Las Vegas is far in the rear view mirror as New York tops a list of “fun cities” compiled by portfolio.com: Portfolio.com/bizjournals created a comprehensive formula to evaluate the opportunities for fun in the nation’s 100 largest markets. The process began with the collection of federal statistics for 14 relevant types of businesses, from retail […]
Vegas needs more fun Read More »
life in vegasIn addition to my regular Green Felt Journal column this week, I’ve got a “Latest Thought” for your perusal in Vegas Seven: There hasn’t been much written about locals casinos on the scholarly front, so Nedelec, a geographer, shared a conclusion from a chapter in 1999’s The Real Las Vegas: Life Beyond the Strip edited
Hitting the jackpot in Clark County Read More »
gambling & culture, life in vegas, writingWe’ve got our latest podcast up over at UNLV’s Center for Gaming Research: the Colloquium talk by our March 2010 Gaming Fellow, Pascale Nedelec, ” Urban Dynamics in the Las Vegas Valley: Casinos and Sprawl.” Here’s her abstract of the talk: Las Vegas is well known for its urban sprawl. While the casino industry has
New podcast up–locals casinos and urban growth Read More »
news about gambling, what's newIt’s Thursday, so that means the latest Vegas Seven is hot off the presses–printing and digital. This week, I’ve got an article about gaming taverns–you know, those bars with slots in them that are ubiquitous in Las Vegas. Here’s the opening: From Irish pubs to Mexican cantinas, it seems that every culture puts its own
Gaming taverns in Vegas 7 Read More »
news about gamblingNo Green Felt Journal in Vegas Seven this week because of a production error, but there’s always next week to look forward to, and I’ve got a piece about the promotion of Las Vegas in the Business Press this week: Maybe it isn't. While the ads are amusing and have a fair shot of “going
Fun or bad? You decide Read More »
life in vegas, writingThe 2009 Nevada gaming numbers are in, and they are not exactly encouraging. From the LVRJ: Gaming revenues in Nevada fell 10.4 percent in 2009, the largest single year decline in state history. Casinos statewide collected almost $10.392 billion from gamblers during the year, the lowest one-year total since 2003 according to figures released this
Sorry it’s been so long since my last post. I was at the Winter Getaway over the weekend, and since coming back I’ve been absorbed in some faculty governance work that is time-consuming and tedious. It’s mostly very dry procedural documentation and that sort of thing, but it’s actually made me look forward to getting
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 gamblingWell, it looks like the Time magazine cover story from a few weeks ago has scored some collateral damage. From the LV Sun: A Las Vegas real estate agent who landed a prominent role in a Time magazine cover story is being scrutinized by state licensing officials because of her comments, has left her employer
Consequences of carpet-bagging Read More »
life in vegasThe June numbers are in, and it’s woefully obvious that there’s no recovery in sight for Nevada’s gaming industry. From the LVRJ: Nevadas monthly gaming revenues have sunk to levels not seen since 2004. And analysts said theres no telling how low the bar will fall. “Were still hearing from the casino operators that weekends
Earlier this week over at gaming.unlv.edu we rolled out our latest project: the 2009 Las Vegas Casino/Hotel Impact Survey. It’s a new start for the center but also a return to the past. Let me explain… In 1980, accounting firm Laventhal and Horwath conducted a “Recession Impact Study” that polled executives at Las Vegas casinos
The 2009 Recession Impact Study is underway Read More »
what's newA story in the Las Vegas Sun on Friday gives me a jumping-off point for a somewhat-extended discussion of slot hold: Longtime gamblers have been saying it for months: If you want people to play in your casino during the recession, reduce the hold on your slot machines. A panel of marketing experts validated that
Lower your slot hold, get more players? Read More »
news about gamblingJack Sheehan. Quiet Kingmaker of Las Vegas: E. Parry Thomas. Las Vegas: Stephens Press, 2009. 346 pages. Wow. That was my reaction to finding out that a biography of Parry Thomas was coming out. Thomas, the man who it said said “flipped the switch that turned on the lights in Las Vegas,” is easily one
Book Review: Quiet Kingmaker of Las Vegas Read More »
book reviewsIf you don’t get your slot jones on in the airport and can’t wait to get to a casino, you will soon be in luck: the county commission has approved a proposal for slots at the unified car rental center, even though the bid seems a bit high. From the LVRJ: Anxious to get revenue
Sheldon Adelson’s drive to find America’s most boring city notwithstanding, most people agree that Las Vegas’ tourist strategy might need a little tweak. Should the town emphasize value, or carefree fun? It’s a serious question. Here’s one approach that I don’t think we’ll be dusting off anytime soon: Las Vegas, home of weapons of mass
An approach they won’t use Read More »
life in vegas, news about gamblingI’ve got an article in the Las Vegas Business Press today that elaborates my earlier thoughts on the Las Vegas business travel flap: At the height of an unprecedented national crisis, a group of American leaders traveled to one of the countrys most expensive tourist destinations, where they set about the business of righting the
History sez it’s OK to party Read More »
news about gamblingIf you’re taking bailout money, stay out of Vegas. From the LVRJ: Wells Fargo & Co. on Tuesday abruptly canceled a pricey Las Vegas casino junket for employees after a torrent of criticism that it was misusing $25 billion in taxpayer bailout money. The company initially defended the trip after The Associated Press reported it
Vegas junkets, bailout chic, and a modest proposal Read More »
news about gamblingIn the past year we’ve heard talk of lowering the gambling age to 18 and allowing strip clubs in Strip casinos. Now comes another trial balloon: legal prostitution in Las Vegas. From the LV Sun: In these tough budgetary times, the chairman of a key state Senate committee is willing to consider the world’s oldest
Legalized prostitution in Vegas? Read More »
life in vegas, news about gamblingCan you guess the year that an article appeared in Forbes magazine with these quotes? — “Las Vegas is showing signs that it is becoming overbuilt.” –“With traffic growing more slowly than capacity, older casinos have been hurting. Atlantic City casinos fared much worse last year.” — “Steve Wynn put it this way: ‘The old
This doesn’t look good. From http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN1032927320081210: Las Vegas Strip casinos won $475 million from gamblers in October, a drop of 26 percent from a year earlier, the state's Gaming Control Board said on Wednesday. Statewide, Nevada casinos' take from gamblers fell 22 percent to $905 million for the month as the U.S. economic recession continued
October numbers down Read More »
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