Category: Lifestyle & Travel Tips

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The Secret To Maximizing Las Vegas Birthday Deals

Bobby Vegas: Friends Don’t Let Friends Play Triple-Zero Roulette

You do have a birthday, right? And an ID? (No AIs need apply.)

Plan wisely and you’ll get several complete days of free fun, free play, three meals every day, and more drinks, desserts, and coffee than you can shake a chocolate-dipped stick at. The best deals give you a week, two weeks, and even a month to cash in, so get ready to run around your whole birthday month collecting freebies. Damn. Tough job, eh?

Be sure to sign up for every e-club online in advance. You almost always need to be a member to qualify for the birthday freebies and discounts. Even if it takes a few hours, there’s nothing like walking into all these places, getting your birthday specials, and walking out with no money changing hands. And there are enough free play ($85 to $1,500) deals, plus and several hundred dollars in free food, to pay for your LVA subscription 10 times over. How cool is that?

As for technique, one word: stacking. Use more than one coupon where they’re available. Some places (Excalibur?!) have five deals. Fashion Show Mall has four. Many have three meals a day. Stack a great view (Eiffel Tower) and a great meal with another great view (Bellagio Fountains).

Consider doing a Fremont run by stacking your LVA MRB matchplay and free play offers and go crazy. Free food and double free play — all day long!

I’m abbreviating free play with FP.

No, it’s not worth going to Morton’s and spending a Franklin or two to get a free dessert. But walk in to Cheesecake Factory and leave with a free slice? Yes.

I’m space limited in this blog, but you can go to BobbyVegas.com for an even more complete and detailed list and several dozen more places. Also, these freebies can change at any time, so definitely check online or call ahead to be sure the promo is still active.

And Happy Birthday!

Why start with Starbucks? You’re gonna need caffeine, people.

Starbucks– Free coffee or food item, need active Starbucks card within 30 days of birthday.

Eureka Casino – (595 E. Sahara Ave.) – Player’s club members $25 birthday FP
(MRBs too and signup bonuses)

Ellis Island – $10 FP Passport Club members (MRBs too and signup FP)

SAHARA – Join Infinity Rewards, swipe at kiosk during birthday month, win up to $500 FP. (plus MRBs and signup FP)

Wynn — Wynn Rewards up to 48 hours before or after birthday get $10 in free play. Higher tiers get birthday month annual dining credit $150, Platinum, $300 Black.

Palms – Swipe Club Serrano Card at kiosk during birthday month, receive up to $1,000 in FP (plus MRB)

Earl of Sandwich (Planet Hollywood, Palms, Fashion Show) Join eclub for free sandwich, wrap, or salad + birthday month free cookie or brownie.

Hooters (OYO +) – Hooters eClub email certificate $10 free birthday wings. Good for 2 weeks, 7 days before or after. Nice $10 for $10 signup and $10 match play, plus signup FP.

Steak ‘n Shake (OYO + ) – Free specialty milkshake and another for birthday. Join Steak ‘n Shake Rewards Club.

Del Taco (near MGM Grand +) – Free birthday regular premium milkshake, plus 2 free tacos for joining Raving Fan eClub.

Krispy Kreme (Excalibur, Circus Circus + ) – Free donut and coffee eClub.

Dairy Queen – (Excalibur + ) Free Blizzard.

Buca di Beppo FANTASTIC $50 DEAL! (Excalibur + ) for Buca eClub members, $10 off for signing up, plus $20 off $40 and a Colossal Brownie Ice Cream Sundae ($18 value) on your birthday month.

Cinnabon – (Excalibur + more) – Free iced coffee within 1 week of birthday for members of Club Cinnabon.

Orange Julius (Excalibur + more) – Join Orange Julius’ Julius League for free birthday Premium Fruit Smoothie or Julius Original.

Diablo’s Cantina (Luxor) Special occasions wheel spin (including birthday) for free shots +.

Eiffel Tower Observation Deck – Free birthday admission, check in advance, as freebie is seasonal.

Lettuce Entertain You (Paris, Fashion Show, Forum Shops) – $15 account credit on birthday, does not expire, good at Eiffel Tower Restaurant, Mon Ami Gabi, and Joe’s Stone Crab.

