By Roger Gros   Mon, Nov 03, 2008

The growth of the Las Vegas Valley didn’t always progress step by step and block by block. It often leapfrogged large parts of the valley to establish a community in what seemed like a remote area at that time. For example, Howard Hughes’ Summerlin development was, at the time of its inception, considered to be in the hinterlands of Las Vegas.

Today, most of the valley has been developed, with the land in between the developments filled in. The lone remaining large tract of vacant land is located in the northern part of the valley, in the city of North Las Vegas. Like other communities, it begins with a master plan, which includes homes, retail, restaurants and, of course, casinos.

But the difference between the early developments and the more recent ones, particularly in North Las Vegas, is a closer scrutiny on casino development. Gaming-eligible sites are closely held by the city of North Las Vegas, with only four sites currently approved for casinos.

Northern Exposure

When the community of Aliante was started, Station Casinos partnered with the developers to create an appropriate gaming property that fit the development. Aliante Station, a $662 million project, will have 2,550 slot machines, 40 table games and a 202-room hotel, along with 5,000 parking spaces, 3,500 of them in a garage. There will be a 16-screen movie theater and a 1,200-seat showroom.

Like Green Valley Ranch, Aliante Station is a joint venture between Station Casinos and the Greenspun family, the owners of the Las Vegas Sun and other media outlets in the valley.

Joe Hasson, vice president and general manager of Aliante Station, says his property is a combination of the best of the previous Station developments, with a personality of its own.

“We’ve put together a terrific locals resort with all the amenities and all the bells and whistles that our neighbors have asked for as part of the build-out of their community. We’re excited to be able to fulfill that expectation,” he says.

Carol Thompson, assistant general manager at Aliante, believes 30 percent of the more than 1,000 Aliante employees who came from other Station properties will bring the corporate culture with them.

“We’ve done a good job here in terms of our leadership team,” she says. “They’re all people that have worked for our company for a period of time. You transplant the culture through your leadership experience, which has been really helpful. This includes people in our managerial positions as well as our frontline team members. So we’ve definitely injected the property with enough current team members that we feel the culture will be alive and well when we open the doors, and that’s important to our business model.”

Hasson and Thompson understand that it takes more than just a great facility to create an experience that players will enjoy and come back to time and time again.

“We’ve created a program called Aliante DNA,” Thompson says. “It’s a two-hour training program that really injects the team member with everything we’re about in terms of image and first impression, the quality of the service and our core values as a team and making sure everybody’s on board with that. It’s kind of a high-energy process; it’s less academic and a little more high-energy. Team members come out of there feeling good, high-fiving and getting into the mood.

“We realize that the ability to translate the culture along with gaining momentum before we open will be critical, because that momentum will translate to the guests and create a more exciting experience for everyone. So we’ve created our experience for the team members here, and they’re taking a lot of pride in it.”

Hasson believes that repeat business is the key to a successful locals operation in Las Vegas. He says he has communicated that to his employees.

“We need to take great care of guests so that they have a reason to come back to us over and over again, because they appreciate that we take great care of them,” he says. “So first and foremost, whether the economy is good or bad, that is a standard and it is something that is unchanging in terms of how we think about the business.

“So we’ll use that as a starting point today, regardless of whether the economy is good, bad or in-between. We’ll offer great service, and we will grow a terrific business in the medium and the long term and make a terrific success of it.”

The local community is important to every Station Casino property. And it may be even more important to Aliante Station, becaues it is the Aliante development that surrounds the new property.

Hasson says the operation is truly a partnership with the Aliante community.

“We’ve spent a good amount of time getting to know our neighbors, meeting with them one-on-one, meeting with them in small groups and in large groups and talking to them about the project,” he says. “We truly view ourselves as a neighbor in the community, and so far, we’ve been warmly welcomed with terrific enthusiasm. We want to extend that same warmth to those who are our neighbors and will become our guests. You want to start on the right foot, and you want to do that with hospitality. You want to do it with a warmth and a sincerity that allows the people to understand that we’re part of this neighborhood as well. What can we do both to help and what can we do to be of service? What can we do to be a good contributing member of the community?”

Full-Service Resort

The Aliante property is designed to blend into the neighborhood, as well as serve its needs.

A small hotel—in comparison to other Station casinos—will become a welcoming home-away-from-home for visitors to the area, whether it is a one-night getaway for locals or a comfortable space for their friends and family.

“Each room is about 400 square feet,” Thompson says, “which is close in size to the rooms at Green Valley Ranch. It is local in that it will be comfortable and appealing, but it is absolutely a place that you can feel you’re on vacation. We have great flat-screen TVs, mini-bars, 24-hour room service, beautiful furnishings. It’s appealing in a local sense, but it’s really more of a vacation feel when you walk into the room. We have nine suites; 202 rooms all together in the hotel tower. It’s very delightful. We don’t feel that it’s at all intimidating. It has a very warm feel to it overall in the hotel tower, but I do think that people will be very pleasantly surprised when they walk into the rooms for the first time.”

Hasson says the value will be notable for the locals.

“We have it priced in a manner that recognizes that the community will be lodgers in our hotel,” he explains. “Those of use who live here in Las Vegas understand that we get a lot of visits from friends and family. It’s easy to get to, nice to come to, good getaway. I always tell my friends and family, ‘You’re always welcome. That doesn’t mean I can leave work every day that you’re here, but you’re welcome to be in my home.’ They can wear that out. So I think we should feel free to say, ‘Can I make you a terrific hotel reservation somewhere in the community?’ I think that the people who live in the Aliante master-planned community and in the surrounding neighborhoods will find us a convenient inn in their community. And hopefully as they have friends and family members visit, they welcome them into their home, and then they can turn to a neighbor like me and say, ‘Can you really take good care of them with a room and a meal and an entertainment experience?’ And I’ll take care of all three of those, including the room.”

Food and beverage is another hallmark of all Station casinos, and Aliante is no different. It borrows from other properties, but has some unique twists of its own.

From the Station restaurant roster comes the Original Pancake House, Camacho’s Cantina, T.G.I. Friday’s and the Feast buffet, as well as a fast food court that includes such favorites as Villa Pizza, Panda Express, a Johnny Rocket burger stand and Dunkin’ Donuts.

New to Aliante is MRKT Sea & Land, a higher-end steak and seafood house, and Pips Cucina, the first restaurant operated by wine expert and former Southern Wine & Spirits executive Rino Armeni (see story on page 40).

“We think the community will really, really enjoy Pips,” Thompson says. “It’s a nice place for after work or even for family dining—very light, just light and fun environment, which should be fantastic.”

The engine of any gaming property is the casino. With 2,500 slots and 40 table games, Aliante will mirror most other locals casinos, with more than 1,000 video poker games and 1,500 multi-denom machines that start at pennies and top out at $25.

A 12-table poker room will complement the signature Station race and sports book, a tradition that began at Red Rock and now has spread to nearly all Station casinos. At Aliante, the 180 seats are only the start. A circular bar gives fans views of dozens of flat-panel televisions so they won’t miss a second of the action.

Like the hotel, the Aliante meeting space is designed to complement the community. In 14,000 square feet of meeting space, Aliante Station makes it easy for locals to get involved.

“Rather than describe it in terms of square footage, because I don’t know if that means anything to anyone, I like to describe it in terms of who we can take care of,” Hasson said. “We can take care of small groups, we can take care of medium-sized groups and perhaps even large groups. We have full-scale banquet and catering capabilities. We have private dining in some of our restaurants. If you’re a group of, let’s say, 20 or 30 people, I could take care of you in a private dining experience inside MRKT Sea and Land. I could take care of you in a private dining experience inside Pips Cucina. So we’re a full-service locals resort, up to and including terrific banquet and meeting space.”

Visitors can also expect the full range of entertainment at Aliante Station. In fact, the casino’s Access Showroom seats 650 people comfortably, with first-class sound and sight lines; all seats are within 75 feet of the stage. While Smokey Robinson will perform for the opening weekend, Hasson says don’t expect to pigeonhole Aliante Station into any one category of entertainment.

“We cover every genre, every style, every taste of music performances,” he says. “Our job there is to make sure that we try to make ourselves more aware and to let our guests know that we’re looking to satisfy them. So we’ll do some country, we’ll do some rock, we’ll do some contemporary. We’ll cover every base in that regard. We’ll do oldies, we’ll do current. We’ll find the sweet spot when it comes to entertainment.”

Thompson says the customers’ feedback will be an important gauge of what acts they book at Aliante. And they’ll try everything in the beginning.

“We’ll figure it out based on ticket sales and the response we get to the concerts,” she says. “But we’re also going to be offering some things in the afternoon mid-week for some of the people, the retirees who live out here in the community. We have a fabulous center bar. It’s absolutely beautiful. We’ll have a DJ in there on the weekends. We’re also doing some unique things at Aliante. We’re serving food in our lounge, so that’ll be kind of nice for after work, you can come have a cocktail, enjoy some appetizers, things like that. It’s pretty diverse.

“And then of course we have our movie theater, which is a great form of entertainment for some folks—16 screens, one of them being an IMAX, with our partners at Regal Cinemas.”

It’s the Economy, Stupid!

While you can’t predict the state of the economy two years down the road when you start building, it’s unlikely Station executives believed that the Las Vegas economy could have been hit as hard as it has. But both Hasson and Thompson believe that Aliante was built for the long term and will survive the current economic slump.

“It’s really about just building that loyalty with the community and with our guests, and providing a place where they want to come to repeatedly,” Thompson says. “Whether it’s good times or bad times, sometimes when times are tough, that’s when you need to get away and get out and go have a little dinner or have a cocktail or a cup of coffee and forget what you have going on. So again, although it’s a challenging time, we’re excited about having a place for people to get away to and start to build those relationships. We’re optimistic; we remain optimistic that things will get better, and we’re going to be in this for the long run.”

Hasson agrees.

“When it comes to the economy,” he says, “it’s very easy for me to define that we build our businesses for the long term. We have come to this neighborhood and built a house. We plan to live here for a long time. We want to create relationships. We want to become an integral part of this community. And we want to make this a great business that evolves, much like any other Station Casinos property that our company has operated in the Las Vegas Valley over the last 30 years.”

Even if it just served the Aliante neighborhood, Hasson says the market would be substantial.

“There will be about 20,000 people living here when the community is built out,” he explains. “That’s just what is immediately adjacent to us. There are plenty of other neighborhoods and other communities that are not immediately adjacent, but close by. Beyond that, that will ultimately be the guest that we take care of as well.”

Aliante Station’s market, however, will reach beyond the limits of the community of the same name. Hasson explains that the property’s marketing efforts reach across the valley and across the country.

“Like all of our business throughout the Las Vegas Valley,” he says, “guests have a propensity to go to the place where they find convenience. Convenience can be defined in a lot of ways. It can be a parking space that’s close to a door. It can be the ability to get into a show and know that there’s a seat waiting for you and a ticket waiting for you. It could be the connection with a manager or a host at a restaurant, and that becomes your place to go, both because you like the food, but also because you like the people. So on those dimensions, we’re limited only by our ability to craft relationships with great guests and to take good care of people.

“But when it comes to geographical distances, our business is in its natural sweet spot anywhere from five miles out and inward toward our street corner here at Aliante Parkway and the Clark County 215 loop.

“But we also have a terrific hotel which extends our reach. Whether we’re attracting guests from Southern California, whether we’re attracting guests from the other side of the valley, whether we’re attracting a guest who wants to play a round of golf at the great Aliante golf club and also stay overnight in the hotel, we can accommodate that. Our reach expands based on having the full array of abilities to take care of people, including to lodge them. So all of that helps to work as part of our formula for who will be our guest.”

Proximity to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway makes it a natural partner during races.

“We’ve been doing a lot of relationship building with the folks out at the racetrack,” says Thompson, “and we look forward to having the opportunity to house some people here. It just makes such great sense because we’re so close by; it’s very, very convenient. That gives us another way to kind of reach a little bit further.”

And Hasson believes that the travelers on I-15 could also stop by.

“We’re a company that never gets tired of outdoor advertising,” he laughs, “so of course we’ll have some messages on 15. We’ll have some messages on 95, as well, and we’ll dot the rest of the Las Vegas Valley so that people have a reason to know of us and have an ability to find us.

