Tonight, six competitive eaters will vie for the grand prize in the "Halloween Candy Bowl," which will take place at Beer Park at Paris. In six minutes, the contestants have to down one-pound bags of candy corn, Kit Kats, M&Ms, Milky Ways, Snickers, and Reese’s Minis. That candy corn could be a killer. In a web survey of 20,000 people about their favorite candy, the small sticky white-orange-yellow triangles, the traditional Halloween sweet, came in last place. So naturally, it's first up. Competitive-eating champion Joey Chestnut is the favorite at -110, while Miki Sudo, the only woman in the field, is last at +1500. The prize pool is $5,000 with the winning taking down $2,500 and a five-foot-tall trophy that looks like -- what else? -- a toothbrush.
We get lots of questions about the free shuttles that run around town and the answer has been the same for nearly eight months: None is running. Until now. The Downtown Loop service has been reinstated for the first time since the shutdown in March. It runs as far south as the Strat, then stops at the Arts District, Pawn Plaza, Symphony Hall, Premium Outlets, City Hall, Circa, Mob Museum, and Fremont East, making the loop in 20-30 minutes. The shuttle operates Sunday-Thursday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday-Saturday 3-10 p.m. Best of all, it's free. Just hop on and hop off. Masks are required.
Traditionally, the month of November puts high temperatures in the 90s in the rear-view mirror; the record high for the month is 87 (November 1, 1988). But it can definitely get down to the chilly side; the record low is 16 (Nov. 13, 1938). The normal high and low temperatures start out at 73 and 52 in the beginning of the month and drop steadily to 60 and 41 at the end. It's typically a dry month, with average rainfall of just under a half-inch over three or four days. Last year, Las Vegas saw 1.32 inches of rain in November. It'll be interesting to see what happens with the current streak of 193 consecutive days without rain.
Penn National Gaming has announced that it will permanently furlough 236 employees from M Resort and 132 employees from the Tropicana. The 358 workers are in addition to the 1,054 laid off in the past two months. This next wave will lose their jobs four days before Christmas. Fine timing.
For the first time in 21 years, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority has called off the New Year's Eve midnight fireworks show on the Strip that it sponsors. We suspect it's the first of a number of ways that New Year's Eve in Las Vegas will be different than in years past (and hopefully in years to come). In a statement, the LVCVA said to "stay tuned" for better news about ringing in the new year here.
The Carolina Panthers are -1.5 favorites over the Atlanta Falcons in tonight's Thursday Night Football game. The total is 52.
According to the UK betting exchange Betfair, more money has been put down on this presidential election "than any other event in its history." Over last weekend alone, 6,700 bets were placed on Trump totaling $4.8 million. And though 5,250 bets were placed on Biden for about $4.7 million, the 10 largest bets overall were on Biden, including one for $653,000 (at current exchange rates).
VegasChanges.com reports, "According to several sources at the Four Seasons Hotel," Charlie Palmer Steak at the Four Seasons is closing permanently. We tend to believe it, since there's no mention of it on the Four Seasons Las Vegas website. That leaves the Veranda, a fancy coffee shop with outdoor patio seating, as the sole dining option. Of course, the Four Seasons is connected to Mandalay Bay, so guests won't go hungry.
Directly on the heels of the downtown debut of adults-only Circa yesterday, the Cromwell reopens this morning at 10 a.m. on the Strip. Formerly Barbary Coast and Bill's Gamblin' Hall, the little Cromwell, with only 190 rooms and a 40,000-square-foot casino, will also prohibit 21s and under from entry (except to go to Giadia on the second floor). The Cromwell has been closed for seven and a half months; now, the only Caesars-operated property that remains closed is the Rio.
Shotpoint, a system installed on Fremont Street by Databuoy, a company that installs acoustic monitoring equipment, can confirm a gunshot within a second of firing, track the trajectory of a bullet, secure indoor and outdoor areas, alert the Fremont Street Experience security office’s video-surveillance command center, and coordinate with Metro police and the Las Vegas City Marshall’s Department. Shotpoint covers the entire canopy area along Fremont Street and is hailed as the first monitoring system installed in a private area in the U.S. that can lessen the threat and/or impact of mass shootings.
Nevada gaming revenues fell 22.4% in September to $821.1 million, the seventh consecutive monthly decline compared to the same months last year. Through the first nine months of 2020, statewide gaming revenues are down 38% from 2019's first three quarters. Casinos on the Las Vegas Strip won slightly less than $355 million in September, a nearly 30% year-over-year decline. Downtown casinos did slightly better: "only" a 21.4% gaming revenue decline in September. The locals casinos did best at a decrease of just 1.6% from September 2019. In northern Nevada, Washoe County gaming revenues actually went up by 3.4% to $78.8 million. Reno was up 3.1% to $57.1 million and South Lake Tahoe posted a big 27% increase over September 2019.
The party got going at 8 p.m., with invited guests and media walking around wide-eyed at the unveiling of what looks to be a Strip resort-casino in the heart of downtown Las Vegas; many congregated in the massive sports book, watching the last few innings of 2020's final World Series game. At 10 o'clock, guests were ushered up to Stadium Swim, where synchronized swimmers braved the cold (temperatures in the mid-40s) and owner Derek Stevens presided over an hour-long presentation celebrating the opening and introducing those who helped make it happen. The line outside stretched for four blocks, like openings in the old days, and the public was allowed in just after midnight and the action began at 12:35. Congratulations to Derek and Greg Stevens, the 1,500 Circa employees, and Las Vegas for this welcome bridge over troubled waters.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are -125 favorites over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 6 of the MLB World Series. The total is 8.5. The Dodgers lead the series 3-2.
Circa Las Vegas, the 1.25-million-square-foot Strip-style downtown megaresort, flings open its doors tonight at midnight to the public, after a black-tie black-mask grand-opening private party. We'll be at the shindig, schmoozing the Vegas VIPs, partying like it's any year but 2020, and checking out the details for upcoming Circa coverage on the site and in LVA. We're especially interested in what's billed as the world's largest sports book, Vegas Vickie in the lobby, Stadium Swim, the rooftop Legacy Club on the 35th floor with its 10-foot display of 1,000 ounces in gold, and the MEGA Bar, with Nevada's longest indoor bar at 165 feet and flair bartenders -- natch! Circa is the first hotel-casino to be built downtown from the ground up since 1980 when the Sundance opened; that became Fitzgeralds in 1987 and the D Las Vegas in 2012 after it was bought by Derek Stevens, who also owns and developed Circa.
