Vegas Vacation

Oh, hi! I forgot all about you guys! I've returned (for a short time) to my old stomping grounds in Las Vegas to pick up The Other Half, who has finally finished work obligations, and will be moving back with me to Ohio, at long last. And I plumb forgot about this here bloggy thing in the process. I meant to get back here, drop by with a brain nugget or two, and it has just completely fallen by the wayside.

Apologies of a sort. . .I mean, this is after all my hobby blog, and I say right up top that I blog when the mood strikes. But thought I'd better put up something to let folks know that I'm just away, not gone gone.

I'll be back with more later in the week, maybe sooner if something strikes me. Ciao for now!

What Happens in Vegas: Caesars Filing for Bankruptcy?

Several years ago, the big casinos on the Las Vegas Strip started consolidating. Very quickly, they pretty much came to be two gigantic companies, Caesars Entertainment and MGM/Mirage. There are exceptions, but not many. And of course, these two gigantic companies own and/or operate casinos and resorts all over the country and around the globe. But are casino companies too big to fail?

Apparently not. As hard as it is to believe that a business centered on mostly casinos--where the game is always tilted toward the house--could possibly fail. But given that it can, it ought to be a lesson for the rest of corporate America: your colossal corporations--formed by decades of unchecked consolidation--could fall victim to the same thing. I for one would be very excited to see some of the consolidated businesses in many industries be trust-busted, like we used to do. We could start with the media.

I'm so sorry, sire!

[Excerpt]

Caesars, Creditors Said to Have Deal on Unit’s Bankruptcy
 
Caesars Entertainment Corp. (CZR) reached an agreement with key senior creditors on the outline of a debt restructuring plan that includes a prearranged bankruptcy for its largest unit as soon as January, according to two people with knowledge of the negotiations. Under the plan being negotiated by first-lien bondholders including Paul Singer’s Elliott Management Corp. and Pacific Investment Management Co., the casino company would put its Caesars Entertainment Operating Co. unit into Chapter 11 proceedings as soon as Jan. 14, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the discussions are private. . .

Read more at: Bloomberg

Florida Accidentally Bans Computers and Smartphones

God damn it, this guy's creepy.
Image from source, Raw Story.

People often lament that even laws that might be good ideas, are usually taken too far. Abortion foes can't stop at banning post-20-week abortions, they have to shut down almost all of the clinics with "trap" laws, and mandate unnecessary trans-vaginal probes. Attempts to fight obesity end up being silly, by banning certain sizes of beverages. There are many examples like that, from serious to frivolous. But lawmakers--who are supposed to be experts at this--just keep going to far, or just being lazy with their language while enacting the law with zeal.

This time, it's downright embarrassing.

[Excerpt]

Florida Accidentally Banned All Computers, Smart Phones In The State Through Internet Cafe Ban: Lawsuit 

When Florida lawmakers recently voted to ban all Internet cafes, they worded the bill so poorly that they effectively outlawed every computer in the state, according to a recent lawsuit. . . 

Read more at: The Raw Story

What Happens in Vegas: Megaresort to Rise from Echelon Place Ashes

In the waning days of the Bush Era--and just before the economic downturn--Las Vegas was a boom town. "Stratosphere" wasn't just the tower on the strip, it was where everything was headed, and the developers and casinos, everybody just thought it would last forever.* To be fair, Vegas had been on the upward trajectory for a dozen years or more, so it did feel like we'd just keep growing and growing.

Image from Wikipedia

But what do you do, when you've already got a dozen themed resorts, complete with fake cities (New York, Paris, Monte Carlo), a castle, a pyramid and more? Well, you move from resorts to mega-resorts. City centers, with multiple hotel properties on one site, with shopping and galleries and attractions, all within the boundaries of the new property. Many were planned, including Viva! which was never made, City Cener which was, and Echelon Place which. . .landed somewhere in-between.

Another thing we did in those days was implode old properties. We didn't just implode buildings, we erased swaths of Vegas history along with a great deal of brand equity. The Dunes and The Sands, long famed names (and signs!) were destroyed to make way for Bellagio and The Venetian. Those properties worked, and at least The Sands lives on as a brand as a convention center here in Las Vegas, and in properties in other parts of the world. But The Dunes is gone, and so is Stardust, one of the most iconic old hotels, with its (formerly) lightning bolt logo. Stardust was imploded to make way for Echelon Place, a grand city center megaresort, in the shadow of the Stratosphere.