P.F. Chang’s (Planet Hollywood + ) – Club members free appetizer or dessert during birthday month.

Cheesecake Factory (Forum Shops, North Premium Outlet Mall) – Free birthday dessert.

Grimaldi’s Pizzeria (Palazzo + ) – Free birthday pizza and free appetizer on signup

Fashion Show Mall

RA Sushi, Bar & Restaurant – $20 RA gift certificate every year during birthday and half-birthday month. Signup / The Hook Up.

The Capital Grille – Free birthday dessert, no signup required.

Maggiano’s Little Italy – Join e-club for $10 certificate and free birthday dessert.

Dunkin’ – (LINQ, Fashion Show Las Vegas, South Premium Outlets, Fremont Hotel) – DDPerks Club members free drink within one week of birthday.

Lettuce Entertain You (Fashion Show Las Vegas, Caesars Forum Shops) – $15 account credit

Downtown/Fremont

Denny’s (Fremont and Strip) – Denny’s Rewards free birthday Grand Value Slam Breakfast

Pinkbox Doughnuts – ( Plaza / other locations ) “It’s Ya Birthday” – birthday special doughnut Join Perks club.

Plaza – 25% off rooms, free dessert at Oscar’s Steakhouse, free bingo card. (plus MRB)

Hash House a Go Go (Plaza, LINQ, Rio Casino + ) – Free birthday dessert via Twisted Farm Club.

Hennessey’s Tavern (Fremont Street) birthday week free dinner entree.

Tony Roma’s – (Fremont) – Rib Expert Club signup receive free birthday entree. Check current offer at (702) 385-3232. (plus MRB)

Landry’s (Golden Nugget + ) – $25 membership fee, get $25 welcome reward + free $25 birthday reward during birthday month. In Las Vegas: Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., Chart House, Claim Jumper, Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse, Grotto Ristorante, Red Sushi, Morton’s, Rainforet Cafe, Strip House, The Palm, and Anthony’s Steakhouse.

South and off Strip

Baskin Robbins (Orleans +) – Free scoop of ice cream.

Bonefish Grill (Town Square + ) – free birthday Jamaican coconut pie or bang bang shrimp.

Sickies Garage Burger (Town Square) – Sickies Rewards program free burger during birthday month

King’s Fish House (Green Valley Ranch) – Free birthday key lime pie / homemade whipped cream

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Bobby Vegas—Plaza, MRB, and Birthday Fun

Bobby Vegas: Friends Don’t Let Friends Play Triple-Zero Roulette

Due to medical issues beyond my control, I missed the $160,000 two-day New Year’s Eve Bingo Spectacular at the Plaza. However! The Plaza does it every month and the room deal for $40 per night is available each time. No resort fee. That’s an incredible deal and the Plaza folks are fabulous.

My stay in the South Tower before the medical situation was very quiet, old school with a tub, and near self-parking, Bobby V style. You want a newer upgraded room with a view (and the noise) of Fremont Street? Stay in the North Tower.

The self-parking for hotel guests is free. Some of the video poker is full pay. Some roulette is single zero. The $500 royal flush Member Rewards Book coupon is back in 2025. Anthony values it at $142, making 9/6 JoB positive expectation. Go for it! Play 9/6 JoB in the very cool Sand Dollar Lounge. Tell ’em Bobby V sent you. Please. (I want to meet Jonathan Jossel, Plaza’s CEO, and tell him, “Thanks for making old school new school and cool again, JJ.”)

Pink Box, the lobby and always mobbed, has a special free birthday donut for you. Sign up on the Pinkbox app.

Speaking of birthday bonuses, we’re finishing up a super free birthday run to be posted on my next blog. But here are some highlights: $100 to $1,500 in free Play, three meals a day (yes, breakfast, lunch, and dinner), coffee, donuts, drinks, desserts and more during your birthday month. That’s right, month. Many of the deals extend out two weeks from your birthday or even the whole month, not just your actual birthday. Plan a birthday-month trip!

I can’t wait for you to see it. The blog will be set up as birthday runs for the Strip, Fremont, locals casinos, etc. And now that the 2025 MRB is available, you can stack your LVA coupons for even more fun, free play, and free food.

