Gamblin' Ramblin$

Ahh Fremont Street!!

Man...did we have a blast in Vegas. I was able to snap a few pics. One is in my cell phone and it'll have to wait a bit...but it's a hoot! Anyway, here we go!

Here is where we stayed, the Golden Nugget, my favorite casino...period. While there, we played a ton of video poker and I also made time to hit Mom's favorite slot machine, Little Green Men. After 10 minutes, I had taken a $50 TiTo and built it to over $100. After cashing out, I looked up to the heavens, said "That was for you, Mom" and went on my way. What was interesting, was that the machine was in the same place I remember it in 2003 when I last visited Vegas. George also mentioned that it was in the same place in 2001, when he, Barb, and my cousin Kim took Mom to Las Vegas 3 weeks before she passed away. Will it be there when I get the chance to go again? If so, I plan on smacking it around once more!

Across the street is Binion's Horseshoe. It will always be that to me, even though it has changed its name slightly.

Barb really likes Binion's and she played there quite a bit. It still has the "Old Vegas" feel to it... a bit smoky, lower ceilings, lots of crystal and brass. The crowd seemed a little older there too. So did the employees, heh heh. We visited the snack bar and had Binion Burgers (a must have). I didn't fare too well there but that's ok. The Club's Poker Tournament was held there, in the very same place where the World Series of Poker finals were previously played. George did great, placing 6th out of 152 entrants, and won a nice little stack of chips for his efforts.

At night, Fremont Street lights up on the hour with an audio/video show that will make your jaw drop. For 2 blocks...Las Vegas blocks that is...the sky above bursts forth with color and surprisingly good, and earth shaking, sound.

On Friday night, after a long day of gambling, chipping, drinking, more gambling, more drinking, and shopping...George and I walked the Street looking for more things to buy. I was looking for a shirt for Trevor...and was successful. While cruising, we thought we would see if the Glitter Gulch had shirts. The GG is a strip club but once had table games ( I have a chip from there). No luck though as they had no shirts...of course if you went in, you would discover they had nothing else either!! Clothing that is...we chose not to enter...we were good. We did nothing that had to "Stay in Vegas".

Now...we did have a little bit of fun while walking about. Like I said, we were searching for shirts and we did find a place, but before we made it there we stopped at the entrance of The Las Vegas Club. This is another older place, not on par with the GN in terms of classiness, but still cool none the less. It did have something the GN didn't...a showgirl teaser out front to attract gamblers. We could not pass this opportunity up. George gave her a modest tip and I took the shot.

Heh heh...Barb reads this blog...so I made sure it was cool with George to post this pic. Barb...all in fun...we were all laughing it up. But...George did help me pick out those loud, obnoxious (and oh so cool) shirts.

Ya never can know too much

I ran across this link while checking the Chipboard this morning. Lots of books, info, gambling tips, games,...etc.

I like the history section, looks like a few bargains to be had.

Pretty cool if you're into Vegas or want to waste your time ( and eventually your money) on a "system".

ShopLVA.com

I really need to get back to...

...the Golden Nugget in Vegas.

Mary Beth has no desire to go back there and the kids are still too young.

~sigh~

Hopefully, I'll have the chance in 2008 for the Chip Convention. Since Mary Beth and the kids have gone to Disney several times without me (hmmmpf!), I should be able to buzz out there for a couple of days right? It's not my fault that I don't get 5 weeks of vacation a year anymore and the time I do get off, they have planned their trip already. It would cost too much to board the cats anyway.

Well...The GN is the place I'll go...when I go.

And here's why...not to mention that it's my favorite place.

In the stagnant sea of mediocrity that is downtown Las Vegas, the Golden Nugget is doing more than just staying afloat.

The largest casino downtown, along with a sister Golden Nugget in Laughlin, is managing to turn a profit for its corporate owners.

Again??

Landry's to Buy Golden Nugget Casino

By ADAM GOLDMAN
Associated Press Writer

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Landry's Restaurants Inc., whose operations include Rainforest Cafe and The Crab House, is buying the Golden Nugget hotel-casino in downtown Las Vegas, a first step in a strategy to get a slice of the lucrative gambling business and expand its profit pipeline. Landry's shares surged more than 12 percent on the news.

