World's Tallest Observation Wheel
In the January LVA, which has just gone to press, we predicted an exiting year of casino building in 2004. It sure didn't take long for the first big announcement to be made. The Rio is building the world's tallest observation wheel -- it will be an enormous 600 feet tall. At a cost of $86 million, the structure will consist of three components: a three-story lower level with 80,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space; an elevated four-story 20,000-square-foot nightclub; and the observation wheel. The wheel's 30 "Orbitor" cabins will each contain a fully stocked bar and galley and can be reserved for private func! tions. Groundbreaking is slated for first quarter 2004, with an estima ted July 2005 opening date.
"This is not a thrill ride. It's an experience," said Tom Jenkin, President of the Western Division of Harrah's, during the company's announcement of the project. "It's going to be breathtaking."
Desert Passage Sells
The Desert Passage Mall at the Aladdin has been sold by developer Trizec Properties to an East Coast investment group known as Boulevard Invest. Boulevard Invest consists of a prominent New York developer and RFR Holding, a German real estate company that manages a couple dozen properties in Manhattan, including the Seagrams Building. The $240.5 million sale closed last Monday. The mall will be managed by Chicago-based Urban Retail Properties, which runs 40 million square feet of malls and community centers in 24 states. Principals for Boulevard Invest previously announced plans to reconfigure the mall's entrance and remodel other parts of it, but it's unlikely that any construction will take place until Planet Hollywood assumes the reins of the Aladdin itself, expected to occur sometime in 2004.
Las Vegas and Terrorism
After a remark by Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge linking Las Vegas to a possible terrorist attack over the holidays -- "There are public gatherings in major urban areas: Times Square, Las Vegas, L.A., football games, you name it." -- southern Nevada officials have lined up to downplay concerns that any such threat exists.
A spokesman for the Las Vegas office of the FBI has said, "There are no credible threats against Nevada." Governor Kenny Guinn stated, "If there was evidence that terrorists were eyeing Las Vegas, then state officials would release such information." And Clark County Sheriff Bill Young said that there's no reason for people to alter their holiday plans.
Certainly, efforts are being made to minimize the threat, but there's no denying that the huge gathering of people and Las Vegas' lusty image render the NYE celebration a better-than-average candidate for some type of terrorist statement. Use your own judgment.
----------------------------------------
SINCE THE JANUARY LVA
Tropicana Bird Show
The schedule for the Tropicana's exotic bird show has changed to 11:30 am, 1:30 pm, and 2:30 pm. The show is free and takes place daily, except Thursdays, in the Tropics Lounge.
$15,000 3-Card Poker Tourney
The Sahara is running a three-card poker tournament January 11-14, with a top prize of $5,000 (total prizes $15,000). Entry is $149 and includes accommodations for three nights. Call 702/737-2361 or visit Saharavegas.com for more info.
----------------------------------------
ODDS AND ENDS
Reality TV Comes to Town
"The Casino" is a 13-episode series from the producer of the "Survivor" TV shows. Taped at the Golden Nugget, "The Casino" will follow the progress of new owners Timothy Poster and Thomas Breitling as they "attempt to revive the Rat Pack vibe at the Glitter Gulch fixture." Production begins in mid-January and is scheduled to air in summer 2004.
"American Casino" is a Fox production that will focus on the Fertitta family, owners of Station Casinos, and will be taped at Green Valley Ranch. It will require 24 weeks of production and will air beginning in June 2004 on the Discovery Channel.
More Hanukkah Meals
Now through December 27, all Station and both Fiesta casinos will be serving Hanukkah favorites at their lunch and dinner buffets. Featured dishes include smoked whitefish salad, gefilte fish, matzo ball soup, and three types of latkes: potato, sweet potato, and vegetable. The specialty menu does not affect prices, which range from $5.99 to $7.99 for lunch and $6.99-$13.99 for dinner.
BJ Hall of Fame Voting
You've still got two weeks to cast your vote for this year's inductees into the Blackjack Hall of Fame. Click here to review the nominees and cast your votes. It's interesting, if only to read the short biographies of the 21 nominees, two of whom will be inducted this year.
Blackjack author and theorist Don Schlesinger is currently leading with 23% of the vote. LVA publisher Anthony Curtis is second with 21%. This vote will count as one ballot in the final voting, which is done by a blue-ribbon group of blackjack players at Max Rubin's celebrated Blackjack Ball.
----------------------------------------
LINK OF THE WEEK
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Check out the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Web site for the full look at this amazing 1,600-acre racing facility, dubbed the "Racing Capital of the West" by Sports Illustrated. There are more than a dozen different racing venues at the Speedway, from go-karts to NASCAR, along with a handful of racing schools, such as the high-speed Richard Petty Driving Experience, Derek Daly Performance Driving Academy, and several others.
