Las Vegas airline traffic set an all-time record with 48.5 million passengers in 2017, breaking the previous record of 47.7 million set in 2017. The passenger count fell as low as 39.7 million in 2010 and has risen every year since.
The Strip’s first all-in-Spanish show, Ilusión Mental, has opened at Planet Hollywood. The all-ages show plays Sat.-Mon. and Thurs. at 5:30 pm; tickets are $66/$79.
Phase 3 of the huge Project Neon freeway improvement is set to begin in March. Dubbed the “Main Event” (following Phase “Car-nado” and the “Big Squeeze”), this segment of work will close ramps from I-15 to Charleston while also continuing work at downtown’s Spaghetti Bowl. It’s being called the “biggest and most impactful” phase of the project.
Last year the number of weddings in Las Vegas hit its lowest point since 1991, falling 3.9% to 78,186. A huge drop in the 4th quarter following the Strip shooting was a major reason for the result, but the number has declined significantly since its peak of 128,000 in 2004.
Las Vegas’ Mint Indian Bistro was named in a Wall Street Journal article about the country’s “hottest” restaurants, but it wasn’t the kind of hot you might expect. The article was about restaurants that serve fare made to be so hot from potent peppers that customers are asked to sign waivers before being served. Mint was cited for its “Inferno” menu. The owner of the two Las Vegas Mints told the WSJ that the menu is a hit because “People are looking for these things in a crazy town like Las Vegas.” Thanks for the warning!
Two new clubs/bars have been announced for the Palms. The former Ghostbar will become Apex Social Club and a new bar called Camden Cocktail Lounge will open on the ground floor. Both venues will be managed by the Clique Hospitality Group and will debut in May.
It's just been announced that MGM Resorts International is raising parking fees effective January 31. We don't have all the details yet, but it looks like 24-hour rates are going up by $3, to $15 or $18, depending on the casino, along with $2 increases for 1 to 2 ($9) and 2 to 4 ($12) hours at most properties. We'll post the new rates as soon as we get a complete listing. Meanwhile, you can make your displeasure (or not) known by voting in our current reader poll on parking fees.
Following a pause after the Strip shooting, the “what happens here, stays here” ad campaign is being revived. A first ad is running now and new ads are in the works. Perhaps the most successful Las Vegas ad campaign ever, it’s has run since 2002.
A new “immersive horror experience” themed for the Saw movie series has opened on Industrial Avenue. The Official Saw Escape Experience was created by the developer of Circus Circus’ Fright Dome.
The news magazine, The Sunday, has ceased publication. It had been distributed weekly for free since 2014. With the recent move of Vegas Seven to online-only publishing, only Las Vegas Weekly remains as a wide-distribution newsstand freebie.
The fallout from the sexual-misconduct accusations against Steve Wynn has begun. Yesterday Wynn resigned his position as finance chairman of the Republican National Committee, saying the work being done by the committee is too important to be "impaired by this distraction." The Wynn Resorts board of directors has formed a special committee to investigate the allegations and gaming regulators in Massachusetts say they will also launch an investigation.
Roger Federer is a -400 favorite over Marin Cilic in tomorrow's Australian Open men's tennis final. Federer is going for a record 20th Grand Slam title. The match starts early, at 3:30 am EST.
Derek Brunson is a -120 favorite over Ronaldo Souza in tonight's UFC main event. In the other featured match, Dennis Bermudez is -160 over Andre Fili.
Did you keep your Lucky Dragon players card? If you did, and you're in town now, hustle over to the casino for a drawing for more than $46,000. The casino is closed, but its holding a drawing today, we presume to satisfy a gaming rule requiring the distribution of banked funds. You must already have a card (no new ones issued) and be present to win. Eight winners will be drawn, seven for $5,000 and one for $11,404.12. Registration opens in the hotel lobby at 4:30 and the drawing is at 5:15.
Another dive bar dives with the closing of Boomers on Sirius Avenue. Boomers was located in a funky industrial area west of the Strip, but was well known for hosting interesting shows and events, including burlesque shows and the long-running Wednesday-night magician’s gathering.
Las Vegas taxi ridership and revenue declined for a third straight year in 2017, due to the impact of Uber and Lyft. Taxi trips totaled 19.9 million, down 13.6%, and revenue of $322.9 million was down 13.7%. The two rideshare companies set a single-day record for pickups at McCarran International Airport during the first day of CES with 11,465. Taxis were more popular, though, logging 18,413 pickups on the same day.