“Nellis Air Force Base is also not too far. As the crow flies, or perhaps as the jet flies, it’s very close. We see ourselves also as being a getaway and a place where people that live in the valley, work at Nellis, have an opportunity near to where they live and work to come join us to fulfill their entertainment expectations as well.”

By Roger Gros   Mon, Nov 03, 2008

Aliante Station brings a number of exciting entertainment and dining options to the people of North Las Vegas and the Aliante community, not the least of which is the first restaurant venture for Rino Armeni.

Armeni is well-known throughout the Las Vegas community, not only from his 12-year stint as the marketing director for Southern Wine and Spirits, but also for his work with the Epicurean Charitable Foundation, an organization he says is the second most important thing in his life behind his family.

But opening a restaurant has always been a dream for Armeni, and now it is time to realize that dream.

“I always wanted to do this, and I came to an age where I decided it was time to be my own boss and do it,” he said. “It’s my first restaurant, but I’m not a novice. I worked in hotels and casinos all my life except for 12 years…so I am very familiar with the F&B operations and I am very comfortable with it.”

North Las Vegas wasn’t the first place Armeni was thinking about opening Pips, which, by the way, he hopes will be the first of what will become a growing chain. But his friends on the Strip were obsessed with signing a celebrity chef, whereas Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta were, as he explained, “the only ones who believed in me.”

But there are some advantages that he pointed out. While growing, the neighborhood is currently under served in terms of dining options.

“I think that in a 10-mile radius, there are a lot of people and there is nothing,” he said. “I’m going to be only Italian restaurant, so I should charge $100 per person.”

Armeni is not, however, charging $100 per person. Instead, he has made a very conscious effort to keep prices affordable at Pips. From the entrees to the wines, Armeni said he wants to give his customers a value proposition by combining excellent food and service with a more affordable price point of about $35 per person.

“I’ve been in this town since 1989,” he said. “When I started at Caesars Palace, the buffet was $3.99. Now it is $30.

“We’ve forgotten what Las Vegas was all about, which was really value. If we out-price ourselves, people will come once and never come back.”

One of the areas where he has introduced a value concept is through the idea—originally proposed by Aliante Station General Manager Joe Hasson—of selling wine by the ounce. It will allow people to experience what a $200 bottle of wine tastes like without having to buy the whole bottle, or even a $50 glass. He also put great attention into putting together a wine list for various price points, with selections in the $35 to $99 range.

“When you come to my restaurant, you actually have a variety of wine that you can choose from based on price point,” he explained. “You can find a great bargain if you know your wines.”

Armeni also launched a concentrated effort to find his executive chef, and in the process landed Gerald Chin from the Joel Robuchon restaurant at the Mansion at MGM Grand, a man who Armeni says “cooks as good as my mother,” although he notes that he hasn’t told his mother that. With Chin, Armeni has created a menu he calls “youthful Italian.” It features modern twists on some classic dishes, including an Italian slider (meatballs filled with cheese), a fondue with 24-month aged parmesan and pasta cooked tableside inside a wheel of parmesan cheese.

With his experience, his knowledge and his obvious excitement about Pips, it is hard to imagine the property will be anything short of a success. Armeni clearly has the right attitude moving forward, and it looks like his restaurant will be a perfect fit at Aliante.

“I want to go back to square one,” he said. “Everything I have seen that is wrong with the F&B industry, I’m trying to avoid it. Go back to basics, that’s what I do.

“It’s all about the experience you give to your guests.”

By Martin Baird   Mon, Nov 03, 2008

One way to settle this is for you to take the following true-or-false customer service quiz. All it requires is honesty and a few minutes of your time. By the way, all employees with any degree of customer contact should take the quiz—from general managers to beverage servers. After all, everyone who works at a casino should consider themselves to be in the customer service business.

Answer the following true or false questions:

1. When a guest walks in the door, I smile and welcome them. true false

2. I offer to get a fresh drink when I see a customer’s glass is empty. true false

3. When I see litter on the floor, I pick it up and dispose of it. true false

4. I consider each guest to be of the utmost importance to my casino’s success. true false

5. I casually observe guests to anticipate their needs and then step forward to meet those needs. true false

6. I arrive for work on time. true false

7. I arrive for work prepared to start my shift. true false

8. I familiarize myself with the buffet menu each day so I am prepared to make recommendations for guests who ask. true false

9. I maintain a positive, can-do attitude as I perform my job. true false

10. I greet repeat customers by name when I know they appreciate the recognition. true false

11. I leave my personal problems at home so I can focus on doing my best for each guest. true false

12. I maintain good posture so I look approachable. true false

13. When a customer speaks to me, I closely listen so I understand what they are communicating. true false

14. Consistently good service is one of my top priorities. true false

15. I am courteous to guests at all times. true false

16. I understand that gaming is a form of entertainment for guests and that I am part of the entertainment. true false

17. I strive to make each guest’s gaming experience a fun one. true false

18. I am genuinely interested in my guests and the kind of gaming experience they want to have. true false

19. When a guest asks for something, I respond immediately. true false

20. When a guest looks as if they are trying to find something, such as the restroom or the buffet, I ask if I can be of assistance. true false

21. When it comes to guest service, I take pride in a job well done. true false

22. I am kind to my guests. true false

23. I help co-workers who are struggling to provide good service. true false

24. There are no exceptions to providing great service. true false

25. I am patient with guests who are older. true false

26. I praise co-workers who provide great service. true false

27. I ask questions when communicating with a guest to make sure I understand them. true false

28. All casino employees must work together as a team to provide great service. true false

29. When talking with guests, I make sure my voice has a calm, friendly and welcoming tone. true false

30. Providing great guest service is my opportunity to shine. true false

So how did you do? It’s up to you to decide whether your answers reflect that you are truly good at providing great service. Even if you think you came off looking pretty good, it’s likely you found a few ideas that will help take your service skills to a higher level. And if you think you could do better, these questions certainly provide an outstanding foundation for becoming a guest service superstar.

Martin R. Baird is chief executive officer of Robinson & Associates, Inc., a Boise, Idaho-based consulting firm to the global gaming industry that is dedicated to helping casinos improve their guest service so they can compete and generate future growth and profitability. Robinson & Associates provides guest service training and employee incentive and recognition programs, as well as presentation skills training, management skills training and team building programs. The company is a member of the Casino Management Association and an associate member of the National Indian Gaming Association. Robinson & Associates may be reached at 480-991-6420, mbaird@casinocustomerservice.com or via its website at www.casinocustomerservice.com.

By Caitlin McGarry   Mon, Nov 03, 2008

Bad news about the economy just keeps on coming.

First, the housing bubble burst, taking with it the booming industries of real estate and construction. Then gas prices increased dramatically, airlines raised ticket prices and potential tourists could no longer afford to either fly or drive to Las Vegas. Last month, credit markets imploded, plans for new casino properties were put on hold and Nevada’s convention industry took a huge hit. The dominos tumbled in a long line of destruction.

With Wall Street embroiled in a financial crisis, Nevada is dealing with its own money woes. Nevada legislators realized this year that the current budget fell short by approximately $1.2 billion. Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons ordered state agencies to slash their budgets by 14.1 percent to prevent the state from sliding into a deficit.

The agencies complied, but the ramifications of cutting costs will be felt for years to come. If revenue forecasts are any indication, the state government and all of its entities will be forced to operate at low levels for the remainder of the decade.

So where did Nevada go wrong? A wide range of factors collided to create the state’s current financial tangle, but many Nevadans, including economists, government officials and community members, point to the state’s narrow tax structure as a sore spot in desperate need of an overhaul.

The Only Game in Town

Nevada entered the union with a mining-based economy that drew speculators who searched for silver from 1859 to the early 20th century. When mining began to slow, so did the state’s population growth.

Abandoned communities leave traces of the boom-and-bust lifestyle adhered to by the state’s original rootless residents. R. Keith Schwer, economics professor at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and director of UNLV’s Center for Business and Economic Research, said these ghost towns are evidence of Nevada’s long-term lack of economic diversification that continues today.

Gambling has been a favorite pastime of Nevadans since the days of speculation, but it wasn’t until the Great Depression decimated what was left of the mining and agriculture-based economy that the state legislature voted to legalize gaming. Once considered a short-term fix for the state’s money troubles, gaming has become Nevada’s largest industry, and the one it relies on the most for revenue.

But experts say trading one industry for another, in this case mining for gaming, isn’t the most economically sound approach.

“The areas where spending is down are automotives, furniture shops, home repairs and discretionary recreation,” Schwer said. “It’s that last item that’s a good portion of our economy. There’s nothing wrong with the business cycle; it’s grown and it’s done us very well. Gaming now is everywhere and others have copied our success. It’s made it more cyclical.”

Back when gaming was a polarizing issue of morality (more so than it is now), Nevada was the only place to which gamblers could escape. These days, gaming is prevalent, having been legalized by several other states to supplement their budgets. When times get tough, as they recently have, die-hard gamblers seeking the best games in the world will still flee to Nevada, but not as often.

With decreasing numbers of visitors who aren’t staying as long or spending as much, Nevada’s main industry has been shaken. Gaming taxes accounted for 14 percent of the state’s budget in fiscal year 2007, and gaming revenue dropped 5 percent in fiscal year 2008. Sales taxes, Nevada’s other main source of revenue at 16 percent of the general fund, decreased by 4 percent this year. Two large blows to the budget created a significant shortfall, and now the state is being forced to examine its sources of income.

“We’ve relied on gaming and sales tax as a way to pay our bills,” said Nevada State Controller Kim Wallin. “We have to look for some alternative revenue sources.”

Costs Versus Benefits

Nevada attracts people and businesses that choose to grow roots because of the state’s friendly tax codes. There is no personal income tax or corporate income tax, and when elected in 2006, Governor Gibbons imposed a moratorium on introducing new taxes or raising taxes already in place.

But with no additional sources of income and tax revenues falling across the board, both Schwer and Wallin said the time has come to reevaluate Nevada’s tax structure and work to find alternatives.

“I don’t know how they’re going to be able to go in there and say, ‘No new taxes,’ especially if we have to cut the budgets down 14 percent,” Wallin said. “We may as well turn out the lights and walk away.”

Wallin, who oversees the state’s accounting and financial reporting as the state controller, said she doesn’t believe in raising taxes simply for the sake of raising taxes, but there have been instances where raising taxes would have saved taxpayers money in the long run, as when a Blue Ribbon Task Force recommended the state raise its motor fuel tax.

Revenue from the gas tax, which was last increased in 1992, goes toward a highway repair fund. In 2006, the task force said the fund faced a shortfall of $3.8 billion. That estimate is likely closer to $7 billion today.

Wallin said the extra wear and tear on vehicles from poorly maintained roads in both urban and rural areas costs each taxpayer an average of $270 per year. Raising the gas tax and improving the state’s infrastructure would have reduced that amount to $60 (taking into account the extra cost of the tax). Businesses supported increasing the tax, but Gibbons did not.

Community leaders like MGM Mirage Chairman and CEO Terry Lanni have advocated broadening the tax base to equalize the tax burden, increasing the modified business tax, which is a percentage of total payroll, and increasing the hotel room tax. Lanni has also supported a state tax on gross business receipts.

But if raising taxes is not an option, then perhaps diversifying the state’s economy is. With the federal government now seriously discussing the effect of fossil fuels on global warming, developing alternative energy sources could be a smart move for the state, which would then be able to rely less upon gaming tax revenue. A new industry would also create new jobs, which would ease Nevada’s 7.3 percent unemployment rate.

Where to Go From Here

With severe budget cuts affecting nearly every public entity in the state, everyone seems to agree that something must be done.

Though Gibbons refuses to raise taxes, Nevada voters get a chance to do just that this November. Question No. 5 on the ballot asks voters to choose whether to raise the hotel room tax, which is not to exceed 13 percent. The current room tax, which at its highest is 11 percent in Clark County, is low compared to other states. Fifty percent of the revenue generated from the tax goes toward the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority to operate the city’s convention center and promote Las Vegas around the world. Five percent of the tax revenue goes to the state for the purpose of promoting tourism.

If raised, the additional revenue from the room tax will go into the general fund earmarked for education, and would eventually go toward paying teachers’ salaries. However, Question No. 5 is an advisory question, not a law, and will not automatically raise the room tax.

Schwer said there are two schools of thought: those who believe the state government is inefficient and should cut costs, and those who think the state is operating adequately and should raise revenue. For those who believe in the system, the question is only a matter of improvement.