The state of Nevada "is working on a plan" that would raise the capacity for conventions to 50% of normal starting on New Year's Day 2021. Since October 1, most indoor and outdoor gatherings have been limited to 250 people, with capacity for larger venues capped at 10%. The raised capacity is certainly a relief for several large conventions scheduled for early next year that haven't been canceled: the SHOT Show, normally 60,000 attendees, Jan. 19-22; Las Vegas Winter Market, 50,000, Jan. 26-30; and the Safari Club, 15,000, Feb. 3-6.
Bloomberg first reported it yesterday and the company quickly confirmed it: Las Vegas Sands Corporation is in "very early discussions" about selling the Venetian, Palazzo, and Sands Expo Convention Center for an asking price of $6 billion or so. It's a big price, but it's also a big space: 63 acres, 7,000 hotel rooms, 200,000 square feet of casino floor, 1.7 million square feet of convention floor, plus 19 acres just east of the Strip where Madison Square Garden is building the $1.7 billion MSG Sphere arena. And to think that it all started when Sheldon Adelson, now 87, bought the Sands for $110 million in 1989; he still owns 58%. Adelson, with a net worth of $32 billion and number 19 on the Forbes 400 list, is reportedly focusing on his operations in Singapore and Macau, especially given the uncertainty surrounding the Las Vegas convention business; the Asia properties account for upwards of 85% of the revenues for Las Vegas Sands Corp.
In tonight's regularly scheduled Monday Night Football game, the Los Angeles Rams are -6.5 favorites over the Chicago Bears. The total is 44.
Brightline West, the $8 billion 260-mile high-speed train between Victorville, CA, and Las Vegas has announced that it "hopes to break ground on the railway’s first segment before the end of the year" and it will begin passenger service "in the first half of 2024." Brightline provided no update on its efforts to raise an initial $3.2 billion in bonds backed by California and Nevada. This rail line was first introduced more than 15 years ago, so we're somewhat wait-and-see on its fruition.
One of the BQs (Big Questions) about Circa, which opens on Wednesday, has been about the classic 99-cent shrimp cocktail that was served for decades at the Golden Gate. We've been tracking the progress via hints along the way, plus 7th and Carson (the downtown restaurant that's been serving it for $9.99 until Circa opens), and now it's official. Circa will serve the Golden Gate shrimp cocktail for 99 cents at the Saginaw's Deli, the 24/7 sandwich shop named after the co-founder of Zingerman's iconic deli in Ann Arbor, Michigan. There's just one condition: The applicable hours are 3-5 a.m. Otherwise, you'll pay $11.
A story in yesterday's Review-Journal reports that the betting handle on the upcoming U.S. election is on track to become one of the largest single betting events in history -- if not the largest. Sports writer Todd Dewey collected opinions from oddsmakers at Betfair, William Hill, Bovada, Pinnacle, and others as a representative sampling of non-U.S. books accepting action on the election and all speculate that at the current pace, the handle will far surpass the $258 million wagered on the 2016 election and could beat the total amount bet on the last Super Bowl. More than 60% of the bets are on Trump, who is much better known throughout the world than Biden, but Biden has climbed from -130 after the first debate to -202 at Pinnacle, while Trump is a +178 dog, having fallen from +163 after the second debate. As usual, colorful sport book director Jimmy Vaccaro gave the best soundbite: “Every other country in the world benefits from our election except us. That’s insane,” he said. “This whole thing would be an absolute home run.” Vaccaro predicts that betting on the election will be legal by the 2028 presidential cycle.
The Seattle Seahawks are -3.5 favorites over the Arizona Cardinals in tonight's Sunday Night Football game. The total is 55.5.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are -165 favorites over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 5 of the MLB World Series. The total is 8. The series is tied at 2-2.
The Hard Rock’s former live-music club, Vinyl, will reopen at Virgin Las Vegas as 24 Oxford. The name comes from the London address of the first Virgin Record Store that opened in 1971. According to John Katsilometes of the LV Review-Journal, it’s expected that the 688-capacity venue will host primarily comedy acts, which are more easily staged considering COVID-19 restrictions.
MJ LIVE, the Michael Jackson tribute concert, resumes performances in the MJ LIVE Theater at The STRAT on Wednesday Nov. 4, at 7 p.m.
Tickets are on sale now and start at $57.50 (excluding tax and fees). Masks, face coverings, or face shields are required for all guests within public spaces at the hotel-casino.
The Fresh Harvest Buffet at the Hard Rock is the first AYCE spread to reopen in Atlantic City. It replicates the failed experiment at the Wynn buffet, which opened on June 15 and closed again on September 4, just before Labor Day weekend: Patrons aren’t permitted to approach the food. Instead, diners order their meals off a menu and the food is brought to them from the serving line by waiters. Unlike at the Wynn, it’s first-come first-served (no reservations). The price is $29.99 per person for lunch or dinner; one price covers all hours from noon to 9 p.m. daily, 10 on Fridays and Saturdays.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are -165 favorites over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 4 of the MLB World Series. The total is 8. The Dodgers lead the series 2-1.
Marc-Andre Fleury, locally beloved goaltender for the Vegas Golden Knights and widely considered to be the face of the team, will remain with the VGK for what appears to be the rest of his two-year contract. Fleury was on the trading block, apparently, but no team was eager to pick up his contract for $7 million per year times two, so he won't have to move to a new organization and location. He told the Review-Journal that he's relieved and pleased he can stay in Las Vegas, about which he's loved "everything" since moving here for the team's expansion season of 2017-2018.
Khabib Nurmagomedov is a -300 favorite over Justin Gaethje in today's UFC main event. In the other featured match, Robert Whittaker and Jared Cannonier are pick ’em.
Bobby Flay's popular Mesa Grill at Caesars will close on November 14. It opened in 2004, so it had a good long run. Flay plans to replace it with an Italian-concept restaurant called Amalfi. The emphasis will be on seafood and pasta.
Another property-wide power outage on Thursday evening at Paris forced the evacuation of the casino and necessitated guests to be rescued from elevators. Pat, a frequent contributor to LVA.com, sent this eyewitness account. “Had the pleasure of staying at Paris during the power outage (Oct. 21) with people not knowing what was going on. We got different answers from every employee we talked to. We were locked out of the building for over five hours. Finally got a room after midnight. Exactly what happened. What a mess.” Almost exactly four years ago, Paris experienced a complete blackout that lasted more than 12 hours, caused when workers cut a main power line during on-site construction. According to NV Energy, this one was caused by “rodents that damaged a transfer switch for the property. The damage occurred off-property, but managed to knock out the power.”
