According to a Philadelphia Inquirer article, the Atlantic City Council voted unanimously to ban smoking on the floor of every casino in Atlantic City. The ban will go in effect as early as April 15.

Last week, Nevada Judge Douglas Herndon upheld the new anti-smoking law. Although he threw out any criminal penalties associated with smoking in the wrong places, those who violate the Nevada Clean Indoor Air Act can be slapped with a $100 fine for each infraction.

Casinos, strip clubs, and standalone bars in Las Vegas still allow smoking. However, there are some exceptions. Poker rooms are almost all smoke-free. The Orleans allows smoking in the poker room from Midnight to 8am and Fiesta Station has 24 hour smoking in their poker room.

Maybe Las Vegas should launch a campaign to target heavily addicted smoking gamblers from the East Coast?

"Come to Las Vegas, where you can smoke three packs a day while you play and then get a hooker afterwards!"

Posted by Dr. Pauly at 2:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Ever think about visiting Las Vegas for its kayaking? Want to see Hoover Dam up close and personal? Care to spot hawks, desert bighorn sheep, and lizards? Or just want to get away from the gambling and buffets and do something completely different?

From now until March 1, Desert Adventures offers a $20 discount off any of their guided kayak tours. Regular rates for kayaking in Black Canyon below Hoover Dam is $169 per person (plus a $13 launch permit from the Nevada Park Service).

Your trip begins with a pickup from your hotel and includes everything you need, including kayak, a professional guide, safety equipment, lunch, snacks, and bottled water.

For more information, visit their website or call (702) 510-4746.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 3:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Golden Nugget is throwing a Holiday Hangover blackjack tournament Jan. 5-7 with a $50,000 guaranteed prize pool.

Entries are $100 with a $100 rebuy. Special seats into rounds (including the final round) will be randomly drawn among all entrants.

The first-place winner will receive $25,000, with second $12,500, third $7,500, fourth $2,500, fifth $1,500, and sixth $1,000.

Semi-finalists not in the final round will receive $100 in promo chips.

To reserve your space, call Casino Marketing at 1-800-777-5687 or email mycasinores@goldennugget.com.

And remember: in blackjack tournaments, sometimes splitting 20 is good strategy.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 2:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In Martin Bashir's 2003 UK documentary, Michael Jackson was shown running up his credit card at the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace... outside of the documentary, he was reported to have later returned those items.

Last weekend, Jackson was spotted in town, again at his favorite shopping haunt of the Forum Shops for some post-Christmas shopping. He shared camera opportunities with his three children (Paris, Prince Michael, and Prince Michael II), entourage, and security.

With the rumor mill swirling about Jackson exiting his own 18-month exile and shacking up in Las Vegas, could he be setting up plans with a Harrah's property to make a Britney Spears-type comeback?

In a town of regular Cirque du Soleil oddities, Jack-O would fit right in.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 5:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Our neon city is sometimes gaudy enough without having to glare at graffiti.

To help decrease and deter that problem, spray paint is now being sold behind locked cages, similar to cigarettes and condoms, with a sign that states, "Graffiti is illegal."

Steps are also being made to put even more of the cleanup on the owners of the property. Without catching the vandals, there isn't much that can be done, and owners themselves are currently responsible for cleaning graffiti spread up to 500 square feet across their property.

Now, a city ordinance will not only have those owners cleaning up to 25 square feet, but they'll have 15 days to do so or else face a lien on their property.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 5:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

A Baldwin baby grand piano measuring 5'2" and colorfully painted by artist Peter Max is being sold to benefit charities The Gibson Foundation and Max's own Global Works Foundation.

From 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., the piano can be seen at The Art of Peter Max Gallery inside the new expansion Terrace Level of the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. This is one of only two galleries in the world exclusively devoted to the works of Peter Max.

If you're interested in purchasing the piano, call (702) 644-7070.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 12:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

As you probably know by now, we're sucker for 2-for-1 offers.

This one is a little different, offering 2-for-1 tickets to Downtown Gordie Brown (though he's no longer downtown and now at The Venetian).

The one caveat is that you must show a Venetian MasterCard in order to get the free ticket to the impressionist. The offer expires March 31, 2007.

The Venetian MasterCard actually sounds like a good deal, offering no annual fee and points for later redemption at The Venetian. Every dollar you spend earns one point, every dollar you spend at The Venetian earns you three points. Free hotel rooms begin at 5,000 points.

And if you apply at this site, you'll get a free upgrade when you book a room using your card.

Is it worth all this hassle for a free ticket? We won't tell you the hoops we went through just to save 45 cents.

You can always cancel the card right after...

Posted by R.C. Clark at 12:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Posted by flipchipro at 11:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

Katie Rees' pics from her Miss Nevada USA PR diaster should serve as a reminder that photos are forever. The more you wish they would disappear, the more likely the images will be posted in the front window to the world.

The link for the Censored version of the Katie Rees' Pics.

The link to the Uncensored version of the Katie Rees' Pics.

