A Few of My Favorite Things

Hi Vegas Fans,
During the holidays, I am reminded of My Favorite Things - not so much the song from The Sound of Music, but more from jazz legend John Coltrane's sweet tenor sax in the album of the same name, released in 1961. My Favorite Things is one of my favorite things... hang with me, I'm going somewhere with this.

 

I always like to look back and reflect on the year and share some of my thoughts as well as look ahead to the coming year. For a lot of reasons, this has been a challenging year for me. It has made my trips to Las Vegas that much more meaningful. I feel so fortunate that I get to escape reality, which tends to smack me in the face from time to time, and visit the un-real world of the Strip, downtown, and outskirts of the most exciting city in the world.

Here is a short list of my favorite Vegas things from 2011, in no particular order:

• Playing $5 blackjack and craps and enjoying a few rum and cokes, especially at the Stratosphere. It's all about the atmosphere, and the Strat has a lot of creative characters roaming the floor. Good times. 
• Hanging with my best friend and fellow degenerate gambler, Steve. We have been going to Vegas for over 20 years, and we typically enjoy the same goofy stuff and craziness of the wonderful world of Sin City.
• Betting on my sports team and yelling at TVs as if they can hear me. It is amazing to me that the quarterback doesn't throw the ball to avoid the sack no matter how loudly I try to persuade him.
• Walking the Strip at sunrise. I am one of those annoying morning people who likes to get up as dawn cracks and head to Starbucks or the Peppermill for a nice breakfast. There are two kinds of people you encounter at this hour: runners and crazy vagrants. It's a good mix.
• Eating at Battista's Hole in the Wall. Yeah, I get arguments against this one from time to time. Foodies like to turn their noses up at this place. But for me, it's more about the tradition and atmosphere. I always enjoy the wine with my dinner, and I love when Gordie the accordion player stops by my table to play a tune. In a city where history is reduced to rubble with a flip of a switch, I'm hoping that this place doesn't change for a while.
• Visiting Red Rock Canyon. Check out my pics on Flickr. It was a really beautiful day.
• Enjoying Bellagio's Fine Art Gallery. The last one of its kind on the Strip. I'm no art expert, but I know what I like. They consistently show the best masterpieces by classic artists - from Picasso to Lichtenstein to everyone in between.
• Finishing Simplifying Las Vegas 2012. Just in the St. Nick of time.

I could go on and on here, but you get the idea. Whether you like to people watch, eat good food, gamble, party or sit by the pool and catch some rays, Las Vegas is a great getaway. I look forward to my next trip. I'm already planning it.

When I count my good fortunes, and yes I do have a lot of them even when times are more difficult, I often include how grateful I am that I get to go to Vegas and enjoy some of my favorite things.

Please feel free to post some of your favorite Vegas things... you can post anonymously if your boss or spouse also follows this blog.
Viva,
Mike

True Tales of Craps and Blackjack

Hi Vegas fans,

A question on my forums yesterday made me start thinking about the funniest and weirdest things that I have seen at the tables over the years. Most of the time it's just a few folks joking around, having a good time, trying not to lose money. But here are some of the highlights of my gambling history, in no particular order:

First time playing craps - Caesars Palace, 1992. Back then, you could get a spot at a $2 craps table with no problem. Heck, back then Caesars had a ton of tables and the casino was always hopping. Anyway... I'm at a lively table with my faithful compadre Steve, and the shooters are really hot. Two gents at the opposite end of the table are experienced craps players and are making a lot of money.

The dice come to me. I roll a number and then crap out after a few rolls. Just enough so that players lose their pass line bets and come bets. Oops. The dice go to the next player, and the game gets hot again. Finally they come back to me. I roll a number and then... you guessed it, crap out after a few more rolls. One of the fellows at the other end of the table looks at me and says, "have you thought about not rolling the dice?" Sound advice. I didn't tell them that my middle name is Seven

Blackjack - Caesars palace, also 1992. Steve is at a table with a really, really intoxicated fellow (not me... not this time), who is complaining to Steve about the dealers, pit boss and so on. Finally, it comes time for him to cut the cards. The gent takes the yellow card and, instead of sliding it between the decks of cards like a normal, sober person, attempts to literally cut the cards by slicing at them. Doesn't work that way. Stay sober, my friend.

