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 gamblingMy 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 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
Since it’s Thursday, I’ve got a new Green Felt Journal for you to read in Vegas Seven magazine. This week, I talk about March Madness on the Strip: The basketball-mad crowd covers all ages, from cigar-chomping sharp bettors in their 60s to still-in-school rowdies wearing their college colors. It skews young, however, with 20- to
Madder, leaner, Vegas Read More »
news about gambling, Vegas Seven, writingIt’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, writingA few weeks ago, I started talking about a tiered pricing model for Strip hotels on the Vegas Gang. I took some time to On one side, pro-fee advocates argue that they offer convenience. On the other, resort fee opponents maintain that fees are poorly advertised and shock the customer. There may be a way
Tiered pricing thoughts Read More »
news about gamblingThings are looking up in Nevada for the first time in a long time. The state’s casinos won more money from gamblers this November than they did last November. Yet there may be another story that isn’t as positive lurking beneath the numbers. From the LVRJ: For the first time in 23 months, Nevada gaming
A November to remember Read More »
news about gamblingIf you haven’t read it yet, here’s a link to my latest from the LVBP: But craps players and conventioneers both, even if they know of the efforts made by designers to craft a green building, are more likely to care about other things: How easy is it to get around this building? Does it
Destiny on the Strip Read More »
news about gamblingHere’s some breaking news: things don’t look so hot for 2010, at least if you’re in the casino business. From the LVRJ: The impact the recession had on the casino industry in 2009 has not been completely accounted for, but by all measures the year will go down as the worst on record. Through October,
I’ve been busy today getting the slot hold occasional paper finished up, so running the risk of CityCenter fatigue, here’s an excerpt from my last LVBP column about, you guessed it, CityCenter: This might be the most novel thing visitors notice about CityCenter, at first. And its hard to believe that its not by design.
CityCenter and traffic Read More »
news about gamblingI’ve been asked by more than one media outlet about City Center, and I thought that I’d just post some of my thoughts here for public consumption. My single-sentence response to “what does it all mean” is that City Center is a gamble in ways that previous Strip projects haven’t been. There’s been skepticism about
City Center in perspective Read More »
news about gamblingThe Nevada gaming revenue figures for October have been released, and they don’t look promising. From the LVRJ: Nevada gaming revenues hit a new low in October. Statewide gaming revenues were $800.3 million, the lowest monthly figure in almost six years. The decline was 11.6 percent compared with $904.9 million reported a year ago. October
Thoughts on October Revenues Read More »
news about gamblingSide discussion to the Vdara opening: I heard one PR person reference it as “the Vdara,” and it sounded wrong. It’s funny how some casinos need the definite article in front of them, others don’t, and others sound OK either way. I know there’s a debate about “the Wynn/Wynn,” but you’d pretty much never say,
The definite article? Read More »
gambling & cultureIn 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 gamblingNow that I’ve seen the inside, I’ve got something to say about Vdara and City Center. The guy in charge of it all says that it can’t be explained, only experienced, but I’m going to give it a shot since it’s sort of my job to explain these kinds of things. To set the stage,
I was doing some research in the 1997 time frame and happened across this quote in the July 1997 Casino Executive Magazine: “If you’re the last person to build that last $1 billion project in Las Vegas, you might be wishing you hadn’t spent your money that way.” –Harrah’s [then] CEO Phil Satre From the
As you may know, I’ve been immersed in a mammoth study of Nevada casino slots’ hold percentages. It’s driven by the question: “Does raising hold percentage actually decrease play?” That would seem to be the intuitive answer. If people get less value for their dollar (assuming that value=time on device), then they will be less
Higher hold=less play? Read More »
news about gamblingGaming revenues fell about 9 percent in September, compared to the previous year’s take, as the slump continues for a 21st month. From the LVRJ: Nevada gaming revenues fell for the 21st straight month in September.Casinos statewide collected $911.1 million during the month, an 8.99 percent decrease compared with a little more than $1 billion
I’m full of good cheer over at the Las Vegas Business Press, where I start by looking at where the employment numbers are now and where they seem to be heading: In July 2007, perhaps the high-water mark of the 2004-07 boom, more than 1.2 million Nevadans were working; slightly less than 27 percent of
At the LVBP: The casino cavalry Read More »
news about gamblingI heard an ad for this place on the radio driving to work today and started thinking about how odd it is that a nightclub on the Las Vegas Strip seems to be glamorizing mental illness. Live from Las Vegas, it’s Skizofrenia, the Nightclub: Skizofrenia features “dark alternative music” every Friday at the Harmon Theater.
Mental illness is goth clean fun! Read More »
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