Doesn't take the local chapter of the Miss USA Pageant very long to put some mileage between them and the fired Miss Nevada USA 2007, Katie Rees. Meet Helen Salas, the latest in a line of Miss Nevada USA 2007 title winners.

Posted by flipchipro at 7:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Just in time for the holidays, KVBC Channel 3 is reporting that a probable water residue stain at the home of Freddy and Chillee Montero is in the shape of the Virgin Mary.

People are paying visits to the minor tourist attraction, praying, crossing themselves, and leaving candles and flowers.

The Monteros welcome visitors and doubters to judge on their own. The wet Virgin Mary can be found at the corner of Antelope and Cobblestone (Rainbow and Alta). Look for the crowd.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 1:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On Dec. 30, The Venetian hosts a special No-limit Texas Hold'em Tournament featuring 2005 World Series of Poker champion Joe Hachem.

Buy-in is $1000+60 for 10,000 chips. An extra $10 to the dealers will give you an extra 2,500 chips.

A q&a and meet-and-greet takes place from 11 a.m. to noon, the tournament begins at noon, and the final table will be Dec. 31 at 4 p.m.

For more information, call (702) 414-POKR.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 12:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Seems if you're a wild girl in the Miss Universe organization, there'd better not be pictures.

Miss Nevada Katie Rees was fired today after photos of her appeared on the Internet showing her in topless poses and kissing other women.

Miss USA Tara Conner, on her way to rehab for underage drinking and drug using, was granted a second chance by Miss Universe co-owner Donald Trump.

Runner-up Helen Salas (who was Miss Teen USA in 2004) will take over the title Miss Nevada and compete in the Miss USA pageant on March 23, 2007.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 2:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Move over Miss USA Tara Conner, with your petty underage drinking and cocaine binges.

Now comes word (from Canada.com) that Miss Nevada Katie Rees has her own tales of smooching other women and simulating oral sex... all documented by photos in which Rees appears quite R-rated.

Rees' lawyer says that the events occurred when she was young and immature at 17 years old before she was crowned in October at age 22.

Rees will represent Nevada in the Miss USA pageant in spring 2007.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 11:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

The Las Vegas Film Society (yeah, bet you didn't know we had one) has awarded Martin Scorsese's gangster flick The Departed best picture, editor, and editing. Last year, top awards went to Brokeback Mountain.

Twelve Vegas film critics (yeah, bet you didn't know we had that many) comprise the 10-year-old Film Society, which includes Internet criticism.

The Film Society also named Forest Whitaker for Best Actor in The Last King of Scotland and Helen Mirren for Best Actress for The Queen (still playing at the Regal Village Square on Sahara).

Best supporting awards go to actor Djimon Jounsou for Blood Diamond and actress Jennifer Hudson for the Christmas release Dreamgirls.

Unlike other film awards, The Las Vegas Film Society has an additional Youth in Film category (to Little Miss Sunshine's Abigail Breslin) and an award for the packaging, design, and content of a DVD, going to the Ultimate Collectors Edition of Superman. Which goes to show you that even if your movie stinks, you can still win with packaging.

Other awards for 2006:

Screenplay (Original or Adapted)
Jason Reitman, Thank You For Smoking

Cinematography
Emmanuel Lubezki, Children of Men

Score
Thomas Newman, The Good German

Song
"Ordinary Miracle" (from Charlotte's Web) by David Stewart and Glen Ballard, and performed by Sarah McLachlan

Family film
Charlotte's Web

Documentary
An Inconvenient Truth

Animated film
Monster House

Foreign film
Pan's Labyrinth

Costume design
Marie Antoinette

Art direction
Marie Antoinette

Best visual effects
X-Men: The Last Stand

William Holden Lifetime Achievement Award
Peter O'Toole (and not just because of Venus)

Posted by R.C. Clark at 7:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

We awoke yesterday to see a dusting of snow all over Henderson.

And then promptly went back to sleep.

Yesterday was also the birthday of Miss USA Tara Conner, who had planned her 21st birthday in Las Vegas at PURE (Caesars Palace) before another kind of rumored dusting put a stop to it.

Conner tested positive for cocaine and has been martini-ing it up underage at various bars around New York City.

Miss USA has also been seen lip smacking with Miss Teen USA Katie Blair.

So unladylike. So unbecoming behavior for a role model.

So royalty.

The Miss Universe Organization (co-owned by Donald Trump, Vivendi, and General Electric), fired 2002 Miss Universe Oxana Fedorova for not attending photo opportunities and charity events.

But apparently Conner's boozing and drugging weren't as bad, because Donald Trump granted Conner another chance. Just what does it take, we wonder.

First, it's off to rehab that more and more has become somewhat of a Catholic confessional to absolve sins. Or maybe that month away is just long enough for people to forget.

But because we're the skeptical type, we do have to point out that Trump is getting lots of free publicity for an institution that has been sluggish in awareness and ratings.

And giving Conner a second chance would only extend that publicity...