Blackjack - Stratosphere, 2009. Two very Australian dudes playing at a table with me and Steve, slowly getting tight. Good fellas, for the most part, although they were annoying the dealer and were one smart-ass comment away from getting into some trouble. A cigar girl came by, and one of the gents decides to buy one. He lights up just as the pit boss walks up to the table, just by chance, to check things out. Pit boss smiles for a few seconds, trying not to laugh. The Aussie is about to puff when the pit boss says, "You know you lit the wrong end, don't you?" Good stuff.

Blackjack - Stratosphere, 2009. Steve and I are at a fairly full table with a bunch of good folks. One guy in particular is nice enough but making really wacky bets. Of course, he's losing and blaming the cards. So his frustration builds and at one point he decides to double-down on a hard sixteen versus a dealer ten. Now, if you don't know anything about blackjack, all I can say is this is about the worst play you can make. His odds of winning the hand have to be in the gazillions. His odds of not busting with a hard sixteen are pretty slim as it is. So, what does he get for his card? Of course, a 5! He wins the hand. Sometimes, ignorance is bliss.

Blackjack and Craps, Bill's Gamblin' Hall, 2010. My 40th birthday Vegas all-out, good-time bash. Steve and I had just arrived in Vegas and had bet on some NCAA basketball games. We already had a drinking contest in the sports book (I lost... but just barely), and while we waited to eventually lose our bets on hoops, we decided to play some craps. Now at the tables I like to drink rum and cokes. You know, to look sophisticated while I root for my point ("Come on sixthhhh.... daddy needth a new pair of shoethhh!").

We had a full table and it was rocking. One shooter in particular had a pretty good run. The drunk dude to the left of me (not Steve... he was the drunk dude on my right) was really, really funny. Well, at the time we both thought we were going to headline at Caesars. So the point was nine, and we were alternating cheers for the shooter. He'd yell "sixty-three" and then I'd chant "fifty-four." Then the whole table got into it. It was like we were at a college football game. "Sixty-three..." "fifty-four..." "sixty-three..." "fifty-four!" The shooter eventually hit the nine and we picked up our winnings.

Then, Steve and I decided to head to the blackjack table. For some reason, we thought 6-5 single deck was a good idea. Not my favorite game, but the evil Caesars property didn't leave us much choice for blackjack. I recall very little, other than every time I went to double-down, the dealer chastised me for reaching over my chips to put my cards under them. Or something like that. I remember thinking that I was one of those guys I didn't like much at the table, a little sloppy and holding up progress. Oh well, it was my birfday after all, and how many times do you turn 40? By the end of the night, I had to call my wife to remind me which room we were in. The next day was brutal.

Well, those are some of my highlights. What are yours???

Viva,

Mike

Flamingo Website

Hi Vegas fans,

As you know, I tend to rail on Caesars Entertainment Corporation (CEC) for a few main reasons. First, their table games typically have horrible rules, especially for us average Joes. Second, they try to build consistency and brand recognition but in doing so have taken unique properties and turned them into blah. Finally, navigating (and even looking at) CEC websites is a painful experience.

For a major corporation who has a stake in all things Vegas, they sure don't make their sites very appealing. Remember your dad's old paisley ties that were wide enough to be bibs? Remember how you wanted to hurl when he kept wearing those well into this decade? That's how I typically respond to CEC websites.

However, I like to be a positive person. I like to give credit where credit is due. I like to avoid hurling. So here it goes.

The Flamingo website contains a cool video on the home page that makes me think maybe, just maybe CEC is starting to turn it around. Now, granted, it's a modest little video that only lasts about 30 seconds, so it's not like it's going to win a Webbie or anything. But it's good. Be sure to watch it (at 30 seconds, you can't go wrong), but here's a synopsis:

It begins with an old station wagon, complete with a radio (not a stereo with a CD player or Auxiliary jack for your MP3 player, just a radio that you tune to stations) and an old analog clock. It drives into the desert, and then you see the sparkle of a pool. The familiar Flamingo sign is out of focus, but you can see the classic Vegas neon lights, and you know we're getting closer. Then, some beautiful women. Of course. A woman puts on her lipstick, then there's scenes of them by the pool. The Flamingo sign comes into focus. Then, fellas in sunglasses are enjoying a drink. Everyone looks happy. Then the station wagon drives off into the sunset.

