photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Think your bad beat story belongs in the book? This might not be as bad as the time you went all-in within ten minutes of hitting town and came in third after two one-outers caught a miraculous river and chopped up your entire play bank; but, it's the biggest money bad beat. The spiral down lasted a year and cost Terrance Watanabe $127 million. The 52 years old Watanabe spent most of 2007 at Harrah's Caesars Palace and Rio casinos drinking and gambling and losing enough money to buy a couple of hundred condos at CityCenter.

When his sister finally came to town and rescued Mr. Wanatabe from himself he had gone through almost 127 million dollars. Apparently, he still has millions but not nearly as many. He's paid close to $112 million to Harrah's, but, has now decided to renege on the remaining $14.7 million in markers. The law here in Las Vegas considers unpaid markers to be the same as a bad check and if you don't pay you might be spending a few years in Nevada in a comped small room far away from the bright lights of the strip. In Mr. Watanabe's case the stay could drag out to 28 years.

In his defense, Mr. Wanatabe filed a civil suit in Clark County District that seeks to place some of the responsibility for his record setting loss on Harrah's. He is claiming he was supplied with alcohol, drugs, and encouraged to gamble in a drunken state for hours on end. Unfortunately for Mr. Watanabe, this line of reasoning hasn't worked well with Nevada juries. After all, the casino didn't make you drink the booze. His trial on the criminal charges is set for Summer 2010.

Read a detailed account of Mr. Watanabe's bad beat story according to Alexandra Berzon for the Wall Street Journal.

Next time you're in Las Vegas thinking about to go on tilt because some soccermom commandeered a case deuce to beat your quads!...just remember Mr. Watanabe's Vegas story.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Bob Stupak, the Polish Maverick, lived his life like he played poker, with an aggressive style that was bigger than life and the poker game. He was a World Series of Poker Champion, 1989-Deuce to Seven Low Ball, and continued to play major poker tournaments until a few months before his death last week at 67 from leukemia. He also built the tallest occupied tower west of the Mississippi, the Stratosphere, where 1,149 feet below, you might find him playing in a low stakes poker game in his Las Vegas casino poker room.

I've taken many photos of Bob Stupak playing poker (I shot the 2004 photo on his Wikipedia page) over the years and have taken even more photos of the things he built. The Stratosphere Tower remains the most visible of his many accomplishments.

The former motorcycle racer crashed his Harley one sunny day in 1995 Las Vegas. A wreck so bad he was left in a coma near death for weeks with severe head injuries. But this was Bob Stupak, and of course he made a miraculous recovery and short months later was back to his WFO life and ramming and jamming the poker tables.

I remember the old Vegas World Casino with its "Plan 9 from Outer Space meets The Nightmare Before Christmas" decorating theme. Anyone that stopped at any service station in the Southwestern part of the country saw his VIP Vacation booklets that required incredible eyesight to read the fine print to receive the promised discounts at his outer-space Vegas World Casino. They later came under scrutiny as being not quite legal.

He was one of the tough guys that came to this desert outpost with a lot of guts and a dream that left an indelible presence on the city. Every time I see that concrete spire I'll think about the Polish guy that promised a million dollars to another guy to jump off his new casino building in a grand opening stunt, then charged the daredevil a $990,000 landing fee. I still laugh when I remember him b-slapping a news reporter and kissing another, all on camera and on the same day. I still have my stock certificate he issued to all eligible residents of Las Vegas in his tower project when he was running for some public office. He wasn't buying votes, he was just redistributing his losses.

Adios Bob, they most certainly broke the mold after they created you. I do hope you're someplace riding a custom Harley and passing out two-for-one coupons for the hereafter.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Taking a page out of Annie Duke on "Celebrity Apprentice," professional poker players (and Best Friends Forever) Maria Ho and Tiffany Michelle team up to compete in the 15th season of "The Amazing Race."

Ho came in 38/6358 in the 2007 World Series of Poker main event, while Michelle came in 17/6844 in 2008's WSOP.

Ho and Michelle will use their poker skills to outwit fellow contestants on the race-around-the-world show to claim the ultimate prize $1 million.

"The Amazing Race" premieres Sept. 27 on CBS.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Professional poker player, author, and celebrity David Sklansky had a home invasion early this morning.

Sklansky was asleep in bed at 3 a.m. when at least one robber broke into his house and bedroom. And he seemed to have a gun.

Sklansky is okay now, according to a message he posted on his popular poker site 2+2. "They knew their job and I never saw their faces," he wrote. Then he added, appearing to joke, "One of the PLO [pot-limit Omaha] 8/B players was almost certainly behind it."

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

The death rumors of the Excalibur poker room are greatly exaggerated.

Last August, we posted an RIP sendoff to the Castle because they'd exchanged its regular poker tables with PokerTek e-tables and had laid off all its dealers.

The field trial for the e-tables began March 19 by the Nevada Gaming Commission, and if it lasted longer than 4 months, the casino could terminate its agreement.

Which, on June 19, is exactly what Excalibur did. "MGM Mirage officials said they found that players prefer live dealers to automatic tables."

So... as of July 5, the 12 e-tables will be no more, and on July 10, the Excalibur will return to regular poker tables!

And not only that, but they're in the process of contacting all the dealers they laid off to offer their jobs back!

Now if the 1-3 and 2-6 spread limit games and the Wheel also come back (and maybe even the small free buffet), we will make a triumphant return to the Excal.

As for the e-tables, they will most likely move to another Strip casino.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Annie Duke is fighting back at Joan Rivers' insensitive comments about poker players.

Duke and Rivers were both finalists on NBC's "The Celebrity Apprentice," where Duke was fired and Rivers was hired.

On May 27 at 6 p.m., Duke and her poker sponsor Ultimate Bet will hold a charity poker tournament at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, where she will flood the tables with more than 20 Joan Rivers impersonators (including impressionist Frank Marino, who does a fantastic Joan Rivers), each with a bounty on their head. The name of the charitable event? "Sucking out on the Rivers."

The buy-in is $200, and all of the prize money will go to the winner, with the suggestion that the winner donate half the winnings to the Refugees International charity (the Nevada Gaming Commission prohibits all of a prize pool going directly to a charity).

On "The Apprentice," Rivers called all poker players "white trash" and linked them to organized crime.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Harrah's Las Vegas, always fiddling with their poker promotions, now has one that poker players have been clamoring for.

Although it isn't much to the casual player, for locals it's a great one -- the ability to earn Total Rewards tier points.

Previously, Harrah's poker players were given the shaft when it came to points. Rewards points were added every hour, but no tier points. Tier points are what slot and table players earn in addition to rewards points. Tier points aren't worth anything except for tracking your play. Earn a certain amount of tier points in a calendar year, and you'll achieve the next level up the Total Rewards ladder.

In other words, the new system now allows players who solely play poker the chance to get to Diamond level, which opens up things such as access to the Diamond Lounge, a separate line at the cashier, cutting in line at the buffet and other restaurants, priority access at the taxi stand, and other discounts and privileges.

And not only is Diamond good for any of the Harrah's properties in Las Vegas, it's good at any of Harrah's properties across the country.

With every hour of poker you play at Harrah's Las Vegas, you'll receive your regular 100 rewards points (a $1 comp) but now in addition, you'll earn 28 tier points. (This is the equivalent of $140 playthrough in slots.)

Players who sign up to Total Rewards (it's free) receive Gold status.

Earning 4,000 tier points in a calendar year bumps players up to Platinum.

11,000 tier points goes to Diamond.

100,000 tier points grants Seven Stars.

So to earn Diamond, one would need to play 393 hours in a calendar year, or just 8 hours per week. Definitely doable.

Currently, the promotion is only offered at the Harrah's Las Vegas property, but plans are in store to roll out the program at other Harrah's casinos later this month.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Last Saturday, Hollie and Perry Vogel moved up their wedding by 7 months after winning a poker tournament.

The tourney was at the Christchurch Casino in New Zealand, with a free wedding offered as the grand prize.

Appropriately called the To Have and To Hold'em tournament, 10 couples pitted themselves at the tables, playing in pairs.

Down to two couples, Hollie built up a stack and then Perry took it down in a quick heads-up punch of Aces that held up.

The lucky couple married a few hours later, then boarded a plane to their honeymoon destination -- Las Vegas, where they plan to stay 7 days for free at the MGM Grand.

Poker dealer work these days are slim pickin's, what with the recession, e-tables (Excalibur, which we hear are doing well and will most likely be picked up by other MGM Mirage properties), and the lack of players (Silverton, IP, and Gold Coast barely run one table these days).

But here's Aria to the rescue. Aria is the much-anticipated new casino being built as part of MGM Mirage's $9 billion CityCenter.

Today marks the opening of some 12,000 new job openings for CityCenter at this link.

While we don't yet know anything about what the poker room will be like, search for "poker," and you'll find vacancies for poker room cashiers, attendants, supervisors, coordinators, attendants, shift managers, and dealers. All positions begin September, with hirings running through December.

Just fill out the online application, then schedule an in-person review (if local; by telephone if out-of-state).

Interviews will then take place in April, plenty of time to brush up on your card pitching. In fact, here's a tip right from an MGM Grand poker dealer: when auditioning, if you forget everything else, don't forget to rake the pot. If they like you, they will overlook nervousness, misdealt cards, etc. But if you don't rake correctly, you won't have a chance.

