Some members of Congress think that the solution to the Internet gambling “problem”is to pass enforcement of a ban onto banks. The banks, understandably, have a different take. From the WSJ: A group representing 5,000 small banks is opposing a tool lawmakers hope to use to stop illegal online gambling, posing a challenge to what […]
A Japanese bank is incorporating a virtual roulette wheel into its ATM machines. I don’t this is a joke, and you can read the article from Reuters: Japanese banks have long had a reputation for poor service but at least one is trying something new — wooing customers with an opportunity to try their hand
ATM + roulette = fun? Read More »
gambling & culture, haphazard worldState gaming police recently busted up a Nevada slot cheating team. From the LVRJ: In 1979, Michael Joseph Balsamo was arrested on charges of cheating at gambling. Since then, he has racked up 25 investigations and six convictions and has been listed in Nevada’s Black Book of Excluded Persons. Add another charge to the list.
Slot cheats and telepathy Read More »
gambling & cultureIt’s been a few days since the story broke, but I still haven’t seen any serious discussion of the change in the Wynn Las Vegas casino floor hierarchy, outside of people quoting dealers irate about their upcoming drop in pay. This is absolutely understandable–if someone asked me to take a $10,000 pay cut (or told
The sound of one hand shuffling Read More »
life in vegasPeople like to bet on strange stuff, and people like it bet online. From the Desert Sun: When it comes to online gambling, anything is fair game. If they’re not playing the odds on the next American Idol or another Britney Spears’ divorce, Internet gamblers may wager on the chances of bird flu reaching the
Pop culture betting Read More »
gambling & cultureWynn Las Vegas is changing the management structure of its casino games in a way that may prove revolutionary. From the LV SUN: Wynn Las Vegas dealers – the highest paid in the city at a shade more than $100,000 per year, mostly from tips – will soon lose some of their tip income. Resort
A new deal for casino supes Read More »
gambling & culture, life in vegasI found out about this a while ago while doing some research on getting married in Clark County. Vegas is supposed to be a 24-hour town, but you won’t be able to get your marriage license on grave shift any more. From, improbably enough, Fox Reno: Getting married is as much a tradition in Las
Not always turned on Read More »
life in vegasIn this case it’s not the patients that drive in to the dentist’s office, but the dentist who drives to the patients. Confused? Read the article from the NY Times and learn: Samantha Taube stepped out of the MGM Grand into the bright sun to walk to the parking lot. After a short distance, she
Drive-in dentistry in Vegas Read More »
life in vegasAnother mystery mammal has been found. From Maine Today: Residents are wondering if an animal found dead over the weekend may be the mysterious creature that has mauled dogs, frightened residents and been the subject of local legend for half a generation. The animal was found near power lines along Route 4 on Saturday, apparently
An evil, legendary hybrid mutant Read More »
haphazard worldLas Vegas’s Sands has been gone for a while now, but in Atlantic City a casino by that name soldiers on. And it will soon have a new owner, who might tear it down and start from scratch. From the AC Press: Billionaire investor Carl C. Icahn is negotiating to sell the Sands Casino Hotel
Anyone got $250 mil? Read More »
atlantic cityThere is an interesting piece in Forbes about the prospects for legalization of online gaming here in the USA: For several rapturous years, hundreds of companies have been exploiting the fact that U.S. laws on online gambling are as hazy as your classic, smoke-filled casino. Even while the U.S. Department of Justice insists all forms
Betting on Online Gambling Read More »
gambling & cultureThere was an interesting piece in the Review-Journal on Joel Bergman, a prolific casino architect: Joel Bergman dislikes awards. He doesn’t enter competitions for them. He believes the application process can give away too much inside information about his company, one of the gaming industry’s leading architectural design firms. Advertisement So when the Global Gaming
Designing the Nugget, twice Read More »
atlantic city, life in vegasWith the closing of Bet On Sports’ American operations–and effectively its entire business (story here), it is clear that this case will be much different from the 2000 Jay Cohen trial. Some in the media have expressed wonder at the “secret” website launched to support indicted former BOS CEO David Carruthers. As I said in
Free Carruthers FAQ Read More »
news about gamblingThe 2006 edition of the World Series of Poker is nearing its climax. The final table will start playing in about a half an hour down at the Rio. Read Card Player’s recap of Day 7, via video, for all the details of the tournament’s penultimate day. I’m going to head down to the Rio
Not content with being a gaming and tourism juggernaut, Nevada is actively courting non-gaming development–at the expense of other states. It’s hardly surprising that New Jersey is at the top of the list of targets. From the AC Press: When the Nevada Development Authority, or NDA, picked New Jersey as the first target of its
MGM Mirage is announcing the formation of a new realty group, so if you want to buy a piece of the Strip’s biggest development project, you are in luck. Straight from the press release: With construction now underway at Project CityCenter, MGM MIRAGE (NYSE: MGM) delivers yet another illustration of its industry-leading innovation: the formation
City Center Realty Read More »
life in vegasWhat do extreme sports, golf, and poker have in common? A great deal, if my thoughts on the topic are to be believed. I develop this theory in this week’s column in the LVBP: The emergence of poker as a lifestyle means that the game has become more than a game — it is a
The poker lifestyle Read More »
gambling & cultureI don’t want to go on a semantic binge here, but please explain to me why freedavidcarruthers.com is secret. From the NY Post: Someone’s making a long-shot bet that a Web site will help free David Carruthers, the former BetonSports boss locked up in a St. Louis jail for promoting illegal gambling. It’s unclear who’s
Regular readers might know that I’ve got a strange fascination with weird animal stories (remember the mystery mammal?) and it should be obvious that I write a great deal about casinos. So I’m all over a story that combines both. From the AP: A Lake Tahoe casino that promotes a “habitat for everything wild” found
Who doesn’t like a toga party? Outdoors, in Las Vegas? Someone, I’m sure. In any event, Caesars Palace is having a toga party TONIGHT to celebrate its 40th anniversary. I go this email in my inbox today: FREE Toga Party! Caesars Palace Celebrates ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY! Featuring celebrity host Jenny McCarthy and music by Otis
Toga party tonight! Read More »
life in vegas