Most parking fees at McCarran Airport will go up starting Monday: from $16 to $18 per day in the long-term parking garages and $10 to $12 per day in the economy lots and from $23 to $30 for valet parking. The daily rate in the short-term garages ($36) and the remote lot ($15) will stay the same.
Inside Asian Gaming (asgam.com) reports that more than 200,000 Chinese nationals have left Cambodia since the country's ban on online gambling took effect on January 1. In addition, last August, the prime minister announced that the government would stop issuing new gaming licenses for brick-and-mortar casinos and stop renewing existing ones. The crackdown on casino gambling was instituted on behalf of "public safety and social order;" according to Cambodian lawmakers, "online gambling has been used by foreign criminals to extort money and conduct other criminal activities." The number of licensed casinos operating in Cambodia fell from 163 last June to 118 as of last week, with 56 of those still in operation being in southern coastal city of Sihanoukville.
For the first time in the history of the Super Bowl, the NFL has accepted an advertisement from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority promoting the city. Vegas' new slogan, “What happens here only happens here,” will appear in a 30-second ad sometime between 2:30 and 3 p.m. prior to the game. Though 30-second spots are costing $5.6 million this year, the LVCVA isn't saying how much it paid for the placement.
A new analysis by real estate website Zillow.com ranks Las Vegas as the most popular U.S. destination for non-local home shoppers. Among the 50 largest metro areas, Las Vegas received the biggest share of Zillow searches by out-of-staters (61%), mainly due to intense interest from potential buyers in southern California (18% of searches from Los Angeles and Orange County, the highest percentage from anywhere in the country). The other large metros with a majority of searches coming from outside are Jacksonville, San Antonio, Riverside, Raleigh, and New Orleans; the major metro areas with the lowest share of out-of-town searches are Nashville with the lowest (30%), followed by Salt Lake City, San Jose, Orlando, and Charlotte (all 30 percenters). And speaking of out-of-town buyers, it was reported by Boston sports talk radio station 98.5 that Tom Brady has bought a house in Las Vegas, further fueling rumors that he might be considering playing for the Raiders next year.
The failed SkyVue site across the Strip from Mandalay Bay has been put on the auction block. SkyVue was Las Vegas' first giant observation wheel to be attempted on the site; two support pylons were erected before construction was halted and never started up again. (You can read the whole story in our QoD on it from March 2016.) The 38.5-acre property, with 750 feet of Strip frontage, is the "last true development opportunity" on the Strip, according to one of the principals handling the sale. The deadline for bids is April 30 and the auction is scheduled for May 19.
McCarran International Airport set a record of 51.5 million travelers in 2019. It was the third-straight year of a record annual passenger count and the ninth in a row for a year-over-year increase in the number of passengers moving through the airport. The domestic passenger count increased by just under 4%, while the number of international passengers remained the same as in 2018.
A new show will open in the thousand-seat Jubilee Theater at Bally's, where Donn Arden’s Jubilee ran for 34 years before it closed in early 2016. From the name, it sounds like it could be a throwback to the Jubilee/Folies Bergere/Hello Hollywood Hello era of extravaganzas and spectaculars, which is exactly what it's called: Extravaganza -- The Las Vegas Spectacular. The producer likes superlatives; he's also behind the show Wow -- the Vegas Spectacular, which has been at the Rio since 2017. Tickets go on sale today and range from $49.99 to $109.99.
The Westgate has announced a Super Bowl proposition-betting contest. The entry fee for the “Big Game Prop Contest” is $100 and you can enter up to three times. First place gets 50% of the prize pool, second gets 30%, and third 20%. The Westgate is taking 5% out of the pool, which is disappointing, but not a deal-breaker. The entry deadline is Sunday at 2 p.m.
The Hard Rock Hotel is sponsoring a four-day party starting tomorrow as it gets ready to close. Free entertainment, food and drink specials, and contests and drawings for memorabilia prizes will culminate in a final toast at 8 p.m. Saturday in the Peacock Lounge, led by CEO Richard Bosworth, followed by the Super Bowl bash on Sunday. The doors will be locked on Monday at 3 a.m. In the meantime, the hotel is selling off some of its furnishings in pre-paid as-is packages that have to be bought onsite and delivered in the Vegas metro area: $800 room packages and $400 bedroom and living-room packages. It's not old hotel-room furniture, it's a piece of history (or so they're telling us).
According to Mick Akers, the Las Vegas Review-Journal's traffic-beat reporter, SuperShuttle will cease its operations in Las Vegas this Friday. SuperShuttle was bought out last September and discontinued airport shuttle service in the majority of its cities on December 31. Other van and limo companies continue to operate out of McCarran, but SuperShuttle, with its distinctive blue vans, was perhaps the best known.
A press release from the D has announced that "a new automated cashless gaming system, ACS PlayOn," is now available at all of its table games. It's a small debit-card reader from which you can buy chips, bypassing the cage and/or casino ATMs. The fee is roughly the same as at an ATM: a flat $4, plus 2.5% of your withdrawal amount. And no, you can't use a credit card, debit only, and only up to the amount of your daily limit. The ACS PlayOn was tested at Red Rock in March 2019, then rolled out at the Palms last month. It will also be available at the Golden Gate soon.
The first location of Roberto's Tacos is closing. The original shop at 1220 E. Harmon Ave., which opened in 1990, will shut its doors this Friday as a new owner of the shopping center redevelops the property. Of the nearly 60 Roberto's Tacos that stretch from North Las Vegas to Boulder City and Mesquite, 11 are still in their original locations. The Harmon shop will reopen at 4700 S. Maryland Parkway, a half-mile from the original, on Sunday March 1. Roberto's also has a dozen locations in southern California and two in Reno. Meanwhile, the first Chick-Fil-A on the Las Vegas Strip will open on Thursday. The popular fast-food-chain's sixth Las Vegas location is located at the bottom of the escalators from the pedestrian overpass between Cosmopolitan and Planet Hollywood (on the PH side). But don't expect to sit down and enjoy your meal; it's take-out only from seven walk-up windows and a pick-up area for customers ordering via the Chick-fil-A app.
