I’ve got thrilling new podcast up over at the UNLV site: 10-June 9, 2009 Dylan Evans, University College, Cork At the 14th International Conference on Gambling and Risk-Taking, Dr. Schwartz interviews Dr. Evans, who presented a paper on the risk intelligence of expert gamblers. When it comes to assessing risk, expert gamblers are far better […]
UNLV Gaming Podcast 10 posted, Xanadu rebooted Read More »
what's newJust in time for the World Series of Poker, we’re having a very special Gaming Research Colloquium Series talk at UNLV: June 25, 2009 Gaming Research Colloquium Series: Dr. Ole Bjerg, Copenhagen Business School "Whats in a Game? The Co-Evolution of Poker and Capitalism" Thursday, June 25, 12:15 PM Special Collections Reading Room View flyer
UNLV gaming talk later this month Read More »
what's newMiranda Weiss. Tide, Feather, Snow: A Life in Alaska. New York: HarperCollins, 2009. 288 pages. This memoir is an exploration of how one woman abandoned the known for the unknown–in this case, south central Alaska. Weiss, who was born and raised in flat suburban Maryland, shucked off most of her preconceptions when she moved to
Book Review: Tide, Feather, Snow Read More »
book reviewsTaking a minute from the grind of analyzing the April Nevada gaming revenues, I figured I’d post this story, which surprisingly hasn’t really been picked up by the Vegas blogosphere. From KLAS: The Raelian Movement is announcing plans to build a UFOland in Las Vegas where visitors can attend a Happiness Academy and see a
If a red flag is flying, brazen bold against the blue… Read More »
haphazard world, life in vegas, news about gamblingThis morning I joined KNPR’s State of Nevada host Dave Berns and poker legend Howard Lederer in studio to talk about the Frank bill and the proposed legalization of online betting in the US: Americans are expected to lose $22 billion next year via Internet betting, although the practice is technically illegal in this country.
Talking online gambling on KNPR Read More »
news about gamblingI was lucky enough to get three good interviews with people who spoke at the 14th International Conference on Gambling and Risk-Taking last week, and I’ve uploaded the first of them: a twelve-minute chat with Dr. Douglas Walker, who spoke on how the social costs of gambling are used and abused and casino crime. You
You can probably order a margarita at the Shell, but Trump Marina isn’t turning into Margaritaville anytime soon. From the
Marina not wasting away Read More »
atlantic city, news about gamblingThis story is just appalling: a disgruntled patron shot a Trump Taj Mahal casino executive in cold blood, allegedly because he was frustrated by his roulette losses. From the AC Press: Despite his claims that he racked up millions of dollars in gambling losses, the accused killer of a casino supervisor actually won $1,100 this
Casino manager murdered in AC Read More »
atlantic cityAlmost 20 years to the day that Stanley Fujitake made gambling history at the California in downtown Las Vegas, a woman in Atlantic City has taken his crown as the longest craps roller ever. From the AC Press: A Morris County woman gave a whole new meaning to the expression “being on a roll,” as
Woman with the golden arm Read More »
atlantic city, news about gamblingSince I’ll be running around the 14th Annual Conference on Gambling and Risk-Taking for most of this week, I won’t be posting much here. When I return, though, I should have a few podcastable interviews and much more fun stuff.
Studying gambling and risk-taking Read More »
what's newIf you’re a local or will be in town for Cinevegas, you definitely should check out the world premier of All In: The Poker Movie. Here are the details: Director: Douglas Tirola Cast: Features interviews with features interviews with some of the biggest names in poker today, including Humberto Brenes, Annie Duke, Antonio Esfandiari, Chris
ALL IN: THE POKER MOVIE at Cinevegas Read More »
life in vegasLawmakers in the state of Illinois are seriously considering legalizing video poker and other electronic gambling devices throughout the state. With a maximum of 5 devices per location, this would be similar to–but smaller than–Nevada’s restricted licenses, which permit bars to have up to 15 machines. From the Chicago Tribune: Video poker has long been
Video slots comes to Illinois? Read More »
news about gamblingTarquin Hall. The Case of the Missing Servant. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2009. 310 pages. Vish “Chubby” Puri is the self-proclaimed finest private investigator in India, and in this, the first novel to feature him, the reader follows him as he cracks a case and, along the way, picks up some of his backstory.
Book Review: The Case of the Missing Servant Read More »
book reviewsA high-roller who lost an incredible amount of money gambling in Las Vegas casinos is seeking to avoid paying some of his markers, claiming that he was too drunk to know what he was doing. From the LV Sun: High-rolling Nebraska philanthropist Terrance K. Watanabe is mounting an unusual defense to charges he failed to
The intoxication defense Read More »
news about gamblingDoes this excerpt from an article at The American about the decline of middle class cities sound like the past few years on the Strip? I think so: Ultimately, in good times or bad, cities have to want a middle class to have one. And politicians, if asked, will genuflect to the idea of maintaining
Luxury cities and high-end casinos Read More »
news about gamblingLas Vegas has lost one of its true legends. Claudine Williams, after a storied career, passed away yesterday. From the LVRJ: Claudine Williams, the first woman to run a Strip casino and considered one of the pioneers who shaped the gaming industry and Las Vegas, died Wednesday after a long illness. She was 88. Williams
Technically, sports betting isn’t banned in the Diamond State, but I figured this was a quick way to work in a George Thorogood reference. Here’s the story from USA Today: The Delaware state senate moved quickly Tuesday to approve a sports gambling bill, leaving only Gov. Jack Markell's promised signature as the final step before
Delaware destroys sports betting ban Read More »
news about gamblingThe Frank Bill, which would legalize internet gaming with several key restrictions, has attracted the usual range of partisan comment. Supporters of allowing people to play online insist it is a needed expansion of personal liberty, while opponents decry it as opening turning the dens and bedrooms of America into gambling parlors. Let’s start the
Legalizing Internet gaming…the federal solution Read More »
news about gamblingHeather B. Armstrong. It Sucked and Then I Cried: How I Had a Baby, a Breakdown, and a Much Needed Margarita. New York: Simon Spotlight Entertainment, 2009. 258 pages. There are many awful things about pregnancy, child birth, and infant care; many funny things, too. In It Sucked and Then I Cried, Heather Armstrong shares
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book reviewsThe March gaming and tourism numbers are out, and it doesn’t look pretty, though only time will tell whether the bottom is near or somewhere in the distance. Statewide, all nonrestricted locations won 11.61% less this March than they in March 2008. In Las Vegas, visitor volume declined by 6.5%. Clearly, fewer people are coming
March revenue thoughts Read More »
life in vegas, news about gambling