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Las Vegas News
Latest News from Las Vegas, Nevada
Welcome to our Las Vegas News section where we focus on bringing you the latest news about tourist developments in the City and information we feel will be of interest to our readers. For daily generic news, please refer to the Google News widget at the top of this page or check out the following websites: Las Vegas Sun, Las Vegas Now, Fox 5 Vegas and Vegas News.
Looking for Nevada’s best blackjack experience? Go north
The small, unassuming Alamo and Topaz casinos in Northern Nevada have a leg up on the best of Las Vegas’ glittering resorts – at least by the standards of blackjack. Whatever the Alamo in Sparks and the Topaz in Gardnerville lack in pizzazz they make up for in favorable blackjack games, according to this month’s issue of Casino Player magazine. The two were the only Nevada casinos to make the magazine’s list of properties offering the nation’s best blackjack games. Both casinos offer blackjack that’s played with a single deck of cards, increasing the player’s ability to gauge when certain cards will appear. The casinos also allow players to surrender their initial two-card hand provided the dealer doesn’t have a blackjack, among other player-friendly rules. Las Vegas once offered the best blackjack anywhere but has since muddied the water with games that pay 6-5 odds on blackjacks rather than the traditional and more favorable 3-2 odds, said gambling writer Henry Tamburin, who compiled the magazine’s list. Many Las Vegas casinos also have unfavorable rules and blackjack variations with a higher house edge, he said.
Once 'jewel of the desert,' Sahara entertains last weekend guests before closing
The Sahara took its first bow after transforming a struggling bingo parlor into a Moroccan-themed resort filled with pretend camels, nomads and African warriors and genuine Hollywood glitz. It embraced young adulthood as the Strip's tallest occupant under the guidance of a company whose leader owned the New York Yankees when Mickey Mantle roamed center field. The hotel endured midlife crises, including fires, an extortion plot and a gamblers' credit scam, but somehow survived. It once appeared the Sahara would become a respected senior citizen. But it was outmaneuvered by opulent youngsters with megaresort credentials, causing terminal illness. Its demise will come Monday at age 58.
New neighborhood sports book wagering, via smartphone
It's always betting season in Las Vegas, with its tangy scent of money lost, won, and lost again. I wasn't planning to place my first sports bet on my new cellphone until at least lunchtime. But thinking about those wide-eyed $319 Mega Millions lottery winners has changed my mind, and I prepare to make my leap while still in my pajamas. I use a password to log into my Leroy's race and sports book account, where I deposited $100 using my credit card the day before. The tiny balance numbers appear under my name on the BlackBerry Leroy's has loaned me for this gambling journey into the 21st century. I select "college basketball" from a sports menu and scroll through available games until finding Virginia Commonwealth University, which is 3 to 1 to win the NCAA men's basketball championship. There are better odds, such as 5 to 1, at other sports books, meaning the window of opportunity is rapidly closing. Instead, I pick University of Connecticut to win the tournament. I select the "money line" and enter my bet of $10 using my keypad. A new screen pops up to confirm the bet and validate my location because this game is confined to Nevada.
Internet poker company looks to Nevada for entry into U.S.
The world's largest online poker site, facing big obstacles in winning congressional approval of Internet poker, has set its sights on a smaller target: getting Nevada lawmakers to approve online poker for state residents. And the groundwork has been laid in the Legislature allowing such a decision. But the effort may be doomed because casino giants MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment - and presumably many other casinos - oppose the proposal. "Has there ever been any bill passed directly affecting gaming over the opposition of the leading casinos in the state? I would bet no," said I. Nelson Rose, a gaming attorney and industry consultant based in California.
Caesars Entertainment reports better Las Vegas results
Caesars Entertainment Corp. today posted improved results for Las Vegas in the fourth quarter as gamblers returned to the Strip in bigger numbers. While Caesars lost money companywide in the quarter -- in part due to a slump in Atlantic City -- net revenue in Las Vegas increased from 2009's fourth quarter thanks to the acquisition of Planet Hollywood and higher spending by visitors, despite flat or lower hotel room rates. Net revenue of $727 million in the Las Vegas market was up from $649 million in the year-earlier quarter. This helped boost Caesars' profit from operations in Las Vegas from $97 million in 2009's fourth quarter to $101 million in the 2010 quarter. Same-store sales in Las Vegas increased 0.9 percent, Caesars said. While hotel occupancy in Las Vegas remained above 90 percent, average daily room rates fell or were flat because of increases in the city's room count, Caesars said.
