Featured Articles Archive - Page 269

Nevada gaming revenues decline 8 percent in July, Las Vegas Strip down 14 percent

LAS VEGAS -- At a glance, the Nevada gaming revenue figure for July looked promising.However, baccarat results and a comparison to just the state’s second billion-dollar month in four years drove down the overall picture.The Gaming Control Board said Friday casinos in Nevada collected $925.7 million from gamblers during July, a decline of 7.9 percent compared with $1.005 billion a year ago.As for the Strip, gaming revenues fell 14.4 percent to $511.4 million, compared with revenues of $597.4 million in July 2012.The July 2013 statewide raw number – $925.7 million – was the second largest single-month total this year...read more

For the High Roller, the task at hand is to put the wheel in place

LAS VEGAS -- As an executive with Universal Studios, David Codiga led the design and development teams for several of the company’s Orlando theme park attractions, including Jurassic Park, Terminator 2 and Spiderman 3D.Overseeing the design, development and construction of the 550-foot High Roller Observation Wheel — the centerpiece of the $550 million Linq project — makes full use of all his experience.“I built ‘Islands of Adventure,’ but I don’t think I’ve ever worked on something like this,” Codiga said Thursday.The challenge is not just the actual construction of the world’s largest observation wheel, which will surpass the London Eye and Singapore Flyer...read more

Could Wynn buy Atlantic Club to gain New Jersey foothold?

LAS VEGAS -- How odd would it be if Steve Wynn were to buy the Atlantic Club in Atlantic City in order to gain a foothold in New Jersey’s highly anticipated Internet gaming market?It’s not like he’s unfamiliar with the building.Wynn built the Boardwalk’s southernmost hotel-casino, which opened as the Golden Nugget Atlantic City in 1980, and he sold it for $440 million in 1987.Since then, the property has had six different ownership groups and six different names...read more

Union Gaming Group, successful at home, looks to Japan as global gambling's possible next frontier

When Bill Lerner and Rich Moriarty penciled out their ideas for Union Gaming Group over dinner at the Sparks Steak House in New York City in 2008, the original concept was to create a boutique investment bank and securities firm focused on the global casino industry.Five years later, the Las Vegas-based business has far exceeded their initial plan.Later this month, Union Gaming Group will host a three-day conference at the Conrad Hotel in Tokyo that focuses on Japan’s potential expansion into legalized casino gaming.Japan is considered uncharted territory for gaming, with many in the industry believing returns on investment could rival Macau, the world’s largest gaming market.The potential passage of casino legislation by the Japanese government has the best chance out of previous tries, Union Gaming Group believes.The company’s event will place Japanese government officials, representatives of the leading gaming companies and the investment community into one room.“We’re creating a platform that is bringing together all parties for communication and education,” said Lerner, who spent 16 years on Wall Street as an equity research analyst...read more

Does craps have the opposite of a Place bet, one you win if a seven hits before the number?

Question: In craps, you can bet on four, five, six, eight, nine, or 10, winning if the number appears and losing if the throw is a seven. The trouble is, sevens roll more than any other result so the odds are always against you. Is it possible to bet with the house, so you win on a seven and lose on the selected number?Answer: Yes...read more

Deal Me In: Either way, it's still a random draw

Dear Mark: Are the cards behind the initial five shown already in place behind each shown card, or are they dealt off the top of a deck? For example, the cards are shown in this order: 4-5-5-6-7. Does it matter which five you hold or throw away trying for the straight? Frank K.Back in the day, Frank, most video poker machines operated using parallel dealing...read more

Poker Player Tweets of the Week: Florida brings out the degenerates

A lot of weird stuff happens in Florida. It's the perfect place for professional poker players to gather for one of the most unique tournaments of the year. The Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open has been going on over the past couple weeks, but the main draw for pros across the world was the $10 million guarantee championship event, the largest ever prize pool guarantee for a live tournament...read more

Top-10 ways to bet on the NFL season

Fall is the best season.The leaves are beautiful, the weather is pristine, the beer is -- don't even get me started on the beer. The beginning of September through Thanksgiving is the most magical time of the year.But all of that would be worthless (OK, maybe not the beer) if it weren't for the National Football League, or more specifically, gambling on the National Football League.The 2013 NFL campaign begins Thursday night as the reigning Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens visit Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos...read more

William Hill to be race and sports book operator at SLS Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS -- The remodeled SLS Las Vegas is roughly a year away from opening, but the $400 million Strip resort’s pieces are beginning to fall into place.Los Angeles-based SBE Entertainment Group, LLC on Wednesday said it partnered with William Hill to operate the race and sports book inside the reconfigured casino, which is rising from the remnants of the former Rat Pack-era Sahara.The 3,000-square-foot race and sports book will be connected with one of the trendy restaurants SBE is bringing to the new property.William Hill U.S., a division of the British bookmaker, operates more than 100 race and sports books across Nevada...read more

Loveman, Fahrenkopf, two others tapped for Gaming Hall of Fame

LAS VEGAS -- The chairman of Caesars Entertainment Inc. and the former chief of the American Gaming Association (AGA) head a four-person list of inductees into the Gaming Hall of Fame for 2013.The American Gaming Association announced the class Wednesday.Gary Loveman, chairman and CEO of Caesars Entertainment, and Frank Fahrenkopf Jr., who led the American Gaming Association during its first 18 years, head the list.Also being inducted into the Hall of Fame are singer-entertainer Celine Dion and celebrity chef and restaurant operator Guy Savoy.The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be Nov...read more