E-308: Under the Influence-er

Random Vegas

When receiving tips from players, the reason so many casino dealers often loudly thank the player is to encourage other players around them to do the same.  Tips account for 75-85% dealer income (@vitalVegas)

Twitpic of the week

O’ Stardust, how we miss the.  Even though your final incarnation barred no resemblance to your past, shared this week by @WisconsinSports6, it still somehow managed to capture the spirt that was breathed into life in 1955.  Stardust shares the honor of being one of a few properties to successfully evolve themselves into something that bares little to no resemblance to their original incarnation on the strip, to keep up with the Super Casino revolution.  Flamingo is the other notable name; an argument can be made for the Frontier.  Properties like Riviera, Caesars and Sahara expanded into grown up versions of themselves, but Stardust and the Flamingo piece-mailed their evolution until all that was old was replaced with the new.  It can be stated, with no exaggeration, that the closing of the Stardust was  the single largest mistaken made in Vegas strip history; or at the very least the biggest mistake in Boyd Gaming history.  

News

360VV9 RSVP General Availability

Apache Hotel Reopens

Comedy Works Opens at Plaza

Adelson Misses Earnings Call

Murren Integrity Move

E-292: It's Magnets, Keren

Random Vegas

To draw traffic to his casinos during traditionally slow times, Jackie Gaughan, best known as the owner of the El Cortez, would give out up to 70,000 boxes of candy on any given holiday; Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. 

• Additionally, he would usually buy the candy from a charity fund-raiser establishing good will in the community and creating customer loyalty to the casino (Book: The Players: The Men Who Built Las Vegas)  

Twitpic of the week

Magical.  I can think of no better way to describe it.  I don’t bemoan the evolution of Las Vegas. It’s that creative evolution that drew me to the city in the first place.  It’s the lack of creativity currently being showcased that disappoints me.  I’m the last person to criticize the excitement of using new technology. That being said, knowing what all of these LED signs can do, I look forward to the time when they stop being used as giant TVs playing an endless loop of commercials and start getting creative like the neon signage of old, showcased this week by @Summacorp a la Stardust Circa 1959.  However I fear this may be similar to the endless conversation I have with my beloved wife. Attempting to show her all the bells and whistles, shortcuts and efficiency enablers available on her apple devices only to be disregarded and scolded for not allowing her to utilize them in the way that works for her.  Shaking my head in defeat, I’ll never understand the resistance to better.   

News

#360VV8

More Monorail Extensions

Skypod Skywalk

Apache Hotel @Binions

(Thanks @GamblinMcGoo)

E-291: Liquor Up and Down

Random Vegas 

All the custom videos advertising the rebranded name “The Strat” have something gold in them, a call back to their new owners, Golden Entertainment (Vital Vegas) 

Twitpic of the week

There isn’t enough massive signage at the street level.  Like signage so close you could jump up and touch it with your hands.  Then again, I imagine that’s exactly why you can’t find signage you can touch anymore.  While Neon lights don’t get hot, they weren’t the only source of exterior illumination utilized in the Fremont signs of yesteryear, shared this week by @TonyIllia, flashing lightbulbs do get hot.  And while I think the generations of the last 40 years have cornered the market on lawsuits resulting from being stupid, just like sex, recent generations didn’t invent stupid.  Signs like these are the reason why I visit the Neon Museum so often.  There’s something about being surrounded by massive signage that reminds me just how small and insignificant I am in the grand scheme of things.  And yet, all those signs were made by people.  So maybe we are a little bigger than that.

Above Them All: The Story of the Landmark

News

The Strat Rebrand

Binion's Renovations Announced

360FHE

Eataly Menus

E-198: Extremities

Download MP3

Random Vegas

In 1988, Binion’s purchased the Mint Hotel & Casino next door from Del Webb and incorporated it into the property expanding Binion’s footprint to an entire block on Fremont St, from 1^st to 2^nd st. (Sincitytalk.com)

Twitpic of the week

It’s a scene unlike any in a property unlike any in Vegas.  The balcony view at Cosmopolitan may be the most breath taking in all of Vegas if not the entire world.  I can’t speak for outer space but I imagine it would rival it.  Day or night, it’s epic. Throw in a panorama photo shared by @styzzle15 and you’ll find me very aroused.  Despite Tony’s bullshit reasoning I can speak on his reasonable side and confirm that this show deems Cosmopolitan the best overall property in the Andromida Galaxy.  I know that isn’t ours but is sounds way better than one named after a fuckin candy bar. 

News

Steven’s Group Buys More Downtown

Fountains of Bellagio Kabuki Returns

LVB Opens

Tropicana’s Sky Beach Club Opens

Riviera Prevention Petition

The Improv is Closing