The Los Angeles Dodgers are -150 favorites over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 3 of the MLB World Series. The total is 7.5. The series is tied 1-1.
The Mohegan Indian Tribe has received its final approval to operate the casino at Virgin Las Vegas when it opens in January. It was smooth sailing for the tribe’s Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment division, which was unanimously approved by the Gaming Commission after being unanimously recommended by the Gaming Control Board. Mohegan Gaming, which owns the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, also operates the casino at Resorts Atlantic City, tribal casinos in Washington and Louisiana, and Fallsview Casino in Canada at Niagara Falls. The Mohegans will be the first tribe to operate a casino in Las Vegas.
The last shuttered hotel-casino on the Strip, the Cromwell, will reopen on Thursday October 29 as an adults-only property -- one day after Circa opens downtown with the same policy of 21 and older. Those under 21 will be allowed to go only to Giadia, the restaurant on the second floor. Along with Giadia, the Cromwell's 188 hotel rooms, casino and sports book, 24-hour deli and coffee counter Eatwell, Drai's Lounge, and all the bars will welcome guests.
The Philadelphia Eagles are -5 favorites over the New York Giants in tonight's Thursday Night Football game. The total is 44.5.
The virtual reading of our latest Vegas Writes volume, A Valley of Light and Shadow, will take place tonight starting at 7 p.m. local time. Contributors to the 11th edition in the series, an annual collection of writings by local authors that focuses on a Vegas theme, will read their stories and essays. This year’s theme is: In Sin City, what does it mean to be sinful? And how much do we concede in order to see ourselves as “good”? You can register for the event here; it takes 20 seconds and requires your name and email address.
More than seven years since its announcement and more than six since ground was broken, the All Net Arena must either finalize financing and other agreements by early March or forfeit its land-use agreement with the county. The six-month extension was granted by the Clark County Commissioners yesterday on the 27-acre project spearheaded by former NBA player Jackie Robinson for his megaresort, which would include two non-gaming hotel towers, bowling alley, movie theater, convention center, and 23,000-seat arena. A spokesman for the project detailed progress on All Net, with money paid out recently and meetings with public-works official scheduled. The Sahara was the main complainant, claiming that the years of delays have put a damper on north Strip development.
The most recent addition to our Top Ten list has departed as quickly as it arrived. The happy hour in Fresco at Westgate Las Vegas was discontinued last week. Westgate finally came up with something good, then hustled to get rid of it. Sounds about right.
Tape Face reopens at Harrah’s on Wednesday Nov. 11 with a completely redesigned show and a theater capacity of 250. Tickets go on sale Friday Oct. 30 at 10 a.m. Shows are Wednesday through Sunday and begin at 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices start at $66 (plus taxes and fees). Tape Face is great, but we're waiting for Mac King.
Our new book, 20/20 Sports Betting—Think Like a Pro, is back from the printer and flying out of the shipping department. If you've ever wondered what it's like to be a professional sports bettor (think "Jeopardy James" Holzhauer) or even dreamed of becoming one, this book tells you all you need to know about living that life. It also gives you plenty of advice on beating golf, baseball, football, NASCAR, hockey, and other sports, starting with how to use your noggin to get a "head" start. We’re offering the big 300-pager at the appropriate price of $20.20, 25% off the retail price of $26.95, which includes shipping to U.S. addresses. It's also available on Amazon and will soon be on bookstore shelves across the country.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are -135 favorites over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 2 of the MLB World Series. The total is 8. The Dodgers lead the series 1-0.
Restaurant Business magazine has released its annual list of the nation's 100 top-grossing independent restaurants and Las Vegas has 11 of them (compared to 21 in New York, 12 in Chicago, 11 in Washington, D.C., and 5 in San Francisco). Las Vegas' top restaurant is, appropriately, Stratosphere's Top of the World (number 7, grossing $25.2 million, with 246,000 meals served and an average check of $103), followed by Forum Shops' Joe's Seafood, Prime Rib and Stone Crab (no. 16, $22.9 million, 286,000, $81), Sahara's Bazaar Meat (no. 21, $22.2 million, 190,000, $119), Wynn's SW Steak (no. 22, $21.5 million, 145,700, $149), Paris' Mon Ami Gabi (no. 25, $20.1 million, 319,200, $76), Venetian's Lavo (no. 37, $18.4 million, 115,500, $97), Bellagio's Prime Steakhouse (no. 38, $18.2 million, 130,600, $173), Venetian's Delmonico Steakhouse (no. 56, $16.2 million, 133,000, $103), Forum Shops' Carmine's (no. 65, $15 million, 176,200, $45), Cosmo's Beauty and Essex (no. 74, $14.1 million, 150,000, $99), and finally the LINQ's Virgil's Real Barbecue (no. 100, $11.4 million, 208,200, $27).
SSC, a small custom-car manufacturer in Washington state, has set a record for the fastest speed on a public road with its 1,750-horsepower Tuatara, which lists for $1.6 million. Testing the Tuatara on a seven-mile stretch of NV 160 about an hour west of Las Vegas, this bad boy reached speeds of 301 mph on the outbound leg, than hit 331.15 on the inbound, setting the record at 316.1 (the average of the two runs is taken to account for changes in wind and elevation). Officials from Guinness World Records were there on October 10 to verify the speed, which broke the previous record of just under 278 mph set in 2017 by $3 million 1,360-hp Swedish supercar Koenigsegg Agera RS on an 11-mile stretch of NV 160. The Tuatara features a seven-speed transmission, a 5.9-liter, twin-turbocharged V8 engine, gull-wing doors, and a touchscreen digital dashboard. Only 100 Tuataras will be produced by SSC.
Planet 13, which bills itself as the world's largest cannabis store, is expanding. The pot superstore is doubling the sales floor to 23,000 square feet, adding 40 new points of sale and an 80-foot video wall. The $2 million expansion is expected to be completed by March 2021. Planet 13 has a lot more room to grow; after the expansion, the public spaces will still occupy less than half the building's 112,000 square feet.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are -155 favorites over the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 of the MLB World Series. The total is 7.5.