“It’s hard to forecast that we would have as sharp a decline as we have seen,” Schwer said. “Obviously we made some mistakes from hindsight; rebating money out of the rainy day fund probably was a mistake. If we believe the tax system we have is the preferred one, then the focus is how do we recover from the problems we have and then try to find a system that would iron out the revenues available and match those to expenditures.”

For Wallin, there is a human element to cutting costs, and with the unemployment rate rising steadily each month, the number of people who need social services is only going to increase.

“Our social services are being inundated by people needing food stamps, needing meals, needing assistance. Something’s going to break somewhere,” Wallin said. “And we can’t just say, ‘Sorry, we’re not going to provide the services.’ I don’t think we’re prepared to see lots of homeless people and people in severe poverty. I don’t think we’re ready to turn into a Third World country here, but if we don’t do something, we will.”

If revamping Nevada’s revenue stream isn’t the answer, a number of other options could be, but it’s up to the people of the Silver State to decide.

By Greg Jones   Mon, Nov 03, 2008

In difficult economic times, a vacation is often one of the first things to be removed from a budget. At the very least, people opt for the increasingly popular “staycation.” For those looking to keep costs manageable but still get out of town for at least a day or two, the riverside gambling town of Laughlin is becoming an increasingly popular attraction.

Laughlin is a short, 90-minute drive from Las Vegas (for those looking to shave some minutes off the drive, be forewarned that the 25 mph speed limit through Searchlight is strictly enforced and routinely patrolled) and has been compared by some to how Las Vegas used to be. It is smaller, laid-back, relaxed and affordable, and you don’t have to be a high roller to get the high-roller treatment. The club scene is also similar to the older days in Las Vegas, with less focus on velvet-roped lines, $350 bottles of Ketel One and seizure-inducing techno music, and more focus on a lounge feel. If waiting in line and paying a bouncer $40 to get into a club is your idea of a good time, you might find yourself a little bored with the nightlife in Laughlin.

During the day, Laughlin affords opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, from a relaxing hike at Christmas Tree Pass or Big Bend State Recreation Area, a trip back in time to Oatman, Arizona or the numerous activities surrounding the central and defining natural feature of Laughlin: the Colorado River.

“Our location along the river is what made Laughlin what it is today,” said Meg McDaniel, senior manager of the Laughlin Visitors Bureau. “The Colorado River is absolutely pristine in this segment, and it is the key feature that draws people here.”

Down by the River

There seems to be some primal human fascination with water; maybe the constant, steady and smooth movement triggers some part of the reptilian brain. While it is fun to play on and or in, a number of people are perfectly content to, as Bob Dylan put it, watch the river flow.

“Our research shows that it doesn’t matter if it is in an active or passive sense, the river is what draws people here to Laughlin,” McDaniel said. “People enjoy the boating, fishing, renting a jet ski or Ski-Doo or even swimming along the beach area at Harrah’s. In a passive sense, simply sitting at a restaurant that overlooks the water, whether it is the Range at Harrah’s or Don Laughlin’s Gourmet Room at the Riverside, or even just gazing at it from their hotel rooms…there is something about that draw of the water.”

Casino resorts like the Aquarius have packages to help get guests out on the water, with deals that include hotel rooms and discounts on water craft rentals. Packages are designed for those looking for the adrenaline rush of racing along the casinos on a jet ski as well as the people who prefer a scenic tour of the river aboard the Celebration boat. For the most part—at least with mid-week rates—the total cost of a two-night stay and a two-hour jet ski rental is comparable to what it would just cost to rent the jet ski as the average Joe Schmoe walkup customer.

If you want to swim at the beach, you’re going to have to stay at Harrah’s, because the private area is only open to hotel guests (although they would probably make an exception depending on how much you put in play at the tables). There is another access point to get into the river just across the bridge on the Arizona side, but it’s not a soft-sand beach like at Harrah’s. It’s just a natural river edge, which, in short, means mud. It might be great for fishing, but for swimming, it isn’t ideal.

Outdoor Adventures

It seems weird to mention weather as an advantage that Laughlin has, but the reality is that the stretch along the Colorado River is at a lower elevation and is five to 10 degrees warmer than Las Vegas. In August, it’s not much of a selling point, but in the winter months it is nice.

“People can play on the water all year long,” McDaniel said. “People are still out by the pool in December and January.”

With warmer winter weather, the whole wealth of outdoor activities the area has to offer become big attractions. Not only are there four golf courses a few minutes from the casinos, but there are a variety of other things to do, like horseback riding, cattle drives, minirail tours of the canyons surrounding the town, and hiking.

“If anybody likes the outdoors, this is the place to be,” McDaniel said.

Christmas Tree Pass is a particularly attractive area year-round. The pullout is about two miles away from Route 163 (there is also an access point off of Highway 95 that requires spending more time on the primitive road). The gravel road is maintained, and while it can get a little rough in spots, it is perfectly safe for any form of automobile except an RV.

About 45 minutes east of town is the almost ghost town of Oatman, Arizona.

“It really is a step back in time. It hasn’t changed a lot in the last 100 years,” McDaniel said. “It’s really an Old West experience.”

The big draw of Oatman is the wild burros that roam the streets, but there is more to do than play with donkeys. Oatman Stables offers a unique tour that involves a horseback ride behind the mountains surrounding the city, where they have an old-fashioned cookout underneath the stars.

Pride in Ownership

The Laughlin Visitors Bureau, which is part of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, recently launched a new campaign with the tagline, “It’s like you own the place.” The promotion focuses on some of the benefits of the area and its relaxed, unpretentious and friendly atmosphere.

“You feel like this is where you belong,” McDaniel said. “You can afford to be a VIP here. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to enjoy a nice dinner, enjoy the entertainment or stay in a nice room.”

For anyone who snickered at the mention of entertainment, the city has been able to routinely attract a number of national acts, and it’s not just during the annual Laughlin River Run. Kid Rock recently played at the outdoor amphitheater at the Aquarius, Chicago recently visited and Journey and B.B. King will be there soon. There is another advantage to the Laughlin entertainment line-up.

“What I like most about the Laughlin venues is that they are more intimate,” McDaniel said. “You’re in a 2,500- or 3,000-seat amphitheater and you don’t need binoculars to see the performer like you might in some of the larger venues.”

With all the entertainment options and the affordable rooms, Laughlin is a great value and particularly attractive in these times of economic uncertainty.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re talking room rates, concert tickets or a fine dining experience, Laughlin is a great destination for anybody who is somewhat budget-conscious,” McDaniel said.�

By Patrick Roberts   Mon, Nov 03, 2008

In last month’s Casino Connection, we focused on the unfortunate situation of foreclosures in the housing market and how to avoid them. Those who find themselves in this predicament need help and all the advice they can get.

The opposite is also true, however. With thousands of homes in foreclosure—one expert estimated that 14,000 homes in the Las Vegas Valley were for sale via foreclosures—there is also a golden opportunity for those with capital to invest and faith in the real estate market. But it’s not that easy.

While we are seeing the largest foreclosure market in American history, it’s not an automatic profit center, even for those experienced in buying and selling foreclosed homes. Despite what you may hear or see, there is no get-rich-quick guarantee to foreclosures. It’s hard work to make money from foreclosures and it’s not all evident.

So let’s review what the strategies could be if you’re interested in taking the plunge. Here are 10 steps to take:

1) Get a buyer’s agent: A buyer’s agent is a real estate agent who represents you as a buyer. Remember, a real estate agent usually represents the seller, so they are looking after the interests of only the seller. If you’re interested in buying, hire someone who will look after you and you alone. Interview several agents before you decide on the right one.

2) When you find a property, research its history: This is one of the advantages of having a buyer’s agent. They do the grunt work for you here. This will tell you what the bank paid for the property as the lender and the price they are asking

3) Determine comparable sales: Your buyer’s agent can also find out what other similar properties in the neighborhood have sold for. But this isn’t always a great indication in this market. Since there haven’t been many sales in the past six months, the prices paid may be out of date. So you have to consider the pending sales (where agreements have been reached, but the closing has not occurred) and active listings.

4) Research the listing agent: Foreclosures are handled by “REO agents” who traditionally work for two or three banks. Have your buyer’s agent research the sales history of those agents. You can see how much they have discounted the asking price to give you an idea of how much they are willing to bargain.

5) Check out the offers: If there have been no offers on the property, you can probably submit a much lower offer than the asking price.

6) Submit a mortgage pre-approval letter: Banks are anxious to sell so if they know you are a qualified buyer, they may accept a lower offer from you rather than consider a higher offer from someone else who is not approved yet.

7) Offer to split fees: While some banks will not pay transfer or escrow fees, others will. Offer upfront to split those fees, which give you another advantage to having your lower offer accepted.

8) Downplay inspections/repairs: Most banks won’t spend another dime on a house they want to unload, so getting the house inspected will be almost useless. But you should set a ceiling on expenses so you can negotiate any major problems after having your offer accepted.

9) Shorten the inspection period: Since it really doesn’t play a huge role in foreclosure sales, cut the days you are entitled to inspect the house by as much as half.

10) Don’t be put off if your offer is rejected: Remember, they are still banks. Negotiating with a bank is different than negotiating with a typical seller. They don’t want to get burned more than they’re already going to be. Should you get turned down, have your buyer’s agent discuss the situation with the REO agent and find out how far apart you are. And if you like the house that much and can justify the acceptable price, go for it! But wait another 30 days so you don’t look too anxious. And a bank will not sign a counter-offer until all stipulations and terms are agreed upon.

It makes a big difference whether you want to live in your new foreclosure buy or if you’re going to flip it.

If you plan to live there for at least five years, chances are the value of the house will rise.

But if you plan to flip the house within the next year, you need to pay very close attention to the real estate market. Even if you get what you consider a “steal,” that price could still be considered high if things don’t improve quickly. So forewarned is forearmed.

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Nov 03, 2008

In the current depressed state of the national economy, casinos throughout Nevada are finding themselves dealing with increased competition to attract and retain the best customers. One of the easiest and most successful ways to keep people coming back is to make sure they have an enjoyable experience from the very moment they arrive at a property. One of the very first people an arriving customer meets—and similarly one of the very last people a departing customer meets—is a bellman. Steve Webb has been on this front line of customer service for five years at the Venetian, and he’s learned a few things about making the guest’s experience a memorable one. “It’s about making them feel comfortable with their stay, meeting their expectations and thinking about anything that they could need or want before they have to ask for it,” Webb said. The same goes when they’re on their way out, too, like making sure that they’ve checked wall outlets for cell phone chargers and the like. “It’s the little things like that that get missed at most places,” he said. With Webb there to think of these things for the customers, the Venetian is positioned to maintain the levels of customer service for which it already has a well-earned reputation.

By Greg Jones   Mon, Nov 03, 2008

The international appeal of the gaming industry in Las Vegas provides both challenges and opportunities. For Shannon Scott, it was the ultimate attraction that brought her to the Las Vegas Hilton.

Scott loves meeting and learning from people of different cultures, so Las Vegas was naturally appealing. It’s not surprising that someone who loves interacting with people so much also enjoys the challenge of teaching them, too.

As the Hilton’s property trainer, Scott has the opportunity to do exactly that. She is part of a two-person team that handles everything from new-hire orientation to yearly refresher courses on things like sexual harassment and problem gaming.

Her psychology degree from Pacific University in Oregon gives her some necessary insight when interacting with people, but it was her experiences right out of college that really prepared her for what she is doing now.

Scott went to Japan to teach English. It was quite an adventure, she says, because she didn’t know the Japanese language beyond a few simple phrases. But the challenge and learning opportunity turned a one-year assignment into three years abroad.

“I was teaching junior high level kids, but I had to teach them at almost a pre-school level, because that was the level they needed to learn at as far as English goes,” she said. “It was a challenge to teach them at that level and still respect their age.

“That applies to training here, too. I have to teach to the level of the employees while maintaining respect for them, too. I have to respect that a lot of the employees have been here a long time and still continue to teach them what they need to learn.”

When it was time to leave Japan, Scott was very interested in coming to Las Vegas. Not only was there the international appeal, but the dichotomy of the history of the city and its ever-changing nature was also a draw. When she found the job at the Hilton, she knew it would be a perfect fit.