The site has news, race schedules, track info, ticket sales, links, along with travel information, tips for camping at the Speedway, and a place to sign up for the free e-newsletter.
----------------------------------------
COUPON OF THE WEEK
2003 Coupon-Play Results
Last March, we began this feature to compile a first-hand account of the value of the Las Vegas Advisor Pocketbook of Values coupons. We’ll do it again, beginning the first week of January, with the 2004 POV, but here we break down our 2003 results.
Total coupons used: 57 (19 gambling and 38 other)
Gambling win: $244.25
Saving on hotels, meals, shows, etc.: $728.46
Total profit and saving: $972.71
The 57 coupons used represented less than half (42%) of the total number of coupons in the book. Of the gambling coupons, 12 were matchplays, one was a first-card-ace, one was a $50-for-$40 blackjack buy-in bonus, and two were slot machine free-plays. These are the low-risk gambling coupons that will almost always turn a profit that exceeds the $50 cost of LVA membership. In our case, even with a 5-7 record on the matchplays, we made a $75 profit. That's Couponomy! Meanwhile we were fortunate with the high-variance video poker bonuses, cashing $169 on two 4-of-a-kind bonuses and one 50-coin bonus.
Of course the real meat of the POV is in the non-gambling plays. We used coupons for 10 admissions, eight buffets, eight other food deals, four drink deals, one room, one rental car, and one ride, to accrue the total saving of $728.46. There's no variance here: Use a coupon and save the money. We saved $68.18 on buffets alone and a total of $106.51 on all dining.
The big bangers were the admission coupons for everything from Elvis-a-Rama to Skintight, where we racked up a whopping total of $368.65 for an average saving of nearly $37 per redemption. The 2-for-1s for the Scintas, Skintight, and Clint Holmes saved more than $50 apiece. So counting the Palms $50 comp (for half off a $100 massage) and the one room discount we used, five single coupons produced a saving of $50 or more, providing an instant recouping of the cost of LVA membership.
We’ve always maintained that LVA membership pays for itself, not just with information, but with hard dollars, and this compilation bears it out. The greatest benefit will be realized by locals (every coupon in the book can be used by Las Vegas residents) and frequent visitors, but everyone should be able to get the membership fee back with hardly any effort. To see the big 2004 list of coupons, click here.
----------------------------------------
TRAVELAXE PICK OF THE WEEK
Valentine's Day/President's Day Weekend
Plan ahead for the Valentine's Day/President's Day weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, February 13, 14, 15). Although this holiday weekend is still more than a month and a half away, rates are already climbing, especially in the high-end category. Aside from the holiday tandem, three large conventions (World Shoe Association, Outdoor Trade Show, and Photo Marketing International Association) fall within this period, pushing rates up.
Low-end Casinos
El Cortez, $154.51 ($51.50 average)
Golden Gate, $162.41 ($54.14 average)
Lady Luck, $172.14 ($57.38 average)
Days Inn Town Hall Casino, $172.22 ($57.41 average)
Castaways, $174.39 ($58.13 average)
Mid-range Casinos
Stardust, $250.70 ($83.57 average)
Silverton, $275.92 ($91.97 average)
Sahara, $280.13 ($93.38 average)
Riviera, $289.32 ($96.44 average)
Imperial Palace, $291.03 ($97.01 average)
High-end Casinos
JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort, $620.21 ($206.74 average)
Hard Rock, $633.26 ($211.09 average)
Palms, $766.24 ($255.41 average)
Paris, $857.83 ($285.94 average)
Venetian, $879.63 ($293.21
Travelaxe is located top-center at www.lasvegasadvisor.com, and always rates quoted are accurate at press time, not guaranteed, and subject to change without notice.
----------------------------------------
NEW PRODUCT
The Hot Shoe
DVD Video (1 hr. 30 min.)
The history, the mathematics, the politics, and the practical realities of blackjack are addressed in this fascinating documentary. Included are behind-the-scenes footage of casino surveillance rooms; counter-catcher devices, including facial-recognition technology; and the MIT card-counting team strategizing in private and playing in the casinos.
Aside from the fascinating subject matter, The Hot Shoe is distinguished by its extraordinary line-up of on-camera blackjack players and experts, which includes Ed Thorp, Stanford Wong, Arnold Snyder, Ian Andersen, Max Rubin, Steve Forte, Anthony Curtis, Tommy Hyland, Olaf Vancura, Bill Zender, John Chang, Andy Bloch, and the last interview ever given by the great Peter Griffin.
