Vegas News September 12, 2021

Lots Of Quick Hits – Hardly Any (New) Covid-19 News In Las Vegas

Wowsers, for the first time in about a while there’s hardly any COVID-19 news in Las Vegas. There have been no changes in policies so everything remains the same as the past few weeks. Having said that, this will be a relatively shorter Vegas News.

Everything will be delivered Quick Hits style so I can go watch a little football. There are copious games on the TV and multiple wagers placed on my phone. In a perfect world, I’ll be watching the games at a sportsbook later but who knows where the day will take me. There’s no shortage of things to see and do in Las Vegas.

Let’s get to the news so I can get back to the action.

Las Vegas Quick Hits

News In Las Vegas

• This fall you’ll be able to see an art installation at Aria featuring fluorescent baby polar bears. I haven’t seen them in person yet but they look strange in photos. Read more here.
• Speaking off strange, what’s odder – a fluorescent baby polar bear of a chocolate replica of a Las Vegas Raiders football player?
• While we’re at City Center, it looks like MGM Resorts will get approval to buy then sell the properties. Nothing will change for Aria as MGM will still operate the casino. Read more here.
• Main Street Station reopened this week. Vegas Advantage has the scoop on changes to the casino. Coin games are out. Electronic games are in. Good odds remain. Read more here.
• Donny Osmond just started his solo residency at Harrah’s. Caesars is already announcing more shows next year. Read more here.
• You may have seen that a video poker player hit a $1 million jackpot on Labor Day. That’s cool and all but this person was playing a 10 line game at $25 credits. That’s $1,250 per game. 

The #LaborDay party kicked off with one high limit video poker player winning $1,000,000 on a dealt monster—our new record for the largest non wide area progressive jackpot ever hit at The Cosmopolitan. pic.twitter.com/PCCuYKSAnm

— The Cosmopolitan (@Cosmopolitan_LV) September 6, 2021

• Every winning hand that was dealt was taxable. That would normally be a pain since it takes a few minutes for tax paperwork. However, Cosmopolitan uses the FastPay system so there’s no waiting around waiting for a W2G. You can read about the system here.
• Life has Beautiful announced its art lineup for the festival this year. I only recognize a couple of names that aren’t sponsored by a corporation. That’s probably a good thing for anyone looking for new art. Read more here. 
• I learned something new this week about TI. Let’s just pull the quote: “Treasure Island’s original 18,000 square feet of convention space was initially intended for pirate-themed weddings and receptions.“ Read more here.
• Bobby Flay’s Bobby’s Burgers will be opening at Harrah’s. Read more here.
• Bonkerz Comedy keeps adding shows at Rocks Lounge inside Red Rock Casino. John Caparulo is the latest performer announced. If the name sounds familiar, he used to perform at Harrah’s. You can see updates here.
• Caesars sold its European sports betting assets for $2 billion. Read more here.

• Allegiant Airlines introduced a new one-of-a-kind sleek Silver & Black jet to tie in with the Las Vegas Raiders who play home games at Allegiant Stadium. Read more here.
• I nearly forgot that MGM Resorts put an eye patch on the Sphinx at Luxor. See it here.
• The Backstreet Boys canceled their Christmas show at PLANET HOLLYWOOD Las Vegas Resort. Read more here.
• A print magazine says Wynn Las Vegas is the best hotel in Las Vegas. Who can argue with a magazine that is made of paper? Read the press release here.
• Four Las Vegas restaurants made OpenTable’s “100 Best Neighborhood Gems in America for 2021.” These were voted on by actual humans going out for meals. I’ve been to three of the four restaurants. Giada has been to the other. Read more here.
• Eater has a look at the restaurant at Hakkasan inside MGM Grand. Lots of pics and info here.
• Sahara opened its new “Ultra Pool” in time for it to close for the season. You can read about it here. 
• I didn’t expect any pool renovations to look like Stadium Swim at Circa until next year. However, this new pool allows SAHARA Las Vegas to show big games poolside. I think we’ll see a few more casinos adding video screens outdoors in time for March Madness.

New Sahara pool setup with video screens showing sports a la @stadiumswim @CircaLasVegas. Expect to see more of this next year. pic.twitter.com/N6dsF08SmH

— Marc (@MeltzVegas) September 6, 2021

• Dawg House Saloon at Resorts World requires a minimum spend to watch football games in the bar/restaurant and sportsbook areas. You can see prices and make reservations here.
• Many restaurant/bars require a reservation for football games. Some will have a minimum spend. Just check with the venue before visiting if you want to guarantee a place to eat while watching the games.
• A few companies have pulled out of NAB expo later this year due to Coronavirus. Read more here.
• According to this tweet, Konami Gaming is going to show off some of its games outside of the expo floor at G2E. Ya never know, but Oddzar I won’t be checking out these games when I attend G2E.
• You’ll be able to check out some fancy cars at Las Vegas Ballpark in Summerlin in October. Read more here.
• Last and least, for some reason, there’s a Blair Witch Project escape room in Las Vegas now. Read more here and see the promo video below. 

---

Also, be sure to join the ZorkCast Group on FaceBook.
This is the Facebook group to continue the conversation from the ZorkCast podcast and TravelZork website. Feel free to start a conversation related to anything TravelZork or ZorkCast.

---

---

The post Vegas News | Las Vegas Is All About Raiders, Pirates and Fluorescent Baby Polar Bears appeared first on TravelZork.

Vegas News September 5, 2021

Cosmo Vegas For Sale

Only a small COVID-19 update for Las Vegas during this long holiday weekend. There are no major changes to COVID-19 protocols when you visit a casino. You still have to wear a mask inside of casinos unless you’re eating, drinking, or smoking. The larger scoop of the week is that Cosmo Vegas is for sale.

BIG COVID-19 Policy Change Large Venues

The big COVID-19 policy change is for venues with 4,000 people in attendance. The updated guideline mirrors the recent seated venue policy. This is already in effect for large seated venues like Allegiant Stadium has for Las Vegas Raiders games. You can see that here.

The updated policy allows conventions with 4,000 or more people to allow attendees to go maskless if they choose. This could apply to conventions like G2E, CES, and NAB. You can read more about the new policy here.

Coincidentally, last week I mentioned signing up for Clear Health Pass assuming I’d need it. Well, I’ll need it for the Globar Gaming Expo (G2E). The convention and expo is requiring proof of vaccination for entry. There hasn’t been any information about mask requirements just yet.

While all of the usual gaming manufacturers will be at the G2E expo, the panels are very light. No complaints here. Since there will be fewer people yapping, I’ll be able to spend more time looking at new casino toys and games.

There are a couple of COVID-19 policy updates for venues and conventions. Check it:

• Vegas Golden Knights will let anyone into games but you’ll have to wear a mask. Read more here.  
• Lady Gaga shows at Park MGM must be fully vaccinated or show a negative COVID-19 test. Read more here.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board sent a reminder about the current mask policy to casinos on Friday afternoon. Violators will be fined.

Las Vegas Quick Hits

There will be plenty of Quick Hits of news this week since it’s a holiday. Last week, I had a coffee meetup at Urth Caffe at Wynn this week and decided to check out the new Bagelmania location near the Las Vegas Convention Center.

No Comp Bagels

Since I was overly caffeinated from the huge and delicious coffee at Urth Caffe, I didn’t have any food. I just stopped by to take some pictures. It’s a nice-looking place and I’ll grab a meal there soon. Sorry, no comp bagels or coffee at the video poker bar. I asked the day it was approved.

#BagelCasino is dealing 7/5 JoB for those of you that have asked. More pics from @bagelmanialv later. pic.twitter.com/uByR4Z19rx

— Marc (@MeltzVegas) September 1, 2021

Enough about me, let’s get to the Vegas news this week! The big news: Cosmo Vegas for sale!