Watch this space!

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Bobby Vegas: Dealing with Travel Emergencies in Vegas

Bobby Vegas: Friends Don’t Let Friends Play Triple-Zero Roulette

Hustling through Harry Reid over the years and onto my next Vegas frugal/advantage adventure, I’ve often felt sorry for the old wheelchair-bound gambling geezers.

Now I was one too.

Unfortunately, I had a repeat of my Labor Day kidney-stone experience on my New Year’s Eve trip.

I won’t dwell on how painful, scary, and frustrating it was. Instead, I want to focus on the resources in my wallet or with me and some of the stand-out support I got from the Plaza, Southwest Air, and Hertz.

Not since a female pit boss at the Wynn asked a doctor to call me in my room to follow up on my leaving the tables in the middle of a run (“You looked bad and were winning, so yeah, I was concerned,” she told me later; I sent her chocolates) had I experienced such good customer care as this trip.

If you’re going to Vegas, check your credit card benefits for trip interruption and/or travel emergency coverage. I use Chase cards both for points to travel free and other benefits like airport-lounge access.

On my Labor Day torture-by-kidney-stones “adventure,” I happened to have sprung for $20 for travel emergency/interruption insurance. This ended up reimbursing me for my hotel, car, and airfare, including extensions to my stay and flight changes like a nonstop home.

Some of the temp-insurance providers like Alliance previously were no help after the fact, though some premium credit cards will provide an advocate or other help too. So check reviews before you buy if you’re not covered on your card.

The next level up is full-stop travel emergency insurance, which can be purchased under annual plans for $200+. This is for major medical-emergency support when not at home and includes an advocate and even a trained nurse or to fly back with you if needed. I’ve had that before and will re-up.

Having an advocate to assist you from your hotel, get meds and food, arrange travel and support if you’re alone, can be a life saver. Literally.

The Plaza staff was incredibly cooperative, especially Ray, who runs the $160,000 SuperBingo events every month (and includes their $40 a night no-resort-fee room offer). When I told Ray what happened (hospital, etc.), he refunded my entry fee. That’s customer service. I’ve said it before and I’m saying it again: The Plaza is classic Vegas updated and done right and I’ll be back. (Seeing my matchplay coupons expire unused wasn’t nearly as painful as kidney stones, but the New Plaza MRBs will heal that wound.)

Next, I’ve flown Southwest (often for free) for 25 years and have a SW credit card. I buy in advance on points and all points, flights, and canceled or changed plans are fully credited (along with two checked bags up to 50 pounds flying free). I had an open trip home depending on meetings, etc., so when I called to upgrade to a nonstop and said I’d been in the hospital and would need wheelchair assistance at the airport, they used my points ticket to upgrade me to a nonstop one day ahead and transferred my ticket gratis. That was a $400 upgrade.

Finally Hertz. Wow.

Just getting from my hotel to the airport was going to be an ordeal and when I arrived at the rental-center drop off, looking like a crazy man the cat dragged in (they wouldn’t give me a razor at the hospital), and told the Hertz check-in person I had trouble walking and would need baggage assistance, she said,” Wait here.” Next thing I knew, a driver was chauffeuring me to the airport where a skycap and SW took over.

Between my hotel valet and Ray, the Hertz driver, the SW wheelchair assist, and all the great service I received again at my home airport, I tipped out $100. You can never be too sick to still be George.

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Unbelievable New Year’s Deal

Bobby Vegas: Friends Don’t Let Friends Play Triple-Zero Roulette

Bulletin! New Years trip, five days in Vegas including resort fees, and 38 chances to win $160,000 in 10 hours over two days, plus $10 in free play and free drinks at bingo. For you, $400.

Bobby? What’s the catch here? I mean, there’s gotta be a catch, right? Like what, a friggin’ timeshare pitch? What?

No, it’s real. It’s the Plaza bingo!

I saw this puppy coming down the street back in August before my kidneys decided to send me on a masochistic little trip to painland. So folks, I paid the price — literally. I bled for you. Then I waited and just caught the announcement and whammo! I’m in. (Yeah, I said “whammo.” Yeah, pretty corny. Hell, you want corny? I grew up in Cleveland.)
Okay, I’m gonna let you in on this. You can do it too.

