Here’s an excellent show-discount deal with some charity largesse thrown in. Now through September 3, purchase and donate $10 worth of pet supplies at any Las Vegas-area Petco locations and get one free ticket to Matt Franco—Magic Reinvented Nightly at the Flamingo. Maximum of two tickets per person, which means two can see this excellent show for $20.
The Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe has completed a $5 million renovation. The work was confined to the casino and public spaces, including the complete replacement of two casino bars and upgrades in the poker and high-limit rooms.
Plans have been approved for a 30-acre 754-unit apartment complex on Las Vegas Blvd. “several miles south of the Strip,” which suggests that it’s somewhere near M Resort. The complex called The Arch would include retail and office components. The developers say the first phase could be completed by 2019.
Is it or isn’t it? The strange saga of the $4.2 billion Baha Mar casino continues with word that the resort may not make its planned October opening. What’s strange is that a limited first stage of Baha Mar opened in April, but there’s been no progress since.
Bally’s has announced that it’s adding a mini-golf, bowling, and arcade attraction. The 10,000-square-foot complex will be built by Monster Mini Golf, which also built the Kiss Mini-Golf at the Rio; however, the Bally’s version won’t be similarly themed. The intended location in the resort and an opening date weren’t divulged.
Two Huntington Press books are prominent in today's LV Review-Journal. Matt O'Brien, author of Beneath the Neon, is featured on the front page in a story titled "Tunnel Vision." And our newest release, Rock Vegas, is the source of an "Entertainment" section story titled "Not-so-Trivial Pursuits."
Jon Jones is a -300 favorite over Daniel Cormier in tonight's UFC main event. In the other featured match, Tyron Woodley is -215 over Demian Maia.
Resorts World Casino in Queens has announced a $400 million expansion that will include a 400-room hotel, four new restaurants, and retail. One of the busiest casinos in the world, Resorts World NYC attracts more than 10 million visitors a year. The expansion is expected to be completed in 2019.
One of our favorite lounge bands, Sin City 4 featuring sports handicapper Alf Musketa, plays the Parlor Lounge at the Mirage tonight. The show runs from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Stop by and maybe Alf will throw out a play or two in-between sets.
Donate blood and get two comped lunch or brunch buffets at Rampart. The United Blood Services event is being held today and tomorrow in Rampart's Marquis Ballroom. Call 877-827-4376 or go to bloodhero.com to book an appointment between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on either day.
If you don't want to give blood, give water. Bring a case of 24 12-ounce bottles of water to any Metro Pizza location (except Ellis Island) today through Monday and get a small cheese pizza, dine in only.
By all accounts, Nevada’s recreational marijuana proceeds are running far ahead of expectations. In the first four days, there was $3 million in sales and supply ran low enough to prompt a call for more licenses to be issued.
The Las Vegas Monorail Co. has purchased a .9-acre parcel of land at Reno Ave. across from Mandalay Bay for $2.5 million. Monorail representatives won’t comment, but it’s likely a step toward extending the line to MBay, which is a key link to a further extension to McCarran Airport and creates an access route to the Oakland Raiders stadium.
The Atlantic City Tropicana is expanding with the purchase of the neighboring Chelsea Hotel. The Chelsea will be connected to the casino with a skyway bridge and may be used to add restaurants and meeting space, while its 330 rooms will raise the Trop’s room count to 2,730.
A second restaurant opening today took place at the Palms, where Social Table opened in the space that was formerly Hooters. The sports-bar-themed restaurant is temporary while another restaurant is readied. It's expected to be in place through the end of the year.
Robert Irvine’s Public House opened today at the Tropicana. Irvine's pub-style restaurant at the Trop has been the subject of a big promotional campaign, including a giant image of the chef who rose to fame on the Food Network gracing the exterior of the casino for more than a year.
Famous gambler Billy Walters has been sentenced to five years in prison and given a $10 million fine for his conviction on insider trading. The sentence was surprising to some, as more than 100 requests for leniency from high-powered celebrities and politicians did not sway the judge. Walters is appealing the conviction.
