From the "more things change" department, back in November, Centex Corp. had purchased Westward Ho expecting to build condos, with Voyager Entertainment International, Inc. onboard to install an observation wheel, a.k.a. the world's largest ferris wheel.

According to TheStreet, both plans are off.

Centex has sold its stake back to its partner and plans to focus on their Urban Village, a planned condo/loft resort community on the South Strip.

While we don't mind not seeing a potential eyesore (condos notwithstanding) on the Strip, we admit we would've liked to have mushed our behinds in ferris wheel seats as cool as the ones above (called "orbitors," Cap'n).

Posted by R.C. Clark at 7:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Google Maps has teamed with Earth Day Network (today's the last day of Earth Day month, wait till tomorrow to spill oil) to show video tours of earth-friendly spots around the U.S.

Currently featured cities include Las Vegas, as well as Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, and Orlando.

Videos in Las Vegas highlight Ethel M Chocolates Factory and Cactus Garden, The Spa at Green Valley Ranch, The Go Raw Café, Boulder City Outfitters, and the Las Vegas Natural History Museum.

More cities and locations (and countries) will be added in the future.

Tip #1, courtesy Google: next time you're looking for hotels, try doing a search on "environmentally friendly hotels."

Posted by R.C. Clark at 6:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Legends of Poker, an art exhibition at the Jack Gallery at Mandalay Bay (located at the front of the casino), has its opening night preview with wine reception on June 2 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The show will feature limited-edition, hand-signed lithographs and posters by Larry Grossman/Craig DeThomas, Waldemar Swierzy, Matt Rinard, Bill Hannapple, and Harry McCormick.

Poker celebrities Doyle Brunson, Amarillo Slim, and Johnny Chan will be in attendance for the opening, along with Stu Ungar's family -- former wife Madeline and daughter Stefanie.

Each piece of artwork will also be signed by the featured poker legnds.

Admission is free.

To RSVP for opening night, email bsimon@s2art.com or call (702) 632-4770.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 7:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Associated Press reported that between 2003 and 2005, Senate Democratic Leader Harry M. Reid accepted free ringside seats to three professional boxing matches from the Nevada Athletic Commission.

Reid accepted the free tickets while that same agency wanted his influence on legislation to regulate the sport.

Senate ethics state that gifts are okay as long as they aren't associated with influencing decisions. From the Senate ethics manual: "Senators and Senate staff should be wary of accepting any gift where it appears that the gift is motivated by a desire to reward, influence, or elicit favorable official action."

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) joined Reid for one of the fights but elected to pay what his seat was worth: $1,400.

Reid defended receiving the tickets, saying that accepting them would not influence his position.

Reid told the Associated Press, "I just feel these events are nothing I did wrong."

Posted by R.C. Clark at 6:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We know what you're thinking, You're poolside in Las Vegas and you think, gee, I could really be gambling right now. If only there were a slot machine nearby.

Soon you'll be able to gamble on the go at The Venetian.

Recently, the Nevada Gaming Control Board granted Nevada the first state to allow gambling on mobile devices, and The Venetian will be the first casino to experiment with the technology later this year. The devices may even include biometric fingerprinting as a way of identification.

Cantor Gaming will create and run the handheld devices, which will be available in public areas of the casino such as nightclubs, shopping, and restaurants (and yes, the pool). Devices will not be allowed in private areas, such as hotel rooms.

Games offered are expected to be slots, bingo, sports betting, and the standard table games.

If the technology takes off, this could be another step toward paving the way for legalized gambling over the Internet and cellphones.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 6:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Bluegreen Resorts, operators of vacation ownership residences (pictured above is their La Cabana Beach & Racquet Club in Aruba), has purchased 10 acres in Las Vegas (Tropicana/Paradise) and plans to build a nongaming resort/retail complex.

The building of 240 two-bedroom timeshare units will be seven stories and offered to the Bluegreen Vacation Club by the end of 2007. The Vacation Club can stay at any of Bluegreen's resorts.

The Boca Raton-based resorts and communities firm has optioned four additional acres for future units, and they plan to develop 48,000 square feet for a restaurant and retail center, as well as a timeshare preview center covering 18,000 square feet.

