I’m still at the ICGRT, but this article seemed to strange not to post. From the LVRJ: On Saturday night, an unidentified object was sent hurtling through the roof at Steven Gleicher’s workplace. Was the football-sized object a meteor or perhaps something more common? Advertisement And perhaps just as puzzling: How could it rip through
I just finished presenting my paper “The Revolutionary Ridotto” at the International Conference on Gambling and Risk-Taking, and I’ve got a little time to post an update. The conference is going very well–as always, I’m learning a great deal, and I’m sure everyone else is as well. For the carpet-curious, a late-night expedition last night
To hear this story tell it, the main point of the International Conference on Gambling and Risk-Taking is to count cards. From the RGJ: Ever wonder how to develop a computer program that will earn you millions by predicting horse races in Hong Kong? What about simple card counting at blackjack? Curious how casino design
Conference in the news Read More »
gambling & cultureNext week I’ll be at the 13th International Conference on Gambling and Risk-Taking, at Lake Tahoe, Nevada. This will hopefully be a lucky 13. It looks to be a great conference, with very interesting sessions that I’m looking forward to seeing. I’ll be keeping busy, presenting a paper, co-leading a session on gambling research, and
Tahoe conference is near! Read More »
what's newWhen I learned of the new “money laundering” online gambling indictments, I thought that Antigua might have something to say. Now they do. From their press release, which I got in my email: Antiguan government officials reacted angrily today to news that the United States Department of Justice has released indictments of two Antiguan residents
Antigua strikes back…with words Read More »
gambling & cultureThe long hoped-for next big thing in Atlantic City is one step closer to actually happening. Morgan Stanley’s gaming subsidiary is ready to sponsor the city’s 13th casino, which will be next to the Showboat. From the Inky: The gambling subsidiary of Morgan Stanley has acquired 20 acres on the Boardwalk to develop what will
The operators of an online sportsbook, www.betwtts.com, have been indicted for money laundering, in addition to violating the Wire Act. Read the press release yourself: The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia unsealed an indictment yesterday against William Scott, Jessica Davis, Soulbury Ltd. and WorldWide Telesports Inc. (WWTS) for offenses related to the
Indicted (again) for online gambling Read More »
gambling & cultureIn my admittedly cursory research into the life and habits of Leonardo DaVinci while writing Roll the Bones, I was unable to find anything on his gambling proclivities. With The Da Vinci Code selling 40 million copies so far, don’t think that I wasn’t trying my best for some tie-in. “Hitler’s casino” made the cut,
Gambling on Da Vinci Read More »
gambling & cultureThink about this sitcom idea: slot tune writer by day, Mormon sacred music composer by night. If it seems implausible, that’s only because you haven’t met David Zabriskie yet. From the Salt Lake Tribune: During his free time, David Zabriskie composes moving music for religious theatrical productions. The work may feed his soul, but when
He writes the songs (that the slot players sing) Read More »
gambling & culture, haphazard worldAfter all that fun yesterday with Google Trends, I’m back to “real” casino news today. Peter Morton has sold the Hard Rock to Morgans Hotel Group. From the LVRJ: The Hard Rock Hotel, a pop icon in Las Vegas with its signature neon guitar and concert venue, The Joint, has been sold to New York-based
Just because, I ran a few comparative trend searches on Google Trends again. For example: Google Trends: water, fire, air, earth Turns out people are searching the most for air, then water, then fire, then finally earth. Water is hogging a lot of the news coverage, while sturdy old earth gets almost no print. For
A new Google Trends feature is available, and I quickly decided to use it to see which is most popular on the Internet: sex, gambling, or financial info? So I entered the search string “porn, gambling, stocks.” Here is the result: Google Trends: porn, gambling, stocks If you don’t want to click over, I’ll give
Sex, gambling, and money Read More »
gambling & cultureJust as I’m reviewing a manuscript on the sociology of risk, I read a great piece in the New Yorker about one 419 scam that really makes you think. Here’s the particularly apt part: Robert B. Reich, the former Labor Secretary, who has studied the psychology of market behavior, says, “American culture is uniquely prone
The Culture of Risk and 419 scams Read More »
gambling & cultureIt’s official: the 2006 New Las Vegas Marathon will also feature a half-marathon. Read about it here: Last December, the inaugural New Las Vegas Marathon attracted participants from all 50 states and more than 30 nations and captured the attention of USA Today, Time Magazine, Sports Illustrated and Runner’s World. Organizers today announced the addition
Las Vegas (half) Marathon Read More »
life in vegasIt’s no news flash that casino gambling is big business. But the American Gaming Association’s State of the States report (big pdf) shows just how popular gambling is. From Reuters: Gambling revenue at U.S. casinos rose 5 percent last year to a record $30.3 billion, as more visitors flocked to a growing number of casinos
82% of people like it Read More »
gambling & cultureFrank Catania, a former director of the Division of Gaming Enforcement (NJ’s regulatory police body) has a great piece on the futility of Internet gaming prohibition in Cnet news: Every attempt to regulate activity on the Internet seemingly raises questions about the proverbial slippery slope. But if regulation of the Internet is a slippery slope,
Net gambling ban in perspective Read More »
gambling & cultureSince even before the opening of the Borgata, there has been much talk of new developments in Atlantic City. It looks like an addition to the Trump Taj Mahal is really going to happen. From the AC Press: The Planning Board granted preliminary approval Wednesday to a new 810-room hotel tower at Trump Taj Mahal
Here’s another update on that Atlantic City/Monopoly thing. All across the country, there were rallies and protests connected to immigration. Atlantic City, a city of immigrants, will be galvanized today by a rally over a board game. From the AC Press: The city that used to have a monopoly on Monopoly will host a rally
I used my Las Vegas Business Press column to talk about Second Saturday a few weeks ago, so I feel it’s only appropriate to mention First Wednesday here. But don’t go down to Fremont Street for this one–instead, head to St. James Place in Atlantic City: Restaurants, hotels and retailers around Atlantic City will come
First Wednesday is tomorrow Read More »
atlantic cityNevada embraced tourism because of a paucity of their development options. So, if you’re in a small emirate who wants to lessen its dependence on oil exports, it might be a model to follow. Dubai seems intent on doing do, minus the gambling. From CNN: Dubai is planning to build the world’s largest hotel as
LV to lose world’s biggest hotel? Read More »
life in vegas