news about gambling

Online gambling, taxes, and regulation

Some federal debate on legalizing and taxes online gambling, from the LVRJ: Democrat Shelley Berkley said she backs legalizing Internet gambling, but said it is too early to think about taxing it. “Because the industry is not even established yet, I can’t imagine how we can know with any degree of certainty how the special […]

Online gambling, taxes, and regulation Read More »

news about gambling

Casinos looser than some think

My latest Las Vegas Business Press article is available, in which I talk about perceptions and reality, particularly as they relate to Nevada table games hold: The table-game numbers present an even greater challenge to the idea that managers are putting the screws to players. True, in the past few years there’s been a regrettable

Casinos looser than some think Read More »

news about gambling

About a whale

Lawyers for Terrance Watanabe how say that the high roller’s losses in 2007 were nearly 69 percent higher than they claimed in their original lawsuit. From the LVRJ: Lawyers for Nebraska philanthropist Terrance Watanabe say in a new lawsuit that his losses at Harrah’s Entertainment casinos were much larger than they previously reported, making him

About a whale Read More »

news about gambling

Texting Terribles in Vegas Seven

It’s Thursday, which means the latest Green Felt Jungle in Vegas Seven is out. This week I talk about the Primm casinos texting promotion that you probably know about if you’ve driven along I-15 in either direction in the past few weeks: The company is just coming out of bankruptcy, and its Primm properties might

Texting Terribles in Vegas Seven Read More »

news about gambling, writing

Nevada March numbers

The Nevada gaming revenue numbers for March are out. From the LVRJ: Nevada casino revenues fell by less than 1 percent during March following February's double-digit increase. State casino operators collected $912.2 million during the month, a decline of 0.66 percent compared with $918.2 million collected from gamblers in March 2009. via Nevada gaming revenues

Nevada March numbers Read More »

news about gambling

The virtue of vice

Good article about the increased popularity of “sin” in this budget cycle in the Wall Street Journal: Nationwide, the public-funding crisis has led many state and local leaders to similarly reverse course. Hampered by withering funds for law enforcement, health care and other public services, a growing number of officials are condoning activities and businesses

The virtue of vice Read More »

news about gambling

Daily Getaways for MGM

MGM Mirage is partnering with dailygetaways.com to offer a different kind of travel deal. From the press release: MGM MIRAGE is participating in a unique one-month promotion through a specially created website, DailyGetaways.com , joining nearly 50 of America’s top destinations and travel brands to provide once-in-a-lifetime experiences and tremendous values unavailable anywhere else. Discover

Daily Getaways for MGM Read More »

news about gambling

TI talk in Vegas Seven

The latest Vegas Seven is out, and in it I talk a little about Treasure Island, post-MGM Mirage: Treasure Island sits next to The Mirage, the casino that changed the Strip when it opened in 1989, and across the street from the Venetian/Palazzo and Wynn/Encore megaplexes, representing billions of dollars in casino capital. It’s not

TI talk in Vegas Seven Read More »

news about gambling, writing

National gaming revenues decline

The AGA’s 2010 State of the States is out, and to no one’s surprise 2010 was another off year for gambling. From the LVRJ: According to figures released this morning by the Washington D.C.-based American Gaming Association, commercial casinos in 13 states collected $30.74 billion from gamblers, compared to $32.54 billion collected in 2008. via

National gaming revenues decline Read More »

news about gambling

Wynn points to the future

I’ve got a new Las Vegas Business Press column up, in which I discuss the historical context behind Wynn’s musings about moving to Macau. Steve Wynn made headlines when he suggested he might consider moving the headquarters of Wynn Resorts Ltd. to Macau from Las Vegas. As always, Wynn's forthrightness points the way to a

Wynn points to the future Read More »

news about gambling

South Florida casino impact

Good article in today’s Miami Herald about expanded casino gambling in Florida: The promise of new jobs from gambling has been key to state lawmakers' decision to allow the games to become more high-stakes and widespread. “This is like building the Hoover Dam during the Depression,'' Brunetti has said.Gambling opponents, however, say the industry isn't

South Florida casino impact Read More »

news about gambling

Cantor changes gambling

My latest Vegas Seven column is up, about Cantor Gaming’s eDeck: Gambling has been evolving since our ancestors started filing down animal bones, eventually ending up with cubical ivory dice. The invention of block printing helped to popularize playing cards. In the 19th century, the telegraph led to the first remote gambling: off-track wagering on

Cantor changes gambling Read More »

news about gambling

New UNLV Gaming Podcast posted

We’ve got a new podcast up over at the Center for Gaming Research: April’s Gaming Research fellow, Theodor Gordon, gives a talk on tribal sovereignty and labor relations at tribal casinos. It’s a great summary of Indian gaming history with plenty of detail about current labor issues. Here’s the abstract: The impact of tribal casinos

New UNLV Gaming Podcast posted Read More »

news about gambling, what's new

Pre-shift OT suit

Harrah’s is being sued for making workers show up early without overtime pay. From the LV Sun: A federal lawsuit filed Tuesday is the latest in a series of class-action pay claims filed by Nevada workers.This week’s case is against Harrah’s Entertainment. The suit alleges Harrah’s requires workers to arrive 10 to 15 minutes before

Pre-shift OT suit Read More »

news about gambling

Marina Bay Sands opens

Big news in the international gambling scene, as the Marina Bay Sands has finally opened. From the Financial Times: Singapore has imposed a charge of S$100 (US$73) a day or S$2,000 a year for residents to visit the tables as a way of calming vocal opposition to the casino developments from locals who fear a

Marina Bay Sands opens Read More »

news about gambling

Green cuisine at Bellagio

In honor of Earth Day, I gave this week’s Green Felt Jungle an environmental twist: The casino resorts of the Las Vegas Strip do not spring to mind as environmentally sound institutions. From their blazing marquees to their overflowing buffets, they seem to be studies in excess. With the current mindset conflating any sort of

Green cuisine at Bellagio Read More »

news about gambling, writing

Keep the champagne on ice for now

My extended commentary on February’s Nevada gaming numbers is out in the Las Vegas Business Press. Here’s the start: The February gaming revenue numbers for Nevada caused some cheer around the state and on Wall Street. Total casino win rose 13.9 percent, the first double-digit increase in nearly three years. But if this is cause

Keep the champagne on ice for now Read More »

news about gambling

Old west is old in AC

Harrah’s is undertaking a massive renovation of one of the city’s historic gambling halls. From the AC Press: Acknowledging that the cowboy concept has gone stale, Bally’s Wild Wild West Casino is preparing for a $1.5 million facelift to reinvigorate the aging casino just in time for the bustling summer crowds. … Bally's spent $110

Old west is old in AC Read More »

atlantic city, news about gambling

“Socialized poker” coming to South Carolina

I think someone’s got their semantics wrong in this Card Player article about legalizing at-home poker in South Carolina: This week, after a hearing that included testimony from the Poker Players Alliance, a local businessman and poker player, and a number of elected officials, a South Carolina House sub-committee voted 4-1 to change the state’s

“Socialized poker” coming to South Carolina Read More »

gambling & culture, news about gambling