It’s the Plaza’s Super Bingo Spectacular over New Year’s. Book five nights for $200. No, not per night. All five nights, including resort fees. That’s $40 a night!

Over New Year’s? Did someone drop a zero?

You have to sign up for bingo for $200. Twist my arm.

Thirty-eight chances to win $1,199. Plus, they’re giving away $80,000 a day for two days. You got five hours to spare?

Do I play bingo? I do now! Who wouldn’t, to get five nights in Vegas over New Year’s for $400 ($200 for bingo, $200 for the room)? Hell, at most places, New Year’s Eve alone is at least $400. Register here and tell them Bobby Vegas sent you.

Feel me loving the Plaza? Matchplays, great VP, single-zero roulette, the Sand Dollar royal flush MRB $500 bonus I wrote about in my last post, along with great food and discounts. Downtown Grand, move over, it’s the Plaza, baby, and man, I’m hittin’ this one lock, stock, and bingo! And another tip: 9/6 JOB in the entrance to the bingo hall at $.25 to $2 a hand.

Then there are all those matchplay chips and MRB coupons I’ve been saving up for my Fremont run and the free Champagne coupon up in Circa’s whatta-view Legacy Club. And fireworks and, well, New Years in Vegas! And maybe I’ll also chill uptown at The Pinky Ring or see the Three Sacred Souls or just go total old school and hang out at the Pinball Hall of Fame.

This is gonna be fun, guys ’n gals. Book this puppy now — Bobby just gave you your Santa Vegas Christmas gift, five nights in Vegas for the biggest party of the year. Be there and be square with me when we yell BINGO!

Please tell them you read about it from Bobby Vegas’ blog at the Las Vegas Advisor. Please.

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Bobby Vegas: Great Deals for Vets and Active-Duty Military

Bobby Vegas: Friends Don’t Let Friends Play Triple-Zero Roulette

Veterans deserve the best support every day. Vets shouldn’t be payin’ for much of anything on Veterans Day. This is my small part in making sure they get that, at least next Monday.

All the following deals, unless otherwise noted, are for vets in Vegas. I’m listing only fully FREE meals, drinks, free play, and free services. The top 10 are first to make it easy for you to choose. Check location to confirm availability. Military ID and AD/Active Duty ID or DD-214 required. And note that the buffets will be packed.

  1. Eureka Casino, $50 free play.
  2. Palms, Free AYCE Buffet + $10 free play. Go early and first to the Serrano Club booth.
  3. Rampart Casino, free buffet. Go early
  4. South Point, free buffet.
  5. Pizza Rock, free slice
  6. Mob Museum, free admission.
  7. Big Boy, pick up voucher for free future meal.
  8. California Pizza Kitchen, free meal, dine in or take out, good 11/8-10 and you get
    a BOGO coupon good on 11/12-24.
  9. Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers, free Double Combo meal good for November.
  10. Texas Roadhouse, free meal voucher on Veterans Day, use until May 2025.

Other freebies include:

car wash at Alamo

hair cut at Great Clips

coffee and donut at Krispy Creme

donut at Dunkin’

coffee at Einstein Bros., Peets, Circle K, and Starbucks

smoothie at RWB

6-ounce frozen yogurt TCBY

breakfast at McDonalds, Wendy’s, Denny’s, and IHOP

entree from a special menu at BJ’s

boneless wings and fries at Buffalo Wings

pulled pork sandwich at Dickey’s

chopped pork sandwich and side at Famous Dave’s (code VETERAN)

meal at Golden Corral and Sizzler

Legendary Burger at Hard Rock

Combo at In N Out

Lunch combo at Little Caesars

Burger and endless fries at Red Robin

Classic at Smash Burger

Shareable dinner at RA Sushi Bar

Dinners at Applebees, Chili’s, Claim Jumper, Dave and Busters, Lazy Dog, Macaroni Grill, Mimi’s Café, Olive Garden, On the Border, and Rosa Mexican.

Thank you for your service.

Dedicated to my dad William, pilot B17 Flying Fortress, WW II, received the Distinguished Flying Cross for more than 20 missions, chance of survival was rated one in four. RIP Dad. My hero.

