May 2007

Harrah’s Surfaces

This fall Microsoft is going to apparently release a new device called Surface that will change computing. Interesting, but there’s a casino angle too. From MSNBC: The radical new approach starts with the guts of the device itself. Under the impact-resistant plastic top skin on an otherwise nondescript table hide five infrared scanners, a projector

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gambling & culture, news about gambling

Non-gaming at MGM Mirage

There’s a nice interview in the LV Sun with Gamal Aziz of MGM Mirage: The latest annual report for MGM Mirage forgoes descriptions of casino floors in favor of haute cuisine, stage performances and museum pieces. And lest there be any remaining doubt about a new direction of the company, “Transformation” is printed boldly on

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news about gambling

News alert: Canada radio

I’m going to be on several Canadian radio stations–CBC affiliates I think–this afternoon, talking about a recent casino cheating case. These are the times (Pacific) and cities, with the names of the hosts, too. 12.50 HALIFAX Carmen Klassen – Host 1.00 CALGARY Jeff Collins – Host 1.10 TORONTO Matt Galloway – Host 1.20 THUNDER BAY

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what's new

LV Marathon training starts

If you want to run the Las Vegas Marathon or Half-Marathon this year and are looking for a way to get in shape (long) before the December 2 race, you should wake up early this Sunday and head down to the 215 and Stephanie for the first Roadrunner’s training run. From their website: Who: You

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life in vegas, what's new

Kerkorian & MGM: big questions

The huge news over the past 24 hours (as of 2 p.m.) is Kirk Kerkorian’s apparent big to buy the Bellagio and CityCenter from MGM Mirage. Here’s a NYT take: What is Kirk Kerkorian up to now? That is what industry observers, analysts and DealBook were left wondering after the 89-year-old billionaire financier said that

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life in vegas, news about gambling

Taj best in AC?

Among Trump properties, it is–it’s about three times the casino as the Marina and Plaza. From the AC Press: Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino or Trump Marina Hotel Casino, or both, probably would be demolished and redeveloped if the proposed sale of Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc. is completed, they say. “Most comments heard from other

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atlantic city, news about gambling

New Frontier to New Plaza?

The long-rumored sale of the New Frontier to the Elad group has apparently gone through. Translation: the Frontier’s days are numbered, so if you want to ride the bull at Gilley’s, start making plans now. From the press release: New York-based Elad Group, owner of the iconic Plaza Hotel, has purchased the last available prime

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news about gambling

Parrothead Paradise

Harrah’s is getting back into the Gulf Coast with a brand new casino: Margaritaville. From the Houston Chronicle: Casino giant Harrah’s Entertainment Inc. said Tuesday it planned to open a Margaritaville Casino & Resort in Biloxi, Miss., with songwriter Jimmy Buffett, which it said would be the largest development in Mississippi since Hurricane Katrina hit

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news about gambling

New Vegas guide out NOW!

If you haven’t read enough about Las Vegas, today is your day: I’ve posted my quick but (hopefully) useful travel guide to this site. It’s written under my pen name Will Winslow. Read this clip for the details: In addition to writing fine books and articles on gambling history, opinion, and current issues, Dr. Schwartz

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life in vegas, writing

Banish the monkey

I was just given a copy of the minutes of a meeting that a researcher found in UNLV’s University Archives. I’ll let you read the funny part: Meeting of the Biology Faculty October 9, 1968 MINUTES Meeting called to order at 10:05 AM. Members present: Murvosh, Deacon, Niles, Yousef, Austin, and Storm. Babero arrived late

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haphazard world, life in vegas

Lee on AC

Pinnacle Entertainment had its first quarter conference call today, and CEO Daniel Lee had some interesting thoughts on Atlantic City. I don’t usually do this, but here are some excerpts from the transcript by Bloomberg: Well, we’ve been consistently saying we expect to build something on the same order of magnitude as the first phase

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atlantic city, news about gambling

New Strip carpets added

Over the weekend, Suni and I made a trek up and down the Las Vegas Strip. Of course, I took a few pictures of new carpets at the MGM Grand, Flamingo, and Harrah’s, as well as Planet Hollywood. See them all here: Die is Cast casino carpet gallery 1 In the meantime, here’s a teaser:

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life in vegas, what's new

Luxor explosion not terrorism, cops say

I’m sure when most people heard that a bomb went off in the Luxor’s parking garage at 4 this morning, they at least considered the possibility that it might have been a terrorist scheme gone awry. But apparently it was “just” a “homicide with an unusual weapon.” From Breitbart: A device left in a casino

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life in vegas

Berkley to the rescue?

Nevada Representative Shelly Berkley has introduced a bill to study, not ban, online gambling. From the LVRJ: In another effort to roll back an Internet gambling ban, Rep. Shelley Berkley on Thursday introduced a bill calling for a one-year study of online wagering by the National Academy of Sciences. “One of the advantages of this

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gambling & culture