Din Tai Fung, which specializes in xiao long bao filled and unfilled soup buns, has opened at Aria in the space formerly occupied by the Aria Cafe. Din Tai Fung dates back to Taiwan in 1972 when the owner of a cooking-oil shop began to focus on soup dumplings; the shop caught the attention of Japanese tourists, launching a dumpling empire that now spans 13 countries. The open kitchen showcases the preparation of what's expected to be upwards of 10,000 dumplings every day, in addition to an extensive Taiwanese menu with a selection of appetizers, salads, vegetable dishes, fresh-made noodles, soups, baby back ribs, desserts, and cocktails. Din Tai Fung is located on Aria’s casino floor, adjacent to the Lift Bar, and is open nightly 4-11 p.m.
Seven shows, including one major production, will reopen at MGM Resorts' properties on Friday November 6: "Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club", Carrot Top, The Australian Bee Gees, Thunder from Down Under, Fantasy, Jabbawockeez, and David Copperfield. All will be limited to audiences of 250 with a 25-foot "moat" between the stage and spectators. Copperfield will appear for 15 shows a week, same as before the shutdown, in his eponymous theater at MGM Grand and The Australian Bee Gees and Thunder from Down Under will return to the Thunderland Showroom at Excalibur. Jabbawockeez will move to the MGM Grand Garden arena, playing to 1.5% of the 17,000-seat capacity, while "Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club" will relocate to a ballroom and Carrot Top and Fantasy will switch from the Atrium Showroom to Luxor Theater (former home of R.U.N.) Review-Journal entertainment columnist John Katsilometes reports that Hans Klok, "the world's fastest magician," has "closed his production, moved his props out of the showroom, and left for parts uncharted."
Hoover Dam is reopening to the public for walking and driving across. The The Historic Railroad Trail access point will also open. The visitor center and tours inside the dam, however, remain shut down. The drive across the dam to parking lots on the Arizona side has been closed since March. The parking garage (Nevada side) and pay lot (Arizona side) are open ($10 per vehicle), while the reopening dates of the cafe and gift shops will be announced "soon."
In tonight's regularly scheduled Monday Night Football game, the Arizona Cardinals and Dallas Cowboys are pick ’em. The total is 56.
In tonight's game that was postponed for COVID-19 concerns, the Kansas City Chiefs are -5.5 favorites over the Buffalo Bills. The total is 54.5.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are -210 favorites over the Tampa Bay Rays to win the MLB World Series. Game 1 is Tuesday.
It's not named Death Valley for nothing. This summer was hellishly hot in the national park 120 miles from Las Vegas: the fourth hottest on record, with an average temperature of nearly 103 degrees (that's combining the days' highs and the nights' lows). Interestingly, the number-one hottest summer was in 2018, followed by 2017, then 2016, and now 2020. The number of days with temperatures higher than 120 hit 35, nearly double the average of 18, and eight days were above 125 (the average is three). Low temps of 109 or higher were recorded over six nights (the average is less than one). Record high temps were achieved in May, August, and September and the hottest of the year, 130 on August 16, was the highest in the park since 1913 and might have been the hottest in the world since 1931 (it awaits confirmation). The next day, the average temperature for the 24-hour period was nearly 119, setting another record.
With a forecast high of 92 today, Las Vegas will tie a record set 80 years ago (1940) for the most days in a year with temperatures above 90 degrees: 158. Tomorrow's high is expected to be 91, Wednesday's 92 again, and Thursday's 88, which will set the new record at 160 days. The normal high for this time of year is 80 degrees. Starting Sunday, it will become unseasonably cool for a few days, with highs of 73 on Sunday, 67 on Monday, and 71 on Tuesday, so we'll finally be able to turn off these chthonian air conditioners.
The Los Angeles Rams are -2.5 favorites over the San Francisco 49ers in tonight's Sunday Night Football game. The total is 51.
In today’s deciding Game 7 of the MLB National League Championship, the Los Angeles Dodgers are -160 favorites over the Atlanta Braves. The total is 8.
Planet Hollywood's mid-size 11-table poker room reopened on Friday and will operate Thursday to Sunday from noon until 4 a.m. With plexiglass dividers in place between seats, eight players can be accommodated per table. Face masks are mandatory. Of the 31 poker rooms in Vegas before the shutdown, 20 have now reopened.
An interview on Deadline.com delves into the details of how ABC's "Shark Tank" produced this season's TV shows in a hermetic bubble by taking over a third of the Palazzo tower for the 250-300 people involved. The cast and crew had their own private check-in, at which time they were COVID tested; as soon as the results came back negative, they entered the bubble and didn't leave for the two months (August-September) of production. An entire elevator bank was dedicated to the bubble and a private "path" through a secured back-of-house hallway led to the makeshift studio in the Sands Expo Center. All personnel wore protective gear away from the cameras and were tested weekly, and a health-safety officer and medical staff worked inside the bubble the whole time. All meals were served in a ballroom. One of the biggest challenges was keeping the information from the Venetian's thousands of employees. In the end, the entire bubble experience was 100% successful: No one ever tested positive and production wrapped on schedule. The show's 12th season premiered Friday night on ABC.
For the ninth year in a row, the Boulevard Pool at the Cosmopolitan will be transformed into a 4,200-square-foot skating rink made of real ice. Capacity will be reduced and masks will be required for skaters, but cocktails and food will be available and films will be projected on the 65-foot marquee overlooking the pool area, with such films as The Nightmare Before Christmas, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Elf, and The Polar Express presented on Monday and Tuesday nights between November 23 and December 29. All-day skating for non-hotel guests is $30, with discounts for guests, locals, and military.
The NFL and team owners unanimously voted to postpone Super Bowl LVIII's 2024 appearance in New Orleans. Due to the NFL extending its season to 17 weeks, that Super Bowl would compete with the Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans that year, as opposed to in 2025, when Mardi Gras will be the first weekend in March. This leaves the 2024 Super Bowl up for grabs, and Las Vegas' figurative hand is reaching into that pot. Sin City is hosting both the Pro Bowl and Draft in 2022 and has been angling for the Super Bowl for at least two years, though the first year it was eligible had been 2025. With 2024 suddenly available, we wouldn't be surprised if it happens here that year -- and brings in an estimated $1 billion to the local economy.
In today’s deciding Game 7 of the MLB American League Championship, the Tampa Bay Rays and Houston Astros are pick ’em. The total is 7.5.