A survey conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of the American Gaming Association (AGA) has found that 26 million Americans will have money riding on Sunday's Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers in Miami. That's approximately three million more than last year and represents nearly 10% of the population of the nation. Close to four million of them will make their bets in person at a brick-and-mortar sports book, a 25% increase from last year. Another five million will bet through an online or mobile platform, either through a licensed legal operator or an illegal offshore book, a 19% increase from last year. The survey found that 52% are betting on the Chiefs, the other 48% on the Niners. "Viewership for NFL games rose 5% in 2019, up five points from the year before. This is yet another example of how the NFL will earn approximately $2.3 billion annually due to increased fan engagement from sports betting, the AGA said in a press release. "Previous AGA research found that 75% of NFL bettors say they are more likely to watch a game they have bet on and sports bettors are more interested in the NFL than any other professional sports league."
According to a story in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, veteran video-game company Atari has announced a licensing agreement with Phoenix developer True North Studio to build Atari-branded hotels in eight U.S. cities: Phoenix, Denver, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, Chicago, Austin, and of course Las Vegas. "They would include an e-sport studio, an Atari 'gaming playground,' meeting and event space, restaurants, bars, and a movie theater" and would be aimed at families and business travelers. The 48-year-old company, founded in Silicon Valley in 1972, receives a 5% royalty of hotel revenues; the first Atari-branded accommodation is planned for Phoenix.
A major feature story on Forbes.com covers the arrest of the co-founder of PokerStars, the world’s biggest online poker company, to answer to charges of illegal gambling, bank fraud, and money laundering lodged against him by federal prosecutors way back in 2011. Isai Scheinberg, a 73-year-old Israeli-Canadian who avoided U.S. authorities for more than a decade, voluntarily traveled to New York and appeared at a hearing conducted in Manhattan’s federal court last Friday, where he pleaded not guilty and was released on $1 million bail.
"Scheinberg's surrender to the authorities marks the end of one of the wildest sagas in Internet history," Forbes reports, citing the crackdown that shuttered PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker in the U.S. Scheinberg surrendered his passports, but he has an "agreement in principle" with the government.
An updated version of Las Vegas' iconic slogan, “What happens here stays here,” which was introduced in 2003 and became part of pop culture worldwide, was introduced last night at the 2020 Grammy Awards show following a performance by Aerosmith. The 60-second ad with the new slogan, "What happens here only happens here," featured a string of Las Vegas-related celebrities, including Shania Twain, Christina Aguilera, and UFC heavyweight fighter Francis Ngannou. The new ad campaign is meant to "encourage visitors to give themselves permission to embrace unique only-in-Vegas moments without judgment."
In today’s NFL Pro Bowl Game, the AFC is a -1.5 favorite over the NFC. The total is 55. Note, this line was posted with the game in progress.
The proposition bets are up on the sports book boards in the hundreds again this year, with William Hill posting more than 1,000, for next Sunday's Super Bowl LIV. They span the winner of the coin toss and team receiving the opening kickoff, the team to score first and last in the game, total net yards, longest field goal, most third-down conversions, and scores of individual player props to the oddball and weird, such as the cross-sports bets (which will be higher, Russell Westbrook's points+rebounds+assists vs. Pelicans or Patrick Mahomes pass attempts), who will show cleavage during the halftime performance, if announcer Joe Buck will mention his dad Jack, if Trump will tweet during the game, if 49ers Coach Kyle Shanahan will blow a 28-3 lead, even will a player be arrested after the game. You can sell all 1,000 of Will Hill's props at this URL: https://www.scribd.com/document/444160542/William-Hill-US-Super-Bowl-prop-bets#from_embed
Dozens of F-15 and F-16 tactical fighter aircraft will take off from Nellis Air Force Base twice daily between tomorrow and February February 14 as they participate in the Air Force's Red Flag training program. The Red Flag exercises, which have been held periodically at Nellis since 1975, simulate highly realistic aerial warfare, affording U.S., NATO, and allied pilots, along with ground personnel, the opportunity to hone their skills for actual combat. Sorties take place day and night and the aircraft are airborne for up to five hours, dog-fighting and bombing targets within the nearly three million acres of the Nellis training range. The use of live ammo and flares makes for a spectacular display, especially at night; the best places to see it are from the hills surrounding Rachel off NV 375, but you might see and hear some aircraft from various places in the valley.
VitalVegas.com reports that a source has indicated employees the 1OAK nightclub at the Mirage have been told the venue will close on March 28. If it's true -- and VitalVegas' Scott Roeben's sources are usually impeccable -- it will be the next in a long line of Sin City night spots to depart the scene: 1OAK itself replaced the Jet club; most recently, KAOS closed at the Palms, which followed Hyde at Bellagio and Intrigue at the Wynn.
The World Market Center Winter 2020 Las Vegas Market starts tomorrow and more than 50,000 attendees will be attending the trade show at the downtown furniture mart. The Winter session runs through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m, during which traffic will be heavy on Grand Central Parkway, Bonneville Avenue, and Charleston and Martin Luther King boulevards, especially in late afternoon when the cars from the show add to the usual rush-hour congestion. The spillover will also slow traffic on Symphony Park Ave. and Commerce Street. Note that Grand Central Parkway now connects to Industrial Road across Charleston, which will be a good way to head south to hit I-15 off Sahara or Spring Mountain or cut over to the Strip.
A 4.6-magnitude earthquake yesterday evening centered 14 miles north of Barstow, Calif., sent seismic waves roughly 140 miles to Las Vegas, which were felt throughout the valley. There were no initial reports of damages or injuries in Las Vegas or around Barstow from the 7 p.m. temblor. It's the first quake to be felt in Las Vegas since July 4, when a 6.4-magnitude quake struck Ridgecrest, Calif., approximately 60 miles north of Barstow.
The pop band, reality actors, and Grammy-winning Jonas Brothers trio, who've sold more than 20 million albums worldwide, will perform nine shows at the Park Theater at Park MGM in April: 1, 3, 4, 8, 10, 11, 15, 17, and 18. Tickets start at $69 and go on sale to the public on Friday Jan. 31 at 10 a.m.
Hakkasan Group, which pioneered the Las Vegas pool party and dayclub scene when it opened Wet Republic Ultra Pool at MGM Grand in 2008, is in the middle of a multi-million renovation of the 55,000-square-foot pool and party area. When it reopens in time for the swimming season in March, it will boast additional plunge pools, a redesigned and expanded performance area, revamped culinary program, elevated cabanas and bungalows, and furniture upgrades. The big news is what's being called a "state-of-the-art immersive technology new to the Las Vegas dayclub scene": 4,000 square feet of high-contrast video, including a 13-foot, interactive, pixel-mapping cube, and the same sound technology used at the Tomorrowland and Coachella music festivals. Tickets to Wet Republic's parties go on sale February 4.