Simona Halep is a -135 favorite over Caroline Wozniacki in tomorrow's Australian Open women's tennis final. Both are seeking their first Grand Slam title. The match starts early, at 3:30 am EST.
It seemed only a matter of time before the #MeToo movement embroiled a casino titan, and now it has with the release of a story in the Wall Street Journal accusing Steve Wynn of a “decades-long pattern of sexual misconduct.” The report was picked up by several news outlets, causing Wynn Resorts stock to drop by nearly 10% the same week the company reported stellar earnings. Wynn has denied the allegations, attributing them to attacks by his ex-wife, Elaine, during their divorce battle.
We’ve debuted a new blog by Kevin Lewis that focuses on taking advantage of competition between casinos. Kevin is very savvy and current on the scene and will be posting every week or so. Check out "We Try Harder" on Vegas With An Edge.
In a poll conducted by The Sports Network (TSN), seven National Hockey League head coaches (22.6%) predicted that the Vegas Golden Knights will reach the Stanley Cup finals this year. One coach even picked the team to win the championship, which would be unprecedented in the history of all U.S. professional sports. The VGK placed second in the poll in the Western Conference, behind the Nashville Predators (17 votes).
ABC News is reporting that, according to Jay Rood, MGM vice president of race and sports, a gambler placed a multimillion-dollar bet on the Philadelphia Eagles to win the Super Bowl. Rood didn't reveal the exact amount of the bet or if it was on the spread or money line, but he told ESPN that it was in the multimillions, making it one of the largest reported bets in Nevada sports book history. He said, "Obviously, we're pretty heavy Eagles now."
Or at least they will be at 7 p.m. tonight when the first Super Bowl props go up at the Westgate. We’ve also been told that they’ll be up tonight at South Point, though most books wait for Westgate to post, then follow a couple days later. Westgate sports book director Jay Kornegay says there are more than 400 props and 12 that are crossovers with the Las Vegas Golden Knights hockey team.
This is getting to be a habit. The opening of MGM Cotai in Macau has been postponed for a fourth time. Originally scheduled for a 2016 debut, and most recently January 29, the reason for the latest postponement is problems with the licensing process. The new opening is set for “the month of February 2018.” At least the year is probably solid.
Fin will close at the Mirage on February 10, the latest of several recent culinary changes there that leave only Stack, California Pizza Kitchen, and the Cravings buffet as familiar names. Plans for the space have not been divulged.
The NBA has made it known that it wants a piece of the pie if sports betting becomes legal. In a statement today, an attorney for the league said it wants 1% of all wagers made and also wants laws that are followed nationally. One report stated that "the NBA wants more widespread access to gambling for its fans, pushing for bets to be made legal on smartphones and kiosks and not just inside casinos and racetracks." Of course it does.
The Regal United Artists Theater at the Showcase Mall has closed, leaving the Strip without a movie theater. It had operated just north of MGM Grand since 1997. The closest movie theaters to the Strip proper are now farther south on the Boulevard in Town Square, a mile west on Flamingo at the Palms, and two miles west on Tropicana at the Orleans.
In his first public comments about his new megaresort, Steve Wynn said he'll move quickly to build the 2,000- to 3,000-room Wynn West on property he recently purchased across the Strip from the Wynn and Encore. Wynn West will be connected to the Wynn's Beach Club by a "roughly 100-foot-long air-conditioned umbilical hallway” that will run over the Strip; Wynn told investors he built the infrastructure outside the Beach Club, knowing he'd acquire the vacant lot. He also said he expected the new hotel-casino to open within three years.
TripAdvisor has released its 16th annual Travelers Choice lists of top U.S. hotels, based on "millions of reviews and opinions collected in a single year." Three Las Vegas hotels made the grade. The Platinum (all-suite non-casino hotel on E. Flamingo) was ranked 6th in top value for money; the Four Seasons was ranked 19th for top luxurious hotel; and ARIA was ranked the 21st top luxurious hotel.
Anthony Curtis is the subject of the "Vegas Voices" series in today's LV Review-Journal, talking about the current state of Las Vegas and gambling. The interview is published in the print edition and in an extended version online.
