicated and has already been the cause of litigation; check blog "Vegas Bright" for the back story.
Ahead of Saturday's 142nd Kentucky Derby, known as "The Greatest Two Minutes in Sports," today sees two free betting seminars hosted by casino race and sports books, while tomorrow will feature various parties and promotions taking place around town. Here are the highlights:
Today's weigh-in for the big Alvarez/Khan boxing match tomorrow will be held today, outdoors in the Toshiba Plaza that fronts the T-Mobile Arena. The weigh-in is at 3 p.m. and it's free to view. Following the weigh-in (at 4 p.m.), Golden Boy Promotioins will stage a three-bout pre-card, also outside and also free, featuring Petr Petrov vs. Marvin Qintero in the Main Event. The possible fly in the ointment is that it's been raining and it's not clear how that will affect the plan if it continues.
Las Vegas traditionally goes BIG for Cinco de Mayo and this year's no exception, so expect celebratory tequila-and-taco deals all over town. What follows are some of the more notable fiestas we've come across, on and off the Strip; for a list of the best Mexican restaurants and taquerias in town, check out the new dedicated section in the new 2016 edition of Eating Las Vegas (currently avail. with an introductory discount - but not for long!):
It's a festive one, to be sure -- check our earlier post for Cinco de Mayo celebrations stretching through the weekend, but there's a whole bunch of other cool stuff going down too, if you're all taco-and-tequila'd out:
In some unexpected good news, Vegas Inc. reports that backers behind the unfinished north-of-Strip Lucky Dragon boutique hotel-casino now claim to have all the required financing in place to complete the project before the end of this year. Having originally sought Asian financing for what's being billed as the "first casino resort to deliver an authentic Asian lifestyle experience" in Vegas, in fact the latest commitment has come from two local businessmen, both of whom are involved in the project. Lucky Dragons' distinctive features will include signs in Chinese first and English second, multilingual staff members, and a high-end tea garden, in addition to a 27,500-square-foot casino, multiple restaurants, a boutique 204-room hotel, and a spa.
Forget the Summer of Love; for three days this Aug. 26-28, the Hard Rock will become home to the "Psycho Las Vegas" rock festival, headlined by Alice Cooper and Blue Oyster Cult and featuring 90+ bands from around the world. Tickets are on sale now.
Here's a Cinco de Mayo promo with a gambling angle. The newly reopened Home Plate bar, at 2460 W. Warm Springs Rd., is serving $3 Coronas and Cuervo shots, but is also running video poker high-hand tournaments from 3 to 7 p.m. today. Each tournament will last for 30 minutes, with the high hand in that period winning $25. There might be a good opportunity early.
As of this week, all McDonald's venues in MGM Resorts' Strip-hotel food courts have closed, we know not why.
The new generation of "boutique" Las Vegas hotels continue in the quest to "out-hip" each other with hi-tech amenitie,s in pursuit of the elusive and demanding millennial customer, but the latest innovation from The LINQ is decidedly low-tech: Bunk beds. Of course, the dozen newly revamped rooms that just came online still feature "hip technology and chic décor" but now also offer guests on a budget, and/or nostalgic for their dorm-room days, the chance to bunk with a group of friends for an economical center-Strip experience. The rooms are available to book now, starting at $69/night (plus resort fee and tax).
Nationally franchised tribute show Legends In Concert, which performs 10 shows per week at the Flamingo, today celebrates its 33rd birthday in Las Vegas, making it now the longest-running show on the Strip. The summer lineup of stars impersonated in the production will include Whitney, Lady Gaga, Adele, Elvis, and Prince, among others.
In an entirely expected twist in the plot that is the entertainment lineup at Westgate Las Vegas, French variety-show import Twisted Vegas has closed, the only surprise being that it lasted as long as it did (it debuted Feb. 18).
While Clark County commissioners reiterated their (noncommittal) support Tuesday for the concept of a $200 million raised-expressway project to connect McCarran International Airport to the Las Vegas Strip, the Las Vegas Monorail was busy firming up its plan to use interest earned on its "doomsday account" to fund the design and planning stage of a one-mile extension of the transit system from MGM Grand to Mandalay Bay. The southern-most resort on the Strip which is in the process of massively expanding its convention space and the Commission approved the expenditure; however, the $2 million in funds that Monorail Co. has available to tap is a mere drop in the ocean of the estimated $100 million required to build the track extension and pay for two new trains.
In related news, the Tradeshow News Network recently once again named Las Vegas the top destination for conventions and trade shows, based on total numbers of attendees and event-space squarefootage; in 2015, 54 of the 250-biggest shows were hosted in Sin City.
Organizers of the World Series of Poker have announced some digital innovations for 2016, which will see the 47th annual event taking place. Changes, apparently, will include an increase in live web streaming and a means for players to keep online viewers continually and directly updated with their chip counts via the official WSOP website, plus an online-poker tournament schedule tailored to accommodate players taking part in the live events.
One other, non-digital, change of note is that the WSOP will pay prizes to 15 percent of the field this year, whereas 10 percent had been customary in the past. The additional place payments will come at the expense of the size of the higher shares, but a similar move in last year's Main Event was received favorably overall.