What's so great about this? Here's what I like about it:

• It's perfect for the web. They pack a ton of good stuff in half a minute. Lots of good images, cool music, and few spoken words. Even with the sound down, this is a fun video to watch.



• It blends the modern and the classic. It's in black-and-white, but yet you get a sense of modernism through the pool and the young folks enjoying drinks.



• It has character. This is what I'm craving from CEC. Nowhere in the video does the narrator say "Flamingo" or "Caesars" but you know when he's talking about "a place" he means that the Flamingo has always been a Vegas staple. That's their niche - Ben Siegel and pink flamingos. 1946 and a cool pool. Showgirls and art deco. Now blend that with modern Las Vegas and you have something.

And that's the feeling I get from the video, in a nutshell. The guys driving the station wagon aren't just going to meet some gals. They are going to meet some gals in Vegas, and they're going to have fun at a classic stop on the Strip. Bingo.

Now, if they would only change their blackjack tables to pay 3:2 instead of 6:5 in the 6 deck shoes, I might just play there....
Viva,
Mike

Casino Games and Las Vegas Odds

Hi Vegas fans,

Do you like math? Me neither. I'm not fast enough to count cards at blackjack. But, I know enough to play the good games and stay away from the bad ones.

There are plenty of sites and books that will give you the odds for the various games you can play in Vegas. The odds will vary slightly depending on the casino's rules. However, the breakdown is pretty similar - video poker and blackjack are the best player advantage games, assuming you find the tables/machines with the best rules and play perfectly every hand. Baccarat and craps are also good games. Slots, big wheels, keno and double-zero roulette tend to have the worst odds in the casino.

A lot of people think that the games with the better odds are harder to win or harder to play. Not true - it just takes a little practice. Take craps - the table is big and the felt has a bunch of stuff on it. But if you want to make your life easier (and make the plays with the best odds), just stick to the basic bets: pass line (backed up with odds - the only true fair shake you'll get in the casino) and come bets (backed up with odds). After you try it a few times, or watch other players do it, you'll see how easy it is.

Also, give yourself a break and don't feel guilty if you use a little of your money for the games with not-so-great odds every once in a while. The last time I was in Vegas, I was losing pretty steadily at blackjack. One night I decided to just throw $20 into a Wheel of Fortune, and for some reason I won $40.

You never know... but, you'll win more (and keep your losses to a minimum) if you stick to the games with the best odds.

Viva,

Mike

Total Rewards Goes Beyond Casino Walls

Hi Vegas Fans,

Caesars Entertainment Corporation (CEC) has announced that its new program will offer Total Rewards points for customers who shop at selected retail venues. So, gambling is not the only game in town anymore when you want to earn points.

Pretty cool marketing campaign, methinks. I've been pretty hard on CEC at times, mostly because of their crummy gaming in comparison to their past and to the rest of Las Vegas. But, fair is fair. This is a great way that a major gaming corporation is figuring out that they need to do more to compete. They can't continue to just wait for people to walk through the casino door and offer them a buffet for every 3,000,000 points they earn on Wheel of Fortune slots.

So I hope it works out for them. I typically don't gamble at CEC properties. Will this promotion be big enough to draw me in and look at the expected value for a negative gaming experience? Probably not. But it's still a good idea.

Viva,

Mike

The Blackjack Book

"What does the book say?"

You'll hear this question just about any time you play blackjack in Las Vegas. Players sometimes ask other players or the dealer what to do in certain situations. The funny thing is, even when people hear the correct play, they don't always do it.

Here's an example. Let's say you have 14 vs a dealer 10 card showing. The correct play is to hit. Let's say you get an ace. Now you're stuck with a crummy 15. So you ask the dealer - what is the correct move? Hit or stay? The dealer says to hit again. Keep hitting until you reach at least 17. But you're looking at your cards. You just hit 14 and you think that if you push your luck and hit again, you will certainly bust. You tell yourself "the book isn't always right." And while it's true that the odds are that you will bust, the odds are greater that you will lose if you don't hit and try to reach 17.