Several restaurants and bars have recently closed. Most prominent among them is Zeffirino, after operating since 1998 at the Venetian. Jean Philippe Patisserie has been converted to Bellagio Patisserie at Bellagio and a second Jean Philippe at Aria is now Aria Patisserie, reflecting the split of Jean Philippe Maury and MRI properties. Also at Caesars, the champagne lounge Fizz is now called the Cocktail Lounge. Outside of the casinos, the Claim Jumper that replaced McCormick & Schmick’s on E. Flamingo has closed after a run of just three months.
McCarran International moved a record-high 48.5 million passengers through the airport in 2017, breaking its previous record of 47.7 million set in 2007. It was the busiest year in the airport's 69 years of operations, even though Las Vegas' total number of visitors fell from its record high of 42.9 million in 2016 to 42.2 million last year. Southwest Airlines' count was down 1 million to 18 million passengers, but Spirit, Frontier, Sun Country, and JetBlue served higher numbers and the airport accommodated more international flights in the D Concourse after completing an expansion project that doubled the number of gates.
The 500th episode of “Pawn Stars” will air tonight. It’s been an amazing run for the History Channel show that first aired on a lark in 2009.
This one caught everyone by surprise. Although it was generally expected that Wynn Las Vegas would sit and hold the land from the recent Alon-site purchase, Steve Wynn says he’s forming immediate plans to build a 2,000- to 3,000-room hotel tower on the property. No other details have been revealed, except that the project is being called Wynn West, reflecting the location on the west side of the Strip.
With last night's 5-1 win over the Carolina Panthers, the Vegas Golden Knights sits at the very top of the National Hockey League. It's a first in NHL history: Never before has an expansion team led the league 46 games into its first season. The VGK also lead the league in points, and have scored the second most goals in the league. They have the best home record of all 31 teams and are tied for second with the most road wins at 13. In their last 21 games, they have a record of 16-2-3. Astonishing! Read more about it at Joe Pane's VGK blog.
Our new poll is all about the paid-parking initiative on the Strip. How has it affected you? Are you boycotting pay-for options completely? Only sometimes (when too inconvenient not to)? Never (you don’t care)? Along with casting your own vote in the Reader Poll, check out the passionate comments and post your own on this hot-button topic.
The New England Patriots opened as -6 favorites over the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl and were quickly bet down to -5. The total opened at 47 and now sits at 48.
In today's NFC Championship, the Minnesota Vikings are -3 favorites over the Philadelphia Eagles. The total is 39.5.
In today's AFC Championship, the New England Patriots are -7.5 favorites over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The total is 45.5.
The Airway Heights casino has opened near Spokane in Washington. Plans call for the casino that features 450 slots and 12 table games to be followed by a hotel and retail center.
Celine Dion has canceled all of her performances scheduled for this week due to health issues. Her next performance at Caesars Palace is now scheduled for March 27.
In a top-level card for UFC competitor Bellator, Rory MacDonald is a -180 favorite over Douglas Lima in tonight's main event. In the other featured match, Quinton Jackson is -200 over Chael Sonnen.
Francis Ngannou is a -175 favorite over Stipe Miocic in tonight's UFC main event. In the other featured match, Daniel Cormier is -350 over Volkan Oezdemir.
The annual clash between Las Vegas’ national high school basketball powers, Findlay Prep and Bishop Gorman, is tonight at South Point. It’s a big event that features five games in all, starting at 11:30 am with Findlay/Gorman going off at 6 p.m.; tickets are $15/$25.
In December we wrote that Richard Branson’s Virgin Hotels was exploring opportunities in Las Vegas, but we didn't know which properties were being targeted. Today it's being reported that a deal is in the works to sell the Hard Rock, and that Virgin will manage the casino and also be part of the ownership group. No other details, including the purchase price, were disclosed, except that the sale could be concluded "this quarter." It appears that the resort will switch to the Virgin brand, ending the Hard Rock's casino presence in Las Vegas.
Wolfgang Puck's iconic Spago at the Forum Shops at Caesars, Las Vegas' first celebrity-chef restaurant, will close on January 27. When it opened with the Forum Shops in 1992, Spago launched Vegas' evolution into a world-class food city. Spago will reopen at Bellagio sometime this summer in the space that was, up until last week, occupied by Todd English's Olives, which opened with Bellagio in 1998. The room will undergo a $2.5 million makeover.
Earlier this month we reported that the quarter 8/5 Bonus Poker 4-way progressive in the Vue bar at the D had been taken out. Not so fast. We’ve just received a report (with photo evidence) that the game is back. Great news – this is a game that often moves into 100%+ territory. According to our information it’s not on two of the Vue Bar games, so look again if you don’t see it.
