A few weeks ago I got to sit down and talk with a UNLV grad who’s gone pretty far in the Vegas hotel business and is poised to go further. The results of that talk? Today’s Vegas Seven cover story, a profile of Jon Gray: For one, the $550 million shopping and entertainment district between […]
Jon Gray and Linq in Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas Seven, writingYesterday I wrote a blog piece for Vegas Seven about the significance of Fertitta Interactive launching Ultimate Gaming: The story here isn’t so much the debut of a new online gaming platform. It’s the way that Ultimate will be branded and marketed. The Fertittas will align their betting platform with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the
Fertittas, UFC, and Online Gaming in Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas Seven, writingYesterday (June 20) was the 65th anniversary of Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel’s murder. Vegas Seven editor Greg Blake Miller asked me to write something about it, and I thought it would be a good time to introduce someone I’ve recently met, Bernie Sindler, who actually knew Siegel. I share a little of Sindler’s story and his
Siegel’s Shadow in Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas SevenIn today’s Green Felt Journal, I look at whether tending bar is the new dealing: For decades, becoming a casino dealer was a guaranteed ticket to a middle-class income, even without the benefit of a college education or long vocational training. But because of changes in technology and in the casino business itself, bartending is
Are Bartenders the New Dealers? in Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas Seven, writingThis week, there’s no Green Felt Journal column, but I have two stories in Vegas Seven nevertheless. The first is a look at what I consider to be one of the most interesting things about Sunset Station, the Gaudi Bar. Sunset Station has just celebrated its 15th anniversary: As Sunset Station turns 15 this month,
Worst Night Ever and a Prescient Casino Bar in Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas Seven, writingIn the Green Felt Journal available in today’s Vegas Seven, I take a look at the real impact of the Electric Daisy Carnival on Las Vegas: Generally speaking, if you want to bring an event to Las Vegas, the town is happy to oblige, provided you do three things: 1. Fill rooms with people who
Electric Daisy Economics in Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas SevenThis week in Vegas Seven, I’ve got a short piece about why BMM’s move to the gaming tech corridor is significant: The gaming-testing lab BMM International announced in late May that it was moving its world headquarters from its current Eastern Avenue digs to the south-of-McCarran industrial area that’s become the city’s gaming-tech corridor—an area
The Rise of the Gaming-Tech Corridor in Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas SevenIt’s Thursday, which means a new Vegas Seven is available at news racks throughout Southern Nevada and online. In this week’s Green Felt Journal, I take a look at Vegastripping.com, trying to figure out what makes the site tick: VegasTripping.com isn’t a marketing mouthpiece. It’s not trying to sell you anything. And that might be
One Trip Worth Taking in Vegas Seven Read More »
Two Way Hard Three, writingThis week in Vegas Seven, I have a Latest Thought that looks back at the life and career of Stuart Mason, as viewed through the lens of something you don’t hear enough about in Las Vegas, at least in the news: community: We’ve all heard the stereotype: Las Vegas is nothing more than a transient
Moving Mountains, Building a City in Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas Seven, writingIn today’s Vegas Seven, I have an About Town profile of the work Russell Joyner’s done with Miracle Mile Shops: The International Council of Shopping Centers’ annual REcon event is the Super Bowl for retail real estate professionals. It’s going on right now at the Las Vegas Convention Center, so all eyes in the shopping-mall
Miracle Man & More in Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas Seven, writingThis week, I wrote my final column for the Las Vegas Business Press. Here’s how it starts: Its been an interesting seven years. When I started writing a biweekly column for the Las Vegas Business Press in 2005, Las Vegas and the casino industry were in much different places. Models of Project CityCenter had just
Ending an era in the LVBP Read More »
Las Vegas Business Press, writingAs you might know, a month ago, sbe Entertainment Group sent out a press release with some details of the financing of the putative SLS Las Vegas. I was skeptical, as were others. Last week, the company sent out a second press release, which provided more details. I still had questions, so, wearing my Vegas
With Oseland Aboard, SLS Could Be a Winner in Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas Seven, writingThis week in the Green Felt Journal in Vegas Seven, I take a look at the massive renovation of the MGM Grand: If you’ve been to the MGM Grand in the past few months—or even checked its website—you probably noticed that they’re renovating the place. And that might not seem like such a big deal—casinos
Renovating the Grand and more in Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas Seven, writingFor this week’s Las Vegas Business Press column, I talk about the importance of renovation to Las Vegas today: When The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas opened its doors in December 2010, there was some regret: This was, we were assured, the last casino opening on the Strip for some time. In a town that had
Las Vegas mantra in the LVBP Read More »
Las Vegas Business Press, writingThis week in Vegas Seven’s Green Felt Journal, I look at someone who’s making some waves Downtown: Although the energy of Tony Hsieh and other non-gamers has helped fuel the transformation of downtown Las Vegas, a cadre of Fremont Street casino owners also deserve credit. Derek Stevens is prominent among them. via The Man Behind
The Man Behind The D in Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas Seven, writingIn this week’s Las Vegas Business Press, I muse a bit about what the start of pool season really means in Las Vegas: The weathers warming up, which in postrecession Las Vegas means one thing: pool season is here. Once, that would have meant little more than seasonal employees dusting off the lounge chairs and
Pool season reflects LV’s ability to evolve in the LVBP Read More »
Las Vegas Business Press, writingThis week in Vegas Seven, I take a look at why the GSA scandal at the M Resort happened in the first place, and why it will probably happen again: Las Vegas is back in the national headlines as a place where responsible people shouldn’t be wasting their money. Last time, it was executives for
Digging into the GSA scandal in Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas Seven, writingThis week, my Green Felt Journal column in Vegas Seven is about Michael Gaughan, Jr., taking the reins at the Rampart Casino in Summerlin: This week, a reunion of sorts took place in Summerlin, as the JW Marriott Resort & Spa and the Rampart casino, which had operated as separate units for a decade, were
The Gaughan Also Rises in Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas Seven, writingMy latest in the Las Vegas Business Press is inspired by a recent more at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas: Recently, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas announced a replacement for its Strip-front pop-up wedding chapel, itself a replacement for Droog, a quirky boutique chock full of intricately fashioned, completely impractical, outrageously expensive furniture. The new
Casino attractions that matter in Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas Seven, writingHere’s my latest Green Felt Journal in Vegas Seven: In the beginning, Las Vegas catered mostly to serious gamblers and casual vacationers. In the late 1950s, business travelers entered the mix. Later on, the town tried to be everything to everyone—both family-friendly and high-roller heaven, at the same time. Since the onset of the recession,
The Palms’ Big Break in Vegas Seven Read More »
Two Way Hard Three, writing