Current MGM Mirage employees get preferential treatment, with interviews in February.

For more information, call (702) 590-2489 or 1-866-909-2489.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Rio Las Vegas is now offering the highest comps for poker players in Las Vegas, at $3 per hour.

The next highest is at Imperial Palace at $2 per hour.

We spoke with Danielle at Rio who was extremely chipper about the promotion, saying that $3 per hour applied to all cash game players between 3 a.m. and 3 p.m. every day, then reverts to the regular $1 per hour the rest of the time.

In addition, the rake is capped at $3 between 3 a.m. and 3 p.m. That's significant in itself.

Quads of 10s and above receive a guaranteed $300, though this will change next week when Rio switches to a bad beat jackpot.

photo courtesy Greasiewheels.com

On Friday, Dec. 12, the new poker room (er, lounge) at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino is holding a Poker Jingle tournament, where the winner receives a $10,000 seat into next year's World Series of Poker.

Buy-in is $200+30, with proceeds benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Southern Nevada.

The tourney is hosted by Tom McEvoy, and goodie bags, hors d'oeuvres, drinks, and other treats will be available.

Poker players expected to attend include:
Kristy Gazes, JJ Liu, Tiffany Michelle, Andy Bloch, Jennifer Harman, Brad "Yukon" Booth, Todd Brunson, Layne Flack, Phil Hellmuth, Barry Greenstein, Marsha Waggoner, Jamie Gold, Marco Traniello, James Van Alstyne, Karina Jett, Lee Watkinson, Mark Newhouse, Roy Winston, Maria Ho, Chad Brown, Jeff Madsen, and more.

The afternoon gets started with a 2 p.m. Effen Vodka media cocktail party, then the celebrity poker tournament begins at 3 p.m.

If you can't play yourself (register at this link until 2:30 p.m. on tourney day), you can also sponsor one of the above poker pros. You can send a personal message directly to your poker pro before the tournament starts (Phil Hellmuth is still available). For more information on sponsoring, email kelli@kelligriggs.com.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Poker employees unite!

Sahara is holding poker tournaments exclusively for the other side of the poker community -- journalists, authors, dealers... if you've been paid for contributing to poker, you're eligible.

Tournaments are all no-limit and are capped at 110 players with 20 alternates. They begin Dec. 1, with sit-n-go satellites the day before.

The winner of the main event on Dec. 4 receives an engraved trophy.

Tourney schedule:

Nov. 30 beginning at 1 p.m.: single table satellites, winner receives $20 and entry to Main Event.

Dec. 1: 9:30 a.m., $100+20; 1:30 p.m., $100+20

Dec. 2: 9:30 a.m., $200+30; 1:30 p.m., $200+30

Dec. 3: 1:30 p.m., $300+40

Dec. 4: 1:30 p.m., $500+50

For more information, call poker manager Gary DeWitt at (702) 481-4814 or email gdewitt@saharalv.com.

Players can pre-register for all events online now at Poker Player Newspaper Online.

While we have Caesars Palace on the brain, they're also offering a fun Monday Night Pro Football promotion.

Every Monday during this football season, Caesars will splash a pot every time a team scores.

If a team scores, a table will be drawn randomly and chips will be added to the pot. Suddenly The Hammer (72o) is a playable hand!

Every time a team scores a field goal, $50 will be splashed.

Every time a team scores a touchdown, $100 will be splashed.

And, every time a team scores a safety or 2-point conversion, $200 will be splashed.

Note that splash pots only count in cash games. We recommend no-limit to have the best opportunity at stealing one of these pots.

If you have $20,000 to spare, you can enter the televised 2009 NBC National Heads-Up Championship at Caesars Palace,

Or you can try to win one.

Caesars is holding a $50,000 freeroll on Feb. 22, 2009 at 11 a.m. First place wins cash plus a seat into the championship.

All you have to do to qualify for the freeroll is play 50 hours in the poker room in January 2009 (tournaments don't count).

Prize structure:

1st: $10,000 plus seat to championship (worth $20,000)
2nd: $7,500
3rd - 4th: $6,250
5th - 8th: $3,500
9th - 16th: $2,500
17th - 32nd: $1,000

One interesting bit about this freeroll is that it plays regularly until it gets to 64 players. Then everyone draws, gets new chips, and plays heads-up. The final four players then play the best of three matches.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

The Tropicana poker room will close in a week.

A quick decision that not even the 19 poker employees were aware of, staff was informed late last week about the Nov. 30 closure.

Unlike Excalibur or Paris Las Vegas who had the corporate backings of MGM Mirage and Harrah's respectively, the Tropicana poker employees will be laid off and not transferred elsewhere.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

The annual Global Gaming Expo (G2E) comes to town next week at the Convention Center, and new to the show is the World Series of Poker.

Celebrity WSOP poker players include David Williams, Scotty Nguyen, Jean-Robert Bellande, and Antonio Esfandiari, all of whom will be playing 3-table tournaments (9 players per table).

Each tournament will last 90 minutes and although there are no prizes, you'll be able to say you played (and even beat) a poker pro.

Unfortunately, all tickets have already been claimed, but if you're in town for the show anyway, stop by Hall C5 to watch the pros compete with regular folks.

Schedule:

Nov. 18
12:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.: Antonio Esfandiari
3 p.m. - 5 p.m.: David Williams

Nov. 19
10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.: Scotty Nguyen
3 p.m. - 5 p.m.: Jean-Robert Bellande

Nov. 20
10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.: Scotty Nguyen

photos by the flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

This morning's FY Q3 earnings call from Harrah's offered some hope for online poker players.

CEO Gary Loveman spoke of the possibility of seeing online poker legalized.

Not solely because of Tuesday's elections, Loveman said that he sees the possibility of legalized online poker simply because the heads of committees don't seem opposed to the idea.

"We think the world got easier on this one," he said.

As for other online gaming, Loveman still sees a tough battle.

But baby steps.

Sounds like Harrah's could have something up their sleeves that they're privy to. Because they own the World Series of Poker brand, we don't doubt they're planning something to be ready just in case.

To listen to a replay of the call, dial toll-free 1-800-642-1687 and use the passcode 68328144. The replay will be broadcast until Nov. 21.

Thanksgiving blues getting you down?

If you're in Vegas over Thanksgiving -- even Turkey Day itself -- how about a poker tournament?

Golden Nugget runs their Grand Fall Classic Poker Series from Nov. 24 through Nov. 30, with 7 events, only one of which is no-limit! (Fear not, $125 no-limit tournaments run twice daily at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. with 8000 chips and 30-minute levels.)

All events are $230, begin at noon, start with 8000 chips (with 2000 bonus chips), and have 40-minute levels:

Monday, 11/24: Ladies no-limit
Tuesday, 11/25: HORSE
Wednesday, 11/26: Pot-limit Omaha H/L
Thursday, 11/27: Limit Omaha H/L
Friday, 11/28: HORSE
Saturday: 11/29: Mix -- 2-7 Triple Draw, 7 Stud H/L, Crazy Pineapple
Sunday, 11/30: Limit Omaha H/L

For more info, call John Colville at (702) 386-8164 or email jcolville@goldennugget.com.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Paris Las Vegas quietly closed their poker room last week.

This time for good.

Bouncing around from gambling pit in the open to its own room next to the sportsbook, Paris' poker room was battered about after having its hours significantly cut and reduced to just tournaments. If you went looking for the poker room, you often couldn't find it, and some employees even thought it was already shuttered.

We could never quite get a fix on Paris and sister casino Bally's operating under the same management (which itself operates under Harrah's). Chips are interchangeable between both casinos, slot tickets can be read and cashed at both, and both properties even shared some of the same managers.

When Bally's Diamond Lounge closed in favor of consolidating into Paris' lounge, we figured more consolidation would be going on. Moving the poker room into its own room from the casino floor just ended up being in a part of the sportsbook.

It was only a matter of time before the room died a slow death. What dealers were left were offered shifts at the Bally's poker room.

R.I.P., Paris poker room. At least you went out without going electronic.

PokerStars is offering a chance to win a piece of the November 9.

The November 9, of course, is the World Series of Poker's final table comprising the nine remaining players that will duke it out on Nov. 9.

Stars has invested in six of the players, and will be hosting a $100,000 freeroll (500 FPP required for entry) for each player every Sunday beginning Oct. 5 at 4 p.m. ET.

In addition, if you make it to the top 100, you'll receive 0.01% of that player's eventual winnings from the final table.

Freeroll schedule (all begin 4 p.m. ET):

Oct. 5: David "Chino" Rheem
Oct. 12: Darus Suharto
Oct. 19: Ylon Schwartz
Oct. 26: Peter Eastgate
Nov. 2: Ivan Demidov
Nov. 9: Dennis Phillips

Let's see... every player is guaranteed to take away $900,670. So if you make the top 100 in any of the six tournaments, you'll receive an extra $90.07.

First place to this year's WSOP winner is $9,119,517, so if you're in the top 100 for that player's tourney, you'll get $919.52 extra.

Awhile back, PokerWorld.com removed their Bad Beat Jackpot from all of their poker tables (even though their website still says "Coming soon!").