$30 at Greatstuff4gamblers.com
****************************************************
Copyright 2003, Las Vegas Advisor, a publication of
In the January LVA, which has just gone to press, we predicted an exiting year of casino building in 2004. It sure didn't take long for the first big announcement to be made. The Rio is building the world's tallest observation wheel -- it will be an enormous 600 feet tall. At a cost of $86 million, the structure will consist of three components: a three-story lower level with 80,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space; an elevated four-story 20,000-square-foot nightclub; and the observation wheel. The wheel's 30 "Orbitor" cabins will each contain a fully stocked bar and galley and can be reserved for private func! tions. Groundbreaking is slated for first quarter 2004, with an estima ted July 2005 opening date.
"This is not a thrill ride. It's an experience," said Tom Jenkin, President of the Western Division of Harrah's, during the company's announcement of the project. "It's going to be breathtaking."
Desert Passage Sells
The Desert Passage Mall at the Aladdin has been sold by developer Trizec Properties to an East Coast investment group known as Boulevard Invest. Boulevard Invest consists of a prominent New York developer and RFR Holding, a German real estate company that manages a couple dozen properties in Manhattan, including the Seagrams Building. The $240.5 million sale closed last Monday. The mall will be managed by Chicago-based Urban Retail Properties, which runs 40 million square feet of malls and community centers in 24 states. Principals for Boulevard Invest previously announced plans to reconfigure the mall's entrance and remodel other parts of it, but it's unlikely that any construction will take place until Planet Hollywood assumes the reins of the Aladdin itself, expected to occur sometime in 2004.
Las Vegas and Terrorism
After a remark by Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge linking Las Vegas to a possible terrorist attack over the holidays -- "There are public gatherings in major urban areas: Times Square, Las Vegas, L.A., football games, you name it." -- southern Nevada officials have lined up to downplay concerns that any such threat exists.
A spokesman for the Las Vegas office of the FBI has said, "There are no credible threats against Nevada." Governor Kenny Guinn stated, "If there was evidence that terrorists were eyeing Las Vegas, then state officials would release such information." And Clark County Sheriff Bill Young said that there's no reason for people to alter their holiday plans.
Certainly, efforts are being made to minimize the threat, but there's no denying that the huge gathering of people and Las Vegas' lusty image render the NYE celebration a better-than-average candidate for some type of terrorist statement. Use your own judgment.
----------------------------------------
SINCE THE JANUARY LVA
Tropicana Bird Show
The schedule for the Tropicana's exotic bird show has changed to 11:30 am, 1:30 pm, and 2:30 pm. The show is free and takes place daily, except Thursdays, in the Tropics Lounge.
$15,000 3-Card Poker Tourney
The Sahara is running a three-card poker tournament January 11-14, with a top prize of $5,000 (total prizes $15,000). Entry is $149 and includes accommodations for three nights. Call 702/737-2361 or visit Saharavegas.com for more info.
----------------------------------------
ODDS AND ENDS
Reality TV Comes to Town
"The Casino" is a 13-episode series from the producer of the "Survivor" TV shows. Taped at the Golden Nugget, "The Casino" will follow the progress of new owners Timothy Poster and Thomas Breitling as they "attempt to revive the Rat Pack vibe at the Glitter Gulch fixture." Production begins in mid-January and is scheduled to air in summer 2004.
"American Casino" is a Fox production that will focus on the Fertitta family, owners of Station Casinos, and will be taped at Green Valley Ranch. It will require 24 weeks of production and will air beginning in June 2004 on the Discovery Channel.
More Hanukkah Meals
Now through December 27, all Station and both Fiesta casinos will be serving Hanukkah favorites at their lunch and dinner buffets. Featured dishes include smoked whitefish salad, gefilte fish, matzo ball soup, and three types of latkes: potato, sweet potato, and vegetable. The specialty menu does not affect prices, which range from $5.99 to $7.99 for lunch and $6.99-$13.99 for dinner.
BJ Hall of Fame Voting
You've still got two weeks to cast your vote for this year's inductees into the Blackjack Hall of Fame. Click here to review the nominees and cast your votes. It's interesting, if only to read the short biographies of the 21 nominees, two of whom will be inducted this year.
Blackjack author and theorist Don Schlesinger is currently leading with 23% of the vote. LVA publisher Anthony Curtis is second with 21%. This vote will count as one ballot in the final voting, which is done by a blue-ribbon group of blackjack players at Max Rubin's celebrated Blackjack Ball.
----------------------------------------
LINK OF THE WEEK
Las Vegas Motor Speedway
Check out the Las Vegas Motor Speedway Web site for the full look at this amazing 1,600-acre racing facility, dubbed the "Racing Capital of the West" by Sports Illustrated. There are more than a dozen different racing venues at the Speedway, from go-karts to NASCAR, along with a handful of racing schools, such as the high-speed Richard Petty Driving Experience, Derek Daly Performance Driving Academy, and several others.