The Cromwell has added single-zero roulette in the main pit. It’s rare to find a single-zero game outside of the high-limit rooms, but so far we haven’t seen the minimum bet below $25.
The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace is now charging for parking. Valet parking had been free, but there's now a flat $7 charge for everyone. This charge isn't as irksome as the casino charges on the Strip. The fee is lower, it's reported that vouchers waiving the fee are available for frequent customers, and they were essentially pushed into it by people taking advantage of the free valet to park and go elsewhere.
From the owners of the excellent Fat Choy in the Eureka Casino, a second Flock & Fowl restaurant is in the works, opening soon in downtown's Ogden condo complex. It will take the space that used to be occupied by Itsy Bitsy Ramen & Whisky and reportedly be one of the only restaurants in Las Vegas to go cashless, accepting payment by credit or debit card only. The original Flock & Fowl is located on Sahara, just west of the Strip.
Tickets for the Mayweather/McGregor fight sold out in a range from $500 to $10,000 and are now selling on the secondary market for a minimum of $2,500. The average resale price is being quoted as $6,256, which is the highest ever for a combat-sport event according to TicketIQ.com. By comparison, the average resale price for Mayweather/Pacquiao was $4,830.
We've just gotten word of what sounds like another juicy loss-rebate promotion. Ichabod's bar at 3300 E. Flamingo is offering a rebate of up to $150 in losses, and this one is good for both new and existing members of the players club. You might have to mention that you heard it on the Heidi Harris radio show. We'll check it out and report.
American Coney Island at the D expects to sell its one-millionth Coney dog today, expected to be sold between noon and 2 p.m. The customer who purchases it will receive a year of free hot dogs.
The practice facility for the Vegas Golden Knights NHL team is now officially the City National Arena. The $24 million two-rink complex located next to Downtown Summerlin will have what’s being termed a soft opening on Aug. 15.
It looks like Caesars Entertainment is close to launching a sports betting app. CET is the last of the major casinos to offer an app for mobile betting. All the books in the system are in the process of swapping out their counter software and the app should be ready by football season.
With his fight against Connor McGregor just over a month away, Floyd Mayweather has been curiously visible on the nightlife scene. On three different nights in the past week he’s been reported as seen at the Omnia nightclub at Caesars Palace (from 2:30 to 4 am), at a performance of Absinthe, and at the hip-hop concert at the D. He’s also said to show up regularly at his gentlemen’s club, Girl Collection. Mayweather reportedly trains late at night and he doesn’t drink, so this might be normal wind-down activity, but it’s something to factor into your calculations if you’re looking to make bet.
A $500 million development called the Fountain District has been announced for downtown Reno. Earmarked for an area between the Gold Dust West and Sands Regency casinos, the development was described as a “mixed-use project that will include a strong arts and entertainment focus.”
John Katsilometes reports in the LV Review-Journal that the producers of Absinthe are planning to bring a similar show called Opium to the Strip. The target is the showroom at Palazzo that was used briefly for another avant garde show called The Act that closed in 2013.
After a brief run replacing Serendipity 3, Stripside Cafe & Bar has closed at Caesars Palace. The prime space on the corner of the Strip and Flamingo will next be the location of Gordon Ramsay Hell's Kitchen, though an opening date hasn't been announced.
You have to hand it to Paddy Power -- the offshore sports book knows how to keep its name in the news. The latest stunt is a “Your Fired Market,” which puts odds on the next person in the Trump administration to be fired or to resign. The current favorite is Attorney General Jeff Sessions at -120.
Downtown’s Courthouse Bar & Grill has closed. It appears that there won’t be another restaurant in the space, which may become an annex of the real courthouse across the street.
Scott Blumstein, a 25-year-old professional player from New Jersey, is poker's new world champion after winning the World Series of Poker's Main Event early this morning and the $8,150,000 first prize. Blumstein took a 2-1 chip lead into heads-up play against Dan Ott, who pocketed $4,700,000 as runner-up. On the final hand, Blumstein had A-2 to Ott's A-8 suited. With one card to be dealt Blumstein needed a 2 and it fell to give him the championship. Blumstein's win makes it nine wins in 10 years for players in their 20s. Benjamin Pollack was third for $3,500,000.