“Coming from the teaching background, I wanted to stay involved in that some way and help with employees understanding different cultures because we have so many employees from all over the world,” she said. “I thought that my background would be good for this, and it has been. I can understand where people are coming from. That has lent itself well to being able to relate well to employees.”

Teaching isn’t the only thing that Scott does, however. Some of the most rewarding aspects of her job involve a more relaxed interaction with her fellow Hilton team members—in some cases, as literal team members.

Scott shows up at events in which Hilton employees are competing during the annual Las Vegas Corporate Challenge. In cases where a team is one person short, she is eager to get involved.

“There are 33 different events, and I’m pretty much in every single one because I don’t want any of our hardworking employees when they have a sport they totally love to be out there and have to forfeit,” she said. “If they need someone, I’ll jump in even if I’m not going to be good. At least it is not a forfeit and they still end up having fun.

“I’ve done fishing to fencing—you name it. I even had to wear some guy’s shoes one night to play volley ball because I showed up in sandals because I didn’t think I would have to play.”

If she has any concerns about her job, it would be that she doesn’t have time to recognize and acknowledge the work of the many Hilton employees who are deserving.

“There are so many people that we would love to get to, and I feel like we don’t have the opportunity to do that. There are so many wonderful employees here that we take the time to spend time with them as much as we can, but we have other things we have to do,” she said.

Selfless as she is, Scott is deserving of recognition, too.

By Joe Legato   Mon, Nov 03, 2008

What do you get when you mix a zombie game with the Marvel Universe? Treyarch and Shaba Games have the answer: Spider-Man: Web of Shadows.

In this game, Manhattan has become completely infested with the alien mind-controlling symbiote that gives “Venom” his superpowers. The S.H.I.E.L.D. team has isolated the island to prevent the spread of infection, and now it’s up to Spider-Man to save the city.

But it’s too much for him alone. An array of Marvel heroes and villains may be able to help, but the symbiote is taking over and mutating more of these characters every second.

This same symbiote once gave Spider-Man even stronger powers, but they made him more aggressive and merciless. Is it worth doing again to save the city? Now you must choose who to team up with from the Marvel world and how far you will go to salvage Manhattan.

Much darker than other Spider-Man games, Web of Shadows presents ethical dilemmas to our superhero friend and lets the gamers decide which path to take. This is the first Spider-Man game that lets players make decisions and choose their own path in the game. The outcome of the game depends on these choices, and there are many different possible endings.

Web of Shadows has cool scenes and visual features. It’s always fun just to see your favorite Marvel character mutate into a super-powered monster. The game presents a unique storyline in the Marvel Universe. The Invasion of the Body Snatchers-feel of the game is creepy, but in a good way. In most games you have to be a helpless human fighting zombies, but in Web of Shadows you get to be a superhero.

Just don’t get too caught up in the extra powers the symbiote gives you; you never know when you might turn sides against yourself.

By Robert Rossiello   Mon, Nov 03, 2008

Are there any true artists left in the commercial music industry? With the release of his third album, Gossip In The Grain, singer-songwriter Ray LaMontagne may fit the bill. Here is a musician who doesn’t follow trends or crowd his sound with slick production, but has an original and fresh approach to songwriting. In short, LaMontagne is a craftsman. What shines through his music—from his first release Trouble in 2004 to his 2006 follow-up

Till the Sun Turns Black—is pure sincerity, an intimate, heartfelt connection to his material.

This sincerity is evident on the 10 tracks on Gossip In The Grain. Backed by his touring band, LaMontagne barrels through railroad blues like “Hey Me, Hey Mama,” and “Henry Nearly Killed Me (It’s a Shame).” But it’s his ballads that really showcase his voice—a breathy, smoky delivery that conveys emotional depth and vulnerability. In songs like “Winter Birds” and the gorgeous “A Falling Through,” you can hear the ache in his voice.

Producer Ethan Johns, who helped expand the singer’s sound on his last effort, wisely lets LaMontagne’s voice take center stage, buffering it with spare, evocative melodies. Reminiscent of Nick Drake and Steven Stills—whom LaMontagne considers influences—Gossip In The Grain creates a mood at times both melancholy and celebratory.

Though you could say he is working in the folk style, LaMontagne’s music does not fit neatly in that genre. On this album he has commented, “It was time to open up a little bit more, not be quite so reserved in my choice of songs that I wanted to record.” Gossip In The Grain is expansive in its musical choices and its emotional range. If you are not familiar with this excellent musician’s work, it’s time you got to know him.

By Marjorie Preston   Mon, Nov 03, 2008

In the months following 9/11, 1,500 additional traffic deaths were recorded in the United States. Why? People were afraid to fly.

Flying was no more dangerous; in the wake of the terrorist attacks, it may have never been safer. But 1,500 people could not bring themselves to board a plane. They died on the highway instead.

That’s just one example of the baseless fears that keep people nervous, keep them home, make them buy products they don’t need, send them to war and alter the culture, making everyone less free.

Newspaper columnist and author Daniel Gardner has written a timely, persuasive and occasionally infuriating book about the ways governments, corporations and news media rule and direct people through fear. Some of these scare tactics are used with calculation. Others are simply passed along until they are accepted, without question, as fact.

A startling example is the skewed statistic about child predators. In the 1980s, John Walsh, father of a murdered child and founder of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, told Congress that 50,000 children disappear annually, “abducted by strangers for reasons of foul play.” The actual number of children kidnapped by strangers, reports Gardner, is closer to 115. About half of those are returned safely.

The consequences are not minor. Some parents are so fearful, they don’t let their kids play outside anymore; to exploit these fears, GPS systems are now being developed to keep track of kids.

Through similar examples, Gardner explains how the mammalian brain senses and then shares fear (making this an interesting trip into our collective psyche as well).

And though The Science of Fear may make you feel like you’ve been duped—by your government, by big business and by mass media—it may also make you sigh with relief. There has never been a better time to be alive, Gardner writes. If only we could relax and enjoy it.

By Greg Jones   Mon, Nov 03, 2008

Mike Myers is taking a lot of heat for his latest movie, The Love Guru. The majority of critics are complaining about the lowbrow and tasteless humor, the generally inane plot and the less-than-stellar acting from Myers and co-star Jessica Alba. Somehow, this is a surprise to people?

Alba has only one talent that keeps her in the movies: she is easy on the eyes. As for Myers and his material, well, that hasn’t really changed since he first arrived on Saturday Night Live. His characters—from Simon and his “draw-rings,” East German techno fan Dieter or even rock and roll wastehead Wayne Campbell—all seemed to revel in puns, pratfalls and cheap jokes.

Nothing changed when he created the Austin Powers character, and again nothing has changed with Guru Maurice Pitka, the self-proclaimed love guru.

Pitka’s charge is to help a star hockey player (Romany Malco) get over the stress of his wife leaving him so the team can snap a losing streak and make a run for the Stanley Cup. If he can do this, he will not only be paid $2 million, but he will also get the chance to live his life dream of being on the Oprah Winfrey Show and possibly overtake Deepak Chopra as the world’s leading self-help guru.

It’s a mindless journey full of typical Myers-type jokes, complete with the kind of sex jokes that keep teenage boys in stitches.

But with that said, it seems like Myers has found a style that he is comfortable with and that works for him. If you are a fan of his comedy, you’ll enjoy the movie; if not, it may be more of a gamble.

The DVD comes with the traditional fares of commentary, blooper reels and deleted scenes (Hollywood somehow thinks packaging together the stuff that wasn’t good enough to show in the theater justifies a $20 price tag). Don’t let the negative reviews dissuade you from giving this one a shot. It’s not nearly as pretentious as half the movies being released these days; it is funnier than most; and it is no less original than the endless string of remakes that seem to be all the rage these days.

By Caitlin McGarry   Mon, Nov 03, 2008

Vicente Fernández is to Mexico what Frank Sinatra is to the United States: a musical legend of epic proportions. Latinos throughout North America have embraced Fernández’s music and have made him one of the best-selling artists in the world—though the mainstream American media often ignores his work.

Fernández has released more than 100 albums and sold out countless concerts since his rise to fame in the mid-1960s. The star began his career at the age of eight, when he performed in amateur contests to earn money for his struggling family. In 1976, at the age of 36, Fernández’s career finally gained momentum with the ranchera hit “Volver, Volver.” Today, the song has been covered by countless Spanish-language artists.

The mustachioed Fernández is famous for his live performances, which incorporate glittering mariachi costumes, dozens of musicians and Fernández’s signature oversized sombreros. His latest tour is in support of 2007’s Para Siempre, an album of new material that has been a hit with both fans and critics.

Vicente Fernández appears at the Mandalay Bay Events Center November 29 at 9 p.m. Tickets are $61.40, $84.50, $99.20, $123.25 and $207.35.

By Caitlin McGarry   Mon, Nov 03, 2008

The 1990s saw a series of epic rock acts that changed the face of music as we knew it. Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Smashing Pumpkins topped that list. Each band experienced extreme highs and lows throughout their careers, and though it seemed the Pumpkins had gone the way of genius artists who eventually imploded, lead singer Billy Corgan and his crew are now celebrating a 20-year musical partnership.

The Smashing Pumpkins is now as it has always been—Corgan’s dream made reality. The singer crafted each of the Pumpkins’ masterpieces, from Siamese Dream to Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness and beyond (though, of course, those two albums remain the band’s signature works).

The Pumpkins split in 2000, with Corgan taking his ethereal metal stylings to other projects. In 2005, he announced the band was reuniting, though he had neglected to mention that fact to bassist D’Arcy, guitarist James Iha or drummer Jimmy Chamberlin. Chamberlin returned to the fold, and along with Corgan, bassist Ginger Reyes, guitarist Jeff Schroeder and keyboardist Lisa Harriton released an album of new material in 2007 called Zeitgeist.

Though the original lineup will likely never be reunited, Corgan and crew put together a two-DVD set of live material recorded at the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco. The collection, which also serves as a documentary, is titled If All Goes Wrong and will be released this month to coincide with the band’s fall tour.

The Smashing Pumpkins plays the Palms Casino Resort November 29 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $78, $88 and $113.

By Caitlin McGarry   Mon, Nov 03, 2008

Singer-songwriter Jason Mraz emerged on the music scene in 2002 with a sunny folk sound combined with skillful lyricism. Discovered in San Diego, Mraz’s first album, Waiting for My Rocket to Come, quickly topped the charts. The record’s lead single, “Remedy (I Won’t Worry),” introduced Mraz as a harbinger of California cool and skittering hip-hop stylings.

Six years later, Mraz’s songs are still a playful mix of acoustic strummings and sweetly absurd lyrics, as evidenced on his latest album, We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things. Mraz’s most recent single, “I’m Yours,” is proof that for all his sexual innuendo and hip-hop posturing, Mraz’s best work is often his most romantic (this could also be seen on his debut’s “You and I Both”).

Whether he’s rapping about writing on “Wordplay” or crooning about a fiery crash on “Plane,” Jason Mraz’s songs and performances are universally appealing—a feat not all singers can reach.

Jason Mraz performs at Palms Casino Resort November 15 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $32 and $37.

By Caitlin McGarry   Mon, Nov 03, 2008

Comedienne Wanda Sykes has appeared in countless TV shows and movies, and her blunt and biting signature style is always at its peak.

Sykes practiced her comedy skills while working for the National Security Agency—a place not typically known for its wit. After leaving the organization, she opened for the legendary Chris Rock. From there, she landed a gig writing for The Chris Rock Show.

In the years following her big break, Sykes starred in her own sitcom, appeared on Larry David’s comic vehicle Curb Your Enthusiasm and voiced animated characters in movies like Over the Hedge and Barnyard. She is a current performer on the CBS comedy The New Adventures of Old Christine.

Like many stand-up comics, Sykes shines in her live performances, which offer hilarious critiques of society, government and relationships. Whether on tour or on screen, Sykes continues to demonstrate her prominence as one of today’s best comedians.

Wanda Sykes appears at Planet Hollywood November 14 and 15 at 10 p.m. Tickets are $66.

By Caitlin McGarry   Mon, Nov 03, 2008

Celebrity siblings are often overlooked, even those who are talented in their own right. Singer Roslyn Kind, little sister to Barbra Streisand, burst onto the musical scene in the 1960s with her popular debut, Give Me You. Her career has spanned the last four decades, and Kind is now on tour to support her latest album, Come What May.

