Thursday once again brings a new Green Felt Journal in Vegas Seven. This week I talk about an event that I’m privileged to be a part of, Vegas Podcast-a-palooza: The event is called Vegas Podcast-a-palooza, and it brings together three prominent Las Vegas podcasts: the Vegas Gang, a roundtable discussion among several Vegas aficionados (including […]
Podcast-a-palooza in Vegas Seven Read More »
life in vegas, news about gambling, writingAs those of you who follow my Twitter stream know, I spent a good chunk of yesterday down at the Rio, cruising around Day 1A of the World Series of Poker. Oskar Garcia has the action cover here. I thought I’d share a few of my thoughts. The story I was looking for at the
It’s Thursday, and if you like my writing for Vegas Seven, it’s a lucky Thursday, since I’ve got my usual Green Felt Journal column and a more in-depth Latest Word. The Latest Word piece takes a philosophical and even theological look at poker, winning, and losing: In other words, poker isn’t always fair. Of course,
Vegas Seven double shot Read More »
gambling & culture, news about gambling, writingLawyers 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
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
Remember my thoughts about tiered pricing a while ago? In it, I theorized that there would be a convergence between resort fees and “cost certainty” restaurant pricing schemes, like prix fixe at the high(ish) end and buffet passes at the low end. Harrah’s is rolling out a stay-and-buffet deal that I think qualifies. Check out
Tiered pricing at Harrah’s Read More »
news about gamblingA week ago today, Planet Hollywood officially became a Total Rewards property. In my latest Vegas Seven column, I talk a little about the behind-the-scenes work that made this possible:P If you didn’t notice anything unusual at Planet Hollywood recently, don’t feel bad: You weren’t supposed to. But behind the scenes, and occasionally in front
That’s the trajectory at Bill’s Lake Tahoe. From the LVRJ: Harrah’s sells Bill’s Lake Tahoe casino site It’s hard to say what Bill Harrah would have thought about this. On one hand, he was by no means shy around women–he was married seven times. On the other hand, he wanted Harrah’s Lake Tahoe to be,
From slots to strippers Read More »
news about gamblingIt’s Thursday, which means another edition of the Green Felt Journal in Vegas Seven magazine. This week, as whether the “little guy” still has a chance on the Strip:P Last year at around this time, “deconsolidation” was the buzzword along the Strip. MGM Mirage had just announced its sale of Treasure Island to Phil Ruffin,
Giving the little guy a chance on the Strip Read More »
news about gambling, writingHarrah’s Entertainment plans to go public again, but not for a few years. This isn’t really a surprise, but the timeline is noteworthy, as are the “developments” that the company awaits. From Reuters: Harrah's Entertainment, which was taken private by TPG and Apollo Management in January 2008, could launch an initial public offering five to
Harrah’s IPO on the horizon Read More »
news about gamblingIn the midst of all the talk about Vdara, I thought I’d mention my latest article in the LVBP: While doing some research, I recently happened across an article in the July 1997 issue of Casino Executive magazine in which then-Harrah's Entertainment CEO Phil Satre sounds downright oracular. “If you're the last person to build
Billion-dollar musing in the LVBP Read More »
news about gamblingHarrah’s had announced–in very unspecific terms–what it plans to do with its fantastic assortment of Strip acreage. From the LV Sun: They didn’t announce their intentions at the time. The economy was still humming, and with tourism booming and new resort construction expected by consumers and demanded by investors, the decision was something of a
Today’s Sun has an interesting piece about how different corporate cultures work on the Strip: As it turns out, the industry’s giants, MGM Mirage and Harrah’s Entertainment, have evolved into different animals at the top of their respective food chains. Customers will be familiar with some of these differences. While most MGM Mirage resorts are
Diff’rent strokes for casino folks Read More »
news about gamblingIn a story that has only one obvious typo–nice work, editors!–we learn that, if you give people something besides warmed-over singers and comics in your showrooms, you can actually attract new people to Atlantic City casinos. Outstanding! From the AC Press: Casino shows used to feature aging crooners and old comics like Henny Youngman, who
‘Lifestyle celebs’ in AC Read More »
atlantic city, news about gamblingChristina Binkley. Winner Takes All: Steve Wynn, Kirk Kerkorian, Gary Loveman, and the Race to Own Las Vegas. New York: Hyperion, 2008. 304 pages, hardcover. Over the last decade, the Las Vegas Strip has become increasingly consolidated. Once, there were a host of casino owners: Aztar, Bally Gaming, Boyd Gaming, Circus Circus Enterprises, Grand Casinos
Book Review: Winner Takes All Read More »
book reviews, life in vegasAn interview I recorded a few weeks back is airing on NPR’s Justice Talking this week: Casino gambling has undergone a boom in recent years as cash-strapped states and Native American tribes have opened casinos and entertainment complexes across the nation. In this edition of Justice Talking, we’ll take a look at who is profiting
Talking Justice…and Casinos Read More »
gambling & cultureI spend most of my time researching and interpreting the past. I think this has some relevance for us today, and it interesting on its own merits as well. But I usually get asked to prognosticate about the future: where will Las Vegas be in fifty years, which new casino will be most successful, etc,
The Harrah’s eNewsletter is always a font of information, some of it quite useful. The latest one, for example, let us know that we can now register for the 2006 World Series of Poker, and suggests that by doing so our names will ring through the halls of history along with those of Alexander the
Is “dead money” considered history? Read More »
gambling & cultureThe World Series of Poker is getting bigger and bigger. With so much attention drawn to the tournament, you need someone to lay down the law. Hence, Harrah’s Entertainment has appointed a commissioner of the WSOP. From Yahoo: Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: HET – News) today announced that Jeffrey Pollack, vice president of sports and
With poker sets, poker video games, and every other conceivable sort of poker paraphernalia available at toys stores across the world, I thought that poker had gone as mainstream as it could. But I was wrong. Thanks to Harrah’s Entertainment, you can go “all in” to the exciting world of consumer debt with the official
Not just Visa…WSOP Visa Read More »
gambling & culture