My latest from Forbes.com looks at a Vegas not-so-insider tip: It’s one of those insider Vegas tricks that’s actually right in front of your face in big letters: If you’re talking about the hotel casino that Evel Knievel made famous and The Hangover reminded us of, you never use an apostrophe. It’s Caesars, not Caesar’s
The Story Behind The Most Famous Missing Apostrophe in Las Vegas Read More »
forbesIn this week’s Vegas Seven, I’ve got a cover feature on the 50 years of Caesars Palace: Caesars Palace has always been more than the sum of its parts. Yes, it’s just a place where people pay for rooms, eat dinner, watch shows and gamble. But there remains something compelling about the property. It may
A Look Back at Caesars Palace in Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas SevenReading the VegasTripping review of the new Julius Tower rooms, I was struck by the art. So I wrote my latest Green Felt Journal about it: Usually, hotel room art at best presents a regional accent; at worst, it says nothing and moves no one. For the creatives at KNA Design, the distinctly Caesars touch
Caesars’ Room Art Gives Guests Something to Gawk At – Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas SevenHere I am posing with the book at the Caesars store in the Forum Shops.
The store is directly off the casino exit to the Forum Shops. Walk out of the casino, turn right, and you can’t miss it.
Grandissimo and the author at the Forum Shops Read More »
UncategorizedJay Sarno revolutionized Las Vegas with Caesars Palace, so it’s only fitting that Grandissimo is now on sale there. There is some symbolism in the fact that it went on sale yesterday, August 5, which was the 48th anniversary of Caesars’ wild opening—a day that Grandissimo talks about in great detail.
Right now, you can get the book in two locations. The first is the Caesars store in the Forum Shops, just to the right as you exit the casino.
Here is a shot of a few books in their natural setting:
if you’re strolling down the Appian Way, you can pick up a copy at Emperor’s Essentials:
The book is just inside the front door.
I’d like to thank Sherell Bartley at Caesars Entertainment retail and the staff of both stores for making the book available.
Buy Grandissimo at Caesars Palace Read More »
UncategorizedForty-eight years ago today, Caesars Palace opened, and Las Vegas never was the same again.
August 5, 1966, was the start of the three-day celebration that introduced the world to Jay Sarno’s vision of Las Vegas. Though there were plenty of skeptics, the opening was a smash and the property never looked back.
Here’s Jay Sarno, in a photo taken the night Caesars opened.
And here’s Nate Jacobson, Jay’s partner and the president of Caesars Palace, with the guest of honor, Jimmy Hoffa.
If you’d like to learn more about that night (and the day that preceded it, here is an excerpt from Grandissimo detailing Jay’s life on August 5, 1966.
And if you like that, you might want to read a copy of the whole book.
Happy 48th Birthday, Caesars Palace Read More »
authorThis is a book project that I’ve been working on for several years. It’s the story of the man who I believe to be the single most influential figure in Las Vegas casinos in the 1960s and 1970s, but who unfortunately not many people know about.
I’m substantially finished the book, and hope to publish it later this year.
Until then, I’m using this space to let people know about the book.
What is Grandissimo? Read More »
bookIn the past few weeks, I’ve been lucky enough to have some very good conversations with people in the casino business that, I hope, have translated into good writing about the business. Here’s the first, a Green Felt Journal column about the challenges that Ramesh Sadhwani is taking on at Caesars Palace. From Vegas Seven:
Heavyweight Hospitality at Caesars in Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas Seven…is working the casino circuit, and at Caesars Palace, no less: President Bill Clinton will speak at The Colosseum @CaesarsPalace on Mon., Feb. 22 at 7:30pm. Tickets go on sale Monday! via The Colosseum ColosseumatCP on Twitter. Why do I say “another?” About a year and a half ago, Mikhail Gorbachev played the Seminole Hard
Another former head of state… Read More »
gambling & culture, news about gamblingAlong with word that business in Las Vegas is “bouncing along the bottom,” the big news today is the latest in celebrity bad marker cases, former NBA star Antoine Walker. From the LVRJ: Walker faces three felony counts related to writing bad checks at Las Vegas casinos between July 2008 and January 2009. According to
Another day, another bad marker case Read More »
news about gamblingA 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 gamblingAtlantic 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 cityA recent case of kickbacks opens up an interesting public policy question that will probably not be answered. From the LV Sun: A vice president of Fry’s Electronics who is accused of swindling the company out of more than $65 million has long been on the radar of Clark County prosecutors. The Internal Revenue Service
Casino debt hall of fame Read More »
news about gamblingI’m fooling around with using ScribeFire to create posts, so this might not work. Hopefully it does, because I really think people should check out this neat feature at Vegas Tripping, a detailed rumination on the evolution of Las Vegas casino logos: But what is it that makes for a successful logo in Las Vegas?
VT takes on casino logos Read More »
news about gamblingMost casinos strongly encourage players to use their loyalty cards when gambling. From the casino’s perspective, it allows them to track play and award comps more judiciously. Players just like getting free stuff. But sometimes they go too far. From the LVRJ: It turns out there is some money that casinos don’t want. A Los
Incentivized criminals Read More »
news about gamblingIt’s been a busy few days–I had class yesterday, and spent a few hours today in a Caesars Palace hotel room (In the Augustus Tower) shooting a commentary section for an Ocean’s 11/12 DVD set that’ll be out later this year. They mostly asked me questions about casino security and surveillance. I had to delicately
I never thought of this until now, but wouldn’t it be funny if, in keeping with the success of Spamalot, they tweaked Caesars Palace to be more like Life of Brian than Gladiator? That’s just a thought as I prepare to go to the grand opening of the Augustus Tower.