The good news is you don't have to memorize the right play or ask others what the book says. You can purchase a little cheat sheet card in any gift shop. The card is the book, essentially, because it shows you what to do in every situation. What the card won't tell you is how to find the right table. You need to make sure you are playing at at table that pays 3-2 on blackjack, not 6-5. There are other important rules that will either be in your favor or in the casino's favor, but I won't go into them here.

The important thing to remember is to have fun and follow "the book," which is really just making the right play based on odds. It's not tricky. It's not a gimmick. It's just numbers. And don't worry if anyone else at the table isn't following the book. In the long run, their play won't hurt you. You just have to focus on the money that is in front of you - yours.

I have lots more blackjack information about the book in my book. I hope you enjoy it!

Viva,

Mike

World Series of Poker

Hi Vegas fans,

The 2011 WSOP events are in full swing at the Rio, although the main event doesn't start until July 7. Until then, it's a lot of smaller tournaments - there are 58 in all! - that keep poker-addicted fans busy. Everything from Omaha Hi-Lo to H.O.R.S.E. Yep, if you like poker, there are plenty of ways to get your game on.

The event has grown and changed so much in the 40+ years of its existence. In its first years, the WSOP was basically a couple of fold-up tables and a few dudes with names like Amarillo Slim and Puggy Pearson. The event was hosted by Benny Binion at his Horseshoe downtown. Like any good idea, the event grew and grew. Now, the WSOP is broadcast on ESPN and has over 70,000 entrants. Poker players still get nicknames, too, like The Poker Brat, The Mouth, and Unabomber.

Most of the top pros get their $10,000 entry fee paid for by sponsors. Although this year has been every interesting since three main poker sites (FullTilt, PokerStars and AbsolutePoker) that sponsor players were shut down on April 15 by the FBI on charges of fraud and laundering. Phil Ivey, one of the best poker players in the world, refused to play because he claims his sponsor, FullTilt, won't pay players their money due. FullTilt denies any wrong-doing and fired back that Ivey's intentions are self-serving. Ahh yes... I come for the poker but I stay for the drama.

Although I don't really play poker, I'm happy that it continues to thrive. Anything that keeps Vegas on its feet is a good thing. One of these days I'll sit down and really start learning about the game. I'm told the best way to learn is to play for free online at a site that has not been seized by the FBI. Well, I already sit in front of a computer a lot these days, so more of that right now that does not sound very appealing to me. But I'll get into it one of these days. To me, poker is lot like paintball or marriage. It's much more fun to play than to be a spectator, and you're probably going to get your butt kicked the first few times.

Viva,

Mike

Um.... Does Anyone Remember Gambling?

Hi Vegas fans,

The latest news in Las Vegas points to an interesting trend on the Strip - more shopping and entertainment. Compass Investments broke ground this week on the new Skyvue Wheel, a giant Ferris wheel similar to the London Eye, which will be flanked by shopping and restaurants.

There is also a new shopping center that will be - gasp - next to Planet Hollywood, home to the Miracle Mile shops. Think about what's close to Plant Hollywood - you've got CityCenter with the upscale Crystal shops, and not far from that you've got the Forum Shops. Take a short walk south from Planet Ho, and you arrive at Showcase Mall, complete with M&M's World and the World of Coca-Cola, among other unique retail opportunities.

Too much? I think so. Don't get me wrong, I think a lot of variety of entertainment and dining options help attract visitors to Sin City. But this reminds me of another particularly odd time in Las Vegas' history. In the 1990's many casinos built entertainment options to present the city as a family-friendly destination. Remember the amusement park at MGM Grand? The pirate show at TI? It wasn't a bad idea - after all, why not try to increase visitation by enticing parents to bring the kids?

But it didn't really fly. Mom and dad want to escape, and they don't want Disneyland for kids, they want Disneyland for adults. So the MGM tore down the amusement park. The pirate show was revamped into The Sirens of TI, complete with scantily-clad ladies and shirtless pirates. Now the casinos have "party pits" where very sexy ladies dance while you drop your hard-earned money at 6-5 blackjack.