Kind and Streisand experienced vastly different types of fame during their careers, though the two share similar facial features as well as a theatrical, Brooklyn-tinged tonal quality. Kind took to Broadway and international television productions in addition to her recording work. She appeared on Saturday Night Live, landed movie roles and guest starred on several popular TV shows.

Kind’s latest album showcases her soaring vocals and has garnered rave reviews from some of the country’s top critics. Though her sister may be a household name, Roslyn Kind consistently proves that she too is an essential part of the family talent pool.

Roslyn Kind plays the Cannery Casino & Hotel November 14 and 15 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10.

By Caitlin McGarry   Mon, Nov 03, 2008

Smokey Robinson is best known for his work on Motown Records, the label that produced some of the greatest tracks of the 1960s. Robinson’s songs were among the best; he recorded countless hits with his group, the Miracles.

From “Shop Around” in 1960 to “The Tears of a Clown” in 1970, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles were one of the hottest acts around. Between recording hits like “I Second That Emotion” and “The Tracks of My Tears,” Robinson found time to pen singles for other groups—the biggest hit being “My Girl” by The Temptations.

Robinson eventually split from the Miracles, releasing solo albums that followed the trend of contemporary music from Motown to mellow, sophisticated grooves. Robinson has continued to record and produce records, recently releasing an album of pre-1950s standards called Timeless Love, as well as touring the country to bring his signature sound to a stadium near you.

Smokey Robinson performs at Aliante Station November 14 and 15 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $65, $87 and $98.

By Caitlin McGarry   Mon, Nov 03, 2008

The queen of reinvention has long both surprised and delighted fans with new images and new sounds, while always remaining true to her dance roots. That queen, of course, is Madonna, who returned to the pop charts this year with a dominatrix style and a club-friendly album, Hard Candy.

Madonna’s black corsets and bass-driven beats are at the forefront of this fall’s Sticky & Sweet Tour and, as always, Madonna’s brand of subversive sex definitely sells. Hard Candy’s lead single, aptly titled “4 Minutes,” is all slinky grooves and marching band horns cued and crafted by ubiquitous producer Timbaland. Justin Timberlake also lends vocals to the album, though teenage fans may be disappointed by his absence from the tour.

Pop’s reigning diva is in top form, presiding over this decade’s musical wanderings through retro rock ‘n’ roll and disco decadence. Hard Candy may not be the best album, but Madonna is surely one of the best performers of our time.

Madonna appears at MGM Grand Garden Arena November 8 and 9 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $75, $175, $265 and $375.

By Greg Jones   Mon, Nov 03, 2008

One of the biggest entertainment events of the year comes to Caesars Palace this month when the Comedy Festival returns for its fourth year in Las Vegas. The lineup is impressive, including Ellen Degeneres, Jerry Seinfeld, Tracy Morgan, Dane Cook, John Oliver and many more.

The responsibility for putting together the festival fell to Dennis Adamovich, who was recently named senior vice president and general manager of comedy festivals for Atlanta-based superstation TBS, which is partnering with AEG Live to put on the Comedy Festival. Adamovich recently spoke with Casino Connection Managing Editor Greg Jones about this year’s lineup and the challenges of hosting this kind of event in Las Vegas.

The Comedy Festival runs November 20 through 22 at Caesars Palace. A three-day pass is available, as are tickets to individual performances. To see the schedule and purchase tickets, go to www.thecomedyfestival.com.

When you’re putting together this kind of event, how do you decide who to invite?

Adamovich: We decided that we wanted to have a very diverse lineup. We didn’t want it to just be stand-up; we didn’t want it to be all headliners. We wanted a wide range of entertainment, so we brought in the sketch comedy with Kids in the Hall, and we have something that is different, like the celebrity roast that we’re doing with Cheech and Chong. At the same time, we still have the headliners like Katt Williams, Ellen Degeneres and Dane Cook.

The other piece to this that was really important was that we’re also having people whose names haven’t been out there. In the Emperor’s Ballroom, we’re doing a unique concept that hasn’t been done before. It’s the TBS LOL lounge and we’re going to do a broadband feed back to the comedy festival page at TBS.com. For three hours every night, from 6:30 to 9:30, we’re going to have new faces from around the country who are going to be doing some stand-up. There is a lot of great new talent that most people haven’t seen, and this is their opportunity to check out some of those folks.

Does having the show in Las Vegas make it easier for you to attract headliners?

Las Vegas is the Mecca of entertainment, so there are a lot of people who are already there. But the performers like coming there. There is more comedy being booked through the casinos on the Strip, and that really helps our cause.

Could you talk about hosting the Comedy Festival at Ceasars Palace? It looks like it would be a great fit, having access to the rooms, the restaurants and a number of different show rooms and meeting spaces.

Caesars is a great partner, and being able to house it all in one spot like this is great. It provides us with the opportunity to go from a small venue like we’re doing to the LOL lounge, where we have 200 to 250 seats, all the way to the Colosseum, where we’re doing 45,000 seats, and everywhere in between. It gives us a lot of flexibility to do it at Caesars, and they’re just great partners to work with.

Do you find it more difficult doing this kind of festival in Las Vegas compared to other cities like Chicago or Aspen because of the large amount of entertainment options available to people?

There is certainly more entertainment competition, but with Caesars and AEG Live, we couldn’t ask for better partners because they know how to market to this crowd very well. Working with Harrah’s, they have multiple touch points throughout the city. Then you layer in TBS and our national exposure and everything we have, and if you’ve been watching the playoffs, you’ve been seeing a lot about the Comedy Festival.

How do you put together a schedule for this kind of show so people aren’t forced to decide between seeing one headliner and another?

The way we scheduled was to try to allow like audiences to go to like shows; that similar shows aren’t happening at the same time so you have the ability to go from show to show and so there is the right flow for consumers.

One unique thing this year is a roast of Cheech and Chong. It’s been a while since those two have worked together, and the celebrity roasts are very popular right now. How did you come up with this idea?

It all came about, the two of them getting back together for a tour they’re doing called Smoke Signals. We had been talking to their management and suggested the roast. They’ve never been roasted and there are so many other comedians that have been influenced by them. What better place to do it than the Comedy Festival?

It goes back to the variety. The Cheech and Chong roast is great flavor, and when you look at all of the festival, it’s a great meal. Cheech and Chong, going to a roast like that, a one-time only event makes for a great festival.

By Dave Bontempo   Mon, Nov 03, 2008

Peter Aaronson was always fascinated by the stage. Gaming, particularly in Las Vegas, helped him enjoy it.

Stints at Bally’s and the Venetian over the last several years gave the New York native a portable portfolio. The realities of budgets, combined with his conducting and stage background, have brought him to a significant place: executive director of the Las Vegas Philharmonic.

“It’s great to see all the different parts of my career come together,” said Aaronson, who served as director of entertainment at Bally’s and ran the Venetian’s showroom. “Las Vegas has been good to me. It’s still a small town in the sense that you can be put with the right people when you work here. Within three months of working with the Venetian, I’d met the governor. Las Vegas is still so good that way.”

Aaronson, who views the critically acclaimed Jubilee! revue at Bally’s as his signature Las Vegas achievement, adroitly married finance and fantasy. He always had the dream of performing, first as a trumpet player. Aaronson obtained a bachelor of music degree from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, performed additional studies at the Juilliard School of Music and enjoyed orchestra conducting in Salzburg, Austria. He was also versed in the choral and operatic end of conducting.

The big stage, however, became casino venues. He needed to understand budgets, people and corporations. Between the Las Vegas experience and jobs in Atlantic City, for Universal Studios and the Carnival Crystal Palace Resort in the Bahamas, along with Norwegian Cruise Line, he hit every entertainment note.

Aaronson became a savvy veteran of the hospitality industry. He understood the sizzle, the steak and a new age of economic reality.

“The biggest change that had occurred over the years was that entertainment in general could no longer be accepted as a loss-leader,” he said. “In the beginning, the events themselves did not have to earn a profit because the gaming tables would benefit and the rooms would benefit.

“Yet it became a hallmark of the corporate world that every department in the casino had to turn a profit. When that changed, we were forced to fine-tune our marketing skills, look at all the details. In the case of Jubilee!, it meant that we had to make this a money-maker. Yes, the casino still wanted the customers inside the property after the event, but Jubilee! on its own had to do well.

“From sets, costumes, lighting, designs and casting, often around 100 people, it all had to make sense financially,” Aaronson said. “It was a wonderful time, because I was given a free hand in determining what the show would be, but it would have to be a money maker, and it was. We brought in more crowds. Everybody was happy.”

Aaronson kept up his community ties with area leaders while running the Henderson symphony for six years. He continued to perform, still was seen on the scene, and presto, the Las Vegas Philharmonic beckoned. It is the third largest arts organization in Nevada. It has grown into a nationally recognized orchestra, offering a continually expanding program. That includes a masterworks series featuring some of the world’s best touring artists and a connoisseur series featuring top soloists.

The Las Vegas Philharmonic will find its new home in the $475 million Smith Center for the Performing Arts in 2011. Aaronson is involved in everything, including fund-raising.

For Aaronson, it’s a long way from the gaming journey, which began in New Jersey.

Between 1986 and 1991, he experienced the energy of Atlantic City’s heyday and the start of its recession-driven stagnation. He began as a production manager for the Boardwalk Electric Light and Music show at Caesars. It was produced by Disney legend Robert Jani, the architect for Disney’s Main Street parades. The Caesars show became a Boardwalk parade on stage, depicting life in the 1920s and 1930s at the Jersey Shore.

Aaronson contracted with Caesars to place the show in its building.

Aaronson would later discover the other side of the coin, via casino administration. He ran entertainment departments at Resorts and the Trump Taj Mahal.

“This was my initial experience as a resident production manager of a hotel casino, a chance to become immersed in the headliner world,” he said. “People from that time became my friends. Don Rickles, Dom DeLuise, Frankie Valli, Paul Anka, the giants. It was interesting to speak to them on a different level. Dom DeLuise had a love for Italian opera. Many hours after the show, I would play from opera vocal scores. I would sing the ladies, he would sing the men, all to an empty theater. It was absolutely wonderful.”

The entertainment journey has rewarded Aaronson. He remains driven by music, seasoned by gaming and immersed in a world of high notes.

By Caitlin McGarry   Mon, Nov 03, 2008

Las Vegas is a metropolis teeming with busy people: workers, tourists, families, all scurrying to jobs, to school, to the next appointment. The idea that Nevadans are too busy, too focused on their own lives to give back to their communities is a prevalent one, as evidenced by a recent government study.

The Corporation for National and Community Service released the Volunteering in America report, which ranks states by the percentage of people who volunteered between 2005 and 2007. Nevada’s volunteerism rate was 17.7 percent during that period, which places the state dead last when compared to the rest of the country.

Some critics of the report, like Volunteer Center of Southern Nevada Director Robin Kelley, say the study may be flawed due to inadequate tracking of volunteers, and that there may be more community-conscious Nevadans than the report indicates.

“Volunteerism is happening in Southern Nevada everywhere you go,” Kelley said. “We haven’t even had the virtue of being able to promote opportunities. People are finding out these things by word of mouth; they want to volunteer. We need to find a better vehicle to track these hours. We have a belief within the next three years you’ll find Nevada in the middle of that chart.”

The Volunteer Center, which is affiliated with United Way of Southern Nevada, is working to develop a more comprehensive method of tracking volunteers through its website, www.volunteercentersn.org.

The site will allow community members to find events or organizations through which to volunteer, as well as document the number of hours they spend volunteering, either for personal use or to provide a record for employers. These numbers will be collected by the center to report statistics that more accurately reflect volunteer rates in the state.

In its latest incarnation, the Volunteer Center has sought to link volunteers with organizations who need their help. One such non-profit, Three Square Food Bank, is a local food hub that has seen its number of volunteers jump this year, perhaps due to the impending recession. People who would normally just write a check are now taking the time to involve themselves directly in the community, an act that can be cathartic for some.

“With the tough economic times, it feels good to be engaged and be part of the cure to the challenges that are going on in the community,” said Three Square CEO Julie Murray. “A lot of times when people are laid off, coming out and volunteering is a good way to stay involved.”

Three Square collects food donations from individuals and businesses, and then redistributes them to more than 200 non-profit agencies that provide food to people in need. The organization opened in late 2006.