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Honeymoon in Vegas? Try Halloween in Vegas

Bobby Vegas: Friends Don’t Let Friends Play Triple-Zero Roulette

Unless you want to “get married in blood” at the Little Chapel and do both. It’s the best of times and quite possibly the wildest. And I’ve DJ’d some very wild parties where when I put on Nelly’s “ Hot in Here,” half the room actually did take off their clothes. So in Vegas my “wildest” means it.

If you haven’t experienced Vegas’ end of October’s hallowed eve, believe me when I say it’s a thriller, a valley-wide party to die for. Just don’t actually die, okay? Fake the ghost-pale complexion, blood and rubber knife in your head, and appropriately, or inappropriately if that’s your poison, you can be all you wanna be, whether it’s a Chippendale, a dungeon master, a vampire bride with a blood lust that can’t be satisfied, or just a hottie in a French maids outfit. Guys too, anything goes.

Indulge your cross-dresser fantasy or drag your willing partner or partners in leather and chains or have her/him/them do it to you and any other kinky crazy themes you desire to display.

No one will bat an eye, but there may be some actual bats and “can I join in?” or “How did you build the Eiffel Tower on your head out of chopsticks?” Hint: Make it sturdy.

Planning on winning one of the many incredible costume contests or just wanna stand out? Invest some time, money, and ingenuity, because every dirty, sexy, gory, crazy, funny, silly, spooky fantasy will be parading down Fremont and at one of the killer club parties or the dozens of major themed events. Vamping or vampirelling, it’s all happpening in Vegas under the howling good-time October moon.

On the Record gives away some serious four-figure cash for best costume. Arriving at Park MGM, a pickup truck pulled up and three folks unloaded … really, I wouldn’t even call them costumes, more like parade floats.

Madelon Hynes’ article LVRJ.com/Halloween/2024 has a comprehensive list of events valley wide.

Area 15 becomes Scaria 15. There are by my count three Rocky Horror-themed events. And the entertainment options? Spooky good. Check who’s playing between the 26th and 30th: Adelle, Alice Cooper, Billy Idol, Earth Wind and Fire, The Jonas Brothers, Katy Perry, SZA, Travis Scott, U2 Sphere concert movie, Usher … phew… And in the clubs? Steve Aoki, The Chainsmokers, DJ Snake, Zedd, and a host of others.

And the weather is great finally.

I’ve done Vegas Super Bowl, July 4th and New Year’s, but Halloween takes the cake.

Though this blog is late to go this year it will give you a heads up, so you can plan for next.

Leave the candy at home. There’ll be plenty of eye candy. Bring your vampire queen or queens, your whips and chains. Rocky Horror will be there and you’ll never be the same.

BTW, no advantage play was harmed in the creation of this article.

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Planning an Almost Free Trip to Vegas

Bobby Vegas: Friends Don’t Let Friends Play Triple-Zero Roulette

Do you use a points earning credit card? My flights are free.

I’m currently staying at the Downtown Grand. My casino rate (50% off) runs $50-$100 per day total, including reduced resort fee, parking, and Gallery Tower upgrade.

Downtown Grand invited me to a $10K slot tournament with currently 120 players (200 are expected) paying to 30 places, so one in four wins so far (current EV $83+). The cost was $20 for the first entry, with additional entries earned for 60 points or $120 coin-in at video poker. I plan on having three. Most VP was downgraded, but I hear they still have a progressive at Furnace bar. We’ll see.

Others may be happy with Uber, etc., if staying on Fremont or the Strip. Myself, I run around a lot, visiting 15 to 18 casinos with fullpay video poker: M, South Point, Palace Station, Gold Coast, downtown, and the Rainbow in Henderson. I might stop at Boulder Station for the $1.99 shrimp cocktail.

It was a slog, spending an hour on multiple travel sites (even U-Haul!), finally getting a reservation direct from Dollar for under $50 a day. From where it started, I ended up saving about $150, so that was worth an hour for sure.

I’m signed up for Rakuten cashback, which pays 3% on this rez and of course Dollar and airline points, plus the points earned on my credit card for a triple stack! It all ends up worth about $50.