Downtown, you'll find a similar trend. There are often several concerts going on at the same time on Fremont Street. And you can get your photo taken with showgirls and bunnies. Um, not that I would know.

But the point is this. Entertainment is great in Las Vegas, but you can get top-notch shows and restaurants in many cities. What separates Las Vegas from them is the casinos. I wish they would focus more on them. Really focus on them. I think the art of planning the casino floor has been lost.

So I'm sending out an open call to casino moguls and the execs who run the floors. Rethink your gaming plan. Please. Here are some ideas, for starters:

• Dedicate your space to lots of good table games and plenty-o'slots and video poker machines. Make that the focus of what you do again.
• Send out good gaming promos to your players to draw them in, and not just the usual invitations to slot tourneys. Think about coupons for other games, poker gatherings, and other creative investments in the people who love to spend a few dollars in the casino.
• Make sure your casino floor is comfortable so that guests will want to stay there a while. Freshen the carpets and felts on the tables, and keep those drinks coming. Too many cocktail waitresses take their time between rounds. Even when I pre-tip them.
• Forget the unbuilt condos behind your properties. Let them rust. Remember that when push came to shove, they didn't work, but people still walk into your casinos.

I've got lots of other ideas. You'll find me at the 3-2 blackjack table with a rum and coke in my hand. I hope.

Viva,

Mike

Viva Las Vegas

Hi Vegas fans,

Here's a snapshot of our recent trip to the Strip. Steve and I had a blast, regardless of the fact that we lost some cash. Notice that the picture only shows us from the waist up. That's because we lost our pants. Ha! Just kidding.

I really had a great time. It's nice to escape from reality, if only for a little while. Part of the fun for me is that Steve and I go way back. Friends that gamble together stay together.

We checked out the Cosmo for the first time on this trip. Steve played some blackjack (and lost). It played it safe by just taking pictures. What a really fun place to hang out. It's really upscale, but unlike a lot of modern casinos, it's not difficult to navigate. I think the reason is that they built it "up" instead of creating a sprawling, 100 mile casino floor to roam until your feet ache.

We also saw a Dodgers game, and I cashed one of my only successful sports tickets. I had the Dodgers winning and also a second bet on the run line (Dodgers - 1 1/2 runs). They held on to win 7-5, which made the drive back to Vegas much nicer.

I'll be looking at another five day adventure within a few months, but until then I have a lot of work to do. I'm going to be making updates to the book and the site soon. I've just updated the Gambling tab on the website with a thought I had when Steve and I were losing money at the tables. It's a light, fun read, so take a look and let me know what you think.

Until then, remember... Go to Vegas. It's that simple.

Viva,
Mike

Final Four Madness

Hi Vegas fans,

Whether your brackets are busted or you are hanging on by a thread, it's always fun to watch the men's and women's NCAA basketball tournaments and pull for your teams. This year, I had two brackets for the men's tournament.

In my office bracket, I picked some big upsets (VCU beating G'town and Richmond beating Morehead St to reach the round of 16) but my brackets started to fall apart after that. My final four in that bracket are Kentucky, Connecticut, Kansas and Kansas St. I have Kansas beating UConn in the final. I'm in 3rd place there, and I don't think I have a chance to win it (haven't seen the other contestants' final four teams yet.

In my other bracket, run by my brother-in-law, I have the same final four, but in this one I have Kentucky beating Kansas in the final. This past weekend, a very specific scenario would ensure me a win regardless of what happens in the final four: Butler had to beat Florida, UConn had to win over Arizona, VCU had to topple Kansas, and Kentucky needed to secure the W over UNC. So you could imagine my surprise and utter jubilation when all four of those things happened. It was like my own magical mini-tournament.

College basketball - gotta love it. You never know what's gonna happen. I'll be in Vegas for the final four, and no matter who I bet on, it'll be quite a great experience watching the games knowing that I've already secured a win in one of my two pools!

Viva,

Mike

eBooks and Apps

I love apps. I've been playing with my iPad and discovering all kinds of fun stuff, especially Vegas-related. Apps are fun, cool and interactive. Perfect for small, mobile devices for people on the go.