According to a story in the LV Review-Journal, the possibility of a second tower on the Strip for Donald Trump took a hit with the recent sale of the Alon site to Wynn Las Vegas. Part of that 38-acre purchase was a 3.6-acre parcel next to the Trump tower that was earmarked for a possible second tower or a joint venture casino project with TI owner Phil Ruffin.
Last night, the Vegas Golden Knights broke their two-game losing streak by beating the league-leading Tampa Bay Lightning 4-1 at Tampa Bay. It was their 30th win and the VGK are now the fifth team in NHL history to win 30 games in their inaugural season. The Anaheim Ducks and the Florida Panthers hold the record with 33 wins in their first year. It's safe to say that the VGK, with 38 more games to play, will win four more games to own that record. And if the VGK win tonight against the Florida Panthers, they'll be tied with Tampa Bay as the number-one team in the NHL. Read all about last night's game and the VGK in Joe Pane's insider Knights on Ice blog.
The Palms is running an excellent instacomp for its new A.Y.C.E. buffet. On Tuesdays and Thursdays only, earn 200 same-day base points ($200 coin-in) and get a comped breakfast, 400 for lunch, and 600 for dinner. With the Palms' good video poker schedules, your expected loss is in the $2-$6 range for what has debuted as one of the top buffets in Vegas. Look for a a full analysis of this deal coming in our VegasWithAnEdge blog.
A visitor from Florida hit a jackpot on Tuesday for $1,033,339 at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. He hit it on a Simpsons – that’s Simpsons plural, as in Homer Simpson, not OJ -- slot machine after only about 20 minutes of play (why is that always the case?).
OJ Simpson’s attorney says he plans to file a lawsuit over his recent ejection from the Cosmopolitan. The suit will seek “at least $100 million” for what Simpson’s camp calls a “bogus ejection.” Given that casinos have been 86ing customers with impunity forever, we’re not crazy about OJ’s chances. However, there's also discussion that the claim may be about defamation after the incident, which would be a different issue.
As parking continues to be a concern for the Raiders stadium, it appears likely that an elaborate series of bridges and underpasses will be built to provide access across I-15 from the casinos. Specific plans are expected to be submitted in November.
According to an article in today’s LV Review-Journal, the Lucky Dragon may be sold at auction. The article says the resort is in default to its lenders and a foreclosure auction is scheduled for February 6. The casino and restaurants are closed, while the hotel continues to operate.
The Westgate Las Vegas outdoor sign has completed a “digital upgrade” that enhances its display clarity. At 28 stories tall and 15,000 square feet, it’s touted as the world’s largest free-standing sign, larger than the renowned Dallas Cowboys stadium’s video display.
South Point has announced that it’s adding a Denny’s, the 24th in Las Vegas. The date and location haven’t been announced, but it looks like it will be added rather than replacing an existing restaurant.
The winner of this year’s Friday Football Showdown handicapping contest at the Golden Nugget was Chris Kozak, who also won last year. Playing under the name “Mucked Nuts” (a poker reference), the 35-year-old derivatives trader won $67,000. While it’s not quite on a par with Fezzik’s back-to-back wins in the SuperContest against bigger fields, considering the level of expertise in the GN contest, it’s a heck of an accomplishment.
The opening date of Luxor’s Esports Arena Las Vegas has been announced for March 18. The first dedicated esports venue on the Strip will immediately begin hosting a series of tournaments and other esports events.
The Artisan has brought back its offer to rent the entire hotel for a night. The 63 rooms, bar, pool, and wedding chapel are all yours for $7,500. Food and drink packages are available for additional charges.
Sunday’s NFL playoff game between the Vikings and Saints created a wild ride for sports bettors. The line closed at Vikings -5.5 in most places with a total of 47. With the Saints winning 24-23, the Vikings’ miracle touchdown flipped the winners, but not completely. With the score 29-24, the Vikings’ decision not to kick the extra point preserved the +5.5 win for many Saints betters and crushed Vikings bettors who would have won with a 6-point margin. The last-second TD also turned a push on the total into a win for over bettors.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade takes place today downtown on Fourth St., beginning at 10 a.m. Boyd casinos are awarding 11X points on slots and 6X on video poker. South Point is awarding $100 in free-play to 20 players chosen randomly every hour. Earn 50 points at Rampart and get a candy bar, 100 of which come with $100 in free-play.
