Alexander Volkanovski is a -145 favorite over Diego Lopes in tonight's UFC main event. In the other featured match, Benoit Saint-Denis is -435 over Dan Hooker.
Reid International handled 54.98 million passengers in 2025. The total was down 6% from 2024's, but was still the third-most passengers in a year in Reid's history. The decline was partially attributed to a steep dropoff of passengers in December: 22% fewer international arrivals and departures and 10.3% domestic for the month. For the year, the domestic passenger count fell 5.9% and international was down 7.4%. The airport's connection to more than 170 markets remained consistent last year.
Aryna Sabalenka is a -150 favorite over Elena Rybakina in tomorrow’s Australian Open women's tennis final. Sabalenka is seeking her firth Grand Slam title, Rybakina is going after her second. The match starts early at 3:30 am EST.
Skyscanner is an independent and free travel search engine that compares millions of flights, hotels, and car-rental deals to help users find the cheapest, fastest, or greenest travel options. It conducts an annual survey of the "cheapest destinations for Americans in 2026."
It looked at destinations with economy round-trip flights booked on Skyscanner between January 1 and October 31 of last year for travel between in 2026. Then, with OnePoll, an international market research company, Skyscanner surveyed 2,000 travelers in November 2025. They found that the cheapest day to fly this year is Wednesday and five of the top 10 cheapest destinations are in the U.S. Las Vegas ranked number one, due to being "one of the most competitive flight markets in the U.S., with high airline capacity, frequent routes, and strong demand year round that keeps flight prices relatively low." Skyscanner also cited major attractions and day trips. We say Sin City can be a bargain destination -- if you know what you're doing, but most people don't. Here are the other nine destinations in order: San Salvador, El Salvador; Miami, Florida; Kahului, Hawaii; Orlando, Florida; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; Mexico City, Mexico; Cancún, Mexico; and Milan, Italy.
"Out of Bounds: The Sports Betting Boom" is a new series from VICE TV that takes an inside look at the systems, scandals, and psychology behind modern sports. The documentary premiered on VICE TV Thursday and began airing on the VICE Sports YouTube channel last night. You can see a long excerpt here.
The 33rd annual Casino Chip and Collectibles Show will take place on June 18-20 at South Point, its home for the past many years. The show is open to the public all three days, with a $10 admission on Thursday, $5 on Friday, and free on Saturday. More than 30 dealers of casino memorabilia from all over the world will fill the second-floor South Point ballroom, selling and trading gaming chips, slot tokens, playing cards, dice, matchbooks, ashtrays, advertising materials, antique gaming devices, swizzle sticks, post cards, and much more. We attended last year's confab and you read our report and see photos here.
Singer-songwriter Paul Anka will make an appearance for one night at the Pearl at the Palms on May 16. Anka, 84, has been a star for just shy of 70 years, singing his first number-one song, "Diana," at age 15. He wrote the song “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore” for Buddy Holly in 1958 and "My Way," Sinatra's signature song, in 1969. He also composed the Academy Award-nominated theme for The Longest Day and wrote the theme for the “Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.” Anka collaborated with Céline Dion, Tom Jones, Drake, Justin Timberlake, Michael Bublé, and perhaps most notably Michael Jackson, with whom he co-wrote three songs, all of which reached number one worldwide. Tickets for the show start at $65 and are on sale now.
Gross gaming revenue on the Strip dropped 6% in December, ending the year on a decidedly down note. This was especially true by comparison with almost every other reporting jurisdiction in Nevada. The Strip won $827.7 million last month, down from $881.2 million in December 2024. Strip slot revenue fell 6.9% from $495.4 million to $461.2 million; the drop was up 1.5%, but the hold was down year over year. Likewise, baccarat revenue fell to $156.4 million from $197.2 million in December 2024, a decline of 20.7%; drop was up 1.4%, but the hold fell to 16.3%, down from 20.8% in December 2024. Due to the Strip dump, the statewide win declined 1.5%. But downtown (4.6%), locals casinos (5.8%), Boulder Strip (9%), North Las Vegas (5.3%), Laughlin (9.8%), and Mesquite (11.1%) GGR all increased.
The Westgate will unveil its big Super Bowl proposition-bet menu tonight at 7 p.m. It's an event, with the big odds board in the SuperBook going dark, then lighting up all at once with hundreds of props. The prop release usually takes place on the Thursday one week removed from the game, but it's taking place a day early, probably in response to other books having already put up their numbers online. Regardless, it's cool to see and there'll be several sports betting luminaries there at the opening.
VisualCapitalist ranked the 50 states on a health scale by measuring 99 indicators, such as economic hardship, smoking rates, and mortality data. Overall values were measured in z-scores, with a score of 0 representing the national average. Nevada placed 42nd on the list with a score of -0.39, between New Mexico (-0.37) and Kentucky (-0.50). Louisiana (-0.94), Arkansas (-0.83), Mississippi (-0.77), and Alabama (-0.75) were lowest. The top four healthiest states were found to be in New England: New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Connecticut, all with scores between .99 and .68, with Utah (.64) rounding out the top five.
The fourth-annual Siegel's Bagelmania World Bagel Eating Championship takes place at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Bagelmania at 252 Convention Center Drive. The public is invited and the event is free, but parking is limited in the area, so it's best to arrive early. The contest is all-you-can-eat bagels and cream cheese in eight minutes. Champion eater Joey Chestnut will be defending his crown; he won in 2024 and 2023 by downing 15 whole bagels. Geoffrey Esper took first place in the inaugural year, 2023, setting the record at 17.75 bagels. Chestnut told News3LV, "People coming out to these events expect me to do well, so I have to put in the work and make sure I go in hungry." The winners will share the $10,000 prize pool.
This isn't exactly Vegas news, but it caught our attention. Nathan's Famous, the hot dog company that started with a stand on Coney Island in 1916, has been bought by the giant packaged-meat company Smithfield Foods, which owns numerous brands, including Armor and Farmer John's. Smithfield paid $450 million in cash. Why we noticed this is because Nathan's has long been featured in our own Top 10 at the Downtown Grand, where $3 buys you a 12-ounce Pabst Blue Ribbon beer and America's iconic frankfurter, along with a bun, onions, sauerkraut, mustard, even (shudder) ketchup if you wish (a propitious assist on that from Canada Roy). Smithfield owned the right to produce and sell Nathan's products in the U.S. and Canada and at Sam's Clubs in Mexico; with the cash purchase, the company now owns Nathan's outright.
As of yesterday, nearly 200 flights were canceled at Reid International and there were 200 delays. According to the airport, those account for around 9% of departures and 11% of arrivals, caused by the massive storm from New Mexico to New York. Local broadcast media interviewed Vegas visitors stranded by the airport slowdown -- and they weren't complaining about highs in the 60s and lows in the 40s, compared to sub-zero temperatures in some places and sheets of ice for roadways and driveways. Highs today will be the same, with a warming trend arriving: Wednesday 63, Thursday 66, Friday 68, and 70 this weekend. The beginning of February will feel more like March.
PokerNews reports that the Planet Hollywood poker room will close "at the end of the month." The 23-table room didn't reopen after the pandemic until last year's World Series of Poker, but it was somewhat out of the way, located on the second floor above the casino, and never really caught on with players. The reduction in visitation didn't help, nor did nearby competition from Aria, Bellagio, and MGM Grand. But the PH poker room lasted barely nine months before closing again, this time, perhaps, for the last time.
Fontainebleau Las Vegas is welcoming the newest Vegas Loop station. The resort announced that the new station, located on level V-1 at the south valet, is now open. Riders will be able to use the station to travel to all Las Vegas Convention Center terminals, plus select resorts, by entering the Riviera Loop station at the West Hall. All trips to and from Fontainebleau will be introduced as complimentary for guests, according to the resort. Vegas Loop stations are also open at Encore, Westgate and Resorts World. The system also offers surface trips to Harry Reid International Airport on a limited basis.
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, Bally’s most recent permit applications for its mixed-use development surrounding the A's stadium on the old Tropicana site indicate a total budget of $1.19 billion and a final completion date of December 2030. For the four-phase construction plan, Bally's will file 13 construction permits in all, with the hotel and casino the last structures planned to be built in 2029 and 2030.
Las Vegas has been named the host city for the 2027 College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship game on January 25, 2027, at Allegiant Stadium. This marks the first time Nevada will host the championship game, following the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority's approval of spending up to $40 million on the event. Las Vegas will be the 11th different city to host a CFP title game and the third in the Pacific time zone. The $40 million ponied up by the LVCVA is part of a bid to get the game; the LVCVA will help organize the event by covering such expenses as game management, marketing, advertising, security, and team practice facilities.
The Seattle Seahawks opened as -4.5 favorites over the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl. The opening total was 46.5.
In today's NFC Championship, the Seattle Seahawks are -2.5 favorites over the Los Angeles Rams. The total is 46.
In today's AFC Championship, the New England Patriots are -3.5 favorites over the Denver Broncos. The total is 43.
The winner of the $1.8 billion Powerball jackpot that hit on Christmas Eve has shown up to claim the prize. The winner in Arkansas took the cashout of $834.9 million and will walk away with just under $495 million after taxes; Arkansas takes 3.9% on lottery winnings or $19.8 million. Arkansas also allows jackpot winners to remain anonymous, but that lasts only three years; then the name is released. The only thing that's known is the winner "took the time to seek legal counsel and financial advice first," as announced by the Arkansas Lottery.
Paddy Pimblett is a -245 favorite over Justin Gaethje in tonight's UFC main event. In the other featured match, Sean O'Malley is -210 over Song Yadong.
Yelp’s 13th annual list of the top-100 U.S. restaurants has been released and Las Vegas holds four spots. Rock N’ Potato in the Showcase Mall on the Strip, which serves a variety of baked potatoes and toppings, including the standout lobster mac n’ cheese, placed at number 23, highest on the list for a Las Vegas eatery. Lucky Noodle Taiwanese restaurant was ranked number 26, Ton Shou Katsu & Izakaya at number 31, and Rutba Indian Kitchen came in at number 34.
It's no secret that Canadians are staying away from the U.S. -- and by extension Las Vegas -- in droves. This is due in part to politics, but also to the exchange rate of the Canadian to U.S. dollar, hovering around $1.40 currently (the record is $1.62 set in 2002). In an attempt to lure Canadians to downtown Las Vegas, Circa, the D, and Golden Gate are offering an exchange rate of par, one loonie to one greenback, from now until August 31. Canadian guests staying at any of the three hotel-casinos receive the at-par rate at check-in and at select bars; they can also take advantage of at par for CAD$500 in slot promotional play (check the details at the players club booth). Canadian citizenship must be verified with a valid passport or government-issued ID. This promotion isn't new; for many years, the Cal-Neva in Reno did the same and from time to time, it surfaced for a little while in Vegas. But this is the first time in many years.
Country star Kenny Chesney has added six dates to his Sphere residency. After playing 15 sold-out shows at the arena last summer, Chesney initially announced five dates this June (19, 20, 24, 26, and 27), but due to popular demand will now play a total of 11 shows, with six more dates added in July (1, 3, 4, 8, 10, and 11). The presale opened yesterday; general public tickets go on sale on Friday at 10 a.m. PT.
While the number of passengers handled by Reid International in 2025 fell several percentage points from 2025, Reno-Tahoe International continued its upward trajectory in passenger counts for the year; in fact, Reno-Tahoe saw the most passengers in nearly two decades: 4.9 million. It was the fifth straight annual increase and the highest number of passengers since 2007, when it was an even five million. From a low of two million in the pandemic year of 2020, passenger counts rose to 3.6 million in 2021, 4.3 million/2022, 4.6 million/2023, and 4.8 million/2024. The rising numbers reflect the steady growth in air service, with 85,000 more seats (+3%) in 2025 than 2024. The airport projects another 4% increase this year, with passenger counts surpassing five million.