• The Cosmopolitan being available for sale is no longer a rumor. Bloomberg is reporting that Blackstone is expecting to sell the property for more than $5 billion. Read more here.
• On a related note, I’m sure my amazing offers will dry up when the Cosmopolitan is sold. <Insert sad face>
• Little Tony’s at Palace Station is boarded up. No word if the Pizza Rock offshoot will reopen but that seems unlikely. See a pic here.
• Good quick read about Grubhub providing room service at Resorts World Las Vegas. Unfortunately it doesn’t mention free pickup which I think is the best feature. Read more here.
• Genting, owner of Resorts World, reported earnings this week. The casino-resort generated $14.9 million in revenue in the first six days it was open. You can see the full report here.
• Circa is having a Vegas Vickie costume contest for Halloween. Read more here. 
• MGM Resorts has some sweet Lady Gaga VIP packages for the shows in October. Check ’em out here.
• Speaking of packages…Allegiant Air has Raiders ticket and flight packages here.
• The Beatles Love show at The Mirage is back. Read more here.
• MGM Resorts set up a beer garden outside of Mandalay Bay and Luxor for “tailgating” before big events (Raiders, concerts, etc.) at Allegiant Stadium. Read more here.
• I drove by construction on The Sphere behind The Venetian and it looks similar to building the Death Star in Star Wars. Check out this video highlighting the venue. It’s going to be rad when it opens in 2060.

• The first ever Game of Thrones convention will take place at Rio next February. There isn’t much info now but you should bookmark this page if interested.
• Durango Station is another step towards becoming a reality for Station Casinos with a recent approval. Read more here.
• There was once a fifth suit for playing cards. This isn’t news but it’s new to me or I forgot about this. Read about it here.
• Brad Garrett Comedy Club at MGM Grand is moving to the main level of the casino. Read more here.
• KA is reopening at MGM Grand in November. Read more here.
• Wynn has a new Mexican restaurant in the Encore tower. Read more here.
• There’s a Christmas show coming to The Venetian. Read more here.
• Anyone into a tattoo inspired bar at the Miracle Mile shops? Read more here. 
• There’s going to be a movie about former NBA player Dennis Rodman’s legendary visit to Las Vegas in the late 1990s. Read more here.
• The Professional Bull Riders (PBR) tour is restructuring and won’t be returning to Las Vegas after this year. Read more here. NFR has no plans to leave Las Vegas.
• The Flyover Las Vegas attraction on the Vegas Strip is open. Read more here.
• Get ready for traffic if you’re driving in downtown Las Vegas. Read more here.
• There’s now a Battlebots slot machine. Read more here. 
• Drai’s at The The Cromwell Hotel and Casino is gonna hook up the cabanas with esports rigs this fall. The deal is more than that. You can read more here.

---

Also, be sure to join the ZorkCast Group on FaceBook.
This is the Facebook group to continue the conversation from the ZorkCast podcast and TravelZork website. Feel free to start a conversation related to anything TravelZork or ZorkCast.

---

---

The post Vegas News | Cosmo On The Market, And Lady Gaga and Las Vegas Raiders Have Packages For You appeared first on TravelZork.

Vegas News August 29, 2021

Once again, we’ll start with a quick COVID-19 update since it isn’t going anywhere quickly. Plus it has been a busy July in Las Vegas. Businesses are choosing to give priority to those who are vaccinated against the virus. Last week we told you that the Las Vegas Raiders requiring proof of vaccination for entry to watch games at Allegiant Stadium without a mask. This is a team policy as Allegiant Stadium will allow all guests – vaccinated or not – for other events like the Guns N Roses concert on Friday.

COVID Quickie Hits

This week the World Series of Poker (WSOP) announced it will require all participants to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19. Additionally, all players and dealers will have to wear a mask in order to participate. You can read more details about WSOP’s decision here.

WSOP and the Raiders are using Clear Health Pass for verification. Since I don’t fly often, I don’t use the service. I decided to sign up from scratch to see how the process works since it’s free. I may eventually need this for work so this served two purposes.

It takes less than 5 minutes to sign up. In addition to having to scan your vaccination card, you’ll have to include photos of your driver’s license. I’m all signed up with nowhere to use this thing. Anyway, it’s easy to sign up in case you plan on going somewhere that requires proof of vaccination. 

Here are a few more COVID-19 vaccination policy updates:

• Resorts World Las Vegas hasn’t announced a COVID-19 vaccine policy for shows at The Theater because it doesn’t open until November. Read more here. 
• SEMA Show (auto shot) is one of the largest conventions/expos annually in Las Vegas. It hasn’t announced a health and safety plan for its gathering in November at Las Vegas Convention Center yet.
• AAPEX (more auto) takes place at The Venetian and Caesars Forum during the same days as SEMA and will require proof of a COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID PCR test administered prior to arrival. Read more about the auto shows here. 
• The Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) will require proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test result within 72 hours before the event. EDC will release info on how to show proof this week. Read more here.

Las Vegas Quick Hits

Enough COVID talk! Let’s go right to the Vegas News starting with a little fun at Resorts World Las Vegas.

• This week, Resorts World introduced three robo puppies that can be found in the Conrad Hotel lobby. The pups are named Sinatra, Stardust and Elvis. I look forward to checking them out. Read more here.
• There are still eight restaurants set to open at Resorts World. Read more here.

Busy July In Las Vegas

• As expected from all of the positive teasing during the last run of quarterly casino earnings calls, visitation to Las Vegas was up from June. You can see the full report here.
• The big takeaway from the report is that the average daily (hotel) room rate (ADR) was up almost 20% from June 2021 and June 2019. Don’t get too crazy…I’ll explain in a second.
• Similar to visitation, Nevada casinos did big business in July. Read more about the busy July in Las Vegas here.
• I think we should expect to see these numbers decrease slightly when August is reported. My barometer for visitation is from my monthly visit to Cosmopolitan. Lines at all the quick-serve restaurants were shorter than they’ve been since in a few months. Monitoring these lines has been fairly accurate all year.
• I haven’t had time to dig through this yet but the Las Vegas Visitors & Convention Authority released a mid-year visitor profile since there wasn’t a report last year. You can read it here.
• Speaking of my visit to the Cosmopolitan, Sangria Hour at Jaleo is a great deal. Check out the menu. While we’re on the topic, here’s a 2-second tour of my terrace suite.
• Superfrico is replacing Rose.Rabbit.Lie at Cosmopolitan. The concept sounds like fun. Read more here.
• Sometimes those random tips come true. As we shared last week, the buffet at Luxor will reopen soon. The buffet wil be open again on Sept. 1. You can learn about the buffet here.
• The Beatle’s “Love” and Michael Jackson “One” finally reopened at The Mirage and Mandlay Bay, respectively. Read more here.
• The WynnBet sportsbook app available around the country is now linked with Wynn Rewards. Ironically, Wynn Bet isn’t available in the states that have Wynn casinos. Read more here.
• The Caesars Sports and BetMGM apps are linked to Caesars Rewards Loyalty Program and M Life Rewards, respectively. If the odds are the same as other sportsbooks, it doesn’t hurt to place a bet where you’ll get reward points or tier credits to use in Vegas, baby!
• Lady Gaga is coming back to Vegas this Octbober with nine performances of her Jazz & Piano residency at Park MGM. Read more here.
• The Pac-12 Coast-to-Coast (basketball) Challenge will take place at T-Mobile Arena in December. Matchups were just released here.
• The Vegas Loop is looking to add new stations including UNLV. Read more here. 
• The parent company of Tix4Tonight filed for Chapter 11 protection. Supposedly the restructuring won’t impact customers. Read more here. ​​
• The Vegas Golden Knights fan fest returns to the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center (across from The D) in September. Read more here.
• Jim Gaffigan is coming back to Wynn for more shows in December. Read more here.
• Saul “Canelo” Alvarez returns to Las Vegas in November. He’ll be boxing a dude named Plant at MGM Grand. Read more here.
• The Mint collectibles (sports cards, memorabilia, etc.) show will take place at UFC Apex arena and MGM Grand in January. Read more here.
• MGM Resorts has a tailgating/beer garden concept for Raiders games and other events outside of Mandalay Bay and Luxor. Read more here.
• The Vegas Knight Hawks will play Indoor Football League games in Hendertucky. Read more here.