Be prepared for some downtown traffic disruption on Monday, with several streets closing from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the MLK Day parade. Fourth St. will be closed from Charleston to Stewart, along with all cross streets within a half-mile of the Fourth St. parade route.
Doo Ho Choi is a -190 favorite over Jeremy Stephens in tonight's UFC main event. In the other featured match, Paige VanZant and Jessica-Rose Clark are pick 'em.
Don't forget about the “Fan Fest” gathering today, downtown at the D. From 3 to 5 p.m., members of the Vegas Golden Knights hockey team will hang out and mingle with fans near the Third Street stage.
In today's NFC playoff, the Minnesota Vikings are -5.5 favorites over the New Orleans Saints. The total is 46.5.
In today's AFC playoff, the Pittsburgh Steelers are -7 favorites over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The total is 41.
The Plaza is running a free slot tournament for locals Monday and Tuesday. Show Nevada ID and get and play in the $5K event paying 10 places, with $2K going to the winner.
In today's AFC playoff, the New England Patriots s are -13.5 favorites over the Tennessee Titans. The total is 48.
The Golden Gate is celebrating its 112th birthday today. Stop in for free champagne and other B'day specials.
In today's NFC playoff, the Atlanta Falcons are -2.5 favorites over the Philadelphia Eagles. The total is 40.5.
The Atlantic City gambling win was up 2.2% in 2017, a second consecutive yearly increase. The seven casinos brought in $2.66 billion, including $245 million from online gambling, which booked a fourth consecutive double-digit increase, up 25%. The Borgota was the market leader with an $800 million win, and the Tropicana ($390 million) supplanted Harrah's ($363 million) for the number-two spot. The Golden Nugget led the way in online win with $69 million.
The winner of the Westgate SuperContest was Briceton Branch. Playing under the name “Granny’s Boy,” Briceton went 58-22-5 -- a scorching 72.5% -- to take down the record $1.3 million prize. In the SuperContest Gold contest, a five-man team called Stag Capital went 54-29-2 (65.1%) to win $470,000. The second-place finisher lost by a half game and got nothing in the winner-take-all contest.
An armed man robbed the cage at New York-New York early Wednesday morning, getting away with an undisclosed amount of cash. There were no shots fired or casualties. The suspect reportedly left in a taxi and remains at large, though he was caught on camera and his photograph has been released.
The LV Review-Journal ran a big feature this week on our book The House Always Wins and author Brian Rouff, titled "A Vegas Tale of Mobsters, Romance and Redemption." The story about a house haunted by a deceased mobster is loaded with insider references to the city that put Vegas aficionados right in the middle of the action.
The D is hosting two events with the Vegas Golden Knights hockey team. Goalie Oscar Dansk will sign autographs tonight from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Longbar. Several more players will be on hand for a bigger event called “Fan Fest” from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
After he pulled out of a concert-in-progress in Southern California, it was announced the Willie Nelson would also have to cancel his Friday and Saturday show dates at the Cosmopolitan due to illness. The make-up dates for Cosmo are October 19 and 20.
On Monday, the first rainfall in 116 days was recorded at McCarran Airport. Tuesday saw 1.33 inches, breaking the previous record for the day by a full inch and accounting for more than 25% of Las Vegas' total annual average precipitation. Slick roads caused hundreds of accidents and calls for assistance. On Wednesday, it cleared up and the forecast calls for calm and bright.
The newest Gordon Ramsay restaurant in Las Vegas, his fifth here, held its soft opening on January 6. The 300-seat Hell's Kitchen, located outside Caesars Palace at the corner of the Strip and Flamingo, has received 12,000 reservations starting January 16, the first day bookings are being accepted; until then, it's walk-ins only. The excitement is being fueled by the popularity of the reality show of the same name, aired on Fox, now in its 17th season. Ramsay told the L.A. Times that a sixth Vegas restaurant is "in the pipeline."
The fee to enter Red Rock Canyon's 13-mile scenic drive will more than double, starting February 20. The cost per carload will go to $15, up $8 from the current price of $7. Motorcyclists will pay $10, up from $3, and pedestrians will shell out $5, also up from $3. The increases for the BLM's showcase National Conservation Area 20 miles west of the Strip are the first since 2011.
