Questions: If this piece didn’t mention The Office, would it still be brilliant? Answer: Yes. I’ve had a bit of a problem with “coercive fun” or, as I’ve called it, enforced jolility (I’m pretty sure that’s not a word, but it sounds like one) in the workplace. It seems to defeat the whole purpose, wastes […]
Well, I’m in one of my periodic “I’m tired of writing about gambling issues” moods now. I want to see how long I can go before giving in and writing a post about casino expansion or new technology or something. Instead of blogging about Massachusetts casino prospects or lottery revenues today, I’m going to share
Critiquing community theater Read More »
writingMassachusetts used to have a reputation as a haven for blue laws–and bluenoses–but gambling is gaining in popularity. From Boston.com: Three years ago, you couldn’t even buy a six-pack of beer on Sunday in most Massachusetts cities and towns – and now the governor is proposing not just one but three casinos. Despite some lingering
Shifting mores in Mass Read More »
news about gamblingWith the closing of the New Frontier, the last bingo room on the Las Vegas Strip was also shuttered. Casino bingo is definitely on the way out in Las Vegas, but it’s still going strong in Atlantic City. From the AC Press: Sounding like a TV game show host, Jason Smida called out numbers while
I just had to post this one. From KLAS: Las Vegas investigators will continue questioning O.J. Simpson today and possibly tomorrow about his involvement in a break-in at a local hotel. Metro police held a news conference at 12:20 p.m. and said the investigation is still in its infancy. Police say just before 8 p.m.
When I signed on to teach in Reno one day a week, I didn’t know what I was getting into. This morning, I got an email alert that I’d like to share: University Police would like to inform you that two bear sightings on campus have been reported during the early morning hours of September
Bearing down on Reno Read More »
haphazard worldI don’t really care too much about the story itself, but you can’t beat the headline: Casino Carpet Unrolls on the MTV Awards – Forbes.com Casino carpet, apparently, has come into its own. The thing is, I’m sure the editor was trying to juxtapose the “red carpet” of big LA events with the jangling noise
Casino carpet in the news Read More »
life in vegas, news about gamblingUsually people applaud companies for giving something away for free. But, as residents know, Atlantic City is anything but usual. So giving casino customers free rides may soon become illegal. From the AC Press: City Council introduced an ordinance Wednesday that would ban the Harrah’s “Total Express” shuttles from the resort streets. Several dozen jitney
AC council seeks to end casino shuttle Read More »
atlantic cityAt one point, Las Vegans wanted to called the Strip the Gay White Way because of all of the lights. Now, some people think the lights are a little too bright. From the LV Sun: Perhaps the Las Vegas Strip has gotten just too bright for its own good. Clark County officials are considering a
Turn down the lights! Read More »
life in vegasThere are some parts of Las Vegas that I wouldn’t recommend to tourists, but we don’t have too many landmines. For an up-and-coming Cambodian casino region, they’re just one of the reminders of a turbulent past. From
From Khmer Rouge to roulette Read More »
news about gamblingIf you’re not totally Macau-ed to death by the coverage of the Venetian Macau’s opening, here’s a great summary of what the big deal is. From the Economist: Its construction involved filling in the sea between two of Macau’s islands to recreate the Las Vegas strip, and then carefully cutting out tiny canals to provide
Venetian Macau is big, but Macau is bigger Read More »
news about gamblingToday’s my first day of class at the University of Nevada Reno, so I’ve spent most of the day poking around campus and getting my NetID so I can log onto a computer, check my email, and see what’s happening in the world. Ergo, I will not post on any external news stories. I never
I probably should post on the opening of the Venetian Macau, but I won’t, at least not today. Instead, there’s a casino project on the drawing board in Atlantic City that looks more interesting to me today. From the AC Press: Revel Entertainment Group, an upstart gaming company backed by Wall Street investment giant Morgan
Reveling in a new casino Read More »
atlantic cityWell, I didn’t get stepped on by a cow or abducted by aliens, so I’m back after running the E.T. Full Moon Midnight (1/2) Marathon Saturday night/Sunday morning. I really liked the race, and I’ll do it again next year. I decided to pay $25 for the bus trip out to Rachel, which was a
Running in moonlight Read More »
what's newDowntown Las Vegas has its problems–flat or declining revenues for its casinos, and uncertainty about where it’s going. Will the Arts District lead to a full-blown gentrification of the area, or will a new arena draw crowds? While those questions remain, teh city is trying to help out by sprucing up what has traditionally been
Fremont East: Neon and check cashing! Read More »
life in vegasI’ve finally gotten official word today: I’m moderating a panel at this year’s Global Gaming Expo. Here’s the session: Gaming Expansion: Push and Pull Factors in 2008 and Beyond Tuesday, November 11, 9:15 AM-10:15 AM In recent years, gaming expansion has been inconsistent, with dramatic victories in Pennsylvania and Kansas, partial success in Florida, and
Gaming Expansion at G2E Read More »
news about gamblingThis run sounds like fun–I’m doing it this Saturday/Sunday. It’s the ET Full Moon Midnight Marathon, 1/2, 10K: Running along the fringe of the mysterious Area 51, this stretch of highway (375) has an overwhelming number of reported UFO sightings. So much so, that in 1996 the federal government officially named highway 375 the Extraterrestrial
Full moon + ETs = fun run Read More »
what's newThere’s not too much pressing news, so I’m posting a link to this article about why poker players might be good at playing the currency exchange game: Poker is arguably the most popular game of chance in modern gambling. Its popularity has seen unprecedented heights over the last decade with tournaments frequently broadcast on major
Exchanging cards and dollars Read More »
gambling & cultureLas Vegas isn’t known for rampant Tolkienism, but this is just too funny: they’ve turned part of Middle Earth into a master-planned community. Really: Located in the scenic master planned community of Mountain’s Edge, Rivendell features elegantly designed single story homes in a exclusive gated community. Mountain’s Edge will be a complete community including shops,
An Elven refuge in Las Vegas Read More »
life in vegasTim Donaghy, the NBA ref accused of gambling on games that he refereed, has plead guilty. From USA Today: The Boston Celtics, favored by four points, faced the 76ers in Philadelphia on Dec. 13 and won 101-81 in what seemed to be just another NBA blowout featuring bad Atlantic Division teams. On or about the
Gambling ref pleads guilty Read More »
news about gambling