The 2026 Member Rewards Books are in. We're distributing them now at our office and loading envelopes for mailing.
Deadline.com reports that a new film about Vegas is in production. Vegas: A Love Story "unfolds beneath the glow of the Las Vegas Strip, where a gifted graphic designer hustling for work falls into a passionate unexpected romance with a welder and single father struggling to rebuild his life. As the designer hides that she’s living out of her car, the welder's wary in-laws step in to protect their grandson. The return of the designer's charming but self-destructive ex threatens to unravel everything." Directed by Iranian-American filmmaker Ramin Bahrani (The White Tiger, 99 Homes, Chop Shop), Vegas: A Love Story stars Maika Monroe (Longlegs), Brandon Sklenar (The Housemaid), Paul Dano (The Batman, War and Peace), Michael Shannon (Nuremberg), and Judy Greer (Ant-Man) and sounds to us like it will explore the seamier sides of Vegas and love stories.
Nine Las Vegas chefs, two outstanding beverage professionals, two bars, and one restaurant were announced on Wednesday as semi-finalist nominations for the 2026 James Beard Awards. That compares to last year's four chefs and one beverage professional; three made it to the finals, but none won the award. This year's semi-finalists are for Best Chef Southwest: Oulay Ceesay Fisher, Calabash African Kitchen; Brian Howard, Sparrow + Wolf; Yuri Szarzewski, Partage; Sarah Thompson, Casa Playa (Encore); Jamie Tran, Black Sheep; and James Trees, Bar Boheme; Best Emerging Chef: Ellie Parker, Main St. Provisions; Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker: Kimberly Mcintosh, Milkfish Bakeshop; Outstanding Restaurateur: Elizabeth Blau, Buddy V’s and Honey Salt; Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service: Bank Atcharawan, Jipata; Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service; Mariena Mercer Boarini, Aft Cocktail Deck (Wynn); Best New Restaurant: Tamba; Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program: Ada’s; and Best New Bar: Nocturno. Finalists will be announced March 31 and the awards handed to the winners at a ceremony on June 15 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
A hectic schedule, including delivery of the Member Rewards Book, necessitated a change in our YouTube plans. As such, this month’s “Beer Friday” will run today. Join Anthony and Andrew for the livestream starting at 4 p.m. PST. Watch the show live, interact online, and have a drink or two with the guys, who will update the MRB status. Join at LVA YouTube live channel.
The Wizard of Oz has now sold two million tickets, grossing more than $260 million in ticket sales alone since it opened at Sphere on August 28. By comparison, the ninth-highest-grossing regular movie in 2025, How to Train Your Dragon, grossed $262 million in domestic tickets. Of course, it's nowhere near a fair comparison, since Wizard of Oz has been playing for only five months and the average Sphere ticket is $130, while a ticket to a typical movie theater is more like $15. But Oz breached the million-ticket/$130 million mark in mid-October, barely six weeks after it opened, so given that it took more than three months to sell the second million tickets, the movie might be slowing down a bit. In fact, the next film in the Sphere queue has been announced: From the Edge, chronicling extreme-sports athletes. That won't be ready until the end of summer, so Oz has a long way to go.
Spice up Valentine’s week with Marriage Can Be Murder! From February 12 to 15, this wildly entertaining murder-mystery comedy at the Rio promises love, laughter, and endless surprises. Treat yourself (and your date or crew) to a night packed with interactive fun, chocolates, champagne, and a rose — because this isn’t just a show; it’s an experience! We have two coupons for the show, an MRO ($20 off) and an MRB ($25 off). These four Valentine shows will be special and limited regular tickets are available for 2/12 and 2/15 (regular tickets are sold out on 2/13 and 2/14).
Sphere Entertainment has cut a deal with the state of Maryland, Prince George’s County and a D.C.-area real estate developer to build a third Sphere at National Harbor. This will be a smaller-scale arena with 6,000 seats, about one-third the size of the Vegas venue, and roughly the same size as the second Sphere, currently under construction in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The project will be financed with public and private funding, including approximately $200 million in state, local, and private incentives. The rendering making the rounds shows Sphere close to the Potomac River next to MGM National Harbor. National Harbor is a waterfront development on the Potomac, with a marina, convention center, outlet mall, carousel and Ferris wheel, and ferry terminal.
In a somewhat rare event, a new restaurant is opening in February at the Gold Coast. Charter 75 Modern Kitchen will serve breakfast, lunch, dinner, and cocktails; the website also mentions live entertainment and a late-night happy hour. After TGI Fridays closed a year ago, Cornerstone Café & Steakhouse expanded into some of that space, but before then, we can't remember when a new dining concept opened at the good old Gold Coast, walking distance from our office. It was probably Cornerstone, which replaced the old Cortez Room in 2016. Steak 'n Shake and Tacos El Pastor are also opening in the next couple of months.
The Multistate Lottery Association has announced an interesting new game that isn't so much about the money. Rather, some of the prizes, and the game itself, are meant to appeal to football fans. The details of the game, called X’s and O’s, haven't been revealed, but in partnership with the National Football League, a couple of prize ideas have been considered, such as a suite at the Super Bowl and announcing a draft pick from the NFL Draft podium for a winner's favorite team. Of course, cash will be part of the prize structure, including a jackpot. One detail has been divulged: Instead of numbers, tickets buyers will pick eight of the 32 NFL teams.
Hogs & Heifers Outpost has reopened at the Plaza. The popular biker-themed bar was kicked out of its former 20-year location at Third and Ogden when its lease finally ran out in early July, after which the owner bought the vacant lot at 307-319 S. Main St. across from the Plaza. When the Sand Dollar Downtown closed at the Plaza in December, H&H made a deal to open a pop-up bar for ... well, so far for as long as it takes to open the new place across the street. Reportedly, more than half the staff of 45 is employed at the Outpost. If you visit, H&H doesn't take credit cards; it's cash only.
An Apple TV series about Siegfried and Roy is taking shape. According to People magazine, "'Wild Things: Siegfried & Roy,' will chronicle the duo's rise to fame.' Jude Law (The Talented Mr. Ripley, Dr. Watson in Sherlock Holmes, Cold Mountain, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Gattaca) is playing Siegfried Fischbacher, while Andrew Garfield (The Social Network, The Amazing Spider-Man, Hacksaw Ridge, Tick, Tick ... Boom!) stars as Roy Horn. Variety wrote, “The duo push the concept of illusion versus reality to the extreme, personally and professionally, until tragedy reframes and opens a mystery surrounding their last fateful Las Vegas show.” We've had reports that some filming was done last week at El Cortez. The series is expected to premiere late this year or early next.
In the college-football National Championship, Indiana is a -7.5 favorite over Miami. The total is 46.5.
Blue Ribbon American Grill & Oyster Bar, which opened at the Cosmopolitan way back in 2010 shortly after the hotel-casino itself debuted, will close on February 16. It will be replaced by the Corner Bar that, according to the press release, "debuted in the SoHo district of New York City in late 2024 and has become one of the most coveted reservations in the country, a go-to destination for food enthusiasts and A-listers looking for elevated service, an energetic atmosphere, and a standout beverage program centered on creative martinis." The NY menu shows six martinis ($21-$22), along with $15 mashed potatoes and roasted carrots, $24 shrimp cocktail and Caesar salad, $37 vegetarian "chicken" parm, $65 eight-ounce filet, and $90 Dover sole. No word on an opening date, but Canada Roy assures us he'll be there to write the review.
Long predicted to be completed in time for the Summer Olympics in 2028 in Los Angeles, the Brightline West high-speed rail system between L.A. and Las Vegas might now be operational in "late 2029," according to a story in Newsweek. Construction activity continues along the route that follows I-15; crews are also working on the parking garage and train station at the terminus in Las Vegas on a 33-acre site off I-15 near the 215 freeway, close to the Las Vegas Premium Outlets South. Work commenced in 2024 and we wouldn't be surprised if the launch date is pushed back into the 2030s.
In today's NFC playoff game, the Los Angeles Rams are -4 favorites over the Chicago Bears. The total is 49.5.
In today's AFC playoff game, the New England Patriots are -3.5 favorites over the Houston Texans. The total is 41.
A guide took 8NewsNow, the local CBS affiliate, on a tour inside "the guts" of the Golden Gate, as part of the 120th anniversary celebration of Las Vegas' oldest hotel. The news crew went to the basement of the building, where a large room might've been the site of a bar during Prohibition and could be turned into something public someday. They also viewed a fountain hidden in what's now a back alcove of the building that dates to the earliest days of the hotel, Vegas' first building with running water. You can watch a pretty cool 3:41 video of the tour here.
In today's NFC playoff game, the Seattle Seahawks are -7 favorites over the San Francisco 49ers. The total is 44.
In today's AFC playoff game, the Denver Broncos are -1.5 favorites over the Buffalo Bills. The total is 45.5.
In a Bon Appetit story titled "The 10 Most Anticipated Restaurant Openings of 2026," Las Vegas claimed a spot. Maroon, a Caribbean steakhouse from celebrity chef, James Beard Award winner, author, and "Top Chef" star Kwame Onwuachi, is slated to open this spring in the space occupied by José Andrés’ Bazaar Meat. It will be Onwuachi's first West Coast restaurant and, as reported by Bon Appetit, "the first black-owned concept to hit the Vegas Strip." Named for the Maroons of Jamaica, descendants of Africans who escaped enslavement and created self-sufficient communities in the country's Blue Mountains, the restaurant will "reimagine the classic American steakhouse through the lens of Caribbean cuisine with jerk rubs and dry-aged cuts, live-fire cooking, scotch bonnet-infused sauces, grilled seafood, and vibrant sides rooted in West African, Jamaican, and Creole traditions," according to Travel & Leisure. As we wrote when it was announced last May, Maroon is definitely a coup for the Sahara and this is another sign.
Another big announcement of an even bigger project has quietly leached into desert dust. Atari, the video-game pioneer, announced plans to build themed hotels in eight cities, including Las Vegas. Here's what we wrote in January 2020. "Atari has inked a licensing agreement with a Phoenix developer to build Atari-branded hotels in eight U.S. cities: Phoenix, Denver, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, Chicago, Austin, and Las Vegas. They would include an e-sports studio, an Atari 'gaming playground,' meeting and event space, restaurants, bars, and a movie theater and would be aimed at families and business travelers." Two months later, COVID took over and, according to a story this morning in the Las Vegas Sun, "The company explored developing a location in Las Vegas in 2020 and 2021, but the deal didn’t come to fruition. As recently as 2024, Atari Hotels said it remained in talks with potential land partners in Las Vegas and anticipated a series of project announcements in the first half of that year." Those never happened either. For what it's worth, the Phoenix location is furthest along and could open by late 2028.
The Virginia-based Five Guys burger brand, celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, has opened its first outlet on the Las Vegas Strip. The 10,000-square-foot location, called a "flagship," is located in the Grand Canal Shoppes at the Venetian. It's the first Five Guys with a walk-up bar offering beer, wine, cocktails, and alcoholic milkshakes. It also features a dedicated non-alcoholic milkshake station and serves breakfast, one of the few in the U.S. that does (Five Guys breakfasts are common in the UK). Breakfast sandwiches consist of bacon and eggs, with optional burger patty. A glass-walled potato prep room showcases Five Guys' hand-cut fries. Best of all, we have a Member Rewards Online coupon for a 2-for-1 beer or wine and a Member Rewards Book coupon for a 2-for-1 yard-tall frozen cocktail.
