Delen Goldberg

Story Archive

Venetian revamps sports book as part of $30 million renovation: Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2011; The Venetian on Tuesday debuted an updated sports book, the first of many changes to come in a $30 million renovation of the resort’s casino floor. The multi-million dollar race and sports book, operated by Cantor Gaming, comprises 10,000 square feet and features a 100-foot-long, high-definition 4 mm black video screen, one of the largest in the world.
MGM, Boyd make deal with poker site: Monday, Oct. 31, 2011; Two Las Vegas brick-and-mortar casino companies are racing to align themselves with poker websites in the hopes of becoming industry leaders when — and if — online gambling is legalized in the United States.
Fertittas buy online gaming company: Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011; Fertitta Interactive, the online gambling company established last year by the family who owns Station Casinos, announced it has bought California online gaming company CyberArts Licensing LLC.
Newsstand opens at CityCenter: Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011; Las Vegas’ most luxurious shopping mall recently got an addition: a newsstand.
Large expansion under way at M Resort hotel-casino: Friday, Oct. 28, 2011; The M Resort is expanding its meeting space in an effort to position itself as a destination for conventioneers. The hotel-casino is adding 25,000 square feet to its event space.
Table games get progressive treatment at Station properties: Friday, Oct. 28, 2011; The first cross-property progressive jackpot for a table game has arrived in Nevada.
Fertitta Interactive buys online poker site developer: Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011; Fertitta Interactive, the online gambling company established last year by the family that owns Station Casinos, announced Wednesday that it has bought California online gaming company CyberArts Licensing LLC.
New details about Oscar Goodman's Las Vegas speak-easy-style restaurant: Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011; Though it isn’t slated to open for more than a month, details are emerging about former Mayor Oscar Goodman’s steak house at the Plaza downtown. Oscar’s, which is set now to open in mid-December, will be two restaurants in one: On one side, a traditional steak house; on the other, a more casual Italian eatery designed to resemble a Prohibition-era speak-easy.
Sam's Town launches new water and laser light show: Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011; The technological artists behind laser shows at Walt Disney World, Six Flags and Cirque du Soleil have brought their talents to Sam’s Town.
Web traffic to online gambling sites skyrockets: Monday, Oct. 24, 2011; Online gambling was the fastest growing category of web activity during the month of September. Analysts at comScore Media Metrix, an Internet audience measurement service, attributed the spike to the kickoff of the NFL season and sports fans placing football bets.
Series following bachelorette antics: Monday, Oct. 24, 2011; Bachelorette parties are a regular sight in Las Vegas, but a new cable reality show portrays them in a whole new light.
Some Las Vegas stores refusing to handle Schweddy Balls: Monday, Oct. 24, 2011; Las Vegas is a city known for naughtiness, where showgirls walk around in lingerie and the company of women is advertised on handbills.
Main Street Station's bathroom stalls out in top 10: Friday, Oct. 21, 2011; Functionality beat out flash in a contest to identify America’s best bathroom.
Men are nerds, too, and SpikeTV has their backs: Male-oriented cable network adds CES to its roster of coverage; Friday, Oct. 21, 2011; Spike TV, the cable network best known for airing “The Ultimate Fighter,” “MANswers” and other male-oriented television shows, is adding another attraction to its lineup: technology.
6-foot chocolate witch takes flight at the Bellagio for Halloween: Thursday, Oct. 20, 2011; What do you get when you mix 60 pounds of chocolate and 30 pounds of a sugar-icing mix with a little Halloween spirit? In the hands of French pastry chef Jean-Philippe Maury, a 6-foot chocolate witch.
300 rooms at Boulder Station renovated: Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011; Just shy of its 20th birthday, Boulder Station has undergone a makeover. Station Casinos recently completed a floor-to-ceiling renovation of the hotel’s 300 guest rooms and suites.
Sands Expo boasts eclectic mix of shows before, after big debate: Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011; One day it houses thousands of slot machines. The next, hundreds of nurses. A week later, it’s filled with rows of guns, bullets and camouflage gear. Today, it’s a debate among Republican presidential candidates.