The first time Anthony Curtis and Deke Castleman attended The Mac King Comedy Magic Show, mere weeks after it opened as an afternooner in 2000, they knew it would be a long-time LVA Top Ten deal. But they never imagined it would still be at Harrah's, with shows Tues.-Sat. at 1 and 3 p.m., a full two decades later. At 20 years, the 60-year-old King is the longest-running headliner on the Strip and was honored with a roast during this week's Society of American Magicians Convention at the Golden Nugget. He was also inducted into its Hall of Fame. Las Vegas Review-Journal entertainment columnist John Katsilometes was there and reports that the roast attracted 600 attendees, "the vast majority of whom were magicians or somehow connected to the magic industry."
The Indiana Gaming Commission has authorized the state's casinos and mobile sports wagering operators to set odds and accept bets on the winners of the 92nd Academy Awards. Thanks to the ruling, wagers will be permitted on all 24 Oscar categories, though it's expected that most Indiana sports books will limit the bets to the six majors: best picture, director, actor, actress, supporting actor, and supporting actress. Indiana joins New Jersey to become the second of two states to accept wagers on the Oscars.
We mean that literally: High Times, the 45-year-old cannabis media and events company, will open dispensaries bearing its logo in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. According Benzinga.com, Hightimes Holdings, the parent company of High Times and Dope magazines and a popular brand of cannabis, "has signed binding letters of intent with dispensary license holders" in both cities. Benzinga reports that "High Times has 10 times the number of social followers of any other cannabis retail brand, not including the millions of cannabis enthusiasts who visit the company’s media properties on a monthly basis. The cannabis movement has grown in no small part due to the High Times brand."
The first wave of Super Bowl props go up today when they’re revealed on the Westgate SuperBook’s big board tonight at 7 p.m. Most books wait for Westgate to post, then follow a couple days later, though we’re told Circa will post its props tomorrow afternoon. Head over to Westgate tonight to take in the feeding frenzy at the release.
Anthony Curtis was interviewed for a podcast by Roger Gros, publisher of Global Gaming Business, the industry’s leading gaming-trade magazine. The first 23 minutes of the podcast are about the Las Vegas Advisor and related topics; following that, Anthony reveals a lot of inside details about how he and Frank B helped the “Mattress King” of Houston place millions of dollars of sports bets on the Astros in the run-up to and during the World Series. Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale was hedging a multi-million-dollar liability on a sales promotion he sponsored during the baseball series. It’s a fascinating tale and this is as close as you'll come to being there, including hearing the final numbers of the whole deal. Here's the link.
We just received an email with the names and brief descriptions of the five restaurants that will open with Circa this December. They are: 8 East, Asian fare in a hotspot infused with a street-market vibe; Barry's Prime Steaks, a discrete Golden Age of Vegas hideaway (in the basement); Project BBQ, a permanent barbecue food truck parked on Fremont Street; Saginaw's Deli, a 24/7 sandwich shop named after the co-founder of Zingerman's iconic deli in Ann Arbor, MI; and Victory Burger, the sports bar overlooking Circa's sports book. No buffet.
According to FBI.gov as reported at CDCGamingReports.com, in September 2017, a dealer and player cheated two Maryland casinos out of more than $1 million at baccarat. After closely reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing other players at the table, FBI agents determined that the cheating player knew the order of the cards, so the dealer had to be involved. They arrested the dealer, who confessed and explained the scam: The dealer had failed to shuffle a large clump of cards after he fanned them out in front of players. The player photographed the order of the cards with his cell phone, which he reviewed on several trips to the restroom. Recruiting the others at the table to follow his lead, he and his tablemates won 18 of 21 hands, including one winning streak of 14 straight hands. The dealer also confessed to carrying out a similar scam at another casino where he’d previously worked, winning nearly $200,000. The player pleaded guilty to conspiracy and was sentenced to 13 months in prison. The dealer was fired, sentenced to 18 months in federal prison, given three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay restitution equal to the full amount of the winnings. In total, investigators found the pair cheated the two casinos of $1,046,560.
The details were made official yesterday after an appearance by NFL Draft representatives at the Clark County Commissioners' meeting. The 2020 NFL Draft will launch at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday April 23 with the Red Carpet at the Bellagio fountains, where draft prospects will make their debut; a stage will reportedly be constructed on the lake and prospects will ride out and back on boats. The Main Stage will be next to the new Caesars Forum convention center, where fans will view first-round selections on Thursday night, rounds 2-3 on Friday night, and rounds 4-7 on Saturday. The Main Stage will host daily performances by headliners, along with games, autograph sessions, giveaways, and a pro shop, throughout the long weekend. Road closures will cause traffic delays on the Strip between Bellagio and the LINQ and Flamingo Road to Koval for 24 days before, during, and after the Draft. All in all, the NFL Draft is shaping up to be the biggest event Las Vegas has ever seen.
Last year, New Jersey sports books started accepting bets on the Academy Awards and the experiment was apparently successful; they're booking money-line bets on the Oscars again this year. So far, DraftKings and FOX Bet are accepting Oscar bets, but more books are expected to do the same. DraftKings is offering odds on all 24 categories at the Academy Awards, but here are the front runners. Best Picture: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (+160) and 1917 (+200). Best Actor/Actress: Joaquin Phoenix (-1,667) for Joker and Renee Zellweger (-1,000) for Judy; Best Supporting Actor/Actress: Brad Pitt (-1,000) for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Laura Dern (-1,000) for Marriage Story. Best Director: Sam Mendes (-134) for 1917, and Bong Joon Hoo (+225) for Parasite.
Moon Palace is a new 20-seat fast-food counter overlooking an open kitchen at Palazzo that serves only three food items: sliders on King's Hawaiian buns with cheese and caramelized onions in single and double beef ($5.49/$6.99) and non-beef ($7.49/$9.99); fresh-fried potato chips seasoned with salt or honey butter, with or without a side of Luna sauce ($3.49); and a pancake-sandwich dessert filled with marshmallow fluff and half-dipped in chocolate ($2.99). For drinks, it's soda, iced tea, and beer ($9.99/16 ounces, $12.99/22) . Moon Palace, owned and operated by L.A. celebrity chef David Chang, is open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to start; we hear that the menu and hours will expand over time.
Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale, whom LVA readers will recognize after Anthony Curtis and Frank B helped him place more than $20 million worth of bets on the Houston Astros to win the World Series, lost again betting on the Houston Texans, then against the Kansas City Chiefs, in two NFL playoff games. According to the Action Network, he bet $1 million on both, then went for a wild roller-coaster ride, as both teams ran up big leads in the games, only to see the Chiefs roar back to easily beat the spread. Mack says he doubts that he'll be on the Super Bowl.
The annual midwinter bald-eagle survey was conducted by wildlife biologists at Lake Mead over the weekend. Going on for nearly 30 years, it's part of a nationwide count of bald eagles, America's national bird; they were listed as endangered in 1967, but are now proliferating. Last year's count was canceled due to the shutdown of the federal government, but in 2018, a total of 40 bald eagles were identified at Mead. This year, preliminary numbers point to more than 30.
Could the Las Vegas Raiders become the "Braders"? New England Patriots' veteran quarterback Tom Brady, who becomes a free agent for the first time in his career in March, attended UFC 246 at T-Mobile Arena on Saturday (where Conor McGregor overwhelmed Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone) and was seen chatting with Raiders' owner Marc Davis and president Dana White. CBS Sports also reports that Brady is "interested in testing the free agent waters." We'll see in the next few months; currently, BetOnline has Brady at -300 odds to remain with the Patriots and +200 for him to open the 2020-2021 season on another team.
In addition to the four major conventions in town this week (combined, they're as big as CES), the 2020 Mecum's Las Vegas Motorcycle Auction returns to the South Point Arena starting tomorrow and runs through Sunday. This event has become an institution in the industry; it’s the only time that the world’s two biggest motorcycle auction houses both appear in the same city at the same time. Nearly 2,000 vintage and antique bikes will be auctioned. Last year's event was dubbed the "Sale of the Century" due to the high prices some of the two-wheelers fetched: a Green Frame Ducati 750SS sold for $247,500, a Honda NR750 (RC45) sold for $181,500, and a Honda VFR750 (RC30) sold for $121,000. For a good look at the featured motorcycles, go to www.mecum.com/auctions/las-vegas-motorcycle-2020/lots/featured. The event is open to the public; you can buy advance tickets through today for $20; at the door they're $30.
The Super Bowl line opened with the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers pick 'em, and immediately moved to Chiefs -1. The total opened 51.5 and was quickly bet up to 53.
In today's NFC Championship, the San Francisco 49ers are -8 favorites over the Green Bay Packers. The total is 47.
In today's AFC Championship, the Kansas City Chiefs are -7 favorites over the Tennessee Titans. The total is 51.5.
A post by Alan Snel of LVSportsBiz.com covers NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s visit to Las Vegas late last week and reports on a curious continuing ambivalence on the part of the league when it comes to the city. Although the massive NFL Draft will be held all over the Strip in April, Allegiant Stadium is being completed with the world’s largest picture window overlooking Las Vegas Boulevard, Caesars Entertainment is an official NFL partner, and a Super Bowl is almost certain to be held in Sin City in the next five or six years, the NFL still refuses to accept advertising that shows the Las Vegas Strip during its broadcasts, due to its association with sports betting. Go figure.
It’s another week crowded with conventioneers in Las Vegas. The NAHB International Builders Show, largest annual light-construction show in the world, is being hosted by the Las Vegas Convention Center, Tuesday through Thursday, with 70,000 attendees expected. Sharing the Convention Center will be the Kitchen and Bath Show with another 33,000 attendees. Then there’s the SHOT Show (Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade Show) at the Sands Expo Tuesday through Friday with more than 60,000 and the AVN Adult Entertainment Show Wednesday through Saturday at the Hard Rock with 25,000.
Conor McGregor is a -330 favorite over Donald Cerrone in tonight’s UFC main event. In the other featured match, Diego Ferreira is -240 over Anthony Pettis.
By far, our most frequently asked questions nowadays concern the NFL draft, coming to Las Vegas April 23-25. Where will it be? What hotel is closest? When can I buy tickets? Up until now, the answers have been closely guarded secrets. But the Las Vegas Review-Journal this morning reports that the main stage will probably be in front of the Bellagio fountains and that the Strip will be closed completely between Spring Mountain Road and Harmon Avenue all three days of the draft, with rolling closures for 20 days around the event while the stage is put up and taken down. Estimates range from 400,000 to 750,000 fans coming to Las Vegas for the event, which, according to the R-J, will also have focal points at Caesars Forum, the new convention center opening in March off the LINQ promenade, with draft picks being announced from all the way at the top of the High Roller observation wheel to all the way at the bottom of SkyJump at the STRAT. NFL representatives will make "an in-depth presentation" at a Clark County Commissioners meeting this Tuesday that will reveal road closures and draft venues. Stay turned.
The father-and-sons classic-rock cover act The Bronx Wanderers is moving from the LINQ next door to Harrah's. We reviewed this show in the August 2019 Las Vegas Advisor, writing, "It’s hard to imagine a tighter or more polished and entertaining rock act than this colossal six-piece band." The show opened three years ago in Bally's Windows Showroom, then spent a year at the Mat Franco Theater at the LINQ, and will open at Harrah's Showroom in February 3, which they'll share with the Righteous Brothers in the slot vacated last month by Elvis Presley's Hearbreak Hotel.
Las Vegas’ foreclosure rate, which hit a high of 12.04% in 2009 and has been trailing off ever since, hit a low of 0.46% in 2019, lowest since the early 2000s. It's still higher than the national average at 0.36%, according to housing-tracker Attom Data Solutions, but it's close to half what it was in 2018 at 0.67%. And according to Las Vegas consulting firm Applied Analysis, only 3.3% of total houses sold were bought at foreclosure auctions and via short sales, compared to 73% in 2011. The conclusion: "Sales of so-called distressed homes have largely faded in Las Vegas."
TAO Beach Club at the Venetian will follow in the main pool's footsteps last year by remaining closed for the upcoming season. Like the total remodel of the main pool, the 18,000-square-foot Tao Beach, which opened in 2007, will remain in its current rooftop location, but undergo a "massive renovation and expansion," then reopen in 2021.
The Scorpions, the oldest and one of the most iconic hard-rock bands of all time, will play a nine-show residency at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood this July. The Scorpions were founded in Hannover, West Germany, in 1965 and released their first album, Lonesome Crow, in 1972, becoming a big part of the first wave of heavy-metal rock. Since then, they've sold more than 100 million records, with hits such as "Wind of Change," "Still Loving You," "Rock You Like a Hurricane," "Send Me an Angel," and many more. The Scorpions will be joined by Queensrÿche, formed in 1980 and themselves no minor player on the progressive-metal scene, for the nine dates: July 4, 8, 11, 14, 16, 18, 21, 23, and 25. Tickets start at $40 and go on sale to the public Friday Jan. 24 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time.