I’ll be returning to the Pinky Ring, Bruno Mars’ lounge at Bellagio, for two nights. I expect to see Bruno and my friends in the band. They’re also playing several nights at Dolby. I’m also expecting a surprise “lady” guest to be with Bruno, as he dropped a song with her last week and she’s been with Bruno at the Pinky Ring. I give it 55% or better.

Lots of Bruno Mars superfans are in town for his Dolby shows, so it’s VERY VERY EXPENSIVE and very booked to hang at the Pinky Ring — starting at $2,000 for a table. Owww. But I can walk in on my host open invite. And I booked an early-evening table for $50! I won’t have a table after 8 p.m., so I’ll do SRO hanging at the bar (you can too), which is fine, as I dance all night. I just need a place to set my drink down and I almost always find a place to hang with the band or some guest or hosts let me have a seat.

It’s a tough job being the unofficial house dancer. Someone’s got to break open the dance floor.

I’ll also be going to the opening of Speigelworld’s brand new Discoshow. Yes, I love disco (along with funk, R & B, pop, Latin, and rock n roll) and that will be a hoot. The Friday night show is $69 (Saturday $99). Dance dance dance.

My week in Vegas: out of pocket for air, hotel, and rental car before any winnings is … $980.

Living my best life. Keep on dancing.

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THE OLDEST LAS VEGAS CASINOS & WHY THEY’RE WORTH A VISIT

This post is syndicated by the Las Vegas Advisor for the 888 casino group. Anthony Curtis comments on the 888 article introduced and linked to on this page.

This article was written by Michael Kaplan in association with 888Casino.

AC says:

The recent closing of the Tropicana reduced the number of vintage casinos still operating in Las Vegas. Which ones are left? It depends on where you draw the line for vintage. The four profiled here – three downtown and one on the Strip – certainly qualify, all having opened no later than 1946. The Golden Gate actually showed up in 1955 after previously operating as Hotel Nevada when it opened in 1906, then Sal Sagev, which is Las Vegas spelled backward. The referenced 3-2 single-deck blackjack game at El Cortez was discontinued last month. The games still pay 3-2 on naturals, but are now dealt from 2 and 6 decks only.

THE OLDEST LAS VEGAS CASINOS & WHY THEY’RE WORTH A VISIT

It’s easy to stay at one of the new, shimmering casinos on the Las Vegas Strip or thereabouts. And we’re advocates for doing just that.

The Fontainebleau, for example, is new, cushy and compelling. Opened late last year, it features a state-of-the-art spa, fabulous restaurants (La Fontaine is a terrific Frenchified spot for gourmet dining) and a nightclub that will have you dancing all night.

But, also, there is something to be said for checking into the town’s oldest joints. They tend to be comfortable, friendly, dripping with history and best bets for value hunters. Knowing where Las Vegas used to be can provide a great counterbalance to explorations of where the ever-changing city is heading next.

Here then are four of our favorite casino/hotels that drip history and provide great experiences.

Continue reading …

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Rolling Stones at Allegiant

A million bands play rock and roll. Only one band is rock and roll. And since perhaps no city is more rock and roll than Las Vegas, I always make it a point to try and see the Stones in Vegas whenever they come through town.

The Stones played at Allegiant Stadium on Saturday. I’ve written previously about the benefits of staying within the Mandalay/Luxcalibur campus if you’re going to a game at the stadium. What I hadn’t realized before is how much the Delano improves on that.

For those who don’t know, the Delano is the “extra” building that’s part of Mandalay Bay, just as Encore is for Wynn and Palazzo is for Venetian. The key here is that Delano is a half-block closer to the stadium than Mandalay itself, which makes the walk all the more easier. Not only that, but the elevators at Delano are on the stadium side of the tower, only a few steps from the exit. The elevator practically spits you out onto Hacienda Avenue, the street that goes over I-15 and connects the south Strip resorts to the stadium. It’s closed to vehicular traffic on event days and becomes a giant pedestrian mall.

I’ve seen the Stones before in an outdoor stadium (Giants Stadium) and indoor arenas (MGM Grand Garden, Madison Square Garden), but I never in an indoor stadium. The crowd was geared up and ready to party and the band didn’t disappoint; it never does! They came right out of the gate with classics like “Start Me Up,” “Let’s Spend the Night Together,” and “Get Off Of My Cloud.”