A limited number of spectators will be allowed to attend the Dodge NHRA Finals, which will take place Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway (after it gets approval from state officials). It will be the first major sporting event in which spectators will be in the stands since the shutdown in March. Face masks will be required of attendees, who will have to enter at designated times and use specific restrooms and concessions. All ticketing will be mobile and all transactions will be conducted without cash. The Speedway stands seat 80,000, so according to state regs that allow for 10% of the fixed seating capacity, 8,000 fans will presumably be allowed.
Two half-million-pound steel girders have been lifted into place at MSG Sphere. They're the heaviest pieces that will be installed at the 18,000-seat arena. The girders were lifted into their places, 140 feet high to span the length of the stage, by a 580-foot-tall crawler crane, one of the top five largest in the world. The girders, along with 300 cubic yards of concrete, will support the domed roof that weighs 13,000 tons.
For the first time, Las Vegas will host an NCAA men’s basketball regional tournament. The 2023 tournament was made possible after the NCAA updated its policy that prevented states with sports betting from hosting championship events. Nevada will host 11 NCAA events through 2026, including the 2026 men's Frozen Four hockey tournament.
The local franchiser for Golden Chick, the Texas-based fried-chicken chain, will open the first of what's purported to be an eventual 20 locations in the valley at the corner Martin Luther King Boulevard and West Carey Avenue about two miles north of downtown. The 1.5-acre site is currently vacant; ground is expected to be broken for the fast-fooderie by the end of the year.
Fitch, the international ratings service, has issued a report that casts a pall over Las Vegas' short-term recovery prospects. Fitch analysts are predicting that, if current conditions continue, a full recovery won't be in the cards until sometime in 2024. They forecast gaming revenues to be down 60% in 2020, 50% in 2021, and 20% in 2022. “The Las Vegas Strip will experience the slowest recovery relative to other major gaming markets and segments globally,” the report stated. Fitch also said, however, that its four-year recovery timeline for the Strip is “slightly better" than it was for the last recession.
Though the Star Trek Convention, rescheduled for December 9-13, has just been canceled again, optimism is abundant in the trade show industry that business will be conducted as usual at conventions in Las Vegas starting three months from now. The SHOT Show, which typically hosts 60,000 attendees, is still scheduled for Jan. 19-22 at the Sands Exp. The following week will see the Las Vegas Winter Market confab, normally 50,000 strong, at the World Market Center downtown. From February 2 through 5, the CHAMPS Winter Show expects 2,000 attendees and 400 exhibitors at the premier counterculture, business-to-business, wholesale trade expo serving the smoke-shop industry taking place at the Convention Center. Overlapping CHAMPS by two days will be the Safari Club show, which traditionally attracts 15,000 sportsmen. We don't know how many people the shows will be limited to, but if the current capacities as of September 19 remain in place, it will be 10% of normal. The Star Trek Convention has been postponed until August 11-15, to take place at the Rio, if it's open by then.
A new showroom is being built at the Sahara. The Magic Mike Live Theater is being created to host the show of the same name, currently scheduled to begin performing in early 2021.
The Boring Company has announced plans to extend its subway system beyond the Convention Center, Wynn, and Resorts World to encompass Vegas' entire resort corridor. The "Vegas Loop," as they're calling it, would provide underground public transportation from downtown (Circa's Garage Mahal) all the way to Mandalay Bay and Allegiant Stadium. A spur line would connect to McCarran. The system would cover upwards of 15 miles of tunnels in both directions and could include up to 50 stations along the way. The Boring Company would foot all the construction costs, then collect all the fares. The company has already submitted a special-use permit application to the city and will present a land-use design review to Clark County soon.
Metropolitan Police officers arrested 85 people on the Strip last Friday and Saturday after stopping 700 cars and pedestrians for probable cause or reasonable suspicion of various infractions. Up to 100 officers are patrolling the Strip at peak times in an effort to stem the tide of increased crime and violence, especially on weekends.
Today's big news comes courtesy of Caesars Entertainment. We'll simply quote the news release and leave you to your own conclusions. "Caesars Entertainment today announced an updated plan for its self-parking policy, intended to improve the overall guest experience at its seven reopened Las Vegas properties. Self-parking will remain free for Nevada residents with valid identification, registered hotel guests, and Caesars Rewards loyalty members rated Platinum and above.
"Beginning on Friday, Oct. 30, all other guests will be charged to self-park at Caesars Palace, Paris Las Vegas, Bally’s Las Vegas, Flamingo Las Vegas, The LINQ Hotel + Experience and Harrah’s Las Vegas. Caesars Entertainment will donate all parking fee profits to several charitable organizations who support Caesars team members and local communities in need, through the end of the first quarter in 2021."
Someone had to do it and the D did it. Earn 100 points ($1,000 coin-in on video poker) at the D and get a logoed mask. This offer is valid while supplies last.
Caesars Entertainment has sold the Bally’s brand to Rhode Island-based Twin River Worldwide Holdings, which owns and operates 10 casinos and racetracks in Rhode Island, Colorado, Delaware, Mississippi, and Missouri. Twin River is also in the process of acquiring Bally's Atlantic City; by purchasing the brand, the company can maintain the name. The deal includes a "perpetual license" for Caesars to use the Bally's name for its Strip casino, but Twin River's acquisition of both Bally's A.C. and the brand signals its interest in buying Bally's Las Vegas. Ever since Caesars Entertainment merger with Eldorado Resorts, the company has indicated that it will unload at least one Strip property. Financial terms of the Bally's brand deal haven't been disclosed.
In tonight's game that was postponed for COVID-19 concerns, the Buffalo Bills are -3 favorites over the Tennessee Titans. The total is 52.
Encore will begin closing Monday through Wednesday nights at noon next Monday October 19, then reopen at 2 p.m. on Thursday October 22. Encore’s poker room will move to Wynn Las Vegas beginning October 19 and operate 7 days a week. The poker area will be located on the casino floor near the Wynn self-park garage. All other amenities at Encore, including restaurants, will operate during the new business hours. The five-day/four-night schedule will continue until consumer demand increases.
In addition to Absinthe (October 28) and Piff the Magic Dragon (October 29) reopening at Caesars and the Flamingo, respectively, XCountry at Harrah's will resume performances on October 22 with a limit of 80 in the audience at Harrah's Cabaret. For the first few weeks, there will be three shows a week on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 10 p.m.; starting November 4, the schedule will expand to include Wednesday and Sunday. "Delerious Comedy Club" resumes this Thursday night at the Downtown Grand.