Valentine's Day by the numbers: Las Vegas gets in the mood for love
Ahh, Valentine's Day. It's a day to celebrate the one we love -- and break the bank on overpriced gifts to let them know it. In a city known for overindulgence, Valentine's Day becomes even more indulgent. From expensive prixe fixe menus, to helicopter tours of the Strip or over-the-top marriage proposals, Las Vegas businesses are cashing in on all of it. The Sun asked local businesses what they're expecting this holiday and learned that love is in the air on Valentine's Day in Las Vegas in a big way. Move over, Paris. Valentine's Day is a popular choice for couples tying the knot. Clark County recorded 1,247 weddings in 2010 and 1,796 in 2009 for love's unofficial holiday, the Clark County Recorder's Office reported. On an average day during the year? About 250.
Hard Rock foreclosure sale rescheduled
The proposed foreclosure sale of the Hard Rock hotel-casino in Las Vegas has been rescheduled from Monday to Tuesday - assuming a New York state judge in Manhattan allows the foreclosure to proceed. Attorneys are waiting for Bernard Fried, a New York State Supreme Court justice, to rule on the Las Vegas Hard Rock's motion that the foreclosure be blocked. In New York, the Supreme Court is a trial court similar to Clark County District Court in Las Vegas. The highest court in New York is the state Court of Appeals. If Fried allows the foreclosure to proceed, it's now set for 4 p.m. Tuesday, New York time, on the New York City courthouse steps. That timing would probably accommodate the State Gaming Control Board and the Nevada Gaming Commission on Tuesday morning in Carson City potentially approving Navegante Gaming LLC as the contract casino operator for the foreclosing lender, NorthStar Realty Finance Corp. of New York.
LV cab drivers say they're driven to cheat
Las Vegas cabs are notorious for taking circuitous routes from the airport, and drivers say such behavior is encouraged. It was a rare bit of sunshine in an otherwise gloomy news season. In September, hotels.com released the results of its annual taxi survey, declaring Las Vegas taxicabs the best overall among 50 U.S. cities, as rated by nearly 2,000 travelers. Oh sure, the deck was stacked in at least a few of the seven categories - "knowledge of the area" isn't really fair when you compare the Strip with a confusingly laid-out city such as Atlanta, and "availability" isn't hard when taxis are only allowed to pick up fares at well-stacked hotel and airport stands or by dispatch at other businesses or residences. Still, that Las Vegas topped any list not starting with "Worst" was something worth talking about.
Woman hits $12.7 million Megabucks jackpot at CityCenter's Aria
A gambler at a Strip casino turned $6 into more than $12.7 million when she hit the Megabucks Jackpot at Aria on Friday afternoon. The gambler, who wished to remain anonymous, was visiting Las Vegas for her niece's birthday when she hit the jackpot at the CityCenter casino. After she hit the winning symbols, she thought the machine was malfunctioning until her niece pointed out that she had won. "I was on my way to my room when I saw this machine and decided to play," she said in a statement. The winner went on to say she was excited to share the news of her win with her husband and was looking forward to paying off her mortgage.
Station Casinos looking for 1,000 workers
Station Casinos Inc. of Las Vegas, which already employs about 12,000 people, today said it plans to fill more than 1,000 positions as it beefs up staffing and takes back restaurant space that had been leased out. The company, which filled more than 160 positions in October, today said that of the 1,000-plus jobs to be filled now, 500 will be full-time and the rest part-time. About 300 of the positions are for the return of the Grand Cafes in spaces in five properties that had been leased to Coco's. Company spokeswoman Lori Nelson said that of those 300 positions, about 150 are new as Station has different staffing levels for the cafes than Coco's did.
