By Greg Jones   Tue, Apr 07, 2009

The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas might be one of the hippest casinos in the city (or even the world), and an ongoing expansion project aims to elevate the status of the already legendary property.

The expansion is part of an effort to grow the Hard Rock brand. It has always been a popular place for the good looking party crowd (Rehab, anyone?) and rock stars—as well as the wannabe rock star crowd—but while it had moxy and pizazz in spades, it lacked a certain level of sophistication. When the expansion is finished at the end of the year, that vital component, and a few others, will no longer be lacking.

“It was time to do the expansion because our customers demanded it,” said Philip D. Shalala, vice president of marketing. “It was time for us to create a different product, a little bit more of a high-end, sophisticated product.”

The total project carries a price tag of about $800 million. It started in late 2007, has already brought in a new poker lounge and will bring a number of additional amenities online later in 2009—two new hotel towers, an expanded pool area, additional retail space, more meeting and convention space and a brand new music venue, a revamped music venue called the New Joint.

The result of the expansion will be a property that draws tourists and locals alike. It will also focus on creating additional value to bring in people.

“I think Las Vegas has changed forever,” said Mark Gore, casino vice president and general manager. “We’ll reinvent ourselves too and come up with something new to create more value for our customers. We’re always working on ways to create value for our customers.”

The expansion will also build on the vibe at the property and increase its cache.

“We have a different experience to offer,” Shalala said. “We have a different facility. You walk in the doors of this place and you feel like you’re walking into a music video. The vibe is different; the feel is different; the energy is different.”

Meeting Demand

There is no doubt the Hard Rock was a popular place to play. Rehab packed the pool area every Sunday in the summer, and try getting a seat at a blackjack table on a Friday night around 11:30. And it was a popular place to stay, too, running at 99.9 percent occupancy for 2008, Shalala said.

But the property only had 650 or so rooms. And while there are some suites, there just wasn’t enough of the high-end room product that property owner Morgans Hotel Group felt was needed to attract the higher-end customer.

Enter two new hotel towers and an additional 865 rooms. The Paradise Tower on the north side of the property has 490 rooms, the majority of which are standard rooms. There is, however, a megasuite on the top floor with 360-degree views of the city, as well as suites on the second floor that overlook the pool area. The Hard Rock Hotel Tower on the south end will bring 375 suites. This tower will have its own parking garage, its own private entrance and its own valet. It is something like a boutique hotel within a boutique hotel. The top floor of the south tower holds megasuites, while the bottom floor has a number of two-story villa suites that overlook and open up to the pool area.

Another component of the south tower is additional casino space. The additional casino space will give the property ample space to nearly double its gaming offerings, up to 140 table games and nearly 1,000 slot machines. The new casino will also be a little more laid back. The feeling, as Shalala describes it, of walking into a music video when you walk into the existing casino space will not be there at the casino under the south tower.

“We want to keep the original feel of the Hard Rock with the energy and the loud music, but then transition to a more sophisticated product in the other casino space,” Gore said.

An additional component of the expansion is a considerable increase in meeting space size, going from 6,000 square feet to 60,000 square feet. Like the hotel towers and the additional casino space, adding meeting space allows Hard Rock to focus on business it previously had to turn away. So not only was it sometimes missing out on some high roller action because of a limiting supply of suites, it was also missing out on the lucrative convention business that can really help drive mid-week numbers.

“We’ve turned down hundreds of millions of dollars of revenue over the past couple years because we didn’t have the space,” Shalala said. “People want to have their meetings here; they want to have conventions here. We just couldn’t service them. Now we can with the New Joint and the new meeting space.”

Calling Card

The New Joint will be usable for conventions and trade shows—an added bonus—but the real draw of the venue is big name entertainment. The Rolling Stones kicked off a U.S. tour a couple years ago at the (old) Joint, and the venue has seen any number of big stars grace its stage. But it was also in need of an upgrade to keep up with the demands from the property’s customers.

The New Joint builds on the tradition of the eponymous venue by focusing on creating a sense of intimacy between performer and audience. In many ways—even in the name—it will be very similar to the original Joint, just newer, a little bit bigger and a little bit better. The New Joint is a three-story venue with 4,000 seats. The main floor area can be configured for general admission (read: standing room) or with seats when necessary.

“The Joint is a legendary live music venue in Las Vegas as well as the West Coast, and we did not want to create something that is totally new and totally different,” Shalala said. “We wanted to create something that had the exact same feeling, but was a little bit bigger so we could service more people and service more demand.”

And wanting to break in the new venue on a high note, hotel management has secured two high-profile acts for the opening weekend, which kicks off April 17. Local-band-made-good the Killers play Friday night, while Sir Paul McCartney plays Sunday night.

“It’s going to be a legendary show,” Shalala said. “It’s definitely the type of thing we want and need to open the new venue.”

With the New Joint, hotel management is expanding its music offerings at the property by bringing in Carlos Santana for a two–year residency. Shalala explained they were looking for a performer who could play four nights a week for a set number of weeks, then take a break and come back and have a similar run.

“There is not a single person who does not relate to some form of music,” Shalala said. “You need to not have a pulse to not like some kind of music.

“I think you’re going to see different types of things with the New Joint. We’re evolving our property and we’re evolving what goes into the New Joint, as well.”

The Hard Rock is also turning its attention to its other major draw and calling card: the pool area. The current expansion will almost double the size of the pool area, allowing even more sweaty people to pack into Rehab on Sundays.

The Hard Rock was definitely on the leading edge of the pool party craze. The pool has been legendary for years, as have the Sunday afternoon parties. And while it, like the Joint, may not require an overhaul, it is something that certainly can’t hurt.

“Our pool is one of our most valuable assets,” Shalala said. “It’s a great facility and we’re going to continue to expand it.”

One of the additions to the pool area is the ability to convert it into an outdoor concert venue. The Hard Rock has hosted concerts at the pool area, but using the area as an outdoor music venue wasn’t considered at the time it was designed. That is taken into consideration now, and just as a top-flight lineup was announced for the New Joint, Hard Rock officials announced that legendary rapper Snoop Dogg will be performing outside at the new pool’s grand opening the same weekend.

By Caitlin McGarry   Tue, Apr 07, 2009

Human beings are perfectionists. As life has evolved, we have moved toward better medicine, education, nutrition, transportation and a myriad of other important facets of civilization. And then, of course, we looked to ourselves.

Some scientists tie the desire for physical perfection to the biological instinct to procreate, an argument that altogether ignores sociological factors. But regardless of the reasons behind our collective quest to appear thin, young and gorgeous, the fact remains that cosmetic procedures play an integral role in that journey toward “perfection.”

According to a report released by the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery last month, more than 10.2 million surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures were performed in 2008. That statistic has jumped 162 percent since the organization began collecting statistics in 1997, though the number of cosmetic procedures performed has dropped by 12 percent since 2007.

Tricks of the Trade

Nevada doctors are contributing to the overall rise in cosmetic procedures, crafting techniques that enable patients to become newer versions of themselves.

Dr. Steven Kozmary of Kozmary Center Medical Spa has developed one such cosmetic procedure, called LipoDissolve Ultra. Kozmary’s technique is non-surgical—rather than invasively remove fat from a patient, he injects medications that dissolve fat cells. The LipDissolve treatment requires no anesthesia and is much less expensive than standard liposuction. The cost of the procedure begins at $250 for an area the size of two hands.

Kozmary said LipoDissolve exemplifies his philosophy, which is providing effective, non-invasive treatments in a relaxing environment. His medical spa is the antithesis of a busy doctor’s office—peaceful and quiet with little to no waiting for attention.

“We didn’t want people to think they were in a busy doctor’s office,” Kozmary said. “We want it to be very personalized, individualized attention to what each person needs. You can only do that in an environment where you have plenty of time to care for the patient.”

Kozmary’s office is not the site of drastic surgical procedures like breast augmentation. Instead, he offers small treatments such as Botox, facials and laser wrinkle removal.

“There’s a need for people that want to look better but aren’t ready for the plastic surgeon,” Kozmary said. “There are relatively conservative measures that people can take. They’re readily affordable. They’re very low-risk.”

Dr. Bernie Hanna of General Surgery Solutions also performs minimally invasive, low-risk treatments along with drastic surgeries. Hanna focuses on weight loss procedures, ranging from the smaller Smartlipo treatment to lap band and gastric bypass procedures.

Hanna’s weight loss surgery procedures are designed for those who are morbidly obese, which is typically determined by a person’s body mass index. Hanna said he treats patients who have tried to live healthy lifestyles but are in danger of falling victim to diseases like diabetes. Weight loss surgeries are far more drastic than smaller treatments and require strict adherence to a diet and exercise regimen to keep the weight off.

For patients who choose a less drastic procedure like Smartlipo, Hanna makes a small incision in the area of choice and then uses a laser wand to rupture fat cells and cauterize blood vessels to ensure minimal bleeding and bruising. He said Smartlipo patients are typically those who are within 10 pounds of their ideal weight range but are having difficulty losing a few pounds. And these patients are, of course, usually women.

What Women Want

According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, women had more than 9.3 million cosmetic procedures in 2008—almost 92 percent of the total performed over the course of the year.

Critics of plastic surgery say the societal pressures on women to maintain their looks as they grow older and have children is directly responsible for women going under the knife. The number of women who received cosmetic procedures dropped by more than 11 percent last year, but so did the number of men who received surgical and non-surgical treatments.

Both Kozmary and Hanna said the bulk of their non-surgical cosmetic treatments are performed on women (though both men and women comprise the client base of Hanna’s surgical bariatric practice).

“My Smartlipo client is the average individual, mostly female…a young mom in her 30s who had a baby and they have a little pooch after pregnancy,” Hanna said. “They’ve been in the gym working out and they just can’t get rid of the tummy.”