Sales will begin in July in the Akita Plaza (across from Mandalay), with construction starting this fall.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 6:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Image from BBC

According to a BBC News article titled 'Super-casino' shortlist set out, Great Britain's Casino Advisory Panel will decide in December where the country's first super casino will be located. It will on the scale of a Las Vegas property and allow an unlimited amount of slot machines.

27 groups submitted their applications for consideration and the Casino Advisory Panel has narrowed the list down to eight. Among the places remaining are Wembley Stadium and Millennium Dome in London, Blackpool, Cardiff, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield and Glasgow, Scotland.

Other locations are being considered for smaller sized casinos that limit the payouts on their slots.

Posted by Dr. Pauly at 1:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

For the mere cost of a few blocks of walking (and a drive or shuttle ride), you can come away with a $30 food voucher to any Harrah's-owned restaurant (listed below).

Better yet, you can do it every day from now through Sept. 9.

And it doesn't cost a thing. Really.

As part of their new summer promotion "3 Million on the House" (click to see if you're an online winner), Harrah's is determined to get everyone to sign up for their Total Rewards program. But don't worry, it's free to sign up. And if you already have a Total Rewards card, you can still do the promotion.

Start at one of Harrah's six casinos (Bally's, Caesars Palace, Flamingo, Harrah's, Paris, Rio) and pick up a card that will act as a passport.

From noon to 5 p.m. daily, visit the casino's kiosk near the Total Rewards booth and have your Total Rewards card swiped. You can win anything from buffets to points to funbooks to airline tickets to cash (up to $10,000 in daily prizes). But mostly you'll win nothing. After your card's swiped, you'll get your passport stamped.

Complete three casinos and you'll receive a $10 food voucher.

Complete all six and you'll get an additional $20 food voucher.

You do not have to complete all casinos in one day (the passports are not dated, just stamped with the casino name). But you can only get one stamp per casino per day.

Food vouchers expire Oct. 10 and may be combined up to any amount. You cannot sell or transfer them; the vouchers will contain your Total Rewards number.

You can do the casinos in any order, but here was my route to get them all done within three hours: with Bally's/Paris next to each other (they're so married, they even combine their chips), they were easily knocked out. From there, I crossed Flamingo Road to get to Flamingo, then hopped over Imperial Palace to get to Harrah's. Right across Las Vegas Boulevard is a convenient crosswalk to Caesars.

I walked back to Bally's, picked up my car, and headed west on Flamingo Road to Rio.

Wait time at each was minimal, never more than 10 minutes.

If you don't have a car, the free shuttle bus runs every 30 minutes to each of the six casinos.

In all my Vegas travels, this is the best offer if you like to eat for free (plus it forces you to exercise). If you do all six, you're guaranteed to walk away with a $30 food comp. You can use vouchers for a snack or collect and combine them to splurge on a swanky Caesars restaurant (Bradley Ogden, mmmm...) or the most expensive buffet in Vegas (the aptly named Sterling Sunday Brunch at Bally's, $70).

Hop on this one; as more people become aware of it, and more people do the promotion daily, lines will get longer.

Here's a list of the participating restaurants that will accept the vouchers:

Bally's
Al dente
Bally's Steakhouse
Big Kitchen Buffet
Chang's
Java Coast
Johnny's Deli
Nosh
Sidewalk Cafe
Sterling Brunch
Sully's

Caesars Palace
808
Augustus Cafe
Bradley Ogden
Cafe Lago
Cypress Street Marketplace
Empress Court
Hyakumi
Mesa Grill
Neros
Terrazza

Flamingo
Java Coast
Margaritaville
Paradise Garden Buffet
Steakhouse 46
Ventunos

Harrah's
The Cafe at Harrah's
Carnaval Court Bar & Grill
Flavors Buffet
Ming's Table
Oyster Bar
Penazzi Italian Ristorante
The Range Steakhouse
Winning Streaks Stadium Cafe

Paris
Ah Sin
du Parc
JJ's Boulangerie
La Provencal
La Village Buffet
Le Cafe Ile St. Louis
Les Artistes Steakhouse
Napoleon's
Ortanique

Rio
All American Bar and Grille
Antonio's
Bamboleo
Buzios
Carnival World Buffet
Fiore Steakhouse
Mah Jong -- Chinese Noodle Bar
Sao Paulo Cafe
Sports Kitchen
Starbucks
The Tilted Kilt
The Village Seafood Buffet
Voodoo Cafe

Posted by Poker Grub at 7:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

It isn't enough that Prince is performing two shows this weekend at Empire Ballroom/3121 Nightclub, but now there's a third show with his Purpleness.