Of course, I love eBooks, too, but they're different. eBooks contain more content and fewer features. The content might consist of words, pictures or maps, but the interaction doesn't work the same way as an app.

Obviously, there's a difference between reading/searching a book and surfing an app. There's a purpose for each. If I want to see photos of the Bellagio fountains and locate them on the Strip, then an app is great. Maybe I can read a review of them and see what time the shows run, too. So the app provides a snapshot of Vegas while you're there and gives you snippets of information. Which is great.

On the other hand, a good travel guide gives you a different experience. It connects the dots with a story. Now I don't mean a literal story, but rather one that arms you with information that you can use when you plan your trip and also use as content you can search while you are there.

Here's an example. Suppose I'm planning my trip to Vegas and I've decided that I'm going to see the volcano at Mirage because I haven't seen it in a while. I'm also a blackjack player, so I want to know what to expect at the tables. I know I'll only be in Vegas 3 days, so I want to explore as much mid-Strip as I can without having to take a taxi or spend a lot of time wearing out my shoes trying to find an Italian restaurant or a Cirque du Soleil show. By the way, my wife's coming with me, and she's going to want to shop, too.

That's my story, and whether I'm planning these things a month before I'm in Vegas or when I arrive at McCarran airport, it's the story that a good travel guide can help me tell, and it can do it comprehensively, in one format.

Maybe there's room for both apps and eBooks in this crazy new world. With free Kindle and Nook apps for the iPhone and iPad, you can have your travel guide at your fingertips. So while you're searching for "volcano" within your Vegas travel guide on your iPhone to see what time it erupts, you can also see that there's a free tram to take you to TI so you can see Mystere. You'll also see on a good map that there's a pedestrian bridge to take you over to the Venetian so you can spend some non-gambling money at the Grand Canal Shoppes. Oh, and if you want to spend some money gambling, your travel guide will remind you to find a 3-2 blackjack table and stay away from those 6-5 tables.

In any event, make sure that you tell your own story (even if you make it up) the next time you... Go to Vegas. It's that simple.

Viva,
Mike

Baccarat and Blackjack

Hi Vegas fans,

I read an article in the Las Vegas Sun recently which reports that baccarat and penny slots are overtaking blackjack as the number one game on the Strip. Baccarat is a high-end game, and penny slots are obviously cheap entertainment. The article quotes Anthony Curtis, publisher of the Las Vegas Advisor, who points out that blackjack is a game for the mid-market gambler.


With the economy the way it is, this kind of makes sense. Affluent people who can afford to go to Vegas these days are going to spend some coin on a game like baccarat. But gamblers who may have played $1 slots before are probably downgrading to the penny machines. But what about the average Joe and Jane, who play blackjack as their game of choice? Would they just not play as much because the economy is bad? Maybe. Maybe not.

There is one other factor that I think is missing in this equation. Caesars Entertainment, formerly Harrah's, now owns a majority of the casinos on the Strip. Their blackjack rules are terrible (6-5 payout on natural blackjacks, dealer hits on soft 17, etc.), even on multi-deck games. I no longer play at any of these casinos, which is a shame. I remember when Bill's Gamblin' Hall (formerly Barbary Coast.... which was a better name that did not require apostrophies or ampersands) was a great place to play $5 blackjack. So was Caesars, Aladdin (now Planet Hollywood), the Rio... and the list goes on. As Caesars Entertainment acquired more properties mid-Strip, I found myself on the very northern and southern ends of the Strip.

The funny thing is that it doesn't have to be this way. Casinos can have their cake and eat it, too. They can make the rules slightly better for players, which will drive more people to the tables. They still have an advantage, even with good rules.

Casinos may be worried about card counters. I get this. Make single-deck games 6-5; that's the price you pay if you are going to try to count. Install a constant shuffle machine for multi-deck games and use other measures to ward off card counters. But you are losing an opportunity with the large percentage of us who are not card counters.

The Strip needs blackjack as a staple because it needs the mid-market. If it's going to attract gamblers, it must provide a few decent games with fair rules. The good news is that there are still some places to play $5 and $10 blackjack with good rules, including: Stratosphere, MGM properties, Riviera, downtown, and several of the outskirts casinos (such as Station properties, Orleans, Las Vegas Hilton, etc.).