Kozmary’s typical client is also a woman in her 30s, though he was inspired to start his medical spa over a crisis with his own appearance.

“I was in my mid-40s and I thought, ‘I need to start working on myself. What’s out there to improve appearance?’ It was kind of self-motivated. That’s when I started getting interested in it,” Kozmary said.

Square One

For those interested in the variety of cosmetic treatments available, many doctors, including Kozmary and Hanna, offer free advice to potential patients. Hanna hosts free weight loss information seminars at Mountain View Hospital in northwest Las Vegas once a month, while Kozmary schedules free consultations for those with questions.

“Most people come in and say, ‘What do you think?’” Kozmary said. “We give them a consultation and evaluate them and say, ‘Here are the options. This is what you need; this is what I think you don’t need. To accomplish what you need to accomplish, you need to go to a plastic surgeon.’

“I try to give them a realistic assessment of what they need. If it’s something they need to be referred out for, we’re happy to refer them out. That’s really what I think our value is. We give them an honest appraisal of where they’re at.”

Both doctors enjoy seeing patients’ satisfaction when the procedures are complete—whether the changes are small or large.

“It’s very gratifying,” Hanna said. “I’ve been doing general surgery for awhile, and weight loss surgery is very satisfying because patients are very happy. ‘I lost 20 pounds, 40 pounds, 50 pounds!’ It’s life changing. It’s much more rewarding for me to see stuff like that.”

By Martin Baird   Tue, Apr 07, 2009

There’s a movement afoot to make immunizations as routine a part of health care for adults as it has long been for children. Apparently adults don’t think about inoculations as much as they should. Casinos need a booster shot of something they don’t often consider—referrals.

That’s right, referrals. For the sake of their own health, casinos need new business now more than ever. Referrals can give them precisely that.

According to Wikipedia, approximately 80 percent of companies obtain 70 percent of their business through “word of mouth from satisfied customers and contacts. Word of mouth is generally spontaneous and is achieved by businesses without any form of structured strategy.” Referrals are a gold mine for any commercial enterprise. They are a source of new money, and the business doesn’t need to do anything, because customers make referrals without being asked. Why wouldn’t casinos want referrals and the benefits they bring? There’s no reason casinos shouldn’t have referrals just like any other business

So if a casino’s revenue is looking anemic these days, if foot traffic is noticeably sluggish on the floor, employees should give their property a shot in the arm by looking at their guests in a different way. Those players at table games and slots are more than a source of income. They are a potential source of new revenue.

How do businesses generate referrals? By giving customers what they want. At casinos, that means giving guests an outstanding gaming experience and making sure they’re having fun. Those who patronize casinos don’t have to win every time in order to enjoy themselves. They don’t have to walk out with fatter wallets in order to consider their time and money well spent. If they had a great time, if they had fun at the machines and tables, they probably will come back (repeat business), and they are more likely to tell friends they should go to XYZ Casino and play (a referral that may generate new business).

But don’t stop there. Guests don’t have to win at all to have a good time. Make sure guests enjoy their meal at the buffet or in the restaurant. Make sure they enjoy the golf course. Make sure they receive nothing less than impeccable service at the resort. Make sure they have a whopping good time at the shows. Every guest should be treated like a king or queen, but employees must be absolutely sure to give repeat guests extra special attention. Think of the word “win” from a different perspective. It’s not about how often guests win, it’s about winning guests over, winning their respect and admiration. The gaming experience is a package deal, folks, and employees help deliver the goods.

Some people equate referral generation with salesmanship, and there are few people who like sales. Instead, think of it as a referral mindset. Interact with every guest as if the sole purpose of that contact is to generate a referral. The employee who does this is not a sales person, he or she is a service person.

The gaming industry’s era of “build it and they will come” is over for the time being. Now it is up to casino employees to give existing guests a reason to give their favorite casino a referral. Employees need to show a little entrepreneurial spirit and think of the casino as their own company. If they owned the casino and its success depended entirely on how well they took care of their customers, every customer would get red-carpet treatment. If employees owned the casino, they likely would understand that it is far easier to get new and ongoing business from referred customers than it is from customers generated by marketing. They probably would know that referrals help keep marketing expenditures under control. Employees likely would understand that referrals create a self-perpetuating cycle in which referred customers become satisfied customers who make their own referrals. They also would know that not every guest will be a patron for life, but that referrals keep the pipeline open.

Employees don’t own their casinos, of course. But if they help management run the property like other businesses and create referrals, then foot traffic should pick up, tips should increase, revenue should improve and everyone will be better off. All it takes is a little shot in the arm.

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   Tue, Apr 07, 2009

As every Las Vegas local knows, finding a great, well-paying job in Sin City is all about connections. Food service veteran James Page knows this better than anyone—cultivating relationships with supervisors and customers helped him land a spot as one of Cannery Casino & Hotel’s most beloved servers.

At Waverly’s, the North Las Vegas property’s high-end steakhouse, Page is a professional friend, making everyone from first-time diners to potential Cannery buyer James Packer feel relaxed and at home. His ease with patrons and years of experience inspired Cannery executives to lure Page from Station Casinos—though it helped that he knew several higher-ups at the property from his time as a banquet server at the Sands Expo Convention Center.

Page, a Pennsylvania native, moved to Las Vegas in 1979 at the behest of his father, who bought him a one-way plane ticket to the desert oasis. He started in the service industry at the Las Vegas Hilton via another connection: his brother.

Page has developed an impressive resume in the 30 years since he began at the Hilton, moving from restaurants to banquets to conventions and back. Along the way, he realized that his gift with people made intimate eateries a perfect fit for him.

“It took me a while to get back into relating to people because banquets can be so impersonal,” Page said. “You’re just throwing food down, attending to a buffet, and you rarely get to know the guests at the level we get to know our guests in here.”

With its cozy seating arrangement and warm lighting, the atmosphere at Waverly’s fosters close-knit relationships among its staff and patrons, and Page provides the personal touch that a locals’ casino like Cannery needs. He is the type of employee who bakes brownies for his colleagues and whom diners want to spend time with outside of Waverly’s.

“We get a lot of repeat guests and regulars, and it makes it so enjoyable to serve them,” Page said. “I’ve had them at my house, and at other houses I’ve attended parties where our restaurant guests are invited. They become our friends. That’s what I love about this place: It’s like your living room sometimes.”

When Waverly’s is packed with people, like on weekends and holidays, Page is a calming influence, striving to maintain a peaceful environment for on-the-go guests.

“Sometimes we do get busy and stressful, but it’s nothing like it used to be [as a banquet server],” Page said. “So there’s much less stress, and it’s more of an enjoyable work environment due to that. You can work at a nice, leisurely pace and make sure everything’s enjoyable. You have more time, if they’re so inclined, to converse with our guests. Just catch up and engage in a conversation.”

Those conversations and connections led Page to Waverly’s, and connections to customers, co-workers and Cannery executives keep him here.

“From the owners to the executives on down, it’s an intimate, family-type environment,” Page said. “I’ve waited on the owners; they’re just engaging individuals. It’s a really close-knit family, and I couldn’t say that more sincerely…they’re all hands-on, and it makes for a really enjoyable work environment.”

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Apr 07, 2009

Casinos throughout Las Vegas went dark the last weekend in March in honor of Earth Hour. The ubiquitous flashing lights and neon signs that adorn the outside of casinos on the Strip as well as in Downtown Las Vegas were shut down in an effort to raise awareness about climate change. Whether you believe in global warming or not, it was a pretty massive gesture on behalf of a city often times labeled as excessively and wastefully ostentatious. Las Vegas joined a number of major cities throughout the world—Paris, London, Sydney, New York, Tokyo, Singapore and many others—in shutting down the lights for an hour, and whether there was any appreciable impact from doing so is irrelevant. By turning off the lights—and not just to mourn the passing of a favorite celebrity—Las Vegas showed the world that it is not a wasteful and gluttonous city with no consideration for anything else, even if it was only for one hour.

By Robert Rossiello   Tue, Apr 07, 2009

Controversy had been swirling around Chris Cornell’s new album Scream long before it debuted last month. The lead singer for Soundgarden and Audioslave—as well as a respected solo artist—Cornell has built his reputation as a heavy medal frontman whose high-pitched, lacerating vocals offer easy comparisons to rock greats like Robert Plant and Roger Daltrey. When Cornell announced that he was teaming up with R&B producer Timbaland—who has created hits for artists as diverse Missy Elliott and Madonna, Jay-Z and Justin Timberlake —many of Cornell’s diehard fans seemed confused, if not outright hostile, about this new direction. What was this grunge icon doing with this slick hip-hop maestro, and what kind of sound would they create?

Scream is the result of this musical collaboration, and an odd album it is. Gone are the rock guitar licks of Cornell’s previous work, replaced here with drum machine beats, funky bass lines and washes of orchestration. Cornell has said that Scream is his most “album-oriented album,” and each track, with the help of some extended digital noodling, flows seamlessly into the next.

Conceptually, the album works as a whole, but there are too many ideas going on, too much technical trickery and bits of overblown orchestration to make it a pleasurable listen. Timbaland, who never does anything half-way, has densely layered each song, adding blips and squeaks or bloating the choruses to the point of obscuring Cornell’s voice. From the dance pulse of “Sweet Revenge” to the noisy ballad of “Never Far Away,” Timbaland either multi-tracks or Vocodes Cornell’s voice into an electronic whine, never giving the expansive singer free reign.

The album’s best track is the most minimal. “Ground Zero,” a post 9/11 lament, uses hand claps, box beats and street noises to create a nuanced, melodic sound. It’s the perfect example of what can be achieved with a little restraint.

It’s rewarding to see an artist break out of his comfort zone and take on new challenges. Scream is a noble experiment with mixed results. Here’s hoping that Cornell’s next approach will be more successful.  

