If you’re taking bailout money, stay out of Vegas. From the LVRJ: Wells Fargo & Co. on Tuesday abruptly canceled a pricey Las Vegas casino junket for employees after a torrent of criticism that it was misusing $25 billion in taxpayer bailout money. The company initially defended the trip after The Associated Press reported it […]
Vegas junkets, bailout chic, and a modest proposal Read More »
news about gamblingI’ve got an article in the latest Casino Connection about drumming legend Chris Columbo, who never gave up on Atlantic City: Atlantic City’s always been known for its entertainment, and for more than seven decades, one man helped the beat go on. From the Jazz Age to the 1990s, Joseph Chris Columbus Morris was one
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atlantic cityI heartily encourage you to check out the new podcast over at the Center for Gaming Research site–Leslie Nino Fidance’s talk, The Mob Never Ran Vegas. Fidance dissects the claim that, in days of yore, the mob “ran” Las Vegas, and explores the anti-organized crime efforts of Nevada regulators along the way. This is exactly
New UNLV Gaming Research podcast is up Read More »
what's newIf you’ve always wanted to know what I think the best romantic hangout in Las Vegas is, your modest dreams have come true. There’s a Q & A with me up on VEGASLINKS.BLOGSPOT.COM. In the “great minds think alike” vein, check out my answer to what I consider the best place to get my groove
Things in Atlantic City are just as bad as in Las Vegas, only on a slower, small scale, just like when things were good they were slightly less good than out in Vegas. That’s my analysis. For the story, check out Fox News: One casino in the nation's second largest gambling market is being run
They’re turning down the lights on the Strip, and it has nothing to do with not being able to pay the electric bill. From the LVRJ: Planned marquee outages on the Strip come along about as often as Megabucks jackpots. And like many of those slot-machine fortunes, lights-out events on Las Vegas Boulevard typically don't
I am shocked–shocked–to learn that Congress has chosen to bar casinos from getting any of the nearly trillion dollars in stimulus money that’s floating around. From CNN: Congress has moved to prevent money from the proposed $825 billion stimulus package from being used for zoos, aquariums, golf courses, swimming pools and casinos, an effort to
No casinos need apply Read More »
news about gamblingVivian Gornick. The Situation and the Story. New Edition for Writers, Teachers, and Students. New York: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2001. 174 pages. This brief guide to writing personal narrative has several useful insights. Gornick’s biggest and best idea is that good narrative non-fiction must capture both the situation–the factual account of what happened and
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book reviewsAtlantic City’s oldest casino is in bad shape. From the AC Press: Resorts is struggling for survival. Its owner is possibly facing the same fate as scores of recession-ravaged Americans who have defaulted on their mortgage – foreclosure. In an unprecedented move, Resorts' chief lender is seeking New Jersey Casino Control Commission approval to take
Big trouble at Resorts Read More »
atlantic cityI’m pleased to announce a new Gaming Research Colloquium event at UNLV: February 23, 2009 Gaming Research Colloquium Series: Bill Zender Special Event with the author of “Casino-ology: The Art of Managing Casino Games” Monday, February 23, 2:00 pm Extended Study Area, Lied Library Refreshments will be served and books will be available for purchase.
New UNLV event announced Read More »
what's newIn the past year we’ve heard talk of lowering the gambling age to 18 and allowing strip clubs in Strip casinos. Now comes another trial balloon: legal prostitution in Las Vegas. From the LV Sun: In these tough budgetary times, the chairman of a key state Senate committee is willing to consider the world’s oldest
Legalized prostitution in Vegas? Read More »
life in vegas, news about gamblingCentral City has become the last Colorado town to liberalize its betting rules. From the Denver Post: This gambling town Tuesday became the third and final town in Colorado to expand gambling. By a vote of 212 to 16, with nine provisional votes to be counted today, residents agreed to expand the maximum bet in
More gambling in Central City Read More »
news about gamblingAs you can tell from the title, I’m back from the Winter Getaway and hard at work on several projects. I’m trying to line up an exciting author event in February and have several other gaming research irons in the fire. I’ve also gotten a new recording device and may post a mini-test podcast later
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what's newDalia Sofer. The Septembers of Shiraz. New York: Ecco, 2007. 340 pages. The Septembers of Shiraz is a powerful novel that shows not only the brutality of an oppressive regime, but personal toll that government exacts, even on those who aren’t imprisoned. The novel begins with the arrest of Issac Amin, a Tehran gem dealer,
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book reviewsCharlie Huston. The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death. New York,Ballantine Books, 2009. 319 pages. Wow. That’s my one word review of The Mystic Arts of Erasing All Signs of Death. It’s one of the best, most distinct books I’ve read in a long time. I suppose the most cliched way to describe
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book reviewsTrying to ship some things, I found an interesting disclaimer: UPS, UPS brandmark, and the Color Brown are trademarks of United Parcel Service of America, Inc. All Rights Reserved. UPS Rates and Services. If a company really can trademark a color, Wynn Las Vegas is due to get with a HUGE trademark infringement lawsuit any
I’ve got to hand it to the folks at Pinnacle–they know how to make people laugh. Take, for example, what must surely be a bit of gallows humor from Dan Lee and company: billboards along the Atlantic City Expressway reading, “You know what this town needs? Another casino” (or something like that). Yes, with declining
What this town needs Read More »
atlantic cityAs more people have less cash, many of them are turning to bartering goods and services. It’s a bold leap back to the Iron Age for America’s formerly fastest-growing metropolis. From the LVRJ: According to a craigslist spokeswoman, the site has seen a "significant growth in our bartering section as craigslist users get creative to
More good news for the state budget: fewer people are coming to Las Vegas, and they’re gambling less. From Bloomberg: Las Vegas Strip casino gambling revenue tumbled 16 percent in November, its 11th straight monthly decline, because the global recession and a reduction in the number of flights to the city deterred visits. Gambling proceeds
NV, Strip revenues down Read More »
news about gamblingStrange but true: Ladbrokes, a prominent UK betting company, is in trouble because it ran two television ads linking gambling to reckless behavior. From the Guardian: The betting company ran two TV ads, described as "pastiches of documentary-style filming", telling the story of two adrenaline junkies who came to a sticky end after taking one
Quench your thrill buds, but not on TV Read More »
news about gambling