The Golden Nugget Las Vegas is considered the jewel of a faded downtown with 1,907 hotel rooms and 2,800 employees. Built in 1946, it's the largest of the 14 hotel-casinos in the downtown area.

When the Poster Group initially purchased the GN, I stated that I hoped they would keep the Old Time Charm of the place. What did they do?

Ripped up the pool area for a poker room
"The Casino"...ugh! enough said

The image of a grand old lady has been tarnished, thanks to couple of rich guys treating it like a new toy. Try a different venture fellas, you really screwed this one up!

The GN won't/can't compete with the mega-resorts of the Strip, but it can dominate downtown, with the right people at the top. These knuckleheads tried to turn it into another Palms, that isn't going to happen.

Good bye...and good riddance!

Landry's owns and operates more than 300 restaurants, and the brands also include Landry's Seafood House, Joe's Crab Shack, Willie G's Seafood & Steakhouse and The Chart House. It employs more than 30,000 people and had more than $1.1 billion in revenue in 2003.

"The Golden Nugget is the premier property in downtown Las Vegas, has outstanding brand recognition across the country, and is a perfect fit for us," Landry's chairman and president, Tilman Fertitta, said in a statement.

---

Show at the Palms

This is one of the most anticipated shows of the year, aside from the Annual Convention of course. A couple of our Monday Lunch gang will be attending. There will be lots to do and tons of chips to check out!

Know when...to...hold...them?

A little late in the notice, but a rather enticing ad for Hard Rock Texas Hold'em Poker Tourney. Nothing up her sleeve!!

Looks like the Hard Rock is back after its brief tasteful? billboard campaign.

Ante up boys!

Vintage Vegas is Back ... With an 'Over The Top' Vengeance

PR Newswire

LAS VEGAS and HOUSTON, Sept. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- The Fremont Street
Experience, Las Vegas' largest walkable entertainment and gaming experience,
today announced it has secured Clear Channel Entertainment Properties to
develop and sell exclusive sponsorship and marketing programs that leverage
what is known as the "Over-The-Top, Vintage Vegas" experience. A 24/7
attraction, the Fremont Street Experience draws more than 25,000 people each
day with attendees staying for an average of four hours.

The centerpiece of the Fremont Street Experience attraction is "Viva
Vision," billed as "the biggest big screen on the planet." This 90-foot-high,
1,500-foot-long LED canopy stretches the length of more than five football
fields, hosts five nightly light and sound shows, and is capable of live video
feeds. The video presentations are accompanied by 550,000 watts of concert
quality sound, transforming the venue into an interactive state-of-the art
theater. Viva Vision, which made its debut in June, is the result of a
$17 million investment. The capabilities of the new technology have been
demonstrated through three new, spectacular light and sound shows as well as
broadcast feeds of the hit reality-TV series The Casino.
This unique environment allows marketers to close the gap between product
exposure and trial. As a sponsor's commercial is shown on the Viva Vision
canopy, consumers can simultaneously interact with the sponsor's product via
on-site sampling on the pedestrian mall below.
The seven-block open-air pedestrian mall in the heart of the downtown
gaming district, also features two permanent performance stages, free live
entertainment and special events, shopping, dining, and access to 10 legendary
hotel/casinos.