The large enclosed space gave rise to some echoes in the sound, which enhanced some songs and muddled others. But Mick’s vocals and Keith’s guitars were as solid as ever.

Every time I see the Stones, I think, this could be the last time (to quote a lyric to a song they didn’t play), as they can’t keep this up forever. Then, a few years later, I see them again and they’re stronger than before. Keep in mind that these guys are 80 years old! And they move around and dance in a way that I can’t do (30 years their junior) and what’s more, that I couldn’t do when I was half the age I am now. Mick definitely got more steps in, prancing around the stage, than I did on the walk to the stadium and back.

The backup performers were all top-notch and the Stones bring in a huge, crisp, high-def video screen that’s even bigger than the permanent screens in the stadium. The smell of pot (or any smoke at all) was practically nonexistent, which was a pleasant surprise.

There was an opening act that I’d never heard of and didn’t care about. The Stones went on at 9:15 for an 8 o’clock show and played two solid hours of hits. When the show was ever, exiting was a breeze and I was back in my room at Delano a mere 20 minutes after leaving my seat.

In a town full of world-class entertainment (on the same night, in fact, you could have also seen such huge draws as Carlos Santana or Justin Timberlake), there’s nothing like a Stones concert in Vegas. When they come around again in a few years at age 83 or 84 or even 85, I highly recommend going to see them. Just make sure you rest up beforehand and bring some extra energy. You’ll need it more than they will!

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Bobby Vegas: The inside track on the Derby

Bobby Vegas: Friends Don’t Let Friends Play Triple-Zero Roulette

They say almost is good only in horseshoes, horse racing, and hand grenades, but if you don’t even place third in a horse race, are you still a winner?

Imagine you have a stable of good and in some cases excellent horses. You keep plowing your winnings back into them and end up with one of the most famous trainers in racing and Derby history and a chance for greatness with a young horse, Track Phantom. He’s winning and winning and has the points to make the Derby. You’re a hard-working risk-taking American with several successful green businesses and an insane love of horses and racing and here you are, livin’ the dream.

Meet Jerry Caroom, co-owner of Track Phantom.

I’ve known and worked with Jerry in the lighting business for years. I follow Jerry’s horses through my long-time sports betting friend Joe T, who I’ve mentioned many times in my Bobby Vegas posts. Joe T is the reason I first came to Vegas. And Joe has worked for Jerry for years.

Joe told me two months ago that Jerry’s horse Track Phantom was on his way to qualify for the Kentucky Derby. And he did.

Jerry had bought a futures ticket on Track Phantom that would pay seven figures for a win. I started trying to buy tickets on the Derby when I was in Vegas for the Super Bowl and the Pinky Ring opening. I couldn’t find them. No one had any of the Derby futures. Not South Point, Caesars, or MGM. Finally, Circa did. A crummy return only 10-1 on Track Phantom when it should have been double that, but at least I had a C-note ticket in the race.

Last week when I returned to Vegas, Circa had it at 24-1. I bought another.

This wasn’t advantage play. This was gambling — on a friend and his incredible horse.

Well, if you watched the Derby, you know that Track Phantom jumped outta that gate and led the pack for most of the race until he took a serious bump that knocked him back to 11th place, out of the 20 horses.

On the phone today, I said to Jerry, “Injustice at the Derby!”

Jerry, being Jerry, replied, “Well, I don’t know about injustice, but yeah, that was a serious bump. And if my jockey had listened to me to stay on the rail, well …”

The good news is, one of Jerry’s other horses won a $250,000 purse in another race, not a bad consolation prize.

It’s all about bein’ in the game and givin’ it all you got. On my nine-day trip that ended Friday, even though I lost money chasing a $11,750 positive-expectation progressive, I have many stories to tell about my further adventures with Bobby Wilson and his connection to Bruno Mars, as well as workin’ the casinos like a pro to get the comps and credit I deserve and more. I even met four people who read my blog!

It’s a tough job, but someone’s gotta do it. If you’re not in the game, ya can’t win it. And if you are, something’s gonna stick. Nature of the beast.