Everything about casinos, lotteries, racetracks, and other gambling businesses: news, design, and corporate intrigue.
If you haven’t heard it, here’s the press release, more or less verbatim: MGM Mirage is naming the big casino resort at its in-development City Center project on the Strip the “Aria Resort and Casino.” I don’t have an inside line on the creative process that led to the choice, but from what I’ve read […]
Unless something derails the deal (and how often has that happened with the Trumpster’s Atlantic City casinos?) the Trump Marina will soon become the Margaritaville casino resort. From the AC Press: Trump Marina Hotel Casino is being sold in a $316 million deal that will transform the poorest-performing property in Donald Trump’s gaming empire into
Wastin’ Away on Huron Ave Read More »
atlantic city, news about gamblingI’m fooling around with using ScribeFire to create posts, so this might not work. Hopefully it does, because I really think people should check out this neat feature at Vegas Tripping, a detailed rumination on the evolution of Las Vegas casino logos: But what is it that makes for a successful logo in Las Vegas?
VT takes on casino logos Read More »
news about gamblingLas Vegas entertainment is usually pretty predictable. You might see a comic, a singer, a revue show, a big production extravaganza, or a headline entertainer, which could mix any of these. But as the Las Vegas Sun reports, a new, seemingly anomalous presence is taking over Strip showrooms: psychics bent on exploiting grief. It seems
Psychics amid the slots Read More »
news about gamblingI’ve got a more in-depth look at the Canadian responsible gaming monitors in the LVBP. Here’s a snippet: Recently, the British Columbia government announced plans to hire nine “responsible gambling information officers.” These new deputies of safe gaming will spend their working hours hanging out in casinos throughout the Canadian province, looking for “distressed gamblers”
Responsible gaming monitors redux Read More »
news about gamblingIt looks like Star Trek: The Experience might be leaving the Las Vegas Hilton. From the LVRJ: The lease on the biggest nerd magnet since the International Consumer Electronics Show expires at the end of the year, and a spokesperson for owners Cedar Fair Entertainment Co. told the Web site TrekMovie.com “there are currently no
Trek beaming out of Vegas? Read More »
news about gamblingWhen I worked casino security, I used to enjoy seeing all sorts of strange items turn up in the lost and found. But I never got anyone arrested, like these folks did. From foxnews: A man has been charged in Kitsap County for possession of a controlled substance after he made the mistake of attempting
Lost & found & arrested Read More »
haphazard world, news about gamblingWith much, but not all of the site work done, I’m taking a bold leap back into the gaming news blogosphere today. I haven’t heard much about this possible bidder for the Columbia Sussex casino empire, but that might just be because I’ve spent more time poring over css style sheets than reading the news.
New bidder for Trop? Read More »
life in vegas, news about gamblingRe-reading after seven years, I’m struck by two things: I’m not entirely comfortable reviewing books that I don’t like, and the general quality of writing about Las Vegas has not much improved. Let me explain: as a writer, I absolutely hate saying negative things about other writers. I know how hard it is to find
Book review: Super Casino Read More »
book reviews, life in vegas, news about gamblingI’m quoting something–it might be Doctor Who or H2G2, where the bad guy kept saying “Seize them!” Or maybe that’s what bad guys in charge usually say. Anyway, this is just a lead-in to me posting on something I’ve written myself, in the Business Press: “Harrahrizing” the Palace wouldnt work. Instead, Harrahs execs chose to
A few months ago I listed the myriad things that you need to disclose when applying for a non-restricted casino license. Apparently Chet and Karla Cox aren’t regular readers, because they applied for a license without getting an attorney, and hit a few roadblocks. From the LV Sun: Although Silver State would handle the filling,
Unrestricted not so easy Read More »
life in vegas, news about gamblingI thought this was an amusing story in light of Harrah’s recent decision to become Caesars Entertainment. From the Indy Star: At 10:30 this morning, the huge 12-foot statue of the Roman conqueror that dominates the Caesars Indiana casino in Harrison County will be removed as the riverboat takes a major step to “de-Romanize” itself.
Knocking down Caesar Read More »
news about gamblingThat’s an awful name for a band, but it would be appropriate for a Police cover band that worked casinos. I wonder if Scrantonicity II will get any gigs when Sands Bethworks opens up? Oh yeah, here’s a story about how intransigent players who don’t pay off their markers hear from the Clark County bad
What can I say? Seriously thinking about casino carpet has gone mainstream. From the LVRJ: We walk all over it, cover most of our floors with it, and, when we see it for the first time, proclaim it either grand or gaudy. But have you ever seriously contemplated carpet? Other than its functionality — and
Casino carpet in the LVRJ Read More »
life in vegas, news about gamblingThe Tropicana’s woes might be the Luxor’s gain. The pyramid on the Strip is picking up two exhibits that as Columbia Sussex’s flagship is taking on water (allegedly). From the LVRJ: Luxor is picking up two nongaming attractions from the Tropicana. Atlanta-based Premier Exhibitions announced Tuesday it signed a 10-year agreement with the Luxor to
Luxor getting darker? Read More »
news about gamblingIf you still haven’t made it down to Hooters Las Vegas, you’d better go soon, because the property is slated for a complete re-branding. From the LVRJ: Say goodbye to those orange short-shorts. Hooters Hotel will be rebranded into a yet-to-be named boutique hotel following a $130 million redevelopment of the property that could begin
Hooters going away Read More »
news about gamblingI don’t usually like to quote myself, but it’s been a while since I’ve done this interview, so I actually forgot what I said, and was amused to see that it actually made it in print. It’s in an article about a potential Chicago casino that’s pretty good. From
Less corrupt? Not likely Read More »
news about gamblingThat must be the sentiment in Columbia Sussex’s executive offices today, if they read the Houston Chronicle: A wealthy casino operator is defending an eye-catching $1 million contribution to a political group that worked to elect a pro-gambling governor in Kentucky. William Yung III, who heads Crestview Hills-based Columbia Sussex Corp., has essentially placed a
Positive press at last! Read More »
atlantic city, news about gamblingFor you short attention-span Gaming Abstract junkies out there, Christmas came a little early this year. I’ve completed and posted a convenient 1-pdf breakdown of the 2007 Nevada gaming win. If you don’t want to click through, here are some high points: Total money gambled: Slots: $138.7 billion Tables: $32.3 billion Total: $171 billion Casino
2007 NV gaming digest posted Read More »
news about gamblingThe Cosmopolitan Las Vegas will be an impressive resort when it opens…but who will own it then? From the WSJ: The developer of Cosmopolitan Resort Casino on the Las Vegas Strip is negotiating for a rescue from two of his partners in the $3 billion project, people familiar with the matter said. One scenario under
Cosmo needs a rescue? Read More »
life in vegas, news about gambling