Unique, Innovative Marketing Medium
"As traditional media become more fragmented, the natural process is for
them to become more commoditized," said Jack Myers, Editor, Jack Myers Report.
"Successful media companies are opening non-traditional communications
channels that differentiate them from their competitors and offer increased
value to marketers and agencies. These new channels include multi-media
platforms, event marketing, integration of advertising and promotion, and
other innovative opportunities for marketers to touch their consumers by
capitalizing on the brand relationships media have with audiences."
"With the biggest big screen on the planet and 10 legendary Las Vegas
casinos, the Fremont Street Experience is an entertainment and gaming venue
that is unique throughout the world," said Joseph Schillaci, President & CEO
of Fremont Street Experience. "With ongoing free entertainment and concerts,
the environment at Fremont Street Experience is a relaxed, party atmosphere
that is attractive to visitors and sponsors alike. Given the number of
messages that get lost in the deluge of ads that bombard the public through
traditional mediums, the Fremont Street Experience stands out as cutting edge
means of reaching a receptive audience in an uncluttered environment. CCE
Properties immediately recognized the inherent value of the venue and
understood how to market our innovative opportunities."
Depending on a sponsor's marketing objectives, Clear Channel Entertainment
Properties will package a host of custom branding opportunities, including
nightly commercial spots on the Viva Vision canopy, sponsorships of
spectacular light-and-sound shows and on-site sales and sampling. Naming
rights to the two permanent stages, targeted special events and concert series
are also available to sponsors. In addition to overseeing sponsorships sales,
Clear Channel Entertainment Properties will also leverage its superior artist
relationships to bring high-profile music acts to Fremont Street Experience's
two performance stages.
"Vegas has never been more popular," said Bruce Eskowitz, president of
Clear Channel Entertainment Properties. "Now corporate marketers can parlay
true 'Vintage Vegas' experiences into positive, fully immersive consumer
interactions with their brands."
For further information or to learn more about marketing opportunities at
Fremont Street Experience, call (404) 233-8889 or email
livemarketing@clearchannel.com .

About Fremont Street Experience
Fremont Street Experience is a public-private partnership formed in 1995
between the City of Las Vegas and The Fremont Street Experience Company, LLC
-- owned by a group of 10 downtown casino/hotels that underwrite operating
expenses for the venue. Member properties include: Binion's Horseshoe Hotel &
Casino; Boyd Gaming (Fremont Hotel & Casino, California Hotel, Main Street
Station Casino, Brewery & Hotel); Fitzgerald's Casino Hotel; Four Queens Hotel
& Casino; Golden Gate Hotel & Casino; Golden Nugget Las Vegas; Las Vegas Club
Hotel Casino and Lady Luck Hotel Casino (associate member).

About Clear Channel Entertainment-Properties
Clear Channel Entertainment Properties (CCEP), a division of Clear Channel
Entertainment, markets the organization's vast network of assets -- venues;
music, motor sports, action sports, and theatrical properties; exclusive
special events, exhibitions, and Emmy(R) award-winning television production
services -- to corporations seeking unique brand positioning. In addition,
Clear Channel Entertainment Properties specializes in creating custom, high-
impact marketing programs and special events that provide flexibility for
client budget and timing parameters. Services include advertising, strategic
marketing and content development, national and local sales programs, product
and service launches, and television/broadcast programming. The resources and
reach of CCE Properties have already made them among the most sought-after
partners for business and consumer marketing in live entertainment today.
Parent company Clear Channel Entertainment, a leading producer and marketer of
live entertainment events, promotes and/or produces over 29,000 events,
attended by more than 65 million people. The company currently owns, operates
and/or exclusively books approximately 130 live entertainment venues,
including more than 100 in North America and 30 in Europe. More information
may be found by visiting http://www.cc.com and http://www.clearchannel.com .

Certain statements in this release constitute "forward-looking statements"
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties
and other factors which may cause the actual results performance or
achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future
results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-
looking statements. Visit our website at http://www.clearchannel.com .

Gaming Commission to hear Hard Rock ad dispute

By ROD SMITH
GAMING WIRE

The Hard Rock Hotel's dispute with gaming regulators over several of its ads is turning into a full-bore confrontation over the First Amendment that will begin Friday when the Nevada Gaming Commission hears motions on the case.

And, ironically, Gaming Commission Chairman Peter Bernhard said late Monday the public petitions he had previously invited will not be heard at Friday's hearing.

Bernhard decided to gag third parties even though regulators had previously rejected a settlement in the 9-month-old case because they said the issues involved were too important to decide without a full public discussion.

The battle that's shaping up stems from a series of suggestive billboard and print ads that the Nevada Gaming Control Board wants banned because they suggest illegal activities and allegedly damaged the industry's reputation.

Since the Control Board complaint was first filed, the Hard Rock Hotel has changed its tune from trying to amicably settle the complaints brought by the state over its suggestive advertising campaign to insisting its First Amendment rights are being violated.

It has been joined in its battle with the state by the Nevada Resort Association, representing the gaming industry, and the American Civil Liberties Union of Nevada.

