Before we get into the good (?) stuff, I should mention that S&G has been nominated as part of Las Vegas CityLife‘s “Best of the Valley” poll. I probably should have pimped this a week ago, when the poll went “live,” but it kept slipping my mind. Anyway, as an incentive to vote in its survey, CityLife is offering a free iPod Touch, although I imagine that most of you have one — or something much like it — already (along with Vegas Mate, of course, which just added S&G to its news feed).
Among many cruel remarks aimed at our fair city, I winced at the veracity of #14 (“Las Vegas is still a small town, and a hick one at that”). Why? For two, I’d just attended an absolutely riveting revival of Mark Medoff‘s When You Coming Back, Red Ryder? at the College of Southern Nevada and only slightly less meritorious production of Tracy Letts‘ Bug at Las Vegas Little Theatre. Both plays call for nudity. Neither production bared more than an odd midriff or two. Recent stagings of Bug in Oakland and Denver didn’t flinch from the full monty but Vegas wimped out.
For all our “decadent” bravado, we’re wusses. Or at least suffer from a loopy double standard. It’s OK to flash your junk in contexts that are escapist (Zumanity, Naked Boys Singing) or trivial (Peepshow) or downright mindless [your “gentleman’s club” here]. But bare skin in a serious endeavor? Hey, don’t go bringing that filth into our town!
On a happier note, except for a 2.5% decline at MotorCity, casinos in Detroit had a damn fine January, up from last year. In-flux Greektown enjoyed a 15% bump and MGM Grand Detroit had a smaller increase — but still pulled in almost $20 million more than Greektown. Given the softness pervading most of the regional-casino market any upturn is welcome, especially coming from someplace as economically walloped as Motown.
More good news is to be had from Kansas, where Boot Hill Casino is exactly on pace to meet its projected $44 million (plus change) for Year One. Congratulations to Butler National Corp. on a job well done. It also sounds like the Sunflower State is prepared to do a heckuva lot more for pathological gamblers than is Nevada Gov. Jim Gibbons. Heck, Massachusetts doesn’t even have casinos yet and Gov. Deval Patrick is already budgeting $51 million for treatment. Gibbons, you may recall, is scheming to seize the measly $1.8 million that Nevada allots to aid problem-gambling-treatment providers and reroute it elsewhere. Any legislator who knowingly supports this sleazy money-grab should be voted out of office next fall.
A new age begins… 600 customers in one week at most American casinos would spell catastrophe. However, if you’re a Russian casino that’s in the middle of bloody nowhere, it’s time to break out the bubbly. The “special zone” policy crafted for gambling halls in Russia — i.e., move them to places nobody would ever think of going — is completely addle-pated, so anyone who can make a go of it deserves our warmest congratulations.
Shame on Colorado. Its casinos got longer hours and higher bet limits. But that’s not enough. Now they’re whining to regulators that they need 6:5 blackjack and the latter promptly, cravenly caved.
Simply put, players are winning too much money (damn the varmints!). Strangely, these casino owners seem to have convinced themselves this move will be good for business. Maybe they should ask around the Strip how people feel about 6:5 “21.” As for the Colorado Limited Gaming Control Commission, it should know that its job is not to tilt the playing field on the casinos’ behalf. If they can’t make a go of it on 3:2 blackjack maybe they’re in the wrong line of work. Thank you, Isle of Capri Casinos, from abstaining from the 6:5 switchover (well, not completely — but mostly).
Good luck in the “Best of the Valley” poll Mr. McKee. Your blog is very good, keep up the good work. My vote for best tavern is Champagne’s Cafe on Maryland Parkway.
Play in Colorado a lot. Bad move with 6/5 BJ. But many of the casinos also think they can make more money with lousy VP plays. Fitzgeralds likes 95% or lower VP. One is holding the line, Lady Luck which is associated with Isle of Capri has 9/6 JoB in 25 cent. Guess who is getting my play.
Thanks, Paul. They hold a good karaoke night at Champagne’s, I can vouch for that.
With luck savvy BJ players in Colo will vote with their feet. They already use big enough shoes to keep the house edge up.
I have never been to karaoke night at Champagne’s Cafe but it looks like it would be a lot of fun. That stage for singing there though looks kind of small.