I’m not going to be posting much over the next several days–I’ve got a project that will keep me away from the office for a while. You’ll undoubtedly learn more about it after I’m back in touch. I’ve got a book review and something else fun in the pipeline, so you may be hearing from
All of you aspiring casino game creators (and those who are interested in how games are created) might want to read this piece in the SF Chronicle: Webb, who splits his time these days between Las Vegas and Darby, England, likens the process of getting casinos to license the game to “pulling teeth,” and notes
3-card Poker Creator in SF Chronicle Read More »
news about gamblingIt’s always great when people debunk casino-related myths and misconceptions. I’d like to point you to The Straight Dope’s handling of a casino counterfeiting question: Dear Cecil:It occurs to me that it would be much simpler to counterfeit casino chips than paper currency. Besides the fact that its the mob thats after you and not
Straight Dope on counterfeit chips Read More »
news about gamblingThis is hardly breaking news to anyone who reads this blog regularly, but gambling revenues are down nationwide. This Economix piece in the New York Times blogs is as good a summary as any: Two weeks ago, my colleague Ian Urbina had an article about the falloff in gambling across the country, and the lower
Nat’l decline in gaming taxes Read More »
news about gamblingThis experiment at a Monte Carlo lounge has the benefit of novelty. From the LV Sun: It sounded like an odd fit for Vegas. The fact is the waitresses in the new lounge at the Dragon Noodle Co. inside the Monte Carlo aren’t wearing uniforms. They’re wearing costumes. It’s true that melding entertainment and service
Niche marketing on the Strip Read More »
news about gamblingI’m pleased to be able to announce two major events coming up this fall at UNLV: October 15 Gaming Research Colloquium: Roger Gros, Publisher, Global Gaming Business Magazine “Information, Please: 25 Years of Covering the Gaming Industry 2 PM in Lied Library’s Extended Study Area First Floor View flyer (pdf) December 3 Gaming Research Colloquium:
Two upcoming events at G2E Read More »
what's newThose of you familiar with Ventnor might lament the passing of an age: that aluminum section of boardwalk is being replaced, at last, with plain old wood. From the AC Press: About two blocks of Ventnor's Boardwalk near the Atlantic City line are so odd because the surface is made of aluminum, not wood. Those
Metal b’walk too heavy for Ventnor Read More »
atlantic cityMy comments on the recent Harrah’s purchase in the LVRJ were a combined Planet Hollywood/Ohio racetrack thought: David Schwartz, director of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas' Gaming Research Center, said that the “common sense and intuitive response” would seem to be to ask why a company carrying $19.3 billion in debt is “buying more
Thoughts on Harrah’s “spree” Read More »
news about gamblingThis isn’t part of the Gaming Research Colloquium Series but may be of interest to those interested in gambling nonetheless. Next month, anthropologist Barbara Oakley will give a talk called “Bad to the Bone: Can Our Genes Make Us Act Badly?” I’m not going to let my knee-jerk anti-biological determinist reaction keep me from a
Interesting anthro lecture Read More »
gambling & cultureSomeone emailed me this article, which is about 7 years old and is, of course, not rooted in truth, from the Onion: A gambling-addiction study by researchers at UNLVs Gaming Studies Research Center has “gotten way out of hand,” sources close to the project reported Monday. Gambling Addiction & Behavior “Just one more sample group,”
UNLV gaming in the Onion (old) Read More »
what's newHey, I finally got around to posting the latest UNLV Gaming Podcast: 14-September 9, 2009 Derk Boss (DJ Boss and Associates) Casino surveillance expert Derk Boss gives the September 2009 Gaming Research Colloquium lecture and tackles many topics, including the latest developments in casino surveillance, how much it costs to corrupt a dealer, and how
New UNLV Gaming Podcast: Derk Boss Read More »
news about gambling, what's newToday, September 9, 2009, is the 67th anniversary of the day that legendary Las Vegas casino developer Jay Sarno joined the Army Air Force. I just happened to notice this because I’m working on a section of the Sarno manuscript today, and the coincidence struck me as worthy of sharing.
Totally useless factoid Read More »
writingI’m full of good cheer over at the Las Vegas Business Press, where I start by looking at where the employment numbers are now and where they seem to be heading: In July 2007, perhaps the high-water mark of the 2004-07 boom, more than 1.2 million Nevadans were working; slightly less than 27 percent of
At the LVBP: The casino cavalry Read More »
news about gamblingJames David Robenalt. The Harding Affair: Love and Espionage during the Great War. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 209. 400 pages. Warren G. Harding has been consistently ranked as one of the nation’s worst presidents, and doesn’t get points for personal ethics: after his death, there were numerous scandals in his administration, and he was notoriously
Book Review: The Harding Affair Read More »
book reviewsI’ve got a new column out today in the Las Vegas Weekly. It’s an essay about why there’s such a stigma against Las Vegas visitors: Three outside opinions, one conclusion: Las Vegas is the shallow end of America’s gene pool. Could they have a point? After all, casinos offer negative-expectation games. Mathematically, it’s a certainty
Column in LV Weekly Read More »
life in vegas, what's new, writingWe’ll be hosting the inaugural 2009-10 academic year Gaming Research Colloquium this Thursday as casino surveillance expert Derk Boss gives a talk: Gaming Research Colloquium Series: Derk Boss, DJ Boss and Associates “Behind the Camera: Current Trends in Casino Surveillance and Loss Prevention” Thursday, September 3, 2:00PM Extended Study Area, Lied Library View flyer (pdf)
Reminder: Derk Boss at UNLV this Thursday Read More »
what's newThere’s a big piece in today’s USA Today about penny slots: The penny slot machine, once a joke among serious gamblers, is the hottest form of betting during this recession. Even casinos that cater to wealthy gamblers are replacing $1 machines with video slots that accept bets one cent at a time. “You can play
USA Today on penny slots Read More »
news about gamblingRyan Boudinot. Misconception. New York: Black Cat, 2009. 224 pages. Misconception is a novel in the form of a memoir with a twist: we get the same story from two perspectives. But this isn’t just a case of he said, she said: it’s a thought-provoking exploration of both memoir and memory. The memoir sections deal
Book review: Misconception Read More »
book reviewsA columnist in the St. Augustine Record has a prescription for women who are dreading the return of football season: gambling! You can bridge this gap with one of the greatest relationship problem solvers I know: gambling. Thats right. A few interesting wagers can easily return your family from football fan and widow to weekend
Gambling can save your marriage! Read More »
gambling & cultureWell, it looks like the Time magazine cover story from a few weeks ago has scored some collateral damage. From the LV Sun: A Las Vegas real estate agent who landed a prominent role in a Time magazine cover story is being scrutinized by state licensing officials because of her comments, has left her employer
Consequences of carpet-bagging Read More »
life in vegas