Everything about casinos, lotteries, racetracks, and other gambling businesses: news, design, and corporate intrigue.
I never thought of this until now, but wouldn’t it be funny if, in keeping with the success of Spamalot, they tweaked Caesars Palace to be more like Life of Brian than Gladiator? That’s just a thought as I prepare to go to the grand opening of the Augustus Tower.
Projections of the damage caused by Katrina, it seems, keep getting worse. The governor of Mississippi was quoted as saying that all Gulf Coast casinos had been completely destroyed. Even if it’s not that dire, it looks very bad. Any destruction of property, of course, pales beside the loss of human life, just as any
I just got a press release detailing what’s going on with Harrah’s casinos in the area affected by Hurricane Katrina. It’s not the end of the world for the company by any stretch of the imagination–they’ve got property damage and business interruption insurance–but things don’t sound that great for the Gulf Coast casinos, with no
Update from Harrah’s Read More »
news about gamblingIn the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, it is clear that the damage is much worse than originally thought. Dozens of people have lost their lives, homes and business have been destroyed, and much of the Mississippi Gulf Coast has been devastated. As far as casinos go, this is an unmitigated disaster.
Hurricane Katrina is, as I write this, devastating parts of Louisiana and Mississippi, and, as is increasingly common these days, there is a connection to gambling: casinos in the area, particuarly on Mississippi’s Gulf Coast, have been hit hard, and the impact–in both the short and long run–will be felt nationally.
Katrina closes casinos Read More »
news about gamblingThere has been a great deal of ambiguity about the WTO decision in the Antigua/US dispute. Both sides have claimed victory, and there is no real roadmap for what is going to happen. I’m chairing a session on this at G2E, which may feature debate between representatives of the US and Antigua, or may not.
The President casino, long a mainstay in Biloxi, is closing up. It’s barge is being relocated. I’m sure that it’s a fine institution, but I had my doubts about the casino when I took a look at the carpet: It’s so lackluster–like someone dropped a bunch of swizzle sticks on the floor. When I first
The President resigns? Read More »
news about gamblingI had a pretty quick–though comprehensive–tour of Foxwoods and the surrounding area yesterday, and it’s pretty impressive. It’s amazing to me that, in less than 20 years, a gambling operation that started as bingo has grown into the world’s largest casino resort. On the Greyhound ride up there (I’ll post some pictures of that; it
This doesn’t really have anything to do with either the Johnny Depp or Gene Wilder versions of Roald Dahl’s books about Charlie Bucket and Oompa-Loompas, but something about this story seems positively Wonka-esque. Someone tried to blackmail Sydney’s Star City casino with chocolate. Seriously.
Charlie and the casino shake-down Read More »
news about gamblingToday, nearly every nation or state grants some sort of gambling franchise, usually in the name of revenue enhancement, i.e., cash. With the police cracking down on illegal rivals, these gambling monopolies are usually pretty lucrative for everyone involved. In Canada, though, the authors of a new report believe that Ontario’s state-sanctioned gaming industry may
Canadian gaming illegal? Read More »
news about gamblingHurricane Dennis might be wreaking havoc with Gulf Coast casinos soon, and the Mississippi Gaming Commission is ready. Even before an official shut-down order has been issued, though, Gulfport music lovers have bad news.
I’ve heard some bad metaphors before, but this one takes the cake: a “gambling expert” explains that in the bathtub that is Las Vegas, you can’t see the “dirt ring” left by gambling, but in Pennsylvania you will be able to see it. I wish this was a joke.
Beware the murky residue Read More »
news about gamblingMost people associate Macau with gambling, but according to the Rugged Elegance Inspiration Network, you can get some nice clothes made there, too.
Macau: More than just gambling Read More »
news about gamblingIt used to be that “sleeping with the fishes” meant that you had permanently cashed in your chips. But a planned Macau casino will let people gamble in an underwater gambling hall.
Underwater gambling Read More »
news about gamblingYou’ve got to love an editor at the Las Vegas Sun making it sound like the Keystone State is banking on more people’s lives to be ruined by problem gambling: Pennsylvania plans for more gambling addicts.
Another great headline Read More »
news about gamblingThis is why you don’t ask for free legal advice.
Ask a stupid question… Read More »
news about gamblingOne of the things that struck me in Macau casinos was the prevalence of private VIP salons. Leased by junket operators, they give a share of profits to the casino but seem to be independently run. At last, there’s something in print that explains the phenomenon.
I just couldn’t pass up this quote. Is xenophobia alive and well in Macau, or is A casino magnate just trying to articulate his vision for his company’s continued dominance? “We are Chinese and we will not be disgraced. We will not lose to the intruders.” –Stanley Ho This was in an interesting story (with
This week, I was talking to a reporter about the comparative nightlife of Macau and Singapore (I actually was taken to this place in Singapore). I struggled for words to tactfully explain what appeared to be the rampant prostitution in both cities. Singapore did a much better job of containing aggressively solicitous prostitutes to the
You’ve got to love the subhead for this Guardian look at Macau: “With mobsters jailed and foreign investors pouring money into its gaming industry, Macau is enjoying a spectacular boom .”