---

Also, be sure to join the ZorkCast Group on FaceBook.
This is the Facebook group to continue the conversation from the ZorkCast podcast and TravelZork website. Feel free to start a conversation related to anything TravelZork or ZorkCast.

---

---

The post Vegas News | Busy July In Las Vegas, Lady Gaga Returning And Robo Puppies At Resorts World appeared first on TravelZork.

Vegas News August 22, 2021

We can’t talk about Las Vegas without starting with a COVID-19 update. (Ya know, before we get to the big news like Chippendales are returning to Vegas!) For the most part, things remain the same for casino guests. You’ll still have to wear a mask while gambling inside a casino unless you’re drinking or smoking. You can still remove the mask while eating too. 

The COVID-19 update mostly affects casino workers and anyone planning on going to Las Vegas Raiders games.

COVID Quickie Hits

MGM Resorts is requiring all new and current salaried employees inside of its casinos to get a COVID-19 vaccine. Nothing changes for guests. Read more about MGM’s requirements here.

Shortly after MGM Resorts’ announcement, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak dropped the news that some large venues with 4,000 capacity or more and fixed seats can allow guests to go maskless if they’ve been vaccinated. You can read about that here.

Allegiant Stadium (Las Vegas Raiders) Fan Policy

Shortly after the Governor’s announcement, the Las Vegas Raiders announced all fans must have proof of a COVID-19 vaccine for entry to Allegiant Stadium. After entry, vaccinated fans can remove their masks. This begins when the Raiders play their first game of the season against the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 13.

The team will provide COVID-19 vaccines for ticket holders who haven’t received a shot yet. (Here’s a fun headline about this from NBC LA) Fans that receive the vaccine at Allegiant Stadium will have to wear a mask inside the stadium until they’ve been fully vaccinated. Read the official press release here.

It appears as though players and performers will be exempt from being vaccinated.

Conference Vaccine Requirements

CES and NAB will require proof of vaccination for their conferences.

Covid, Booze and American Airlines

One last COVID-19 related note – American Airlines will not be offering booze in the main cabin for the rest of the year. The policy will actually be in effect until January 18, 2022, when the US mask mandate on public transportation will expire. Read more here.

Las Vegas Quick Hits

That’s enough COVID-19 news. This week I received approval for my G2E press credentials for the expo in early October. There hasn’t been much innovation on casino floors for the past year. That’s understandable and I hope to see a lot of new tech and casino games in person. Keep an eye out on the social feeds as I’ll once again be sharing things as I see them!

Let’s get to the good stuff happening in and around Las Vegas! (and Chippendales Vegas Returns!)

• Parasol Up at Wynn is now Overlook Lounge. Read more here.
• Superfrico is replacing Rose.Rabbit.Lie at the Cosmopolitan. The concept sounds like fun and I look forward to checking it out soon enough. In the meantime, I can’t stop thinking about Sangria Hour at Jaleo. Read more here.
• Chippendales returns to RIO All-Suite Las Vegas Hotel and Casino on Labor Day weekend. Read more here.
• Caesars finally announced the long-rumored KISS residency at PLANET HOLLYWOOD Las Vegas Resort. See dates and info here.
• Journey is taking its next residency to The Virgin Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, part of Curio Collection by Hilton. See the press release here. Yes, I might use the obnoxiously long official name(s) of this property every time I mention it moving forward.  
• The Rampart buffet is reopening later this week. Read more here.
• Rumor of the week? A little birdie dropped me a line to say that the Luxor buffet will be reopening with limited hours soon. Evidently, this is one of the largest buffets in Las Vegas. It will be the only MGM Resorts buffet open in this row of their casinos near Allegiant Stadium. This discussion reminded me that I’ve only been inside Luxor once since moving to Las Vegas 10 years ago.
• This isn’t exactly news but sharing in case you haven’t seen this useful feature at Resorts World that will hold a slot machine from others using it while you go to the restroom. Read more here. 
• You can earn Wynn Rewards points from placing sports wagers on the WynnBet app. Ironically, you can’t use WynnBet in states where Wynn has casinos. Read more here.
• Chickie’s & Pete’s will finally open at Sahara in September.

• During the week, I overheard someone saying that tickets for Great White at the Golden Nugget were selling like crazy. I didn’t think much of it at the time but seeing this tweet reminded me that downtown Las Vegas casinos may charge high prices or parking during event nights. Sharing is caring!
• While discussing Great White, I was also reminded that the Golden Nugget pool hours will be changing soon. Read more here. Pool hours will change at most Las Vegas casinos after Labor Day so check hours before booking. Some pools will close entirely for the fall and winter.
• English Hotel coming to the Arts District. Read more here.
• EVO 2022 will return to an in-person esports event taking place at Mandalay Bay next year. Read more here.
• Circa is the only downtown Las Vegas casino-hotel that has a AAA Four-Diamond rating. Read more here.
• The Venetian has been announcing the return of entertainment for a few months. This week they put together a nifty list of those shows. Check it out here.

---

Also, be sure to join the ZorkCast Group on FaceBook.
This is the Facebook group to continue the conversation from the ZorkCast podcast and TravelZork website. Feel free to start a conversation related to anything TravelZork or ZorkCast.

---

---

The post Vegas News | Covid Update And KISS, Journey, and Chippendales Are Returning To Las Vegas appeared first on TravelZork.

Vegas News August 15, 2021

Vegas COVID-19 Update

Let’s start with the number one topic I’m asked about every week. You got it, here’s another Las Vegas COVID-19 update! First of all, regardless of vaccination status, you have to wear a mask inside casinos unless you’re eating, drinking, or smoking. There’s still no timeline on this.

The COVID-19 news breaking this week is that you may have to have proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test in order to inside some venues in Las Vegas. If you plan on seeing a show and want to play it safe, make sure you have proof of vaccination or have a negative COVID-19 test before visiting Las Vegas.  

Overview of Venues | COVID-19 vaccination or test result

Here’s a quick overview of some of the venues that will require proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative coronavirus test result for entry. If you have serious concerns, read the articles or go directly to the venue for specifics.

Beginning October 1, All AEG venues will require proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative coronavirus test result. AEG venues include the Las Vegas Festival Grounds across the street from Sahara, The Theater at Resorts World, and The Theater at Virgin. Read more here. 

AEG is a partner with MGM Resorts at T-Mobile Arena and Park Theater at Park MGM. These venues do not require proof of vaccination at this point. Read more here. On a related note, there’s no vaccination requirement to see the Las Vegas Raiders or Vegas Golden Knights. Read more here.

Beginning Oct. 4, Live Nation will require proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative coronavirus test result at its venues. Brooklyn Bowl at The Linq and House of Blues at Mandalay Bay are both Live Nation venues in Las Vegas. Read more here. 

The Smith Center in downtown Las Vegas will require proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative coronavirus test result. Read specifics here.

No Las Vegas casinos require proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative coronavirus test result yet. Harrah’s New Orleans is currently the only casino in the US with this requirement. Read more here. 

A Fluid Situation – Vegas COVID-19 Update

This is a fluid situation and you should expect this situation to evolve. Again, check the websites of venues for entry requirements before visiting to make sure you have the most up-to-date information.

Let’s get to the rest of the news in and around Las Vegas.