Las Vegas resident and Conrad N. Hilton Foundation board member Eric Hilton conceived Three Square in 2003, when he requested that the Hilton Foundation commission a study on hunger in Las Vegas. The results found that only 43 percent of people in need received a meal every day, and that children and seniors were impacted most by the lack of food. Thus, Three Square was born.

With seed funding of $2 million from the Hilton Foundation and backing from enterprising leaders of the gaming industry, Murray said Three Square has received overwhelming support from the community.

“(Gaming leaders) came to the table both with funding and with volunteerism, and they also gave us their executive chefs and culinary leaders to help put together a program,” Murray said. “Without the initial support of the gaming industry, we wouldn’t be able to create such a viable program. What we have in place is consistent access for people in need of food.”

The Volunteer Center of Southern Nevada is also developing a strong relationship with business leaders and community members. The center organizes large-scale volunteer events to help businesses engage their employees beyond the job site.

“It really is an excellent opportunity for (businesses) to increase employee morale and make their place a place people want to work in,” Kelley said. “People want to experience things with their coworkers beyond the 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.”

Kelley is working with corporations to determine how the skills of their employees could be applicable in volunteerism. For instance, financial experts could volunteer to help non-profits in the accounting department, while more creative minds could contribute marketing ideas or community outreach.

Both Three Square and the Volunteer Center work closely with the city, corporate partners and community members. Murray and Kelley agreed that this combination is integral in bringing people together to give back to their neighborhoods.

Whether donating an hour of time or a dollar, people uniting to help Nevadans in need could make all the difference in today’s tough times.

“I know our community has a reputation for low numbers of philanthropy, but we aren’t seeing that,” Murray said. “We’re seeing them come forward in ways that give us great hope. We’re seeing a city with great heart.”

Interested in volunteering? Check out these organizations.

Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada
702-385-2662

This faith-based non-profit group accepts donations of food, clothing and toys, as well as volunteers.

Opportunity Village
www.opportunityvillage.org

There are a variety of different volunteer opportunities at this non-profit, which serves people with intellectual disabilities.

The Rape Crisis Center
www.therapecrisiscenter.org

Become a victim advocate, answer hotline calls and respond to University Medical Center to help victims of sexual assault.

Three Square Food Bank
www.threesquare.org

Donate food items or help in the warehouse by unloading boxes and sorting food items.

Volunteer Center of
Southern Nevada
www.volunteercentersn.org

Find volunteer opportunities through this central organization.

By Dave Bontempo   Mon, Nov 03, 2008

Can the Hit Man silence the Magic Man? Can he make some magic of his own?

That’s the theme surrounding Ricky Hatton’s November 22 match-up against Pauli Malignaggi at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Hatton has become a local fixture in the past two years, notching some of his biggest victories and also suffering his lone defeat—a high-profile setback against Floyd Mayweather—in Las Vegas.

He’s also infused the city with capital and with fiery British fans, emboldened by the pound’s buying power versus the dollar, storming Nevada for his past few fights. Buoyed by drinks, they sing loudly enough to resemble a soccer game back home. Bizarre songs, like “Blue Moon,” have become a staple surrounding the Hit Man. Have they begun to become cliché?

“I’m a little freaking sick of it now,” he said, bringing laughter to a room of reporters. “But it’s all fine with me.”

Hatton (44-1 with 31 KOs) made an interesting pronouncement for his 30th birthday: Just three more fights—Malignaggi, Oscar De La Hoya or Manny Pacquiao, then perhaps Juan Marquez. One more big year and that’s it.

We’ll see.

Unlike many performers, Hatton has thrived outside of his own country. He scored a close, controversial decision over Luis Collazo in 2006 by scoring a knockdown just 10 seconds into the fight. That fight occurred in Massachusetts. In 2007, he waged three Las Vegas showcases.

Hatton defeated Juan Urango and then delivered a terrific left hook to the liver, crumpling Jose Luis Castillo. Hatton inflicted the first stoppage upon Castillo’s illustrious career, but later bit off more than he could handle. He called Mayweather, boxing’s top performer, out of imminent retirement. That backfired. Mayweather again proved unbeatable, and stopped Hatton before finally retiring early this year.

Oddsmakers, however, give Hatton a pass. Anyone who fights Mayweather barely has it count against him. Hatton is slightly more than a 2-1 favorite against the fast-talking, light-hitting Malignaggi.

Before training camp began, however, Hatton ballooned up severely in weight. He often does that, but the tactic tempts fate. Has he gone too far?

Malignaggi, meanwhile, has maximized his potential. He has gained worldwide attention despite scoring only five knockouts in his 25-1 career.

The mystique really began in defeat. Malignaggi was outslugged and beaten by Miguel Cotto in 2006, but obtained respect for standing and slugging with one of boxing’s premier performers. Malignaggi eventually captured a junior welterweight title, outpointing Lovemore N’Dou in 2007. He secured a close decision victory over Herman Ngoudjo in Atlantic City, and then defeated N’Dou in a rematch.

Malignaggi faces Hatton one day before his 28th birthday and is not awed by the British slugger.

“I have the big speed advantage in this fight,” Malignaggi said. “Sure, Hatton is powerful, but he has never faced anybody with the kind of speed I am going to throw at him. He has not done well against fighters who have the edge in speed on him.”

Malignaggi, based in New York, has the perfect personality to embrace Las Vegas. This is his first appearance here. He welcomes the media blitz and big lights that have intimidated others.

“It does not bother me that people say I can’t punch,” he said, grinning. “I’ve shown what the benefit of speed will do. I will show it again when I face Hatton.”

Look for Malignaggi to try piling up points and for Hatton to try out-muscling him.

Hatton-Malignaggi is the second boxing showcase of the month for Las Vegas. Nonito Donaire faces Moruti Mthalene November 1. Two weeks later, Mandalay Bay hosts a UFC showdown between Brock Lesnar and Randy Couture. Richard Steele’s promotional company has a November 25 event at the Silver Nugget.

Who Do We Appreciate?
It happened again. The New England Patriots are just another team. Yet another Super Bowl runner-up struggles and must claw for the playoffs. Seven of the last 13 Super Bowl bridesmaids haven’t made the playoffs the following year. Their struggles bring more focus to the incredible hill they nearly climbed last year.

Theories abound regarding free agency and the Super Bowl hangover. But here’s the real rub: the emotional investment for coming so close. For the last 10 weeks of their regular season, the Patriots were being hyped for 17-0 perfection. They swept the entire regular season, went 16-0 including the league championship games and really were better than the 1972 Dolphins, football’s last unbeaten team. They were simply stunned by the single greatest play in Super Bowl history.

Eli Manning’s ability to dodge a game-clinching sack and David Tyree’s catch pinned against his helmet turned season-long perfection into bitter defeat for New England. A near certain interception that wasn’t preceded that play. After the long haul and the near miss, it was too much for New England to regroup from.

Even had Tom Brady played this season, the emotional commitment for New England did not figure to reach full pitch until December. That’s the tough task for Super Bowl losers. They were closest to the flame and thus burned the most.

How could this team possibly regard November games as life-and-death? Now they can and they must because the Patriots have slumped. They are just another NFL team.

One more factor involving the dropoff concerns the small margin of caliber between teams. A couple players slump, some become injured, and you are going backwards.

A little 2007 retreat caused wasted seasons for Chicago and New Orleans, the NFC finalists from 2006. They had similar personnel, but did not reach the previous year’s performance.

Wranglers Host Four
The Wranglers have a limited home schedule in November, with four dates. They host Bakersfield November 7, Phoenix November 8 and Idaho on the 14th and 15th. All events take place at the Orleans Arena.

Casino Connection sports editor Dave Bontempo, who broadcasts major boxing matches throughout the world, will call Hatton-Malignaggi for HBO’s worldwide television audience.

By Joshua Cohen   Mon, Nov 03, 2008

Palazzo’s new pan-Asian restaurant and bar, Mainland, provides an interesting experience, to say the least. The Tokyo-bubblegum-pop décor provides a fun, upbeat ambiance in which to sample new twists on old favorites.

While Mainland bills itself as a noodle restaurant, the real draw is its eclectic group of appetizers, side dishes and drinks. Their menu ranges from ramen to sour coconut fish soup. You have heard of all the food before, but likely not tasted any quite like these.

To start, try the pot stickers. They are freshly made by veteran chef Thomas Charoen using shredded, lean duck and garnished with several unique flavorings. They are, hands down, the best potstickers in the world. Also be sure to try the shrimp toast fritters and the pad thai.

Mainland has a full bar, but the one thing you’re unlikely to find anywhere else is the marshmallow shake. Served in a tall soda fountain glass, this thick, creamy shake is over-flowing with real marshmallows and ice cream and comes garnished with more toasted marshmallows. It is sinfully good, and the one truly unique item on the menu.

While the marshmallow shake is served virgin at Mainland, you might convince the bartender to spike it with some Godiva chocolate liquor, butterscotch schnapps or vanilla vodka.

Other signature drinks include bubble teas of various flavors. For those who haven’t tried bubble teas, they are fruit-flavored drinks, both alcoholic and non, that are half-filled with small tapioca pearls. Mainland provides extra-wide straws through which to imbibe the little delectables. Try the almond-flavored tea for sure.

The atmosphere says a lot about Mainland. It is bright, airy and colorful, providing a pleasant and cheerful dining experience. The tables are mostly semi-circular and family-style, with benches on the inside and outside. The dual, stenciled emblems of Elvis and Chairman Mao are indicative of the flavorful food splashing color upon the communal setting.

Most dishes and drinks are priced from $7 to $15, which is very reasonable for the quality and location, and most are worth every penny. Enjoy your trip.

Buzz Worthy

Marshmallow Shake - Mix six marshmallows, 13.5 ounces of vanilla ice cream and 2 ounces of whole milk (you can experiment with adding various alcohols if you wish). Garnish with toasted
marshmallows, whipped cream and a warm Hershey’s Kiss. Serve in a tall pilsner glass.

MAINLAND

The Shoppes at the Palazzo

Hours

11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday-Thursday

11a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday

702-414-4300

By Caitlin McGarry   Mon, Nov 03, 2008

At twilight, the neon glow of the Las Vegas Strip is backlit by orange skies and slate blue mountains—the quintessential contrast of a sparkling metropolis amidst the harsh wonder of the desert. The bustle of tourists and traffic makes it difficult to stop and take a look around, but Panevino Ristorante & Gourmet Deli is an oasis from which to admire the beauty of Sin City.

One of Las Vegas’s newest Italian restaurants, Panevino has quickly amassed a following, and word of mouth has spread—due as much to the view as the fine dining experience. The restaurant is located just south of McCarran Airport, and a wall of floor-to-ceiling glass faces the Strip, so patrons can stare at the city lights and watch airplanes soar into the sky over dinner and drinks.

Panevino may take its culinary inspiration from Tuscany, but the restaurant got its start in San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter. The Las Vegas incarnation expanded upon its picturesque predecessor with a prime desert location and the addition of a deli to serve the more casual diner.

Half Old World Italy with wood and brick design elements and half space age architecture with lamps curling down from above, Panevino has a distinct character in both appearance and food.

The charming eatery offers both lunch and dinner menus, but the building truly comes alive at night, when the place takes on an air of romanticism with dim lighting and cracking fireplace. After being seated, servers bring baskets of bread with oil and vinegar in typical Italian fashion. The soup, salad and appetizer offerings are numerous, and it’s tempting to order one of each, but a five-course meal isn’t possible with portions this size. It’s best to focus on choosing one of the many available entrees.

There are rich pizza offerings, including the Rustica, topped with fresh mozzarella, parma prosciutto and arugula drizzled with truffle oil. Then there is the pasta, which is beyond anything Olive Garden has to offer. Panevino serves up three different kinds of ravioli (the four-cheese variety with tomato-vodka sauce and sausage is perfection), as well as traditional linguine, penne and gnocchi.

The seafood and meat selections incorporate a range of ingredients that elevate the meal’s base to a high art. Steak, lamb, chicken, lobster, salmon—you name it, and Panevino serves it with style.

Of course, a fine dining experience wouldn’t be complete without a well-rounded drink menu. Panevino has a superior wine list, as well as a mix of cocktails that includes the delicious tiramisu martini (rum, dark chocolate, coffee liqueur and half and half).