Proposal to raise slot fees gains steam, despite casino resistance
A long-running legislative proposal to increase slot machine fees is gaining steam as Nevada deals with a budget deficit of billions of dollars and a gubernatorial mandate to avoid increasing taxes. Predictably, some casino interests oppose the fee increases, calling them taxes by another name and a shortsighted cash grab that doesn't fix the underlying problem of a tax system overly reliant on a single industry. The issue is raising a philosophical debate about whether those who regulate the state's chief industry should be entirely funded by fees borne by the companies they oversee. Would funding the budget entirely with fees make the industry's watchdog more dependent on the fortunes of the gaming industry and thus, hurt its independence?
Las Vegas Strip looks to adapt to a changing market
It's easy to fret that the glory days are over for the Strip - the wellspring of our economy and icon of our global identity. After all, so much is going wrong. The slow, semistagnant recovery from the recession. Intense competition in the U.S. and abroad for gambling dollars. Aging Baby Boomers spending less. People seeking gaming venues closer to home. And, if only symbolically, the likelihood no casinos will be built for years. Still, there are the optimists who believe the Strip's irrepressible entrepreneurship and ability to dazzle and draw will surmount all obstacles and challenges. In these dismal days, there is much introspection - backed by the beginnings of action - to guarantee the Strip does far more in the future than merely survive.
Cosmopolitan targets 'curious' tourists
The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas opens this week with the trappings of every other luxury megaresort built in Southern Nevada over the past two decades - a convention center, nightclub, spa, pools, restaurants and shopping. But you wouldn't know it from its surreal TV commercial. The 60-second ad features, in no particular order, women sitting on men's hunched backs and sipping cocktails, a woman using her spiked heel to lace up another's corset, a bellhop wearing no pants, an elderly woman patting a young man's behind and litters of puppies, kittens and baby chicks roaming through the hotel, drawing glances from silky-haired models in black dresses and dark lipstick.
Analysts expect gaming revenue at pre-recession levels in 2014
After tumbling during the recession, Nevada gaming revenue should return to 2007 levels by 2014. That's according to a report to be released Tuesday by national accounting firm PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP). As opposed to the frequent negative comments focusing on the oversupply of Las Vegas hotel rooms, PwC had some positive comments in the report about the competitiveness of the state's gaming industry. In its "Playing to win" gaming industry outlook report, PwC acknowledged "Las Vegas is currently hunkered down for a relatively gradual recovery, since experience shows that an upturn in vacations to casino gaming centers tends to lag about 12-18 months behind a rebound in the economy." But PwC also said: "As the global economy recovers, and international visitors return alongside domestic visitors, Nevada continues to be better placed to capitalize on the upturn than Atlantic City, since Nevada is less affected by competition from regional casinos."
Jonathan Duhamel goes from unknown to star with World Series of Poker victory
Jonathan Duhamel wrapped a Canadian flag around his shoulders and yelled in a manner he usually only unleashes when his beloved Montreal Canadiens score a goal at the Bell Centre in his hometown. The 22-year-old Duhamel won the World Series of Poker Main Event bracelet and the $8,944,138 first-place prize Monday night at the Rio, beating 24-year-old John Racener in a 43-hand heads-up session. "It is life-changing," Duhamel said. "I don't know how much, but it's a dream for me." At the beginning of this summer's World Series of Poker, Duhamel had career tournament earnings of about $40,000. He made more than 220 times that Monday night.
Is economic relief in sight for Las Vegas gaming?
The quick answer: Maybe. Las Vegas resorts report hopeful signs and economists are optimistic, but consumers still cautious about spending. By some measures, the recession-battered Strip has made the turn and is on the road to recovery. Room rates, convention bookings, gambling revenue and visitor traffic have all improved. But don't release the confetti quite yet. Some economists and analysts say small, year-over-year improvements don't define a recovery, especially one large enough to benefit its most-leveraged companies. "Things don't seem to be getting worse, but they haven't really been getting better, either," said Joe Fath, a T. Rowe Price portfolio manager who specializes in gaming, travel and tourism. "There's a difference between (a few positive indicators) that are pushing stocks up and real recovery," he said. "If I had to bet on it, I'd say things will slowly get better, but at a very moderate pace."
