Stiffs and Georges

Eight years later, Steve Wynn is still firmly ensconced at the top. Gary Loveman is hanging on for dear life and George Maloof is a sad-faced figurehead. And $2.7 billion for a casino resort (Wynn Las Vegas) looks like frugality after the sums blown on CityCenter, Fontainebleau, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas and — oh [...]

That’s how much time Sam Nazarian has to scare up $115 million from overseas sources. If the deal isn’t done by Feb. 28, $300 million that’s currently in escrow quietly goes away. In exchange for offshore capital, Nazarian has to farm out jobs at his planned SLS Las Vegas to ‘guest workers’ who will be [...]

It’ll cost the Palms a cool $1 million and change to make problems with the Nevada Gaming Control Board go away quietly … unless the Nevada Gaming Commission decides a still-higher penalty should be exacted. (Unlikely, but possible.) According to the NGCB, in spring of last year, “security guards, bottle runners and women provided drugs [...]

For months, state Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie), has been threatening to push an enormous gambling expansion through the Illinois Legislature during its lame-duck session. He says he’s “getting very close” but we’ve heard that kind of braying from Lang previously. A sock puppet of Illinois‘ horsey set, Lang won’t be satisfied with any bill that [...]

Pursuant to our last S&G dispatch, here are the USA Today choices for top attractions on the Strip (uniqueness and affordability being prime considerations). If you’re not staying at a Hilton property right now, you aren’t vouchsafed access to the actual guide, but here’s a potted version …

Dining: Gordon Ramsay Steak [Paris-Las Vegas]; rm seafood [...]

Since S&G readers can’t view my big Las Vegas guides (unless you’re sitting at a computer in a Hilton-branded property at this very moment), I thought I’d share with you who made the cut. And the Downtown elect are …
Restaurants: El Sombrero; The Golden Steer; Lola’s; Pamplemousse; Forte; China MaMa.
Nightlife: The Lady Silvia; Freakin’ Frog [...]

Today is being spent at home, buried ‘neath page proofs for Eating Las Vegas 3.0 (with assistance from sibling kitties Leona and Rascal, the latter incredibly well-named). Tonight brings Tournament of Kings — which I’ve never seen — and Evil Dead The Musical, which I have, but not in its V Theater incarnation. Last night [...]

On the one hand, I applaud The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas for setting itself apart from the pack by centering much of its appeal upon leading-edge musical acts (like Adele and Florence + The Machine [twice!]). However, it makes Deutsche Bank’s decision to cut corners by not building the once-planned showroom (above) look downright imbecilic [...]

It was bound to happen: Not one, not two, but four douchebags trying to get tables at The Mirage’s Carnegie Deli wearing nothing more than swimming trunks and flip-flops. That’s taking “casual” just a mite far. What’s the over/under on how much longer it will be until someone wanders onto a casino floor completely naked. [...]

Wouldn’t you love to know what was in Steve Wynn’s most recent pre-nup now that his wife is referring to herself as “Owner” of Wynn Resorts — as our colleague Chuck Monster recently discovered? Andrea Wynn may have a few thousand WYNN shares socked away someplace but she doesn’t even qualify as a “major holder” [...]

In a major step toward the de-Maloofization of the Palms, one of its signature attractions closed last weekend. As of yesterday, one can no longer gamble, ogle Bunnies nor do anything else at the semi-private Playboy Club. It was one of the few truly European-style casinos in Las Vegas and, as of the close of [...]

Here’s a chuckle as you head into the Memorial Day weekend: Horseshoe Bossier City’s Riverdome was on the receiving end of an online diss from Kelly Clarkson. During her Stronger tour, the rocker evidently wasn’t too impressed with the sprung structure that serves as a concert hall, captioning her pose (left), “Coming to a yurt [...]

Kelly Clarkson rocked The Pearl to its foundation with a joyous, 80-minute set. Unfortunately for us (but happily for them), these anonymous videographers had better

Bunny blues. Given the travails affecting Hugh Hefner’s eroding PEI empire — including a recent abandonment of its Chicago offices and spinoff of its Cyber Club — it was only a matter of very little time before the Palms’ franchised Playboy Club got rabbit-punched. However, this divestiture appears to be the handiwork of Palms owners [...]

OK, you’ve heard the sound bites, read the correspondence, seen the over-the-top tactics. Now Station Casinos and the Culinary Union have to make their case to a higher authority: Jon Ralston.
(Historical footnote: When Ameristar Casinos bought Station out of a sticky wicket in Missouri,

Apparently there’s no avoiding what has become the story of the day: Sheldon Adelson’s $5 million dowry to presidential aspirant Newt Gingrich. It’s a gift that comes with a substantial pre-nup; if Gingrich falters in South Carolina, American Crossroads and Crossroads GPS (past nemeses of Sen. Harry Reid [D-NV]) will pull the purse strings taut [...]

Move over, Longhorn and Vegas Club. The spirit of Nevada Palace (R.I.P.) hath descended upon the Palms. If recent sackings of Bunny dealers portended a sea change at the former George Maloof property, during my latest visit I practically collided with giant, cardboard signs advertising things like 99¢ midday margaritas and all-you-can-eat specials. Getting a [...]

Increased funding for education is always the big selling point whenever gambling laws in Missouri are liberalized. This week, schools are finding out what sort of Indian givers their casino benefactors are. Schools are among the public services that stand to lose millions of dollars in a giant give-back from St. Louis County to its [...]

On Oct. 26, the erstwhile “Gossy Room” at The Palms will host a fundraiser for AFAN. Headlining the event will be Lainie Kazan, who — the press release informs us — is “widely known for her starring role in My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” However, one of the advantages of age is being able to [...]

No formal announcement has been made but scuttlebutt has it that when the Union Plaza reopens downtown, it will have an unusual tenant for the showroom formerly occupied by The Rat Pack is Back! If true, it would mean that Tamares is taking a lead from Station Casinos, which inked a one-year pact with