Bob Dancer and Richard Munchkin, hosts of our Gambling with an Edge podcast (posted every Thursday afternoon), will perform tomorrow night starting at 7 p.m. with the Las Vegas Improvisation Players at Show Creators Studios, 4455 W. Sunset Road. LVIP performs “clean-burning” improvised comedy similar to shows like “Whose Line is it Anyway?” Tickets are $10. Visit www.lvimprov.com for more information.
For the first time since 2012, Atlantic City casinos won more the $3 billion from gamblers. In calendar year 2019, A.C.'s nine casinos cashed in to the tune of $3.29 billion, a 15% increase over 2018. And that was just from casino games; when the $300 million win in sports bets for the year and the $482 million won online from gamblers are added in, it brings the total gross gambling profit to $3.46 billion. The Internet win was an increase of more than 61% over 2018. Interestingly, roughly 85% of sports bets in New Jersey in 2019 were placed via apps.
Harrah’s Reno, the first casino opened by William Harrah in 1937, has been sold to a Las Vegas-based investment group for $50 million. CAI Investments plans on transforming the 83-year-old property into a mixed-use facility to be called Reno City Center (which will really be in the center of Reno city). When the project is completed, the building will house hotel rooms, apartment units, offices, restaurants and bars, a grocery store, a fitness center, and other residential amenities; it will not have a casino. The deal is expected to close later this year and Caesars Entertainment will continue to operate the 940-room property on a short-term lease until CAI begins its reconfiguration.
A gambler firing up a $5 Wheel of Fortune machine at Excalibur struck gold by hitting a progressive jackpot good for $5.48 million around 1 a.m. Sunday morning.
This just in: The Vegas Golden Knights have fired head coach Gerard Gallant and his long-time assistant Mike Kelly. Gallant will be replaced by Peter DeBoer, formerly head coach of the San Jose Sharks. Gallant had a record of 118-75-20 in his two-and-a-half seasons with the Knights; DeBoer's record was 198-129-34 four-and-a-half seasons with the Sharks before he was fired a month ago. DeBoer will join the team for tomorrow night's game in Ottawa. You can read all about the VGK's troubles in Joe Pane's Knights on Ice blog, particularly his coverage of last night's loss 4-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres.
Although Allegiant Air is based in Las Vegas, the largest expansion of routes in the airline's history doesn't include any new service to Sin City. Allegiant is adding service to three new cities -- Boston, Chicago (Midway), and Houston -- and a total of 44 new nonstop routes, mostly to Midwest and East Coast airports, including Nashville, Pittsburgh, Memphis, and Austin. Most of the added routes will begin in May and June and will be seasonal; low introductory fares can be purchased by tomorrow for travel from August 15 through November 16.
Nevada collected a record $9.8 million in taxes from the sale of cannabis in October 2019, registering an increase of more than $1 million over September, an increase of 10.3%, and $1.6 million over October 2018 (16.4%). Cannabis sales were strongest in Clark County with total taxable sales of $50.7 million, up from $46.8 million (7.7%) in September.
A construction situation with Allegiant Stadium could impact the opening date, scheduled for just a little more than six months from now. A problem with the cabling system that supports the dome roof could be worse than originally believed. An independent construction monitor of the project cites "the possibility of weather damage as more finish work is put in place,” given the delay in completion of the roof. Originally reported in November, the problem has caused the roof schedule to be delayed until some time in May, months after it was supposed to be in place. In its report, the monitor warned that the issuing of the temporary certificate of occupancy could be in jeopardy if rain damages interior finishes. The Raiders have an option to play in the Oakland Coliseum in 2020, in the case of any delays to their new stadium, but that would be awkward, to say the least.
The Wall Street Journal reports this morning that MGM Resorts International will sell the MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay to a joint venture that includes private-equity and real estate giant Blackstone Group. Blackstone, if you recall, bought Bellagio last year for $4.5 billion and is leasing it back to MRI, which continues to operate it. A similar deal has been made for MGM Grand, valued at $2.5 billion, and MBay, valued at $2.1 billion, the difference being the long-term lease; MRI will operate the properties and pay $292 million a year in rent. Blackstone will own a fraction less than half; MGM Growth Properties, the publicly traded real estate investment trust that owns MRI's remaining hotel-casinos, will hold the rest (50.1%). The deal includes the resort and the three Signature condominium towers on the massive property.
The UK Gambling Commission has announced a ban on the use of credit cards for online gambling starting April 14. A spirited campaign by problem-gambling and consumer groups has been ongoing for two years to prevent websites, including PokerStars, Betfair, 888, and Bet365, from allowing their customers to make deposits online using credit cards, in order "to protect gamblers who ignore obvious signs of a spiralling addiction." The ban also encompasses e-wallets, so payment services such as PayPal will probably also be outlawed.
In the college-football National Championship, LSU is a -4.5 favorite over Clemson. The total is 66.5.
Bob Dancer’s free video poker classes start again tomorrow. They run on Tuesdays in the Silverado Lounge at South Point, with beginner’s classes at noon and intermediate at 2 p.m. (except where otherwise noted). Must be 21. Topics are 9/6 Jacks or Better (on 1/14); 9/7 Double Bonus, beginner’s class only at noon, and 9/6 Double Double Bonus, beginner’s class only at 2 pm (1/21); 9/6 Double Double Bonus Quick Quads Wheel Poker, one class only at noon (1/28). Also, be sure to check out Bob’s weekly Tuesday blog and the Thursday “Gambling With an Edge” podcast with Bob and Richard Munchkin. You can find both on both at LasVegasAdvisor.com.
This year's Consumer Electronics Show attracted nearly 200,000 attendees, by far the largest convention of the year in Las Vegas. But this month and next also see five more of the top-ten largest Vegas conventions of the year: the International Builders Show (70,000, Jan. 21-23 at the Convention Center); the SHOT Show (65,000, Jan. 21-24 at the Sands Expo); the World Market Winter Show (50,000, Jan. 26-30 at the World Market); World of Concrete (60,000, Feb. 4-7 at the Convention Center); and the Spring MAGIC Marketplace (80,000, Feb. 5-7, Mandalay Bay Convention Center). So if you're planning a trip over the next four weeks, you'll know why rooms are tight and prices are high.