A Henderson woman topped a field of nearly 420,000 players to win $100,000 in the “Win Terry’s Money” (referencing Terry Bradshaw) football contest that can be played for free via the Fox Super 6 app. Not only did she pick six correct winners, but she also nailed the margin of victory for all six. For example, she picked the Seahawks to beat the Dolphins by 7 to 9 points and the Seahawks won by 8. The winner said she filled out her entry in less than a minute.
In tonight's Monday Night Football game, the New Orleans Saints are -7 favorites over the Los Angeles Chargers. The total is 49.5.
The Tivoli Village farmer’s market is back, running on Fridays from 3 to 8 p.m. It’s considered the premier farmer’s market in Las Vegas, selling locally grown fruits and vegetables picked the morning of the market, along with homemade pastas, salsas, and other food products and hand-crafted jewelry. Live music plays from 4 to 7 p.m.
Going into yesterday's game between the 2-2 Las Vegas Raiders and the 4-0 Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, the Raiders were 10-1/2-point underdogs. Not only did the Raiders cover the spread, they beat the Chiefs outright, 40-32 and provided a huge win for the Vegas sports books, one of the biggest of the year. In addition, it was the first time this season that a double-digit dog won the game.
Now that Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak has relaxed the upper limit on gatherings (250 max), a few shows are poised to start up again.
Spiegelworld's Absinthe will return to Caesars for two shows nightly (8 and 9:30 p.m.) on Wednesday Oct. 28. Tickets are on sale now and seats start at $193, but the first tickets available are for November 1, with spotty availability though the month. And Piff the Magic Dragon will be reopen at the Flamingo on Thursday Oct. 29, with shows Thurs.-Sun. at 7:30 p.m. Tickets go on sale Fri. October 23.
The Seattle Seahawks are -6.5 favorites over the Minessota Vikings in tonight's Sunday Night Football game. The total is 54.
The Los Angeles Lakers are -5.5 favorites over the Miami Heat in Game 6 of the NBA Championship series. The total is 215. The Lakers lead the series 3-2.
Residents of five states will vote on gambling issues on Election Day next month. Maryland, Louisiana, and South Dakota referendums involve legalizing sports betting. Colorado has sports betting, but voters will weigh in on increasing the max-bet limit of $100 at any game. Nebraskans are voting on three initiatives on legalizing commercial casino gambling; the Cornhusker State has four tribal casinos.
The precipitous drop in Vegas visitation from Hawaii is being blamed for a major new round of layoffs at Boyd Gaming's two downtown properties that cater mainly to Aloha State residents. Boyd has announced that 168 employees at the California and 116 at Main Street Station will lose their jobs on November 13. Dealers and other casino workers, cooks, bartenders, and wait staff will be among those let go. Hawaiian Airlines resumed flying to Las Vegas only 10 days ago, after more than six months of canceled flights.
Amber Unicorn, the used bookstore at 2101 S. Decatur a long block and a half south of W. Charleston, will close in late November or early December for good. The store has been in business for nearly 40 years and, on a personal note, it has supplied several shelves worth of archival books on Las Vegas in our office library. Walk-in traffic took a huge hit when Trader Joe's moved out of the same shopping center in June 2017. A going-out-of-business sale will start on Wednesday October 21 with discounts starting at 30%. You might see us there.
Rafael Nadal is a -145 favorite over Novak Djokovic in tomorrow's French Open men's tennis final. Nadal is 12-0 in French finals and seeking his 20th major championship to tie him with Roger Federer for most ever. Djokovic is going for his 18th major win. Note, this line was posted with the match in progress.
A story by the Las Vegas Review-Journal's real estate writer, Eli Segall, reports that the buyer of the old White Cross Drugs and shuttered Vickie's Diner plans to expand and remodel the building into a "hub for restaurants." The old drug store is 30,000 square feet and the new owner, who paid $4.3 million for the building, will nearly double it in size. Construction could commence in six months with a possible opening date by the end of next year.
The Cosmopolitan has launched heightened security policies for Friday and Saturday nights. To control access and egress, all doors on the Strip will be either entry only or exit only. Patrons will also be subject to a screening by handheld metal detectors, along with bag checks, and no open or oversized alcoholic drinks will be allowed off the street. Metro police officers will be stationed at each entry point to observe and assist security.
Iga Swiatek is a -180 favorite over Sofia Kenin in tomorrow’s French Open women’s tennis final. Kenin will be playing for her second Grand Slam title, while Swiatek will be playing in her first final. Note, this line was posted with the match in progress.
The Los Angeles Lakers are -7.5 favorites over the Miami Heat in Game 5 of the NBA Championship series. The total is 215.5. The Lakers lead the series 3-1.
According to the American Gaming Association, Americans set an all-time record for wagering on sporting events in a single month in August: $2.1 billion. It was a 90% increase year over year. The $119.4 million in revenue taken in by sports book across the country ranked second to the $138 million held by the books in January 2020. What's more, these numbers don't include the $136.9 million wagered and $7.2 million win in Illinois, which released its revenue figures too late for the AGA report. Nationally, sports betting revenues are up 32% compared to the same period in 2019. Perhaps most interestingly, online betting comprises more than 80% of total sports bets and profits nationwide.
The Reno Gazette-Journal interviewed Las Vegas Sheriff Joe Lombardo about the uptick in violence on and around the Strip over the past few months. He told reporter Ed Komenda that violent crime on The Strip is up 4% year over year (we don't dispute that statistic, but it sure seems like more to us). Who are the perpetrators? "From the previous two years, 40 percent of individuals – either suspects or victims in felony crimes – were from California. And a majority of that 40 percent were gang members ... and/or ex-felons. To what does the sheriff attribute the increase? "I think the pandemic is directly related to it. Bad behavior, anxiety, unemployment, the inability to blow off steam is causing a lot of this to occur. Our nightclubs are closed, all our live entertainment is closed. There's not a lot of release occurring not just in our jurisdiction but in Los Angeles and Phoenix and San Diego, where a majority of our visitors come from. They're in lockdown more than we are." And what are the police doing to stem this tide? "In the early throes of it in August, we increased the uniform presence. In September, we increased it to undercover units, tactical units, traffic units and everything else I have available. If you look at the 30-day window versus year-to-date, violent crime is down 31 percent. What we've done is working."
