If you’ve called the office, I’ve been out, and for good reason. I gave a guest lecture in Bill Eadington’s econ class up at University of Nevada Reno. It was a great opportunity to talk about some of my new research in world gambling history. I think that Roll the Bones will benefit from my
Often, people from other countries or even other states think that government regulation of gambling is faintly repressive–that the Nevada Control Board works hard to limit gambling in Nevada. Actually, nothing could be further from the truth. As this story from the Sun shows, the GCB actually is pushing casinos to attract more gamblers: State
Remember a while back there was a flurry of stories about how seniors that gambled were healthier than those who didn’t? At the time, I predicted that before long there would be another study that contradicted those findings. Well, the other shoe has dropped. Here comes a study, from Yale no less, that claims (based
Young gamblers are losers…statistically speaking Read More »
UncategorizedThe rancorous monthlong strike that pitted Local 54 against7 Atlantic City casinos is over. Given that the new contract is five years, rather than the three wanted by the union, I’d say this was a victory for the casinos, though of course everyone lost with the disruption of the strike. From CBS via AP: The
Let’s say you’re a little short of cash, but you’ve got a gun. No problem, you think. Just walk into a restaurant and hold the place up. It seems like a great plan, until you run into some guys who actually train in physical combat. From Fox News: Russell R. Rogers, 64, walked into Elmer’s
Ultimate Robbery Championship Read More »
haphazard worldIn a real crazy day, where I’m already stretched to the limit, I get this breaking news from the VegasResource.com newsletter: The Key Largo Hotel and Casino, on Flamingo, just 2 blocks east of Bally’s, is closing permanently on January 17, 2005. A developer has bought the property and will demolish the Key Largo and
This past week, for some reason I’ve had every elected Democrat in the state call me at home, begging me to get out and vote for John Kerry. This is curious because I’m registered as a non-partisan and have never donated money to either political party. Yet, for some reason, Kerry’s having all of his
T-shirt fun at political rallies Read More »
haphazard worldBethlehem, Pennsylvania, has been calling itself “Christmas City” for a while now. Click the link to see why. Some there are up in arms about a plan to leave something new under the stocking…a slot parlor. From McCall.com: When some Lehigh Valley leaders began lining up behind a proposal to bring a slot machine parlor
Slots and Christmas don’t mix? Read More »
news about gamblingIt seems that I’m on the road once more. Today, I’m checkling in from the Barona Valley Ranch Resort and Casino in San Diego County. I’m doing some preliminary oral history interviews down here. It’s fascinating stuff. There’s nothing better than being able to listen to people who have been in the gaming industry longer
The US has broken off its negotiations with Antigua over that nation’s successful WTO challenge of US restrictions on cross border trade in gaming services. From Yahoo News: “Unfortunately we were not able to reach a settlement,” despite several meetings over the past four months,” said Richard Mills, a spokesman for the U.S. Trade Representative’s
Negotiations over…for now Read More »
news about gamblingSome casinos chase high rollers, which can be risky–a lucky weekend for them can turn into a quarterly loss, something that shareholders hate to see. The Hard Rock casino (right down the street on Harmon Ave.), apparently burned once too many times by lucky whales, or mega-high rollers, has decided to stop catering to the
Turning whales away Read More »
news about gamblingI missed this in August, but picked up on the Drudge Report today. You can apparently have your cat cloned, if you’ve got an extra $20,000 to spend. Check out this release from PRweb: ForeverPet, a division of Geneticas Life Sciences, today announced the launch of the ForeverPet cat cloning service for cat owners. Priced
Make that ten lives: Is this for real? Read More »
haphazard worldI must have missed this when it first broke, but apparently presidential candidate John Kerry went into Philly a few weeks ago and ordered a cheese steak–with swiss cheese. Read about some more inane campaign trail faux pas from Slate: If John Kerry loses the election, a reporter once told me, we’ll probably be able
Cheesesteak miscue Read More »
haphazard worldWhen I first read about this, I thought it was a joke. The Westward Ho, long a favorite of low rollers on the Strip, is adding a locals-oriented expansion on Industrial Road. It will be styled “The HO: Your Get Lucky Casino.” Click the link if you don’t believe me. This is all happening in
Get lucky at the ho Read More »
life in vegasI’m back from my conference on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and really buried by work. Still, I took the time to add some content on the right–let me know what you think. I’ve got to say that I really liked the Gulf Coast. I got a great idea for a novel that might be my
I gave my paper this morning here in Mississippi. I think it went well. I’m hurrying back to a session in a minute, so I can’t speak in great detail, but globalization is really an interesting issue that I think has been anticipated by the gaming industry in many ways. According to our lunchtime speaker,
Globalization on the gulf coast Read More »
gambling & cultureAnytime I get to reference a Thelonious Monk composition, it’s good news. In any event, I am writing this from Mississippi–more precisely, in the library of the University of Southern Mississippi, on the ground floor, facing northeast (again, something for fans of The Wire to appreciate). I’m about a block away from the beach, which
Bright Mississippi Read More »
news about gamblingA very quick entry here, as I sit on the sixth floor of Bunche Hall on the UCLA Campus, my feet facing east (that’s funny for those of you who watch The Wire, otherwise, trust me, it’s funny). Due to a strange set of circumstances, I drove down here for the day, and am then
Back in LA for the day Read More »
what's newParliament has published plans of Great Britain’s overhauled gambling bill. From BBC News, courtesy of David McDowell: The new law, if approved by Parliament, will allow casinos with up to 1,250 slot machines and unlimited jackpots. It would ban slot machines from fast food outlets and minicab offices, restrict internet gaming and introduce a new
Britan’s brave new world Read More »
news about gamblingEvery week, I get several emails asking me, “What are the rules of the World Series of Poker?” Obviously, these emailers are oblivious to the fact that I don’t work for Harrah’s and in fact don’t even play poker. But, as I live to inform, here are the Rules for the World Series of Poker
FAQ: Rules of the WSOP Read More »
news about gambling