The proposed new Asian-themed Resort World Las Vegas, from VegasInc

I remember when the project was announced. Originally, I don't think there was a "Place" at the end of the project's name, but it didn't matter. What did it mean? And it was dotted with other names that didn't mean much to most people, like Delano and Mondrian. Where older properties had a clear theme, this one seemed rather a conglomeration of stuff, and it didn't seem coherent. But we'll never know if it would have ultimately made sense or not, because in 2008 it just stopped. It just sits there--unfinished--a blight. Well, no more. After more than six years, and countless millions of dollars lost (six plus years of prime real estate earning zero dollars, just for a start), the property has been purchased, and will be developed at last.

And it looks like one of Sheldon Adelson's Malaysian rivals will be setting up right across the street.

[Excerpt]

Asian-themed megaresort planned for old Stardust site
An Asian gaming powerhouse is planning a $2 billion Asian-themed mega-resort on the Las Vegas Strip where the old Stardust was imploded and the stalled Echelon was planned. Genting Group plans to build the 3,500-room Chinese-themed resort with a 175,000-square-foot casino. The company calls it the “first phase” of a property to be named Resorts World Las Vegas. . .

Read more at: VegasInc



* Speaking of the economic downturn, and bigwigs not knowing it was coming, I'm still blown away by that. Not just the casinos and developers of Las Vegas, but auto manufacturers, banks, real estate moguls. CEOs get paid ridiculous sums of money for their "high stress" jobs, yet they seem to have no contingency plans. No Plan B, should things go south. No alternatives when people stop buying huge SUVs. Now that we have experienced very nearly another depression, will we be any better at this the next time?

What Happens in Vegas: Meet Sheldon Adelson, Buyer of Democracy

Okay, a couple of things here. First, the man's name is pronounced ADDLE-son, and as a denizen of Las Vegas, it bugs me every time I hear it pronounced AID-elson. Secondly, Sheldon Adelson has done good things in this town, not always using his virtually infinite fundage for evil. Thirdly, the comparison to George Soros (benefactor of many previous Democratic campaigns) fails for more than one reason, chiefly that Soros wasn't helping people get elected for his own personal financial interest.

Adelson is in the game because he can afford to be, because after the Citizens United ruling, he can be, and because he's kind of a bastard. This goes beyond a guy with deep pockets, funding his favorites, and looking for a little quid pro quo. This has--fairly quickly, if you think about it--turned into a many tentacled beast, with Adelson as the head, and Karl Rove as the brain. It's a frighteningly coordinated, full-throttle, take-no-prisoners attempt to purchase political offices from little to the biggest in the land.

The biggest failure of the Supreme Court's decision is in saying that money equals speech. Because by doing that, they've assured that more money equals more speech. Who on earth, short of Bill Gates, could compete with the kind of speech Adelson and the Koch Brothers (who coordinate with Adelson and Rove) can purchase? How could this possibly be what the founders intended?

By all reason, our democracy should be helpless against this assault. You'd think, with no real competing entity like it on the left, that this kind of money would just win now, forever. So far though, it's not working out that way. Things could change in the weeks until the election of course, but even with evil genius Rove pulling the levers, this machine is having trouble driving the polls. And I wonder, can all the money in the world sell a faulty product?

Sheldon Adelson really looks like that. Image from Politico.

[Excerpt]

Sheldon Adelson: Inside the mind of the mega-donor 

. . .Worth just over $21 billion, and now in the crosshairs of the Justice Department and Securities and Exchange Commission, Adelson has made history: He is the first person to spend $70 million to sway a presidential election, and he plans to spend more – perhaps as much as $100 million – by Election Day. An estimated $20 million to $30 million of the giving was to groups that do not disclose their donors, and had not been reported before. . .

Read more: Politico

Shit People Say in Las Vegas

The "Shit People Say" meme had to finally get around to Las Vegas, didn't it? And this one--while maybe not as technically well made as some--is right on the money. I've lived here for over 17 years, and I've heard every one of these. George Carlin used to have a great bit on it (he played Vegas often), with one of the "shit people say" lines being, "Remember that money I told you not to let me have under any circumstances? Give that to me now."

What Happens in Vegas. . .You Forget You're in Vegas!