The state attorney general's office is equally adamant, arguing that Nevada gaming regulators have the responsibility of maintaining public confidence in the industry.

In fact, Attorney General Brian Sandoval's office, in a filing opposing a motion by the Hard Rock seeking dismissal of the case, argues that state regulations take precedence over any constitutional arguments raised by the Hard Rock and its allies.

Further, the attorney general's office is arguing that constitutionally protected speech is limited to the advancement of truth, science, morality, government and the arts in general.

Finally, the attorney general's office early this month reversed its position on public input, arguing "friend of the court" pleadings would be premature at this time because they would usurp its ability to shape the issues.

The new position that public pleadings will not be heard seems to fly in the face of apparent invitations for "friend of the court" pleadings extended at the July Gaming Commission meeting by Bernhard and Senior Deputy Attorney General Toni Cowan, who represents state gaming regulators.

Former Sen. Richard Bryan, a partner in Lionel, Sawyer and Collins who represents the Nevada Resort Association, said "at best" he was surprised by the attorney general's apparent reversal on public input.

Nevertheless, Bernhard said late Monday he will not allow public input, including testimony from the NRA or the ACLU, at Friday's hearing.

Instead, he will independently decide on whether to accept the "friend of the court" motions. If he does accept them, he said, they will only be considered at trial in November if the commission rejects the Hard Rock's motion to dismiss the case. That motion will be considered Friday.

The ACLU Monday argued in its own filing that once the smoke clears, the core issue in this case is the unconstitutionality of Nevada's gaming regulations.

The ACLU of Nevada's general counsel, Allen Lichtenstein, said the state regulations unconstitutionally call for sanctions against gaming license-holders if they exercise their free speech rights in a way that state officials believe reflects unfavorably on the industry.

The Hard Rock and the state attorney general's office early this year tried to negotiate a $300,000 settlement to resolve the complaint.

Jeffrey Silver, a partner in Gordon and Silver who represents the Hard Rock, said originally his client only wanted to "buy its peace," and agreed to the proposed settlement to make the original complaint disappear, not because it was admitting guilt.

He said the company had wanted an agreement that would allow the resort to avoid the cost of a trial in terms of money, manpower and distractions, even though it believed its ads clearly were intended to be satirical.

For example, one of the ads showed a naked male and female lying atop a gaming table with dice by their sides and a card in her mouth. The ad's tagline said: "There's always an urge to cheat."

Cowan argued the ad encouraged casino players to cheat at table games, while Bernhard said it was absurd to allege that the company was encouraging customers to go into the casino to cheat. He noted the word "cheat" could just as easily be construed to have a sexual meaning.

However, the Gaming Commission rejected the settlement in July, saying the state's arguments were preposterous and that the ads raised larger policy issues affecting the industry and the community that had to be addressed.

At the commission's July hearing, the attorney general's office asked for more time to negotiate an agreement, but Bernhard instead scheduled a hearing on pretrial motions for Friday and a trial for Nov. 18, even though he still urged Hard Rock and the state attorney general's office to continue trying to negotiate a settlement.

Those talks broke down, however, and Hard Rock changed its tack with a motion filed in August that the case against it should be dismissed, arguing that no government agency can act as a censor based on its perception about what is in good taste.

"Absent any inherently misleading statements or any statements advertising illegal products or services, any attempts to regulate advertising content are presumptively unconstitutional," the Hard Rock argued in its motions.

At the end of August, the Nevada Resort Association spoke up for the first time with a "friend of the court" brief filed on behalf of the gaming community that also argued that state regulations and efforts to enforce them violate the free speech protections of the U.S. Constitution.

NRA President Bill Bible said the trade association intervened in the case because issues with industrywide significance are involved, and cannot prudently be ignored.

"The question is whether (the Gaming Control Board) may police the content of such advertising in a manner inconsistent with First Amendment guarantees," Bryan argued in his brief.

Paul-Son makes a change

from the Las Vegas Sun

Chip maker changes name

Paul-Son Gaming Corp. announced it has completed a name change to Gaming Partners International Corp. and that it has acquired a new Nasdaq trading symbol, GPIC.

The name change was approved by shareholders at the company's annual meeting May 26.

