Green Felt Journal
Green Felt Journal
Debt Matters
July 19th, 2012
It’s the dark matter of the Las Vegas casino business: there, but not readily apparent to the naked eye. You can spy reflections of it in deferred maintenance and longer check-in lines on the Strip. It’s casino debt, and it could remake the Strip over the several next years. Or not. Like other businesses, casino operators borrow money for a variety of reasons: to cover start-up costs, to expand and to keep up appearances. When revenues keep pace with borrowing, that’s not a problem. Read more »
Why Double Action Roulette Will Catch On
July 5th, 2012
Lower labor costs will be the key to Double Action Roulette's success. Read more »
Green Felt Journal
How to Set a Fresh Table
July 5th, 2012
No one knows if Double Action Roulette will be the next Three-Card Poker or will disappear after its evaluation (early reports are favorable). But it’s crucial to the casino business that Richard Fitoussi and those like him keep fighting the good fight. Because even though most games never make it on the casino floor, those that do offer enough novelty to keep the business moving forward. And that is the only way, in the long term, it will continue to have appeal. Read more »
Green Felt Journal
Are Bartenders the New Dealers?
June 21st, 2012
For decades, becoming a casino dealer was a guaranteed ticket to a middle-class income, even without the benefit of a college education or long vocational training. But because of changes in technology and in the casino business itself, bartending is looking more and more like the new deal for post-recession Vegas. Read more »
Inside the Friday Effect
June 12th, 2012
The April numbers for Nevada gaming are in, and at first blush they look fantastic ... but a closer examination reveals the disappointing truth: Things were actually only so-so in April. Read more »
Green Felt Journal
Electric Daisy Economics
June 7th, 2012
Generally speaking, if you want to bring an event to Las Vegas, the town is happy to oblige, provided you do three things: 1. Fill rooms with people who … 2. Open their wallets and … 3. Don’t disturb the other paying guests. Read more »
Green Felt Journal
Here’s One Trip Worth Taking
May 24th, 2012
VegasTripping.com isn’t a marketing mouthpiece. It’s not trying to sell you anything. And that might be why it’s become an Internet sensation. Read more »
Green Felt Journal
With Oseland Aboard, SLS Could Be a Winner
May 10th, 2012
Wynn alum Rob Oseland just might be the right man to lead the transformation of the Sahara into SLS Las Vegas. Read more »
Green Felt Journal
Renovating the Grand
May 3rd, 2012
If you’ve been to the MGM Grand in the past few months—or even checked its website—you probably noticed that they’re renovating the place. And that might not seem like such a big deal—casinos evolve all the time—but in this case, owner MGM Resorts International and contractor Thor Construction are making history. Read more »
Green Felt Journal
The Man Behind The D
April 19th, 2012
Although the energy of Tony Hsieh and other non-gamers has helped fuel the transformation of downtown Las Vegas, a cadre of Fremont Street casino owners also deserve credit. Derek Stevens is prominent among them. Stevens is overseeing two downtown remodeling projects: the addition of a new high-roller gaming area and 16 suites to the historic Golden Gate (the building housed the city’s first hotel, which opened in 1906), and the transformation of Fitzgeralds into The D. Read more »
