On a couple of occasions I have walked away from a video poker machine and forgot to cash out a pretty substantial ticket. Once, I hurried back and was able to cash out; the other time I thought I had and didn’t notice that there was no ticket in my pocket until much later, by which time someone else had cashed it out. Which leads to the question, why can’t casinos simply keep your current balance right on your players card? That way you wouldn’t have to monkey around with tickets at all. Are any casinos considering doing this?  They already do it with your free-play, so it must be possible, and since you have to enter a PIN, even it you misplace your card, no one else would be able to get to your money.

The changing Vegas landscape, Part 2

Excalibur’s dragon? MGM's theme park? The talking pirate sign (now at the Neon Museum) and both silly pirate shows? Changes at Luxor? (I loved the camels). Most of the exterior water fountains and features all dried up. This year, The Forum Shops’ fountain left! As Louie Anderson said: "Vegas will be beautiful if they ever finish it." Do you care to comment on any of this?

In your Question of the Day on May 8 on how casino hosts are paid, you mentioned "club hosts” without any explanation. It’s a new term to my husband and me. What’s a club host?

Although you have a great tipping section, it doesn't address this situation. We have gone to several casino resort pools on the strip and purchased food and drinks by the pool. On our bill was an 18% pool gratuity charge. I am assuming this goes to the waitress, but I’m not sure. Do we tip on top of that? Additionally do you tip the person who walked you to a cabana rental?

My American brother and his Costa Rican wife are coming to Las Vegas for her first ever visit to Vegas. My brother had a question, what happens if she wins a jackpot of some nature? As a foreign visitor if she taxed?  Will the casino withhold some or all the taxes? I'm sure foreign visitors have won jackpots every now and then, so what is done about taxation?

Is it relatively easy to drive to Valley of Fire and Mount Charleston and how long would the round trips take from the Strip approximately? Would you need high clearance vehicles?

In craps, why would you bet the pass line? It’s always been said, the larger the betting area, the more advantageous to the house. Wouldn't it be better to take that pass line money and spread it to the any crap, eleven, and seven? All of these pay odds. If a point is rolled instead, put your big bet on the odds. That pass line is only needed if you want to roll the dice. Am I wrong?

What are they building by the pool at Circus Circus? A water park? Free for guests?

We've all seen the iconic photo of the lady wearing the atomic bomb swimsuit.  Is she still with us?  Do you have any information on her career or other life details?