I've lived in the Las Vegas Valley for over 16 years, four in Henderson, and twelve in Silverado Ranch (which is a region in Paradise Township). Both jobs that I've had since I've lived here have to do with working directly with casinos and hotels. I've been in more hotel rooms in this town than a high-priced call girl. Putting up signs mostly. But most days, I forget I live in a tourism mecca. It simply doesn't register.

One of many shots I took and blogged of the Monte Carlo fire.

I cross Las Vegas Boulevard (The Strip) almost every single day. I see the entire strip from the south end just as often. From my office window--if I stand up--I can see the Palms, Luxor, Mandalay Bay, Cosmopolitan, Planet Hollywood and City Center.  If I stand on the library stool, I can see more of the strip, as I did the day that the Monte Carlo caught fire (picture here taken after I climbed up on my office roof!). But unless it is for work related reasons, or someone has come from out of town, I simply ignore it all for the most part.



On those occasions that I go gambling (rare these days, thank goodness), I usually hit Silverton Lodge & Casino, a locals joint between work and home.  When I drive to work, the only time I even notice the skyline is if something is different, or if the sun is bouncing off the Luxor into my eyes. If I need to go to the strip, I'll do my best to avoid LV Blvd. north of Tropicana at all costs, and fortunately, there are back ways and side ways to get many places. I can't tell you how often my best laid plans are thwarted though--I'll misremember a turn or traffic light--and end up stuck in crawling traffic. Ugh. Hate it.

And when it comes to the big resorts, I've yet to check out City Center or Cosmopolitan at all. I feel like I've seen it all, literally from the inside out. Nothing wows me. Wynn and Encore? Yawn. But every now and again, I'll look out the window of my car, or--as in this shot--simply look up when I'm on my 4-mile walk, and say, "Hey! I'm in Las Vegas!" Then the moment passes. This time, I had my cell phone camera though, so the moment was captured for posterity.



My usual walk, toward the Wynn and the Stratosphere. We live
about four miles south of McCarran Airport.



What Happens in Vegas: Oscar Goodman's Wife Wins Mayoral Primary

Yeah, I live in Las Vegas according to the Post Office, but in unincorporated Clark County and/or Paradise Township in reality.  So there was no election day for me today. And despite what Oscar Goodman likes to imply, Las Vegas is only a small part of the Las Vegas valley itself. In fact, most people who visit The Strip never actually set foot in Las Vegas proper. You don't cross over into the city until you go north of Sahara. If you visited Bellagio or Mandalay Bay, you went to Paradise, my friend!

So, the winner of the Mayor's race in Las Vegas is of supremely little consequence to me. But given Oscar Goodman's high level nationwide presence in relationship to our valley, if his wife wins the race, she will be the new face of Vegas. And she's got a very, very good chance of winning. She was up against over a dozen competitors, and still pulled a high-30 percentile, enough to come in first. But since she didn't get over 50%, she'll face a runoff. Unless something weird happens, I'm guessing she's a shoo-in.

[Excerpt]

Wife of Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman leads in primary election to replace him



The wife of Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman has taken an early lead over 17 other candidates in a bid to replace him. . .
 
Read more at: Washington Post

What Happens in Vegas: Sahara Hotel & Casino to Close

When a major Las Vegas hotel with decades of history behind it closes down, you expect a phoenix to rise from the ashes. And we probably can here too, eventually. But we're a long way from the "blow it up, and make it bigger" standard operating procedure of the mid 1990s - mid 2000s.  The Sahara--one of the properties that stretches back to the Rat Pack--is going out of business. It's not the last of the oldies, but it's one of the biggest ones that is still there. I'm sure its position at the far north end of the strip didn't help matters, nor did the property's rumpled appearance. It probably was time for it to go, but it is a shame that it isn't being merely improved.

[Excerpt]

Image from 8NewsNow

Las Vegas Sahara Hotel to Close After Nearly 60 Years

After nearly 60 years on the Las Vegas Strip, the Sahara Hotel & Casino will close it's doors on May 16. More than 1,000 people will have to find new jobs when the hotel closes. . .

Read more at: 8NewsNow

Thank you to Stupid Monkey Planet for the link

What Happens in Vegas: Jennifer Tilly's Boyfriend Sets Poker Record

First image from source, AOL News; second from Pokerista

Could you sit and play poker for 90-plus hours in a row? Would it help if Jennifer Tilly was your girlfriend? I just found this story kind of interesting, particularly since I've been a Tilly fan for years, and because this story seems to be ongoing, and happening in my back yard. So there you go.