After three years of increases, preliminary figures from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority show the total number of Las Vegas visitors in 2017 declined from the previous year. There were 42.2 million visitors last year, well below the projected 43 million and down 1.7% from the record total of 42.9 million in 2016. A drop in the number of available rooms is being blamed for the shortfall, though the room total was down only slightly from 149,339 to 148,897. The average daily room rate rose 2.8%. On the plus side, convention attendance set a new record, with 6.6 million attendees, up 5.2% from 2016. The visitation projection for 2018 is 42.7 million.
With the giant Consumer Electronics Convention in full swing, travel snarls are materializing in the mornings and evenings around the main convention areas. To avoid the congestion, try to avoid the north end of the Strip from 8 to 10 a.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. through the end of the week.
The heavy rain over the last two days has led to lots of delayed and canceled flights at McCarran International Airport. Further complicating things, the big CES convention, expected to draw more than 180,000 visitors, is in progress.
A new light display was unveiled over the Las Vegas Strip last night in celebration of the Consumer Electronics Show: 250 Shooting Star drones were synchronized into a light show over Bellagio and coordinated with the fountains and music in front of the hotel. Though similar drone-coordinated light shows have been featured at Disney, Coachella, and the 2017 Super Bowl Halftime show, it's the first time they've appeared on the Strip. The show will be repeated at 9 and 11 p.m. tonight and 8 and 10 p.m. tomorrow and Thursday nights, and a video of the performance can be seen here.
Bob Dancer’s free video poker classes resume today, with one session at noon in the Silverado Lounge at South Point. Today’s classes are being videotaped for a possible instructional DVD.
In the college-football National Championship, Alabama is a -3.5 favorite over Georgia. The total is 45.5.
The record-breaking 116 days without recorded rainfall at McCarran Airport has ended. It's raining in Vegas and snowing, at times heavily, in the mountains, which is good news for skiers. The wet conditions could continue tomorrow, but it's predicted to dry out on Wednesday.
The former Revel in Atlantic City, closed since 2014, has been sold to a developer out of Colorado for $200 million. Plans call for the resort to reopen this summer as the Ocean Resort Casino.
In the second NFC Wild Card Playoff game, the New Orleans Saints are -6.5 favorites over the Carolina Panthers. The total is 47.5.
In the second AFC Wild Card Playoff game, the Jacksonville Jaguars are -8.5 favorites over the Buffalo Bills. The total is 40.
Earth, Wind & Fire has signed on for a mini-residency at the Venetian. Shows will play May 2, 4, 5, 9, 11-12, with tickets starting at $59 base.
In the first NFC Wild Card Playoff game, the Los Angeles Rams are -6.5 favorites over the Atlanta Falcons. The total is 48.
In the first AFC Wild Card Playoff game, the Kansas City Chiefs are -8.5 favorites over the Tennessee Titans. The total is 44.5.
In what's being called a temporary closing for repositioning, the casino and all restaurants except Cha Garden have been shut down. The hotel and gift shop also remain open. According to a statement summarizing the resort's status, the casino and restaurants will reopen "within six months."
With last night's win over the Chicago Blackhawks in Chicago, the last time the Vegas Golden Knights lost two games in a row was the back-to-back road games on November 30-December 1 to the Minnesota Wild and Winnipeg Jets. Last night’s win eliminated the possibility of another two-game losing streak. It was also the fifth win on the road out of the last six road games for Vegas. The VGK are now 28-10-2, with a 5-point lead over the L.A. Kings. Read all about the game here.
Britney Spears ended her Las Vegas residency with a bang, setting box office records for her New Year's Eve finale. Tickets selling for an average of about $250 generated a $1.17 million take, the highest take ever for a show at Planet Hollywood. It was the conclusion of Britney's four-year run.
The next state to open up Internet gambling may be Michigan. State lawmakers are setting the table to legalize online wagering, including sports betting, this year. Current proposals call for a structure similar to what's in place in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, with wagering limited to players within state borders and the option to share player pools with other states.
In an interview on a Boston TV station, Aerosmith band member Joe Perry said that the band will play a Las Vegas residency beginning sometime in the fall. Perry indicated that frontman Steven Tyler will be involved. He didn’t say where the gig would be, but the smart money is on The Park Theater at Park MGM.
It's being reported this morning that the Lucky Dragon on Sahara near the Strip has closed. We haven't verified, but credible sources indicate that there are signs on the doors that say the casino is entering into "a process of reorganization" and that only workers and hotel guests currently have access.