A reason was not given, but PokerWorld is no longer contributing a share on the Gold Chip Network.

Where does that money go?

If you're Harrah's Las Vegas (which this month got rid of their property-wide bad beat jackpot that essentially copied Station Casinos'), you put the money back into each property and let that casino hold their own promotions.

Online is still somewhat the Wild Wild West, with not much ramification if the money just ends up evaporating into someone's Swiss bank account.

As for PokerWorld, they're doing the right thing. Because they're able to track the exact jackpot drop players contributed, they will soon be giving refunds.

A nice little unexpected rakeback.

PokerWorld will email players individually once the refund has been deposited.

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

With poker profits down (heck, with all casino profits down), we wouldn't be surprised if we began seeing more poker room closings in Las Vegas (such as Las Vegas Hilton's). Or conversions to e-tables (Excalibur, which if it's a success, will mean more at MGM Mirage casinos and elsewhere).

Fortunately, no more of that is in the near horizon.

So when we hear of new poker rooms (e.g., Hard Rock's Poker Lounge), our poker heart gets all a-flutter.

At long last, what was promised when they opened will soon be coming true, perhaps as soon as early 2010: South Point is getting a poker room!

'Course, they've always had one since they opened in December 2005 (under the name South Coast), if you count the empty area downstairs from the movie theater. Nothing much has been done with the 11 tables, other than moving the floor desk around, adding plasmas, cordoning off tables, and offering up new tournaments and freerolls that cater to locals.

The spot was good for people watching, but let us tell you, people watching locals isn't the most fun way to pass the time. We do enjoy playing there a couple times a month, particularly because the cocktail service is fast, and they don't blink an eye when we order back-to-back Patron shots.

Ever since launch, South Point had been promising an actual room, and with South Point's next phase of renovations will also be a brand new 25-table poker room.

Like the number of hotel rooms (2,163 to be exact), this will make the poker room the largest room catering to locals.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Caesars Palace is running daily drawings in their poker room, giving away completely free entries to their Caesars Palace Classic poker tournament. Each seat is worth $10,000.

From now through Sept. 30, just play in the Caesars poker room. Every time any player gets quads or better, they receive a ticket. One ticket will be drawn the following day at 7 p.m. and awarded a seat. If you don't live in town, no worries -- you don't even have to be present to win!

For the locals, however, there's an extra benefit. If you play every day trying for those tickets, you'll probably have accumulated enough hours to qualify for their freeroll. Play 40 hours of poker (live cash games only, tournaments excluded) between Oct. 1 and Oct. 26, and you'll get entered into a freeroll on Oct. 27 that awards 10 seats to the Caesars Palace Classic.

The total value of all seats being given away is $400,000.

The Caesars Palace Classic begins Oct. 28.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Harrah's is offering an interesting bonus for morning poker players that amounts to much more than rakeback or $1/hour comps.

Daily beginning Monday, Sept. 15, play in the Harrah's poker room for at least an hour between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m.

You'll then receive a 10 percent buy-in bonus for your next visit to the poker room. A voucher will be given for 10 percent of your buy-in, up to $30, which you can cash in on your next trip.

There's seemingly no limit on the amount of times you can do this, but presumably your next visit needs to be the following day.

We think we might be getting up a bit earlier to play at Harrah's before going to work from now on.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino's long-awaited poker room is now open.

Dubbed a "poker lounge," the room has 18 tables and will be a hybrid of 7,000-square-foot poker room and nightclub with bottle service

Though we suspect it will become like any other poker room in town, you may want to leave the t-shirt and cutoffs at home, at least for the first couple weeks.

Separate tables will be cordoned off and available for rental for private home games.

Regular tournament information can be found at this link, which include prizes such as a $5,000 bar tab with cabana rental by the pool and VIP backstage passes to the current concert.

Pictures can be found at CardPlayer.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

For one year as of yesterday, cell phones will now be allowed in Nevada race and sports books.

Cell phone ban regulation 22-135 (which includes any two-way electronic communication) was put into place in 1999 by the Nevada Gaming Commission to prevent people from betting for other people, as well as talking to bookies when the lines changed.

But that was 10 years ago, when cell phones weren't as ubiquitous as they are now, making it much more difficult to enforce.

But enforcing was still a requirement, and often when taking a call (or even texting someone) in the sportsbook, security would approach us and ask us to turn off our phone. We were even told to stop using the phone, when we were using the calculator part to determine odds.

And what of mobile gaming devices, which were approved by the gaming commission for use in sports books?

Cell phone use will now be allowed but "monitored" for one year to see how it goes and then decided whether the ban will be permanent.

Now we can play online poker on our mobile device in the sports book in peace!

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Congratulations are in order to World Poker Tour host Mike Sexton, a.k.a. "the ambassador of poker."

Thursday morning, he and his wife Karen gave birth to new baby boy Ty Michael, coming in healthy at 8 lbs., 6 oz.

We're already putting over-unders on Ty's first word being "raise."

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Four Winds casino in New Buffalo, Mich., was the first casino to launch with a WPT poker room sans dealers. All tables are PokerTek electronic tables, with players depositing and withdrawing to cards at an in-room cashier.

Players have a love/hate relationship with the tables. On the one hand, it doesn't feel like a real poker game without the dealer controlling the table (not to mention no chips or cards). On the other hand, less rake and no tip is always good.

Mostly because of a delay in getting approved, Las Vegas hasn't seen the poker e-tables yet, but by the end of this month, one casino will be converting to all dealer-less tables.

Excalibur informed dealers that they will close their poker room on Aug. 18, then reopen Aug. 21 with all e-tables. Floor staff will be kept to a minimum, and obviously -- no dealers.

R.I.P., Excalibur. We remember you fondly when you were in the sportsbook area, we could get a free hotdog buffet in late afternoons, and we could spin the wheel.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

If you're in Las Vegas and play poker, it pays to sign up to the Station Casino's player's club.

We preferred the old Boarding Pass card to the new My Card, but that's just cosmetic. Either way, we received a flier in the mail for $10 off our next buy-in of $100.

Just two hours of play is necessary before claiming the $10, so it's basically $5 an hour to play a few hands.

The offer is good through Sept. 30.

You may already know about Station's Bad Beat Jumbo Hold'em Progressive, which starts at $150,000 at quad 10s beaten, then the hand requirement reduces every week until someone gets the beat.

And when it happens, everyone playing poker in every Station casino shares in the progressive... with a minimum of $200.

(This is aside from the in-house bad beat jackpot of $10,000 for Aces full of 10s beaten.)

Another offer is $250 for every royal flush.

And, in addition to the regular $1/hour comp for playing live poker, you'll receive $3/hour if you play between 3 a.m. and 9 a.m.

Nothing beats playing poker on the Strip, but sometimes it's worth taking a drive to check out the local casinos (Palace Station is the closest Station to the Strip, but our favorites are Red Rock and Green Valley Ranch).

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

If you didn't make it into the World Series, never fear. The Rio isn't the only place for big tournaments.

The Orleans is offering their annual Orleans Open beginning July 5 and running through July 20.

All 16 events take place one per day beginning at noon in the Mardi Gras room. Buy-ins range from $200 to $2000.

Events are:

#1 July 5 $200 No-Limit Hold'em
#2 July 6 $200 Omaha Hi-Lo
#3 July 7 $200 Limit Hold-em
#4 July 8 $200 7-card Stud
#5 July 9 $300 No-Limit Hold'em
#6 July 10 $300 7-card Stud Hi-Lo
#7 July 11 $300 Omaha Hi-Lo ("Battle of the Sexes")
#8 July 12 $300 No-Limit Hold'em (LIPS tourney)
#9 July 13 $330 No-Limit Hold'em
#10 July 14 $500 No-Limit Hold'em
#11 July 15 $500 "Battle of the Ages"
#12 July 16 $500 Casino Employee Event
#13 July 17 $500 Mixed Limit/No-Limit Hold'em
#14 July 18 $1000 No-Limit Hold'em
#15 July 19 $1000 Omaha Hi-Lo
#16 July 20 $2000 No-Limit Hold'em

The $200, $300, and $500 tournaments are one-day events. The $1000 and $2000 tournaments are two-day events.

All levels are 45 minutes each.

If you play in the tournament, you can get $55 rooms Sunday-Thursday and $100 Friday-Saturday between July 2 and July 23. Use the code 8ORLC07 at this link.

For more information and to print out a registration form to pre-register, click here.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

At 6 p.m., "Keep Flopping Aces" airs on Rounder's Radio.

The subject of tonight's program involves whether you should turn to the life of a poker pro.

Stepping in for regular host Lou Krieger is psychologist and author of The Psychology of Poker, Dr. Alan Schoonmaker.

Poker pros guesting on the show include Roy Cooke, Barry Tanenbaum, Mark Gregorich, and Don Olney, who will all be onhand to discuss what led up to them turning pro and if they have any regrets. They'll also chat about the best and worst things about turning pro.

Other topics include cash vs. tourney pros, bankroll required, how relationships have been affected, and more.

Attorney Tom Walter will then talk about health and life insurance, mortgages, retirement, and other financial planning issues.

It promises to be an enlightening evening.