By Marjorie Preston   Tue, Apr 07, 2009

Do you rationalize your failures, ignore the consequences of your actions and sit on unfulfilled dreams and goals for years at a time?

Sounds like you could use a good kick in the keester, and professional keester-kicker Larry Winget is here to help.  

The Sgt. Foley of the self-help genre, Winget brooks no excuses when it comes to change. In the first half of this entertaining if rather one-note book, he lays out the 10 ways people sabotage themselves—through laziness, self-indulgence, low expectations, lack of vision, lack of a plan and a few more.

In the kinder, gentler second half, Winget presents a plan for change that excludes coddling and “coaching,” and relies on a commitment to action that does not yield to momentary wishes or ingrained bad habits.

You can get a clue about the tone of this book from the title of others by Winget: Y ou’re Broke Because You Want to Be, and Shut Up, Stop Whining and Get A Life.

There’s something refreshing about this guy’s approach, especially these days, as a generation of poor choices comes home to roost. More than ever, people need to take the reins of their own lives, and Winget’s tough love may be the best remedy.

Though his brash take on the human malaise can get a little irritating, it’s meant to be, like the burr under the saddle that finally gets you off your tail. The upside is pretty plain, too, as illustrated by another Winget best-seller. It’s called Success Is Your Own Fault.

By Joe Legato   Tue, Apr 07, 2009

If you’ve ever wanted to see what the movie Top Gun would be like in the future, here’s your chance. Ubisoft brings together warfare aficionados and gamers alike with Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X., an aerial combat game that begins in the year 2012.

You play as David Crenshaw, former fighter pilot and member of the High Altitude Warfare-Experimental (H.A.W.X.) squadron. The squad’s just been cut by the U.S. military, so Crenshaw joins a private militia named Artemis. But when Artemis turns against the U.S., he returns to his true allegiance. Now it’s up to Crenshaw to take flight and stop Artemis in its strike against the States.

H.A.W.X. has many different modes to choose from that make it the latest in aerial combat games. You can fly solo, grab a friend in Co-Op mode, or just battle each other in online play, to name a few. The game also comes with neat features that enhance the flying experience.

One that makes H.A.W.X. playable by both beginners and fighter-pilot pros is the Enhanced Reality System. The ERS allows gamers to do things such as follow the safest trajectory or lose missiles that have been targeted on them.

One of the coolest things about H.A.W.X. is its visual presentation. Designers used actual commercial satellite imagery to create the game environments, so it looks as real as ever, and the aircraft are incredibly detailed. It all seems so real, you might start thinking about joining a private militia yourself. Just keep in mind that in real life, there’s no Enhanced Reality System to help you out.

By Aysa Melkonyan   Tue, Apr 07, 2009

Beverly Hills Chihuahua comes at the perfect time for the embattled American public. As millions are hit hard by the financial crisis, escapist fare like this brings a little respite from everyday problems. And there is no studio better than Disney to serve up this celluloid distraction.

The movie centers on a pampered Chihuahua, Chloe (voiced by the perky Drew Barrymore), whose owner Viv (Jamie Lee Curtis) treats her to daily massages, spa treatments and poolside garden parties. Chloe is the kind of dog who wears a diamond collar and gets carried around in a Louis Vuitton bag. When Viv goes out of town on a business trip, Chloe is left with her irresponsible niece, Rachel (Piper Perabo), who takes the dog on an unexpected trip to Mexico.

Ignored and thoroughly put out, Chloe roams the streets until she is kidnapped by dogfight lords. The adventure really starts when she escapes captivity with the assistance of a German shepherd named Delgado (Andy Garcia).

Rachel, meanwhile, begins a frantic search for the lost pooch with Viv’s landscaper Sam, who has a crush on her, and his own Chihuahua, Papi, who’s secretly in love with Chloe. The journey ends well for everyone (what a surprise!) and the two couples get home just in time for Viv’s return.

As nonsensical as it all sounds, Beverly Hills Chihuahua has several funny and sweet moments, and you can’t dispute the numbers. The kid-friendly comedy was first at the box office for two weeks running, and first in sales after its release on DVD and Blu-Ray, beating  Baz Luhrmann’s epic Australia.

Obviously, Americans need a few mindless laughs, and Chihuahua provides.

By Caitlin McGarry   Tue, Apr 07, 2009

Country’s reigning king is also one of the genre’s most relaxed artists (if his lyrics are any indication). Once upon a time, Kenny Chesney was a struggling artist in Nashville, Tennessee, trying to make it big. Now the singer has managed to inject some twang into Jimmy Buffett’s “it’s 5 o’clock somewhere” philosophy, churning out album after album about the cowboys-with-Coronas lifestyle.

Albums like 2004’s When the Sun Goes Down prove he has the musical chops to earn high praise and countless awards, while LPs such as 2007’s Just Who I Am: Poets & Pirates celebrate the singer’s playful party image.

And country fans have embraced both his image and songs, making both his records and tours wild successes. For the past seven years, Chesney has toured the country in support of each year’s album, and 2009 is no different—this spring, he is launching the Sun City Carnival Tour 2009 to play hits from his latest record, Lucky Old Sun.

Kenny Chesney performs at The Joint April 25 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $95.50, $121 and $396.

By Caitlin McGarry   Tue, Apr 07, 2009

Kenny Rogers may be most famous for his morality tale“The Gambler,” but the country-pop singer has a long history of topping the charts. Though he fumbled at the beginning of his career with semi-stardom in two mid-level bands, in the 1970s, his luck changed.

It began with a little song called “Lucille” that quickly caught the attention of music fans nationwide. Then came The Gambler and its sequels, made-for-TV specials, a brilliant duet with Dolly Parton (“Islands in the Stream”) and a fast food chain. The superstar has continued to churn out project after project in a variety of media.

Rogers also continues to regularly tour and record, and is in the process of working on an album of new material (sparking rumors of another duet with Parton). This month, the Gambler returns to Las Vegas for three nights of modern hits and timeless classics. As always, Rogers remains a sure bet.

Kenny Rogers plays the Orleans Showroom April 23, 24 and 25 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $88, $104.50 and $121.

By Caitlin McGarry   Tue, Apr 07, 2009

From teen sex symbol to married mother of two to comeback queen, Britney Spears’ life is accurately summed up by the title of her latest album: Circus. For her 2009 tour, Spears is out to prove that after years of erratic behavior and public stumbles, she is at last the ringmaster—at least of her performances.

Much has been said and written about Britney, but through all of her ups and downs, her fan base has never faded. After the pop star’s breakdown in early 2008, Spears’ supporters waited with bated breath for her imminent re-emergence. And they were rewarded.

For the first time in awhile, Spears is on top of her game: Circus is a fun, slinky album full of club-ready beats that has already spawned a couple of hit singles since its release last December. If the album and tour are any indication, Britney is back to preside as the queen of pop—at least for a while longer.

Britney Spears appears at MGM Grand Hotel April 25 at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $55 to $750.

By Caitlin McGarry   Tue, Apr 07, 2009

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino decided to unveil concert venue The Joint’s renovation with one of the greatest rockers of all time: Paul McCartney.

The legendary Beatle’s fans allegedly bought up every available ticket to the concert in seven seconds, which wouldn’t be a surprise if it turned out to be true. After all, who wouldn’t want to enjoy the musical genius behind hits like “Yesterday,” “Hey Jude,” “Maybe I’m Amazed” and “Silly Love Songs” in a brand new, state-of-the-art facility?

McCartney has been in the limelight for more than 40 years, evoking laughter, screams and even tears throughout his tenure with The Beatles and Wings, and then as a solo star. More than a man, more than a singer, Paul McCartney is a true legend who continues to release amazing albums (like 2007’s Memory Almost Full), and is living proof that great artists don’t burn out or fade away—they endure.

Paul McCartney appears at The Joint April 19 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $191, $496 and $746.

By Caitlin McGarry   Tue, Apr 07, 2009

Few Las Vegans realized who The Killers were before they became ubiquitous—after all, a handful of UNLV students and musicians starting a band is plenty common in the MySpace age of insta-fame.

But The Killers are more than just one-hit wonders from Sin City—the band has carved a place in the music industry for the kind of synth-pop and dance-rock that has come to define the 2000s.

It all began with 2004’s Hot Fuss, which was released after lead singer Brandon Flowers, guitarist David Keuning, bassist Mark Stoermer and drummer Ronnie Vannucci escaped to Britain to hit it big. Singles like “Somebody Told Me,” “Mr. Brightside” and “All These Things That I’ve Done” quickly took over radio stations both in America and abroad, and The Killers skyrocketed to stardom.

In the years since their debut, the band has continued to broaden its musical horizons with forays into American anthems (2006’s Sam’s Town, an unsubtle reference to the band’s roots) and ‘80s electro (last year’s Day and Age).

The Killers put Las Vegas’ blossoming music scene on the map, and for that they deserve a standing ovation at this month’s Hard Rock show.

The Killers perform at The Joint April 17 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $51.50, $55.50 and $146.

By Greg Jones   Tue, Apr 07, 2009

The newest show to hit the Las Vegas Hilton brings together some great personalities and greater vocals when Earl Turner and Lani Misalucha team up for Voices, which starts April 17.

Turner and Misalucha are both well-known and respected performers in Las Vegas, throughout the United States and around the world. Turner brings some R&B, funk, soul, gospel and country flavorings to the pair, while Misalucha delivers formal musical flavorings like opera, as well as more contemporary pop music.

Misalucha and Turner recently spoke with Casino Connection Managing Editor Greg Jones to discuss their new show.