Las Vegas Quick Hits

There was lots of news in and around Las Vegas this week. The big news isn’t that a laundromat was recommended for a gaming license this week. I underestimated how excited people would be for the reopening of Main Street Station. I’ve always had fun there but never fell in love with the property. The casino will be reopening sooner than expected. Since it’s on my mind, let’s start Quick Hits with the details on Main Street Station reopening.

• Boyd Gaming announced that Main Street Station will reopen at 6 am on Sept. 8. Read more here. 
• The Main Street Station buffet will reopen for brunch daily and dinner on Friday and Saturday. See hours and more specifics from the press release here.
• Last week I was talking to my crew about their scheduled visit later this year. Someone mentioned getting a stogie to celebrate the occasion. A day later, I learned that Eight Lounge Cigar Bar will open at Resorts World this fall. Read more here.
• We also decided to visit Starlight Lounge On 66 at Resorts World when visiting the casino. It wasn’t open when I visited to review the Conrad Hotel room so I’m not familiar with this space. This week I learned that the lounge has video poker. 
• Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab inside The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace is one of the most popular restaurants in Las Vegas. It will be expanding. Read more here.
• It looks like the Old Homestead at Caesars Palace Las Vegas has joined Giada at The Cromwell Hotel and Casino in charging guests for bread. See the tweet here.
• DraftKings might be coming to Las Vegas sooner than later. The sportsbook operator signed a deal with the Golden Nugget to rebrand its sportsbooks. Read more here. There’s no timeline on this yet…
• …The Nevada Gaming Control Board could change its stance forcing sports bettors to register for sports wagering accounts in person next week. If the in-person requirement changes, DraftKings could be more inclined to enter the Las Vegas market. Read more here.
• There will be a shuttle from Treasure Island to Raiders games if you’d like to avoid parking fees. Read more here. 
• I thought renovations to Waldorf Astoria happened already. This article says otherwise.
• There will be lots of entertainment in Las Vegas for Mexican Independence Day. Read more here.
• Somewhat related, the Mexican Baseball Fiesta will take place at Las Vegas Ballpark in September. Read more here.
• Are you ready for Christmas in Vegas? The Glittering Lights will be back at Las Vegas Motor Speedway starting November. Read more here.
• The CBS Las Vegas affiliate must have a quota to hit for its news programming. Here’s another update on the train that’s never happening. It’s surprising the newspaper wasn’t first with this. Maybe they’re on pace to meet their news quota this month.
• Another group of investors wants to bring an MLS team to Las Vegas. Read more here. 
• Jeff Dunham will be performing monthly at Caesars Palace starting September. See specific dates here.
• Adele will not have a Las Vegas residency. Read more here.
• Adele may have a Las Vegas residency. Read more here.
• It looks like The Linq will have more Stadium Gaming soon. For what it’s worth, the existing installation is one of the more popular I’ve seen on the Vegas Strip.
• The Stiffs and Georges blog has some thoughts and info on the MGM Picasso cash grab. Read more here.

---

Also, be sure to join the ZorkCast Group on FaceBook.
This is the Facebook group to continue the conversation from the ZorkCast podcast and TravelZork website. Feel free to start a conversation related to anything TravelZork or ZorkCast.

---

---

The post Vegas News | Vegas COVID-19 Update And Another Casino Reopening Soon appeared first on TravelZork.

Vegas News August 8, 2021

Las Vegas Casino Earnings – 2021

This week Caesars Entertainment, MGM Resorts, and Wynn Resorts reported earnings. This provides a lot of insight into Vegas Casino Earnings for 2021. Much like Station Casinos and Boyd Gaming earnings last week, there was a similar theme with the earnings calls. Casino corporations have learned how to effectively operate with a smaller staff and fewer amenities for guests.

Visitation increased for all of the casino corporations each month during the second quarter.

July occupancy appears to be even better. Each of the companies saw 90% or higher weekend occupancy in the second quarter. Caesars’ CEO Tom Reeg expects this to continue even with the mask mandate in Nevada. 

Spending Less = High Profit Margins

Spending less is allowing the companies to have incredibly high (profit) margins.

It is likely expenses will increase and the margins will decrease a little but the lessons learned over the past year of business should help the corporations continue to maximize profits moving forward

The less than profitable things we used to enjoy in casinos will likely be reduced. Things that used to be complimentary will cost money if guests are willing to pay.

Similarly, rewards from loyalty programs will continue to be given to the most profitable customers. Gaming the system will continue to be more difficult. It seems as though all the casino operators are seeing higher spending from their customers.

Casino Earnings Notes – Q2

You’ve heard this all before and it will likely continue moving forward. Here are some specific notes from the earnings calls this week:

Caesars – 2nd Quarter Earnings 2021

Caesars – Second Quarter Earnings

• The following quote stood out to me during the call because it came out of nowhere. “…acquire the license rights for Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas in perpetuity.” I’m not sure what to make out of this today because it wasn’t specifically addressed during the call. This license gives Caesars the right to use this name forever. You can read the earnings call transcript here.
• Caesars once again said they plan to sell a Vegas Strip casino next year. If I had to speculate, I’d have to say that the licensing of the Planet Hollywood casino makes it more likely that the rumor the casino be sold is probably more likely. The license will allow Caesars to use that name elsewhere someday.
• Caesars has a new sports betting app for most of the country outside of Nevada. That app will not connect with the Nevada app until they’re allowed to offer in-person registration. This is also the case with BetMGM and WynnBet. You can read about the new Caesars Sports app here.

MGM Resorts – 2nd Quarter Earnings 2021

MGM Resorts – Second Quarter Earnings

• The Average Daily Room Rate (ADR) on weekends for MGM Resorts in Las Vegas was $149 on the weekends during the second quarter. July was even higher. In fact, it’s higher than July 2019.
• MGM sold MGM Growth Partners, its Real Estate Investment Trust, to VICI. You can read the VICI press release here and the MGM press release here. The deal needs regulatory approval and should close next year.
• Expect to see room renovations in the next few years in Las Vegas. 

Wynn Resorts – 2nd Quarter Earnings 2021

Wynn Resorts – Second Quarter Earnings

Much of Wynn’s earnings come from Asia so I don’t spend much time on the earnings calls so there’s not much here. 

• The one thing that stood out is that July was a record month with $500 per night ADR on the weekends. 

This concludes earnings season for Las Vegas casinos. Time for my return to The D Las Vegas and the rest of the news in Las Vegas.

Las Vegas Quick Hits

Great time catching up with homeboy @theDlasvegas. pic.twitter.com/IhYR19RHgD

— Marc (@MeltzVegas) August 6, 2021

• This week I met up with a friend I haven’t seen in a few years to eat, drink, and gamble at The D. Andiamo was better than ever. The service was great as always but the steak was better than I remember. I played a strange pick ’em style slot machine from Aruze. We finished with a quick shoe of blackjack before heading out. 
• Between Sigma Derby, the Go Go Claw, and this odds slot machine The D has an eclectic assortment of casino games. I’m a sucker to dump a bill into a machine to see what it’s like. I expect The D sees many visitors like me.
• The D was busy but not obnoxiously crowded. It reminded me of how much fun I’ve had at this casino over the years. Enough about me, let’s get to the Vegas news from the week.
• The long-rumored Kiss residency at PLANET HOLLYWOOD Las Vegas Resort seems to be a reality although there hasn’t been an official announcement from Caesars yet. Read more here. 
• Olives at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas (formerly Bellagio) is now open. Read more here. 
• Another cashless deal was announced this week between Everi and Konami. Read more here.
• Reba, Brooks and Dunn are returning to Caesars Palace Las Vegas for one last blast of shows during NFR. Read more here.
• The Miracle Mile Shops now charges for self-parking. Read more here.
• Parasol Down at Wynn Las Vegas is now the Overlook Lounge. Read more here. 
• Unrelated – Monsters In The Parasol is one of my favorite Queens of the Stoneage songs.
• Just a reminder, that the bar at Circa has a similar but different name. The bar overlooking the sportsbook is the Overhang Bar.
• Wheel of Fortune is probably the most popular slot machine theme of all time. Did you know there have been 250 versions of this game? I think Cosmopolitan has about 30 of them. Read more here.
• Prestige is now available at The Venetian. It was previously only at The Palazzo. Read more here.
• Moon Palace at The Palazzo has new hours and menu items. Read more here.
• I definitely missed this blurb with possible ideas for the future of the Tropicana. Everything is on the table with Bally’s taking over – including demolishing the property. Read more here.
• Last but not least, EDC tweeted a hype video for the upcoming show. It’s fun to look back at this massive festival. Enjoy.

