Featured Articles Archive - Page 354

Deal Me In: The only armed queen in the deck often delivered

Dear Mark: A couple of years ago, I played Pai Gow at the Encore together with my wife and daughter. We were getting ready to leave, and only played an hour at this table. A male dealer was able to correctly identify pairs of Queens, Aces, etc...read more

Caesars Entertainment expands Total Rewards program

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Buying a pair of jeans from Target or a flat-screen TV from Best Buy now will earn Caesars Entertainment Corp. customers points that can be redeemed at any of the company's 40 properties nationwide.The casino operator on Thursday rolled out new features of its 15-year-old Total Rewards customer loyalty program, which now will include opportunities to earn points and credits outside the company's casinos.Members of Total Rewards -- some 45 million strong, according to Caesars Entertainment -- still earn points through casino play and spending on hotel rooms, shows, retail, dining and other nongaming amenities at the company's resorts.Going outside the casino is a new twist."We started out as a slot club," said Joshua Kanter, vice president of Total Rewards for Caesars Entertainment...read more

Epic Poker League parent company files for Chapter 11

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- The company that owns and manages the upstart Epic Poker League has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization.Federated Sports + Gaming, a company started by former World Series of Poker Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack, filed the bankruptcy in Maryland late Tuesday.In a statement posted on the Epic Poker League's website, Pollack said the company would seek a partner, a pursuit that was under way before the bankruptcy filing.Besides the Epic Poker League, which held three events last year at The Palms Casino Resort, Federated owns the Global Poker Index, epicpoker.com, the Epic Poker game on Facebook, and the Heartland Poker Tour."Our company needs a new start," Pollack said...read more

Caesars Entertainment reports $220.6 million loss

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Despite increases in revenues and operating income, Caesars Entertainment Corp., suffered a $220.6 million net loss in the fourth quarter, due in large part to higher interest expenses.The Las Vegas-based casino giant said Wednesday revenues increased 2.4 percent in the quarter that ended Dec...read more

MGM Grand remodeling begins after nearly eight-year delay

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- So there's no confusion, the temporary hotel room in the lobby of the MGM Grand Las Vegas is not available.Besides, there isn't a bathroom.But the mock-up serves a purpose, said MGM Grand President Scott Sibella.It tells guests the 5,044-room Strip resort's propertywide remodeling is under way after being delayed for almost eight years.So does the 14-foot replica paint can at the property's main pedestrian entrance off the Strip.The $160 million room renovation is the most visible and anticipated aspect of the property's remodeling, which will include all 3,570 rooms and 642 suites in the MGM Grand's main tower...read more

Kerkorian sells 20 million MGM shares

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Billionaire financier Kirk Kerkorian sold 20 million shares of MGM Resorts International Monday through his privately held Tracinda Corp., for $268 million. In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission this morning, Los Angeles-based Tracinda, Kerkorian's investment arm, said the stock was sold at $14.02 per share but had a net value of $13.40 per share. The transaction is expected to close Thursday. Following the sale, the 94-year-old Kerkorian remains MGM Resorts' largest shareholder with almost 91.2 million shares, or 18.7 percent of the company. In a statement, Tracinda said it would not sell any additional MGM Resorts stock for at least 60 days...read more

Calvin Ayre indicted, Bodog.com domain seized

Bodog founder Calvin Ayre has been indicted by federal prosecutors in Baltimore and the Bodog.com domain name has been seized by the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.In the indictment unsealed today, Ayre, James Phillip, David Ferguson and Derrick Maloney are charged with conducting a gambling business as well as money laundering...read more

Top-10 restaurants Vin wants to try out in Las Vegas

One of the reasons Las Vegas is my favorite destination for vacations and conventions is it's a foodie paradise. There are loads of good restaurants (at a variety of budget points) to try. A couple of years ago, I detailed my 10-favorite restaurants in Las Vegas...read more

Bally Technologies acquires online gaming company Chiligaming

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Slot machine giant Bally Technologies said Thursday it acquired an Internet gaming platform from a European company that it plans to use to help its casino customers enter the online gaming world.The transaction, however, does not mean Bally wants to launch it own Internet gaming website.The company, which has an application pending with Nevada gaming regulators under the state's newly enacted Internet poker regulations, plans to use the technology with casino companies seeking both free play and wager-based gaming websites.Bally agreed to acquire the technology from Chiligaming, which has offices in Malta, France and the United Kingdom...read more

Soap opera surrounds Wynn Resorts

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- A chapter in the Articles of Incorporation for Wynn Resorts Ltd. gave its board of directors a clear map on how the company could sever ties with its largest shareholder. Ironically, Japanese businessman Kazuo Okada, whose nearly 20 percent stake was reduced to zero in a matter of hours on Feb...read more