Since last night, I’ve had many, many questions about Steve Wynn. I decided to write up some of my thoughts, and Vegas Seven published them: The news of Steve Wynn’s resignation from the company he founded, Wynn Resorts, has brought more questions than answers in Las Vegas. Most of those questions won’t be answered for
Understanding the Wynn Legacy and its Impact on Las Vegas Read More »
Vegas SevenPeople demand to know the future. That’s impossible, but anyone can make a guess as to what’s going to happen. It’s easy to be right about the superficial things. But it takes a special talent to see the deeper future that lies in wait. 22 years ago, Eugene Christiansen had a good read on where
Casino Future Was Not So Hard to Predict 22 Years Ago in Vegas 7 Read More »
Vegas SevenI first wrote this about a month ago. I was just thinking about the potential impact of AI and automation on Las Vegas. And now you can read it: Since the invention of the slot machine over 100 years ago, automation has been a part of gambling, generally for the better. And yet recent developments
AI Could Change More Than the Game(s) in Las Vegas Read More »
Vegas SevenMy latest for Vegas Seven is some thoughts on what NFR returning to Las Vegas means this December: It might have initially been a marriage of convenience, but over the years Las Vegas and the cowboys (and cowgirls) have struck up a genuine romance. The annual year-end boots and belts makeover has become an anticipated
National Finals Rodeo More Necessary Than Ever in Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas SevenToday in Vegas Seven I talk a little bit about what might come after the broader legalization of sports betting in the United States: The case stems from New Jersey’s attempts to legalize sports betting, in contravention of PASPA, a 1992 law that banned new states from legalizing sports betting. Although New Jersey had a
U.S. Supreme Court to Hear Case Influencing Legal Sports Betting in Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas SevenMy latest for Vegas Seven–some thoughts on the meaning of Pennsylvania’s expansion of gambling: There are two areas of interest for Las Vegans. The first is the expansion itself. In a sense, Pennsylvania’s push may be the final phase of the expansion of American gambling, which started with Nevada’s re-legalization of wide-open commercial gaming in
Pennsylvania gambling expands and other states will follow Read More »
Vegas SevenWhen the weather changed a few weeks back, I started thinking about the end of summer. I ended with some meditations on what makes Las Vegas different and how it is no longer quite as special: Until now, Las Vegas has been many things, but a big league town was not one of them. As
A Small Town Cools Down, A Big League City Heats Up – Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas SevenMy second ROH interview is with Bully Ray, who needs no introduction, but got one anyway: There, the Dudley Boyz (as he and D-Von were known) helped to redefine tag-team wrestling. In 2005, the pair jumped ship to rival Total Nonstop Action, where they were known as Team 3D. Renaming himself Bully Ray after splitting
Bully Ray Reflects on His Wrestling Legacy – Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas SevenMy latest for Vegas Seven is a pair of interview with ROH wrestlers. The first I’m sharing today is with Kenny King: Kenny King has shown the world many faces: aspiring sports entertainer, reality show contestant, multiple-time wrestling champion. A participant on the WWE-produced Tough Enough and cast member of the most recent season of
Hometown Hero Kenny King Preps for the Fight of His Career – Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas SevenThe sale of the Fontainebleau finally happening got me thinking about the history of that property, which made for a decent Green Felt Journal: The Fontainebleau’s construction began in 2007 and stopped amid the recession in 2009. As with the Marc Antony and Countryland USA projects, lack of financing was the culprit. But the scale
Second Chances on the North Strip – Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas SevenFor my 200th Green Felt Journal, I took a look back at the first 199 columns: My first GFJ came in the first issue of Vegas Seven, released February 4, 2010. The column itself (and its name) was the brainchild of then-editor Phil Hagen; it’s a take on Ed Reid and Ovid Demaris’ anti-Vegas potboiler,
Green Felt Journal Deals 200 – Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas SevenIt’s always fun to profile interesting people. That’s definitely the case in my second look at Jon Gray: “I called George [Maloof, founder of Palms] right away. He said, ‘You’re the right guy for the job. If anyone can bring Palms back, it’s you and the Fertittas [brothers Frank and Lorenzo are the chairman and
Jon Gray Is Ready for Round Two – Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas SevenAs part of that Vegas Seven future issue, I looked at a Vancouver development that reflects the future of casino design in Las Vegas and elsewhere: Traditionally, Las Vegas has set the bar for casino innovations. In the past decade, however, that has changed because of the proliferation of gaming. There have been tremendous strides
Parq to the Future – Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas SevenI have a big feature in this week’s Vegas Seven: The Las Vegas Strip of the Future. Fittingly, I approached the future by taking in the past: Looking at how the Las Vegas Strip has evolved over the past 60 years can give us an idea of where it is headed. We’ll survey what’s popular
The Las Vegas Strip of the Future – Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas SevenIn this week’s Green Felt Journal, I reflect back on EVO 2017, which I attended a while back: Which brings us to EVO 2017, which took place at the Mandalay Bay last month. EVO is short for the Evolution Championship Series, an annual tournament that seeks to crown the best players in several fighting video
Esports Draw an Audience – Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas SevenI’ve had a weird relationship with casino carpet for a long time. In my latest Green Felt Journal, I get the low-down from a real expert: Carpets that adorn casinos look very different, but they are somehow easy to classify—a certain mixture of garish and gaudy that balances mirth with disorientation. This, perhaps, makes the
The Enduring Fascination of Casino Carpet – Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas SevenWho doesn’t like a circus? Besides the people who stopped going to circuses because they don’t like circuses? In my latest Green Felt Journal, I explore the links between the circus and Las Vegas entertainment: The latest incarnation of the circus to hit Las Vegas is Circus 1903, which will be performing at Paris Las
The Circus Is Coming Back to Town – Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas SevenIn this week’s Green Felt Journal, I talk about two of Derek Stevens’ latest moves in Downtown Las Vegas. How are they tied to the past? The past few weeks have offered a good perspective on the dance between old Vegas, new Vegas and new old Vegas that characterizes our times. In particular, two incidents
Derek Stevens Looks Toward Downtown’s Past to See Its Future – Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas SevenIn my latest Green Felt Journal, I talk about a recent survey that detailed hotel miseries: Vacation is supposed to be a fun time, a chance to get away from your everyday problems. And hotels are the cocoons that travelers return to, their homes away from home. A good hotel experience can make a vacation,
Survey Shows Bad Hotels Make Guests Cry – Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas SevenThe key to Las Vegas’s post-recession rebound (I don’t like to call it a recovery because the casino industry didn’t take back lost ground; it pivoted into slightly new areas to make up for its losses), some argue, is doing everything bigger and flashier. It’s hard to argue with that approach since many of the
Vegas for Everyman (and Woman) – Vegas Seven Read More »
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