I encourage you to seek blackjack tables with good rules and to tell anyone who will listen to you to do the same. If you get surveys or have questions about your experience at a casino, comment on the blackjack rules, especially if they are bad. I'm starting a blackjack revolution. Will you join me?

Viva!
Mike

Sahara to Close

Hi Vegas fans,

It's a sad day for low-rollers. The storied Sahara Hotel and Casino on the north end of the Las Vegas Strip is closing May 16th. Until then, it's business as usual, according to the casino.

The casino opened in 1952 and is famous for the Rat Pack days with Sinatra and company. Elvis hung out there in the 60s. In recent years, they built a roller coaster and added NASCAR attractions in an attempt to modernize the property.

The casino is extremely smokey, even by Vegas standards, and attracted grinds with $1 blackjack and other low-minimum games. The floor is dark and cramped. I know I'm not painting an attractive picture of it, but I always liked it. It's hard to capture the charm of this casino, but I always felt comfortable there. It's more like a downtown casino than a Strip joint, and maybe that's why it's had a hard time financially.

The Strip is a tough gig, especially these days when competition is fierce for every tourist dollar. The high-end joints, like Wynn, Palazzo, Bellagio, and Cosmo, are lowering prices to attract more people. Where does that leave the Sahara, the Riv, and the Strat? When they can't attract customers based on price, they lose their edge.

So it begs the question... is there still room on the Strip for the older casinos? Can they compete against the big, new venues with powerful marketing machines? I hope so. One of my favorite aspects of Las Vegas is the variety you get on every street. Whether it's a pyramid, pirates or the tallest tower west of the Mississippi, I'm looking to have fun and be entertained. Well, that and 3-2 blackjack.

Viva Sahara, I will miss you.
Mike

Of Robberies and Working Girls

Hi Vegas fans,

It's been a high profile week for Las Vegas. The two main stories were very eye-catching:

1. Harry Reid suggests that the time has come for legal prostitution to go in Nevada. He has little support in his efforts, especially from other legislators who mention that Nevada has bigger fish to fry, such as the economy and education. The Las Vegas Review Journal reported the response from working girls and others interested in the topic. Their main argument is that illegal prostitution in places like Las Vegas is dangerous, and street girls have a high disease rate.

Statistics confirm these statements. Remember, when you are in Las Vegas (Clark County), prostitution is illegal and "what happens here stays here" could mean that you get: 1) arrested 2) your money stolen and/or 3) HIV. Better to play it safe in Vegas by either forgoing sex and just visiting a strip club or going across the county border to a legal brothel - there are some famous ones about 60 miles from Las Vegas in Pahrump.

2. Two men were arrested in association with the Rio robbery, according to the Las Vegas Sun, but the armed robber is still at large. The story goes something like this: Steven Gao (gunman not yet apprehended) owes Edward Land $15k, Land drives Gao to the Rio, Gao steals chips from a Pai Gow table, Gao takes off in Hiroyuki Yamaguchi's cab, who also knew Gao was going to rob the joint. Police have recovered about $17k in chips from Land's home. Land and Yamaguchi have been placed under arrest.

These types of plots almost never work. You have to be an evil genius to plan a casino heist, and even then you'll probably get caught. I mean, look at Ocean's 11. If you recall, they had a great idea, it took 11 of them, and they still needed a lot of luck to pull it off. If you haven't seen Ocean's 12, then I'm going to spoil some plot for you. They got caught. Terry Benedict (played by Andy Garcia) finds the 11 robbers and makes them pay.

Ok I know what you're thinking... what about Ocean's 13? True, that one worked, but I don't buy it. Look, Willy Bank (Al Pacino) knew who robbed him because Ocean (George Clooney) confronted him at the end of the movie. Robbery is like kidnapping: the only way it works is if you don't know who the perpetrators are.

My take? Whether it's a fun fictional movie or the scary, seedy real world, crime doesn't pay. I'm sticking to $5 blackjack and craps to try to win my fortune.

Viva,
Mike

Legalized Online Gambling?