Prince will be guest to funkmasters Morris Day & the Time on May 26 at Club Rio (at Rio). Guests also include Larry Graham & GCS.

This marks Prince's first show before heading to Empire/3121 on Saturday and Sunday.

Tickets are general admission at $121.03. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. Ages 21 and over.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 8:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

You've found the Sin City scuttlebutt. Here you'll see unofficial, off-the-record reports, obtained from fairly reliable insider information.

In other words: overheard in Las Vegas restrooms.

Pssst... MGM Mirage was noticing its own MGM Grand was stealing poker players from Excalibur, frequently leaving empty tables and dealers arriving unable to work. Their solution? Downsize the Excal room.

Before its current location, the poker room swapped spaces with the keno room, with a quick transitional stop on the slot floor. Now it's headed back to the noisy slot floor, just a few feet away. At least it's still close to the restrooms.

There's also rumor of a possible end to the spread-limit games of 1/3 and 2/6.

As long as they keep the wheel, I'll be happy.

The sportsbook will take up residence in the poker room.

And what will become of the old sportsbook location?

It'll be new home to Dick's Last Resort, a popular Chicago-based chain restaurant where the waitstaff is sassy to you. When I visited Dick's a few years ago, the server gave me a dozen straws in my drink. Now that's sassy.

Got a rumor to pass on? Your secret is not safe, but your identity is. Email pokergrub@lasvegasvegas.com.

Posted by Poker Grub at 12:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Next Tuesday, May 30, The Palms holds "The Big Sleepover," a special 24-hour event designed for -- but not limited to -- locals at ghostbar.

Discounted $89 rooms will be available for those who can't stay up the entire 24 hours.

Other discounted rates will be available throughout the hotel-casino, including the spa, movie theater, and restaurants.

While at ghostbar ($35), you'll hang out with members of Cirque du Soleil's Zumanity.

And if you're a local woman, you'll receive free cocktails from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 7:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This Friday is the first annual Scores Invitational Golf Tournament.

That's Scores, the gentlemen's club.

How serious are they about this? Serious enough to spend $8.95 on a website.

Even better, Caesars Forum Shops' Exotic Cars is sponsoring and will give away a Lamborgini Gallardo to the player who hits the "Hole in 1 Prize," which we suspect may be harder than it sounds.

The tournament takes place at the Balai Hai golf course, south of Mandalay Bay.

Cost is $500 per player or $1700 for a foursome.

Registration and a caddy auction is at 10 a.m., tee off is 11 a.m., and lunch is at 12:30 p.m. courtesy of Cili, the restaurant inside Bali Hai.

If you'd like to sign up, call Shai Cohen at (702) 812-7472.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 6:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Will you be in Las Vegas for the World Series of Poker?

Even if you don't expect to play, you could still get freerolled into a WSOP satellite event by becoming a walking advertisement.

CelebPoker.com will be wandering the halls of Rio from July 20-29, choosing select players wearing a CelebPoker shirt to compete in a live satellite. If you win that, you'll get a seat into the main event.

How do you get the shirt? It's available for free to new players by depositing before July 15 and playing 100 raked hands.

If you're already a member of CelebPoker, you can purchase a shirt at CelebPokerShop for about $20.

How's that for a promotion? Pay for the shirt, advertise their site for free, and have the possibility of being spotted out of bazillions of poker players.

Well, call us suckers, because we'll be wearing said shirt.

Just remind us to wash that smelly thing at least once in 10 days.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 7:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We hear a rumor that the next Las Vegas residents after Toni Braxton will be country duo Brooks & Dunn.

Checking their website, we only see Dec. 4-6 listed as tour dates for the Las Vegas Hilton, but we hear they may be staying there quite a bit longer... multiyear longer, beginning around National Finals Rodeo time.

A press conference scheduled later today is expected to formally announce the country crooners to sing alongside Hilton neighbors Barry Manilow and Reba McEntire.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 6:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I was talking to a friend who used to come to Las Vegas a couple of times a year. This was before he got married and wound up on a short leash. He said he was cleaning out some boxes and came across an old Stardust business card from Mark Swain. It's a shame it wasn't one of the personalized business card chips that he used to give to VIPs.

