Yesterday I wrote a blog piece for Vegas Seven about the significance of Fertitta Interactive launching Ultimate Gaming: The story here isn’t so much the debut of a new online gaming platform. It’s the way that Ultimate will be branded and marketed. The Fertittas will align their betting platform with the Ultimate Fighting Championship, the […]
Fertittas, UFC, and Online Gaming in Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas Seven, writingYesterday (June 20) was the 65th anniversary of Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel’s murder. Vegas Seven editor Greg Blake Miller asked me to write something about it, and I thought it would be a good time to introduce someone I’ve recently met, Bernie Sindler, who actually knew Siegel. I share a little of Sindler’s story and his
Siegel’s Shadow in Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas SevenThis week, there’s no Green Felt Journal column, but I have two stories in Vegas Seven nevertheless. The first is a look at what I consider to be one of the most interesting things about Sunset Station, the Gaudi Bar. Sunset Station has just celebrated its 15th anniversary: As Sunset Station turns 15 this month,
Worst Night Ever and a Prescient Casino Bar in Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas Seven, writingIn the Green Felt Journal available in today’s Vegas Seven, I take a look at the real impact of the Electric Daisy Carnival on Las Vegas: Generally speaking, if you want to bring an event to Las Vegas, the town is happy to oblige, provided you do three things: 1. Fill rooms with people who
Electric Daisy Economics in Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas SevenThis week in Vegas Seven, I’ve got a short piece about why BMM’s move to the gaming tech corridor is significant: The gaming-testing lab BMM International announced in late May that it was moving its world headquarters from its current Eastern Avenue digs to the south-of-McCarran industrial area that’s become the city’s gaming-tech corridor—an area
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Vegas SevenThis week in Vegas Seven, I have a Latest Thought that looks back at the life and career of Stuart Mason, as viewed through the lens of something you don’t hear enough about in Las Vegas, at least in the news: community: We’ve all heard the stereotype: Las Vegas is nothing more than a transient
Moving Mountains, Building a City in Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas Seven, writingIn today’s Vegas Seven, I have an About Town profile of the work Russell Joyner’s done with Miracle Mile Shops: The International Council of Shopping Centers’ annual REcon event is the Super Bowl for retail real estate professionals. It’s going on right now at the Las Vegas Convention Center, so all eyes in the shopping-mall
Miracle Man & More in Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas Seven, writingAs you might know, a month ago, sbe Entertainment Group sent out a press release with some details of the financing of the putative SLS Las Vegas. I was skeptical, as were others. Last week, the company sent out a second press release, which provided more details. I still had questions, so, wearing my Vegas
With Oseland Aboard, SLS Could Be a Winner in Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas Seven, writingThis week in the Green Felt Journal in Vegas Seven, I take a look at the massive renovation of the MGM Grand: If you’ve been to the MGM Grand in the past few months—or even checked its website—you probably noticed that they’re renovating the place. And that might not seem like such a big deal—casinos
Renovating the Grand and more in Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas Seven, writingThis week in Vegas Seven’s Green Felt Journal, I look at someone who’s making some waves Downtown: Although the energy of Tony Hsieh and other non-gamers has helped fuel the transformation of downtown Las Vegas, a cadre of Fremont Street casino owners also deserve credit. Derek Stevens is prominent among them. via The Man Behind
The Man Behind The D in Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas Seven, writingThis week in Vegas Seven, I take a look at why the GSA scandal at the M Resort happened in the first place, and why it will probably happen again: Las Vegas is back in the national headlines as a place where responsible people shouldn’t be wasting their money. Last time, it was executives for
Digging into the GSA scandal in Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas Seven, writingThis week, my Green Felt Journal column in Vegas Seven is about Michael Gaughan, Jr., taking the reins at the Rampart Casino in Summerlin: This week, a reunion of sorts took place in Summerlin, as the JW Marriott Resort & Spa and the Rampart casino, which had operated as separate units for a decade, were
The Gaughan Also Rises in Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas Seven, writingMy latest in the Las Vegas Business Press is inspired by a recent more at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas: Recently, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas announced a replacement for its Strip-front pop-up wedding chapel, itself a replacement for Droog, a quirky boutique chock full of intricately fashioned, completely impractical, outrageously expensive furniture. The new
Casino attractions that matter in Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas Seven, writingI’ve got a Latest Thought about the Smith Center’s place in Las Vegas history in Vegas Seven: As a world-class, centralized home for the performing arts, The Smith Center brings something new to the Valley. But high culture itself goes back a long way in Las Vegas—even on the Strip. And to this day, the
High Culture History in Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas Seven, writingThis week, the Green Felt Journal in Vegas Seven takes a look at the World Game Protection conference, held at the M Resort: Right now, casinos around the world are under attack. They’re not besieged by outlaws with guns and masks, but they are facing a threat that’s no less daunting. Cheaters are working their
Protecting the Game in Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas SevenI didn’t have a chance to share this yesterday, but this week’s Green Felt Journal in Vegas Seven is about the Mob Museum’s impact on its casino neighbors Downtown: The really interesting story in the wake of the Mob Museum’s Feb. 14 debut will be how the museum reacts to its downtown casino neighbors—and how
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Vegas Seven, writingI’ve got another piece in Vegas Seven today: a preview of the Fresh Beat Band’s concert (this Saturday!) at Planet Hollywood: When the Fresh Beat Band rolls into Planet Hollywood, it’s a fair bet that toddlers are going to go wild. The surprising thing is that, if you’re taking yours, you might end up having
Stomp the House in Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas SevenI’ve got the cover story in this week’s Vegas Seven. It’s a piece that I worked on a quite a while under the astute editorial eye of Greg Blake Miller, in which I come to grips with why people come to Vegas to see dead people: The Mob Museum’s Feb. 14 debut was another reminder
Live After Death in Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas Seven, writingIn today’s Green Felt Journal in Vegas Seven, I’ve got a piece about Chinese New Year’s impact on Las Vegas: Some people might consider the massive New Year’s Eve celebration—“America’s Party”—the ultimate night for Las Vegas casinos. True, that bash attracts more than 300,000 people each year. But ask the people charged with making money
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gambling & culture, Vegas SevenThe annual People Issue of Vegas Seven is out. I wrote three profiles for it: Aron Ezra: Wizard of Apps Ezra is VP of Mobile for Bally Technologies Fred Keeton: The Pathfinder Keeton is VP of Finance for External Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer for Caesars Entertainment Joe Asher: The Odds Ambassador Ashier is head of Brandywine Bookmaking
Three Intriguing People from Vegas Seven Read More »
Vegas Seven, writing