Voices, starring Earl Turner and Lani Misalucha, plays Monday through Saturday at 7 p.m. in the Shimmer Cabaret at the Las Vegas Hilton. Tickets can be purchased from the Las Vegas Hilton box office for $49.95. There is also a $79.95 ticket package that includes dinner at Benihana.

Casino Connection: Can you give us a little background on how the two of you came together?

Misalucha: I’m very thankful that because of the producers, Earl and I were brought together for this project. What makes me excited about this show is the opportunity to work with Earl. He’s a very talented performer and I’m really looking forward to working with him.

Turner: The show was created by Angelo Giordano and John Stuart, and they actually came up with the concept of taking different performers and putting them together to do a high-energy show. John Stuart is the original producer of Legends. Angelo is in the film and casino business, and they have been friends. It’s kind of a friend connection, a networking kind of thing. They knew of Lani and they knew of me and finally they came to me with the idea, and I guess Lani liked it, so here we are.

We’re both very similar in a lot of ways in terms of how we entertain. I think our energies are very similar too. But I came up in R&B and gospel, and Lani’s background is opera and pop. It will be an interesting show because we’ll be able to cover a lot of bases musically.

How is the show structured? Is it just singing, or do you have the witty banter and everything?

Turner: The type of performers that we are, we’re not the type of people where you come in and sit down and you don’t feel it. Lani is probably as dynamic as Jennifer Hudson or Whitney Houston or Celine Dion, and if you saw her work with Society of Seven, you know she has an immediate presence on stage. She does impersonations and is just an incredible performer.

I am pretty crazy myself. My roots are funk and soul, and as far as my work here in Vegas, I’ve done all kinds of work, from gospel to country. When you take that wide of range of styles and you put two people together, it’s going to be a really exciting show.

The show is going to cover a lot of bases. We’ve got some really good ideas. We’re not Donny and Marie, though. What I have learned is that Lani is very funny and she and her family are very spiritual. For me, that works very well. I like people who believe in themselves and believe in doing good things.

Misalucha: With you (Turner), you’re not just performing, you don’t just sing to the audience, but you make the audience a part of the whole show itself. It’s the same thing with me. I really love to have my audience, when I sing a song, I make it a point to take them with me whenever I sing a song. That’s also what I see in you. You want your audience to be one with you.

Turner: We’re going to see to it that we have an exciting show musically and that it covers a lot of bases. We went to see Donny and Marie and see how their show works. There is something that is very natural and very easy between them because they know each other so well. For us it is slightly different, but not that much different because we both do what we do on stage and we’re both very comfortable with each other.

What kind of music have you two decided on?

Turner: We’re all over the board.

Misalucha: We’ll be able to cover different types of music. That’s what we like to do. We can cater to the different kinds of music that the people want to hear. For that reason, we wanted to target different ages to hopefully come into the show.

Turner: I think when people come in to see the show they are going to have a good time. I’ll use Donny and Marie as an example of something similar to what we do. When we saw them, they covered everything from Motown to musicals to Stray Cats medley. They covered a variety of things, mostly things that were not identified with them. There was “Puppy Love,” a couple of things that Marie did, but in all honesty, most of their career was not built on hit records, but on television. A lot of the music they cover is music that a broad-spectrum entertainer would think of doing, so they covered a lot of bases.

It’s really no different with us. When Lani and I sat down and talked, she was able to express to me what she wanted to do and I was able to express to her what I wanted to do, and then as fate and Lani would have it, then I had to go get it done. So we put together a really good band, a set of really great musicians, and we’re going to cover a lot of bases.

But we’re not going to give you too much. We know what to say and what not to say. We want you to come see the show and then you’ll be able to judge for yourself.

What do you do to keep the show from getting repetitive for you?

Turner: The way it is structured is that we have segments or slots. I open, I do a few numbers, introduce Lani, she comes out and does a segment. I come back out, we do a couple things together, she leaves, I do a segment and then we both close the show.

The way it sets up, I perhaps would leave the same opening number but I can change the second or third song. When Lani comes out she can change the songs in her segment. When we’re out there together, we have numbers that we can interchange. Instead of me coming out to join her for one song, we may do another one. And the end segment might also change, because we’re not interweaving an experience with setups and certain lines and everything. Not only that, if we have a guest come in, we can insert a guest singer. We can put someone else in those segments. As long as the integrity of the show is still intact, we can still do those things.

So I am not at all concerned about it becoming mundane or boring, because we have that capability within the show itself to change songs from night to night and week to week.

So it’s just a rough structure. You’ve got these signposts along the way to tell you where you are, and outside of that, you just do what you feel like doing?

Turner: Exactly. It’s a skeleton.

We have attention deficit. We get bored very easily and we want to be able to be spontaneous. You’ve got to leave room for that. We’re personality performers. We’re not Cirque, we’re not the kind of people who come in and you see exactly the same things or hear the same lines every night. That would bore me to tears. I just couldn’t do that. I’ve always had a group that worked with me that can turn on a dime. We’ve got some fine musicians as part of this group, and they know a lot of material.

People love familiarity and they love songs that they can sing along to. However, our tribute to Broadway is not going to be Phantom or West Side Story. We’re going to be a little bit outside of the box. I think often times performers, just to be safe, underestimate the intelligence of the audience. I think that you have to make the audience think up. You take a bit of a risk, but that is OK

By Greg Jones   Tue, Apr 07, 2009

Fortunately, there has been some relenting in the otherwise disturbing trend of a steak dinner costing more than a monthly car payment. But it is still an expensive proposition to go out for a steak dinner (and we’re not talking about the Carl’s Jr. interpretation) at many places throughout Las Vegas.

If there is any silver lining, it is that when you find a place that is as good as the expensive steakhouses on the Strip but with a bill that is a fraction of the cost, it really is rewarding. And while it isn’t exactly a secret, the Twin Creeks steakhouse at the Silverton is definitely one of those restaurants that delivers the same caliber of food and service as more ambitiously-priced steakhouses without skimping on anything.

Twin Creeks has been a popular locals restaurant going back to its opening. It was well-liked for its value and quality, and after some adjustments following a $3.7 million overhaul in 2007, business is booming. Reservations are recommended according to general manager Jay Morrison, who said they regularly see between 160 to 180 people a night (that is up from a pre-makeover figure of about 75 to 80 people per night).

There was a small setback when they decided to go with a strictly a la carte menu, but after listening to locals who said they feared that the restaurant was pricing itself out of the locals market, Morrison said they added a special section to the menu called the Twin Creeks Classics. These items come with a house salad and choice of two sides.

Some of the more popular classics include the petite cut prime rib, filet mignon and chicken milanese. And there are, of course, still a la carte options available, as well as a number of appetizers.

The appetizers include traditional offerings like salads and soups—including a lobster bisque made with real pieces of lobster—as well as some seafood arrangements. The pan-seared scallops are a popular appetizer. The $11 dish contains three large scallops served on a bed of sea beans. Another popular option is the seafood trilogy for two. This $24 dish includes two prawns, crab meat and a half-pound of Maine lobster. Lastly, the classic shrimp cocktail is not only delicious, it, like the other appetizers, is as nice to look at as it is to devour.

For the main course, you can’t go wrong with the 18-ounce, bone-in, bourbon-barbequed ribeye. It’s covered in a bourbon chipotle sauce, topped with a cube of blue cheese butter and is one of the most popular dishes on the menu. A less popular—but no less interesting—option is the 40-ounce porterhouse for two. Morrison admitted that this cut doesn’t move as well as the ribeye, but it is still a sight to behold.

Other popular options include the rack of lamb, which was taken off the menu but put back on at the request of customers.

For those not interested in red meat, lobster, salmon and swordfish are all available every day, as is the Twin Creeks Classic catch of the day, featuring everything from halibut to dover sole.

When asked for his recommendation, Morrison said he would start with the scallops, go with the bourbon ribeye with a side of asparagus and another side of truffle potatoes. And for desert he recommends the homemade crème brulee.

Along with the new look and some new entrees, the overhaul at Twin Creeks also brought a new cocktail list featuring a number of fine bourbons and whiskeys. In a way, it’s very much about recreating that old Las Vegas feeling, the upscale yet relaxed environment, cocktails, good food and better prices.

“It’s fine dining with quality food and ambience at a locals price,” Morrison said.

Morrison recommends reservations, and notes that they are sometimes booked up two or three days in advance. One of the reasons for the continuing popularity is the high standards of chef Mark Chapman. Chapman oversees every dish that leaves the kitchen and makes sure that nothing goes out that doesn’t stand up to Twin Creeks standards.

The staff is also very attentive, with many having worked at Twin Creeks since it first opened.

“We have a great team in the front of the house and in the kitchen,” Morrison said. “They really take pride in what they do and they won’t let anything but our highest standards get out into the dining room.”

Twin Creeks isn’t really the best-kept secret in Las Vegas or anything like that. It has been recognized as a Best of Las Vegas restaurant by the Las Vegas Review-Journal and is regularly full. But it sometimes gets lost in the shuffle, or overlooked by people who don’t always realize the value and the quality they are missing out on.

3333 Blue Diamond Road

Hours:

Tuesday-Thursday 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Friday & Saturday 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

702-914-8594

(reservations recommended)

Tue, Apr 07, 2009

The Folies began in Paris in 1869 as a standard music hall production, with jugglers, wrestling matches and magicians interspersed with a line of dancing showgirls. The show evolved to focus on the dancers, and it became a must-see for all visitors to Paris.

Folies showgirls were distinguished by their lavish costumes—or lack of them. The show premiered its first nude dancer in 1911, and artistically undressed performers dancing can-can became a hallmark of the show.

In 1959, producer Lou Walters brought the Folies Bergere to the Tropicana hotel in Las Vegas. This was the second Parisian-style production show in Las Vegas, following the Lido de Paris, which debuted at the Stardust the year before. With a few adjustments for tamer American audiences, the Folies became a huge hit for the Tropicana, helping to cement the casino’s reputation as the “Tiffany of the Strip.”