Company President and Chief Executive Gerard Charlier said the name change follows nearly two years of "intensive efforts to reorganize and improve operations" since Paul-Son merged with privately held French chip maker Etablissements Bourgogne et Grasset in 2002.

The company has aimed to eliminate duplicate functions, build an executive team and expand the company's product line

Out with the old

Desert Inn to be imploded Nov. 17
Las Vegas Sun

Get ready for a double implosion at the Wynn Las Vegas megaresort in the wee hours of Nov. 17.

Every little bit helps

Trade group kicks off Responsible Gaming week

By Liz Benston
LAS VEGAS SUN

Starting today, major gaming companies nationwide will put up posters and table tents as well as distribute pamphlets and other materials as part of Responsible Gaming Awareness Week, an annual event sponsored by the American Gaming Association trade group.

But casino customers won't be seeing many of these materials. That's because this year's event is geared primarily toward helping employees understand how to spot signs of compulsive gambling and direct gamblers to get help, industry representatives say.

I'm all for this...cigarette companies have self-help info on their websites, alcohol companies do the same. While gambling itself isn't life threatening, it can be overdone to the point where others get hurt, families destroyed, life savings wiped out.

The key element of this year's event is the Responsible Gaming Code of Conduct, a document crafted by American Gaming Association members in September 2003 that binds member companies to several rules that govern how casinos market to customers.

The document, which goes beyond regulatory requirements in certain states, includes some policies long practiced by some casinos but marks an advancement for others. Policies include offering problem gambling helpline information on the Internet as well as on the casino floor, initiating self-exclusion programs for people who have gambling problems and not serving alcohol or dealing to customers who are visibly intoxicated.

Member companies have until September 13 to integrate all the rules into their employee training programs, the American Gaming Association says.

"We see this week as the unofficial countdown to full implementation of the code," AGA spokeswoman Courtney Reiter said.

Companies including some of the major Las Vegas-based casinos have so far ordered about 54,000 copies of the code of conduct brochure as well as about 40,000 stickers, 15,000 ribbons, 1,100 posters and more than 1,300 table tents. Some companies will stuff notices in employee paychecks notifying them about the code of conduct.

Also new this year are pamphlets that discuss the odds of winning several casino games. The pamphlets, which will be available on the American Gaming Association's Web site this week and will be distributed to casinos soon after, offer customers and players information on the house advantage and satisfy a code requirement that casinos make public the odds on several casino games.

Now in its seventh year, Responsible Gaming Education Week is taking on a more important role as gambling expands nationwide, participants say.

Responsible gambling programs are becoming an integral part of the regulatory environment in states that are new to casino gambling, said Connie Jones, director of responsible gaming for International Game Technology.

Pennsylvania, which legalized slot machines this month, is setting aside funds for responsible gambling programs. And in Canada, where casinos and other gambling outlets are operated primarily by government agencies, IGT has begun rolling out slot machines with built-in protections for players such as digital clocks, cash winnings and losses, and time limits of play, said Jones, who was appointed to the new position in 2002.

Companies are approaching the subject in different ways this week.

IGT has posted a 25-question "proficiency program" on its company Web site that all employees will take to learn more about compulsive gambling, Jones said.

"Our employees are often our best ambassadors," she said. "We feel they really need to understand (gambling problems) for our business to be sustainable and for loved ones to get help."

The company also has created a "responsible gaming committee" to oversee Jones' work for the first time.

At Station Casinos Inc., workers each day of this week will see posters, table tents and articles in their employee newsletter about the code of conduct. They also will receive a quiz of sorts on certain aspects of the code.

Today, for example, employees are expected to hear pre-shift explanations of the odds of various casino games. Tuesday, the company will test employees about judging the ages of potential customers and discuss combating underage gambling. And the following day, workers will discuss carding customers as well as the link between problem gambling and drinking, for example.

"This is our opportunity to educate (employees) as a responsible member of our industry, as well as patrons and the public," Station spokeswoman Lesley Pittman said.

MGM MIRAGE will be distributing the code of conduct to employees this week as well as putting up posters in employee break areas. At the MGM Grand, Las Vegas' largest hotel-casino, managers will quiz workers of all stripes before mandatory pre-shift meetings.