25 Years of Super Blooming Beats & Funkdafied Freaks have all led to THIS! On Oct. 22+23+24, we reunite Under The Electric Sky after nearly 2.5 years apart.

Soon we return to the dancefloor to find #kineticZEN at our #25YearCelebration → https://t.co/bvH91IdnfU #EDCLV2021 pic.twitter.com/3Rdsx1yl27

— EDC Las Vegas (@EDC_LasVegas) August 5, 2021

Image Credit (Vegas Casino Earnings 2021) – Morgan Housel on Unsplash

---

Also, be sure to join the ZorkCast Group on FaceBook.
This is the Facebook group to continue the conversation from the ZorkCast podcast and TravelZork website. Feel free to start a conversation related to anything TravelZork or ZorkCast.

---

---

The post Vegas News | Big Biz Quarter For Casinos, Kiss Residency And Andiamo Is Better Than Ever appeared first on TravelZork.

Atlantic City August 2021

Caesars Rewards – New Check Cashing

Caesars Rewards is welcoming a new check-cashing provider. Online enrollment is free. Have a valid ID ready for reference and visit Open Payment Services. Complete the required fields and click “Submit.” Contact a host or visit the casino cage for answers to any questions.

L-Bar Happy Hour

Featuring half-price beer, wine and cocktails, as well as live music on the weekends, Bally’s L-Bar now offers a daily Happy Hour from 3 to 5 p.m.

Thursday Night Quizzo

Win gift cards, cash and a free hour at Topgolf by testing your knowledge about television shows like Friends, the Harry Potter film series and more. Play Quizzo on Thursday nights at Ocean Casino Resort’s Villain & Saint. On Fridays and Saturdays the action moves to Ocean’s 1927 Lounge with classic cocktails and live entertainment. Details at Ocean Casino Resort Online.

Meanwhile, on the casino floor, players can enjoy Atlantic City’s largest collection of Buffalo Link games. “Players love how the traditional fun of Buffalo meets the thrill of Lightning Link and Dragon Link.” according to Ocean’s Senior Vice President of Gaming Operations Steven Pfann. Buffalo is the gaming industry’s most popular theme, and Buffalo Link combines the theme and features of Buffalo with the functionality of Lighting Link and Dragon Link.

Changes to Return Rewards

Several changes have been made to the Return Rewards program in Atlantic City. The changes affect play at Caesars, Tropicana and Harrah’s Resort. Return Rewards earned Monday through Sunday will be available the following Thursday. In addition, you may select free slot play or Reward Credits, dollar for dollar. To claim Return Rewards visit a promotional kiosk at Caesars, Tropicana or Harrah’s Resort.

Friday Night Crab Boil

Every Friday enjoy a crab boil with snow crab legs, shrimp, mussels, clams, crawfish, and andouille sausage, served with red bliss potatoes and corn on the cob. Take in the panoramic ocean views as you and your friends feast on this delicious seafood bowl. Available for $28 per person every Friday in the Topgolf Swing Suite at Ocean Casino and Resort.

U.S. Open Pool Championship

Harrah’s Resort is the new home of the U.S. Open Pool Championship. Going back almost 50 years, the Championship is the longest running major in billiards. This year’s event will be held Sept. 13 to 18, with a prize fund of $300,000 and TV coverage around the world.

Bronx Tale

A Bronx Tale, written and performed by Chazz Palminteri, will be presented at 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 3, in the Superstar Theater at Resorts Casino Hotel. Palminteri is an Academy Award-nominated actor/writer/director. The one-man play is based on his childhood and life experiences growing up in his Italian-American Bronx neighborhood. Palminteri wrote the play and performed it in Los Angeles, before moving it to Broadway. Tickets are $85, $65 and $55, and are on sale now at Ticketmaster.

Beach Rentals

Bally’s offers daily beach rentals from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. All rentals are collected at 6 p.m. Rentals include chairs ($12), umbrellas ($15) or a package including two chairs and one umbrella ($35). Firepits and cabanas are available on a first-come first-served basis.

New Dining, Drinking options

Several new dining and drinking options have opened at two Atlantic City casinos:

American Bar & Grille

American Bar & Grille has debuted in the space formerly occupied by Wolfgang Puck American Grill at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa. The contemporary grill concept offers a sophisticated, yet casual, dining experience focusing on seasonal ingredients and globally influenced flavors. It’s open from 5 to 10 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday, and 5 to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Beach Bar – Bally’s Atlantic City

Bally’s Atlantic City has opened its Beach Bar for the summer, featuring a barbecue serving chicken, burgers, hot dogs, sausage and more. On Bally’s sixth-floor dining level, the former Arturo’s has been replaced by the fourth location of Longo’s Meatballs & Martinis, a brand that originated in Providence, R. I. (Another branch of the venue is at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino in Delaware, also owned by Bally’s.)

In addition, the Gypsy Bar at Borgata has joined the list of reopened nightspots in town.

Know When to Fold ’em

Blackjack Surrender — for players who prefer to fold their hand and surrender — is now available to every player at Bally’s. Players also can “re-split” aces, which allows for up to three hands. As a result, three hands can be created from one.

Another option to players who dine at Jerry Longo’s Meatballs & Martinis: Players can play blackjack at one of two tables offered before or after they dine.

Lounging Around

Tropicana Atlantic City is increasing the seating capacity at its Laurel Lounge and reopening the Lounge’s buffet. Servers will supply plates and guests will get one visit through the buffet line. Plus, bar seating is now available.

Over at Borgata, the Amphora Lounge has reopened in its original location, allowing the Borgata Buffet to return.

Free Parking

Bally’s now offers complimentary valet parking to its Red Card cardholders on Fridays and Saturdays. Over at Tropicana Diamond and Seven Stars cardholders receive complimentary valet parking in the hotel’s South Tower garage, or complimentary self-parking in any garage, when they present their Caesars Rewards card to the cashier in valet parking or when exiting any self-park garage. In addition, Caesars Rewards Gold Card cardholders who earn 10 Tier Credits will receive complimentary self-parking in Tropicana’s Havana Tower garage. Visit any Promotional Kiosk for a voucher. Platinum Card cardholders receive complimentary self-parking in the Havana Tower garage when they present their Caesars Rewards card when exiting.

New Deals

PlayUp, an Australian sports betting platform and technology provider, has three forthcoming market access deals with Caesars Entertainment Inc. – including iGaming in New Jersey. Pending regulatory approval – hopefully by the end of this year, the company also will offer sports betting in Indiana and Iowa. PlayUp is currently licensed to operate in Colorado. Its products include online platforms for sports betting, horse racing and daily fantasy sports in Australia and New Zealand. PlayUp plans to develop additional products while securing more market access agreements.

Tax-exempt Bonds

Stressing there is no risk to the county taxpayer, the Atlantic County Improvement Authority has agreed to allow Citigroup to help sell the tax-exempt bonds for a planned water park next to the Showboat Hotel. Executive Director John Lamey said the developers of the indoor water park asked for the change. “They did not sell the bonds as quickly as hoped,” Lamey said. “They thought from their standpoint bringing on Citigroup would help to enhance the saleability of the bonds.”