Hundreds of dancers passed through the Folies, including several who made a lasting mark on Las Vegas. Dancer and choreographer Vassili Sulich, a nine-year veteran of the Folies, went on to help co-found both the Theater Arts Department at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and the Nevada Dance Theater, the latter with former Folies adage dancer Nancy Houssels (of Szony & Clair fame). Longtime showgirl Felicia Atkins, like Sulich, was honored with a 1999 induction into the Casino Legends Hall of Fame, then at the Tropicana.

The Folies closed just a few months shy of its 50th anniversary, proof that even long success is no guarantee of future survival on the Strip. Though the show has gone dark, its hundreds of alumni and millions of satisfied audience members will honor the Folies Bergere with memories for years to come.

SOURCE: Vassili Sulich Collection, UNLV Special Collections

David G. Schwartz (www.dieiscast.com), is the Director of the Center for Gaming Research at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. He is the author of Roll the Bones: The History of Gambling.

By Randall Brody   Tue, Apr 07, 2009

How many of you have won money in the casino and wondered what you should do about those W-2Gs? Perhaps you were lucky and won $5,000 at the slot machine.

Our friends at the Internal Revenue Service consider this to be gambling income, and you are expected to report your winnings on your tax return whether a W-2G is received or not. Gambling income includes, but is not limited to, winnings from lotteries, raffles, horse and dog races and, of course, casinos. It also includes the fair market value of prizes such as cars, houses, trips or other non-cash prizes.

The amount of your winnings before deductions for any losses is reported on line 21 of your Form 1040 (your tax return) as other income. Unfortunately, many taxpayers are under the misunderstanding that you only have to report your winnings as other income after deducting your losses. This is not true. You can reduce the amount of money that is taxed by reporting your losses as part of your itemized deductions. If you itemize deductions on Schedule A, you can deduct your gambling losses for the year, but only up to the amount of your winnings that are reported on line 21 of your Form 1040. You will only want to itemize your deductions if they are more than your standard deduction. For some taxpayers, this is not always the case. You must report your winnings separately from your losses.

In order to prove your losses, you need to keep accurate and complete records. A statement from the casino is generally not sufficient alone to prove your losses. The IRS recommends that you keep a diary of your gambling activities, which is probably the furthest thing from your mind whether you are winning or losing. The IRS also states that in addition to your diary, you should have other documentation, such as wagering tickets, W-2Gs, canceled checks, credit records such as cash advances, receipts from bank withdrawals and any other receipts provided by the gambling establishment.

Randall Brody is an enrolled agent and a Liberty Tax Service franchise owner. You can contact him directly at LibertyTaxVegas@yahoo.com.

By Caitlin McGarry   Tue, Apr 07, 2009

Harvesting crops in a desert is not a common sight, yet plenty of Las Vegans manage to grow their own food amidst the harsh, arid conditions. Figuring out the right conditions for each plant is a must, as some simply will not grow directly in the soil.

Transforming the desert’s mostly unusable soil into a rich, edible garden requires the use of mulch. Organic mulch made of straw or bark should be placed on top of the soil to help plants grow, while gravel mulch is recommended for desert natives (typically ornamental plants, not edible ones).

Strawberries, pomegranates, Asian pears, peach trees, blackberries, boysenberries, almond trees, apples, nectarines, grapes, apricots, lemon trees and plums grow with a bit of care in Las Vegas. Tomatoes and peppers are also widespread in gardens throughout Southern Nevada, as they are able to grow despite intense temperatures.

The University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, an organization that provides information to gardeners of all skill levels, recommends growing vegetables in a raised bed, creating a garden within a garden. A raised bed is lifted off the ground and is deep enough for roots to extend to the bottom of the structure. Potatoes, carrots, garlic, sweet corn, squash, eggplant, onions, cucumbers, broccoli, lettuce, cauliflower and cabbage all thrive in Las Vegas if cared for properly. Asparagus and beets are both highly tolerant of the soil in Southern Nevada, so planting them outside of a raised bed is an option.

For apartment dwellers with green thumbs, growing herbs indoors is a possibility if conditions are right. Mint, chives, basil, dill, sweet marjoram and parsley can all be grown in containers near windows or on patios. Homeowners with rock gardens can try planting thyme and lavender. Herbs need less space than fruits and vegetables and can grow in a variety of elements.

Sheltering seedlings indoors is useful in spring, when it’s typically too cold for vegetables to thrive before summer starts. By growing the plants indoors and then transplanting them to the garden, vegetables have the opportunity to establish roots before taking to the outdoors. Las Vegas Review-Journal gardening columnist Linn Mills recommends planting spring vegetables (such as tomatoes and pumpkins) outside in April.

By Caitlin McGarry   Tue, Apr 07, 2009

Selecting plants, soil additives and an irrigation system are integral parts of developing a desert garden, but additional tools are necessary to make the process smoother.

Spading fork: When it’s time to begin planting, a spading fork aids in turning over soil, particularly in areas that are rocky or compact. Its wide tines make it easier to break up the soil and move plants and flowers. AVERAGE Cost: $16

Shovel: When a spading fork isn’t enough to dig spots for trees and other larger plants, find a round-tipped shovel to do the trick. AVERAGE Cost: $10

Rake: Prior to planting, use a rake to turn the soil, remove large rocks or clumps of dirt and generally smooth the area before putting seeds in the ground. A bow rake is preferable because of its shorter tines. AVERAGE Cost: $16.00

Watering can: For beginners who haven’t yet installed an irrigation system, a watering can will do the trick. Make sure your plants are on a watering schedule, and water around the base of each plant to ensure the roots receive moisture. AVERAGE Cost: $5.50

Hoe: This classic gardening tool helps when it’s time to remove weeds in the garden. A hoe can also be used to overturn soil if a spading fork isn’t on hand. AVERAGE Cost: $12

Shears: When plants are in full bloom, gardening shears keep them from running wild. Pruning and taming a garden is necessary to keep it looking beautiful. AVERAGE Cost: $13.50

Gloves: While they may not be necessary, gloves can be useful to protect hands from thorns, rocks and other elements. AVERAGE Cost: $15

These gardening tools enable beginners to start a garden without breaking the bank. As a gardener becomes more experienced, it may become necessary for them to invest in higher-quality, more expensive equipment.

By Caitlin McGarry   Tue, Apr 07, 2009

Dry air, unforgiving winds and dusty soil combine to combat most forms of life in the desert—except those highly durable and resistant to harsh elements. Turning the desert into a sustainable garden requires a certain level of manipulation to make the ground amenable to non-desert native plants.

Gardeners need creativity to grow life in Southern Nevada. Instead of grassy knolls teeming with tulips, horticulturists must work with the environment to develop landscapes that meld natural and foreign plants.

Though it may often seem like gardening involves fighting against the grain, with a little love and care (and helpful hints from the internet), Las Vegas landscapers can grow beautiful flowers and edible plants that will brighten up any home.

Force of Nature

Growing a garden in the deserts of Nevada is difficult at best, but patient planters can reap big rewards. Gardening first begins with a healthy foundation. Norm Schilling, owner of Schilling Horticulture and co-host of Nevada Public Radio’s Desert Bloom, said tackling the harsh elements requires working with the ground.

“There are some definite challenges, but you can grow all sorts of stuff here,” Schilling said. “Our native soils are really poor soils, and you can grow desert plants in our poor soils. Most of what you see at the nursery and many of the plants that people want to plant are not desert natives.

“The key to success is organic mulch…What it does is basically mimic Mother Nature. It takes poor soils and turns them black. It disappears over time and naturally enriches the soil. It’s mimicking Mother Nature’s decomposition process.”

Gardeners in Las Vegas often decide to cultivate vibrant lawns and non-native flowers, without realizing the lack of sustainability involved in that process and the beauty of native desert plants.

“Desert landscapes have such a bad reputation,” Schilling said. “They can be every bit as beautiful and flowering and colorful, textural, fragrant, vibrant, full of life, form, excitement.”

In order to combat unsustainable gardening, the Southern Nevada Water Authority is offering a $1.50 rebate for each square foot of grass that is replaced with desert landscaping.

Picking a Pro

For busy people who want a garden without the effort, there are a plethora of professional horticulturists who offer landscaping services. Schilling, an International Society of Aboriculture certified arborist, recommends a thorough investigation of each landscaping company before committing to a plan.

“If you hire somebody to do the work, it really should be buyer beware,” Schilling said. “In this industry, in this town, there are a lot of people who have in the past made a lot of money doing really crappy work. A lot of gardeners are outdoor custodians because they really don’t understand plant material. I would research the company or the individual and ask for credentials of education and experience.”

When Schilling and his team draft a landscaping plan for clients, they specify which plants are going in what area of the yard, and encourage homeowners to research all information to confirm that Schilling’s analysis is accurate. And, of course, the better the work, the higher the price.

“If you’re looking for low-bid work, they’re going to find ways to use cheap materials, to slap stuff together, to not invest the time or resources to do it well,” Schilling said. “So check for credentials, check for education and be an informed consumer. Make sure they have a complete plan that specifies everything that’s going to be done and where.”

A professional should also plan for seasonal changes, planting a garden that will have varying blooms during each season of the year. Schilling also develops a color palette when drafting gardens for his clients in order to avoid the bland tones of desert monotony.

“Some people spend a lot of money on gardening, and all they end up with is green—just the same old more or less green color,” he said. “And that’s beautiful, but it’s even more beautiful when there’s blues and silvers and purples.”

DIY Desert Gardens

For those who have a passion for gardening and the time to invest in their own amateur desert landscapes, experimentation should be the prevailing philosophy. Research is key to drafting the outline of a garden, from mulch types to tree care—and if it doesn’t work, try again the next season.