[Excerpt]

Keeping a Poker Face: Vegas Pro Breaks Gambling Record

In the end, it may not have been the yoga or the low-fat diet or the frequent visits from his movie-star girlfriend that helped Phil Laak barrel past every known record for the longest consecutive amount of time playing poker.

After more than 91 hours at the table at Bellagio, Laak says his saving grace was, uh, talcum powder. . .

Read more at: AOL News

What Happens in Vegas: A Liquor Store at the Airport?

Image from source, LasVegasNow.com

In a never-ending quest to separate people's money from them as quickly (and with as little resistance) as possible, Las Vegas' McCarran Airport may be opening a liquor store! I'm not opposed to the idea, I don't guess. Folks are gonna get drunk while they're here, and sometimes what happens here won't stay here. Well, except for their money.

Last week, President Obama got in some hot water for saying that you shouldn't spend money you don't have budgeted in Las Vegas. He wasn't wrong. But Vegas officials were mightily pissed that he said something true about something we already know: our town survives partly on prying every last dollar from some people, whether they can afford it or not.

[Excerpt]

Las Vegas Airport Considers Opening Liquor Store

McCarran International Airport officials say putting a liquor store in the baggage claim area could be a moneymaker.

Clark County commissioners have voted to let the airport put out a request for proposals for a liquor store. . .

Read more at: LasVegasNow.com

Thanks to Stupid Monkey Planet for the link.

What Happens in Vegas: The Neighborhood That Had to Die

I just picked up this week's Las Vegas CityLife, the local weekly paper, and was surprised to see an article about a friend's former neighborhood. My friend and sometimes fill-in editor Stupid Monkey Planet used to live in what is called "Richfield Village," according to the article, which is news to me. I didn't know it had a name. I'd have called it, "land that's scrunched up next to Palace Station Hotel & Casino, that will probably end up eminent domained."

Surprise! That's what happened, sort of. Corporations behind the scenes started buying up houses, en masse--after my friend had already moved out, naturally. Some people got screwed. Some people made out like bandits. Some people held out for a huge payday. Then the economy crashed. And Station Casinos filed for bankruptcy. And now there is a neighborhood, mostly empty, some of it knocked down, stuck in limbo. And how do you resell empty houses, when people probably figure that one day, the economy will rebound, and the land will go up for grabs again? Yikes.

[Excerpt]

Image from source, Las Vegas City Life

The neighborhood that had to die

Looking east from the heart of Richfield Village, past Rex Bell Elementary School, the mansard roof of Palace Station towers over the sedate neighborhood. By Vegas standards, Richfield is venerable, growing up around Rex Bell, built in 1963. But Palace Station is no longer just a landmark or an employer to Richfield residents. It's also become the elephant in the middle of the neighborhood, dismaying longtime denizens of the neighborhood who see a once-stable community drifting into transience and uncertainty, thanks to Station Casinos. . .

Read more at: Las Vegas City Life

What Happens in Vegas: Tropicana Sued by Tropicana?

The venerable (read: old) Tropicana Hotel & Casino is in a copyright dispute with. . .Tropicana. Or, rather, the former parent company that spun them off after a bankruptcy, or some such. So the property that one of the Las Vegas valley's largest and most known streets is named for may now have to either rename itself, or pay a hefty chunk of change for the privilege of going by the name it has always gone by. My suggestion, use the existing letters, and just rearrange them a little! (see photo)

I'm a sign maker, but hey, always happy to offer a cost-cutting suggestion!

[Excerpt]

Use of ‘Tropicana’ name at issue in lawsuit

The dispute over use of the "Tropicana" name by the Tropicana hotel-casino in Las Vegas is heating up, with the property's former parent company filing a counterclaim to the Las Vegas hotel's lawsuit. . .

Read more at: Las Vegas Sun

Gambling and Fury: John McCain's Temper

There are few character traits less attractive than self-importance. Whether it's being used to curry favor, used to try to get out of a sticky situation (Larry Craig), or as in this instance, to make someone feel small, it's an ugly thing to witness. Throw in a temper tantrum, and you've really lost me.

John McCain seems to have evidenced this trait at a casino in Puerto Rico a couple of years ago. And the story is easy to believe, because McCain always looks like he could snap any second. I wonder if we'll get a public demonstration before November 4th?

