It’s Thursday, so that means the latest Vegas Seven is hot off the presses–printing and digital. This week, I’ve got an article about gaming taverns–you know, those bars with slots in them that are ubiquitous in Las Vegas. Here’s the opening:
From Irish pubs to Mexican cantinas, it seems that every culture puts its own stamp on imbibing. The United States has generated its own share of distinctive drinking niches—tiki bars flowered in California before spreading across the country in the 1960s, and microbreweries have become almost ubiquitous.
Las Vegas has its own twist on the American watering hole—the gaming tavern. In addition to being popular places to drink, these establishments form a substantial part of the area’s gambling culture and gaming economy.
via Taverns maintain big role in gambling ecosystem | Vegas Seven.
So when people say that Las Vegas has no original culture, they’re wrong. We’re definitely got a culture. Now, it might not be one that you particularly like, but that’s another story.
While researching this story, I did some adding, dividing, and multiplying and learned the following useless factoid:
Clark County has about 1 slot machine for every 14 residents. About the same number of hotel rooms, too.
I thought it would put everything into perspective, and lo and behold it found its way into the closing paragraph.
Speaking of collateral benefits from my Vegas Seven writing, here’s one more:
In my Monday interview with Bill McBeath for the 3/25 Vegas Seven, he confirmed that Verizon cell service will be at 100% as of March 22.
So if you’re planning a trip on that date or after and use Verizon, don’t worry: everyone will be able to “hear you now.” Before then…follow Hunter’s advice and lean against the window, maybe.
This little tidbit was part of the interview for the magazine story, so it’s not on the UNLV Gaming Podcast that we recorded that same day.