Going into tomorrow's final round of golf's Open Championship (British Open), Jordan Spieth with a 3-stroke lead is the -320 favorite to win. Matt Kuchar is the second favorite at +400. The round begins early tomorrow morning.
Kelvin Gastelum is a -170 favorite over Chris Weidman in tonight's UFC main event. In the other featured match, Dennis Bermudez is -225 over Darren Elkins.
Good Charlotte will play a free concert tonight at the Fremont Street Experience. The concert plays on the 3rd Street Stage beginning at 9 p.m.
Phil Ivey and David "Devilfish" Ulliott have been voted the 53rd and 54th members of the Poker Hall of Fame. Ivey is a 10-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner, and one of world's top players. Ulliott, who is deceased, won one WSOP championship and was one of the poker world's most colorful characters.
With only three players left, the World Series of Poker Main Event champion will be decided tonight. Scott Blumstein is way out in front with 226 million, Dan Ott has 88 million, and Benjamin Pollack has 46 million. In yesterday's action, Damian Salas finished 7th, Bryan Piccioli 6th, Antoine Saout 5th, and John Hesp 4th.
As part of its ongoing resort-wide overhaul, the bungalow-style Courtyard rooms at Palace Station are in the process of being razed. Among them is room 1203, which garnered worldwide notoriety in 2007 when OJ Simpson was sent to prison for breaking in and robbing its occupants. Check out several pics of the demolition at VitalVegas.com.
Online-gambling mogul Calvin Ayre pleaded has guilty to a misdemeanor charge of violating U.S. anti-gambling laws, ending a five-year criminal case in which prosecutors had pursued felony charges. The plea effectively ends Ayre's self-imposed exile from the U.S. and also frees up the Bodog domain name that was seized by the Feds. Ayre has been running his online enterprise as Bovada, but perhaps a return of Bodog is in the cards.
Scott Blumstein has a commanding lead in the World Series of Poker Main Event. After starting the final table with the lead, then losing it, Blumstein goes into the second day of play with 178 million. Benjamin Pollack is second with 78 million. The play has been slow and conservative. So much so that the session ended without reaching the goal of getting to six players. Ben Lamb was eliminated on hand 4, then Jack Sinclair followed later, but no one else was knocked out. Antoine Saout is the short stack with 15 million.
What's your favorite only-in-Vegas indulgence? Splurging on expensive meals? Drinking too much? Gambling like an MIT pro? This is a fun one that's getting lots of votes. Let us know how you blow it out in Las Vegas by voting in the new Reader Poll that's live now.
Michael Kaplan's latest gambling article in the New York Post describes a $1 million bet made by a down-and-out poker player that he could drop from 33% body fat to below 10% in six months. The story illustrates the level of complexity that can be reached (backers, trainers, side bets) in these high-stakes propositions that are common in certain gambling circles.
The Golden Gate will close August 20-25 for what's being termed a "major expansion." Casino space will be nearly doubled, the outdoor One Bar will be extended, and a new entry way off the Fremont Street Experience will be built. The plans don't appear to include the neighboring La Bayou Casino, which is also controlled by owner Derek Stevens.
Jordan Spieth is the +1315 favorite to win the Open Championship golf tournament (British Open), which begins tomorrow. He’s followed by Henrik Stenson at +1350, Rickie Fowler at +1440, and Dustin Johnson at +1490.
The Las Vegas City Council has voted unanimously to approve a 15-year lease with downtown's Cashman Field that will bring a professional soccer team to Las Vegas. The as-yet unnamed United Soccer League Division II (minor league) team is expected to begin play in 2018.