Bonus Slot Dollars

Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa is giving away 2,000 Bonus Slot Dollars to one winner every 20 minutes from noon to 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 8. To enter, swipe your M life Rewards card into a promotional kiosk and press the “Activate Sweepstakes Button” from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Winners have 30 minutes to claim their slot dollars at the M life Rewards Desk. Names will be announced overhead and displayed on television screens throughout the casino. Each customer can win only once per event. Must be present to win. Rules and regulations will be available at the M life Rewards Desk.

Recreational gambler Darryl D. McEwen is the publisher of the Seven Stars Insider – both the website (SevenStarsInsider.com) and the monthly newsletter. For a free subscription to the newsletter, email him at SevenStarsInsider@gmail.com and tell him how you heard about it. You also can download the newsletter from the website where he frequently updates news about Caesars Entertainment Corp. and Caesars Rewards under “Latest News” on the Home page. In addition, be sure to follow @7StarsInsider on Twitter. Darryl also writes a bi-weekly column, Mr. AC Casino, for the Atlantic City Weekly. The companion website is MrACCasino.com and the matching Twitter account is @MrACCasino. A former professional journalist, based in Wilmington, Delaware, Darryl is president of his own consulting firm that manages several small national and international trade associations, and provides public relations and fundraising services for a number of charitable organizations.

The post Atlantic City August 2021 | AC News, Promotions and Events appeared first on TravelZork.

Vegas News August 1, 2021

Mask Up Vegas
Vaccinated and Unvaccinated People

As expected a couple of weeks ago, you once again have to wear a mask (“Mask Up Vegas”) when indoors in Las Vegas. This mandate is for everyone – vaccinated and unvaccinated people. There’s no timeframe on how long this will last. I’d rather spend my time talking about a new casino, earnings, new slot machines so I’m going to move on. You can read about the mask mandate in Las Vegas here and here.

Las Vegas Quick Hits

No funny business or personal into this week. We’re going straight to the quick hits of Vegas news. Earnings season is a favorite time to learn about Las Vegas casinos and we’re off to a flying start!

• Last week we shared some observations about a slew of changes we noticed at Caesars’ Las Vegas properties. This week casinos started reporting earnings and it appears they’re all in great shape financially. In a way, the streamlined corporations can thank COVID-19 for forcing them to focus on more profitable segments of the businesses.
• Boyd Gaming reported pretty amazing second-quarter earnings. You can see the info here.
• Once again, Boyd is focused on generating revenue from the most profitable customers. These customers are spending more than 2019. Don’t expect many deals unless you’re very loyal to Boyd Gaming properties. This isn’t news. We’ve been sharing this information from Boyd Gaming and most casino corporations.
• There’s no timeline on reopening Main Street Station but I think we’ll hear something before the year is over. Reopening the casino depends on visitation from Hawaii along with general demand for downtown Las Vegas properties.
• Look to see more cashless experiences at Aliante before it eventually rolls out to other Boyd Gaming casinos.
• Station Casinos reported second-quarter earnings as well. Finances seem good but not as spectacular as Boyd Gaming. You can see the earnings release here.
• Again – buffets will not return to Station Casinos properties. The company didn’t share information on the future of those spaces but they did reiterate buffets are done.
• The company did share current plans for Durango Station. This is a little different than what was shared in November.

Durango Specs

• Durango Station is still being planned and won’t break ground until early next year. Construction will take 18-24 months so an opening in late 2023 or early 2024 seems to be a target. Here are some tentative specifications:

1. 100k+ sq ft gaming
2. 2k slots
3. 40 tables
4. sportsbook
5. 200 hotel rooms & suites
6. 4 full-service dining outlets

• Station Casinos has no plans to reopen the closed properties (Texas Station, etc). The focus right now is on developing Durango Station and the properties that are open now. 
• Lastly, Station didn’t mention its new sports betting app update. The app is less clunky and has a much larger wagering menu than the old version. Read more here.

Monthly visitation to Las Vegas was up again in June

• ​​Monthly visitation to Las Vegas was up again in June according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority Executive Summary.
• One thing stood out to me in this month’s summary. The change in format to compare with 2019 shows that the average daily hotel room rate was higher in June 2021 than in June 2019. 
• Paris Las Vegas is getting a Vanderpump lounge. This will go in the space once used for the Diamond/Laurel Lounge. Read more here.
• Vital Vegas is rumoring that more new restaurants will be coming to Paris Las Vegas. Read here and here.
• Updating the restaurant options at Paris and Ballys Las Vegas could easily lead one to think the World Series of Poker will be moving to the properties next year. 
• Caesars reports earnings next week. I doubt we’ll get information on Bally’s/Paris/WSOP. My guess is they will share some details on Caesars Sports and William Hill.

• Another week, another new BUFFALOOOOOOOOO slot machine! Read more here.
• Aristocrat signed a deal with Marker Trax for more cashless gaming. Read more here.
• Las Vegas is a strange place with some kind of gambling everywhere you look. While reading the agenda for the next meeting of the Nevada Gaming Control Board I noticed that a bagel store and car wash are requesting a gaming license. VEGAS BABY! You can see the agenda here.
• The Vegas Golden Knights made a few transactions this week. I learned that the 2021-22 NHL schedule was just released while researching the deals. You can see the schedule here if you want to plan a trip while the Golden Knights are in town.
• While I’m on sports, there will be a $2 bus service to Raiders games from five Station Casinos and M Resort. Read more here.
• Here’s a reminder for Las Vegas locals that The Venetian has great deals for us. Someday I’ll remember to use my 25% discount at Yardbird. You can see the discounts here.
• Able Baker was voted best brewery in Las Vegas. I concur. Read more here.
• Rumor of the week: Adele will have a residency at Resorts World. Read more here. This has already been shot down by the big dawg at Resorts World so who knows.
• This card counter movie a) looks boring and b) has too much poker and not much blackjack. Anyway, it’s a gambling movie and we usually watch those.

The post Vegas News | Mask Up Vegas and Get Down! appeared first on TravelZork.

Vegas News July 25, 2021

Vegas News is going to be a bit different this week. I spent most of the past five days on the Vegas Strip. My stay was for fun and work so I visited multiple casinos. When visiting Caesars properties I saw a lot of transformation (“New Caesars”) we’ve been discussing over the past year or so. When going through my weekly news blurbs it looks like I’m not the only one to see what’s happening.

New Caesars Is Taking Shape Right Now

We’ve been talking about changes coming to Caesars Entertainment properties since the Eldorado merger was first announced. Well, it’s happening and there’s no avoiding it – no matter who you are. The changes are impacting all guests and employees at the casinos.

Caesars is changing policies from the top. The staff at every property I visited last week is doing their best to deal with the new policies. Unfortunately, customers aren’t taking too kindly to the changes.

Water Bottles and $2 Shots That Were Comp

I was sitting at a bar and someone asked for water. The bartender went to pour a cup and the person asked for a bottle. The person got angry when told about the new “no bottle” policy for someone just asking for water. The person left and returned to the bar again and asked for a manager. The discussion lasted at least a few minutes. I left before they were done but it didn’t seem pleasant.

Just prior to the water incident a frequent customer was charged $2 for a shot of whiskey to go along with their comp beer while playing video poker. This person was upset because the shot used to also be a comp and just lashed out at the bartender.

You can see another account of policy changes and service problems from a Caesars Seven Stars member here. For what it’s worth, everyone I interacted with during the week was polite and even fun. Many were just frustrated having to constantly apologize for the new policies they had to enforce.

Gambling At The Cromwell And Other Caesars Casinos

I visited a friend at The Cromwell Hotel and Casino for dinner and learned a few things about the gambling in this casino and other properties. As previously shared on Twitter (can’t remember who so no hat tip), all of the great gaming rules appear to be gone.

For example, craps odds at The Cromwell are now 3x-4x-5x like most casinos on the Vegas Strip. The 100x odds are no longer available. The same with single-zero roulette on the main gaming floor. I only saw a double-zero game.