If you miss tonight's broadcast, it'll be archived a few days later at roundersradio.com.

Binion's celebrates the Las Vegas Helldorado and Memorial Day weekend with a $110,000 poker tournament at Binion's.

The tournament takes place next weekend from May 24-25.

Entry fee is $225 plus the $10 registration fee.

Assuming at least 1,000 players, only the top 25 will pay out, making top-heavy awards with $35,310 for first place, $18,700 for second, and $11,000 for third.

A chunk of the proceeds will benefit the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Nevada and the Elks Lodge Scholarship Fund.

To register, fill out this form and bring it with you the day of the tournament.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

As rumors swirl of Las Vegas poker rooms closing (ahem, Paris Las Vegas), a new poker room just opened today at Bill's Gamblin' Hall & Saloon (formerly Barbary Coast), which is owned by Harrah's (er, Caesars -- we can never get used to the new and old names).

While not actually a poker room but tables inside the casino (like O'Sheas), Bill's poker room is situated near the entrance where the big eBay slots just launched (yep, eBay slots and they're so bright with the big screens you need sunglasses). Two tables have 2/6 spread limit (a format we haven't seen since Excalibur) and no-limit with a single blind of $1 and buy-in from $20 to $200.

The tables used are the old World Series of Poker tables, complete with the PartyPoker.net ad in the middle facing the dealer and TV cameras if there were any.

Like next-door neighbors Flamingo and Imperial Palace, a jackpot will offer payouts for high hands as well as $100 for Aces cracked and $50 for Kings cracked during certain hours.

Alas, as is becoming more and more the trend, the rake is 10 percent up to $5 plus $1 for the jackpot.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

If you happen to be in downtown Las Vegas right now, Montel Williams has taken over the Golden Nugget poker room.

And not the Montel Williams for charity events, this is his own money, your own money, and money won won't go to any outside company.

Williams will be in the poker room all day today, May 10, playing nonstop $1080 sit-n-gos.

Levels are 20 minutes per round, blinds begin at 50/100, and players start with 10,000 in chips.

First place wins $700, second place wins $300.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

The Orleans has $5 bounties, but $50?

TI (Treasure Island) in Las Vegas has a Head Hunters bounty tournament that runs every Wednesday at 11 a.m. and every Sunday at 7 p.m.

The tournament attracts about 30-40 players and 1st place averages $600.

Buy-in is $125 with a $50 bounty on each player (so technically a $75 tourney). If you bust someone out, you not only get their chips, you also get $50. If you win the tournament, you get your own $50 bounty.

Starting chipstack is 5,000 and levels are 30 minutes.

For more information, call (702) 894-7291.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Golden Nugget's upcoming Grand Poker Series in downtown Las Vegas will host a celebrity poker tournament on the first night of the series, June 6.

Buy-in is $1,080 with half going into the prize pool and half going to the Montel Williams MS foundation.

Golden Nugget will host a pre-tourney cocktail reception at 4 p.m., including live music and showgirls and plenty of photo and autograph opportunities.

Later that night will be a tourney after-party upstairs in Golden Nugget's new indoor/outdoor nightclub Gold Diggers.

Satellites into the charity event will also be available, and total players are capped at about 400.

To register, call (702) 386-8164.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

While the Silverton extension is still being finished, one of our coziest poker rooms in town has been displaced to the keno and slots area right in front of where the poker room was.

Taking a hit in traffic, Silverton offers a variety of promotions to reward their loyal locals.

We liked their no-limit game when the room first opened, but every time we return there's just one 3/6 limit running with the same faces (of course, where else can you find a packed 3/6 game running in Las Vegas?).

Now Silverton wants to lure the no-limit crowd back, and they'll pay you for the privilege. Just like a prop player, only there's 10 of 'em.

Every Monday from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., be one of the first 10 players to sit down at a NL hold'em table. Put at least $175 in play, play for at least 2 hours, then when you cash out you'll receive $25.

Now what happens if you bust? Well, you can always leave without collecting your $25. But you can only pick up your $25 after 2 hours. Be sure to bring enough buy-ins just in case.

The promotion will run every Monday for the foreseeable future, and you can participate as often as you'd like.

The Venetian Deep Stack event in February was so popular, they're doing it again!

While not as big as the first Deep Stack Extravaganza, this sequel will still provide lots of play to practice for the WSOP (or the next DSE, which is May 29-July 16).

The event runs from April 4-25 in the poker room at The Venetian, with daily registration at 4 p.m. for the 6 p.m. tournament. Note that this will substitute for the regularly scheduled evening tournament.

Cost is $330 and players start with 4500 chips (plus $10 to the dealers for 1500 more chips). A food credit will also be given.

Satellites into the tournament will run every day, with winners receiving tokens that can be used to buy into not only the DSE but any poker tournament at The Venetian.

The Venetian's website does not yet list the DSE, but you can email poker@venetian.com for more information.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Everything in Las Vegas is crowded for the three day weekend. Cars fill the strip, restaurants have lines, the airport is a zoo, casinos are jammed, sidewalks are at capacity, and poker rooms have long wait list of players with pockets loaded with burning cash. What a great time to be in the city of entertainment. Vegas is far better than an adrenalin drip and comes with a list of amenities that include free food, full time gambling, hookers by the bunch, temporary insanity to go, your favorite drunk celebrity photo ops, more limos than a GOP rally, more Hummers than Iraq (and guns), and best of all its legal...well maybe not the hookers.

God, I love this city, nothing like the smell of crisp Franklins early in the morning. What are you waiting for? Come on down, the lights are always on.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

More Flipchip photos from the recently completed AVN Adult Entertainment Expo in Las Vegas. All new photos await, so click here for a direct link to the ladies.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Chinese New Year is a big holiday here in Las Vegas with resorts decorating for the event. This year is the start of a new 12 year cycle that begins with the Year of the Rat. Those wanting to see the most extravagant and exquisitely detailed displays head to the Bellagio's Conservatory & Botanical Gardens. The admission is free and the exotic plants and traditional 'good luck' fixtures make this a must see. Flipchip was there and provides a photo tour on the Las Vegas News Blog.

The Deep Stack Extravaganza began today at the Venetian Resort on the Las Vegas strip. The event continues through Sunday, February 24th. This is a crowd pleasing variety of poker tournaments with lower buy-ins, $330 through $2600 for the ME, that attracts professional and amateur players from around the world.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

For those still pondering the super question, "Take the Giants and the points or give them up and go with the unbeaten Pats?," here's a little something to give your stressed out brain some R & R. More Flipchip photos from the recently completed AVN Adult Entertainment Expo in Las Vegas. Another dozen new images await, so click here for a direct link to the ladies.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

While the Monte Carlo resort on the Las Vegas strip was ablaze last Monday the poker room was doing business as usual. Poker players continued betting and dealers continued dealing the cards to the nonchalant crowd of gamblers. The big screen TV's in the poker room were tuned to local channels where the fire on the upper floors exterior facade could be tracked in real time. This devil-may-care behavior is reminiscent of the time when flood waters flowed through the casino at Caesars Palace and blackjack players rolled up their pants legs and continued gambling. Neither flood nor fire will keep the dedicated gamers from their appointed games.

FYI, the Monte Carlo including their poker room is currently closed; but, the facility should be reopened in a few days. More Monte Carlo fire clean up photos are available on the Las Vegas News Blog.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Will the unbeaten Pats win Sunday's big game by more than the 12 point line? Will the total points be over or under the projected 54? That's the big question in Las Vegas this week. Of the dozens of prop bets which offers the easiest money? Everywhere in town there are bettor's specials offering free food, beer, T-shirts, caps, money drawings and free tailgate parties. Thousands of big screen plasmas will be tuned into the big game, thousands of gallons of beer will be consumed, thousands of hot dogs eaten, thousands of bets made, and millions of dollars changing hands. If you can't be in the crowd of fans in Phoenix then your second choice is Las Vegas and for many of us Vegas is our first choice, too.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Those in attendance at the U of P stadium in Phoenix will not have great parking, a front row seat, cheap food, cocktail girls delivering booze, and legal wagering on hundreds of prop bets. All of these things Las Vegas provides in abundance and can be found in any sports book in town. You don't even need a ticket so come on down and join the fun on this made for Vegas weekend.

It's a known fact the football fans love to play poker (Why do you think they put the poker room by the sports book?) and it's a fact that Super Sunday is one of the big three weekends in Las Vegas guaranteeing full poker tables and tournaments. That alone is reason enough to gather up your friends and head to Vegas. If you've never been in town for a Super Bowl then do yourself a favor and get here this weekend. You'll have so much fun you may never be leaving Las Vegas.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

While you're sitting around on this football-less weekend watching the Tiger Woods Golf Show you might consider heading over to the Las Vegas News Blog for the latest Flipchip images of the 2008 AVN Adult Entertainment Expo. A baker's dozen of images await to forever change the meaning of "big pair," see example above.