“If you garden in Southern Nevada, don’t take anything too personally,” Schilling said. “Celebrate your successes and pat yourself on the back, and when things fail, realize that it’s part of nature, and every failure allows for an opportunity for upgrade.”

Whether planted by hand or contracted out, landscaping is not simply an art form (though it is that as well). It can also boost the value of a home, especially in the current economic climate.

“If gardening is done well in Las Vegas, it improves property value and salability,” Schilling said. “It’s an investment. I’ve learned the hard way that if I invest in my house, I invest well.”

When Schilling walks through his garden, he remembers the journey of each branch and each root, and how he has enriched his plants’ lives—and vice versa.

“Here’s why I’m a gardening freak: I just find stuff that just makes me giggle or gasp or say, ‘Oh my God’ or jump with joy,” he said. “It engages you and keeps you down-to-Earth and it is meditative and it’s interactive and you play with nature and nature plays with you and you never know when the butterfly or the hummingbird is going to come or the orioles are going to nest in your yard. They constantly teach you stuff.”

By Dave Bontempo   Tue, Apr 07, 2009

So many sports, so little time. April presents a loaded lineup, blending the start of baseball, the end of hockey, the groundwork for horse racing’s premier spectacle and, of course, boxing. There’s something for everybody.

Winky Wright and Paul Williams headline the live name-talent department with their April 11 battle at Mandalay Bay. These lefties are two of boxing’s premier combatants.

“Reach” is the word for their junior middleweight bout. Williams has an imposing 10-inch advantage over Wright, who must execute several maneuvers to work inside. That will be the story line of the battle.

Williams is 36-1 with 27 knockouts, and surprised the boxing world with a hustling decision over Antonio Margarito in 2007. He was shocked early in 2008 by Carlos Quintana, who buzzed around and frustrated him on the way to a decision. Four months later, Williams won the rematch and reclaimed his welterweight championship with a one-round knockout. The Aiken, South Carolina fighter is formidable, having moved up from the 147-pound to the 154-pound class.

Wright, 51-4 -1 with 25 knockouts, looks to recapture old form. He hasn’t fought since a 2007 loss to Bernard Hopkins. The former junior middleweight champion has beaten Felix Trinidad, Ike Quartey and Shane Mosley (twice).

One week after Wright-Williams, Buffalo Bill’s in Primm hosts consecutive nights of boxing and mixed martial arts.

Hockey Highlights

This is the season to make fans appreciate what the Wranglers have done before. They are the only team in the 20-year history of the ECHL to notch three consecutive 100-point seasons. Though none led to a Kelly Cup, the Wranglers made the finals last year.

But the show can’t always go on. League rules cap each team at four veterans. The Wranglers lost star goalies Kevin Lalande and Daniel Manzato, who helped them allow just 179 goals last year, two behind the league best. Their scoring is down this year and so is the consistency.

A bizarre, season-defining 18-game stretch ran from January 31 to March 1. The Wranglers began by winning eight straight games. They followed by losing 10 straight. Talk about highs and lows. To top it off, they gained an automatic playoff berth when Fresno folded in December.

After finishing the season against Stockton April 3 and 4 in the Orleans Arena, the Wranglers will attack the playoffs as if the season just started, because it will have. For three months, the team has played primarily for pride and managed to nudge its mark above .500 by mid-March. The good news? Nobody in their conference, which covers the first two rounds, looks particularly dominant. When the playoffs begin, anything can, and usually does, happen.

Baseball: The Song Remains the Same

The Las Vegas 51s are no longer affiliated with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but they remain in the Pacific Coast League under a new deal with the Toronto Blue Jays. After starting their season on the road, the 51s launch their Cashman Field campaign with an eight-game stint from April 17 to 24. All games start at 7:05 p.m., except the 12:05 p.m. start on April 19.

While uniforms and prospects change, the allure of minor-league baseball remains. The 51s increased attendance for the fourth consecutive season in 2008, averaging nearly 5,300 fans for their 72 dates. Minor-league baseball surpassed $43 million last season, an all-time record, and remains a prominent recession-buster in the entertainment world.

The average minor-league game for a family of four cost $54 last season. That included tickets for adults and children, four hot dogs, two sodas, two beers, a program and parking. Trim the food costs and baseball becomes a cost-effective bargain.

Las Vegas went 74-69 last season, second in the Pacific Coast League to Sacramento. There are some who will bemoan the absence of the Las Vegas-Los Angles connection for players. But the core of minor-league baseball remains its emphasis on family entertainment, regardless of the players.

Playing the Ponies

It’s Derby Prep time. The biggest races prior to the May 2 Kentucky Derby occur April 4 and 11. Check out the Santa Anita, Wood Memorial and Illinois Derby on April 4 and the Blue Grass and Arkansas races on April 11. Kentucky Derby winners often emerge from these events.

For those with hunches on a Derby long-shot, bet now. Odds will drop dramatically if an animal looks strong in the prep trials. One of the most impressive winter victories came from The Pampelmousse at Santa Anita in February. Should the horse move up in company and perform well at Santa Anita, he may become a hot Derby favorite.

In the advanced age of technology, why not watch the last few years of the Derby on YouTube to get a feel for its legendary traffic problems? It’s an excellent review for serious Derby players.

The 135th Derby unfolds May 2. Some facts to consider: The rail and the 5 position have produced the most Kentucky Derby winners, but the advent of 20-horse fields has crippled the rail, which hasn’t produced a winner since 1986. And Ferdinand, who accomplished the feat, had to circle the field. Posts No. 17 and 19 have not hit the Derby winner’s circle, but the outside isn’t necessarily a curse. Big Brown took it last year, from post 20. And the second biggest Derby winner ever, Giacomo, at 50-1, prevailed from the 18 post.�

By Dave Bontempo   Tue, Apr 07, 2009

“Nothing is good unless it can be sold.”

Such is the mantra of a marketing guru. Mick Roemer has lived those words throughout a productive sales and marketing career. The ride has placed the Reno native in companies like IGT, Bally Technologies in Las Vegas, Powerhouse/VLC and his own consulting company. Roemer evolved along with the gaming cycles of boom, turbulence, steady growth and resurgence.

He now heads the sales force of Multimedia Games in Austin, Texas. Roemer had been a consultant with the company until being hired as senior vice president of sales to enhance Multimedia Games’ influence in the Class III and Class II gaming facilities, which are primarily in Native American markets. Roemer views this economically challenged gaming market as any other cycle. It has a beginning and end, but the sales effort playing into it must be consistent. A great product means nothing until someone buys it.

“Regardless of whether it’s a tough financial time or a good one, the slot machine market is always in transition,” he said. “There is always some different technology coming into play. You need to be creative. You are working with great teams, getting them focused on something coming up, and then you have what you believe are groundbreaking, innovative products. The process can take nine to 24 months, sometimes longer, so whatever market you are in, you have to stay focused.”

Roemer’s breakthroughs occurred as slot players demanded variety. Some of his top achievements unfolded during the Vegas era, when he was senior vice president of sales, marketing and product development for Bally Technologies. Roemer helped pioneer the advent of Alpha Elite 5 Reel Stepper, Millionaire 7’s, Game King, Monte Carlo, the S 900 multi-reel spinner and numerous other innovations. They addressed the appetite of consumers, who wanted more theme-based machines over the proverbial cherries, lemons and 7s.

The ascent of multiple games helped Bally surge from less than 9,000 units shipped in 2000 to 22,000 by 2007.

“It’s been great to be part of the evolution in this entire industry,” Roemer said. “The projects have been fun and challenging. They helped change the landscape of gaming, not just for me, but for the teams I have been part of. It’s been a fun ride.”

Technology came along for that ride. Innovations like ticket-in, ticket out (TITO) printing increased the amount of play and casino profit. The revolution in technology ultimately led to more of the coinless machines. The products Roemer has pioneered, developed and sold have benefited both patrons and casino operators.

“It’s quite an interesting process,” Roemer said. “You develop a product based on your previous successes and what you think the market is demanding. You go out and talk to customers. You know what’s working and what’s not working, and you communicate that back to the organization. You produce it, watch it come along and then you have to sell it, get it placed on the casino floor. When that all happens, it’s exciting.”

One “yes” from a casino operator may produce thousands of units sold. That’s particularly relevant for Multimedia Games, which supplies systems content and gaming units to the market.

Roemer believes Sport of Kings, an innovative game centered around horse racing, will produce dividends.

“It’s a community horse racing machine,” he said, enthusiasm building in his voice. “By playing the machine, you are able to collect tickets and then bet on one of eight horses in a race. The races go off every seven or eight minutes.

“Once you win a ticket, you can select one of the eight horses or even more if you have more than one ticket. You get to watch this race run in 3D on a big screen. It’s animated. The graphics are absolutely beautiful. Everybody is a winner, even if you come in eighth place.”

The business turned Roemer in several directions, and also connected him to his former life. He was a pianist until he was 32, good enough to back up the Platters and work with 12-time Grammy winner Ray Charles. After entering the gaming industry, Roemer thought he would eventually return to music.

He did, sort of, by reconnecting with Charles. In 2001, Bally, through Alliance Gaming, developed three games with Charles’ voice and likeness involved—America The Beautiful, What I’d Pay (a catchy reminder of Charles’ “What I Say”) and Ray’s Jukebox. The games had an audio-assist feature and Braille button deck to aid visually impaired players.

“We sent the games to his studio in Los Angles,” Roemer said. “It was an unbelievable experience for me. He was a great guy, extremely open and friendly, free with his time. He sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to my mom on her 80th birthday. It was awesome.”