Cosmopolitan's jarring ad aimed at the 'curious class'
What do hundreds of furry, little animals have to do with the Las Vegas Strip's newest resort? Apparently nothing, but they piqued viewer curiosity during the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas' first commercial earlier this week - and that's exactly what the resort wanted. Just two months before its opening, the $3.9 billion hotel-casino debuted its curious and provocative TV ad during the season finale of "Mad Men" on AMC Sunday evening. The ad was shot on a set modeled after the soon-to-open Cosmopolitan and features cultural taboos such as an elderly woman groping a much younger man, a pantsless bellhop and a dominatrix being strapped into a corset.
Legal Internet gambling may help big casino firms, hurt small ones
Although major U.S. casino companies see a potential gold mine in legalizing Internet gambling, some operators of small, neighborhood casinos in Nevada - which make up most of the properties in the world's largest concentration of gambling halls - see problems. One of them is Greg Lee, whose family owns the Eureka casinos in Las Vegas and Mesquite. Neither Lee nor any other casino operator knows for sure what will happen if online gambling is regulated in the United States, but he is not bullish about the prospect of competing with bigger brand names for poker or other kinds of gambling online. Bricks-and-mortar casinos survive by virtue of having convenient locations and relationships with customers, while online retailing is a monopolistic world where those with the biggest brands and most customers crowd out smaller competitors, Lee said. "Online, the money flows to the companies with the dominant (economies of) scale," he said. "It's hard for me to see how this would benefit my business."
Man shoots self outside McCarran airport terminal
A man died after shooting himself in the head Sunday afternoon outside Terminal 2 at McCarran International Airport, officials said. Airport spokesman Glenn Gardner said the incident happened shortly after 4:30 p.m. when a man walked onto the curb at the north end of the terminal, then shot himself. Gardner said it's unclear why the man, who hasn't been identified, came to the airport. No one else was injured. Metro Police, the Clark County Fire Department and the coroner's office responded to the scene and closed the far north entrance of the airport. Otherwise, Gardner said the airport was operating as normal. Terminal 2 is generally less busy than Terminal 1 because it's used by charter and international flights. Gardner said other details weren't available about the man.
Feds Arrest 35 in Las Vegas Gang Bust
Dozens of people are under arrest after a huge bust by federal agents. The arrests were part of a gang sweep that lasted three days. It was spearheaded by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigation agents and also involved state and local law enforcement. In all, 35 people were arrested in Las Vegas and they are all facing criminal charges or deportation. Federal authorities say all 35 are members of gangs or associated with gang activity.
Why your friends might be packing a concealed gun
Erik Scott rarely left home without a gun tucked in his waistband. Concerned about his safety while on call at night to service the pacemakers he sold, Scott decided this year to join more than 34,000 Clark County residents who have obtained concealed weapon permits. "There are a lot of us who are CCW carriers - first and foremost for safety," Scott's friend and co-worker Chris Castillo said last week. "He and I used to have long discussions about it. We take calls as pacemaker reps, and we're out at all times of the night in all areas of Las Vegas. "During times of recession, you have rising crime in areas you wouldn't normally find crime."
Too many rooms to fill: CityCenter's opening felt, even as visitor volume grows
With more hotel rooms in Las Vegas than bodies to fill them, the evidence is growing that CityCenter is stealing more business from other resorts than it is creating. The news might be worse for competitors than it is for MGM Resorts International, which owns the largest share of Strip resorts, including CityCenter, co-owned by Dubai World. Single-property resorts such as the Tropicana and Riviera have potentially more to lose because they are generating less cash to fall back on and lack a massive customer database to draw from. Also, many customers are choosing to stay at fancier hotels that have lowered rates to maintain occupancy over budget properties that aren’t much cheaper...