Our man-about-downtown, VitalVegas.com, confirms that the California, Fremont, and Main Street Station (Boyd) casinos still both have coin-out slots/video poker games, even though they are hiding their respective lights under some serious bushels. Great news (but why no mention on your websites? People want to know this stuff!) Thanks for saving us a phone call or three, Mr Vital. (Not that most machines these days, even if they pay out in coins, will only accept a TITO buy-in, so don't count on skipping change fees by lugging your nickels to the casino.)
Our current hot-topic Reader Poll on the subject of weed and how you feel about the concept of Nevada legalizing pot for recreational purposes, closes at midnight; so get your vote in if you haven't already, because everyone has an opinion on this topic -- and we want to know yours!
The Oasis at Gold Spike is hosting a winner-takes-all "Real World Suite" contest, for the chance to score a two-night getaway in the TV-featured penthouse suite. Just answer a simple question to enter your name in the draw (and score extra chances by spreading the word on social media). Contest ends June 1, when the lone winner will be named.
With last year's quiet replacement of all the vintage coin machines on the second floor of the D (with the exception of the sacred Sigma Derby, of course) and the impending late-June closure of La Bayou and Mermaids, we're pretty sure that the Plaza and the El Cortez are the only casinos remaining downtown where fans of the coin-bucket days can still get an old-school slot or video poker fix.
In this week's column, a tongue-in-cheek Bob Dancer reflects on the importance of humility (and strategy cards) in the life of a video poker guru.
Thanks to a leaky ceiling, and an intrepid social media person, Binion's has been posting some cool findings on their Facebook page recently, including a gem-of-a-cartoon from the 1984 World Series of Poker (prize if we can name all the players?!), and some awesome "backstage" footage in part of the shuttered hotel, where discoveries include multiple secret escape routes (keep scrolling), plus some original carpet from the Stardust! (As a bonus fact, former lovable downtown dive the Western featured leftover "Atomic" carpet from the Plaza on the casino floor, we noted while it was still open.)
In clinching the championship in English soccer's Premier League yesterday, Leicester City pulled off one of the biggest sports upsets of all time. While it's difficult to compare to one-off upsets such as Buster Douglass beating Mike Tyson or the U.S. hockey team's "Miracle on Ice," the odds were far longer against a Leicester championship, with English bookmakers reportedly taking bets at 5,000-1 at the beginning of the season. That's right, a $100 bet by one of the Leicester faithful (they hadn't won the championship in 132 years in the league) paid $500,000.
Following the closure, a couple of weeks back, of The Cantina Mexican restaurant at Tuscany Casino, comes word that opening in the spot will be Pub 365, currently slated for a July debut.
After three months of negotiations, Daily Fantasy Sports giants DraftKings and FanDuel have agreed to cease offering any paid DFS contests in the state of Idaho, effective today, May 1, pending future regulation of the industry or future court rulings. Existing players in Idaho will have their balances returned and accounts closed in a timely manner, according to the terms of the agreement reached with the District Attorney.
Fear not, hikers, it's not an escapee from the Lion Habitat, but instead the golden lion statue, stolen over the weekend from its erstwhile home as part of a street-art exhibit on the median at Decatur and Flamingo, has been found abandoned in the desert. The recovered lion, which appears to be unharmed by its ordeal, is now in police protective custody.
For more coverage of Nevadan roadside-art mysteries, check out today's Question of the Day.
Atlantic City made a $1.8 million bond payment Monday morning, narrowly averting what would have been the first default for a New Jersey municipality since the Great Depression, reports the Wall Street Journal. However, at a press conference Don Guardian, mayor of the beleaguered East Coast gambling destination, cautioned that, "Financially we're running on fumes. We really are teetering on the edge." Two proposed financial-rescue packages remain stalled in the legislature and there are insufficient funds to cover much outside of payroll and school funding.
Actually, it's cabanas for two causes today: Rent a poolside daybed or cabana at Palms Pool & Bungalows today and $100 of the fee will be donated to the Neon Museum or Hope for a Cause, a local non-profit aimed at preventing homelessness and aiding the poorest communities with practical assistance.
It's only been a matter of days since one of ten new permanent art installations, part of a Clark County initiative titled "Centered," was installed on the median at Flamingo and Decatur, but already the gold lion has been stolen and the accompanying pink alligators -- the work of artist Chris Bauder -- vandalized, we just learned via the official county Twitter account. A police report will be filed.
All 450 Sports Authority stores nationwide are to close, including the two in Las Vegas, following in the sneakersteps of Sports Chalet.
Every Mon.-Wed. in May, earn 300 same-day points at South Point to get a swipe for free-play, comps, and bonus points worth an advertised combined total of $500,000. The play requirement for this promo used to be 200 points, but this is still an easy play for $300 coin-in on South Point's good video poker schedules.
The Queen of Comps has posted her monthly round-up of off-Strip casino offerings at Frugal Vegas, so check it out.
Get a 2-for-1 buffet at Silverton today, good for brunch or dinner. There's no play necessary; just use your club card to print out a voucher at a kiosk. This deal will be offered every Sunday in May, except May 8).