How realistic are the surveillance techniques they use at the "Montecito" on the TV show "Las Vegas"? On the documentaries I've seen about Vegas on the cable channels, they show the surveillance department operation separated completely from the casino operation, but on the show all the characters intermingle freely in the surveillance room. Also what about the "visual IDs" and iris recognition, etc. that they use. Is this really done in a real casino?

I’m a big French onion soup fan and I always like to try the restaurants you recommend in LVA, especially the "Locals Corner." Does the LVA staff have a favorite French onion soup? I’d be surprised if it wasn’t Mon Ami Gabi, but in a recent Advisor, you mentioned Austin’s Steakhouse ... Thanks!

I recently read something regarding the closing of the Luxor Nile River attraction in 1995 and that while the official line is that it was closed due to an upgrading of the property, one of the real reasons for the closing was that there were ghost sightings by customers of workers killed during the construction. This is sweet (not that the people died, of course, but the fact that they were possibly haunting tourists)! Tell me more, please. Do these ghosts ever show up in any of the other areas of the Luxor?

What is happening with the Tropicana? I have heard comments that it is really deteriorating in service, cleanliness, etc.

A group of my friends are going to Las Vegas in May and want to have a pre-Vegas party here in Hawaii. Do you know where I can get CDs of casino sounds (slot machines, video poker machines, table games, etc.) so that we can enhance the atmosphere of our party?

When did you first start Question of the Day and how many questions have you answered to date?

Why did Allegiant Air pull out of Lansing, Michigan? They said it was because they were not making enough money. But all the flights were full and they have a lot of upset customers who loved the straight flight to Las Vegas. Why would they do that when everyone wants to go to Vegas? We would fly out with them three to four times a year and use your coupon book. Now we have a coupon book, but no good straight flights from Michigan to Vegas. We need answers.

As a follow-up to the recent QoD regarding the Desert Inn, what happened to the time capsule?

We will be out for our annual Las Vegas visit this month. What special events are planned for St. Patrick's Day?

With the passage of four California Indian tribal compacts to increase the number of slot machines at their casinos, it raises the question: What impact have Indian casinos had on Vegas gaming? What do you expect will happen with the slot machine increase? Do you foresee hotel-rate decreases, increased comps, or more generous paytables to attract the California crowd?