We hear that whales can sometimes make or break a week, month, or even a quarter when it comes to a casino's gambling revenue. Is it possible, or has it ever happened, that a casino underperformed in a quarter due to one or two huge losses to a few whales, and in turn, its stocks dropped? Would the company inform the stock holders that it wasn't due to lower visitation or gambling volume, but simply due to some good luck by a few people?

Jim Murren appears to be saying that CityCenter is his idea and he's the driving force behind the design. Is that strictly true? Before his departure, what part did Terry Lanni play in the project?

In a recent QoD (12/20) you list the number of casinos in each state; my question is what qualifies a business as being a casino? I live in Maine and only know of one "casino," Hollywood Slots, yet you list there being 3 here. What am I missing?

Binion's recently closed its hotel part of the operation downtown. Are any of the downtown hotels other than the Nugget trying to "upgrade" their rooms in 2010 to attract a more upscale client? I love downtown, but just don't feel comfortable staying there yet.

I have never read anything about Kenny Kerr's "Boylesque" on Question of the Day. It played at the Silver Slipper and then I think the Stardust. I believe it was before Frank Marino’s "La Cage." Please inform some of us old Las Vegas patrons on this question.

Regarding today's (12/18/09) about Binion's casino, it has been said that Becky Behnen was largely to blame for the downfall of Binion's Horseshoe. It is my understanding that control of the hotel-casino was transferred to her after Ted's death. I have read Jim McManus' Positively 5th Street and loved the book, but lost track of the history after that. What is Becky blamed for? Specifically, what did she do to the 'Shoe that could have been avoided to keep it running smoothly? It would be a shame if the Vegas icon had to shut its doors and got lost in the history of the city.

Now that MGM Mirage’s CityCenter is open, how many people actually live there? Which towers are hotels and which are condominiums? And how many condominiums have been sold? From what I understand, people who bought them years ago during the boom have the choice of paying boom prices or losing their deposits.

With the announcement of Binion’s shutting down the hotel part of its downtown operations due to lack of business, are there any other places kicking around the idea of doing the same thing?

I was in Las Vegas two weeks ago and bought an all-day pass for the three rides on the top of the Stratosphere. Which were great but when I was leaving one of the shop workers told me that they have a new ride approved for the near future where you can jump off the top and go all the way to the ground. Can you tell me if this is true, and when will it be open and just how it will work because I am ready to book my next trip back to Las Vegas.

I read the QoD every day … you folks do a terrific job. I was wondering how many casinos exist in the United States. I remember the old days when one had to go to Nevada to visit a casino. Today, casinos seem to be almost everywhere. Could you list the number of casinos by state and the number in each state that are owned by Native American tribes?