A story came out last week that made all the major news channels about a large number of sports bets on the Chicago Cubs to win last year’s World Series going uncashed at the 180-day expiration. According to the stories, 20%-30% of winning tickets were never presented, as bettors kept them as mementos of the victory. The breakage is a nice little bonus for the books, but it doesn't have a major impact – most of the bets were in the $25 range. This phenomenon also shows up in other sports, e.g., Belmont Stakes tickets on American Pharoah when he won the Triple Crown.
A sports book is being built at the Cromwell. Soon to be conspicuous no more as the only casino on the Strip without a book, the new facility is expected to be open by the start of this year’s NFL season.
The promoters of the Electric Daisy Carnival say they’re considering moving the show to a date with lower temperatures. Currently held in June, when temps top 100 degrees, the heat has been a factor in dozens of medical problems and possibly some fatalities. The move is only being considered at this time and no decisions to do so have been made.
The final table for the World Series of Poker Main Event is set, with nine left from the starting 7,221. Here are the players and their chip counts.
Scott Blumstein 97,250,000
John Hesp 85,000,000
Benjamin Pollak 35,175,000
Bryan Piccioli 33,800,000
Dan Ott 26,475,000
Damian Salas 22,175,000
Antoine Saout 21,750,000
Jack Sinclair 20,200,000
Ben Lamb 18,050,000
Blumstein's chip count going into the final table is the highest ever since the instituting of the current format. Saout and Lamb are making their second appearance at the final table of the ME. Michael Ruane just missed repeating from last year, finishing 10th. There will be no delay till November this year. Final-table play will begin on Thursday and the champion will be determined on Saturday.
According to a large survey by WalletHub.com that ranked the 150 most and least stressed cities in the United States according to 30 key metrics, Las Vegas placed at the 12th most stressed. It had the fifth highest ranking in family stress and came in 19th in health and safety stress. North Las Vegas placed number 37, Reno 60, and Henderson 87. In the measurement of the lowest hours of sleep per night, Las Vegas took the prize for the lowest number -- in a three-way tie with North Las Vegas and Henderson! The most stressed city is Newark, NJ, the least stressed Fremont, California.
Resorts Casino in Atlantic City has launched a daily fantasy sports variation called FastPick. The game can currently be played only on Resorts’ online-gambling platform, but kiosks offering FastPick are expected to be installed in the casino by football season.
A new 24-hour dining outlet called eatwell has opened at the Cromwell. The snack bar fills a major need for a low-cost food option there.
The World Series of Poker Main Event is down to 27 players. The chip leader is Christian Pham with 31.4 million, followed by Valentin Messina with 28.6 million and Jack Sinclair with 27.6 million. There are several well-known players contending, including former finalists Ben Lamb, Antoine Saout, and Michael Ruane, along with Marcel Luske, who just missed the final table in 2004, finishing 10th. At the end of play today, the final nine will have been determined.
Gambler's Bonus members that are in Las Vegas can get a $20 matchplay today only. Log on to gamblersbonus.com, enter your username/password, and hit "PowerVision" ad. You'll be enrolled and given instructions, plus a list of 94 bars and convenience stores where the matchplay can be redeemed.
The fourth Las Vegas-area Shake Shack debuted last week. It’s located in the District at Green Valley Ranch.
Registration is now open for our Sunday Funday 42 poker tournament. Play begins at noon PST/3 p.m. EST today. Along with $100 for first, prizes include copies of The Frugal Gambler Casino Guide, Blackjack for Blood, and our new book, Rock Vegas. 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 12961). 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.
With 85 players remaining, Robin Hegele is the chip leader with 10 million. He's followed by Joshua Horton with 9.4 million and Max Silver with 8.7 million. Still in the hunt are former finalists Ben Lamb, Antoine Saout, Kenny Hallaert and Michael Ruane. The last woman standing was Yuan-Yuan Li, who finished 105th. They'll play down to 27 today, with action starting at 11 a.m.
Roger Federer is a -475 favorite over Marin Cilic in tomorrow’s Wimbledon men's tennis final. The match starts early, at 9 a.m. EST.