It's a quiet one, with everyone recovering from New Year's still, evidently, but here are this weekend's highlights:
To paraphrase Don Henley, "We got the call today we didn't want to hear, but we knew that it would come." One of the best bar progressives in town is no more. The 8/5 Bonus Poker 4-way progressive in the Vue bar at the D no longer progresses, leaving its return at a static 99.17%. That's not bad, but this game was regularly in 100%+ territory and was a favorite of in-the-know players. There are still progressives on the 7/5 Jacks or Better and 8/5 Double Double Bonus games, but the low base returns on those means that the progressives will rarely rise high enough to hit breakeven.
With last night's shutout win (3-0) at home against the tough Nashville Predators, the VGK aren’t only in the midst of an eight-game winning streak. They're also the number-one team in the Western Conference and the number-two team overall in the league. They own the best home record in the NHL at 17-2-1 and haven’t lost in regulation since Dec. 1, a 12-0-1 run. They’ve even now tied a record among all the major sports by winning eight games in a row in their first year. That record was held solely by the 1976-1977 Denver Nuggets of the NBA. Read all about last night's game at our exclusive Vegas Golden Knights blog.
Last year was the hottest on record for Las Vegas. The average temperature in 2017 was 72.3 degrees, just above the 72.0 degrees recorded in 2014.
The new Las Vegas-themed TV show, "LA to Vegas" premiers tonight. The half-hour comedy is set on the Friday-night-up and Sunday-night-back weekend flights that are typically full of partying optimists on the first leg and defeated realists on the second. The show, staring Dylan McDermott as the pilot of the Jackpot Airlines flight, airs on Fox at 9 p.m.
An estimated 12 tons of garbage was removed from the Strip and downtown following the New Year’s Eve celebrations. Police reported making eight arrests on the Strip and three downtown, and handing out 10 additional citations. The few medical calls reported were described as minor.
There was a slight delay in delivery of the Member Rewards Books. They're expected by 11 a.m today, but if you're planning to come to our office to pick yours up, we recommend that you call first to inquire about the status. If your MRB is being delivered, it will be in the mail this week.
The line for the College Football National Championship opened with Alabama a -4 favorite over Georgia and is currently -4.5. The total opened at 47.5 and has been bet down to 46.
In today's Sugar Bowl, the second of two semi-final games in the college-football National Championship playoffs, Alabama is a -3.5 favorite over Clemson. The total is 47.
In today's Rose Bowl, the first of two semi-final games in the college-football National Championship playoffs, Georgia is a -2.5 favorite over Oklahoma. The total is 61.
MGM Resorts International says that it will not book its own recently acquired WNBA team, the Las Vegas Aces. No decision has been made on booking the rest of the WNBA, but it’s not a big issue either way according to sports book director Jay Rood who said, “the handle for the entire year in the WNBA is probably less than what we do on a really good NFL game.”
Thousands packed the Strip and downtown last night for the fireworks display and no major altercations were reported. If you're in town today, the buffets and restaurants will be serving New Year's specials and the sports books will be humming with a full college football schedule, including the two National Championship semi-final games.
Long-time Las Vegan Brian Rouff's new novel, The House Always Wins, received recent accolades from the prestigious U.S. Review of Books, which wrote, in part, "If you’re looking for an enjoyable read that will revitalize your faith in love, laughter, and cosmic karma, go ahead and roll the dice. You’ll still feel like a winner, even though it’s a given that the house always wins." You can read the full review, then perhaps give yourself a late Christmas present full of Las Vegas humor, romance, and ghosts.
In today's Citrus Bowl, LSU is a -2.5 favorite over Notre Dame. The total is 52.5.
In today's Peach Bowl, Auburn is a -10.5 favorite over Central Florida. The total is 66.
According to TheDailyMeal.com, Joel Robuchon, located inside the MGM Grand, "serves the most expensive meal in a city that's chock full of them." For prices at Nevada's most expensive restaurant, The Daily Meal cites tasting menus that start at $127 per person, rising through $169 and $250, "before topping out at the crème de la crème of American tasting menus, the 18-course degustation, for a whopping $445 per person, before drinks, tax, and tip." In Eating Las Vegas 2018 (on sale now for $12.99), author John Curtis writes, "The chefs and staff go to considerable effort to provide an experience worthy of Joël Robuchon’s reputation, and reputations in the food world don’t get any higher."
In today's Outback Bowl, Michigan is a -9 favorite over South Carolina. The total is 41.