The director of the wildly popular "Squid Game" series on Netflix is producing a new Korean series, "The Dealer." According to the press release, "'The Dealer' is a crime drama that follows Geonhwa, a brilliant casino dealer who, after a housing scam shatters her wedding plans, is forced to unleash her long-hidden powers." Her fiancé is a fierce (at work) but kindly (at home) detective, while another character is "a formidable casino ace whose razor-sharp instincts and unreadable poker face raise the stakes at every turn." No description of the villain(s), word on when it will debut, or how many seasons Netflix has signed on for, but we'll keep an eye out and provide updates as they arrive.
The STRAT is advertising a new "ALL-IN" offer. Rates start at $49 midweek and $105 weekends with no resort fee and taxes included and the deal comes with Tower admission for two and a $25 daily dining credit. Travel must be completed by October 31, so plenty of time to take advantage of it, and you can book here.
The Review-Journal reported this morning that Area15 will add nine eateries to its existing roster of a dozen or so, all in the second quarter of this year. The new places will be Alien Pizza Party, The Bowl (with high-tech robots preparing the food), Chilangos Tacos, Cosmic Pretzel, Fuku (from Momofuku's David Chang), Good Company Burgers, Museum of Ice Cream, Nacho Daddy, and Saint Honoré Doughnuts & Beignets. Bring you earplugs.
Caesars Palace has unveiled its two new Presidential Villas, located on the top 24th floor of the Colosseum Tower. You can book them separately or combine them into one palatial 19,000 square-foot suite, by far the largest in Las Vegas. They come with 24/7 butlers and so forth and if you have to ask how much they run for the night, fuhgeddabowdit. You can see some photos at TravelandLeisure, which if you're anything like us, will sweep away whatever spasmodic impulse you might suffer about sampling a stay in one of these steroidal sleepers.
Next time you're passing through the D Concourse at Reid International, keep an eye out for a 1972 Signal Red Jaguar XKE. The Jag was a gift from a boss of the Gambino crime family to John Gotti -- and now introduces the Mob Museum's new retail store at the D gates. The store "showcases the Museum’s storytelling, iconic artifacts, and curated merchandise," per the press release, "aiming to engage visitors with Las Vegas' organized crime history and provide a glimpse into what awaits downtown.” Especially if you've never been to the Mob Museum, the store will give you an impetus to visit. It's open daily from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The Wing Bowl was an annual eating contest launched in 1993 in Philadelphia by two talk-radio hosts. The raucous spectacle was held the Friday before the Super Bowl through 2018, when it took a hiatus after the Philadelphia Eagles won the Big Game. This year, it's returning and will be held outside Philadelphia for the first time ever when it takes place downtown at the Plaza on Feb. 7, the Saturday before the game. The event has $5,000 in cash prizes at stake that 20 competitive eaters will vie for, including Molly Schuyer, defending Wing Bowl champion (2018), who holds the record of 501 wings. It will also feature the event's traditional cheerleaders, the Wingettes. They'll be dancers from Peppermint Hippo, the official after-party location. Tickets for spectators are free, but must be reserved online; Wing Bowl will also be streamed live on the Plaza's YouTube channel.
A new real estate record in Las Vegas was set when a condo located at the Summit Club in Summerlin sold for $21 million. The deluxe 5,000-square-foot five-bedroom, 5.5-bathroom penthouse is on the top (third) floor of the Club, but still has expansive views over the valley. It was bought in 2023 by a "tech and gaming investor" for $9.4 million, who never moved in due to construction delays; the buyer purchased the whole shebang, "right down to the silverware." You can see photos on Realtor.com.
A tweet on X yesterday announced that the Las Vegas Loop tunnel down Paradise toward the airport is being tested now for a probable opening sometime before the end of March; the tweet predicts "Q1" (first quarter) of 2026. It also said the trip from Resorts World, at the other end of the current Loop, will take about 12 minutes, using the tunnel and some surface roads until the Loop is completed all the way to the airport. Various follow-up media reports cite a $12 fare and a mere six minutes when the tunnel reaches Reid.
K-pop superstars BTS will make an epic 79-date world tour this year, returning to the stage after a four-year break while the seven group members acquitted themselves of South Korea's mandatory 18-month military service for young men between 18 and 28. Expected to be one of the biggest tours of the year, BTS and their record label BigHit/Hybe could gross more than $1 billion on the reunion tour from concerts, merchandise, licensing, album sales, and streaming revenue, according to Billboard. They'll appear at Allegiant Stadium, where they last played four dates in April 2022, on May 23, 24, and 27; early access to tickets is underway and general-public tickets will go on sale Saturday January 24.
As part of a 29-date tour, legendary singer-songwriter James Taylor will appear for two shows at the Chelsea Theater at the Cosmopolitan on May 9 and 10. Taylor will be accompanied by his long-time All-Star Band, featuring six musicians and three backup singers. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday at 10 a.m. PT.
The new display, celebrating the Lunar New Year, is open at the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. This is the Year of the Horse, which signifies courage, opportunity, and passion, and the Conservatory highlights the horse, of course, along with giant pandas, dancing children, jumping koi, and the King of Fortune. You can see photos at VegasChanges.com, which always posts them as soon as the new display is unveiled. It runs through February.
In today’s NFL Wild Card Playoff game, the Houston Texans are -3 favorites over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The total is 38.
The Queen of Hip-Hop Soul will play a 10-date residency (so far) at Dolby Live at Park MGM in May and July. Fifty-five-year-old Mary J. Blige is one of the most influential and acclaimed R&B artists of all time, known for blending hip-hop and soul in a way that revolutionized both genres and inspired generations of artists. Her breakthrough album was What's the 411? way back in 1992, featuring the enduring hits "Real Love" and "You Remind Me." In her career, she's earned nine Grammys, four American Music awards, and 12 Billboard Music awards, among numerous other honors, and has sold more than 80 million records worldwide. Also an actress, Blige received Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actress in the 2017 film Mudbound. "Mary J. Blige: My Life, My Story The Las Vegas Residency" will take place May 1, 2, 6, 8, and 9 and July 10, 11, 15, 17, and 18. Tickets to the public, which are sure to sell out fast, will be available on Friday at 10 a.m. PT.
We've been hearing scuttlebutt about the transformation of the Cromwell to the Vanderpump Hotel, branded by reality TV star and entrepreneur Lisa Vanderpump, The announced time frame was "early 2026," after extensive renovations to all 188 rooms and the casino, maintaining the boutique feel of the small hotel, while adding Vanderpump's signature style. Though we haven't seen an official announcement, Caesars' booking engine lists February 15 as the last day to stay at the Cromwell and April 13 as the first day to stay there after the closure, presumably at the renamed and rebranded property.
Indiana opened as a -7.5 favorite over Miami for the College Football National Championship and the line has moved to -8.5. The total is 49.
In today’s final NFL Wild Card Playoff game, the New England Patriots are -3.5 favorites over the San Diego Chargers. The total is 45.
In the second of three NFL Wild Card Playoff games today, the Philadelphia Eagles are -5.5 favorites over the San Francisco 49ers. The total is 44.5.
In the first of three NFL Wild Card Playoff games today, the Jacksonville Jaguars are -1.5 favorites over the Buffalo Bills. The total is 51.5.
The Comedy Writer's Companion is a new book by a long-time friend of LVA, John Vorhaus. We always like to promote a book by a colleague and personal connection, even if we didn't publish it and it doesn't have anything to do with Las Vegas or gambling. We're also fans of humor writing and the Companion is already being hailed as "the last word on comedy writing from the guy who wrote the first word." John also wrote The Comic Toolbox -- How to Be Funny Even If You're Not some 30 years ago, which has 600 ratings at 4.5 stars and scores of positive reviews. His other books include The Little Book of Sitcom (included in Companion), Killer Poker (2002), and seven novels, among many others. The Comedy Writer's Companion is available on Amazon for $15 (print) or $9.99 (ebook).
In today’s second NFL Wild Card Playoff game, the Green Bay Packers are -2 favorites over the Chicago Bears. The total is 45.5.
In the first of two NFL Wild Card Playoff games today, the Los Angeles Rams are -10 favorites over the Carolina Panthers. The total is 45.
In our first vlog update of the year, Anthony and Andrew start out by discussing the rebrand of NoMad at Park MGM, then they update the Dream situation on the south Strip, delve into detail about current events at Silver Sevens, including a return to live-dealer table games, and review the final results of the Circa Survivor contest. Anthony gives out the lines for the final college playoff games and the NFL playoffs, which segues into our new book All About Sports Betting. Finally, tune in for the discussion on this year's Member Rewards Book.
A study by SmartAsset, "Where Alcohol Is Most and Least Popular," ranked states based on the average spending per adult on private-consumption alcohol in 2024. It found that Americans spent $228 billion on alcoholic beverages for private consumption that year, with the average adult spending $898 each. Highest was Alaska, where each adult spent an average of $1,250 on booze, followed by Wyoming ($1,238), and Colorado ($1,216). The least were Utah ($607), West Virginia ($617), Mississippi ($641), Oklahoma ($691), and Tennessee ($694). Nevada placed 20th at $950, but we note that the survey studied alcohol spend; we imagine that if free drinks were included in SmartAsset's calculations, or better yet, gambling losses while earning the free drinks, Nevada would be number one, beating Alaska by orders of magnitude.
In today’s Peach Bowl, the second semi-final game in the college-football National Championship playoffs, Indiana is a -3 favorite over Oregon. The total is 50.
The Mob Museum will launch a new exhibit on a subject dear to our hearts: how Hollywood depicts Las Vegas (and gambling). “Filmed in Las Vegas: America’s Playground on the Silver Screen” will open next Friday with 11 original posters of movies that were produced and shown between 1941 and 1969, a time of burgeoning glamour, mob influence, and iconic entertainment; the era is epitomized by Ocean’s 11 (1960) and Viva Las Vegas (1964), whose posters are included. Vintage cards from theater lobbies, historic production photos, and a big story from a 1960 Las Vegas Sun on the filming of Ocean's 11 will also be on display.
The winner of the $983 million Mega Millions jackpot, who hit the six numbers the day before Thanksgiving in Newnan, Georgia, claimed the money on January 2. The winner took the $453.6 million cash option, rather than the annuity for the full amount; after all the taxes are accounted for, the total will be roughly $263 million. Georgia allows lottery winners of more than $250,000 to remain anonymous, which this winner chose to do. But we do know that by claiming the jackpot after the new year, the winner saved around $400,000 in state taxes; the Peach State lowered its flat state-tax rate from 5.19% in 2025 to 5.09% in 2026. In addition, the winner said that family members have “directly benefited” from Georgia Lottery-funded financial aid and tuition assistance and that the money will be turned into “generational wealth” and donations to good causes.
In today’s Fiesta Bowl, the first semi-final game in the college-football National Championship playoffs, Miami is a -3 favorite over Mississippi. The total is 53.5.
Country star Chris Stapleton will appear at Dolby Live/Park MGM on Feb. 4 and 5. Rapper songwriter Cardi B will play T-Mobile on Feb 13.
Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Bruno Mars shows his enduring love for Las Vegas by kicking off his 2026 stadium tour at Allegiant on April 10. Spanish (Catalonian) singer-songwriter Rosalía will play T-Mobile on June 27. Pop, R&B, and soul British singer-songwriter Olivia Deano will do one show at MGM Grand Garden Arena on July 18. Big day for concerts: English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and global sensation Ed Sheeran will fill up Allegiant Stadium that same night. Rapper songwriter Doja Cat is scheduled for Halloween, Oct. 31, at T-Mobile.