Throughout the year, employees hear about compulsive gambling in meetings as well as in employee newsletters and through other forums, MGM MIRAGE spokeswoman Yvette Monet said.

"Communicating the importance of responsible gaming to our employees and guests is a yearlong effort that is ingrained in all aspects of casino operations and management," she said. "The casino industry as a whole has it in our best interest to make sure guests find gambling to be an enjoyable experience."

The "Good Old Days"

Northern Kentucky has a "colorful" history of bootlegging, prostitution, and illegal gambling. While not the most glorous of distinctions, the presence of these activities adds to Newport's notorious past.

It's the gambling history that interests me, the connections and battles with the Detroit and Cleveland syndicates. Local boys "making it good" and casinos, while illegal, as nice as anything in Nevada at that time. As I stated earlier, the little pieces of clay that I and many, many others collect are our way of preserving gaming history, legal and illegal.

I'm trying to find an out of print book dealing with Newport but to date have had no success, however I did come across this article titled: "Sin City Revisited"

It's a well written piece that contains a lot of info and excerpts from the very book I'm searching for.

Nugget striving to recall heyday

Downtown resort wants to rediscover distinctive niche

By CHRIS JONES
GAMING WIRE

In the early 1980s, then-Golden Nugget owner Steve Wynn placed the downtown Las Vegas resort on the national consciousness using a series of clever television ads in which Frank Sinatra once jokingly asked the young executive to keep his suite stocked with fresh towels.

Neither Wynn nor the late Ol' Blue Eyes is featured in the Golden Nugget's latest marketing campaign, but the property's new owners are optimistic their first major advertising effort will resonate with those who recall the Golden Nugget's heyday -- and the many new customers they'll need to power another golden era for the 1,907-room hotel-casino.

Man...I want to go! I'm so jealous that my brother will be there in just a couple of weeks. Ah well...maybe next year. I'll have to give him some cash to get me some cool new GN gear.

BTW...I have a boatload of chips on the way. I'm going to be extremely busy getting these things scanned and posted. The Highlights...

$100 Trump Plaza Derby
A box of 140 blank chips in a wooden Golden Nugget box
$100 Castaways
$5 Sonoma Inn

and lots more! Stay tuned!! I know all of you are just glued to your screens.

NEVADA ECONOMY: February win finest on record

State gaming revenue $875.9 million for 29-day month, continuing torrid 2004

CHRIS JONES
GAMING WIRE

"Nevada casinos enjoyed an unprecedented two-month run in January and February that resulted in nearly $1.76 billion in gaming revenue, new data released Thursday show."

Does that mean the economy is recovering? Some may say that it only means the rich have more money to blow but slots are up and slots are not the rich man's game. More disposable income and more gambling equals confidence in the economy and that's a good thing!

Profits for gaming operators skyrocket

Estimates a boon to local economy, workers

ROD SMITH
GAMING WIRE

"Profits at the major, publicly traded Las Vegas-based gaming companies jumped an estimated 28 percent in the first quarter of 2004, signaling further improvements in the local economy, local economists said Wednesday."

That's great news. I just wish I was going there this June.

Binion's Horseshoe reopens

New owners hope to put casino's troubles behind it

ROD SMITH
GAMING WIRE

With all the hoopla downtown Las Vegas could muster, Binion's Horseshoe reopened Thursday, 3 1/2 months after being closed by deputy U.S. marshals in a raid on its cash cage.

YES!!!

And just for the heck of it, here is a...

New Release

Binion's Horseshoe New Rack Chips $1, $5, $25, and $100
04-01-04

To coincide with the re-opening of Binion's, there are a ton of new chips that will be released all representing the glory of Binion's past. What a great day for Downtown. Fremont Street lives again!

And the rich get richer...

Station acquiring locals casinos in Henderson
Liz Benston
benston@lasvegassun.com

Station Casinos Inc. announced an agreement Friday to buy two small casinos in Henderson, a deal that gives the company six locals casinos in the region.

73 years ago today

A big day for casino chip collectors!

Today is the Anniversary of the Legalization of Gambling in Nevada in 1931.

Woohoo!

Someone send me a chip to celebrate!