New restaurants popping up on South Strip: Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011; The South Strip is getting a culinary makeover.
Hungry on the Strip? Expect to pay a premium: Friday, Oct. 14, 2011; Not all chain restaurants are created equally, especially when it comes to pricing. Fast-food joints on the Strip charge customers significantly more than their counterparts in the suburbs.
Heart Attack Grill: Health intervention or obesity inducer?: Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011; The sign outside says it all: “Over 350 lbs eats free.” The Heart Attack Grill, which offers free meals to customers of a certain girth, opened Wednesday at Neonopolis in downtown Las Vegas. The restaurant can be seen in very different ways: a clever marketing ploy to lure diners with stomachs of steel (or slightly twisted senses of humor), or the latest salvo in a war against healthy living.
Ice skating in the desert: No freezing temperatures required: Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011; The Las Vegas Strip is getting a new attraction this winter: an ice rink. Or rather, an “ice” rink.
MGM Grand begins $160 million hotel renovation: Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011; Company officials announced Tuesday that every hotel room in the main tower of MGM Grand will receive a makeover. The resort operator also plans to overhaul the property’s casino floor, restaurants, clubs and showrooms in the coming months.
Las Vegas restaurants offering interactive menus via iPad: Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011; The venerable leather-bound wine list is undergoing a digital transformation at some Las Vegas restaurants. Walk into a number of high-end eateries on the Strip, and a waiter will hand you an iPad. Patrons using the devices can sort through different screens to list wines by region, grape, type or price. They can read in detail about a particular varietal or vineyard, or click to see a sommelier’s food pairings.
'Pawn Stars' ink deal to show up on plastic: Monday, Oct. 10, 2011; The men of Gold & Silver Pawn have become staples on TV. Now, they want to move into people’s wallets.
The Light Group to open a new lounge next year at the Bellagio: Monday, Oct. 10, 2011; The Bellagio is getting a new club next year. Lily Bar and Lounge will open on the casino floor in February, replacing Caramel Bar and Lounge, which closes in November. Both are operated by the Light Group.
Henderson area to get its first Nike Outlet store: Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011; A Nike Outlet is coming to the Henderson area. The store is scheduled to open Nov. 18 at Silverado Ranch Plaza, 9851 S. Eastern Ave., near St. Rose Parkway. The store is taking over a 15,000-square foot space previously occupied by Nordstrom Rack.
Women gaming executives say casino amenities are key: Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011; Shows, restaurants and even resort rooms were once just bait to lure gamblers into Las Vegas casinos. But with the economy flat-lining and competition for gamblers growing in other markets, top casino executives now consider gaming to be just one tool in their arsenal to attract tourists and their dollars to the Strip.
If there's a way to cheat, it will be discovered: Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011; For casino cheats, 2011 has been a banner year. Criminals have pulled off more successful scams this year than in the past.
High-tech slots meet old-school themes at G2E: Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011; Slot machines unveiled Tuesday at the Global Gaming Expo combine 21st-century technologies with themes from eras long ago. Simply put, innovation is powering nostalgia on the casino floor.
'Raising Hope' episode taped at Rio airs tonight: Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011; “Raising Hope” is coming to Las Vegas. The fourth episode of the second season airs tonight on Fox.
Ink flows as tattoo show gets under way: Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011; Mario Barth may be the only tattoo artist who admits that getting inked hurts. While many artists and even some customers insist the process is pain-free — some even say it feels good — Barth has become famous to the extent that he can call it like he sees it without risk of turning away customers or rankling others in the business.
Cheers! Margaritaville casino at Flamingo opens Saturday: Friday, Sept. 30, 2011; A year ago, the space between the Donnie and Marie Showroom and the Margaritaville restaurant in the Flamingo was dark and empty. “It was pretty much a dreary hallway,” Caesars Regional President Rick Mazur said. Today, it’s bright, airy and bustling with activity.
Take a backstage tour of Cirque du Soleil: Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011; Ever wanted to run away and join the circus? Now’s your chance. Cirque du Soleil is offering fans a behind-the-scene look at its productions.