The site has news, race schedules, track info, ticket sales, links, along with travel information, tips for camping at the Speedway, and a place to sign up for the free e-newsletter.
----------------------------------------
COUPON OF THE WEEK
2003 Coupon-Play Results
Last March, we began this feature to compile a first-hand account of the value of the Las Vegas Advisor Pocketbook of Values coupons. We’ll do it again, beginning the first week of January, with the 2004 POV, but here we break down our 2003 results.
Total coupons used: 57 (19 gambling and 38 other)
Gambling win: $244.25
Saving on hotels, meals, shows, etc.: $728.46
Total profit and saving: $972.71
The 57 coupons used represented less than half (42%) of the total number of coupons in the book. Of the gambling coupons, 12 were matchplays, one was a first-card-ace, one was a $50-for-$40 blackjack buy-in bonus, and two were slot machine free-plays. These are the low-risk gambling coupons that will almost always turn a profit that exceeds the $50 cost of LVA membership. In our case, even with a 5-7 record on the matchplays, we made a $75 profit. That's Couponomy! Meanwhile we were fortunate with the high-variance video poker bonuses, cashing $169 on two 4-of-a-kind bonuses and one 50-coin bonus.
Of course the real meat of the POV is in the non-gambling plays. We used coupons for 10 admissions, eight buffets, eight other food deals, four drink deals, one room, one rental car, and one ride, to accrue the total saving of $728.46. There's no variance here: Use a coupon and save the money. We saved $68.18 on buffets alone and a total of $106.51 on all dining.
The big bangers were the admission coupons for everything from Elvis-a-Rama to Skintight, where we racked up a whopping total of $368.65 for an average saving of nearly $37 per redemption. The 2-for-1s for the Scintas, Skintight, and Clint Holmes saved more than $50 apiece. So counting the Palms $50 comp (for half off a $100 massage) and the one room discount we used, five single coupons produced a saving of $50 or more, providing an instant recouping of the cost of LVA membership.
We’ve always maintained that LVA membership pays for itself, not just with information, but with hard dollars, and this compilation bears it out. The greatest benefit will be realized by locals (every coupon in the book can be used by Las Vegas residents) and frequent visitors, but everyone should be able to get the membership fee back with hardly any effort. To see the big 2004 list of coupons, click here.
----------------------------------------
TRAVELAXE PICK OF THE WEEK
Valentine's Day/President's Day Weekend
Plan ahead for the Valentine's Day/President's Day weekend (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, February 13, 14, 15). Although this holiday weekend is still more than a month and a half away, rates are already climbing, especially in the high-end category. Aside from the holiday tandem, three large conventions (World Shoe Association, Outdoor Trade Show, and Photo Marketing International Association) fall within this period, pushing rates up.
Low-end Casinos
El Cortez, $154.51 ($51.50 average)
Golden Gate, $162.41 ($54.14 average)
Lady Luck, $172.14 ($57.38 average)
Days Inn Town Hall Casino, $172.22 ($57.41 average)
Castaways, $174.39 ($58.13 average)
Mid-range Casinos
Stardust, $250.70 ($83.57 average)
Silverton, $275.92 ($91.97 average)
Sahara, $280.13 ($93.38 average)
Riviera, $289.32 ($96.44 average)
Imperial Palace, $291.03 ($97.01 average)
High-end Casinos
JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort, $620.21 ($206.74 average)
Hard Rock, $633.26 ($211.09 average)
Palms, $766.24 ($255.41 average)
Paris, $857.83 ($285.94 average)
Venetian, $879.63 ($293.21
Travelaxe is located top-center at www.lasvegasadvisor.com, and always rates quoted are accurate at press time, not guaranteed, and subject to change without notice.
----------------------------------------
NEW PRODUCT
The Hot Shoe
DVD Video (1 hr. 30 min.)
The history, the mathematics, the politics, and the practical realities of blackjack are addressed in this fascinating documentary. Included are behind-the-scenes footage of casino surveillance rooms; counter-catcher devices, including facial-recognition technology; and the MIT card-counting team strategizing in private and playing in the casinos.
Aside from the fascinating subject matter, The Hot Shoe is distinguished by its extraordinary line-up of on-camera blackjack players and experts, which includes Ed Thorp, Stanford Wong, Arnold Snyder, Ian Andersen, Max Rubin, Steve Forte, Anthony Curtis, Tommy Hyland, Olaf Vancura, Bill Zender, John Chang, Andy Bloch, and the last interview ever given by the great Peter Griffin.
$30 at Greatstuff4gamblers.com
****************************************************
Copyright 2003, Las Vegas Advisor, a publication of