A new study by SmartAsset found that four geographic locations in southern Nevada placed in the top six destinations for net migration in 2023. SmartAsset ranked 164 of the largest U.S. cities and all 50 states based on the net number of retirees, assumed to be people aged 60 and over, moving in and out. Mesa, Arizona, placed first on the city list, with 4,941 seniors moving in and 2,897 moving out for a net of 2,044. North Las Vegas ranked second (net 1,420), followed by Paradise, Oklahoma City, Spring Valley, and Henderson. Added up, North Las Vega, Paradise, Spring Valley, and Henderson had a net migration of 5,342. SmartAsset estimates that roughly one million crossed state lines to find a new home in 2023; statewide, Nevada placed seventh with a net migration of 5,782, behind Florida, North Carolina, Arizona, South Carolina, Georgia, and Texas. Way way down at the bottom of the list is California, number 50, with a net outmigration of more than 50,000.
Out of 18,718 entries in the Circa Survivor football contest, only five survived to finish 20-0. They split the record prize of $18.7 million to win $3.74 million each on a $1,000 entry. Two women were among them, the first time one woman has won Survivor, let alone two. One is remaining anonymous, though the other is a 25-year-old nursing student who partnered with a couple of poker pros. Other winning teams consisted of eight poker players and two poker players. Six entries started the final Sunday of the season and the one that was eliminated also went 19-1 last to lose on the last game. We like his philosophical take on the second bad beat in a row. He tweeted, "I'm sad. Second year in a row we’ve gone 19-1, so the feeling is quite familiar. But as a seasoned vet, we’re on to the next." Now that's a pro.
A funny story that ranks the fruit symbols on slot machines was posted this morning on CasinoReports.com. It's a list that "nobody asked for: definitively rank every fruit that appears on slot machines. From worst to first. Scientifically. Objectively. Fruitfully." Lemons, of course, are number 10, the lowest, because no one eats a lemon; "even the slots know lemons suck." Pineapples are number six: "Pineapples are a pain to eat. You need a knife. Sometimes a machete. Perhaps even a wife. That’s too much work for a fruit." It's worth the few minutes to brighten your day and you can read it here.
The big news this morning is about the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office rejecting the MLB's application to trademark the names “Las Vegas Athletics” and “Vegas Athletics.” It's the second time the Patent Office has disbelieved, so to speak, the team's eligibility to claim the name. Apparently, there's not enough evidence for the Office's purposes that this team actually exists. "No such team has acquired distinctiveness in the marketplace, as required for a trademark. There are no sales figures, advertising spend, media recognition, and consumer perception," the rejecting Patent Office examiner wrote. And with good reason: After all, the Oakland A's now play in Sacramento, a long way off from Las Vegas, not to mention two geographic locations removed, and they're not scheduled to start their home games here for two more years. In essence, the USPTO is saying to the MLB (which submitted the application), Try again when the stadium is completed and the team is playing there, at which time we'll reconsider.
JSX is a "hop-on service" flying 30-seat jets from private terminals, bypassing crowded commercial airports with quick check-in and faster security. It offers business-class amenities (legroom, free wifi, snacks, and drinks) at fares that are competitive with traditional airlines. JSX is having a sale currently, with a number of $179 flights from Burbank to Las Vegas, a good opportunity for southern Californians to give this non-traditional air experience a try. Tickets must be purchased by Monday for flights through March 14. You can do that here.
The $600 million upgrade of the Las Vegas Convention Center has been completed just in time for the huge CES tradeshow, which starts today. The renovation impacted all 4.6 million square of the Convention Center and the Central Hall, last to be transformed, opened yesterday. The improvement project started in 2023, following the opening of the new West Hall, which fronts the Strip, in 2021; the original North, South, and Central halls were refurbished in order to match the standard set by the West Hall. The project was paid for primarily by a dedicated 0.5% room tax increase, passed by the Nevada Legislature in 2017.
Last month, the median price for a Las Vegas single-family house was $470,000, a decline of 1.1% year over year and nearly 4% from November's all-time high of $489,000. Condos/townhomes dropped as well to $275,000, a full $40,000 lower than the high set in October 2024. The nearly 6,400 houses for sale at the end of December rose 29% over the inventory a year ago, while unsold condos were up 32%. For the year, just under 28,500 properties were sold in southern Nevada, down by 2,800 from 2024 and the lowest number of annual sales since 2007 just before the Great Recession. The total was also down a whopping 43% from the peak year of 2021, when 50,010 properties were sold. Not only visitation is slowing down in Vegas.
The Las Vegas Raiders have fired head coach Pete Carroll after a single season in the position. They're now searching for their fifth head coach in five years. After yesterday's win over the Kansas City Chiefs and the New York Giants' beating the Dallas Cowboys, the Raiders clinched the number-one pick in the 2026 draft for the third time. Presumably, they'll select the best college quarterback, given the team has run through seven QBs since 2023, including the latest, Geno Smith, whose 17 interceptions in 15 games led the league. The odds are on Indiana quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza. Finally, this year's record of 3 wins and 14 losses ties 2006 for the most losses in a season in franchise history.
Plans have been unveiled for the long-awaited Las Vegas Museum of Art. The 60,000-square-foot freestanding building will be located in downtown’s Symphony Park area in the vicinity of the Smith Center. The land was donated to the project by the city and the late Elaine Wynn endowed it with a "substantial gift." Reportedly, the LVMA will cost roughly $200 million and is scheduled for completion in 2029. You can see renderings of the museum and get more details at ArtNet.com.
The NFL's regular season ended yesterday. The Raiders beat the Chiefs on a last-minute field goal for their first win in 11 games and third of the year. With the playoff teams set, the consensus among bookmakers is that the Seattle Seahawks are the team to beat in the Super Bowl, +400 at BetMGM. The L.A. Rams follow close behind at +425, then the Denver Broncos (+650), Philadelphia Eagles (+900), Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots (+1000), Houston Texans (+1200), and Jacksonville Jaguars (+1400). The other six teams are all +2000 or more, with the Carolina Panthers last at +15000.
The Baltimore Ravens are -4.5 favorites over the Pittsburgh Steelers in tonight’s Sunday Night Football game. The total is 42.
The last time we wrote about the Raiders was after their first game of the season, which they won. We commented that it was one of the only times since the team moved to Las Vegas in 2020 that they posted a winning record. We didn't say it out loud, but we suspected that it would be the last. Today, the Raiders play their final game of the season -- with a record of 2 wins and 14 losses, the worst in the league. The second win was on October 12; since then, they've lost 10 in a row. At Allegiant Stadium, they'll face arch-rival Kansas City Chiefs, who beat them 31-0 the last time they played, but are 6-10 for the year and will miss the playoffs for the first time in 13 years. The line is Chiefs -5.5, but the action is so minimal that Boomer's, the new independent book in Nevada, told the Review-Journal yesterday evening, "No action whatsoever. Right now, betting on that game is nonexistent.” Better luck next year.
Andiamo at the D is an Italian steakhouse that reminds us of old Vegas (with Detroit roots). In its 13th year, it's one of the more popular and well-reviewed restaurants downtown, especially on a comp. It's pricey, with appetizers in the $26-$34 range, seafood starting at $46 and steaks $58, and pasta in the $40s and $50s. But the restaurant has just introduced a prix fixe dinner Sun.-Thursday. It includes a choice of appetizers (Caesar, sausage and peppers, and fried calamari), entrees (steak, salmon, chicken), and dessert (tiramisu, cheesecake). The price is $75 per person, about what you'd pay for a steak alone off the main menu. It looks to us like a fine way to sample what Andiamo has to offer at a reasonable fare. You can make reservations here.
With the massive New Year's holiday crowds in the rearview mirror, the Consumer Electronics Show invades Las Vegas starting today. The main show, expected to attract upwards of 145,000 attendees, launches on Tuesday, but media days and some events, including keynotes from major companies, will take place over this weekend for previews and product launches. Most of the attention of the convention will be on the integration of artificial intelligence in various and sundry devices, especially in physical AI (robots, autonomous vehicles) and edge computing; continued advancements in automotive tech, health tech (wearables), immersive displays (mini-LED), and sustainable electronics will also take center stage. CES runs through Friday.
In today’s Holiday Bowl, SMU is a -3 favorite over Arizona. The total is 55.
In today’s Mayo Bowl, Mississippi State is a -3 favorite over Wake Forest. The total is 52.5.
In today’s Liberty Bowl, Navy is a -7.5 favorite over Cincinnati. The total is 58.5.
In today’s Armed Forces Bowl, Texas State is a -19.5 favorite over Rice. The total is 55.5.
For the 11th month in a row, the number of visitors to Las Vegas dropped from the same month in 2024. November's 3.14 million visitors declined 5.2% from the 3.31 million year over year. The spin is that it's the second month of "only" a 4%-5% decrease, after the 8%-10% over the summer. For the year, roughly 2.8 million fewer visitors showed up here, down 7.4%. Hotel occupancy was 79.4% in November, down from 81.4% in November 2024. Weekend occupancy was 88.3%, down from 89.1% a year ago, while weekdays were 75%, down from 77%. The average daily room rate was $193 in November, down 2.9% year over year. On the Strip it was $208.39 compared to $212.49. It was $94.08 in downtown, a decline from $104.50.
In today’s Sugar Bowl, the fourth quarter-final game in the college-football National Championship playoffs, Georgia is a -6 favorite over Mississippi. The total is 54.5.
In today’s Rose Bowl, the third quarter-final game in the college-football National Championship playoffs, Indiana is a -7.5 favorite over Alabama. The total is 46.5.
It rained a third of an inch yesterday here and though the steady downpour dampened spirts a bit and caused a little flooding on the Strip, the fireworks and drone show went off on schedule. Organizers determined that there was no danger in putting on the show and everything went off without a hitch. (Boulder City officials, however, canceled the town's New Year's Eve street party due to the rain and concerns over outdoor electrical systems.) The fireworks erupted from 10 rooftops on the Strip, including the STRAT's, and those who braved the wet and cold (45 degrees at midnight) wore ponchos and held umbrellas. The crowds were a little thinner than usual and a smoke advisory was issued by authorities as the fireworks haze lingered due to calm winds and a temperature inversion. Downtown crowds had an easier time of it, being more protected by the canopy and buildings. But all in all, it was another successful "America's Party" to welcome 2026.
In today’s Cotton Bowl, the first quarter-final game in the college-football National Championship playoffs, Ohio State is a -7.5 favorite over Miami. The total is 40.
In today’s Las Vegas Bowl, Utah is a -14 favorite over Nebraska. The total is 50.5.
In today’s Citrus Bowl, Texas is a -4.5 favorite over Michigan. The total is 49.
In today’s Sun Bowl, Duke is a -3.5 favorite over Arizona State. The total is 49.
Overall, Nevada casinos won more money in November 2025, $1.34 billion, than in November 2024, $1.31 billion, a 2.4% gain. Downtown recorded a solid 10.3% increase to $87.1 million, up from $79 million, while the Boulder Strip rose a full 20% to $79.4 million, up from $66.2 million. Both Laughlin and Mesquite reported 10%-plus gains and North Las Vegas just under 5%. The Strip, meanwhile, declined from $788.7 million to $784.3 million, a little more than a half-percent. Baccarat accounted for most of that; the drop increased by nearly 10%, but the hold fell by nearly 6% (the international high rollers in for the race might've gotten luckier this year than last). The rest of the table-game revenue also fell, down by 7.4%, and the drop was down 4% (the jet setters played less, but won more). And apparently, F1 attendees never ventured off the Strip.