Boutique hotel opens in shadow of Strip megaresorts
In the shadows of monstrous Strip hotels, the Siegel Group is harboring its latest shot at a boutique hotel on the former site of the boarded-up St. Tropez hotel. The exterior has been given a sleek white coat, and the interior has adopted a look that resonates with Las Vegas' increasingly younger customer. A new hotel called Rumor Las Vegas is the end product of the Siegel Group's revamping. The hotel opened last week to invited guests and will celebrate its grand opening in mid-September. The real estate developer purchased the St. Tropez at the bargain-basement price of $10.5 million from a California businessman in September 2009 and spent about $4 million to revamp the property...
Couple looks to future after leaving desert homeless camp
Existing in the open desert around Las Vegas is inconceivable for many people who have sampled its harsh winters and deadly summers. Michelle Brower, who lost her job at a crafts store because of the recession, did it while both homeless and pregnant. It wasn't an easy life, sleeping in a flimsy nylon tent amid the sometimes terrifying sounds of the city and the desert, praying the latest rainstorm wouldn't flood the homeless camp and send her fleeing into the nearby streets. Through it all, she looked for work. But just looking presentable enough to walk into a business for an application was challenging. In the desert she had no running water, no shower, no washing machine. It took at least two hours by bus to get across town to a Henderson church known for providing these amenities to the homeless. Cleaning up to seek work generally took half the day. And the closer she came to her due date, the harder it got.
Dealers say tipping supervisors creates conflict of interest
In the fight to reverse Steve Wynn’s policy of sharing casino dealers’ tips with their immediate supervisors, one argument seemed to hold the most promise. The attorney representing dealers, Jay Litman, didn’t spend too much time parsing Nevada labor law concerning tips, which for decades has been interpreted by state courts in favor of employers. Instead, he focused on the longstanding industry policy that prevents supervisors from receiving tips to avoid potential conflicts of interest. Supervisors who receive tips from players could compromise the integrity of the games they oversee, potentially bending the rules for a player's benefit...
Online poker law in effect, but players still manage to bet
It's another sweltering afternoon in Las Vegas, and a 33-year-old woman is sitting in front of her home computer wearing pink fuzzy slippers as she breaks federal law yet again. Two cats brush up against her sweatpants as she pulls up a website called PokerStars.com and clicks "cashier" and then "buy chips." She enters her bank routing number and checking account number onto the site, along with a promotional code grabbed from a magazine ad. Within seconds, she has deposited $10 into an online gambling account, with PokerStars matching that amount....
Las Vegas Strip lights up for Fourth of July celebrations
The Strip was illuminated with two fireworks shows Sunday night, but Las Vegas Boulevard was crowded all evening with thousands of tourists and local residents looking for a Fourth of July holiday celebration. Fireworks lit up the Strip and several locals casinos, while area cities also had their official Independence Day celebrations. Caesars Palace, Mandalay Bay and the Las Vegas Hilton hosted fireworks displays, with the Caesars show free to the public. Large crowds gathered at Caesars long before the fireworks began - crowds apparently drawn to the only free fireworks show on the Strip...
Temperatures to sizzle in Las Vegas
Find some shade and a cool drink -- more hot and sunny weather is sizzling into Las Vegas. Temperatures will climb to 105 today, 109 on Monday and 107 Tuesday, thanks to high pressure building over the region through Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. An area of low pressure will move into the Pacific Northwest at mid week, bringing increasing southwest winds, while knocking temperatures down to seasonal normals by the end of the week, the weather service said. At 5:56 a.m. today, the temperature at McCarran International Airport was 80 degrees, up from a low of 79 an hour earlier. The normal low for today's date is 75 degrees. The record low was 59 degrees, set in 1941.
Car Crashes into a Sinkhole
A large sinkhole in the middle of a Las Vegas street sent one woman to the hospital and shut down water in nearby neighborhoods for several hours. The sinkhole opened at around 6pm Friday near Nellis and Desert Inn. Officials say a 24 inch water line running under the intersection of Desert Inn and Nellis developed a leak. Workers were dispatched to the area. They turned the water off to fix it, but then realized they needed parts, so they turned the water back on. They called for a crew to come and shut down the lane. Before it could be shut down, however, a woman drove over the asphalt, and it gave way.