[Excerpt]

At the Craps Tables With John McCain

by Michael Kinsley

. . .McCain’s game is craps. So is Jeff Dearth’s. Jeff was at the table when McCain showed up and happily made room for him. Apparently there is some kind of rule or tradition in craps that everyone’s hands are supposed to be above the table when the dice are about to be thrown. McCain—“very likely distracted by one of the many people who approached him that evening,” Jeff says charitably—apparently was violating this rule. A small middle-aged woman at the table, apparently a “regular,” reached out and pulled McCain’s arm away. . .

Read more at: The Daily Beast

Thanks again to Stupid Monkey Planet for the link.

Casinos in Canada Sued for $3.5 Billion by Gamblers

Whoa! I'll bet some of the big mucky-mucks here in Las Vegas are watching this case with interest. Yes, it's in Canada, but if the suit is successful, you can bet it would be tried here.

Everybody who gambles with even moderate frequency has on occasion gone too far. Anybody who says they haven't is probably lying to you. And problem gamblers are a more serious case--people who can't stop even though they know that they should. But expecting the casinos to bar them from entering seems a step too far for me.

I may be a liberal, but that is by way of a conservative upbringing. Or rather, what conservatism used to represent. I've always believed that you are accountable for your own actions, even if you have a tendency toward addiction. And companies--movie makers, TV producers, video game manufacturers, alcoholic beverage makers, and yes, casinos--should not have to tailor their product to the problem people. You target your product for the general public. The people with problems need to help themselves. OK, rant over.

[Excerpt]

Problem gamblers sue casinos for $3.5 bln

Thousands of problem gamblers in have launched a $3.5 billion class action lawsuit in Ontario, saying they were allowed into provincially run casinos despite signing up for a program that should have denied them entry. . .

Read more at: Yahoo! News

Gambler Sues Casinos for $20 Million

Photo from Ocean Pacific Capital

Living in Las Vegas, I know a little bit about gambling addiction. While I don't consider myself an addict, in the 13 years I've lived here, I've surely exhibited addict-like behavior on occasion. Anyone who's gambled more than a little has too. Don't let them tell you different.

But even on my stupidest night, I never thought I deserved my money back. Yes, the casinos are deliberately enticing, with games that are set up to affect your psychology. Just enough of a taste here and there, just enough winners around you to keep you playing. The table games can't be programmed, but their rules are surely set up to mimic the same thing.

Here's the dirty little secret though. Anybody who plays, except for maybe Ma & Pa Hinterland knows all of that. They know the odds are against them. But just like the person who cashes their Social Security check, and uses it all on lottery tickets, they're hoping for the big win--or more accurately the anticipation of the big win.

I have no doubt that this lady has a problem. But she knew it too. As hard as it is to beat addiction, people do it every day. It often takes a "rock bottom" experience to set them on the right path. This lady wants a do-over, and I don't think she deserves one. Just imagine the precedent.

[Excerpt]

Woman files $20M long-shot casino suit

Arelia Margarita Taveras says she was even allowed to bring her dog, Sasha, to the blackjack tables, sitting in her purse.

But her gambling spun out of control: She said she would go days at a time at the tables, not eating or sleeping, brushing her teeth with disposable wipes so she didn't have to leave.
She says her losses totaled nearly $1 million. . .

Read more at: Raw Story

Man Wins--And Loses--Huge Jackpot at Casino

Photo from source, ABCNews.go.com

Being a long-term Las Vegas resident, this story hits close to home. On one hand, if the machine this guy was playing clearly states its maximum payout, I understand the casino's position. On the other hand, this guy was told he won huge money, with jackpot screen, music and well-wishers. I'd be more than crushed, I'd be pissed if this happened to me. The casino (whether or not they are at an Indian reservation) could have handled this much more equitably.

[Excerpt]

Jackpot or Mistake? Man Sues Over $1.6M 'Jackpot'

For about an hour last August, Gary Hoffman was a very lucky man.

Hoffman was playing the nickel slot machines at the Sandia Resort and Casino on an Indian reservation in New Mexico when he appeared to hit the jackpot: the machine said he won nearly $1.6 million.

"I became ecstatic," he said.

But the ecstasy was short-lived. Hoffman says in a lawsuit filed earlier this year that Sandia refused to pay, claiming that the machine malfunctioned. Instead, he said, they gave him about $385 and a few free meals at the casino. . .

Read the rest at: ABCNews.go.com