In today’s Reliaquest Bowl, Vanderbilt is a -3 favorite over Iowa. The total is 46.5.
In today’s Alamo Bowl, USC is a -4.5 favorite over TCU. The total is 56.
In today’s Music City Bowl, Tennessee is a -3 favorite over Illinois. The total is 62.5.
In today’s Independence Bowl, Louisiana Tech is a -10 favorite over Coastal Carolina. The total is 49.5. Note, this line was posted with the game in progress.
It’s almost 2026! NYE fireworks (if the weather permits) will be launched from 10 casino properties: Aria, Caesars Palace, Fontainebleau, MGM Grand, Palms, Planet Hollywood, Resorts World, the STRAT, Treasure Island, and the Venetian.
The Regional Transportation Commission will provide free rides on all transit routes on New Year’s Eve, as it does every year to ensure a safe travel option for locals and visitors celebrating the holiday. The free rides are available from 6 p.m. tomorrow night through 9 a.m. Thursday morning. Transit riders can board any RTC bus route without purchasing a pass or ponying up the fare. The RTC transit system will operate on a Saturday schedule all day tomorrow and a Sunday schedule all day Thursday.
After announcing that the number of visitors for the New Year's Eve weekend could set a new record, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority backtracked a bit and said it expects a crowd of 345,000 to converge on the city on New Year’s Eve. This is a slight drop from the 349,000 a year ago and 347,000 in 2023; 2022 saw 336,000 visitors and 2021 hosted 309,000. The LVCVA cited this year's hotel occupancy rate at 95%, down from 96.9% in 2024 and 96.6% in 2022, but up from 94.6% in 2023 and 91.2% in 2021.
The Los Angeles Rams are -7 favorites over the Atlanta Falcons in tonight’s Monday Night Football game. The total is 49.
In today’s Birmingham Bowl, Georgia Southern is a -10 favorite over Appalachian State. The total is 58.
The popular local breakfast restaurant, Hash House A Go Go, has closed at the Rio after nearly 20 years. Taking its place is the Kitchen Table, which opens today, serving a breakfast and lunch menu that's greatly slimmed down from Hash House's. Eggs, biscuits and gravy, Benedicts, skillets, pancakes, and toasts run $12-$22; salads, sandwiches, and burgers are $15-$22. Hours are 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. It looks to us like the Rio wanted to replace the Hash House with its own restaurant.
A new law goes into effect on Thursday that imposes tougher penalties on DUI offenses, including driving while under the influence of cannabis. Due to increased traffic fatalities around Nevada in the past few years, Assembly Bill 4 significantly increases prison time for DUI offenses that cause serious injury or death, raising the maximum sentence for a first offense to 25 years, which means a minimum of 10 years in prison, and boosting minimum sentences for repeat offenses. The new law won't apply to most visitors, but its severity is an indicator that the justice system in the Silver State is clamping down on driving while impaired by alcohol and marijuana.
The San Francisco 49ers are -3.5 favorites over the Chicago Bears in tonight’s Sunday Night Football game. The total is 51.5.
Typically, winds are the X factor in whether or not the fireworks go off at midnight on New Year's Eve. But this year, rain could be the villain. With four days to go, rain is predicted for the morning of New Year's Day. But the "plume of moisture" gathering steam off the coast of Baja California could arrive ahead of schedule. That would certainly dampen spirits on the Strip, though precipitation would have less of an effect of downtown's party.
In today’s Texas Bowl, Houston is a -1.5 favorite over LSU. The total is 41.5. Note, this line was posted with the game in progress.
In today’s Gator Bowl, Missouri is a -4 favorite over Virginia. The total is 43.5.
In today’s New Mexico Bowl, North Texas is a -7.5 favorite over San Diego State. The total is 53.5.
In today’s Arizona Bowl, Fresno State is a -5 favorite over Miami Ohio. The total is 41.
In today’s Pop-Tarts Bowl, BYU is a -3.5 favorite over Georgia Tech. The total is 55.5.
In today’s Fenway Bowl, Army is a -8 favorite over Connecticut. The total is 42.
In today’s Pinstripe Bowl, Clemson is a -2.5 favorite over Penn State. The total is 47.5.
The CEO of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is predicting a record-breaking crowd for the long New Year's Eve weekend. "“When we’re full, we’re in the 330,000-335,000 range. For New Year’s Eve, we get a little more full," he told the Review-Journal, estimating 340,000 New Year's Eve revelers on the Strip and downtown. (The total room count is down a bit from this time last year to 150,126 from 150,325.) The R-J also conducted a room-rate survey for New Year's Eve, finding that the average cost is $294 on the Strip and $195 downtown. The highest was $1,252 a night at MGM Grand, the lowest $61 at Circus Circus (plus resort fee, of course).
In today’s Military Bowl, Pittsburgh is a -13.5 favorite over East Carolina. The total is 52.5.
In today’s First Responder Bowl, UTSA is a -7 favorite over Florida International. The total is 62.
In today’s Rate Bowl, Minnesota is a -1.5 favorite over New Mexico. The total is 45.5.
The good folks over at VegasChanges.com posted a fun page today: "Celebrity, Unique, and Just Wacky Las Vegas Street Names." Check it out to see nearly 40 streets named after celebrities (including Houdini St. and William Holden Ct.), all the streets with names based on things like Beatles songs, the Vegas Golden Knights, and Pokémon characters, and those that you might not want to live on (Hanky Panky St., anyone? Elvis Alive Drive?). It's well worth the four-minute perusal on this Boxing Day.
This week's LVA YouTube is a roundup of 2025 and a glimpse into what's happening next year. Anthony and Andrew cover the major events in Las Vegas this past year, which weren't much: one major opening, several large renovations, and several closings. Then they get into what to look forward to in 2026, though that seems to be more of the same from this year: minimal. Finally, they talk about the two new tax policies that go into effect on January 1: the $2,000 jackpot reporting threshold and the 90% limit on the deduction for losses (which we're also covering in detail in the QoD on the last day of this year).
In today’s Sports Bowl, Northwestern is a -12.5 favorite over Central Michigan. The total is 43.5.
The Denver Broncos are -13.5 favorites over the Kansas City Chiefs in today’s final NFL Christmas game. The total is 38.5.
The Detroit Lions are -7 favorites over the Houston Texans in today’s second NFL Christmas game. The total is 44.5.
The Dallas Cowboys are -9 favorites over the Washington Commanders in the first of three NFL Christmas games today. The total is 50.5.
Last night's Powerball drawing produced a single winning ticket for the jackpot of $1.817 billion, purchased by someone somewhere in Arkansas. It was the second-largest U.S. lottery jackpot ever won, the second Power Ball jackpot to be won by an Arkansan, the second back-to-back $1 billion-plus winning Power Ball jackpots, and the second to be hit on Christmas Eve (it's been won four times on Christmas). The new record is 46 consecutive Power Ball drawings without a winner; last night's was the 47th after the previous win in September. The cash value of the prize is estimated at $835 million.
In today’s Hawaii Bowl, Hawaii and California are pick ’em. The total is 51.5.
The number of passengers passing through Reid International was down nearly 10% in November year over year, from 4.73 million in November 2024 to 4.27 million last month. International travelers declined 21%, from 303,000 to 239,500 (perhaps indicating fewer F1 attendees). Canadians dropped 35% and European numbers were flat. For the year, the total passenger count is down 5.5% from 53.5 million to 50.6 million, a decline of nearly three million passengers.
The dead-in-the-water Dream Las Vegas Hotel-Casino has been put up for sale by the lead contractor, which became the owner several months ago after a settlement over unpaid bills. The listing broker, according to the Review-Journal, has received offers in "the $50 million range" for the nearly five-acre parcel. Dream was supposed to be a 20-story 527-room resort next door to the south of the Pinball Hall of Fame. Upwards of $120 million has reportedly been invested in the property, for which the original developers paid $21 million in 2020. When sold, the new developer will have a major head start on whatever the site turns into.
In today’s Frisco Bowl, UNLV is a -6.5 favorite over Ohio. The total is 65.
In today’s New Orleans Bowl, Southern Mississippi is a -3 favorite over Western Kentucky. The total is 59.5.
In today’s Boca Ratan Bowl, Louisville is a -12 favorite over Toledo. The total is 44.5.
Christmas week is here and there are plenty of holiday activities to enjoy! Here are some of the highlights:
The San Francisco 49ers are -4.5 favorites over the Indianapolis Colts in tonight’s Monday Night Football game. The total is 46.5.
In remarks before the NBA Cup championship game at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday night, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said that a decision about the long-awaited expansion team will be made in 2026. "The league is currently gauging interest in bringing a team to Las Vegas," he said, noting that the league is certainly familiar with the city, thanks to the WNBA Aces, 20 years of summer-league games, and the several years of NBA Cup playoff games. “I don’t have any doubt that Las Vegas, despite all the other major league teams that are here now, could support an NBA team,” he said.
In today’s Potato Bowl, Utah State is a -1.5 favorite over Washington State. The total is 50.5.
At a press conference on Wednesday afternoon, it was announced that the fireworks for "America's Party 2026" will be launched from the rooftops of nine Las Vegas Strip casinos: MGM Grand, Aria, Planet Hollywood, Caesars Palace, Treasure Island, Venetian, Resorts World, Fontainebleau, and the STRAT. A 10th hotel, the Palms, will also host fireworks west of the Strip. Radio station KOMP, 92.3 on your dial, will broadcast the soundtrack to Las Vegas' New Year's Eve party, with 340,000 celebrants expected.
The Baltimore Ravens are -3.5 favorites over the New England Patriots in tonight’s Sunday Night Football game. The total is 48.5.
Tom Brady is growing his brand in Las Vegas. CardVault by Tom Brady, a chain or retail stores and an online platform for sports and trading cards and memorabiliia, will open in the The Shoppes at Mandalay Place at MBay. It's the 10th location of the brand, which Brady is a part-owner in and spokesman for. The pre-opening was Monday night; the 1,500-square-foot store opened yesterday. Brady is also a partner in the Las Vegas Raiders and hosts a memorabilia museum at Fontainebleau.
The average price of a gallon of gas in Las Vegas is $3.49, according to AAA. This is down from just under $4 in November and 11 cents from last week's $3.60. The seasonal (winter) low accounts or the drop in prices, with the national average at $2.90 per gallon. Nevada is now sixth for the highest price per gallon across the country. Hawaii ($4.38), California ($4.33), Washington ($3.97), Alaska ($3.60), and Oregon ($3.57) are the top five.
In today’s final Round 1 game in the College Football National Championship tournament, Oregon is a -20.5 favorite over James Madison. The total is 48.
In the second of today’s three Round 1 games in the College Football National Championship tournament, Mississippi is a -17 favorite over Tulane. The total is 58.
In the first of today’s three Round 1 games in the College Football National Championship tournament, Texas A&M is a -2.5 favorite over Miami. The total is 48.
Tonight, the 45th consecutive Powerball drawing will be for an estimated $1.5 billion, the seventh largest drawing for a lottery grand prize in history. That will probably rise in the surge of ticket sales for the drawing. The cash option will be around $686.5 million. The annuity has an initial payment of $22.6 million, then increases every year until the final payment, $92.9 million, in 2054 (the 29th year).
In the first Round 1 game in the College Football National Championship tournament, Oklahoma is a -2.5 favorite over Alabama. The total is 43.
In today’s Gasparilla Bowl, North Carolina State is a -3 favorite over Memphis. The total is 57.