This got me to thinking about Vegas and the way it's changed.
Mark Swain was an associate and close friend of Moe Dalitz, he was also a close friend of my family.

When Mark first came to town he spent some time as the special events photographer for the DI and he was good enough that he worked for Disney on the TV series "Wild Kingdom."

But, Mark was still one of the "Boys" and thanks to his "friends," he wound up CEO of the Stardust, although, along the way he was "told" to buy a house on the DI golf course and spent more than a few sleepless nights wondering how he was going to pay for it.
When you think of the old days, you tend to think of people like Bugsy Segal, who wound up being shot to death in Hollywood, but while Moe Dalitz and company were anything but saints, they understood what people wanted.

They tried to keep Las Vegas quiet, they had a "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" attitude, long before someone decided to commercialize the phrase, they brought in golf tournaments, world class entertainers and helped develop projects like the Stardust's Horseman's Park.

They made this a place where men could come with their wives and see some of the finest shows in the world, or play a round or two of golf on a world class course, in short, they made Las Vegas a legitimate vacation destination.

The difference between then and now is a matter of vision and guts, when the "mob" (Yes Oscar, I know. What mob?) moved in and started to build, they saw a chance to build something the world had never seen before, and the fact that they made a rather large profit in the process is fine by me, it was their money, their vision, they took the risks and I'm firmly convinced that the corporate types who run things now simply don't have the vision, the balls or the know how to pull it off.

Back before this town became the bloated giant it is and the casinos were still hungry, they knew that they needed every tourist and they left you with the impression that they were glad to have you in their joint, now the casinos charge $75 and up for a show, live games are rapidly being replaced by slots, bottle condoms have replaced the old free pour drink and a shot is now 5/8 of an ounce.

These days we live in a town run by accountants, where you can't get a comp for a buffet without a million points on your players card. It's not about the comps, it's about the attitude.

Posted by Richard at 1:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"This is the greatest thing to happen in the history of American sports."

That's what IFOCE president Richard Shea said yesterday.

IFOCE, of course, is the International Federation of Competitive Eating, an organization that supervises and regulates eating contests.

And at the Las Vegas qualifier yesterday afternoon at New York New York's Brooklyn Bridge, Shea said that of 22-year-old California civil engineering student Joey Chestnut, who set an American hot dog eating record of 50 hot dogs in 12 minutes.

Yep, that includes buns.

Chestnut is a strapping 230 pounds young and has other records below his expanding belt: 32.5 grilled cheese sandwiches in 10 minutes, 5.5 pounds of pork rib meat in 12 minutes, 18.5 waffles in 10 minutes, and 173 buffalo wings in 30 minutes.

I'd hate to see him on a date.

If you think fast eating is just a silly fad, remember that's what they said about poker. In one year, Chestnut has made more than $75,000 in cash and prizes, including a car.

Chestnut broke Sonya "The Black Widow" Thomas' record of 42 hot dogs last year. And if Chestnut had only gobbled another four, he would've beaten the world record of Japan's Takeru Kobayashi.

Chestnut came this close to beating foe Kobayashi in another heated contest, downing 62 Krystal hamburgers vs. Kobayashi's 69.

Both will square off July 4 at Coney Island for Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest.

Today, they've probably both called in sick.

Posted by Poker Grub at 3:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Flamingo website says of Wayne Newton's extended engagement: "Coming back May 2!"

It may as well say "Leaving July 1," because beginning Aug. 3, the 800-seat Flamingo showroom will be remodeled as the new home for R&B singer Toni Braxton.

Braxton, who's starred in Broadway's Beauty and the Beast and Aida, will present a full-scale musical production called "Toni Braxton: Revealed," taking the audience through her career beginning in 1992. It will also showcase clothing designs from Dolce & Gabbana.

Braxton will perform six nights a week through March 2007.

Tickets are not yet available, nor are prices (Newton runs from $65/$75/$100), but they'll soon be available at the Flamingo box office (702) 733-3333 or 1-800-221-7299.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 5:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I've played poker at the new Red Rock half a dozen times now, and here are some things you may not know:

• Fastest way to Red Rock is 215 to the Charleston exit. The casino is the first right off Charleston.
  