Tue, Apr 07, 2009

John Restrepo has seemingly spent his entire life observing the Nevada economy, when in actuality it has been less than 20 years. A former vice president with Coopers & Lybrand (now PricewaterhouseCoopers), Restrepo has become one of the most quoted and consulted economists in the region. He predicted the real estate collapse in Las Vegas and has consistently been correct about the slumping economy. A consultant who has clients in gaming, real estate and the financial industries, Restrepo Consulting produces several publications that present in-depth information available nowhere else. Restrepo met with Casino Connection Publisher Roger Gros and Managing Editor Greg Jones at his offices in Las Vegas in March to discuss the current state of the gaming industry and the economy in Southern Nevada.

Casino Connection: What do you see right now in the economy?

Restrepo: What we see now is the expression about known unknowns. We know we are going to come out of this pretty deep recession eventually, the question is how long will it take. And, when we do, is the market going to be materially different?

Are we going through a transformational period now? Do we have to put the old business models—those developed between 1995 and 2005—on a shelf while we go back to an older business model or do we have to find a new model? Is this recession going to have a material effect on how people view spending? If this becomes a period of time that people start saving, staying home and rebuilding their 401(k) plans, then we may have a different business model. People won’t stop coming to Las Vegas, but maybe they will come less frequently or spend less money.

We do know it is probably going to last longer than we thought it was going to last six months or a year ago.

Las Vegas was like the canary in the coal mine in terms of the housing bubble. Do you see the housing market improving anytime soon?

We’ve always had this belief here that we come out of recessions faster than other parts of the country—we go in later and come out faster. I don’t know if that is true or not. I’m thinking that is a bit of an urban myth. We’ve had times when we have done that and other times when we haven’t.

The housing market is a critical thing for us here in Southern Nevada. We understand now that we are on the bubble. We knew back in ‘05, and I would make presentations that would show the ratio of house price to income. For many years we were 2.5 to 3 times the average income. In ‘04 we went to 4.5. In ‘05 we went to 5.5 and so you could see what I call the left side of the bubble. We would include that in some presentations and say, “This sounds good and it looks like you’re making a lot of money because the house you bought for $200,000 is now worth $400,000, but this is not good. It’s not sustainable.”

A lot of folks didn’t believe it at the time. They said the only business cycle that Las Vegas had experienced was a permanent up-cycle. We started believing our own PR a little too much. Now we’ve seen the impacts of that kind of bubble. It is going to take at least two years to get back to a sustained recovery in the housing market.

For that, the core, fundamental statistic you need to look at is jobs. Everything else is important, but everything is tied to jobs. Until we see a sustained recovery in job growth for at least six months, all bets are off.

We just finished an analysis that showed that the period from March 2008 to February 2009 was the first time that we had 100,000 unemployment claim filings. That is pretty major. Until the unemployment rate starts trending down and job growth starts trending up, all bets are off on where we are heading no matter what Washington does with the stimulus package.

So jobs are the key factor. But it doesn’t look like there will be a rebound in job creation in the gaming industry for some time.

Jobs are key to everything. They are the fundamental key. If you don’t have a job you’re not going to be spending much money.

In Nevada, the gaming industry influences everything. It affects real estate; it affects pretty much everything the state does.

We’re learning now the price of an undiversified economy. I was looking at statistics the other day and noticed that Phoenix has all the same problems we have with housing, the economy and credit markets, but one thing they don’t have as bad as we do is they have an unemployment rate that is two or three points below our unemployment rate because they have a more diversified economy.

A diversified economy wouldn’t have mitigated what happened to Southern Nevada, but it would have definitely lowered the impact. We’re understanding that now. We’ve talked about diversification here for many years but we’ve never really invested in it very much. We’ve talked about it in terms of how the state and business communities invest. We understand now that maybe with a more diversified economy we could have gotten through this with a little less of an impact than we have felt.

These are the questions people are starting to ask now. One of the silver linings in this cloud is that is has made people re-evaluate old beliefs.

The legislature is considering ways to increase taxes in Nevada to fund important things like education and infrastructure improvements. Do you have a prediction about who is going to take the hit? What method would you prefer to see that would cause the least impact on the business community?

I sit on a panel appointed by the governor and the legislature called the Economic Forum, and we forecast the state’s general fund revenues for the next two years. It’s a major challenge facing us. We’re not going to be able to tax or spend-cut our way out of this. We won’t be able to generate enough taxes to get out of this. Probably for the first time in Nevada history, we’ll have the greatest spending cuts at the same time as the largest increase in taxes.

But not all taxes are created equally. Some taxes affect an economy longer term than others. We have to be careful about how we tax ourselves. If a lot of taxes and all kinds of taxes were a good thing, California would be in great shape. We’re finding out now that it’s the health of the economy that drives the health of the tax base, and so we have to be very careful in how we raise these taxes not only to solve the short-term problem but the long-term problems. Any adjustment to the gaming tax would be the absolutely wrong thing to do based on how gaming taxes flow in the short term and the long term. If there was a perfect tax structure, every state would have the same tax structure.

The $64,000 question: When will this begin to get better?

We have to look at all data on a regional, national and global level, because we’re understanding now that Las Vegas, while physically isolated, is intricately tied to the global economy, so you have to look at everything. When we look at all this data and look at the financial markets as well, we think it is going to take probably at least a year to a year and a half to see a sustained recovery. My basic indicator of recovery is six months of job growth, and we don’t think we’re going to see that six months of steady job growth for at least 12 to 18 more months.

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Apr 07, 2009

It’s no billion-dollar project, but the 60-room Royal Plaza Hotel in Gangtok, Sikkim has become the first operator to open a land-based casino in India. And there are reportedly seven other operators with license applications pending.

The Casino Sikkim opened at the start of March, with two roulette tables, one table each of blackjack, baccarat and flush—an Indian game similar to 3 Card Brag, the basis for 3 Card Poker—and 10 slot machines.

For technical expertise, the license holder has retained Kishore Silwal, who runs three casinos in Nepal, according to a report at Sikkim Express.

The only other Indian state to allow casino gaming, Goa, has only off-shore casinos and electronic casinos in five-star hotels.

“It is a soft opening now,” Naresh Subba, director of The Royal Plaza and Teesta Rangit Private Limited, the company operating the casino, told The Telegraph. “We will be investing INR30 crore to have a full-fledged casino in a bigger room in the next three months.”

In U.S. dollars, the future investment will be around $6 million. This will be on top of the initial investment of around $2 million.

The casino will provide the state treasury with INR15 million—about $300,000—over the next five years. The annual license fee of INR2 million will automatically increase by INR500,000 each of the next four years, according to Business Line.

Mah-jong tables are being added to appeal to locals, but the main target market for the casino is the upscale tourist.

The state government, which wants to attract more high-end domestic and foreign tourists, has been working toward permitting casinos for several years. In November 2008, a provisional license was granted to Teesta Rangit Private Limited.

The license permits gaming at the four-star Royal Plaza Hotel, even though the property does not meet one important requirement: being a five-star hotel. The agreement lets Royal Plaza host gaming while it works toward five-star status, after which it will receive its full casino license. The hotel plans to add another 40 rooms.

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Apr 07, 2009

Tropicana Entertainment announced that it has reached an agreement with its creditors that could see the company emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as early as May.

A filing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court said part of the restructuring of the company will result in splitting off the Las Vegas casino into a separate company that would be partly owned and headed by MGM Mirage executive Alex Yemenidjian.

Additionally, the agreement might aid the company’s efforts to regain control of the Tropicana in Atlantic City, according to CEO Scott Butera.

All told, the deals will convert about $2.5 billion of debt into equity for all the company’s holdings except the Las Vegas property, while $440 million of debt will be converted to equity in Las Vegas.

“We will emerge with substantially no debt, positive cash flow and money to reinvest in our brand,” Butera said. “It opens the door for us to regain control of the Atlantic City casino because we will be a healthy company.”

The deal also severs all links with former company owner William Yung III.

The company started distributing ballots to debtholders who have until April 17 to vote on the proposal.

Butera said the deal will also benefit the overall health of the company by removing the debt obligations that so many other operators are struggling with.

“All these companies that have all this debt are going to be living check-to-check unless they can do something about it,” Butera said. “We don’t have that issue. Our properties are all positive cash flow.”

In addition to court and debtholder approval, the deal also requires regulatory approval.

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Apr 07, 2009

Las Vegas Sands may buy back as much as $800 million in loans. To examine that possibility, it has hired Goldman Sachs, but Chairman Sheldon Adelson says there are “no present plans” to do so.

“It’s an option more than anything else,” Adelson said.

Adelson said the motivation for the discussion is the discount. “Buying back something of your own that’s selling cheap” is attractive, Adelson said. “The other opportunity is to reduce the thing and give us more wiggle room on our covenants.”

The company would finance the buyback with some of its $2.8 billion in cash holdings, some of which was contributed by Adelson himself.

The buybacks would be conducted via a modified Dutch action that would establish a $25 million face-value minimum on each offer, the company said in today’s filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The program would be in effect through September 2010.

Adelson says he has met some “serious people” in Asia who are considering helping to finance the $12 billion Cotai Strip development in Macau. The project has been halted for six months as gambling revenue for the company slipped.

“We believe they have the money and they’re going to start due diligence process now,” Adelson said, without identifying any of the potential investors.

LV Sands plans to sell the retail malls, which are a main part of the development.

“No option is going to be off the table,” Adelson said. “There’s no assurance that anything’s going to be done. There’s probably as good a possibility of something not being done.”

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Apr 07, 2009

Kansas billionaire Phil Ruffin is back in the casino business after stepping into the owner’s seat at Treasure Island March 20. The former CEO of the New Frontier (which has since been demolished) purchased the Treasure Island in December, and is in the process of fulfilling his payment obligations.