Las Vegas-based Aristocrat Technologies is the North America, Latin America, and Caribbean division of Australian gaming machine manufacturer Aristocrat Leisure. The gaming-machine supplier and digital-content provider for the casino industry has just announced a partnership with the Las Vegas Raiders that encompasses prominent signage throughout Allegiant Stadium year-round, including in-stadium and in-game branding, plus its own named private lounge, the Aristocrat Club (Aristocrat also has a private suite at T-Mobile Arena). The partnership has observers speculating that Raiders-themed slots could be in the offing.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are -3.5 favorites over the Chicago Bears in tonight's Thursday Night Football game. The total is 44.
A feature story in today's Las Vegas Sun reveals some interesting details about Resorts World. First, 75% of revenues are being projected to come from nongaming amenities, including a gargantuan 220,000-square-foot pool area, high-roller suites with private pools, and a 5,000-seat theater, while the casino itself "will be kind of an afterthought," according to Resorts World's president. The two-tower 3,500-room megaresort will employee upwards of 6,000 people. Construction has been delayed due to supply-chain issues caused by the pandemic, but Resorts World is, reportedly, on schedule to open some time next summer.
After nearly seven months of being closed, Planet Hollywood reopened on the Strip at 10 o'clock this morning. The casino, most of the restaurants, the spa, and the pool area are accessible, along with a William Hill sportsbook. The Miracle Mile mall has been open since June 9. The hotel, however, is limited to Thursday through Sunday nights; no reservations are accepted for Mondays, Tuesdays, or Wednesdays. Now, only the Cromwell and the Rio remain closed.
The Strat is returning live comedy to its property at 6 p.m. Friday with the reopening of The Strat's L.A. Comedy Club is reopening tomorrow night at 8 p.m. with “Redneck Comedy Magic” and a 10 p.m. show headlined by Trixx. The Club is planning on putting on comedians seven nights a week in front of an audience of up to 65 people, 40% of the Dragon Room's capacity of 165. Tickets are $39.95 and $59.95 (plus fees).
Steven Patrick Morrissey, known mononymously as just his last name, is a highly acclaimed and controversial English singer, songwriter, and author, who earned his fame as the frontman of the indie rock band the Smiths (1982-1987). His "Viva Moz Vegas" residency was supposed to comprise five shows at the Colosseum at Caesars on June 26 and 27 and July 1, 3, and 4. Of course, they were postponed indefinitely. But the new dates have been announced: Aug. 28 and 29 and Sept. 2, 4, and 5.
A Crowdcast virtual event will be held on Thursday October 22 at 7 p.m. in which contributors to A Valley of Light and Shadow will read their stories and essays. The book is the 11th in the Las Vegas Writes series (the eighth that we've published), an annual collection of writings by local authors that focuses on a Vegas theme. This year’s is: In Sin City, what does it mean to be sinful? And how much do we concede in order to see ourselves as “good”? You can register for the event here; it takes 20 seconds and requires your name and email address.
The second-seed Seattle Storm beat the Las Vegas Aces last night in Game Three of the WNBA Championship, winning their third of three games in the best-of-five series and shutting out the Aces at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. All the Storm's victories were decisive, but last night was a blowout, with a final score of 92-59. The Storm’s average margin of victory in the three games was nearly 20 points.
The Los Angeles Lakers are -7.5 favorites over the Miami Heat in Game 4 of the NBA Championship series. The total is 218.5. The Lakers lead the series 2-1.
Though summer has been officially over for more than two weeks and today's high temperature of 97 is more than 10 degrees above normal, the weather will finally start acting like it's autumn. This year Las Vegas saw 97 days with highs of 100 or more, falling three days short of the record of 100 days set in 1947. The highest recorded temperature of 114 degrees on August 18 and September 6 fell three degrees short of the record. Temperatures are expected to cool down into the low 90s through the week, then the 80s into the weekend. The rainless streak continues at 169 consecutive days without measurable precipitation.
A Face Up Pai Gow Poker player at Aliante hit a seven-card straight flush (including a joker) on Sunday to take down the linked-progressive jackpot of $531,639. The player said he was just about to close on refinancing his house, but instead will pay off his mortgage with the winnings. The jackpot, linked at five other Boyd locals casinos, resets to $150,000.
In response to rising violence on the Strip and a brawl at the Wynn over Labor Day weekend, the Wynn has put new security measures into place. Everyone entering the property Friday morning through Sunday night will pass through metal detectors and their bags will be searched. Hotel room keys are also scanned at elevator entrances. Additional security guards, all former law enforcement, have been hired and Las Vegas police officers are onsite. The "crisis and tactical response" includes a K-9 team. These measures are reminiscent of the response to the October 1, 2017, mass shooting. The Wynn in a statement said that Friday through Sunday evening is the period during which nearly all the "issues" on the Strip have occurred -- including the latest incident, when armed security guards at South Point shot and killed a man who fired a gun in the valet area on Sunday afternoon.
In tonight's regularly scheduled Monday Night Football game, the Green Bay Packers are -5 favorites over the Atlanta Falcons. The total is 56.5.
In tonight's game that was postponed for COVID-19 concerns, the Kansas City Chiefs are -11 favorites over the New England Patriots. The total is 48.5.
The cardrooms in Los Angeles are expected to reopen today in tents. They’ve been given permission to operate, but only in outdoor facilities. Additionally, masks must be worn at all times, players will be separated by plexiglass dividers, and no food or drink will be allowed. Sounds like fun.
As usual when the economy gets battered, Las Vegas is hit hardest, as indicated by a number of metrics. The latest is reported by Bloomberg this morning: Las Vegas has the biggest increase in apartment tenants who have stopped paying rent. Last month, 10.6% of Vegas tenants missed a rent payment, up from 4.1% in September 2019, the largest increase in the U.S., according to data on the top 50 metropolitan areas from RealPage, an analytics provider for the real-estate industry. Following Las Vegas with the biggest annual increase in nonpaying apartment tenants are L.A., New Orleans, Portland, and Seattle. New Orleans had the highest percentage of tenants in arrears on rent at 12.9%.
Wee Kirk o' the Heather was unexpectedly demolished on Saturday. Built in 1925 as a private home, it became a wedding chapel in 1940, the first dedicated wedding facility in the city. The demo company, which has razed hundreds of buildings in Las Vegas, claimed that it had never seen one this old: all mud and straw bricks, with no wood in the walls. Knocking down the chapel came as a surprise to the Nevada Preservation Foundation, which is working with the city to try and preserve the city's most historic buildings. The property was sold in April, but no plans have been announced for the small lot at the corner of Las Vegas Blvd. and E. Bridger Ave., two blocks south of Fremont Street.
