The May numbers have been released from the Nevada Gaming Control Board, and while on the surface they seem to be not such bad news, they actually send a mixed message. Here are my thoughts, broken down by region. Statewide Across the state, the gaming industry continues to shrink–we’ve got about 2,500 fewer slots and
As those of you who follow my Twitter stream know, I spent a good chunk of yesterday down at the Rio, cruising around Day 1A of the World Series of Poker. Oskar Garcia has the action cover here. I thought I’d share a few of my thoughts. The story I was looking for at the
When MGM Mirage changed their name to MGM Resorts International, I wasn’t bowled over. “Resorts International” is forever linked in my mind to May 26, 1978, and a big red hotel on the Atlantic City Boardwalk (sure, it’s been painted white for 20 years or so, but in my mind Haddon Hall will always be
MGM name game in Vegas Seven Read More »
news about gambling, writingThe latest Las Vegas Business Press is on the streets, and it includes my thoughts on the April numbers: April revenue results for Nevada’s casinos contained a not-unexpected surprise. The hands of fate, in the form of a lower-than-usual baccarat hold percentage, finally caught up with the state, proving that an over-reliance on high-end gamblers
Volatility attacks! in the LVBP Read More »
news about gambling, writingThanks to the State of the States publication from the AGA, we’ve got some decent numbers for the national commercial casino industry. With more than ten years of reports behind us, I decided to start pulling together some of the statistical information into 1-pagers that will make it easier to see the trends in American
Casino employment trends Read More »
news about gamblingIt’s Thursday, and if you like my writing for Vegas Seven, it’s a lucky Thursday, since I’ve got my usual Green Felt Journal column and a more in-depth Latest Word. The Latest Word piece takes a philosophical and even theological look at poker, winning, and losing: In other words, poker isn’t always fair. Of course,
Vegas Seven double shot Read More »
gambling & culture, news about gambling, writingNeat story from the Chicago Tribune about a cruising riverboat: For a few hours Wednesday morning, a riverboat casino that’s been moored on the banks of the Illinois River will head for open water.The Par-A-Dice Riverboat Casino hasn’t sailed in 11 years. But casino owner Boyd Gaming Corp. plans a three-hour cruise to comply with
An uncommon cruise Read More »
news about gamblingReally good piece in the LV Sun today about the rise of phony online hotel reviews, and what travel sites are doing about them: The rise of traveler-generated online reviews has forced hotel managers to contend with anonymous posts from angry or disappointed customers. For people in the business of promoting Las Vegas hotels, it
It’s (possibly) a faaake! Read More »
news about gamblingAn LA Times article about Sam Nazarian’s plan for a nearly-finished hotel he just acquired in Hollywood got me thinking that this could be a model for at least one of the towers at the Sahara–if things ever turn around enough to justify the renovation: The former Palihouse, which Nazarian estimates is about 85% complete,
Glimpse into Sahara’s future? Read More »
news about gamblingDavid Gordon. The Serialist. New York: Simon and Schuster Paperbacks, 2010. 335 pages. Fiction is much harder to review than non-fiction. With the latter, you just need a good topic and a passable writing style, and you can get a feel for the book within a few pages. Fiction, which requires a much bigger investment
Book Review: The Serialist Read More »
book reviewsThursday means another Green Felt Journal in Vegas Seven. This week I discuss the team behind Harrah’s tweets: Social media websites such as Twitter and Facebook have been invaluable tools for casinos. They can foster a sense of familiarity with guests, but they are anything but casual. Plenty of work goes into manning the new-media
Harrah’s Twitter Team in Vegas 7 Read More »
news about gambling, writingBased on a discussion in my Gambling and the Media class, I wrote a little essay about how gambling’s depicted in film and literature. Now it’s a Las Vegas Business Press column: Looking at how gambling is depicted in books, films, and television says a lot about how people perceive the pastime, but it often
Writing about gambling Read More »
gambling & cultureI spent a few hours down at the World Series of Poker this morning, and came away with one of the best interviews I’ve done yet. It’s now podcast #22 in the UNLV Gaming Podcast Series: 22-June 14, 2010 Jack Effel, Vice President, International Poker Operations and Director, World Series of Poker at Harrah’s Entertainment
Podcast up: interview with Jack Effel Read More »
news about gambling, what's newThis is getting predictable. In May, casino revenues in Atlantic City declined 9% from May 2009. Year to date, revenues are down 7.9%, and it doesn’t look to get much better. I don’t think that table games in Delaware and Pennsylvania are going to help. It was an across-the-board decline. Every casino posted lower revenues
AC slides more in May Read More »
atlantic city, news about gamblingIt’s Thursday, so I’ve got a new Green Felt Journal in Vegas Seven. This week, I profile new Hard Rock Hotel president Joseph Magliarditi: The Hard Rock Hotel got a new president and chief executive officer on June 1. Joseph A. Magliarditi comes with extensive experience in the Las Vegas casino industry and promises to
Hard Rock CEO in Vegas Seven Read More »
news about gamblingThe Gaming Control Board has released Nevada’s April 2010 gaming revenue numbers. To give everyone some perspective on the month, I’ve put together a new report: Nevada Gaming Statistics: April Comparison. This four-pager charts the performance of Nevada casinos over the past 7 Aprils. This month, we’ve got four reporting areas: Statewide, Las Vegas Strip,
April numbers tell a story: volatility Read More »
news about gamblingThink you know what makes a good casino suite? Well, the good folks at the El Cortez think you might, too, so they’re inviting you to design a suite for them–if you’re an interior designer, architect, or part of a team with at least 1 member licensed in Nevada. Here’s the press release: he El
Casino suite design competition Read More »
news about gamblingThis might be the nuttiest gambling story of the year. You’ve got to read it to believe it. From the Independent Online: Traditional beliefs about the clairvoyant powers of vultures could spell trouble for the birds as gamblers look for a sure bet during the World Cup. According to muti tradition, eating the brains of
Gamblers & vulture brains Read More »
gambling & cultureThe Trump Taj Mahal’s bad beat jackpot has finally paid off, in record fashion. Thanks to 84 year-old John Bazela’s four sevens getting beaten by by four aces, everyone at the table is quite a bit wealthier this morning. From the AC Press: Tom Gitto, the casino’s director of poker, said the jackpot usually hits
Bad beat profitable in AC Read More »
atlantic city, news about gamblingCasting around the Internet for stories to comment on, I saw a promising headline: Newsweek would tell me exactly why Garden State casinos were having such a hard time. Here’s the first paragraph, but you should click through and read the whole thing, just for fun: The Great Recession has brought more bad luck. According
Nothing doing in New Jersey Read More »
atlantic city, news about gambling