For patrons who prefer simple lunches to decadent dinners, Panevino has an adjoining gourmet deli that offers 18 kinds of specialty sandwiches, all under $10. There are also a plethora of salads to choose from, as well as a selection of hot food items. The prices run well below those of the main restaurant (which can be a little pricy, but the quality is worth it).

As for those value-minded diners who prefer a great special to an expensive slice of veal, Panevino is also the host of Martini Tuesdays and La Dolce Vita Night every Friday, with enough drink specials and live music to keep you entertained all evening. So request a seat near the window and enjoy the view. The experience is more Nevada than Naples, but it’s still a sight to be seen.

Panevino

246 Via Antonio Avenue (at Sunset Road in Marnell Corporate Center)

Hours:

Sunday-Thursday

5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Friday-Saturday

5 p.m. to 11 p.m.

702–222–2400

Mon, Nov 03, 2008

Terry Caudill is building a reputation as someone who can restore life to stagnating properties. He did it with the Four Queens, which he purchased in 2003, and now he is focusing his attention on Binion’s, which he bought back in May.

Since that time, he has changed the layout of the casino floor, opened a sports bar and cigar lounge and worked on upgrading the public spaces at the property. He estimates that he has spent about $10 million so far, and that is probably about half of what he will need to invest in bringing the property up to modern standards.

Beyond that, he has plans to tap into a number of resources at the property he feels have not been fully exploited by previous owners. Caudill recently spoke with Casino Connection Managing Editor Greg Jones about his Downtown casinos and his view of the Downtown market. The full interview can be heard at the GGB Podcast page at www.ggbmagazine.com/podcast.

Casino Connection: Could you describe the condition of Binion’s when you acquired it earlier this year?

Caudill: Binion’s was a property that was in disrepair and had been neglected. The previous two owners were not in a position to put any money back into the property. When Becky (Binion) had it, she was always kind of struggling with it and never put any money back into it, and MTR had it for several years and they never really put any significant amount of money back into it. So when we found it, it was in the state of disrepair. There were a lot of maintenance issues and a lot of clean-up issues and bringing things up to today’s standards a little more.

You’ve made some changes on the casino floor and in the public areas. How have those changes worked so far?

That’s a tricky question because by the time we got around to addressing these things in earnest, the economy took a left turn on us. But I believe that just in watching the customers it has had a tremendous impact. There are areas of the casino that used to be completely dead and now they are the liveliest areas in the whole property.

We’ve created a better flow within the casino. We’ve done a lot of things to get better attention from Fremont Street, opened up the sight lines, brought some of the pit action a little closer to Fremont Street so people can see it and we can lure more people in.

I think the changes that we’ve made have done a good job of that. There has been a vast improvement in the foot traffic over there, but, of course, people are watching their money right now.

If you walk around on a Friday and Saturday night, there is tremendous energy in the property right now, and there wasn’t when we bought it.

Some of that energy comes from the sports bar and cigar lounge you opened in August, Benny’s Bullpen. Could you talk a little bit about the decision to open that and to locate it where you did?

When we bought Binion’s they had a beautiful wood back bar with stained glass sitting there that was dead and empty all the time. There was no energy at all in that area: there was a dead pit that was never opened, slot machines that no one played and a bar where no one sat and drank.

I said we could enclose the area, put some energy in the area, relocate the sports book and now you can make a sports wager, walk around the corner to Benny’s Bullpen and watch the game in a relaxed atmosphere, smoke a cigar and have a cocktail. I think it is the nicest place in the whole Downtown, if not the whole city of Las Vegas, to make a sports wager and then sit there and watch the game.

What is your ultimate goal for Binion’s? Where do you see it fitting in in the Downtown market?

We believe the property has the ability to retake its place in the Downtown lore, when it was the property to go Downtown. We want to bring back the concepts that made Binion’s successful: “good food, good whiskey, good gamble,” as Benny Binion used to say. We want to be really down-to-earth, player-friendly. We think we’re going to have a great product there. It has been kind of stripped down to the bare bones, and now we’re trying to put some meat back on the bones again.

You faced a similar situation when you first acquired the Four Queens. It, too, needed a little bit of attention to get turned around. Was there anything you learned from your experience with that property that you are applying at Binion’s?

Absolutely. I learned what works and what doesn’t work and what the customers want. The more time and experience I have in the Downtown market, the more I get to know the customers.

I would say one of the biggest, most successful things we’ve done at the Four Queens, and we’re trying to apply the same philosophy at Binion’s, is getting our employees involved. When I came here, I had a tremendous group of employees who were very tight and very loyal to the property. They almost looked at me like I was an intruder until they got to know me. When they saw that I intended to clean it up, make it nicer and that we were here for the long term—there was a lot of concern that we weren’t here for the long term and just wanted to clean the property up and flip it—they all got behind the program. They come up with ideas to make things better, and I think that same thing is carrying over into Binion’s.

Having started in the gaming industry as a keno writer at Harrah’s in Reno, do you find you have a little more perspective on what you want your employees to do and how you want them to interact with your customers?

Yeah, I’m sure it does.

I would like to think that just my upbringing helps a little, too. I was always taught to respect people and I’ve always worked very hard to get where I was. I’ve always respected people who work hard, and I am very empathetic to people.

Whenever there is something we are going to change or do, I am always very careful to think through what the impact is going to be on the employees. We do care about our employees. They are the lifeblood coursing through our veins. I can do all the things I want, but without the employees buying into the program, it is an uphill battle.

I understand how I looked at my supervisors, and when I was an employee, what I always hated was when somebody told me to do something, but they never explained why I was doing it. I try to avoid that. When I explain things to my employees, I like to tell them why we are doing it. I want them to understand. I try to keep life very simple. I explain to my employees that we have a mantra: if you can only remember two things, just remember cleanliness and friendliness and we’ll be all right.

Given the proximity of the casinos on Fremont Street, I would imagine that your employees are the biggest thing to keep people in your property and keeping them from walking out and going to a competing casino across the street.

They are. Absolutely.

We get a lot of compliments from our customers, and the one thing we hear the most is that our employees are so friendly. My feeling when I got here was that people weren’t very happy. Somebody said, “Well, you’ve got to make your employees smile.” I said it is my job to make them happy and then they will smile on their own.

So that is what we try to do. We try to treat our employees correctly, we try to treat them right and treat them with respect and make them genuinely happy so we don’t have to force a smile out of them.

You go to the Strip and try to play 21 these days, good luck finding a friendly dealer who will even talk to you. Downtown it is very friendly. I think all the casinos Downtown are very friendly, and I like to think that we are the friendliest.

I think the whole Downtown experience, people really like it. And as far as the competition, it’s really more like a restaurant row.

The most successful restaurants are not by themselves and isolated; it is usually where there is a cluster and they all thrive together. That is the philosophy with Downtown. We treat the market as one big casino and try to get people down here and then it becomes a friendly rivalry to pull them into your property. But that’s all healthy, and we all work together down here.

We realize what the game is, and instead of trying to emulate and top the Strip, we try to differentiate ourselves from the Strip and emphasize the things that are different and better. The friendliness, the free entertainment, walking around in an almost carnival-like atmosphere, wandering in and out of different properties, it’s just a fun, relaxed experience.

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Nov 03, 2008

The tribal owners of Detroit’s bankrupt Greektown commercial casino have hired investment bank Moelis & Co. to find financing or a buyer for the nine-year-old casino. A sale is the preferred route out from under the casino’s $755 million debt.

Greektown, which sought Chapter 11 protection last May, in August came up $500,000 short of meeting loan covenants approved by the bankruptcy court.

Greektown’s owner, the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, has put $47 million of tribal funds into Greektown over the past 10 months. It also had borrowed $150 million in June to complete permanent facilities that include a 400-room hotel required by state law.

The hotel is due to be fully open February 12, but the owner is pushing to have 200 rooms ready for conventions in January.

If a sale takes a while to complete, hotel results could add to the casino complex’s value, says casino analyst Jane Pedreira.

Pedreira adds, “I think absolutely there will be interest despite the credit market. There are a few people out there with capital. It’s not an impossible situation.”

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Nov 03, 2008

West Virginia’s Governor Joe Manchin last month gave his support to an initiative on the November ballot that would allow the venerable Greenbrier resort in White Sulfur Springs to introduce table games.

The measure was put on the ballot in September by the Greenbrier County commission at the request of the union representing workers at the resort. The resort has been running in the red for several years and recently told the union that it can’t maintain the current level of salaries and benefits without help from gaming.

“The Greenbrier has basically been our flagship of showing off some of the finer and higher end of West Virginia,” said the governor, praising the effort to bring it back into profitability.

The great majority of the guests at the resort come from out of state.

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Nov 03, 2008

When he bought the Fontainebleau Miami Beach three years ago, real estate magnate Jeffrey Soffer said he had no plans to put a casino at the hotel.

That may all be changing. A quiet effort is under way to allow gambling at any Miami Beach hotel with more than 800 rooms. There is only one that currently qualifies: the Fontainebleau. Fontainebleau Resorts has also financed consumer research to see how the public feels about gambling in the area.

COO Howard Karawan insists that gambling was never part of the original plan for the nearly three-year, $500 million renovation, which includes 11 restaurants and bars, 200,000 square feet of meeting space, 1,500 guest rooms, and a 40,000-square-foot spa.

“Not one square inch of this place was designed with any thought of gambling,” Karawan told the Miami Herald.

Soffer maintains that the new push for gambling comes not from him but from a Miami developer who wants to bring a casino to a planned commercial complex downtown.

Soffer, who is building the Fontainebleau Casino Resort on the Vegas Strip, has brought key staff with gaming experience to Miami, including former Mandalay Bay exec Glenn Schaeffer and Karawan, who worked for Kerzner International, owner of the Atlantis resort on Nassau Paradise Island.

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Nov 03, 2008

Global Gaming Expo returns November 18 through November 20 with one of the most important shows in recent years.

With the casino industry feeling the effects of troubled economies around the globe, there is no better time to head over to the Las Vegas Convention Center to gain the perspective that only a show of this size can offer.

Of particular interest this year will be the keynote sessions. On Tuesday, November 18, CNBC analyst Ron Insana will deliver a keynote speech putting together a big picture view of the national and global economies, the U.S. presidential election and more.

The following day’s keynote is the annual State of the Industry roundtable. This discussion, moderated by American Gaming Association President Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., brings together a number of influential gaming executives to discuss everything from the growing importance of non-gaming amenities to emerging gaming technologies. Joining Fahrenkopf will be Gary Loveman, chairman, CEO and president of Harrah’s Entertainment; Terry Lanni, chairman and CEO of MGM Mirage; Armin Karu, chairman of the board, Olympic Entertainment Group; and Ernie Stevens Jr., chairman of the National Indian Gaming Association.

The final keynote on Thursday will focus on the tribal gaming industry, its growth, benefits and where it is heading.

On the show floor itself, more than 750 exhibitors will be displaying their latest products and services covering every part of the gaming and hospitality industry, from the latest electronic roulette and horse racing simulators to the newest wireless gaming devices and the latest innovations in slot machines.

Lastly, each day is packed full of sessions featuring expert moderators and panelists discussing all of the issues impacting the industry, from security to marketing and branding to food and beverage and beyond. The sessions are a great way to continue your education on which way the industry is heading.

To learn more about all the opportunities of G2E and to register as an attendee, visit www.globalgamingexpo.com.

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Nov 03, 2008

Effects of the continued freefall of the U.S. economy are widespread, and no state is having a harder time coping than Nevada.

Since January 2007, the state’s economy has declined more than any other state in the country, and there are no signs that things will improve anytime soon. As companies make cuts to remain afloat, the state loses out in payroll and other taxes, according to a report by the Rockefeller Institute of Government.

The report uses figures from the economic activity index that come from the Federal Reserve Bank in Philadelphia. The index measures tax revenue, unemployment, wages and salary distribution, average weekly hours worked, etc., and creates scores with 100 being the benchmark.

Nevada’s score in August was 95.8.

The state faces a rising unemployment rate that is at its highest point in 23 years, and which economists predict will worsen through 2009 and 2010.

Additionally, as turmoil spreads throughout the country, visitation and spending per visitor are dropping throughout the resort towns. New information released by the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority shows a significant downward trend in all areas used to measure the strength of the city’s tourism industry.