Posted by R.C. Clark at 5:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Like last year, those creepy looking blue fellas are again offering 2-for-1 tickets to locals for the 10:30 p.m. shows of the Blue Man Group.

Tickets can be purchased at The Venetian box office by showing a Nevada photo I.D.

Offer expires Dec. 28.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 4:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tomorrow from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., stop by the VooDoo Lounge (on the rooftop of Rio) and join over 500 professionals for a holiday network party.

Free admission, free appetizers, and your first drink is free.

Bring plenty of business cards.

To RSVP, email rsvp@m1network.com.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 5:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Print the above coupon for 20 percent off full-price items at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino retail store. This includes merchandise from:

• True Religion
  
• Grail
  
• Antik Denim
  
• 7 for all Mankind
  
• Penguin by Munsingwear
  
• King Baby Studio
  
• Z-Brand
  
• Project e
  
• Modern Amusement
  
• Rock 'n' Roll Couture

Offer expires Dec. 31 and cannot be used with other discounts or promotions.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 4:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

photo by FlipChip LasVegasVegas.com

Harrah's Entertainment owns most real estate on the Las Vegas Strip.

Harrah's Entertainment will be sold to Apollo Management Group, the New York-based buyout firm run by Leon Black, and Texas Pacific Group for an estimated deal of $90 per share according to rumors heard on the Las Vegas Strip. The Special Committee made up of Harrah's board members has been in closed door meetings and apparently decided to accept the buyout valued at close to $17 billion. The two private investor groups' will take the casino giant private thus allowing a greater degree of flexibility without the close scrutiny of a publicly traded company. Expect an official announcement from the company within the next few days.

A buyout by Apollo and Texas Pacific has the potential to deeply impact the Las Vegas casino industry and will almost certainly involve changes for the Harrah's Entertainment owned World Series of Poker brand.

Posted by flipchipro at 10:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Las Vegas is undoubtedly the place to ring in the new year, and if you have the bucks, yule (tee hee) get to see celebrities galore counting down at various nightclubs, which generally include drinks and food. For the money you're paying, they'd better.

New Year's Eve is the perfect fit for Vegas nightclubs, which open at 10 p.m. anyway.

Trouble is, where to choose? If you're going celeb gawking, think of the audience they attract. We'd easily pass up a looker for a rocker, a singer for a dancer, a baker for a candlestick maker (we're not sure what that means). This Dec. 31, there'll be a mix of both.

Britney Spears is at PURE Nightclub (Caesars Palace), rumored to have been paid $30,000 to look cute and count backwards.

Kid Rock will live DJ at JET Nightclub (Mirage).

Just like their divorce, Kid's ex Pamela Anderson will split and do countdown duties across the Strip at TAO Nightclub (The Venetian).

Dave Navarro hosts at Tangerine (Treasure Island).

Kara Monaco (aka Playboy Playmate of the Year) will smile at Playboy Club (The Palms). Alison Wawite, Miss May 2006, will tag along too.

Camp Freddy plays live at Body English (Hard Rock). Camp who? Camp Freddy is the cover band with celeb rockers including Scott Weiland (Velvet Revolver), Chester Bennington (Linkin Park), Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains), Chris Chaney (Jane's Addiction), Matt Sorum (Velvet Revolver), Billy Morrison (The Cult), and Donovan Leitch.

Cirque du Soleil performs at LIGHT Nightclub (Bellagio). Artists from O, KA, LOVE, Mystere, and Zumanity will be onhand for live displays of dancing.

If it were up to us, though, you'll find us mingled with the throngs of thousands on the Las Vegas Strip, marveling at the rooftop fireworks and trying not to get drinks spilled on our wool/nylon combo that we're hoping to get for Christmas.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 5:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Harrah's has been having secret meetings in New York to mull over selling their 40 casinos and World Series of Poker brand for $16.7 billion.

If it goes through, private equity firms Apollo Management and Texas Pacific Group would buy up all outstanding shares at $90 a pop, up from their initial $81/share bid in October. That was before Harrah's stock rode a roller coaster of speculation up to $79.50 (as of Friday's close) and casino operator Penn National threw in a bid themselves at $87.

Before all this began, Harrah's stock was sitting quietly at the $65 mark.

Harrah's board of directors met over the weekend to decide the fate of the casino giant, and an announcement could be expected as early as today.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 5:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Las Vegas local band The Killers are expected to compose and sing the title song for the next James Bond movie, again starring Daniel Craig.

Speaking of James Bond, Las Vegas will celebrate New Year's Eve with a James Bond party, complete with 007's main theme.

The annual "America's Party" will have seven casinos launching synchronized fireworks from their rooftops at a cost of $500,000. It will be televised live from the big screens at the Fremont Street Experience.

The last couple years, Fireworks by Grucci staged the show with about 300,000 visitors swarming the closed-to-traffic Strip. This year, Pyro Spectaculars has the honor.

Posted by R.C. Clark at 6:18 AM | Permalink |