Fremont Street zip line may expand, become permanent: Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011; The zip-line ride that soars over the Fremont Street Experience in downtown Las Vegas has been so successful in its first year of operation that officials are looking to expand it. The ride currently launches from a 67-foot-tall metal scaffolding tower connected to four zip lines that run halfway down the Fremont Street Experience, about 800 feet.
New dice game rolls into town: Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2011; There’s a new dice game rolling out in Las Vegas that’s a mix between craps and roulette.
Fans petition White House for Liberace postage stamp: Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2011; A group of dedicated Liberace fans are on a mission to take the pianist’s image around the world. They launched a petition this week nominating Liberace to be immortalized on a U.S. postage stamp. “I’m competing against the Justin Biebers of the world."
Bally hopes Michael Jackson slot machine will thrill players: Monday, Sept. 26, 2011; The King of Pop is making a comeback in Las Vegas. Expect to soon hear his classic tunes in casinos all over town.
Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville casino opens Oct. 1 at the Flamingo: Friday, Sept. 23, 2011; The slots are installed, the palm trees pruned and the margaritas ready for mixing. Good news, Parrotheads: Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville casino at the Flamingo is scheduled to open Oct. 1.
Car collectors cruise to Vegas for high-end auction: Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011; The first sign of a good car show is when the Jaguars and Bentleys start to look humdrum. Such was the case Wednesday at Mandalay Bay as a parade of show vehicles, in town and on the road for the Barrett-Jackson car auction, made their way onto the property.
What's new at the Plaza?: Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2011; No walls were knocked down, no towers went up, but the Plaza has an entirely new look. The resort’s yearlong, $35 million overhaul is complete. “They’ve had mini-makeovers, but nothing this extensive," spokeswoman Amy Maier said.
Downtown resurgence inspires Golden Gate to expand: Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2011; Las Vegas’ oldest hotel is getting a makeover. The Golden Gate, at 1 Fremont St., is about to embark on a $12 million renovation.
Lynyrd Skynyrd-themed restaurant to open at Excalibur in December: Monday, Sept. 19, 2011; Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Southern rock band behind hits such as “Freebird” and “Sweet Home Alabama,” is taking a gamble on a Las Vegas restaurant.
Big crowds expected for fight, football, Mexican holiday: Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011; Fall weekends draw big crowds to Las Vegas, but this weekend’s three big events — the UNLV football opener against Hawaii, the Mayweather-Ortiz boxing match and Mexican Independence Day — are driving even better numbers.
Wanted: 200 new taxicab drivers: Friday, Sept. 16, 2011; A Las Vegas cab company wants to hire up to 200 new employees, a move some industry leaders see as a sign that tourism is on the upswing.
Picked clean, Sahara liquidation sale ends: Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011; Four months after the Sahara’s final day of operation, the last remnants of the Rat Pack-era casino are gone. A liquidation sale to empty the 59-year-old resort has ended.
AVN porn expo is moving to the Hard Rock Hotel: Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2011; The country’s largest porn industry trade show is leaving the Sands Expo for a new home.
Cirque auditions draw aspiring artists with lofty dreams: Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2011; A year ago, Hilary Sweeney was a scientist for Pepsi — and performed aerial acts at nights and on weekends. On Monday, she swapped her business suit for a tan leotard.
Las Vegas' 'What happens here, stays here' slogan nominated for advertising Walk of Fame: Monday, Sept. 12, 2011; Las Vegas' iconic "What happens here, stays here" slogan has been nominated as one of the best advertising catchphrases of all time.
New restaurants bring unique treats to Las Vegas: Monday, Sept. 12, 2011; More restaurants have closed than opened in Las Vegas during the recession, but openings in recent weeks are giving foodies hope of a rebound.
Octavius Tower scheduled to open next year at Caesars Palace: Friday, Sept. 9, 2011; Caesars Palace is quietly putting out the word to its rewards club members that after a two-year delay, its Octavius Tower will be completed by Jan. 2 and that room reservations are being accepted.