Everything about casinos, lotteries, racetracks, and other gambling businesses: news, design, and corporate intrigue.
Harrah’s is being sued for making workers show up early without overtime pay. From the LV Sun: A federal lawsuit filed Tuesday is the latest in a series of class-action pay claims filed by Nevada workers.This week’s case is against Harrah’s Entertainment. The suit alleges Harrah’s requires workers to arrive 10 to 15 minutes before […]
Big news in the international gambling scene, as the Marina Bay Sands has finally opened. From the Financial Times: Singapore has imposed a charge of S$100 (US$73) a day or S$2,000 a year for residents to visit the tables as a way of calming vocal opposition to the casino developments from locals who fear a
Marina Bay Sands opens Read More »
news about gamblingIn honor of Earth Day, I gave this week’s Green Felt Jungle an environmental twist: The casino resorts of the Las Vegas Strip do not spring to mind as environmentally sound institutions. From their blazing marquees to their overflowing buffets, they seem to be studies in excess. With the current mindset conflating any sort of
Green cuisine at Bellagio Read More »
news about gambling, writingMy extended commentary on February’s Nevada gaming numbers is out in the Las Vegas Business Press. Here’s the start: The February gaming revenue numbers for Nevada caused some cheer around the state and on Wall Street. Total casino win rose 13.9 percent, the first double-digit increase in nearly three years. But if this is cause
Keep the champagne on ice for now Read More »
news about gamblingHarrah’s is undertaking a massive renovation of one of the city’s historic gambling halls. From the AC Press: Acknowledging that the cowboy concept has gone stale, Bally’s Wild Wild West Casino is preparing for a $1.5 million facelift to reinvigorate the aging casino just in time for the bustling summer crowds. … Bally's spent $110
Old west is old in AC Read More »
atlantic city, news about gamblingI think someone’s got their semantics wrong in this Card Player article about legalizing at-home poker in South Carolina: This week, after a hearing that included testimony from the Poker Players Alliance, a local businessman and poker player, and a number of elected officials, a South Carolina House sub-committee voted 4-1 to change the state’s
“Socialized poker” coming to South Carolina Read More »
gambling & culture, news about gamblingThis week’s Green Felt Journal is about the El Cortez: In many ways, the El Cortez is the anti-CityCenter. Built in 1941, it’s the oldest continuously operating hotel-casino in Las Vegas. Its most prominent feature—the “new” neon sign—was installed in 1946. It has only 364 guest rooms, and, for better or worse, it’s in the
Old-school at the eC Read More »
news about gambling, writingI somehow missed celebrating one of the biggest milestones in Atlantic City gaming history earlier this month: on April 2, the Trump Taj Mahal celebrated its 20th anniversary. But I did write a little about the road to opening in this month’s Casino Connection: Even before Atlantic City’s first casino, Resorts International, opened in 1978,
Happy birthday Trump Taj Read More »
atlantic city, news about gamblingHere’s some great news for MGM Mirage: Burton Cohen’s joined their board of directors. From the LV Sun: Attorney and retired gaming executive Burton Cohen has been elected to the MGM Mirage board of directors.Cohen, former chief executive of the Desert Inn Hotel & Country Club, retired in 1995 and the same year was elected
Vega$ veteran joins MGM Mirage Read More »
news about gamblingRemember my thoughts about tiered pricing a while ago? In it, I theorized that there would be a convergence between resort fees and “cost certainty” restaurant pricing schemes, like prix fixe at the high(ish) end and buffet passes at the low end. Harrah’s is rolling out a stay-and-buffet deal that I think qualifies. Check out
Tiered pricing at Harrah’s Read More »
news about gamblingInteresting article in today’s AC Press about local casinos’ new focus on…locals: The sluggish economy and fierce competition from Pennsylvania’s slot parlors for out-of-state customers have forced Atlantic City casinos to fine-tune their marketing strategies to focus more on the local area. In doing so, they have discovered there is a lucrative market right in
Evolution of AC: locals Read More »
atlantic city, news about gamblingLas Vegas Strip casinos had a strong February. From the LVRJ: When combining the first two months of 2010, gaming revenues are up 5 percent statewide and 13.4 percent on the Strip. “February turned out to be the perfect storm,” Control Board Tax and License Division Chief Frank Streshley said. “It was a record for
NV February numbers good, not great Read More »
news about gamblingA week ago today, Planet Hollywood officially became a Total Rewards property. In my latest Vegas Seven column, I talk a little about the behind-the-scenes work that made this possible:P If you didn’t notice anything unusual at Planet Hollywood recently, don’t feel bad: You weren’t supposed to. But behind the scenes, and occasionally in front
This isn’t the popular thing to say right now, but I’ve got real doubts about the AC mini-casino proposal. Here are my thoughts from the LV Business Press: Both Atlantic City and Las Vegas have had a difficult recession of course, by definition no recession is easy. Atlantic City, however, has suffered much more due
AC needs more than mini-casinos Read More »
atlantic city, news about gamblingMore news from Atlantic City, none of it good. From NJ.com: Resorts Atlantic City, the nation's first casino outside Nevada, says it may not survive; another Atlantic City casino hasn't made a loan payment since last summer; and three others are in bankruptcy court. Atlantic City's 11 casinos have been struggling for more than three
Interesting story about the Las Vegas Hilton’s Twitter initiative, though the timing couldn’t be worse, coming on the heels of yesterday’s LV Sun article about the Hilton’s abysmal 4Q earnings. From hotelsmag.com: The marketing budget for Las Vegas Hilton is miniscule when compared to multi-property powerhouse rivals like MGM Mirage, Harrah's Entertainment and Wynn Resorts.
Social media is cheap and effective, but… Read More »
news about gamblingSince it’s Thursday, I’ve got a new Green Felt Journal for you to read in Vegas Seven magazine. This week, I talk about March Madness on the Strip: The basketball-mad crowd covers all ages, from cigar-chomping sharp bettors in their 60s to still-in-school rowdies wearing their college colors. It skews young, however, with 20- to
Madder, leaner, Vegas Read More »
news about gambling, Vegas Seven, writingOne of Nevada’s legendary casinos is closing up in Lake Tahoe. From KVBC: Before the Las Vegas Strip ruled the gambling world, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. helped make the Cal Neva lodge one of Nevada's coolest casinos in the early 1960s. On Wednesday, roulette wheels will stop spinning and blackjack games
In addition to the cover story, my regular Green Felt Journal column in Vegas Seven this week tackles one very specific complaint about Aria’s casino, the lighting: But the thing most likely to provoke comment from casino-goers about Aria in its first three months hasn’t been Pelli Clarke Pelli’s spacious design or the cutting-edge technology
Shining a light on Aria Read More »
news about gambling, writingI had such a busy day yesterday that I couldn’t post this. It’s ironic because this article was the culmination of about a month of interviews, analysis, observation, writing, and re-writing. It’s the cover story for the March 25 Vegas Seven, about Aria’s first 100 days: Aria, the centerpiece of the 67-acre mini city, has