What do the letters P and T stand for in the PT’s chain?

Monday, Oct. 18, 2010 | 2 a.m.

Mr. Sun,

What do the letters P and T stand for in the PT’s chain?

Andrea McShane, Las Vegas

•••

The Everly Brothers had Phil and Don. Las Vegas’ ubiquitous chain of video poker bars has — or rather had — Phil and Tom.

Phil and Tom Boeckle, founders of the neighborhood pubs, lent their initials to the various PT’s venues. And the name remains even though they’re no longer affiliated with the business.

In 2002, the Boeckles, with partner Revenue Properties Co., sold 23 PT’s locations to Blake Sartini, a former Station Casinos executive. Since then, Sartini’s Golden Gaming has expanded to 37 PT’s locations in Southern Nevada.

“The brand was so recognized, there was no need to change it,” said Justin McVay, public relations manager for Golden Gaming.

Indeed, when the metropolitan area was expanding its borders a fast as stucco and two-by-fours could be found, video poker bars, including PT’s, sprouted seemingly on the edge of every new housing development.

Questions for Mr. Sun should be sent to [email protected].