For those wondering about the Big Football Game next Sunday (Las Vegas gambling dens are forbidden to refer to it as the Super Bowl®) the local line is favoring the unbeaten Pats to beat the Giants by 12 with an over/under point total of 53 1/2.

photo by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Today's two playoff football games to determine who goes to the 2008 Super Bowl are being played in temperatures ranging from the teens at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough to sub-zero misery in Greenbay. There's no excuse to let this severe cold get to you. All you have to do is click this link to the latest Flipchip photos from the 2008 Adult Entertainment Expo in Las Vegas for an instant warm up.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Check out Flipchip's photos of the $2.1 billion Las Vegas resort that adjoins the Venetian. Patrons were allowed into the Palazzo for the first time on New Year's Eve. The casino and public spaces were open although the hotel will not accept guest until January 6th. Click here for additional Flipchip photos of the latest Las Vegas strip mega-resort.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

I've posted New Year's Eve stuff on the Las Vegas News Blog including photos and video of the Robbie Maddison world record motorcycle jump in the parking lot of the Rio, the Las Vegas home of the WSOP. If the parking lot looks familiar there's a good reason, it's the same parking lot that claimed Hellmuth's race car during last summer's WSOP.

A mini gallery of Flipchip photos of the 2008 New Year fireworks show on the Las Vegas Strip and above the Plaza in downtown Vegas available here.

Enjoy your New Year's holiday, great food, great company, 17 straight hours of football.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

All of us that hoped UIGEA would be neutered into nothingness by the World Trade Organization's (WTO) recent rulings upholding the island nation of Antigua and Barbuda's claim for financial damages of $3.44 billion annually will have to keep hoping. UIGEA created long unemployment lines when 40% of the workforce was laid off as sites downsized. Internet gaming websites are Antigua-Barbuda's #2 employer just behind the tourist trade because Antigua was one of the first nation's to license and strictly regulate Internet gaming sites.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

A selection of Flipchip photographs taken Christmas Eve at the Ethyl M's botanical gardens are available on the Las Vegas News Blog. The blog has an article listing a couple of shopping malls that will be open in Las Vegas on Christmas day, the Forum Shops and the Miracle mile Shops.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Beginning this week, Caesars Palace has raised its table games betting limit ceilings to the highest in the city.

Blackjack players who previously could bet up to three hands at $10,000 a hand, will enjoy raised wagering limits of one hand at $50,000 or three hands at $25,000 per hand. Dice players who were limited to $5,000 on line bets, will have higher betting limits of $50,000 on any line bet. (Pass, Don't Pass, Come, Don't Come). Place bet limits will be $25,000 and $30,000, up from $5,000 and $6,000. "Hard Way" bettors will be allowed to wager $10,000 on any 'Hard Way." Roulette players who were limited to $500 "Any Way" wagers (single numbers, splits, quads, etc.) will enjoy new wagering limits of $3,000 " Any Way."

The new wagering limits will be available in high-limit gaming areas and in the dice pit.

post by Desert Rock

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

The World Series of Poker released the 2008 schedule for all 55 events. Next year's WSOP will offer a number of changes including some new events and schedule changes. Start times will vary and events will overlap as three-days-per-event schedules are utilized to handle the anticipated large crowds of players. The winner of the $50K H.O.R.S.E. event will receive a special David "Chip" Reese memorial trophy. The following is a quote from the press release:

LAS VEGAS - December 11, 2007 - Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE:HET) said today the 2008 World Series of Poker Presented by Milwaukee's Best Light and televised exclusively on ESPN will - for the first time ever - begin and end with $10,000 buy-in World Championship events and feature a total of eight $10,000 championships.

The $10,000 Main Event will run for 2 weeks with 12 days of play and two off days. The Ante Up for Africa Charity Event returns for 2008. We have separated out all the times, dates, and details of the 2008 WSOP schedules and placed the information in our tournament directory. You can easily find what you're searching for by mousing over the Vegas Poker Rooms tab located in the top menu bar , then from the drop down menu click the Rio to go to the 2008 World Series of Poker schedule information or just click here. It's listed under "Other Poker Tournaments" and don't forget to click on any event for complete details.

And finally, the best news, "The Poker Tent is Gone!"...Jeffrey Pollack, Commissioner of the WSOP.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

Thanksgiving in Las Vegas...Part #2 turned into a Las Vegas Shopping trip and was posted on the Las Vegas News Blog. Plenty of Flipchip photos shot last evening on the Las Vegas strip moments after the NFL's Thanksgiving Day Dallas game ended. Check out the Thanksgiving in Las Vegas...Part #2...Shopping and as a added photos bonus Flipchip posted some photos of his favorite shop windows.

Can't make it to Vegas today? Check out the Las Vegas Shopping Directory for a complete, up to date list of malls and shops on the famous strip.

photos by flipchip • lasvegasvegas.com

This post is mostly for all those folks not here in Las Vegas for the big Thanksgiving holiday...yet. Let me count the reasons to get in gear and get to Las Vegas. Crowded poker rooms, dozens of poker tournaments offering hundreds of thousands of dollars everyday should be reason enough to enjoy a few prime time days (and prime ribs) in Sin City, but if you still need more reasons to make the journey read on.

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

Las Vegas local, Jerry Lewis, will be making his 42nd consecutive appearance as host of the Labor Day MDA Telethon. The twenty one and a half hour live broadcast will be beamed to almost two hundred TV stations around the country from the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa on the south Las Vegas strip. Jerry Lewis will be joined at the entertainment extravaganza by his long time sidekick, Ed Mahon. Hundreds of entertainers will be featured from around the country.

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

For those lucky people that get to spend Labor Day weekend in Las Vegas you're invited to become part of the South Point TV Audience. Free tickets to the show are provided on a rotating basis beginning Sunday, September 02 at 5:30 AM and continuing until Monday, September 03 at 1:30 PM. After driving down to the south most Las Vegas casino try the South point poker room, read the South Point Poker Room Review here.

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

Flipchip Photos of the 2007 WSOP Winners only at LasVegasVegas Flipchip Photo Galleries. Complete 2007 WSOP stats at the Poker Prof's World Series of Poker 2007 Information Page. Complete WSOP poker from Dr Pauly of Tao of Poker.

I continue to recover from the muscle pull injury so I'm on light duty for a few days and have been spending some leisure time on the Las Vegas strip. The triple digit heat seems to help the bum shoulder for an hour or two before the pain sends me home. A quad of Flipchip Strip Photos from the past couple of days. Forget to add that I'm a neon junky...like a Nikon moth to a neon flame.

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

Las Vegas is crowded with partying holiday people. Many in the crowd packed into the sports books to bet and watch the Indy 500, NASCAR 600 and pro roundball. Thousands were here to witness first hand the Ultimate Fighting Challenge at the MGM Grand Garden where Quinton Jackson stunned favorite Chuck Liddell with a sweeping right upper cut to end the match after 1:53 minutes of the first round.

This Friday we start the month and a half of World Series of Poker at the Rio Las Vegas. After all is said, done and the final flop is set there will be 55 players going home with those elusive gold bracelets. For the last day of your three day holiday weekend I'm offering some vintage views from the 2005 WSOP.

Have a safe, fun Memorial Day. All photos taken at the 2005 WSOP...

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

Memorial Day weekend is the 3 day holiday that signals the un-official start of the Las Vegas tourist season. Hundreds of thousands of the follow your luck faithful will be in the desert Gambling Mecca starting today. Over the course of the summer millions of Vegas visitors will follow to spend quality leisure time in Las Vegas during the blast furnace heat from being on the edge of Death Valley. Acres of sunburned skin, truckloads of cold booze, mountains of money left to the Vegas economy, the grandest resorts in the world filled to capacity, and the thousands of seats in poker rooms and poker tournaments occupied all the time. Damn, I love the smell of money on a hot Vegas day.

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

I continue to hang out at the Rio checking out the site for the biggest event in Poker, the World Series of Poker Tournament. I've revisited some of my favorite eating places, visited with some old friends, made some new ones and shot a few photos of the Rio, the original Vegas party place. Today's offering is a mini-gallery of Flipchip's Nikon views of the Rio's famous Sky Float light show. The place is the Rio's Masquerade Casino or rather, high above the casino floor. The colorful sky rides and tracks were originally constructed for the Fremont Street Experience when a change in plans for downtown opted for the current light canopy and the floats were placed in storage. The builder of the Rio bought them from the city and they have been cruising high above the Rio's Masquerade Casino ever since.

Check them out when you're here at the Rio Resort for the 2007 WSOP. Flipchip's photos of the free show after the jump...

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

Say the name, "Double Down Texas Holdem(tm)" and most casino table game players will quickly correct you, explaining due to your lack of gaming knowledge you have confused two entirely different card games, sort of like saying the baseball player scored a touchdown. The news here is the Double Down Texas Hold'em table game recently introduced by Las Vegas game developer, JKR Gaming, does indeed combine the two card games into one new, exciting pit table game.

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

A trip downtown Monday to Binion's in search of the first day of the Poker tournament being held in conjunction with the Vegas Grand Prix proved fruitless after learning there was no tournament. Apparently everything was there but players. Most everyone I know was unaware a poker tournament was scheduled. I ask for a flyer and learned that no info on the events was available...no flyers, schedules or handouts. Maybe I'll have better luck today.

Flipchip Downtown Las Vegas Photos after the jump.