If you’re heading down to watch the final days of the World Series of Poker Main Event, make sure you eat first. As always, food is expensive in the playing area. We thought there might be some relief when we spotted a hot dog cart, but the dogs that typically go for $1.50 to $3 from sports book carts are $7.50 here! Beers from the satellite bars start at $6 for domestics -- $4.85 for the beer, a 75¢ gratuity, and 40¢ tax.
Reserve some time tomorrow to play in our 42nd Sunday Funday online poker tournament. First place gets $100, and prizes will be awarded to the top 14 places. Prizes include The Frugal Gambler Casino Guide, Blackjack for Blood, and the just-released Rock Vegas. 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.
Wynn Resorts has announced its paid-parking plan for Wynn Las Vegas and Encore. Beginning Aug. 7, self-parking will cost $7 for the first two hours, $12 for 2-4 hours, and $15 for up to 24 hours. The first hour is free. There are no discounts for casino guests or locals. Paid valet parking is already in effect, with fees of $15 for the first four hours and $20 up to 24 hours.
With just 297 players remaining in the World Series of Poker Main Event, Damian Salas is the new chip leader, with 4.7 million. He's followed by Sebastien Comel with 4.2 million and Kenny Hallaert with 4.1 million. Hallaert and Michael Ruane, who has 1.6 million, are both going for their second straight ME final table. Other top names still alive are Ben Lamb, Antoine Saout, Marcel Luske, Eoghan O'Dea, Kathy Liebert, David Pham, Chino Rheem, Max Pescatori, Scott Hilton, and Chip Jett. There are no former Main Event champions remaining. Day 5 play begins today at 11 a.m.
Garbine Muguruza is a -115 favorite over Venus Williams in tomorrow's Wimbledon woman's tennis final. The match starts early, at 9 a.m. EST.
The Downtown Grand has been given approval to build an 8-story hotel tower on the east side of the property where the valet is currently located. The DG’s third tower will add 495 rooms, nearly doubling the resorts current count for a total of 1,124. The cost of the project and a timetable were not divulged.
The Main Event got "into the money" last night, with the cutoff at 1,084th position. All players from that point forward get a minimum of $15,000. This year's official bubble boy -- the player finishing 1,085th -- was Quan Zhou, who was awarded the traditional $10K entry into next year's Main Event. Not so bad, especially when you consider that he busted out at the same time as Roger Campbell and won a one-hand playoff to get the buy-in, making Campbell the real bubble casualty.
The Day 3 chip leader is Patrick Lavecchia with 1,552,000, followed closely by Pawel Brzeski (1,546,000), Antoine Saout (1,529,000), and Jeremiah Fitzpatrick (1,523,000). Saout finished third in 2009. Notable eliminations included Brian Rast, Jason Mercier, Mike Matusow, Doug Polk, Blair Rodman, Billy Baxter, Jonathan Little, Phillip Galfond, David Benyamine, Paul Wasicka, and former champs Joe Hachem, Johnny Chan, Greg Raymer, and Tom McEvoy. The 1,084 remaining players will reconvene for Day 4 at 11 a.m. today.
The long-running Samba Brazilian Steakhouse will close at the Mirage on August 31. The press release announcing the closing describes its replacement as a "new culinary concept."
The July/Aug. edition of Cigar Aficionado contains a feature on the Blackjack Ball. Several top blackjack pros are referenced and a big part of the article focuses on Anthony Curtis, who won the skills competition.
The merger between daily fantasy sports giants FanDuel and DraftKings has been called off. An email sent to DraftKings customers reads,
"Today we formally terminated our merger with FanDuel and will withdraw litigation from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). This means we will move forward as a separate company, which we believe is the best course in the interest of you - our customers and avid sports fans." We've not seen a statement from FanDuel.
Artan Dedusha was the Day 2C chip leader with 680,000, putting him in the overall lead for the tournament. The biggest name near the top is Chino Rheem, in 46th with 359,400. Notable eliminations included Daniel Negreanu, Antonio Esfandiari, Michael Mizrahi, Bertrand Grospellier, Men Nguyen, Gus Hanson, Chris Moorman, and former champs Joe McKeehen, Ryan Riess, Chris Ferguson, and Phil Hellmuth. Day 3 play begins at 11 a.m. today with the remaining field of 2,572 all playing together for the first time.
