Casino Super Bowl parties? Did you say "Super Bowl parties"??? We don't know what you're talking about. In fact, "la-la-la-la-la-la" we've got our fingers in our ears and we can't even hear you!
OK, did that throw the NFL spies off the scent? Think we'll get away with it? Heck, we're gonna risk it.
If you didn't know, back in 2004 the National Football League put an end to Las Vegas' famous and much-loved Super Bowl parties when it issued cease-and-desist letters all over town, warning properties that their big-screen broadcasts and fee-charging parties were in breach of federal copyright laws (making it into a commercial pay-per-view event that the venue rather than the league would profit from) and league rules (which generally prohibit the broadcasting of its games on screens larger than 55 inches).
And they were serious: We've heard rumors of undercover investigators being hired to prowl around town in search of illegal parties and threats to casinos that all their cable services would be pulled if the provider got an inkling that they were holding a big-screen fee-based party.
This will be the third successive year that we've dedicated a QoD to the subject of Super Bowl events and we can confirm that the embargo is still pretty much holding strong, although the euphemisms are proliferating with each passing year and there's certainly no shortage of "Big Game," "Big Bash," "Tailgate," and "Pigskin" parties, few of which charge a fee anymore (the strip clubs seem a little more bullish and have continued to host parties where a cover charge often applies).
Most casinos hold a party for invited VIPs, but many are also hosting open events, with food and drink specials, entertainment, prize giveaways, and no shortage of big and small screens. Below's what we'd got confirmation of by the time of this writing. Expect all of the following events to be jamming and if reservations are an option, we strongly suggest you make them. Note: All events take place Sun., Feb. 3, unless otherwise indicated.
CASINOS & THE STRIP
Bally’s Venue: Indigo Lounge Price: $75 Time: 2 pm till game end Price includes nacho bar, relish and greens bar, tailgate salads, gyro sandwiches, hot dogs, bratwurst, chicken wings, beef sliders, and assorted desserts. Oh yeah, and although none of the publicity materials mention it anywhere, they'll be showing the game, too! (Same applies to the two venues at Paris, below. We called to check.)
Excalibur Venue: Dick’s Last Resort Time: 1 pm Food and drink specials, pre-game and halftime festivities hosted by Dick’s entertainer Taco. Live music by local rock band Panama immediately following the final whistle.
Gold Coast Venue: Arizona and Nevada Ballrooms Food and drink specials.
Hooters Venue: Dan Marino’s Offering a special appetizer platter for $40 (feeds 4 to 6 people).
Jerry’s Nugget Venue: Race and Sports Book Price: Free with $20 Super Sunday bet Time: 1 pm-7 pm Food and drink specials available until the final whistle. Cash and prize giveaways, plus guests receive a drawing ticket to enter the Big Game Blackjack Tournament Series. Guests making a $20 bet on the Super Parlay Card also receive an officially licensed NFL hat in addition to access to the party.
Jokers Wild Venue: Big Game Bonus Cash Prime Reward members can earn squares Jan. 27-Feb. 1 at the following rate: 1 square for 1,000 points, 2 squares for 2,500 points, 3 squares for 5,000 points or four quarees for 10,000. You keep your points. Each quarter winner will receive $200 bonus cash and the end of game winner will receive $200 bonus cash plus $200 cash prize. Food and drink specials include $1 domestic draft beers, $1 pretzels, $2 hot dogs, $2 hamburgers, and $2 nachos and cheese.
Las Vegas Hilton Venue: Theater Price: Free Miller and Las Vegas Vodka girl appearances. ESPN pre-game drawings featuring products fr