In today's NFC playoff, the Green Bay Packers are -4.5 favorites over the Seattle Seahawks. The total is 45.5. Note, this line was posted with the game in progress.
In today's AFC playoff, the Kansas City Chiefs are -10 favorites over the Houston Texans. The total is 51.
The Lunar New Year exhibition at the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Garden opened yesterday. It features more than 30,000 flowers, life-size Chinese figurines and hanging lanterns, a 32-foot replica of the Temple of Six Banyan trees, stylized rodents in various sizes, shapes, and colors, and much more to grab your eyes and selfie settings. It will remain on display 24 hours daily through March 7.
The NFL's number-six-seed Tennessee Titans are the Cinderella team of the playoffs so far, turning in a huge upset over the number-one Baltimore Ravens last night, only six days after soundly beating the New England Patriots, also on the road, in their wild-card game. The Vegas sports books were holding a big bag of bets on money-line parlays on the favorites (Ravens, 49ers who won yesterday, Kansas City Chiefs who play today, and Louisiana State in the college championship tomorrow at the Superdome in New Orleans), plus over bets (the total fell under the 47.5) and live betting on the Ravens throughout the game. The Titans turned in what the books are calling "the biggest win of the football season"; they play the winner of today's game between the Houston Texans and the Chiefs in Kansas City.
In today's AFC playoff, the Baltimore Ravens are -10 favorites over the Tennessee Titans. The total is 47.5.
The "Raiders" have dropped the Oakland modifier from all of its social-media accounts, press releases, and other formal statements. Currently, the NFL also lists the Raiders with no city attached. It'll be a brief episode of a team without a home; Las Vegas will be added to the name in March when the new pro football season officially begins.
In today's NFC playoff, the San Francisco 49ers are -7 favorites over the Minnesota Vikings. The total is 45.
The Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender, the largest rockabilly event in the world, is also the longest-running music festival in Las Vegas (it started in 2000). It takes place at the Orleans, which hosts the more than 20,000 attendees. This year's event will run from April 9 to 12 and include 75 bands and DJs on six stages, a pre-1960s car show with 800-plus vehicles, along with burlesque and fashion shows, pool parties and pinup contests, a glamour ball, bowling, weddings, jiving classes, singles meetups, and more. The headliners will be JD McPherson, Smokestack Lightnin’, the original Polecats, the Rhythm Shakers, and the Royal Crown Revue. Tickets start at $50 for individual events and go up to $165 for the weekend and are available at vivalasvegas.net.
Yesterday evening, the governor of Maine, a Democrat, vetoed legalized sports betting. The bill was passed by the state legislature last June and had sat on the governor's desk ever since. She said she's not convinced that most residents of her state "are ready" for sports betting, so she was refusing to "join the frenzy of states hungry to attract this market." Instead, she wants to "examine the issue more clearly to better understand the evolving experiences of other states, suppress illegal gambling activities, and protect youthful gamblers and those least able to absorb losses under a closely regulated scheme.”
Elio, perhaps the biggest restaurant opening in Las Vegas during the first half of 2020, will debut at Encore on March 19. Not only will Elio be the first Mexican restaurant at Wynn/Encore, but it comes from the team that owns and operates the hugely successful Cosme and Atla restaurants in Manhattan and Pujol in Mexico City. The press release states, "Inspired by the 1940s and ’50s, a golden age for the Mexican cinema, the menu will emphasize regional dishes and seasonal ingredients, with a focus on seafood and produce in small plates, appetizers, and shareable entrees." If the Cosme menu is any indication, Elio will serve such food as razor-clam tostadas, arctic char with sea buckthorn aguachile, crab infladita, gray sole with macadamian mole, duck carnitas, and lamb-belly tacos, all in the $19 (herb guacomole) to $49 (duck carnitas) range and that's for small plates. We'll keep a close eye on the reviews to see if the food justifies the prices.
The Sahara is opening a small seven-table poker room by the end of the month. It's only the second poker room to open in Las Vegas in nearly three years: The Westgate closed its room in 2015, then reopened it in August 2017; it's one table smaller than the Sahara's will be. Neither threatens the big poker rooms at Bellagio (37 tables), Orleans (35), Aria (22), or Caesars Palace (16).
TripSavvy.com ("Vacation Like a Pro") has named Las Vegas the number-one travel destination in 2020 for sports fans. It cites the NHL's Vegas Golden Knights, the WNBA's Las Vegas Aces, the Oakland Athletics-affiliated Las Vegas Aviators and their new stadium, and the soon-arriving Las Vegas Raiders at the brand-new Allegiant Stadium, along with championship boxing and MMA matches and the plentiful sports books for enhancing game-watching with bets on favorite teams. (It doesn't mention the great weather, mostly year-round, for fans coming especially from cold climates in the winter, or the ton of other activities and amenities in between sports watching and gambling.)
Whether you're a neophyte or veteran visitor to Las Vegas, you'll be interested in the current LasVegasAdvisor.com poll, which is surveying respondents on the most common mistakes beginners make on their initial trips to our fair city. We've listed nearly 60 miscalculations to choose from, half our own and half from readers commenting on last week's poll-preview page. It's an instructive that, after less than 24 hours, has garnered more than 2,000 votes. If you're an old Vegas hand, weigh in on the biggest mistakes; if you're a newcomer, you won't find a more comprehensive list of pitfalls and potholes to avoid.
New York real estate investor Steven Witkoff, whose Witkoff Group bought the shuttered Fountainebleau from Carl Icahn in 2017 for $600 million, later renaming it the Drew, appeared before the Nevada Gaming Control Board yesterday. Witkoff told the Board that he'd spent $10 million "X-raying" the building, which is in excellent shape, and completing the property is a "high-end renovation job." In addition, part of the $3.1 billion cost of the project will be a pedestrian bridge over Elvis Presley Boulevard to the new expansion of the Las Vegas Convention Center. The Board unanimously approved Witkoff's gaming license, which the Gaming Commission is expected to affirm at their meeting in two weeks. The Drew is reportedly on schedule to open in fall 2022.
House of Blues at Mandalay Bay will host the Drag Diva Brunch starting this Saturday, then every Saturday through April 4. The doors open at 10:30 a.m. and the "the all-star cast of queens" take the stage at 11, with new performances each week, ranging from tributes to and parodies of the likes of Britney, Madonna, Harry Potter, Disney, and Broadway. Tickets are $45 per person, first-come first-served seating.