The Palm Restaurant in the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace has brought back its summer lobster special. Through August 15, a four-pound lobster dinner for two with all the fixin's is $99. Yum!
The Mob Museum has added “Happy Hour Pricing.” Get $5 off admission (regularly $23.95) Mon.-Thurs. after 5 p.m. and drinks at the Museum Bar are half price till 9 p.m. There’re also three new packages that include tours and tastings in the new distillery, priced at $25, $30, and $35.
Play $100 at Jackson's Bar & Grill today and get a free prime rib dinner on Monday. This deal is ranked in this month's Top Ten Values list. The offer is scheduled to run through the end of July.
The new leader after Day 2A/B, which combined the survivors from Day 1A and 1B, is Lawrence Bayley with 618,000. Recognizable names are scarce at the top, with Jonathan Little the first to show up in 47th (297,300). Other notables include Doug Polk (287,500), Mike Matusow (228,200), and Joe Hachem (134,700). Blair Rodman is hanging around with 44,500. Big names hitting the rail included Phil Laak, Gaelle Baumann, former ME champions Robert Varkonyi and Jonathan Duhamel, and last year's winner Qui Nguyen. The tournament continues today with Day 2C play beginning at 11 a.m.
The National League is a -110 favorite over the American League in tonight's Major League Baseball All-Star game. The run line is 8.5.
Prices have been announced for the PPV telecast of the Mayweather/McGregor fight in August. It will be $89.95 for the standard feed and $99.95 for high-definition. We haven't seen a line, but have heard the offshore over/under for sales is 5 million.
In his weekly blog post, Bob Dancer addresses playing a profitable mistake game using a real-life example in video poker. There are several considerations to take into account. Read about them in Bob's post at GamblingWithAnEdge.com.
One question now answered is whether or not Phil Ivey would make an appearance at the World Series of Poker to play the Main Event. The answer is no. Of the 7,221 players, Ivey isn't one of them. He's reportedly devoting time to the court cases related to his baccarat disputes in London and Atlantic City.
The third and final Day 1 session was a big one, with 4,262 players slightly topping last year's 4,240 to set a new record for a single-day WSOP Main Event field. Total entries were 7,221, a 7.2% increase over last year's 6,737. It's the third largest ME field in history and the first to break 7,000 players since 2010. The Day 1C chip leader was Jerome Brion with 248,000 and the overall tournament leader is Morten Mortensen with 276,000. The total prize pool is $67,877,400, with $8.15 million going to the winner. Notable Day 1C eliminations included Mark Newhouse, John Juanda, and John Racener. The first of two Day 2 sessions begins at 11 a.m. today.
One of the stronger video poker bonuses you’ll find runs today at a new bar called Jackpot Bar & Grill. On Mondays in July, play $50 and get $50 in free-play (till 10 p.m.). You’ll have to get a players card first and there’s also a $10 sign-up bonus after playing $20. Jackpot is located on the west side at 4330 S. Decatur in the spot that used to be Scoundrels.
Giancarlo Stanton is the +165 favorite in the Home Run Derby, being contested tonight as part of the MLB All-Star game. He's followed by Aaron Judge at +180 and Miguel Sano at +475. The long shot is Charlie Blackmon at +2000.
Australian pro Heidi May won the Ladies No-Limit Hold ’Em event at the World Series of Poker and the $135,098 first prize, outlasting a big field of 718 players. The runner-up was Deborah Worley-Roberts, who won $83,459. The big names weren’t a factor in this one, with the first high-profile player, Vanessa Selbst, showing up in 56th place.
Lucky Dragon sent out an email blast today offering 50% off in Bao Now, good today only. It's always possible that email offers are sent to a specific list that you have to be on to qualify, but there's nothing in the copy that indicates as much, with the only requirement being that you have a Dragon Club card.