In the 12-team College Football National Championship, the favorite is Ohio State at +200. They’re followed by Indiana (+330), Georgia (+450), and Oregon (+700). The long shot is James Madison at +55500 (555-1).
In today’s Myrtle Beach Bowl, Western Michigan is a -3.5 favorite over Kennesaw State. The total is 47.5. Note, this line was posted with the game in progress.
As it does every year during the holidays, South Point is running its “Pay Less with Your Points” promo, during which almost everything is half-price when you use club points. This includes all restaurants and bars, rooms, shows, bingo, bowling, spa and salon, movies, and the gift shop. Drinks at all bars are $2 ($1 with points). The promo runs through December 24.
In today’s Xbox Bowl, Arkansas State is a -1.5 favorite over Missouri State. The total is 55.
The Seattle Seahawks are -1.5 favorites over the Los Angeles Rams in tonight's Thursday Night Football game. The total is 42.
A fourth new shopping center has been announced for Chinatown. This one, called Jade Promenade, is to be located on a vacant lot on the north side of Spring Mountain Rd. at Wynn Road. Ground is expected to be broken on the $40 million six-building commercial center around this time next year. A second $30 million phase, a 150-unit apartment complex, is also planned. All four projects are slated to begin in 2026.
The Internal Revenue Service has finally confirmed that the threshold for gamblers being issued W-2Gs for slot and video poker jackpots will change from $1,200 to $2,000 starting on January 1. It's the first time in nearly 50 years that the threshold for IRS paperwork on machine jackpots has been raised. In addition, the threshold will be adjusted annually for inflation. It's not expected that all slot machines nationwide will be reprogrammed by January 1; many will no doubt continue to lock up at $1,200 for a little while. But no W-2Gs will be issued unless the jackpot is for $2,000 or more. Now, the gambling world is holding its collective breath for clarification of the 90%-of-losses issue.
In today’s Ventures Bowl, UL Lafayette is a -1 favorite over Delaware. The total is 60.
In today’s Cure Bowl, South Florida is a -4 favorite over Old Dominion. The total is 52.5.
With no winner from Monday's drawing, the Powerball jackpot now stands at an estimated $1.25 billion, which is sure to grow thanks to the mania surrounding the 11th largest grand prize in lottery history. Tonight's drawing will be the 44th in a row, which will set a new record for consecutives. It's also only the second time in Powerball history with back-to-back billion-dollar jackpots. The cash value is estimated at $572.1 million before taxes.
Flighty.com is a detailed real-time flight tracking app that helps travelers manage flights with advanced alerts, delay predictions, inbound plane tracking, FAA delay info, and airport status; it also provides a personal flight history "passport." The site tracked and compiled "tens of millions" of flights globally to produce its annual year in review. Flighty found that Frontier Airlines, fifth on the list of busiest airlines in and out of Reid International and first among the ultra-low-cost carriers, experienced the most flight delays in 2025, with 28% of Frontier flights delayed nationwide by an average of 14 minutes. Frontier was followed, domestically, by JetBlue and Southwest at 25%, American (24%), and Alaska (23%). Internationally, the average delay was 23 minutes, with Ryan Air and Air France the most (29%), followed by Frontier, then Lufthansa, Qantas, and KLM (26%), and Air Canada (25%).
Starting tomorrow night, the hotels and lodges inside the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park will reopen after being closed for nearly two weeks due to multiple breaches in the aging water-supply pipeline. El Tovar, Bright Angel Lodge, Maswik Lodge, and Delaware North’s Yavapai Lodge and Trailer Village will reopen for guest stays on Wednesday, though some water spigots at the campgrounds will remain off and fire restrictions at the South Rim will continue. The $208 million rehabilitation of the pipeline, plus upgrades to the water delivery system, began in 2023 and are expected to be completed in two years.
On Sunday night, a guest staying at Resorts World Las Vegas, in town visiting from California, turned a $105 bet on a $5 Double Super Times Pay video poker machine into $1.2 million win by landing three royal flushes boosted by a 20x multiplier. The jackpot came on the heels of an $11.1 million Megabucks win late last month at Resorts World.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are -3 favorites over the Miami Dolphins in tonight’s Monday Night Football game. The total is 43.
This morning's Review-Journal is reporting that the temporary bridge over Koval Lane on Flamingo Road could be a thing of the past. With race and county officials in preliminary talks over extending the Las Vegas Grand Prix contract for another 10 years (through 2037), the Flamingo bridge is an important item on the agenda, according to the R-J. The story quoted the president of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority acknowledging that the construction and teardown of the bridge are among the most disruptive race-infrastructure projects and that "options are available that might be better than where that bridge is now." It's a timely intimation, given that Flamingo is closed through Friday night while the bridge is removed, causing major traffic headaches in the area.
No one hit all six numbers in Saturday's Power Ball drawing and the jackpot surged to $1.1 billion. The estimated cashout for tonight's drawing has now surpassed a half-billion dollars ($503 million). It's the sixth largest grand prize in Powerball history and tonight breaks the Powerball record for consecutive drawings without a winner at 43.
The Dallas Cowboys are -4.5 favorites over the Minnesota Vikings in tonight’s Sunday Night Football game. The total is 47.5.
Flamingo Road will be closed at Koval Lane starting tonight at 9 p.m. and reopening on Friday night, also at 9 p.m., for the removal of the temporary F1 bridge. According to race officials, access to all properties along the closed portions of Flamingo and Koval will not be blocked. In addition, work will be underway from Monday to Friday nights 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Koval Lane between Westchester Drive and Rochelle Avenue. We highly recommend that you avoid the entire area this week.
Manel Kape is a -280 favorite over Brandon Royval in today’s UFC main event. In the other featured match, Kevin Vallejos is -390 over Giga Chikadze.
The college football bowl season starts today with the LA Bowl, where Washington is a -9.5 favorite over Boise State. The total is 55.5. We’ll be posting lines for most of the bowls in this space.
Quarterbacks have won college football’s Heisman Trophy 11 of the last 14 years and that trend figures to continue when the winner is announced tonight. Fernando Mendoza (Indiana) is the solid favorite at -1200, Diego Pavia (Vanderbilt) is +700, Jeremiyah Love (Notre Dame) is +15000, and Julian Sayin (Ohio State) is +50000.
The high temperature yesterday fell two degrees short of setting another record, as we did on Thursday. The thermometer reached 72 at the airport, short of the 74-degree record set in 1958 and double-digits above the normal high for the day of 57. Today, we'll come close to another record; the forecast calls for 70, but could inch up a degree or two to tie or break the record of 71 set in 2017. The week ahead looks like more of the same: clear, dry, and highs in the upper 60s and low 70s.
Tonight's Powerball drawing will be for a grand prize of $1 billion, the seventh largest in Powerball history and the second to reach $1 billion this year. The first, for $1.79 billion, was hit on Sept. 6; it was the last time the jackpot was hit and it was split by two players, one in Missouri and one in Texas. This drawing will be the 42nd in the current jackpot run, which ties the Powerball record for most consecutive drawings in a single jackpot cycle. If it's hit, the estimated cashout value will be $461.3 million.
The first International Fireworks Championship Las Vegas will be held at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Saturday Feb. 21. This fireworks competition features multiple elaborate displays throughout the evening, as four teams from around the world perform 12- to 15- minute shows, with 15-minute entertainment-filled breaks between them. Described as a "full-on sensory experience," these are "incredibly intense and creative displays, exploding lower to the ground, and they’re all highly choreographed and synchronized to music." Tickets are on sale now, starting at $95 per person for general admission and $144 for reserved seats. Gates open at 2:30 p.m., with the first fireworks show starting around 6 p.m. The program concludes around 8:30 p.m., when a world championship team will be crowned.
When the official thermometer at Reid International hit 74 around 3 p.m. yesterday, it broke the record for the high temperature for December 11 by two degrees. The old record had stood for 85 years, having been set in 1939. The high for the month is 78, set on December 2, 1940. It's doubtful we'll surpass that mark, though near-record heat continues today, with a high of 73 predicted. It cools off, though just a bit, for the weekend, then climbs back up to 73 next Friday.
Time has selected Las Vegas Aces' center/power forward A'ja Wilson as the magazine's Athlete of the Year. The 29-year-old six-foot-five WNBA superstar's national award was icing on the cake of an astounding year that included her leading the league in scoring and winning her third WNBA championship in four years. She also won her fourth Most Valuable Player (a record), Defensive Player of the Year, and second Finals MVP; she's the only basketball player, women or men, to win all three bests in the same year.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are -6 favorites over the Atlanta Falcons in tonight's Thursday Night Football game. The total is 43.5. Note, this line was posted with the game in progress.
A hectic holiday schedule necessitated a change in our YouTube schedule. As such, this month’s “Beer Friday” will run today – a week early and on a Thursday. Join Anthony and Andrew for the livestream starting at 4 p.m. PST. Watch the show live, interact online, and have a drink or two with the guys to start your weekend. Join at LVA YouTube live channel.
Allegiant Stadium is the top-grossing stadium in the United States and the second highest in the world for 2025, according to Billboard Magazine. It's the second consecutive year that Allegiant is number one in the nation. The stadium grossed more than $281 million from live events between October 2024 and September 2025, including concerts by Billy Joel, Sting, and Beyoncé, plus WrestleMania 41, the Canelo vs. Crawford boxing match, the 2025 Concacaf Gold Cup, Rugby League Las Vegas, the Las Vegas Bowl college football game, and eight Raiders home games. The LVCVA estimates that 62% of Las Vegas visitors come specifically for events at the stadium, resulting in a $1.1 billion economic impact for southern Nevada.
This Sunday, Prince St. Pizza is teaming up with artist Pretty Done for a limited event at Prince's Serene Avenue location that blends art, food, and "a true collector moment." The first 100 people to buy a slice at Prince Street Pizza at 2390 E. Serene Avenue (corner S. Eastern Avenue) will receive a free live-painted pizza box created on site by Pretty Done ("Nothing's ever done. It's pretty done.") Each box is a one-of-a-kind original made exclusively for this event. Guests can stop by, grab a slice, and walk away with a collectible artwork from one of the most recognizable pop street artists in the space. 100 slices. 100 boxes. 100 originals. The event starts at 11 a.m. and runs through 2 p.m. or until all the boxes are gone.
The incomparable Diana Ross, now 81, will play three shows at the Encore Theater over Valentine’s Day weekend. Her show, “Diana in Motion,” will go on Feb. 12, 14, and 15. Tickets go on sale to the public on Friday at 10 a.m. and start at $71.
The president of the Athletics baseball team led a tour of the construction site of the stadium going up at the old Tropicana location yesterday. "After six months of heavy construction, the project is between 10 and 15 percent complete," according to the reporter from the Review-Journal. The shape of the lower concourse is visible and work is beginning on the second level of the stadium, including the suites behind home plate. The six concrete buttresses that will support the roof are also rising; one roof panel will be nearly 700 feet long from buttress to buttress. The project is reportedly "on schedule and on budget," which the team credits to the construction manager, which also managed the building of Allegiant Stadium.
Station's Red Rock Casino has completed a major renovation of its 16-screen Regal movie theater. The lobby has been upgraded, the bar expanded (with craft beers and specialty drinks), a spacious lounge has been added for group gatherings before or after movies, and an RPX screen (Regal Cinemas' proprietary premium large format) is now part of the mix, along with IMAX and 4DX. Tickets remain $10-$15, with discounts for Regal loyalty members.