And Mott 32, the contemporary Chinese restaurant at Palazzo, is rolling out a Bottomless Brunch starting this Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., including AYCE dim sum, small plates, and dessert (with a time limit of two hours). The price is $58 per person; a "free-flow" beverage package is an additional $35 pp.
Over the weekend, a player at Planet Hollywood won $965,035 by hitting a Crazy 4 Poker royal flush progressive jackpot. Crazy 4 Poker is one of the most successful of the wave of poker-based games to come out after Three Card Poker; Michael "Wizard of Odds" Shackleford writes in our book Gambling 102 (now out in a new second edition), "It’s hard to beat Crazy 4 Poker’s simple strategy and cost of playing (a little more than 1% of money bet). In fact, I can’t think of a game with better odds that has a simpler strategy." Shackleford puts the edge of the jackpot at 9%-18%.
Aptiv, the robotaxi (with emergency driver and safety engineer) available on the Lyft app, is two years into serving Las Vegas passengers; in that time, the service has expanded from a few destinations in the tourist corridor to thousands around the valley. Now, Aptiv has started a pilot program that allows passengers to summon an Aptiv taxi to go to and from McCarran International. The program isn't open to the public; only Aptiv employees and visitors to the company's Las Vegas technical center will be eligible. But depending on the how the test program goes, the service is expected to be made available to the general public.
You can’t bet on the “Jeopardy!” showdown that begins tonight, because the outcome has already been decided. However, there were lines available from several books, even if just for “entertainment purposes.” While we didn't monitor them closely, the first we saw in November made James Holzhauer the favorite at +125, with Ken Jennings at +175 and Brad Rutter at +300. The last line we saw a month later had moved significantly, with Holzhauer the clear favorite at -175, Rutter at +175, and Jennings closing as the dog at +225.
While above ground, CES attendees are getting a gander at flying taxis, self-heating lunch boxes, wireless earbuds, smart mailboxes that thwart package thieves, robots that fetch toilet paper if you run out on the loo, solar-powered three-wheeled vehicles (pedal-assisted, of course), selfie-taking drones, wearable cameras, emotional-support robots, temporary-tattoo printers, and devices that can sense water leaks, open doors for dogs when the owners aren't home, and help you sleep longer and more deeply, underground, the Boring Company's tunnel digger is taking the week off. Still, it's reached almost the halfway mark of the first tunnel, 1,900 of the eventual 4,300 feet. The subterranean people-moving system is still on schedule to be completed and operational by this time next year.
Uber and the Southern Nevada Regional Transportation Commission have joined up to give Uber riders a look at getting to their destinations on Las Vegas' public bus system. After the system rolls out in the next few weeks, when you access the Uber app, along with the usual ride-share rates and times, you'll also find walking directions and bus schedules to your destination. Uber users will also be able to buy bus tickets via the app. The joint venture is aimed at visitors who aren't familiar with the bus routes and schedules and don't know how to find or use the RTC's own app.
The “Jeopardy! Greatest of All Time” tournament starts this evening. The show's all-time top money winners Brad Rutter, Ken Jennings, and Las Vegas' very own James Holzhauer take to the buzzer for the $1 million grand prize and ultimate brainiac bragging rights. Alex Trebek told CBS News that Holzhauer was the catalyst: “Prior to [Holzhauer], there wasn't a contestant who measured up, in the eyes of our viewers, to Ken Jennings or Brad Rutter. And here comes James, who wins more money faster than anybody else had ever done on the show and really caught America's fancy.” The "Greatest of All Time" tournament, which ends after one of the players wins a third game, actually took place in December. To keep the outcome a mystery, an ABC release says that it will run through Jan. 16 ”if necessary”; the shows are an hour, with two games played each evening.
In today's Lending Tree Bowl, Louisiana Lafayette is a -14 favorite over Miami of Ohio. The total is 55.5.
The 2020 Member Rewards Books are in. We're distributing them now at our office and loading envelopes for mailing. We're here till 5 p.m. today and will open at 9 a.m. tomorrow.
Another Hell's Kitchen restaurant, namesake of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay's hit reality-TV series, opens Wednesday at Harvey's at South Lake Tahoe. It's being called "the most anticipated restaurant debut ever in northern Nevada." More than 12,000 reservations were made up through third week of December, so another thousand or more have been made since. It's Nevada's second Hell's Kitchen; the first opened at Caesars Palace exactly two years ago. It took us three months to get a reservation and we reviewed it in the April 2018 issue of the Advisor: "This is a fun night out with good food at decent prices and something that can go on your Vegas-brag list." We expect it to be the same on the lake.
A sports writer for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Todd Dewey, interviewed a couple of sports book directors and asked for their assessment of Tom Brady's returning for a 21st season in the NFL. It's not something you can bet on, but both make the superstar quarterback a huge favorite to play again for the Patriots; the Westgate's guy put it at -500 that Brady plays for New England or retires (as opposed to exercising his free agency and signing with another team). Brady himself said in an interview following the Patriots' loss to the Tennessee Titans in Saturday's NFL wild-card game that it was "pretty unlikely" he'll retire after this season; he's said in the past that he wants to keep playing until he's 45.
If you're an entrepreneur and have always dreamed of presenting your business plan to the business titans on ABC's hit reality show "Shark Tank," now's you chance to audition. In conjunction with CES, the show's casting team will hold an open call this Friday, January 10, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Palazzo Ballroom. Numbered wristbands will be distributed at the event and only those with a wristband will be seen. Also, you have to fill out an online application, which you can access at abc.com/shows/shark-tank/applications.
In the second NFC Wild Card Playoff game, the Seattle Seahawks and Philadelphia Eagles are pick ’em. The total is 44.5.
The 175,000 people expected to attend this week's Consumer Electronics Show, one of the largest tech shows in the world and Las Vegas' biggest convention of the year, will have a direct economic impact on the city of $300 million, mostly from company expense accounts. McCarran Airport will add 50,000 inbound/outbound seats this week, with 60,000 of the attendees arriving from abroad. CES will occupy nearly three million square feet of exhibition and meeting space in 11 different venues. It's a biggie.
In the first NFC Wild Card Playoff game, the New Orleans Saints are -7 favorites over the Minnesota Vikings. The total is 50.
A two-acre north Strip retail center has sold for a south Strip price: just under $30 million per acre. Silver City Plaza, home to Ross Dress for Less, Denny’s, 7-Eleven, and other small shops, fetched $59.25 million from the New York investor who bought the Walgreens next door in 2015 for $37 million. He's obviously betting that the property will appreciate substantially, being surrounded on all sides by new developments: the Las Vegas Convention Center expansion on one side, the Drew on another, Resorts World across the Strip, and the proposed Majestic across Convention Center Drive.