Cirque du Soleil has acquired Blue Man Productions for an undisclosed amount. While it’s big news in the entertainment biz, it’s not expected to have any immediate effect on any of the Cirque or Blue Man shows in Las Vegas.
The Day 1B chip leader was Richard Dubini with 254,500. There were 2,164 entrants to bring the two-day total to 2,959 -- 462 more than the two-day total in 2016 -- with 1,643 surviving, including LVA's Blair Rodman with 69K. Notable eliminations included Abe Mosseri, Justin Bonomo, Jesse Sylvia, Vanessa Selbst, and former Main Event winner Greg Merson. The final Day 1 flight begins at 11 a.m. today.
Locals-only discounts are available for two Strip-located shows this summer. Show Nevada ID to get a twofer for Fantasy at Luxor and use code LOCALFIT to get 30% off BAZ – Star Crossed Love at the Venetian. Both deals run through August 31.
Could the Sahara be coming back? Following the sale of SLS Las Vegas and a renaming of the players club to Club 52 – the Sahara opened in 1952 – rumors are swirling that a wholesale return to the Sahara may be coming. The SLS name has been considered a liability, but a players club name seems like light evidence supporting such a big move.
Attendance was up slightly for the first of three "Day 1" sessions in the World Series of Poker Main Event, with 795 entries compared to 764 last year; 576 remain. The chip leader is Morten Mortensen, with 276,000. Last year's winner, Qui Nguyen, moved on with 96,700, while former champion Jerry Yang was eliminated. Day 1B play begins today at 11 a.m.
With the planned main event between Amanda Nunes and Valentina Schevchenko canceled today, Robert Whittaker is a -130 favorite over Yoel Romero in tonight's new UFC main event. In the other featured match, Alistair Overeem is -155 over Fabricio Werdum.
Flooding from a fire-pipe leak has caused the closing of restaurants and the casino floor at Planet Hollywood today. The leak has reportedly been repaired, but the areas affected have to be cleaned up before normal business can resume.
Coinciding with the start of the WSOP's Main Event, Blair Rodman clarifies the rules of tournament poker in his blog at GamblingWithAnEdge.com. If you're getting into poker, this is one you'll want to bookmark, but it's also a good read, with several real-life examples involving some major names, e.g., Doyle Brunson, Jack Straus, John Bonetti, and Greg Raymer.
The $10K buy-in Main Event in the World Series of Poker begins today with the first of three "Day 1" sessions. For the first time, the tournament will be telecast live (there's a 30-minute delay) by ESPN, with coverage beginning today on ESPN2 at 1 p.m. We'll provide updates in this space throughout the tournament.
Michael Johnson is a -155 favorite over Justin Gaethje in tonight's UFC main event. In the other featured match, Jesse Taylor is -175 over Dhiego Lima.
The annual NBA Summer League is underway at Cox Pavilion and the Thomas & Mack Center. The games feature several new and highly regarded NBA players, including Markelle Fultz of the 76ers and Lonzo Ball of the Lakers. Several games will be played each day through July 17, with all-day tickets starting at $30.
Elior Sion from England won the prestigious Poker Players Championship at the World Series of Poker and the $1.4 million first prize. Interestingly, the best-known names in the final nine finished 5th through 9th, including Daniel Negraneau (5th), Shaun Deeb (7th), and Matthew Ashton (8th).
Every Friday in July, Silverton Gold, Platinum, and Diamond members get 50% off in all restaurants. At the sign-up level (Silver), earn 50 points to get the deal.
Do you love 'em? Hate 'em? Want the words in them to be spelled correctly? Here's your chance to spout off on tattoos in casinos. Let us know your thoughts by voting in the new Reader Poll that's live now.
What factors should be considered when choosing a casino at which to play video poker? It depends on your goals, but Bob Dancer provides a solid basis for considering and making that decision in his latest blog at GamblingWithAnEdge.com.
The Fashion Show mall has teamed up with the Neon Museum to showcase alternating signs in its outdoor plaza area. The first sign to be featured is from the Red Barn, famous for being one of Las Vegas’ first gay bars when it operated on Tropicana from the late ’60s through 1988. A new sign will be featured every few months.