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

Tonight I will be camped out in the Sports Book to watch the final act of March madness. The Florida Gators will meet the Ohio State Buckeyes in Atlanta to determine the best college basketball team for 06/07. Florida is the reining champion and is one game away from a repeat. The Las Vegas odds makers believe they will do just that making them a 4 point favorite over Ohio while the over/under is pegged at 135. I expect a good show.

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

Following a meandering path around the strip from the Mirage to the Monte Carlo and back again was my Thursday evening entertainment/work. Even though I'm a high time Vegas local a mandatory 'walk the strip' experience keeps me in touch with the dynamics of the always changing Las Vegas landscape. I was fortunate to get the photo above, probably my personal favorite to date, Vegas poker room shot. For a fleeting moment the Monte Carlo poker room became a pseudo-Norma Rockwell painting in the Nikon's view finder. Flipchip's Thursday night strip photos after the jump.

Poker Prof's Internet friendly "Rober Rules of Poker" version 10 is now available click here-Ed

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

Monday's word out of Las Vegas Metro Police indicate an arrest warrant for Adam "Pacman" Jones could be issued in the next few days. Possible felony and misdemeanor charges stem from a triple shooting at Minxx Nightclub during NBA All Star Week that left one of the club's security guards, Tom Urbanski, paralyzed from the waist down.

A police request for charges could be in the hands of the Clark County DA by the end of the week. The shooter in the altercation has not been identified. Sources close to Jones say he is concerned about blowing his multi-million dollar NFL deal while witnesses to the fracas inside the club said Jones and his two guest were throwing one dollar bills from a bag filled with cash. Police reported seizing a bag owned by Jones that contained more than $80K.

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

Saw a viewer poll on local Las Vegas TV that wanted people to vote on today's burning question about the Bodog.com prop wager, "Will Heather Mills prosthetic leg fall off during a dance routine on Dancing with the Stars 4?," in bad taste? Those people that dialed into the TV website to 'vote' were 3-1 in agreement it is poor taste. I think ABC Television should write a thank you note to Bodog for supercharging the 'prosthesis buzz' that ABC created for the very popular Dancing with the Stars TV show. Check out the Bodog prop bet here, and while you're there look at the odds for the Fox hit show, American Idol.

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

UNLV Running Rebels make the Sweet 16 at the NCAA Tournament defeating #2 seed Wisconsin 74-68 Sunday morning in Chicago. Las Vegas is the location of choice for thousands of rabid college basketball fans to celebrate the madness of the annual NCAA college basketball championships. Sports books all over town are shoulder-to-shoulder with screaming fans while the close-by poker rooms have wait list for everything.

A few Flipchip photos from the Bellagio Conservatory celebration of spring after the jump.

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

UNLV made it through the first round to become one of the surviving 32 college basketball teams remaining in the "big dance." March Madness is truly an affliction that takes over Las Vegas casinos until a national champion is crowned. Card rooms become beneficiaries of the large numbers of college basketball fans making the pilgrimage to Vegas. The overflow of players from the crowded sports books keep the cash games full and the poker tournaments capped.

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

I spent early Tuesday morning waiting for the implosion of the old Stardust Hotel on the Las Vegas strip. While I waited I thought about the thousands of hands of poker I've played in the Stardust poker room over the years. Once the center of Las Vegas poker the Stardust was the place on the strip to find the "pro" players. The old "Stairway to the Stars" series of poker tournaments that introduced many players to "rebuys." Tuesday morning the Stardust dealt its' last hand.

Check out Flipchip's mini-gallery of Stardust photos here on the Las Vegas News Blog

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

The NASCAR circus has arrived in Las Vegas for the big NASCAR racing weekend at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Saturday sees the Sam's Town 300, the Busch Cup race that serves as a warm up for the Sunday's Nextel Cup UAW Diamler Chrysler 400 mile event. Tickets remain for the Saturday Sam's Town event but Sunday's main event, the UAW Diamler Chrysler Championship, is sold out.

Traffic throughout the Las Vegas area become much more crowded as the three hundred thousand fans following their favorite NASCAR race drivers pack the city. Navigating the streets in the Northeast quadrant of town where the speedway is located quickly becomes a mission impossible with track access roads morphing into parking lots.

No complaints about the NASCAR crowds from the poker community in Las Vegas. If there is one thing the race fans like to do other than drink beer and watch the racing it is playing poker. Las Vegas poker rooms are already crowded with soft money that will remain throughout the weekend. Even the regularly scheduled daily poker tournaments have full fields with alternate lists. Head for Las Vegas poker rooms this wekend for some of the best poker of the year.

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

Paul Wasicka of West Minster, Colorado finally wins a "big one" defeating Chad Brown for the prestigious 2007 NBC National Heads-Up Championship. Remember, Paul Wasicka is the guy that played heads-up with Jamie Gold for the 2006 WSOP Main Event championship, finishing second for $6,102,499 in prize money but no title. A few days ago he finished 4th in the 2007 WPT LA Poker Classic at the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles to bank another $455,615: but again, no title. Sunday evening Wasicka finished first to take down a major poker title and he banks another half million dollars. Nothing to it...all he had to do was outlast a blue ribbon field hand picked from poker's best.

photo by flipchip/lasvegasvegas.com

If you're not watching RawVegas.tv, want to know what you're missing? The insane prop bets between Gavin Smith and Joe Sebok on Prop Bets-The Stupid Show . A series of $10K and up prop bets has included so far the mechanical bull ride, the Chinese water torture device, the fajita eating contest and a long running bet that requires the first one out of the Commerce Casino's main event to have the other's initials tattooed on their ass. Check out all of the The Stupid Show video's.

photo by Flipchip/LasVegasVegas.com

NBA Commissioner Stern has given the city of Las Vegas a grade of F-. Says the All-Star Game would not consider returning to Las Vegas until the town builds a sports complex worthy of the great game. He also thinks Vegas books should quit spreading the NBA, meaning the entire league--regular season games, playoffs, championship game...every pro basketball game would be a no-bet. That's a tall order to ask in a city that still considers three hundred million (approx amount of revenue from legal Vegas NBA wagers) to be a nice chunk of change, not really that much money, but nice anyway.

photo by Flipchip/LasVegasVegas.com

The All Star Game was a blow out; but, provided a greatly entertaining exhibition of exhibitionism. Fans watched their favorite stars fly through the air with the greatest of ease and a total lack of defense. Best described as a spectacle instead of a ball game, the All Star Game offers fans the greatest in entertainment and Las Vegas makes it especially great. Vegas really knows how to throw a party because Vegas is a perpetual party.

Flipchip was out and about the Las Vegas strip on Sunday afternoon and posted photos on the LasVegasVegas News Blog.

photo by Flipchip/LasVegasVegas.com

photo by Flipchip/LasVegasVegas.com

Year of the Golden Fire Pig, the Chinese New Year 4705 has arrived.

photo by Flipchip/LasVegasVegas.com

photo by Flipchip/LasVegasVegas.com

Stopped by the Venetian Resort Monday evening to pick up some literature and chat with the room personnel about next week's inaugural Deep Stack Extravaganza Poker Tournament. Representing the Venetian's first foray into the tournament poker mass market the event's lower buy-ins, $330-$540, will guarantee a full house for the Februrary 21 thru March 11 events.

More of Flipchip's photos from Tuesday's visit to the Venetian after the jump.

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

The 2007 Super Bowl has come and gone finally drawing to an end the 2006 NFL season and leaving a void of big sporting events in the immediate future. The Colts came away with an expected victory beating the odds maker's predicted 7 point win by 5 points with a final 29-17 score. The game was played at Dolphin's Stadium in Miami and the weather of full time rain qualified it as 'real football the way it was meant to be.' Bettors began the adrenalin spikes of excitement and despair when the underdog Bear's Devin Hester took the opening kickoff on a 92 yard ramble for 7 points in the first 11 seconds. It suddenly looked too easy with a run the length of the rain drenched field and not even a love tap by a single Colt defender. It appeared the poker table talk the night before was right-on and we were going to see a one sided affair.

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

The late money appears to be favoring Da Bears. Las Vegas is the party that is bigger than the game, far bigger. Town is filled with many of the resorts at capacity and overall room occupancy for the weekend is above 95%. People usually don't need much of an excuse to make the journey to Las Vegas, so make it the biggest football game of the year and what would you expect from an NFL addicted country full of sports gamblers?

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

About 85 million American's voted in the November election, turnout numbers considered to be on high side for a mid-term national election. By comparison, this Sunday an expected 140 million Americans will watch Super Bowl XLI live from Miami, Florida. This kind of statistic comparison is trying to say something to us and according to four guys in North Carolina that are collecting signatures on a petition to make Super Bowl Monday (SBM) following Super Bowl Sunday a National Holiday. Stop by their site, www.superbowlmonday.com, and check it out. Makes sense to me since the American workplace already sees record call-ins on SBM from the millions of rabid football fans that over did it on SBS.

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

Cooler January weather in Las Vegas makes the craving for some good authentic New Mexican food unstoppable. While chasing the rumors of the Rio Resort going to the Maloofs I decided to check out my favorite Mexican restaurant outside the state of New Mexico, also owned by the Maloofs. Gardunos located in the Palms is the only place I can get a real Hatch green chili fix. Cheese enchiladas so good you think you're in Santa Fe. The place was crowded as usual with a row of stretched limos out front and an endless line of waiting taxis. A few photos from Monday's jaunt to the Palms...