In the second AFC Wild Card Playoff game, the New England Patriots are -5 favorites over the Tennessee Titans. The total is 45.
In the first AFC Wild Card Playoff game, the Houston Texans are -2.5 favorites over the Buffalo Bills. The total is 43.
Right on the heels of the New Year's hordes departing for home pastures, CES, Las Vegas' largest convention of the year, is showing up in force. The four-day trade show, which opens to the public on Tuesday but is being readied for tomorrow's launch, is expected to draw 170,000 attendees who'll view the wares of more than 4,500 tech and tech-related companies. Smart assistants, smart cars, giant TVs, robots, 5G innovations, augmented and virtual reality, high-tech wearables, even sex toys will be on full display.
In today's Armed Forces Bowl, Tulane is a -7.5 favorite over Southern Mississippi. The total is 57.5.
For the third consecutive year and sixth time overall, the Las Vegas Motor Speedway has been named Speedway of the Year by Speedway Motorsports, the Charlotte, NC-based owner-operator of auto-racing facilities around the country. The Las Vegas track was chosen as Speedway of the Year from among eight state-of-the-art Speedway Motorsports entertainment complexes for fan friendliness, attendance, financial performance, sponsor relations, and creativity. Las Vegas Motor Speedway hosted two triple-header NASCAR event weekends in 2019, two NHRA national events, and the massive Electric Daisy Carnival.
Henderson’s Emerald Island has bought the nearby Rainbow Club. No plans have been disclosed, but we view this as a positive development given Emerald Island’s player-friendly disposition (including good offers in this year’s Member Rewards Book).
“Lost Vegas: Tim Burton @ The Neon Museum” was originally supposed to run for six months from September through February 15, but has now been extended to April 12. The exhibit is open 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. and admission is $30 for general admission, $24 for “Tim Burton Brilliant!” at night. Burton will appear again in person on January 21 to sign copies of the new exhibition catalog and his books The Art of Tim Burton ($75) and The Napkin Art of Tim Burton ($19.99). Registration for the book-signing is required.
The Member Rewards Books are expected to be delivered today, but likely not until this afternoon. Call before you come in to confirm. We'll post when they're in the door or other updates as necessary.
Seventy-one table games with live dealers premiered Wednesday at two horse track casinos outside Indianapolis, allowing the racinos to operate the same as the 11 other state-regulated casinos (one tribal casino is still limited to electronic table games). A change in state gaming law approved in 2018 allowed live dealers at the two racinos starting New Year’s Day 2020. And the first sports bet was placed in New Hampshire (by the governor on the New England Patriots to win the Super Bowl) on December 30; the Granite State is now the 14th to allow sports betting. New Hampshire takes 50% of sports betting revenues from the books in taxes.
In today's Gator Bowl, Tennessee is a -3.5 favorite over Indiana. The total is 55.5.
Long-time Las Vegas business reporter and current executive editor of CDC Gaming Reports, Howard Stutz, compiled a list we really like of the 10 biggest stories about the gambling industry last year. They are: 10) "Illinois approved the nation’s largest gaming industry expansion to an existing market in more than a decade"; 9) "A dispute over fees and gaming compacts threatened the nation’s second largest Indian casino market, Oklahoma"; 8) 2019 was the 10th year in a row without a new Strip megaresort opening, though one will open downtown this year; 7) "Macau revenue declined for the first time since 2016;" 6) "Wynn Resorts' $2.6 billion Encore Boston Harbor opened, 16 months after Steve Wynn unceremoniously departed the company"; 5) interest in the big new casino market in Japan waned; 4) MGM Resorts' issues continued to make headlines"; 3) the federal Dept. of Justice reversed course on the 1961 Wire Act; 2) "Legal sports betting created a lengthy list of partnerships among the gaming industry, media, professional sports leagues, and individual teams"; and 1) "Eldorado-Caesars $17.3 billion merger shakes up the industry." Thank you, Howard, for this comprehensive list.
In today's Birmingham Bowl, Cincinnati is a -8 favorite over Boston College. The total is 53.
International Smoke -- Steaks, Seafood, Ribs -- has opened at the MGM Grand in the space formerly occupied by Pub 1842. The restaurant is a collaboration between Ayesha Curry and Michael Mina and is the fifth to open since 2017. Curry and her husband, Golden State Warrior superstar Steph Curry (on injured reserve due to a broken hand) appeared on opening night to christen the place. Other International Smoke locations include San Francisco, Del Mar (near San Diego), and Miami; a fifth opened in Houston opened and closed in 2018, blamed on basketball politics: A slew of negative reviews from angry Houston Rockets fans seems to have doomed the place.
If you're picking up your Member Rewards Book from our office, they aren’t expected to be available today due to a hold-up at the printer. You can check with us during the day to see if the status has changed, but the shipment is now scheduled to arrive on January 3. We apologize for any inconvenience. We also suggest that you call tomorrow before coming in to confirm that they are available.
Three of Scott Roeben's VitalVegas.com's self-proclaimed "awesome" sauces -- oops, sorry, we meant sources -- have informed him that Penn National has made a deal to sell the Tropicana. Scott didn't disclose any other details, except that the sales price is expected to be in the vicinity of $700 million, essentially giving Penn a 100% profit after paying $360 million for the property in 2015. Stay tuned for more on this episode of "As the Strip Turns."
In today's Sugar Bowl, Georgia is a -3.5 favorite over Baylor. The total is 44.
In today's Rose Bowl, Wisconsin is a -3 favorite over Oregon. The total is 51.5.
According to a study prepared by UNLV's Center for Business and Economic Research, the population of Las Vegas and the surrounding Clark County will increase by 52,000 new residents this year. The projected 2.2% increase would be the second highest in the past 10 years and would bring the total county population to 2.38 million. California has lost 1 million people since 2006 and last year's growth rate, .35%, was the lowest in the past 120 years (since 1900).
In today's Outback Bowl, Auburn is a -7 favorite over Minnesota. The total is 54.
In today's Citrus Bowl, Alabama is a -7.5 favorite over Michigan. The total is 61.
Hundreds of thousands of partiers and celebrants jammed the Strip and Fremont Street last night to ring in the new year with the massive fireworks display that went off without a hitch. 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 schedule of college football games, four NBA games, and one NHL game.