I have visited Las Vegas since 1969 and moved there in 2004, now living in Pahrump since 2009. I mention all these dates for a reason. I recently explored the downtown streets in Las Vegas, searching for a business that I no longer found in the phone book but did exist when I moved to Las Vegas. I was dismayed at the state of the downtown businesses, many closed and in disarray, littered with homeless. It all seems ripe for cheap realty acquisition and renovation of downtown casino businesses. Has all hope abandoned Las Vegas or is there some positive future in the works?

Certainly there have been several false starts, but what would you project the north Strip area (from Wynn to Stratosphere) will have available five or so years from now? Or will it continue to be basically a blight -- one abandoned construction project after another?

Do any Las Vegas buffets take reservations?

What effect, if any, do you feel the outcome of the presidential election will have on the gambling industry in Nevada? Do you see the run up to the election as a good time or a bad time to invest in casino stock?

I was reading David McKee's column about the Moulin Rouge and how so many in the Las Vegas area love the idea of bringing it back but no one will commit the cash because the original is in a bad area. Why not pitch to Derek Stevens the idea of bringing back the Moulin Rouge at the Las Vegas Club downtown?

A bit off the Las Vegas topic except I thought Caesars was going to run the casino, but do you have any history or update on the very troubled Baha Mar Hotel Casino in the Bahamas? Thanks for the excellent job you do.

How about an update on the old Stardust site? Anything happening?

What’s up at Stage Door Casino? We stop in every time we are in town. When we went last night, we were carded and wanded at the door. And there were several security personnel around. They even told us we could no longer have plastic glasses for a "traveler." Were gray-haired seniors, so the carding seemed ridiculous.

Nevada Landing, in Jean, used to be our favorite steak-and-eggs stop on the way home. Every time I drive past the big empty lot, I have to wonder, why? Was it losing money? Will another casino ever be built there again?

I seem to remember years ago that picture-taking was not allowed in casinos. I also recall that the MGM Grand was exempt from this policy/law due its designation as a movie studio. Obviously, this is no longer the case, as everyone now snaps pictures in the casino, and I was wondering when this changed. Was this a NGC law or corporate policy?