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

Wynn Resort Las Vegas dealers voted to retain representation from the UAW. Upset over the recent decision to subsidize supervisor's pay with a cut of dealer's tokes allowed the big Union the leverage it needed to pry open the door to the lucrative Las Vegas gambling business floor. The gambling labor union genie is finally out of the bottle. [Wynn Dealers]

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

Harrah's has eliminated about 200 jobs from the company's middle management ranks. Harrah's was adamant in saying the elimination of the jobs and subsequent layoffs were not related to the $28 billion takeover by two private investor groups, Apollo Management and Texas Pacific Group. The 200 lost jobs were within the Las Vegas corporate office and apparently did not include any individual resort personnel. The recent acquisition fueled growth spurt that propelled the company to become the world's largest casino owner is being credited with the layoffs. Either way it is 200 lost jobs in the Harrah's downsizing saga that began earlier this month at the very top of the food chain when three of Harrah's executives quit, including the purported #3 man, COO Tim Wilmott.

The Las Vegas Blog is reporting that Hooter's Casino in Las Vegas is looking at a takeover bid from a private investor group out of california.

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

Monday evening found me hiking the Fremont Street Experience, camera in hand, checking out the latest improvements to the core casinos under the world's largest light canopy. The Golden Nugget is generally considered to be the class of the downtown casinos and represents Steve Wynn's first effort at forever changing the face of Vegas. The hotel has completed the new pool area, The Tank, and it's a must see. Binion's is busy remodeling the old venue and has made major improvements including all new flooring. They've also added a mechanical bull for the weekly Bikini Bull Riding contest, another must see event.

The crowds were more than I expected considering the chilly weather we've been experiencing and the lines waiting to get into our destination, Tony Roma's Restaurant located in the Fremont Hotel were quite long. A leisurely dinner followed by an even more leisurely stroll down the Fremont Experience capped off the night. Photos follow...

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

With no major tournament poker action in Las Vegas this week I've been spending my time at the two major conventions in Vegas and playing in a few local poker tournaments. The Consumer Electronics Show CES completed it's 4 day run on Thursday and the AVN Adult Expo 2007 closed on Saturday. Flipchip photos from both events are posted on the Las Vegas Blog. Take a break from watching the NFL playoffs today and check out the mini galleries of photos.

Links to the additional galleries along with a few AVN photos are below.

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

The big action in Las Vegas this week is the Consumer Electronic Shows, world's largest convention, and the Adult Entertainment Expo 2007, world's largest gathering of XXX folks. I have been hiking through both exhibits and shot some photos at today's opening of the x-rated Adult Entertainment Expo. A few are posted here with more on Flipchip's Peep Show on the Las Vegas Blog.

Poker action moves downtown tomorrow with the UPC's high limit cash game. Bring $25,000 and take a seat from 4:00 pm until Midnight. Maybe you'll win some dough and be on TV. I continue advising tournament poker fans everywhere to check out Dr. Pauly's Tao of Poker Blog for the best coverage from the best writer following the tournament poker circuit around the world. Get all of the Doctor's live updates direct from the Aussie Millions.

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

Considering the absence of the poker professionals in Las Vegas because they are in Australia or Europe and there is no major poker tournament here in Las Vegas at the moment has me hanging out at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). (I'm really waiting for the Adult Entertainment Expo to open on Wednesday). Walking through the CES exhibitors on Tuesday I couldn't help but notice the large number of automobile audio/video vendors. Everywhere sits millions of dollars of custom rolling stock, all tricked out with the latest in electronics and power generation technology. I think it would make for a most dramatic finale to this year's Expo if everyone simultaneously cranked up the amps to max overload at the stroke of one minute left in the the show. It would blow the building down.

Continue to get your poker fix this week from the Dr. Pauly at Tao of Poker. He's sending live from the Aussie Millions, the current center of the poker tournament world tour. A few photos from today's 2007 Consumer Electronics Show.

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

Survey results gathered from American consumers and presented by New York based design agency, Landor Assiciates, has placed Las Vegas #2 on a list of most popular US brands for 2006. Internet giant Google was #1 while Yahoo, Target and iPod completed the top five. Great to know that I live in a world class brand name city.

More Flipchip photos from 2006 and Monday night in Las Vegas are included.

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

Celine Dion is leaving Las Vegas. After four and a half years of sell-outs the singer is calling it quits and telling Caesars Palace goodbye. The last show will be in December of this year. Celine Dion's "A New Day" has thrilled audiences since opening in 2003 in Caesar's Colosseum, a $100 Million 4,000 seat state-of-the-art music venue. The show was originally scheduled to end in December of last year but Celine Dion granted a one year extension. A number of names are being passed around as the Dion replacement with Cher probably leading the list.

Mandalay Bay's "Mamma Mia!" which also opened in 2003 announced they will be leaving Vegas. Sometime in the summer of 2008 the Broadway show will lower the curtain for the final time. Street talk says Mandalay Bay's then empty showroom will become home to the sixth Cirque du Soleil show running at a MGM Mirage property. Next trip into Las Vegas take a little time away from the poker tables to see both of these great Vegas shows before they are gone forever.

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

The Las Vegas news from first week of 2007 is a mixed bag of stuff. Some of it will probably have an affect on the Las Vegas poker scene because I'm talking about the World Series of Poker and its' future under the new owners of Harrah's. This first week of 2007 Harrah's announced the departure of three key executives from the company.

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

The New Year has arrived and as usual Las Vegas was one of the most desirable places on the planet to welcome in 2007. The Direct TV hosted party at the Fremont Street Experience in downtown Las Vegas was a sold-out success so this will probably be the first of many. The strip was filled with thousands of drink toting, strolling, smiling happy people. The Vegas night clubs were sold out including Caesars' Pure where Britney Spears hosted; while Prince was hosting in his new Club 3121 over at the Rio.

Take a break from the college football marathon today to visit Dr Pauly for his "Tao of Poker: 2006 the Year in Review" video.

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

Do you plan to celebrate the 2007 New Year's holiday in Las Vegas? If the answer is yes, congratulations, you're already way ahead of the crowd. FYI one of the Vegas party locations where you can join the multitudes for the party fun and have a front row seat to the midnight fireworks show will be on the Las Vegas strip. All traffic will be blocked from the strip between Sahara and Flamingo to accommodate the many thousands expected for the party. Hanging out on the strip is free, no tickets required for this party and at least once in your life you have to be in Las Vegas for New Year's Eve.

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

Big news in Las Vegas isn't the holidays, not the casinos, has nothing to do with poker, not even the billion dollar Harrah's deal...Its the story of Katie Rees, the now long gone Miss Nevada USA 2007 beauty pageant winner. Disgraced and relieved of her duties(?) after the Internet appearance of some 'racy' photos taken when she was a teenager. Check out the photos and decide for yourself with the links on the Las Vegas Blog. Happy Holidays.

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

The Holiday spirit has permeated the city of entertainment with its own special brand of influence. People are nicer, I'm hear more laughter than anger, I see more courtesy on the roads, I say hello to more strangers and I "nod and smile" a lot more. Apparently, piped-in Christmas carols have a side effect that makes people suffer from a temporary abundance of compassion for fellow humans. Even here in Las Vegas, the hard-edged gambling town, there's a prevailing feel of holiday grace and peace. It's a great time to be in Vegas, the shopping alone is worth making the journey.

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.

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

Harrah's Entertainment Inc's board of directors has formed a special committee to study future options for the gambling giant. Secret meetings held Wednesday and Thursday in New York will consider offers from Apollo Management Group and Texas Pacific Group for more than $15 billion to take Harrah's private. An apparently similar offer from Penn National Gaming Inc. is on the agenda plus a third option for the board to borrow money to recapitalize Harrah's. Harrah's Entertainment is the largest casino owner in Las Vegas and also owns the World Series of Poker, so any decisions made this week will directly affect Vegas and the professional poker playing community.

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

Las Vegas is filled with cowboys and cowgirls, real and wannabees, for the annual National Finals Rodeo, the NFR. The entire town from the strip to the locals' joints put on the boots and hats, spurs optional, and throw a genuine western good-time party. The rodeo crowd loves to party and gamble; when their not yelling for their bronc bust'n heros at the Thomas and Mack Arena. I guess wearing boots and hats brings out the Maverick in most people, because they sure like to play poker.

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

Less than a hundred people took part in the 2:00-5:00 PM rally on the sidewalk in front of the Wynn Las Vegas last Friday. Mid afternoon the sign carriers numbers were about four dozen for the peaceful assembly to express the general displeasure of Wynn table game dealers to the recent change in the tip distribution format at the Vegas resort. Most of the dealers have experienced a twenty to thirty percent paycut after Wynn officials decided to subsidize underpaid managers with a share of the tip pool. Dealers are very unhappy and feel they are contributing out of the pocket to Wynn's exceptionally profitable Vegas resort. Wynn officials have countered with having a need to increase managers pay so it is comparable with the dealers. The unprecendented move has created an atmosphere of unrest and downright hostility.

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

Another day hanging out on the Las Vegas Strip to watch the holiday crowds, check out poker rooms , visit with friends, leisurely stroll through the Forum Shops and check out the Holiday dressed shop windows.