Closed Behind A Curtain

Half of the casino floor at The Cromwell was closed and behind a curtain when I visited.

Looks like table games by the strip entrance @CromwellVegas are being replaced by slot machines. pic.twitter.com/8Ew1s7gNjX

— Marc (@MeltzVegas) July 19, 2021

The table games by the Vegas Strip entrance at The Cromwell have been removed. There were a few stands for slot machines when I walked by. The games might be installed by the time you read this. The only table games at The Cromwell are located past the center bar near the entrance for Drai’s. 

Lots Of Changes – Roll To Win Craps

Caesars also removed some table games at Harrah’s and The Linq. The former table game spaces are occupied by slot machines and electronic table games. More of these games will be installed at Caesars Palace as part of the renovations taking place this summer.

Roll to win craps @FlamingoVegas pic.twitter.com/DyqkQWTz2M

— Marc (@MeltzVegas) July 20, 2021

Roll To Win Craps seems to be a hit. I saw the game at Flamingo, The Linq, Harrah’s, and the Cosmopolitan. As expected, most of the people playing are younger gamblers. The $10 semi-electronic version of craps is more affordable than the live dealer games which were $25 at all casinos I visited. 

Scott at Vital Vegas noticed a lot of the same things this week.

Bread And Window Seat Fees At Giada

My Caesars Rewards Diamond level friend treated me to Giada using the $100 annual dinner. I was surprised that we were seated in the middle of the restaurant. We haven’t been seated in this area before. The window seats were previously reserved for Diamond and Seven Stars guests. 

Giada now charges $25 per person for a window seat. The Caesars website directs to OpenTable for reservations so most people reserving a table online will have a similar issue. We didn’t ask Caesars to see if they’d upgrade us because the view doesn’t really matter to either of us.

There’s no complimentary bread at Giada. The bread plate is now on the menu for $9. This is the same bread service without the dried capers my friend loves so much. I’ve heard different possible reasons for charging for bread. I’m not big on bread so this is just strange to me.

Other Random Things From The Cromwell And Caesars 

• The Cromwell removed the instagramable photo spot with the martini glass or heart near the south entrance.
• All seats at The Cromwell pool come with a $100 minimum spend. You can complain if you just want to read a book but this is the new policy.
• Diamond/Seven Star check-in at Harrah’s is closed. There’s a separate line for these guests in the lobby.
• Harrah’s sportsbook (and all Caesars sportsbooks) charge to reserve seats for busy dates. This isn’t new but this is a good reminder since football season is approaching.
• The new policies from Caesars are making customers angry. When guests are upset they take it out on people working that don’t make the policies. I’m not sure how much the staff will be able to deal with the changes. I’ve said this a lot during the week but something’s gotta give.
• Reducing expenses isn’t exclusive to Caesars. I just happened to visit four of its casinos this week. Casino corporations start to report quarterly earnings this week with Boyd Gaming on Tuesday. I look forward to hearing how the changes are affecting their bottom line. 

The Cosmopolitan Is Rocking

My monthly residency at the Cosmopolitan took place this week. The place was as busy as it’s been for the past couple of months. 

Wednesday night @ Chandelier bar @Cosmopolitan_LV pic.twitter.com/WCenuSQjLy

— Marc (@MeltzVegas) July 22, 2021

The vibe was so much better than the Caesars properties. The guests and staff were in a great mood. I didn’t see a single negative experience in three days and there were only two new things to share.

Roll To Win Craps was always packed. The live dealer craps games have been $25 all year. The addition of the $10 electronic game is popular with the lower rollers. The loudest roars still come from the traditional game but everyone rolling dice was having a blast.

One thing was different during this visit to the Cosmopolitan. We were offered a resort credit if we declined housekeeping for the three-night stay. We kept room service. Three nights was a bit too long to go without. This is new for Cosmopolitan but something Caesars has offered for a couple of years now.

As some people mentioned this week, hotels may soon have a similar pricing model to airlines. Every amenity will have a fee added for most guests. People will have the option to pay for a first-class experience. This seems realistic but we’ll see.

I was playing Pai Gow Poker at the non-smoking table near the high limits room and couldn’t take my eyes off the huge new Game of Thrones King’s Landing slot machine. I’ve never watched the show but the height of the machine and visuals were stunning. 

The bonuses in the game are fun and winning the jackpot didn’t hurt. This game is only available at the Cosmopolitan and Silverton right now. I recommend this game if you’ve been missing the high production of branded slot machines. The generic non-branded slot machines that have been released over the past year can get boring.

Jaleo Sangria Hour 

Another night @jaleo @Cosmopolitan_LV thanks to the Game of Thrones slot machine. pic.twitter.com/SFw6kiwgjn

— Marc (@MeltzVegas) July 23, 2021

Friends have been preaching how great the Sangria Hour at Jaleo is to me for a while but I’ve never visited. It was so good that we ended up having dinner here two of the three nights at Cosmopolitan. Great food, great prices (menu) and great service. What more could you ask for besides additional hours?

STK Cocktail Hour wasn’t bad either but I think I fell in love with Jaleo this week. 

Las Vegas Quick Hits

Enough about my experiences this week. Let’s get to the rest of the news with an abbreviated news section.

• Resorts World Las Vegas To Open Fred Segal Market Powered by Amazon’s Just Walk Out Technology. Read More here.
• Expect to see higher hotel room rates for these dates in Las Vegas. Likewise, visit during these dates if you like busy Las Vegas.
• It looks like Wynn is auctioning off old furniture. Read more here.
• Lost Spirits looks like fun.

Imploding The Mirage

• Imploding the Mirage will take place next year. Read more here.
• Casino workers must wear masks. Read the policy here.
• Las Vegas Sands still owns The Venetian so I can share some corporate news. The company reported earnings last week. Read more here. 

Cashless gaming news bites:

1. Deal with Aristocrat and Everi
2. Deal with Sightline and Aristocrat
3. Deal with Sightline and MarkerTrax – This could be a huge deal for sports bettors. I’ll have more on this soon.

• If you want to see inside Allegiate Stadium but don’t want to pay much consider going to a UNLV football game. Read more here.
• A&W root beer restaurants coming to Las Vegas. Read more here.
• Raising Cane’s is coming to the Vegas Strip. Read more here.

The post Vegas News | New Caesars Taking Shape And “Imploding The Mirage In 2022” – The Killers appeared first on TravelZork.

The Casino THEO and Average Daily Theoretical – ADT

Your theoretical loss to the casino (your casino theo or average daily theoretical – ADT) is the way the casino calculates what you are worth to them.

It’s not a theoretical win because every game that the casino offers have a house advantage and the payoff for a bet is always less than the odds of winning that bet. This long-term expected loss per bet is the take or hold of the casino and guarantees the casino a profit.

The casino has a positive expected value (EV) on every wager that is made, and the player has a negative EV for every wager they make. The return to player or payback percentage can be close to 100%, but the odds are always in the casino’s favor.

House advantage is higher on some games than others (the games furthest away from a 100% payback, like slot machines) and casinos want to lure players who play those games, back to the casino.

Theo shows the casino which players make the bets that give the casino more profit and those are the players they invest in with comps! As I’ve stated in previous articles, comps are a money-making tool that the casino uses to encourage more and bigger wagers. Comps are not a reward for your loyalty; they are a casino business expense.

Related: Generating Casino Offers (Marketing Offers)

COMPS = A Portion of Your Theoretical Loss

The casino will give you a portion of your theoretical loss back to you in comps. The higher the casino hold on the games you play, the higher your theo is going to be and the more comps you are going to receive, but in essence, YOU are paying for those comps.

