Living in Las Vegas, Dave’s home since 2001.
I don’t usually post music reviews, and I haven’t seen this group yet, but this could be interesting. It showed up in my inbox courtesy of the Las Vegas Hilton’s Hotsheet: Imagine sipping champagne in Tempo, the Las Vegas Hilton’s high-energy lounge, and beautiful women playing strings walk by your table. This is not a […]
I’m out of the office for a day, and two HUGE stories break: Congress passes an Internet gaming ban, and the world’s biggest gaming company might be bought out. Adding to the fun, Harrah’s and Boyd swap land, paving the way for Harrah’s redevelopment of its center Strip holdings. Here’s the HET buyout, from AP:
If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to have your name in lights on the Las Vegas Strip–literally–I’m happy to say that I can tell you that it feels pretty good. Mandalay Bay has put the ad for the October 7 International Launch Event in the rotation for the LCD marquees, and, thanks to the
Rolling on the Strip Read More »
life in vegasThis was in Friday’s RJ, but I didn’t get to post it until today. It’s pretty big news (for the gambling book crowd, anyway), from John L. Smith‘s column: Gamblers Book Shop owner Howard Schwartz, a legend in the traditional gaming information business, says he’s ready to sell his amazing store after 27 years. Schwartz,
‘Gambler’s Book’ for sale Read More »
gambling & culture, life in vegasAs if you needed another thing to download, I’ve got a press release for my October 7 launch event now available: RTB_launch_release.pdf Remember, it starts at 2 at the Mandalay Bay’s Reading Room. Come down, support a local author, and meet people–you’ll be glad you did.
This is a huge story for Nevada gaming, but I haven’t heard much about it until today. Currently, Nevada casinos are basically self-regulating when it comes to reporting large financial transactions, but all of that is going to end. From the LVRJ: Something uniquely Nevadan and historic is about to end today. No, it’s not
With the October 5 release date of Roll the Bones rapidly approaching, I’ve got an announcement to make: the official launch event will be a reading and signing at the Reading Room at Mandalay Place on Saturday, October 7, at 2 PM. I’m going to be publicly reading from the book for the first time
Roll the Bones launch event Read More »
life in vegasI’m in Atlantic City, and the big news is the purchase and imminent closing of the Sands. You can read about it from the Inquirer: Las Vegas-based Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. will buy the Sands Hotel & Casino – the smallest casino in an Atlantic City that has been getting bigger and brighter – and a
It’s been a few days since the story broke, but I still haven’t seen any serious discussion of the change in the Wynn Las Vegas casino floor hierarchy, outside of people quoting dealers irate about their upcoming drop in pay. This is absolutely understandable–if someone asked me to take a $10,000 pay cut (or told
The sound of one hand shuffling Read More »
life in vegasWynn Las Vegas is changing the management structure of its casino games in a way that may prove revolutionary. From the LV SUN: Wynn Las Vegas dealers – the highest paid in the city at a shade more than $100,000 per year, mostly from tips – will soon lose some of their tip income. Resort
A new deal for casino supes Read More »
gambling & culture, life in vegasI found out about this a while ago while doing some research on getting married in Clark County. Vegas is supposed to be a 24-hour town, but you won’t be able to get your marriage license on grave shift any more. From, improbably enough, Fox Reno: Getting married is as much a tradition in Las
Not always turned on Read More »
life in vegasIn this case it’s not the patients that drive in to the dentist’s office, but the dentist who drives to the patients. Confused? Read the article from the NY Times and learn: Samantha Taube stepped out of the MGM Grand into the bright sun to walk to the parking lot. After a short distance, she
Drive-in dentistry in Vegas Read More »
life in vegasThere was an interesting piece in the Review-Journal on Joel Bergman, a prolific casino architect: Joel Bergman dislikes awards. He doesn’t enter competitions for them. He believes the application process can give away too much inside information about his company, one of the gaming industry’s leading architectural design firms. Advertisement So when the Global Gaming
Designing the Nugget, twice Read More »
atlantic city, life in vegasNot content with being a gaming and tourism juggernaut, Nevada is actively courting non-gaming development–at the expense of other states. It’s hardly surprising that New Jersey is at the top of the list of targets. From the AC Press: When the Nevada Development Authority, or NDA, picked New Jersey as the first target of its
MGM Mirage is announcing the formation of a new realty group, so if you want to buy a piece of the Strip’s biggest development project, you are in luck. Straight from the press release: With construction now underway at Project CityCenter, MGM MIRAGE (NYSE: MGM) delivers yet another illustration of its industry-leading innovation: the formation
City Center Realty Read More »
life in vegasWho doesn’t like a toga party? Outdoors, in Las Vegas? Someone, I’m sure. In any event, Caesars Palace is having a toga party TONIGHT to celebrate its 40th anniversary. I go this email in my inbox today: FREE Toga Party! Caesars Palace Celebrates ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY! Featuring celebrity host Jenny McCarthy and music by Otis
Toga party tonight! Read More »
life in vegasI think these two stories illustrate the differences between Atlantic City and Las Vegas. A major property in one is bringing itself boldly into post-1991 style, while the other is redefining the casino resort. First things first from the Press: “Purple and pink. Aye-yai-yai-yai-yai,†Mark Juliano moaned with obvious displeasure. “Have you ever seen so
A Tale of Two Cities Read More »
atlantic city, life in vegasI was down at the WSOP at the Rio yesterday, checking out the Gaming Life Expo and hanging around the media room. The Expo is huge. I remember at the 2002 WSOP (the first I went to), there was one guy with a card table outside selling jewelry and stuff, and another guy selling books.
It’s the end of an era on Las Vegas Blvd South, as the storied Klondike is closing. From the LVRJ: Gaming operations at the Klondike were scheduled to cease this morning at 6. The restaurant and 153-room hotel will remain open through Friday, when the entire property permanently closes its doors. The Klondike’s history stretches
Goodbye to the Klondike Read More »
life in vegasEveryone, it seems, wants to know the future. Unfortunately, history isn’t a predictive science, so most people have to make do with vague Nostradmus-type predictions or simple guesswork. But you don’t need a crystal ball to see that, in a few years, the Las Vegas Strip will be a much different place. From the LVRJ:
The (near) future of the Strip Read More »
life in vegas