• Closest parking is the west garage (almost always full) or outside near the Salt Lick BBQ (open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., all-you-can-eat dinner for $15.95). The east garage is where the private gated parking is, for Platinum members and above.
  
• The poker room will not issue you a player's card; you must obtain one from the Boarding Pass player's club (it's free). This card will also work with table games and slots, and if you lose it, you can easily get a replacement at one of the kiosks by inserting your driver's license.
  
• At the entrance to the poker room, you can swipe your card and add yourself to any waiting list.
  
• You do not need a card to play.
  
• Games running often included Omaha, 10/20 limit, and up to 5/10 NL. No Stud.
  
• Red Bull is not served in the poker room, though you can purchase at the nearby bar (I had a free drink coupon and wasn't able to get a Red Bull at the bar, but was able to get a Red Bull & vodka... they've since changed this, too). This leaves Sunset Station the only poker room which has complimentary Red Bull.
  
• When swiping in, the dealer will see a display showing your first name, so don't be startled if they refer to you by name. If you don't swipe in, they see your name as "Guest."
  
• The standard $1 per hour comp is credited directly to your card at 600 points per $1 (in slots, this would amount to $600 of playthrough). You can obtain vouchers from the Boarding Pass player's club or kiosks to redeem points for anything within the casino (restaurants, hotel, gift shop). At the buffet, you can swipe your card directly. All Station poker rooms will eventually follow, converting unused comp dollars at the 600 points/$1 rate. (And no, slot multipliers do not work.)
  
• Cell phones are now allowed at the table, as long as it doesn't slow down your action. This, despite the sportsbook being right next door and in full view of certain poker tables.
  
• The men's room has only one stall and one urinal. They may as well include a light outside designating whether it's vacant or occupied. But it's the only restroom I know of that's directly inside a Las Vegas poker room.
  
• Poker magazines are located near this restroom.
  
• Tables are similar to MGM's, with dealers swiping players in (you don't need to swipe out, the dealer will clock you out). As soon as you step up to leave, the dealer will press your button to signify you're away (and thus, pause accumulation of comp hours). Eventually all Station poker tables will use the same system. The tables are currently active at Red Rock and Texas Station, with Santa Fe Station next.
  
• The 3rd man walking rule is in full effect. You will be picked up. Plan your bathroom breaks accordingly.
  
• This system keeps tables full and the waiting list moving.
  
• If you've been tipping well, some dealers may conveniently forget to note that you're away from the table.
  
• If switching seats, a good dealer will know how to switch you in the system without having to clock you out and back in again.
  
• The seats are not adjustable, unlike seats for slot players.
  
• If you play 50 hours of live poker before the end of May, you'll be entered into a $300,000 freeroll at Texas Station on June 10-11, with every player guaranteed to win at least $50 (to go with your $50 of food comps). Hours are combined at all Stations played. At the previous $250,000 freeroll, many players accumulated hours by walking, socializing, and barely playing. The new tables ensure all players will have played at least 50 hours. Their log sheets listing hours played are down to the second.
  
• The progressive jumbo jackpot is increasing 50 percent slower because half the jackpot rake is used to fund the $300,000 freeroll.
  
• Harrah's was once considering a similarly linked progressive among all their properties, but they admitted they can't touch the Station's jackpots. Harrah's is instead rolling out high-hand jackpots with WSOP freerolls for 80 hours played within two months, currently running at Harrah's and Rio.
  

Posted by Poker Grub at 8:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

South Coast Casino splashes down tonight to launch its weekly Lucky 7 pool parties.

The pool/dance/volleyball party begins tonight at 7 p.m. with music by The Boogie Knights. The $7 admission price gets you a draft beer, a cocktail from Lucky 7's drink menu, casino coupons, snacks, and entry into a drawing to win $500.

After the band, the dueling pianos are brought out in the Del Mar Lounge at 10 p.m., offering $1 shots and $1 drafts.

The Lucky 7 pool parties then continue every Wednesday through Aug. 2.

The lineup:

5/17 Boogie Knights
5/24 Spazmatics
5/31 Wolfcreek
6/7 Love Shack
6/14 Tommy Rockers and the Conched Out Band
6