The San Francisco 49ers are -8.5 favorites over the Philadelphia Eagles in tonight's Sunday Night Football game. The total is 46.
The Los Angeles Lakers are -9.5 favorites over the Miami Heat in Game 3 of the NBA Championship series. The total is 220. The Lakers lead the series 2-0.
We get regular questions about when the IRS might raise the threshold for the issuance of W-2Gs for hitting a machine jackpot of $1,200 or more. The threshold was established in 1977 and hasn't been touched since, even though jackpots have risen significantly and casino gambling has expanded substantially. In today's Las Vegas Review-Journal, business writer Richard Velotta tackles the issue and comes to the same conclusion that we have: Don't hold your breath. Though the American Gaming Association has been lobbying for many years to raise the threshold and the Nevada congressional delegation sent a letter last year to the IRS and Treasury Department about it, both authorities continue their decades-long silence on the issue. The article notes that it's not even clear if Treasury can raise the threshold administratively or if it requires congressional legislation to do so and that the issue is low on the priority list of the government, which has more pressing matters on its hands these days.
Regal Cinemas, the second largest domestic movie-theater chain, is planning to shut down all 543 of its theaters in the U.S., according to a report on Variety.com. Cineworld, Regal's British-based parent company, will also close its theaters in the UK and Ireland after losing $1.64 billion in the first half of this year. The tipping point, apparently, was the delay from November to April of the release of the 25th James Bond film No Time To Die. Regal has 11 multiplexes in Nevada and nine in Las Vegas, including at Aliante, Palace Station, Green Valley Ranch, Boulder Station, and Red Rock casinos. It's unclear when, or whether, the theaters will reopen.
The current odds for the Preakness Stakes make Authentic the favorite at 3-2, followed by Art Collector at 2-1, and Thousand Words at 7-1. The long shot is Excession at 50-1.
The median price of an existing single-family house in Las Vegas reached record highs in July and August and now, newly built single-families have broken their own record. In August, the median price of a new house in southern Nevada hit $411,425, up more than 4% over August 2019, when no one had ever heard the word COVID; it broke the previous record of $410,414 set in October 2019. In spite of continuing high unemployment in Las Vegas, the real estate market here remains superheated, attributed in part to record low interest rates and the ongoing exodus from southern California.
British bookmakers have removed bets on the U.S. election from their boards after the news that Donald Trump has tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Betfair had Joe Biden's probability of winning at 60% on Wednesday after the debate, up from 56% before. But now that's moot, as the change in circumstances has led to the standard procedure of calling off further bets.
The Los Angeles Lakers are -10 favorites over the Miami Heat in Game 2 of the NBA Championship series. The total is 216.5. The Lakers lead the series 1-0.
Lake of Dreams, the water, music, and light show that takes place within the walls of the Wynn, will debut next Wednesday, October 7, after a $14 million revamp. The repertoire of songs has been expanded from eight to 12, several new animatronic puppets, some nearly 30-feet tall, are being introduced, and there's a lot of new theatrical and lighting effects and other technology that took two years to produce. The shows take place every 30 minutes after dusk, but you must be inside to see them; it can best be viewed from outdoor terraces at SW Steakhouse, Lakeside seafood restaurant, and Mizumi, but at the Parasol Down bar, you won't have to pay to eat.
Hawaiian Airlines, which cut service to numerous mainland airports due to COVID-19 restrictions, resumed flights to McCarran Airport yesterday. Travelers from the mainland to Hawaii can bypass Hawaii's 14-day mandatory quarantine by showing a negative COVID-19 test starting Oct. 15. The quarantine is scheduled to end on October 31, but might be extended.
You might've heard about a rash of violent clashes and shootings on the Strip since Labor Day weekend, about which we're receiving lots of questions. Is it safe to come to town? We think so, but this is a warning you need to heed. Learn about the problem and find out what some "experts" are trying to pin it on in the October issue of the Las Vegas Advisor. In addition, it’s football-party time … or is it? Due to the pandemic, what used to be a Las Vegas institution is now on life support. We’ve checked out the scene and found a few places that are still good plays if you’re looking for a place to watch a game in the new abnormal. Plus! Get the scoop on the reopening of the bars, a king crab lunch special, the return of $1 blackjack, a 24-hour play for $2 margaritas, a -105 betting deal, the Strip’s only non-smoking casino, a blackjack loss rebate, the demise of a comeback buffet, a Top Ten happy hour, the best free football contest in town, even a golf course residency in a bar — all in the October LVA.
The New York Jets are and Denver Broncos are pick 'em in tonight's Thursday Night Football game. The total is 41.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority has released its August numbers and in the words of a friend, "Okay is the new great." A little more than 1.5 million people showed up last month, nearly 7% more than July's 1.4 million, but upwards of 60% less than August 2019. Most of the crowds gather for the weekends, with the midweek occupancy rate at a low 34% of the 128,000 rooms, which are down 15% from the normal 150,000-plus available rooms; year over year, midweek occupancy was down 50%. The average daily room rate on the Strip was $99, down nearly 20%; downtown's was $59, down 9%. It appears that most visitors are driving in from southern California, with the vehicle count on I-15 at the state line down only 9% from August 2019.
Caesars Entertainment and British-based gambling group William Hill have agreed to a sale to Caesars for 2.9 billion pounds ($3.7 billion). Caesars already owned 20% of a U.S. joint venture with Caesars, so they were a natural to pick up the rest of the equity. Caesars is also expected to sell off William Hill's non-U.S. operations, consisting of more than 1,400 betting shops in the United Kingdom, perhaps to private-equity firm Apollo, which had been in contention to buy the whole company. With antitrust and regulatory approvals, plus a yay vote by at least 75% of Will Hill shareholders, the deal could close in the second half of 2021.
The month of October presents a nearly perfect weather picture after the summer snapshot that drips with sweat. Normal high temperatures range between 87 on the first of the month and 74 on the last, normal lows 65 to 53. The record highs for the month have come in the first few days over the years: 103 on Oct. 1 in 1978 and 100 on Oct. 2 and 4 in 1980 and 1947, respectively. It can get pretty cold at night (perfect sleeping weather with the windows open and the air-conditioner finally shut off); the record lows range from 44 (Oct. 3, 1950) down to 26 (Oct. 30, 1971). In general, Vegas sees no precipitation in October, with clear sunny skies all the livelong month.