A new world record for the fastest recorded speed on a public highway has been set on Route 318 near Ely. A 2001 Chevrolet Monte Carlo driven by 60-year-old electrical contractor from Tucson averaged 219.643 mph during the Nevada Open Road Challenge and reached a top speed of 243.3 mph. The previous record for average speed was 217.575 mph.
With 15 players left in one of the World Series of Poker's premier events, the Poker Players Championship, the leader is Isaac Haxton with 3,268,000. He's followed by former winner Matthew Ashton (3,220,000), Shaun Deeb (2,442,000), Paul Volpe (2,315,000), and Daniel Negreanu (2,223,000). Two time winner Michael Mizrachi finished in 16th. Participation was up for the $50,000-buy-in event with 100 players compared to 91 last year.
We misidentified a casino promotion in the July LVA. In the article titled "Sports-Bet Promo," the proper casino is Silver Sevens, not Downtown Grand. We'll repair that in the online version, but it will be incorrect in the print copy.
Anthony Curtis will be a guest today on the gambling show "Follow the Money" from the new Vegas Stats and Information Network (VSiN). The show begins at 11 a.m. PST and A.C. will be on during the 12:30 segment. Listen on SirusXM 204 or watch live at VSiN.com.
Several casinos are running promos today. Boyd casinos are offering 15X points on penny slots, 11X on other slots, and 6X on video poker. Station casinos have 3.3X points on slots and 2X on video poker. Silverton has 10X points on reel slots and you can get a 2-for-1 buffet by swiping your players card at a kiosk. South Point is giving away $32,000 today with $100 awards given to players chosen randomly until midnight. The major fireworks shows will be at Green Valley Ranch and Red Rock, starting at 9 p.m., with displays also coming from Stratosphere, the Plaza, Lake Las Vegas, and Cashman Field.
Ann Wilson of Heart will play a free concert tonight at the Fremont Street Experience. It’s a solo performance (without sister Nancy), but should include all of the top hits from Heart. The concert plays on the 1st Street Stage beginning at 9 p.m.
Las Vegas is once again devoid of a 24-hour buffet. The experiment at the Palms might have worked, except that the whole Bistro Buffet has been closed and will be converted into a “food hall” concept. It’s all a part of a bigger restaurant shake-up at the Palms, where the new 24-hour Lucky Penny coffee shop has just opened.
It’s bad news/good news at the Longhorn. The $1 Miller Lite special has been discontinued, but now all bottled beers – Bud, Heineken, Corona – are $1.50 all the time.
Watch the skies for fireworks displays tonight. The most prominent will come from Caesars Palace, where the show will begin around 9 p.m.
Paid parking is indeed on the way to Wynn Las Vegas and Encore. Wynn Resorts has confirmed that gates are being installed in the self-parking garages at both casinos. The starting dates and pricing have not been determined.
Our book Rock Vegas is the featured story in the "Kats!" column in today's LV Review-Journal. The full article is posted online. If you can get the hard copy, Section A has a full page of $15-off dining coupons for good Boyd restaurants in seven different casinos.
Buying and possessing recreational marijuana in Nevada became legal yesterday, and long lines formed at dispensaries throughout Las Vegas. Nevada is the fifth state to establish a regulated program. Adults 21 and over may purchase up to one ounce of marijuana to smoke, or 1/8 ounce of edibles or concentrates from licensed retail outlets. But while it's easy to buy, the problem is finding a legal place to smoke it, as public consumption is still not allowed.
Manny Pacquiao is a -550 favorite over Jeff Horn in tonight's championship boxing match. The total is 10.5 rounds, with over the favorite at -150.
We're extending the discount on our new book, Rock Vegas -- Live Music Explodes in the Neon Desert. Until July 7, the book that retails for $19.95 is just $12.98, including shipping.
More than 320,000 visitors are expected for the Fourth of July weekend, with occupancy rates hitting around 95%. Lots of events, including fireworks displays, are planned. Check out our round-up at VegasWithAnEdge.com.