Visitor volume is down 4.3 percent, hotel occupancy down 2.4 percent, gambling win down 9.1 percent, average daily room rate down 15.3 percent and convention attendance down 22.3 percent.

Other jurisdictions seem to be cashing in on the misfortune in Las Vegas. Room rates in Laughlin jumped 15 percent in August while occupancy rose from 73 percent to 75.8 percent. Those numbers help offset a 1.6 percent drop in visitor volume and a 10 percent drop in gambling win.

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Nov 03, 2008

Legislation enacted in 2001 cleared the way for private gambling rooms that can be reserved by high rollers and closed to the public, but the rooms have had limited success.

Spurred by a sputtering economy, the state is looking at revamping the rules established in 2001 in an effort to make the rooms more attractive to the whales.

The rooms’ initial success was extremely limited, and Mandalay Bay, for example, did away with the private salon all together. In 2005, Steve Wynn suggested that the minimum wager requirement of $500 a hand might be part of the problem. Another potential problem is a requirement that players carry a minimum line of credit of $500,000.

The rules were established so that only the true high-rolling elite could use the rooms. It was a tradeoff that opened the doors to a select group of whales privileged enough for the state to eliminate the requirement that all gambling be conducted in public.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board will look at changing those rules at an upcoming meeting to allow casinos to set their own minimum wager amount, and to lessen the required credit line to $300,000 or allow a cash deposit of the same amount to use the private salons.

Bill Bible, president of the Nevada Resort Association, said removing the minimum wager requirement would make it easier for managers to explain why they have to bet a certain amount of money.

In a licensing hearing in 2005, Wynn asked why the Gaming Control Board would want to micromanage the private salons, and told a story of a player who lost $8 million playing $150,000 a hand at baccarat for 15 hours, then, after a pause, he started betting $50 a hand.

“It’s none of your business, as far as their attitude toward us is concerned, what they bet,” Wynn explained. “We don’t allow people to go into the salon that don’t risk hundreds of thousands of dollars an hour… the market takes care of that.”

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Nov 03, 2008

MGM Mirage announced that is has resigned from the Nevada Resort Association, the casino industry’s main lobbying voice in the state legislature.

The company said the decision to leave was financial, not political, but it did not disclose how much it pays in association dues.

“These are difficult economic times and we’re watching our dollars very carefully,” said MGM Mirage spokesman Gordon Absher. “We appreciate (Resort Association President) Bill Bible’s efforts and everything he and his team have done.”

MGM Mirage left the resort association for a year following the 2003 legislative session when a broad-based business tax plan was shot down. At the time, the move was seen as political, but the company said it was simply focusing on its own lobbying efforts.

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Nov 03, 2008

Financing troubles and declining home values are creating difficult times for buyers of luxury high-rise condos attached to a number of Las Vegas casino resorts.

Many buyers had to put a 20 percent down payment on the properties based on their values when first announced. The majority of the projects were announced when home values were high, and now that the bubble has burst, some condo units have lost more than 25 percent of their value.

Buyers who were financing their purchase are now caught in a bad position. Those who entered a contract to purchase a unit at its appraised value of $700,000 in 2006 are now finding the units to be worth closer to $500,000. They can only get financing based on the current appraised value, and it is making it difficult to close.

Trump International Hotel and Tower and Palms Place are both struggling to close on units. A recent report from Deutsche Bank shows about half of the units at Palms Place have closed, while only 21 percent of the condos at Trump have sold.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” Donald Trump told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “Historically, the banks will call me and beg for end loans. But they don’t do that any more because the banks are really out of business.”

Trump and Palms Place owner George Maloof both said they have had to take back a few units, but they noted that the majority of buyers are trying to finalize their purchases.

“People are having a hard time all over the country getting financing,” Trump said. “It’s very sad for the people. There is no bank that gives them money.”

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Nov 03, 2008

Recreational vehicle enthusiasts are threatening to boycott the city of Reno over a 12-year-old ordinance that prohibits overnight camping in casino parking lots.

The ordinance has been on the books since 1996, and city officials say it was enacted for health reasons.

“I’ve observed people stepping out of their RV and urinating outside the door,” said Reno city code enforcement manager Alex Woodley. “We’ve had individuals use a Wal-Mart lot, and instead of being a good citizen, at 2 a.m. they’ll dump their gray water and take off, leaving a hazardous situation.”

The ordinance limits overnight camping in RVs to designated parks with water and sewage hookups.

In the past month, the city received more than 20 emails complaining about the ordinance and warning the city of a potential boycott. The emails, which were forwarded to the Reno Gazette Journal, mentioned the convenience of using casino lots because of the access to gaming and restaurants.

One such email read:

“We spend a lot of money there each year. I just cannot believe that you would take this away from us, and your own merchants!

“RVers are for the most part friendly, clean, and leave their area cleaner than when they arrived. It seems you are cutting off a good source of revenue here, and alienating and running off many who visit your town on a regular basis. You should know that there is a campaign that has started via the internet to boycott Reno as a result of this.”

Reno Mayor Bob Cashell said he is not concerned about the potential loss of revenue, noting, “I’m not sure it wouldn’t pay for a light bulb what might not come back.”

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Nov 03, 2008

Tilman Fertitta’s efforts to buy Golden Nugget parent company Landry’s Restaurants from shareholders were destroyed along with the company’s signature restaurants on Galveston Island, Texas.

Fertitta, who is president, chairman and CEO of Landry’s, told the Securities and Exchange Commission that he will not be able to pay the previously promised $21 per share to buy Landry’s Restaurants Inc.

The offer hinged on financing from revenues at the company’s properties in Texas, which were all but destroyed by Hurricane Ike last month. The restaurants sustained an estimated $50 million in damage and might not open until next year.

With the restaurants closed, Fertitta does not expect to meet certain benchmarks—benchmarks that were being met before the storm—necessary to obtain financing for the transaction. Fertitta said in the SEC filing that he will put together a new offer “at a s

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Nov 03, 2008

Caesars Palace has long been an icon of the Las Vegas Strip. Its Roman theme is now being updated to a more modern feel in its most recent expansion project. Casino President Gary Selesner and other executives held a “topping off” ceremony on the property’s sixth and most luxurious tower. The new 23-story, 665-room Octavius Tower will include 594 hotel guest rooms and 71 suites. The luxury suites in the casino’s last expansion, the Augustus Tower, are some of the most requested in town, according Selesner. The Octavius Tower is scheduled to open in the summer of 2009.

“This ceremony not only marks a significant construction milestone for the $1 billion expansion of Caesars Palace, but with the addition of the expanded convention center and Garden of the Gods pool complex, it will grow the opportunities for more visitors to experience Caesars Palace and Las Vegas,” Selesner said.

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Nov 03, 2008

A jury in Clark County decided that Las Vegas could support two properties of the same name because one property will be significantly more upscale than the other.

That is essentially what the jury said when it handed down a verdict dismissing claims from Tamares Las Vegas Properties that a new $5 billion resort on the Strip—modeled and named after the New York landmark Plaza hotel—would be confused with the existing Plaza hotel and casino in Downtown Las Vegas.

The verdict allows El Ad Group to move forward with its development plans. (The company had planned for a 2008 groundbreaking but has since pushed that date back to 2010 because of the troubled financing market).

The jury also dismissed claims for punitive damages approaching $30 million that Tamares was seeking for allegedly having to delay a $100 million property redevelopment.

In the courtroom, lawyers for Tamares argued that the existing property has built buzz, reputation and name recognition throughout Las Vegas having used the Plaza name going back to its opening in 1971.

El Ad said the existing casino went by the name Union Plaza until Jackie Gaughan changed it to Jackie Gaughan’s Plaza in the 1990s. Attorneys also argued that there is no evidence that Tamares is interested in pouring money into its casino.

As proof, attorneys provided letters from Larry Woolf, whose management company Navagante operated the property through the summer of 2007, which said the company was taking a “Band-Aid approach” and “seemed to enjoy making us ask for money.”

El Ad attorneys also pointed out that the company holds a nationwide trademark on the Plaza name that dates back to 1986, and that the hotel in New York has been operating under that name since it opened more than 100 years ago.

By Casino Connection Staff   Mon, Nov 03, 2008

For Anthony Marnell, a traditional reader board just isn’t enough to advertise M Resort, so he commissioned a lightship to do the job.

The blimp will fly around Las Vegas until the middle of 2009, with an option to extend into 2010 or beyond. With an LED screen on one side, and the M Resort logo on the other, it is literally a billboard in the sky.

The M Resort lightship was introduced to the Las Vegas Valley on October 1, making several laps around the resort before heading off to fly near properties like Green Valley Ranch and Red Rock Casino.

“This is a whole new way to get our message out to the people,” Marnell said. “I’m really excited about what this will do for us.”

In addition to promoting M Resort—and if it does so near a competitor, Marnell said it would be “unintentional”—time on the LED sign can be sold to advertisers to create an additional source of revenue for the property. “It’s going to fly for six to seven hours a day, so there is a lot of time available.”

As for M Resort, Marnell said the project remains on budget and on time for its scheduled opening in early 2009.

Mon, Nov 03, 2008

For those so inclined, such as myself, there is plenty of bad news to focus on these days. Stock markets around the world seem to be teetering on brink of disaster, jobs are disappearing, banks are foreclosing on houses at record rates and Osama bin Laden is still out there somewhere.

Cynics like myself find a perverted joy in some of this news. Seeing people take it on the chin for their own greed brings a certain glee. It’s the same thought process that makes me want to see a football team go the whole season without winning a game.

At the same time, I have to remind myself that for every Wall Street fat cat who just lost a pile of money, there is someone else who just lost their life savings, and for every real estate speculator who got stuck holding an overvalued house after the bubble burst, there is a family struggling to make payments and looking at losing its home.

These bad things aren’t to be dismissed or ignored. But at the same time, there are some positive things on which to focus.

In Las Vegas, we’ve seen the addition of about 2,000 jobs in the last three months with the opening of Eastside Cannery and Aliante Station. More jobs are coming with Encore opening at the end of the year and M Resort opening in March. Then there is the Caesars Palace expansion, which topped off last month, and construction moving forward on projects like CityCenter, Cosmopolitan and Fontainebleau. In short, the job market looks to be picking up somewhat, despite the troubled national economy.

The local distressed housing market is a mixed bag. While those who are having trouble making payments won’t share in the joy, housing prices have fallen back to a rate that most would consider affordable. For the first-time homebuyer with good credit and enough savings for a down payment, this is an unbelievable opportunity. Where three years ago, a one-bedroom converted condo was grabbing upwards of $185,000 depending on location, you can now pick up a free-standing house for less than that right now. If you prefer to go the condo route, that same one-bedroom condo is now going for a more realistic rate of around $100,000.

Additionally, with banks owning more houses than they care to, there are also ways to make money in the current market. Casino Connection contributing writer Patrick Roberts details how you can do this in his article “No Risk, No Reward: 10 ways to profit from foreclosures” on page 42.

As more jobs are created in Las Vegas, the demand for housing will once again grow and home values will reverse course and start to climb. It doesn’t look like the prediction that the end of this year will mark that turning point, but tomorrow is always just a day away.

On the national front, there is the excitement that comes with the fact that we will have a new president soon. That fact alone might be enough to put a stop to the national economy’s recent roller coaster ride. And regardless of your opinion of the current president, or your opinion of senators John McCain and Barack Obama, you can’t help but feel a little optimistic that either one of them have a good chance to take the federal government in a new direction.

Personally, well, as I already said, I’m a cynic. I’ve yet to see in my lifetime any politician who lives up to their campaign promises once in office. A long time has passed since the quixotic vision of a politician restoring integrity and ethics to government was presented in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. These days, that thought seems as archaic as the black-and-white film on which the movie was shot.

Cynical though I may be, even I have found some hope in the things that we’re seeing. Once the fiercely partisan politics of the national campaigns come to a close, and once the economy gets back on its feet, one really can’t help but hope for the best, even those of us who are secretly wishing for the worst. I’ve used the Chinese proverb before, but it seems a perfect fit these days: May you live in interesting times. It is said to be both a curse and a blessing, a mix of troubles and of opportunities.

Modern times certainly are interesting, and there is definitely a combination of troubles with which to deal and opportunities to exploit.

Finally, as you’ll see above, as cynical as I am, I have still found enough to smile about for a new mug shot.