Opinion
Green Felt Journal
Buckle Up for the Polercoaster
June 18th, 2013
This morning, Las Vegas learned about the Polercoaster, a proposed $100 million thrill ride that merges an observation tower—like the one at the Stratosphere—with a roller coaster—like the one at New York-New York. It didn’t take five minutes for the hype machine to swing into berserker mode. Read more »
Green Felt Journal
Casino Concentration and the Logic of Empire
Consolidation looks like a bad move for operators, customers
June 11th, 2013
For the Las Vegas casino industry, the past decade has been defined by two things: consolidation and disaster. From 2000 to 2008, Las Vegas Strip casino operators acquired each other until two companies—today they are known as MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment Corporation—controlled nearly two-thirds of the Strip corridor casino market. The following three years is where the disaster, in the form of the recession, comes in. Read more »
The Latest Thought
The Return of Sprawl Thinking
Will Las Vegas overbuild again?
June 5th, 2013
First, the good news: Home and land prices have hit the bottom and bounced. There is plenty of buyer demand, and even condos are hot again. Banks seem more willing to lend. And even with the sobering subtext of scant inventory tied to housing appreciation, we can’t help but think things are getting better. Read more »
Green Felt Journal
Investing in America
Foreign investors may lead charge in future of casino financing
May 28th, 2013
“Invest In Your American Dream,” reads the text next to a photo of the “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign. The words are quickly replaced by “LAS VEGAS EB5 IMMIGRATION CENTER IS YOUR BEST CHOICE,” with a view of the Strip at night, followed by “THE OPPORTUNITY TO OBTAIN U.S. GREEN CARD,” against a pastiche of a billowing American flag with extra stars, the Statue of Liberty and the Capitol building. Read more »
Comrade Grumpy's Peeve of the Week
Taxicab Blues
May 21st, 2013
There are times when I have to take a taxicab. And sometimes, just every so often, Steve Wynn is there. Read more »
The Latest Thought
The Art of Knowing Joyce
Two generations, after-school lessons and a life-changing teacher
May 14th, 2013
Many people—outsiders and locals alike—make fun of Las Vegas for being slow, obscure and devoid of culture. If you agree, you never met Joyce Straus. We recently lost a huge piece of our city and our lives when she died at age 77. The people who loved Joyce knew it was coming. So we prayed and hoped, but we knew cancer can get the best of the best among us. This time it did. Read more »
Green Felt Journal
One Game’s Wild Ride
Caribbean Stud's slow disappearance from casinos is nearly complete
May 8th, 2013
The gambling urge is pretty much universal and just about timeless. But the ways people gamble—those change quite a bit. For a while, faro was the Game That Won the West, surpassing all others in popularity. Then, fueled by the return of servicemen who’d played it during World War II, craps had its day, followed by the ascendance of blackjack after players learned they could “beat the dealer.” Read more »
Green Felt Journal
MGM's Park, and Competition With Linq, Will Be Good for Vegas
April 18th, 2013
MGM Resorts released the official announcement this morning about its latest Las Vegas Strip project, The Park. The big question is, “What’s this mean for Vegas?” Read more »
Green Felt Journal
Will Video Games Go Vegas?
As slots are losing the youth market, gaming plans its next move
April 17th, 2013
“Gambling,” said John Acres at last year’s Global Gaming Expo, “is dead.” For support, the man who has been in the casino business for more than 30 years and invented the modern players-club card cited the plummeting appeal of spinning-reel machines for just about everyone under 40. Read more »
Green Felt Journal
Slot Revenues Fall, High-End Play Rises
February numbers show Vegas casinos’ increasing reliance on big players, especially those from Asia
April 10th, 2013
The numbers are in, and Nevada casinos had a good February overall, with the uneven results demonstrating a great deal about where gambling in the state is right now, and where it might be headed. Read more »