Ruffin hopes to complete the $775 million sale in cash, if he can find a bank to finance the transaction. MGM Mirage is offering Ruffin a $20 million discount if he can pay $600 million in cash and $175 million in notes by April 30. If Ruffin cannot find financing through banks, he will not receive the discount and will finance the rest of the sale through MGM Mirage.

After receiving approval from the Nevada Gaming Commission on Thursday, March 19, Ruffin took control of his property at 3 a.m. the next day. There was no ceremony to commemorate the occasion; instead, Ruffin used the opportunity to grant interviews and meet his new staff.

Ruffin has no immediate plans to make big changes at the property, though he did tell the Las Vegas Sun he intends to fill positions vacated by MGM Mirage corporate executives.

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Apr 07, 2009

Nevada’s coffers may be filled with revenue from the world’s oldest profession if state Senator Bob Coffin has his way.

Coffin, a Democrat from Las Vegas, has proposed a $5-per-session tax on prostitution that he says could raise approximately $2 million a year in revenue for the state. The state’s brothels volunteered to be taxed prior to the start of the legislative session, but Assembly Speaker Barbara Buckley declined the offer.

Coffin told the Las Vegas Sun that he had planned to propose applying the state’s live entertainment tax to prostitution, but decided against it. The state’s eight major brothels and 17 smaller ones would all be impacted by the tax. It is uncertain if the tax would apply to individual sex workers.

Though prostitution is often condemned, and many state officials would rather look to a more legitimate industry for its tax base, the business is legal in the state and as such should be expected to pay taxes. George Flint, a spokesman for the brothel industry, told the Sun that the businesses would likely support Coffin’s bill.

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Apr 07, 2009

Since 1997, the city of Las Vegas has been campaigning against advertisers and solicitors on Fremont Street, claiming that their aggressive behavior discouraged tourists and businesses from participating in Fremont Street activities.

Last month, U.S. District Judge David Ezra ruled against the city’s ordinances banning unauthorized vending and structures such as stands, saying the laws violated the First Amendment’s protection of free speech.

Mayor Oscar Goodman refused to comment on the decision until after reading the ruling, but said he hoped Ezra didn’t hurt the city.

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Apr 07, 2009

Last November, Nevada voters in Clark County and Washoe County voted to raise room taxes up to 13 percent, with revenues raised going toward the state’s education fund. Legislators approved the tax and sent it to Governor Jim Gibbons for approval.

Gibbons, who was elected on a campaign promise of “no new taxes,” refused to sign the legislation, which passed by default without a veto. Though Gibbons did not take action on the legislation in order to avoid breaking the central tenet of his campaign, he did include anticipated revenue from the room tax increase in his 2009-10 budget. The tax is expected to raise more than $200 million for the state.�

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Apr 07, 2009

The $1 billion M Resort has already enrolled 100,000 members into its players club and announced that it is hiring an additional 250 team members. Both announcements came within five days of the March 1 opening.

The new casino is geared for both local customers—the primary audience for M Resort—and out-of-town visitors. It features 92,000 square feet of gaming space with 1,800 gaming machines, 64 table games, a poker room and state-of-the-art race and sports book; a 390-room hotel; a 23,000-square-foot spa; 60,000 square feet of meeting space and nine different food and beverage outlets.

For Anthony Marnell III, the most important component of M Resort isn’t the views or the gaming or any of the amenities, it’s service and value, the human touch. The most important part of M Resort is the people working there and the service they can provide to the customers.

The other approach at M Resort focuses on value. Price points at the restaurants top out around $50—that includes the 20-ounce rib eye—and drinks are priced in a similar manner, with nothing more expensive than $8.50.

“You can’t serve a 16-ounce steak for $70 anymore,” Marnell said. “It doesn’t matter who you are, when you walk out you feel ripped off.”

By Casino Connection Staff   Tue, Apr 07, 2009

As if MGM Mirage didn’t have enough problems, Dubai World, the company’s partner in the CityCenter development, filed suit against MGM last week alleging that statements made in a March 17 SEC filing constitute a breach of contract.

In late March, Dubai World failed to make an expected and required payment ($110 million of a $220 million payment), which would have forced the project into bankruptcy. MGM Mirage, however, negotiated a one-time alteration of the covenants that allowed the Las Vegas casino company to make the full payment.

The Las Vegas Sun reported that the CityCenter partnership had hired a law firm that specializes in bankruptcy, an option that would have shut down the project and thrown more than 8,000 workers off the job.

Last month, Infinity World Development Corp., a subsidiary of Dubai World that actually invested in the development, filed a lawsuit at the Delaware Chancery Court against MGM for allegedly questioning the viability of CityCenter in the SEC filing, according to a statement issued by Infinity.

Dubai World said that because MGM can’t guarantee that it will be able to meet future payments, it had no choice but to file the action.

Responding to the lawsuit, Alan Feldman, senior VP of public affairs, said in a statement: “The lawsuit filed yesterday by a subsidiary of Dubai World is completely without merit. Dubai World is well aware of our written commitment to meet our funding obligations and that MGM Mirage has available cash to satisfy those obligations.”

In the March 17 filing, MGM Mirage admitted its financial troubles and said it had obtained waivers of several debt covenants and announced it had another 60 days, until May 15, to get its financial house in order. But it also gave its partners the right to declare the company in default, which could possibly drive it into Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

MGM Mirage isn’t the only company flirting with bankruptcy right now, with both Harrah’s Entertainment and Station Casinos also struggling under burdensome debt loads after going private a few years ago.

Station Casinos has proposed a prepackaged bankruptcy and is waiting for approval from bondholders. The company wants the prepackaged deal to keep operations running normally and to avoid disruptions in service to customers.

Harrah’s Entertainment, struggling under a debt load in excess of $23 billion, recently said it might not be able to generate enough cash flow to continue operating. The company is hoping to issue $2.8 billion in lower value but higher interest notes that will expire in 2018 in exchange for current notes that mature in the next nine years. Thus far, about 57 percent of the notes the company is seeking have been tendered.

Additionally, private equity firms Apollo Management and TPG Capital are working to buy up as much of the outstanding debt as possible, with Bloomberg News reporting the two companies might own as much as 20 percent of Harrah’s “second-lien” loans.

Herbst Gaming also announced a restructuring agreement on the $847 million in debt it is carrying that calls for splitting the company into a casino business and a slot route.

The casino business would be owned 100 percent by lenders, while the slot route will be owned 90 percent by the Herbst family. The proposal is awaiting approval by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

“All operations of the company will continue under current management on a business as usual basis throughout the restructuring process. The proposed restructuring plan allows for continued timely payments to vendors under normal trade terms...without interruption,” the company said in a statement.

Tue, Apr 07, 2009

If it wasn’t already apparent that the unions suddenly flocking to the gaming industry are more interested in power for themselves than benefits for their members, last month’s announcement of the Gaming Workers Council should put that to rest.

The four separate unions that come together under this umbrella organization have had little or no success organizing and achieving contracts for their members.

The United Auto Workers (UAW), the Transport Workers Union (TWU) Gaming Division, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and the AFL-CIO got together under this banner because they have not achieved success. While the UAW and the TWU have signed up several casinos in Atlantic City, Las Vegas and Connecticut, there has not been one contract signed with any of the casinos. They have been charging their members dues and not delivering anything.

They claim the casinos are not negotiating in good faith, but the truth is that they don’t want to sign a contract with the few casinos with which they are negotiating. Why? Because they have little leverage with just a couple of casinos. The big hammer comes when they have almost all the casinos signed up and they can threaten a massive strike. If they sign one contract, it will become the model for all other contracts, so they don’t want to sign a contract until they have a majority of the casinos organized.

We’ve seen what happened when one casino went on strike in Atlantic City and Las Vegas.

In Atlantic City, Bally’s casino workers went on strike in 1982. Within days, the strike had collapsed after the workers decided they couldn’t go without pay.

In Las Vegas, the strike at the New Frontier went on for years in the early 1990s. The strike forced the casino owner to sell the property, but it did nothing for the employees, most of whom had found other jobs by then.

Clearly the Gaming Workers Council is a thinly disguised effort to pool their limited successes to force casinos to sign contracts.

So good, you say! The casino owners need someone to force their hands.

OK, then why did this organization fail to invite some of the most successful gaming unions in the country to join their little clique? You would think if you wanted to really force the casinos’ hands, you’d include the largest union active in the gaming industry today, UNITE HERE: Local 54 in Atlantic City and the Culinary in Las Vegas. UNITE HERE has a long history of working with—and against—the casino owners, so it would seem to make sense to invite them aboard. Then you’d really have a powerful organization that would make the casinos sit up and take notice.

But the dirty little secret of the Gaming Workers Council is that it is put together specifically to bust UNITE HERE and replace it with more strident and less experienced unions. The SEIU, you see, wants to represent the same workers that are loyal to UNITE HERE, and a recent intra-union struggle between the UNITE and HERE factions of that union gave SEIU and the others a window of opportunity.

Ordinarily, I’d dismiss this new group as simply a poorly designed effort to fool smart people, but in this economy, we can’t take anything for granted. Even if they fool just a few people, they can be a real threat to the jobs of all casino workers, not just the ones who work on the casino floor.

Times are indeed difficult and potential union members need to understand this is exactly the wrong time to consider signing with a union. First, no union can guarantee your job. When business declines, layoffs occur. And if business declines because a union adds expenses and pressure to an already distressed business, even more jobs will be lost.

Casinos have nothing to spare right now. They are desperately trying to retain good employees, but they won’t hesitate to cut loose employees who make it more difficult for them to operate.

And unions are desperate themselves. The UAW is about to implode along with the U.S. auto industry. (Can you make the connection between the two?) Unions overall have seen a long decline in membership because they have failed to serve their members.

So don’t be fooled by this new council. It’s just another way to separate you from your wages and decrease the power you have over your own job and your future.