I finished in the money in a poker tournament this evening so maybe there's some hope of restoring confidence in my game. I've been card lame for a couple of months and couldn't hit a board with a sledge hammer. I decided that tonight I would make no mistakes no matter how boring. I stayed the course and it paid off with the third place cash. More important than the money is the hope of game confidence making a return. The poker God took a final swipe tonight when I was eliminated after my all-in was called by an inferior hand that turned into quads on the river.

A few Las Vegas photos for a lazy Sunday.

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

We apologies for the unannounced site downtime on Thanksgiving Day. Sometimes when we are doing 'simple' system things the electrons get lost and refuse to stop and ask directions. Such was the case yesterday and after a few hours of 'off' we are back 'on'-bigger and better.

A few photos of the Wynn Resort on Thanksgiving.

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

Happy Holidays from the LasVegasVegas.com crew. Live from Las Vegas, a great place to spend the holiday honoring gluttony. In this town the traditional turkey feast can be had with an almost limitless variety of styles. No matter what you prefer, even your great aunt's stuffing that includes ingredients from the land, sea, air and Mars; you can find it on a menu in Las Vegas today.

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

Billions of dollars in projects are all happening within a street width of each other on the Las Vegas Strip. Wynn's Encore Tower addition to Wynn Las Vegas is out of the ground and climbing at the speed of money. A first look at the site confirms the enormity of a multi-billion dollar project. Across the strip the golden spike of the Trump International Hotel & Tower Las Vegas drives upward to the record book, upon completion it will be the tallest residential tower in the State of Nevada. The Venetian's multi-billion dollar Palazzo project has completely filled the strip corner shared with Wynn. The tower continues to rise above it all into the Vegas sky.

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

Las Vegas is developing strong bonds with a most unlikely source, China. Macau has become the latest gambling hotspot of the World where billions of dollars of casino construction has been completed, many more billions are under construction, and even more billions are being planned. Macau consists of the Macau Peninsula connected to Mainland China via a bridge and two small islands, Ilha da Tapia and Ilha da Coloane connected to the Macau Peninsula by bridge.

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

Shopping season in Las Vegas is here. Holiday decorations are already being put into place for the official start of the season with the Thanksgiving Next week. The Christmas tree withy the hundreds of thousands of lights has been set into the center of the fountains at Caesars, the conservatory at the Bellagio is dressing up in holiday garb, and best of all the strip shopping malls are laying in plenty of stock and some of the most outstanding, unusual, expensive gifts imaginable.

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

Tattoos are finally available right on the Las Vegas Strip. The Vince Neil Ink Tattoo Studio opened at O'Sheas Casino in the heart of Las Vegas between the IP and the Flamingo. Patrons can get inked, check out the memorabilia exhibits or do a close-up examination of the Harley used in the Motley Crue video, "Girls, Girls, Girls," in the 2200 square foot facility.

While you're waiting for the creation of your very own piece of skin art you're continuously entertained with Crue music videos on the large plasma displays. The true exhibitionist can watch their tattoo come to life along with the hundreds of people on the other side of the glass walls, out there on the Las Vegas strip.

FlipChip hoisted the cameras and toured the newest addition to 'the' heart of the premium rent district in Las Vegas. Its a great Vegas strip attraction and another great photo-op for everyone with a camera. Click to join FlipChip's photo trek of the new studio.

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

More on the Jamie Gold vs. Everyone Else for the $12 million World Series of Poker 2006 Championship money. The Las Vegas Review Journal is reporting that Gold has indeed picked up his $6 million from the WSOP tournament's host, Harrah's Rio Resort. The other $6 million is being held by the property after U.S. District Judge Roger L. Hunt issued a preliminary injunction to Harrah's to hold the money until the claim issues have been resolved. Bruce Leyser, Gold's apparent partner, is claiming half of the loot for helping Gold meet the conditions for a free buy-in in the WSOP Main Event from online gambling site, Bodog.com.

Be sure to read the Prof's latest expose, "eVoting and the 2006 Election - What will happen Tomorrow?" on the Las Vegas Business and Political News Blog.

Today is the eve of the mid-term election that will be heard around the world. The country is once again divided by war. Americans are dying half way around the world. America's once mighty industrial complex and once envied middle class workforce have been laid to waste by corporate boardroom greed. Illegal workers flood into the country placing an overload on an already failing health care system and an under funded public school system that can no longer afford to educate. Never in the history of the US has the balance of wealth been transferred from a once thriving middle class majority to a minority group of powerful, ruthless people at the top of the food chain. This balance has created a lopsided economy that is swiftly heading towards a catastrophic failure.

Vegoose has come and gone for another year. So have the ghost, goblins, witches and quite a few real estate agents. Prognosticators are predicting double digit devaluation of real estate in the Las Vegas market over the next year, a number that could go on the high side of 15%, in a climbing interest rate money market. With a glut of properties on the market and fewer buyers qualifying for mortgage money, the housing market in Las Vegas may become a really good investment in the very near future. Even when the national economic indicators are faltering Las Vegas rides out the bubble burst blips somewhere way out in the fringe. Historically Vegas has created its own financial trends, independent of what's happening in the rest of the country, with a closer international money association that outweighs a downer national influence.

Halloween night in Las Vegas is about like every other town in America with many kids in costumes carrying bags of treats collected from family friends and trusted streets. Most people are unaware of the number of kids in Las Vegas over the age of twenty-something. Take a hike through the Fremont Experience on Halloween night and you're in a sea of over age kids in costume having the time of their lives.

Poker players discovered a few years ago that the game was much better all around if smoking was banned. Every major and most minor poker tournaments are non-smoking. The list of Vegas poker rooms that allow smoking is down to just a few and those usually have certain hours for smoking. Nevada politicians have taken this simple smoke or don't Question to the height of confusion.

Spent the evening checking out some of the action around town. A stop at Binion's found the joint jumping with 139 players entered into the day's Ultimate Poker Challenge event. For $340 in cash you might find your way onto national television playing poker, all you have to do is make the final table. The Ultimate Poker Challenge continues for the next year with $340 buy-in events schedule for Saturday and Sunday plus a $660 tournament every Monday. Start times for all events is 4:00 PM.

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

Fridays are my favorite day of the week here in Vegas. The town fills up with a few hundred thousand visitors sharing the same objective...to party till its time to go home! Poker rooms are full and weekend poker tournaments have an inordinate amount of dead money at every table. Everywhere are the sights and sounds of people having a good time. I've lived in Las Vegas too many years to count, but I still get an adrenalin rush when I walk into a weekend crowded Vegas poker room.

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

The Wynn Las Vegas Resort recently decided to change a long standing Las Vegas custom of dealers pooling and sharing tips. Dealers at the upscale resort average making more than $100K annually while their supervisors make about $40K less per year. Management at the Wynn Resort came up with a clever solution to even out the disparity between the upside down wages that is sure to please the accountants, stockholders and executive management. Best of all it doesn't cost the Wynn a single dime from the bottom line. They decided the Wynn entry level supervisors (read dealer's bosses) would also share the dealers tip pool money. Seems the only people that don't agree with the new arrangements are the 500 or so Wynn dealers that have suffered a $20K per year pay cut.

uou're invited to read Edgar "Mouse" Hohl's Hickory-Dickory-Dock #6, America's Great Wall now posted on the LasVegasVegas-Business and Politics blog. The web place to keep up with politics, business and Vegas rumors. You'll also get a generous helping of all the dirt on the dirt merchants of Nevada-Poker Prof

Wall at "Friendship Park"
Friendship Park residents from both sides once walked freely across the border. Today, people on the south side talk to friends and family on the US north side through holes in the metal fence.

photo by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

One day after travling to the dam and hiking around to photograph and document the massive dam highway 93 bypass project news has just come in that the towers supporting the cable cranes that span the Colorado River have collapsed and fallen onto the roadway. The road, US 93, is closed to all vehicular traffic in both directions and will remain closed for an indefinite period. Reports from the site are sketchy and unsubstantiated but witnesses are claiming extremely gusty winds(wind velocity measuring equipment at the top of the towers apparently recorded speeds in excess of one hundred miles an hour, battered the canyon just before the accident. No reports of fatalities or injuries, if any, have been made available. Details as they become available. Travelers from Arizona to Las Vegas will have to detour via US-95 through Laugnlin at Kingman, Arizona. The four temporary towers are 300 feet tall, required a year to erect and carry the 3 inch diameter cables that support the cranes used in the construction of teh Boulder Dam Bypass project.

photos by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

Rumors have been floating around Las Vegas since the 2005 WSOP about all the changes that are coming to Harrah's, the largest casino company in town. With the real estate Harrah's owns on the Las Vegas strip the company can change and do whatever they please. Some of the current talk is saying a mild restructuring may be in the works and perhaps they will offer a look at the master plan for all that strip frontage they own.

photos by FlipChip/LasVegasVegas.com

Five years have passed since America was attacked; do you believe you're more or less safe today? How do I feel about my personal safety and the overall security of the nation? About the same I've always felt before or after theSeptember 11th act of war. Remember where and what you were doing on that other horrific 9/11 day? I certainly do. I knew my life had changed forever; but, I didn't have a clue how much it was destined to change.