David Byrne, lead singer and prime mover of the influential '80s rock, punk, and funk band Talking Heads, will play one show at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace on April 20. Talking Heads formed up in New York in 1977 and issued eight studio albums before disbanding in 1991. They're biggest hits were "Once in a Lifetime," "Burning Down the House," "Life During Wartime," "Psycho Killer," and "Road to Nowhere." In his post-Talking Heads solo career, Byrne has received an Academy Award, a Grammy, a Special Tony, and a Golden Globe and is an inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Now 73, we doubt he'll run laps around the stage like he did in his prime (which you can see in this live video of "Life During Wartime") but we're sure he'll put on a fine show. Tickets are on sale now starting at $165.
Las Vegas' topsy-turvy real estate market continues to confound. The median price for a single-family house here hit a new high in November. The $488,995 was $4,000 higher than the previous record of $485,000 set in March. Yes, mortgage interest rates have dropped nearly three-quarters of a point year over year, which tends to raise prices, but inventory is through the roof, fewer houses are selling, and those for sale are sitting on the market for much longer, all of which should drive prices down. More than 7,000 houses were for sale at the end of last month, up nearly 27% since last year, while 1,988 sold, down nearly 7%. Meanwhile, condos/townhomes were basically flat, up barely a point year over year to $303,750, well below the high of $315,000, with 20% fewer sold compared to last November.
DiscoShow, the Spiegelworld production at the LINQ, will close after its performance on Saturday January 3. The writing was on the wall when they started giving away tickets a couple of weeks ago. It's still a fun experience (more of a dance party than a show) if your plans include Vegas this month and the tickets are still free. You can read the whole tale, along with some ideas for what might be next at the custom venue at the LINQ, on VitalVegas.
The Philadelphia Eagles are -1 favorites over the Los Angeles Chargers in tonight’s Monday Night Football game. The total is 42.
An excellent 19-minute video, "How They Legally Cheated Every Casino For $21 Million, Then Vanished," animates the story of Phil Ivey and Kelly Sun as they milked casinos for tens of millions, "using a technique so clever, so subtle, that even the surveillance cameras didn't catch it." The video shows Kelly turning Ivey onto edge sorting, illustrating the concept complete with a magnifying glass. "How do you get the casinos to rotate the cards?" he asks her. Her answer is surprisingly simple -- and it launched an epic takedown of casinos in London and Atlantic City. The whole story is told in our book Advantage Players, but this is as clear and easy-to-assimilate an explanation as you'll find on YouTube. Thanks as always to Canada Roy, whose Vegas algorithm is the best we've ever seen.
Announced in August, Eggslut, the popular long-time breakfast fast-foot counter at the Cosmopolitan, will open at the Rio on Friday Dec. 19. Esggslut began life as a food truck in L.A. in 2011 and has since gone global, with locations as far flung as the UK, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Kuwait, and of course Las Vegas. The venue at Cosmo serves four breakfast sandwiches ($9-$10.50), cheeseburger ($12.50), tri-tip sandwich ($16.50), the Slut (coddled egg on potato puree, $11.50), truffle hash browns ($6), and coffee ($6). The Rio location will open at 7 a.m. and close at 2 p.m. The Rio also has a Hash House A Go Go, open 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., so there're plenty of breakfasts to go around. And parking is free.
The Kansas City Chiefs are -4.5 favorites over the Houston Texans in tonight’s Sunday Night Football game. The total is 41.
In conjunction with NFR, Cowboy Christmas has taken over the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center once again this year. The massive free-admission western gift show and holiday festival boasts 375 exhibitors selling western wear, custom jewelry, handmade art and crafts and features interactive experiences, celebrity appearances, and daily live entertainment. Cowboy Christmas runs through Saturday (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and is expected to attract 250,000 attendees.
Four years in the making and announced in June, the two-Michelin-star (three is the most) Indian restaurant from the United Kingdom, Gymkhana, has opened at Aria. A "gymkhana" is a one-day racing event for horses or cars and the original restaurant opened in London in 2013, received its first star in 2014, and earned the second last year. The a la carte menu features kebabs ($36-$40), tikkas ($28-$34), classic curries, biryanis, panneer, and vindaloo ($28-$62), vegetable masala, dal, and tandoori ($15), and various desserts ($17). There are also two tasting menus (with meat $165 per person, vegetarian $145) with wine pairings. This is Gymkhana's first U.S. location and the first Indian restaurant on the Strip. So far, it's a tough seat; the restaurant is booked through January and reservations are closed until December 15.
Bargain City is back, at least this month, and our December roundup is a doozy, all deals all the time. Anthony and Andrew (happy 48, Andrew!) delve into detail on our end-of-the-year room-rate survey; tune in to find out how many hotels have base rates of less than $20 (hint: the over-under is 10) and which MRB coupons make the deals even better for subscribers. The drink deals are all over town and have even made it to the Strip. And, of course, they talk about the free tickets to Spiegelworld's DiscoShow. The Circa football contest update and our holiday catalog round out the YouTube -- all at the click of your mouse.
Based on recent Census data, VisualCapitalist produced an interesting chart that compares the ratio of renters to homeowners state by state. The national average is one renter out of three households, "a ratio that has stayed surprisingly steady over the past six decades," though that percentage has edged up a bit in the last few years. Washington, D.C., has the highest number of renters at nearly 60% of households, followed by New York at 46% and California at 44%. Then comes our very own Nevada at 40%, well above the national average. West Virginia, with the most affordable homes to own, ranks 50th at 25%; Delaware, Michigan, Maine, and Vermont are also in the bottom five.
London-based 101 Best Steak Restaurants deploys 21 anonymous inspectors on five continents, each with its own best-of list, to evaluate steakhouses based on nine criteria (quality of meat, selection of cuts, service staff’s beef expertise, wine program, design, etc.). On this year's just-released list, New York City alone has 20 of them, followed by Chicago with five and Los Angeles with four. Las Vegas' lone entry is Delmonico by Emeril Lagasse, the veteran steakhouse that opened with the Venetian in 1999 and helped elevate the Las Vegas steakhouse scene, blending classic steakhouse fare with Lagasse-style Louisiana-inspired dishes.
The reimagined version of The Wizard of Oz at Sphere has surpassed another milestone: 1.5 million tickets, generating nearly $200 million in sales. That's an average of $130 or so per ticket. The movie opened on Aug. 28, hit a half-million tickets on Sept. 16 and a million on October 21. Since it opened, The Wizard of Oz has grossed roughly $2 million a day, just in ticket sales.
Thanks to four sold-out shows last year at Sphere, the popular jam band Phish will return for a new nine-show residency next spring. The dates are April 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, and 30 and May 1 and 2. Tickets go on sale Dec. 12 at 10 a.m. PT.
M Resort has opened its $206 million expansion. The new East Tower nearly doubles the resort’s capacity, adding 375 rooms to bring the the total to 765. The project also includes a 15,000-square-foot ballroom that opened in October and expands the property’s total indoor and outdoor event space to more than 100,000 square feet. The casino pit has been refreshed with new carpet, chairs, and lighting and the high-limit room has been completely refurbished.
The Detroit Lions are -3.5 favorites over the Dallas Cowboys in tonight's Thursday Night Football game. The total is 55.5.
On the heels of last summer's devastating Dragon Bravo Fire on Grand Canyon National Park’s North Rim, which destroyed the Lodge, visitor center, wastewater treatment plant, and more than 100 other buildings, all of the park’s hotels on the South Rim will close to overnight visitors on Saturday. The closures of the El Tovar, Bright Angel Lodge, Maswik Lodge, Yavapai Lodge and Trailer Village are indefinite, while the South Rim's antiquated and failing water-supply system is repaired. Currently, no water is being pumped to the South Rim and a $208 million project to rehabilitate the 60-year-old water pipeline, which began in 2023, is expected to be completed in two years. The park remains open for day trips and overnight camping, though there's no water in the campgrounds, and hotels outside the park in Tusayan are still open with accessible water.
Top of Binion's Steakhouse will close on Monday Dec. 15 and reopen on the Thursday Dec. 26. We hear it's for "economic reasons" and not a holiday dark schedule.
Downtown Hoedown, the official Wrangler NFR kickoff party, takes place this evening on Fremont Street. Let your inner country spirit out for a night of concerts on all three stages, featuring Midland, Corey Kent, Josh Ross, Shane Profit, Mackenzie Carpenter, and more. The shows start at 4:15 and continue past 9:30, when Midland takes the Third Street stage. All concerts are free.
If you want to do it up like a (casino) boss, you can simply buy out the Golden Gate. In the first deal of this sort that’s been floated since the Artisan rental proposition in 2018, you can rent Golden Gate’s two penthouses and 14 suites for any night Dec. 16-24 for $9,000. The package includes a prix fixe dinner in Andiamo Steakhouse at the D and a cocktail party in the Legacy Club at Circa, both for up to 36 people. For more information, click here.
Child actor and adult actress, singer-songwriter, author, and businesswoman Hillary Duff has announced a three-night mini-residency at the Voltaire Theater at the Venetian on Feb. 13, 14, and 15. The three dates have been added to her "Small Rooms, Big Nerves" tour, which begins in January and marks her first concerts in more than a decade; the last time she toured was to support her last studio album, Breathe In, Breathe Out, released in 2015, and promotes her new release, luck ... or something, which will be issued right after the tour. The pre-sale starts this morning at 10 a.m. through 2 p.m. PT; general tickets go on sale Friday at 10 a.m.
Chubby Group, the hospitality company behind the Chubby Cattle restaurant, is partnering with Hashi Market to create Chubby World in Chinatown at the corner of Spring Mountain and Valley View. Plans call for a four-story complex that features a theater for cosplay shows, anime, and cultural events, a Tokyo-style food court, a Hashi Market, and a music venue for concerts and a late-night club. A timetable for the project wasn’t disclosed. It will be the sixth Chubby location, with a reported 30 more on the way around the country. The other five are in California.
It was a lucky holiday weekend for a Fontainebleau Las Vegas guest who hit a million-dollar slot jackpot. On Thanksgiving Day, a Fontainebleau player bet $25 and won over $1,152,000 on a high-limit Dragon Link slot machine.
Get a room at the STRAT for as low as $19 (plus $58 resort fee and taxes) per night on numerous midweek days through October 31. The room comes with free tower admission for two and a daily $30 food and beverage credit. You must book by this Friday and use code BFWEB. Book your room here.
The New England Patriots are -7 favorites over the New York Giants in tonight’s Monday Night Football game. The total is 47.
Week 13 requires football-contest participants to pick from a four-game lineup on Thanksgiving, then again on Sunday. Sunday mattered only a little, after all four favorites lost on Thursday. The 900-player field in Circa Survivor was slashed to just 49. The equity value of each of those entries is now $382,000. In the $100K-entry Grandissimo, six players remained going into Thanksgiving and all lost, which ended the contest with a six-way tie that awarded $1,150,000 to each. Westgate’s SuperBook Survivor is down to eight players, an equity value of $69,375 per remaining entry.
In April 2024, Hilton acquired the controlling interest in the Sydell Group, which owns the NoMad brand, among many other luxury-lifestyle hotels around the world. It marked Hilton's entry into this ultra-upscale market, but relevant to us was that only one NoMad hotel was excluded from the deal, the hotel-within-a-hotel at Park MGM. At the time, the Las Vegas NoMad was said to be rebranding "in the coming months." Twenty months later, it has: It will become The Reserve at Park MGM on December 17. According to the press release, all NoMad venues will be renamed. NoMad Pool will turn into the Terrace Pool, NoMad Library will be just the Library, and NoMad Bar will become The Reserve Bar. Being an MGM property, it's expected that the new Reserve will be incorporated into Marriott Bonvoy’s Autograph Collection in early 2026. The Reserve used to be the name of the hotel-casino with an African theme that opened in southeast Henderson in 1998; it eventually turned into Fiesta Henderson and is now gone for good.