Hi Vegas fans,

Since 2006, online gaming has been illegal. Now that the economy is in a downturn, the government is looking for more ways to make some money, and the online gambling bug is biting. There are, of course, plenty of opponents to this idea. They fear corruption, crime and addiction. All good points.

However, if the government is prepared for these problems, it has a better chance of controlling it. If they eventually decide to legalize gambling, they must set aside money for problems and be sure to have experts help handle them. If the government does nothing, then illegal gaming will continue with all of its inherent problems, and the fed will lose out on some serious revenue potential. There is always a trade off with gaming.

If online gaming does become legal, what does this mean for Vegas? Will visitation go down as people forgo keno for keyboards? Probably not. My guess is that people will continue to visit Vegas for the experience, which you can't get on a computer monitor. They may supplement their trips with online gaming, but for travelers, there's nothing like going to Vegas.

Viva,
Mike

The Big Game!

Hi Vegas (and especially football) fans,

A few Super Bowl XLV happy thoughts for you all before kickoff:

• May your beer glasses be full
• May the commercials make you laugh, but not enough to spew beer out of your nose
• May your favorite team win
• May the point spread be in your favor, or the under/over be just right
• May you have fun with your friends, family, and anyone else you can get to help you yell at the stupid quarterback who can't seem to make up his mind when to throw the dang ball and... (well, you know what I mean)
• Lastly, may you enjoy the game safely, and please use a designated driver or call a cab if you enjoy it too much.

From the Las Vegas Advisor, the final line on the game "has the Packers favored by 2.5 in most places, though 3s can be found. The total is available from 44.5 to 45.5." I'm sticking with my original prediction: Steelers by a touchdown.

Viva,
Mike

Classic Las Vegas

Hi Vegas aficionados,

Steve and I will be staying at the Riviera on our next trip. We've stayed there a few times, including on our very first trip back circa 1992. What a blast - we were just kids then, really. We really didn't know what to expect, but we had fun playing $2 blackjack and craps, even at the high-end places like Caesars and the Mirage. Back then, Caesars was a great place to gamble. Lots of tables, bonuses for things like 6-7-8 blackjack (not a side bet, a bonus!). Those days are gone.

My favorite venue was the Stardust. Even back then, it was kind of old and starting to show its age. But the blackjack tables were a blast, and the dealers were friendly. Above is a picture of me with one - her name was Penny and she was really funny. Great dealer.

Las Vegas still has some awesome, professional dealers, even if the bonus deals are long gone. That's one of the reasons I still enjoy visiting Las Vegas. The dealers really make the experience worthwhile. Well, the dealers and the cocktail waitresses.

The good news is that if you come across one that you don't like, you can just switch tables. Who needs Grumpy the Dealer? I've added some more ideas on blackjack tables and dealers on the Gaming tab, and I'd love to hear your thoughts, too. So please feel free to post some comments about good and bad experiences at the tables in Las Vegas.

Viva,

Mike

Super Bowl XLV

Hi Vegas fans,

The early line on the Super Bowl game has the Packers favored by 3 points. It will probably go down in the next week, and some experts expect the line to close around Packers by 1.5 points. If I was a gambling man, I'd take the Steelers. In fact, I think Pittsburgh will win by a touchdown. Wait, I am a gambling man!

Although I'm a long-suffering Vikings fan, I hold no grudges against the Pack. In fact, the last time I was in Vegas, I placed a wager on the Packers (I think they were favored by a few points) versus the Bears at Chicago. But the result? Not good. The Cheeseheads had the game won several times over but were called for penalties that opened the door just wide enough for the Bears to pull it out with a last second field goal.

My buddy Steve and I watched the game at Blondie's in Planet Hollywood. Regardless of our frustration (we both bet on Green Bay), we had a good time. Blondie's is a fun place to watch a game, and numerous waitresses in cheerleader outfits were kind enough to allow me to take their pictures with Steve. All good, goofy fun. And, after all, he's a single guy.

Speaking of cheerleaders, I have read some rather disappointing news about the Big Game. Because neither the Packers or Steelers have cheerleading squads, we won't see skirts (or short-shorts) at the Super Bowl, which will be a first in the game's history. And hopefully a last.

Viva,

Mike