The Denver Broncos are -5.5 favorites over the Washington Commanders in tonight’s Sunday Night Football game. The total is 43.5.
Another month, another drop in the number of visitors to Las Vegas. The spin is that the 3.41 million visitors in October added up to the second-highest monthly total of the year, a hair under the record 3.42 million who came and went in May. It was a 4.4% decline from October of last year, the smallest monthly slump since January. The 7.6% shortfall in overall visitation for the first 10 months of the year compares to the same period in 2024.
MGM Resorts is promoting a room deal with lower than normal rates, plus a food credit of between $30 and $75. Rooms at Bellagio are as low as $223 (midweek) and come with the max $75 credit; at the other end of the scale, you can stay at Excalibur for $79 with $30 in credit. Of course, the resort fee adds between $45 and $55 per night to the rate, but if you're hankering to stay on the Strip (for some reason), you can click here, walk through the process, and see if any rooms, nights, resorts, and prices tickle your fancy.
For some reason, Spiegelworld's DiscoShow is giving away tickets. We just went through the process and it's a breeze. Just click on this link, enter your vitals, pick a date in the next several months, choose between one and two tickets, and they're yours. No fees, no taxes, just free entry. You need the AXS app to receive them and you'll show the QR code on your phone for admission. Otherwise, it's a $200+ value and is the easiest and greatest show comp in our memory. We saw DiscoShow and liked it, though it's a bit strenuous, as you stand (and dance as much as you like) throughout. But free is free! You can read our review here. And a YUGE shoutout to Canada Roy for finding this deal and bringing it to our immediate attention.
We don't often report news like this, but it's a heart-wrencher. Proving once again that there's no level thieves won't stoop to, the U-Haul truck belonging to a small Las Vegas charity that was featured on a TV news report on Thursday was stolen Thursday night. The GiveBack volunteer group spent months collecting food, clothes, and hygiene items, handing out many of the donations in front of the cameras on Thanksgiving to families in need. That night, the truck, containing another $30,000 worth of supplies, was stolen from the parking lot. "Everything we worked so hard to gather for months disappeared overnight," GiveBack's president told KTVN13, which aired the original report.
VitalVegas reports this morning that the Sand Dollar bar at the Plaza will close on December 14. An experiment to expand the original Sand Dollar that opened nearly 50 years ago on Spring Mountain Road, the downtown venue was launched in May 2022 to a fair amount of fanfare and foofaraw, but it never quite took hold. You can read the whole history and inside story at VitalVegas.
In today’s Black Friday game, the Philadelphia Eagles are -7 favorites over the Chicago Beas. The total is 43.
The OG of the five locations of the venerable New York-style pizzeria Metro Pizza has closed. The beloved Metro first opened in 1980 at 1395 E. Tropicana; it was known back then as Original New York Pizzeria. Since then, Metro has expanded to various parts of the valley, including the one we frequent most at Ellis Island. The business isn't shutting down by any means; co-founder/owner Sam Facchini called it "addition by subtraction," saying that the other four locations were handling the customer base adequately. All the E. Trop employees will be incorporated into the other pizzerias.
Megabucks was hit on Wednesday for $11,143,660 at Resorts World; it was the first time Megabucks has been hit there. The reports say that the player fed $5 into the machine and played off it for 15 minutes before the jackpot arrived. Now that's lucky. The lump sum is estimated at about $6.6 million after taxes. The meter resets to $10 million.
In today's final Thanksgiving game, the Baltimore Ravens are -7.5 favorites over the Cincinnati Bengals. The total is 52.5.
In the second of today's three NFL Thanksgiving games, the Kansas City Chiefs are -3 favorites over the Dallas Cowboys. The total is 53.
In the first of today's three NFL Thanksgiving games, the Detroit Lions are -3 favorites over the Green Bay Packers. The total is 48.
This month's YouTube interview features Al Mancini of the NeonFeast website and app, the best restaurant guide in Las Vegas, and Andrew Morgan, the brains behind HappyHourVegas.com, "the best damn happy-hour guide in Vegas." It was Al's idea to launch our eight-volume Eating Vegas series and he and Anthony go into detail about its (unique and amusing) origins in 2011. Meanwhile, Andrew has been here for six years, saw an opening for a happy hour guide, and jumped on it and trust us, it's not an easy thing to do. Both now have monthly columns on this site. The discussion launches with the politics of being a food critic -- eating gratis and how that world has changed, the Yelp model -- then Andrew tells us how many happy hours he tracks (hint: the over-under is 450), how he does it, and what you'll find on his site (which you should go to; it's classic LVA-style). Then the big deal: The guys provide their recommendations for favorites, steaks, where the casino owners eat, Italian, Chinatown, Thai happy hours, and more. These guys talk fast and get an incredible amount of information into the 30 minutes. Don't miss it.
Wishing you a horn of plenty full of blessings and a heart full of gratitude this Thanksgiving Day. It's a very busy four-day weekend all over the city, with 302,000 travelers here for the time off. Though that's slightly down from year's past, it's still a huge crowd and only four days of dismantling of the F1 infrastructure, traffic is even more of a headache than it would otherwise be. Most restaurants are serving full Turkey Day dinners. The sports books will be packed all day long with fans watching the NFL triple-header and the Vegas Golden Knights playing home games tomorrow and Saturday nights at T-Mobile Arena. Metro police are out in force throughout the holiday weekend in their annual DUI Blitz, so drink responsibly and drive defensively.
We haven't had much occasion or inclination to write about the Las Vegas Raiders this season. After winning their first game of the season, they've lost nine of the last 10 amid the usual amount of controversy, including Sunday's firing of the highest-paid offensive coordinator in the league after 11 games. And we kind of don't like to dwell on the obvious or negative, but we can't help but note that the Athletic, the New York Times' sports site, yesterday ranked the Raiders 31 out of the 32 teams in the NFL. Only the Tennessee Titans, at 1-10, are lower on the list than Las Vegas. Even the lowly Cleveland Browns, ranked #27 at 3-8 for the season, beat the Raiders on Sunday 24-10. Oh well. Maybe next year.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix was a rousing success in terms of soldout stands, corporate profits, an exciting race, and celebrities galore. The final ticket sales haven't been tabulated, but 300,000 admissions were counted for the three nights of events, with every seat sold out all three nights. The celebrities who got the most ink and photos were JayZ and Beyonce; others at the events included the three Sofia actresses (Vergara, Carson, and Elizabeth), actress and comedian Tiffany Haddish, rappers Travis Scott and Flavor Flav, actor Jon Hamm, model Naomi Campbell, and reality-star Kendall Jenner. Moët & Chandon made a dramatic appearance on the after-race podium, being guzzled straight from the bottle by winner Max Verstappen and a crew from Red Bull, then sprayed with the Champagne by drivers Lando Norris and George Russell. And or course, Mickey and Minnie Mouse led the pit-lane parade, performed with the Disneyland Band playing the national anthem on race day, and were featured in a special nighttime show at the Bellagio Fountains.
With the Las Vegas Grand Prix clean-up underway, it’s best to avoid the race route, where workers are taking down and packing up grandstands, barriers, lights, etc., which reduces lanes and slows traffic. Credit goes to the planners, who’ve created alternate routes that make things tolerable, but basic strategy is to avoid those areas, especially Spring Mountain to Harmon on the Strip, completely.
Thanksgiving in Las Vegas will see mild temperatures, dry skies, and more than 300,000 visitors (out of the 82 million Americans planning to travel more than 50 miles from home this weekend). Highs will be in the upper 60s and lows in the mid-40s through Friday, with light winds and plenty of sunshine. Clouds begin to show up Thursday afternoon, presaging a cool front and some showers due late Saturday and Sunday, with temperatures dropping into the mid-50s on Sunday and remaining through Tuesday.
The San Francisco 49ers are -7 favorites over the Carolina Panthers in tonight’s Monday Night Football game. The total is 49.
Right on the heels of F1, the National Finals Rodeo rolls into town next week and runs from the 4th through the 13th. The 10 major events are expected to draw sellout crowds of 17,000 every day to Thomas and Mack Center; last year, 170,050 tickets were sold. The UNLV area east of the Strip around Tropicana will be jampacked, but at least the crowds aren't on the Strip. Brad Paisley, Gary Allan, Riley Green, The Red Clay Strays, Sam Barber, Dylan Gossett, Gavin Adcock, Zach Top and Hudson Westbrook will perform over the 10 days at the Theater at Virgin, Encore Theater, Resorts World Theatre, and MGM Grand Garden Arena; all tickets on sale now. For an interesting look at the "cultural resurgence" of rodeo, in conjunction with the "antiquated" development of rodeo athletes, read a Guardian article here. And thanks to Canada Roy for the link.
Guns N' Roses have announced a new world tour, which includes a stop at Allegiant Stadium on Saturday Aug. 22. Guns N' Roses were the first rockers to play Allegiant Stadium for one show in August 2021. They're one of the most popular rock bands of all time and their 1987 debut album, Appetite For Destruction, is the best-selling U.S. debut album ever. The band's hits are "Welcome to the Jungle," "Paradise City," "November Rain," and (our favorite) "Sweet Child o' Mine." Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday Dec. 5.
The Los Angeles Rams are -7 favorites over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in tonight’s Sunday Night Football game. The total is 49.5.
The Big Deal for One Drop charity poker tournament also happened yesterday (as a distant afterthought in the overpowering barrage of the F1 steamrolling juggernaut). The $5,300-buy-in event took place on the 66th floor of Resorts World in the Allē Lounge and was hosted by Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté and emceed by 17-time WSOP bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth. The final table included such poker celebrities as Shaun Deeb, Steven Jones, Antonio Esfandiari, and Derek Adamian. Steven Jones, 2023 WSOP runner up, came in first. The event raised money for Laliberté's charity One Drop, which works to provide access to safe water and sanitation in vulnerable communities worldwide.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix was run last night. The weather was cloudy, but dry, and temperatures dropped only as low as 50, good weather for the race. Max Verstappen came in first place, narrowing the gap between him and F1 frontrunner Lando Norris in Verstappen's quest for a fifth Formula 1 drivers' title. Verstappen also won the inaugural race two years ago, so he's the first repeat victor in Las Vegas. Now, the drivers, crews, media, international fans, and beefed-up security 86 themselves, while we wait for the teardown to be completed by Christmas Eve, just in time for the madness of the holidays, then the crowds at CES, then a bit of relief from four months of extreme congestion.
Lando Norris is the -115 favorite in tonight’s Las Vegas Grand Prix. He’s followed by Max Verstappen (+115), George Russell (+800), and Oscar Piastri (+2060). The long shot is Gabriel Bortoleto at +37000.
Arman Tsarukyan is a -775 favorite over Dan Hooker in today’s early UFC main event. In the other featured match, Ian Machado Garry is -275 over Belal Muhammad.
"It's good to walk in here and smell the cooking," Randy Markin, owner of Battista's Hole in the Italian restaurant, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal yesterday. Battista's reopened on Wednesday after a more than five-month closure "to replace the bones" of the building, which is more than 60 years old. Reportedly, you won't see any of the changes, which took place on the roof (new roofing and air-conditioner units) and behind the walls (plumbing and electrical), but the infrastructure problems have been solved. All but two of the 60 employees, who were paid during the shutdown, returned to their jobs at the venerable Battista's. The connected Stage Door and liquor store, also owned by Markin, reopened last Friday.