The longer you play the more probable it is that you will reach the statistical expectation of the game and this means that you will have paid the house edge to the casino. The only way to get around this real loss would be to quit after you get lucky (after receiving much MORE payout than the statistical expectation) but it’s a special player who can quit when they are ahead in a casino and never go back!

Figuring Out Your Casino Theo (ADT)

It’s possible to figure out the exact long-term theoretical payback on video poker (as opposed to slots) because the pay table is plain to see. Jacks or Better (JoB) with the pay table of 9 to 1 for a full house and 6 to 1 for a flush has a long-term theoretical payout of 99.54% if you are playing perfect strategy. Theoretically, the casino only makes 0.46% of the money played through the machine over its lifetime, though there are few players who can actually play perfectly on every single hand. The casino’s actual hold is probably closer to 1 to 2 percent and may be higher. Casinos used to base comps on their average hold but now the theo is set closer to the actual theoretical hold or even below it!

Related: How To Solve The Video Poker Puzzle
Related: Atlantic City | Video Poker at Borgata B Bar

JoB is also a low variance game. Generally, that means you take less risk to realize that 99.54% payback. The payouts are not concentrated only on the infrequently occurring big wins so you win back your bets more steadily and it takes less bankroll to play, but—over the short term, it’s possible to lose a lot of money anyway.

Let’s Look at an Example

I’m going to use playing JoB at the Borgata (before the transition to the Mlife program in June of 2017, when it was less complicated) as an example because the calculations are fairly transparent. The basic comp rate on video poker at the Borgata is 0.20% and you must earn $5 in comps in a gaming day or you won’t earn anything.

For Every $1 You Play

For every $1 that you play in the machine, regardless of whether you win or lose, you receive 0.20 of one percent in your comp account. If you earn $10 in comps you would also earn $5 of free play, which is paid at 0.10% of coin-in (but will not show on the machine). The only way to calculate this on the day of play is to halve the amount of comps you earned. You also do not receive any free play at all, unless you earn at least $5 worth.

Analysis – Borgata Video Poker Example

In order to earn $10 in comps and $5 free play, we’d need to play $5000 through the machine.

• $5000 x 0.20% or .002 = $10
• $5000 x 0.10% or .001 = $5
• $5000 x 99.54% payback = $4977 so the theoretical casino hold is $5000 – $4977 = $23

The Theory Behind $5000 In Play (coin-in)

So, theoretically, if you played $5000 through the machine, your average loss would be $23 and you would earn $10 in comps and $5 in bounce-back free play (you have to wait 24-48 hours after your trip to use it). Great deal you might say, but not so fast. A $23 loss is the average loss for the long term. In the short term, a lot of different scenarios are possible. You could win a 4000 coin royal flush or you could lose 4000 coins.

Playing 25c video poker:
$5000/$1.25 = 4000 hands/600 hands per hour = 6.67 hours of play

Playing $ video poker:
$5000/$5 = 1000 hands/600 hands per hour = 1.67 hours of play

If I had a $23 loss from either of the examples above, I would consider myself very fortunate. JoB has a high theoretical payout and low variance but you are still gambling. You personally, might not ever get to a return of the statistically average 99.54%.

Related: Learn Video Poker | How to Get Started

Your Theo is a Good Indicator 

We can only estimate what our theo (ADT) is with the casino, although it will be close to the actual theoretical loss from the games we play. The casino tries to gauge how much money you are willing to risk, by assigning you a theo. The theo (average daily theoretical) is used to gauge just the right amount of comps, and no more, to get you to keep playing, so they can continue to earn their house edge.

Important Reads

Casino Comps | The Big Play Casino Gambling Day
Casino Loyalty | Casino Comps vs. Cashback

You can use your theo (ADT) to try to show the casino that you are taking more risk than you actually are, but at the very least, considering your theo will help you understand why you are or are not receiving the comps you want or think you have earned.

FAQ – What Is Casino Theo?

Note: Updated July 2021 by the TravelZork editorial staff.

The post Gambling | Casino THEO | It’s All About The THEO (Average Daily Theoretical – ADT) appeared first on TravelZork.

Vegas News July 18, 2021

“It’s deja vu all over again”

“It’s deja vu all over again,” said one of my favorite baseball players. I never actually saw Yogi Berra play a game but some of his ridiculous and amazing Yogi-isms will always stay with me. Maybe Huey Lewis & The News is more relevant (closer but not really) to 2021. This may be entirely relevant, but we’re going back in time! Don’t worry; after we “go back in time,” we will explore the fabulous Bootlegger Bistro.

• As expected, we’ll now be visiting The D to play this awful looking game. Wizard of Odds has some info on the game here. The discussion on the Wizard of Vegas board is interesting. You can see that here.
• Costa di Mare at Wynn is closing. Read more here.
• The spa at Virgin has a happy hour now. Instead of making jokes like a 13-year-old boy, I’ll just say read more here. 
• It looks like Lady Gaga shows might be returning to Park MGM. Read more here.
• Terry Bradshaw is back at Luxor with a slew of shows from September through December. Read more here. 
• Rock ‘N’ Roll Fantasy Camp has big names and dates for next year in Las Vegas. This could be fun for fans of 80’s metal. Read more here.

Also, be sure to join the ZorkCast Group on FaceBook. This is the Facebook group to continue the conversation from the ZorkCast podcast and TravelZork website. Feel free to start a conversation related to anything TravelZork or ZorkCast.

Want direct access to casino news, casino reviews, narratives, loyalty programs, and video poker? Visit our casino/Vegas section directly at CasinoZork. Join the thousands of people who read TravelZork every month! Sign up here for one email per week updates. (Email is sent weekly on Monday and now includes EXCLUSIVE tips and commentary!)

The post Vegas News | COVID, Rumors, Bootlegger Bistro, And Backstreet Boys appeared first on TravelZork.

Vegas News July 11, 2021

The Great Vegas Comeback () Continues

Even though COVID Isn’t Over, The Great Vegas Comeback () continued this weekend with action up and down the Vegas Strip. On Friday night, Justin Bieber played an intimate (for a person that can play arenas) show at Wynn Las Vegas. The high-priced tickets sold out quickly. Dave Chappelle and Joe Rogan played to a packed house at MGM Grand on Friday too. The next time, UFC and Garth Brooks sold-out T-Mobile Arena and Allegiant Stadium, respectively. 

There hasn’t been this much entertainment in Las Vegas at the same time in more than a year. This was supposed to be another busy weekend of Las Vegas reopening to the world. Unfortunately, Las Vegas takes two steps forward and one step back.

COVID Isn’t Over

COVID Isn’t Over — COVID-19 rates, hospitalizations, etc. have spiked to the same level as February. Once again, COVID-19 is responsible for putting entertainment on hold. Boxer Tyson Fury has COVID-19 and his fight with Deontay Wilder at T-Mobile Arena scheduled for late July has been postponed. The fight is rumored to be moved back to October. The new date probably won’t be announced until Fury is completely healthy. 

While there’s room to consider a pause, shows are still returning. Brooklyn Bowl is open and booking shows. The restaurant – featuring Blue Ribbon Fried Chicken – is once again open daily. Local performers are taking to the stage now with touring bands appearing later this year. You can see the calendar here.

This Week At Cosmo

I spent a couple of days at the Cosmopolitan this week and it was crazy busy. Once again, busier than my previous visit. This month’s local promotion included two complimentary buffets. The line for the Wicked Spoon buffet was an hour-long the day I checked into the hotel.

Even though the casino was busier it seemed like there was a similar proportion of guests wearing masks as the last time I stayed there in May. Once again, masked and unmasked all seemed comfortable and respectful with each other. 

Las Vegas still feels like it’s very much on the way back to normal. I’m not sure how the COVID-19 resurgence will affect the progress. I’m not going to guess but will certainly be monitoring the situation.

If you’re concerned about COVID-19, keep your eyes on mainstream news outlets for updates. The Nevada Independent has been my source for COVID-19 data since last year. There’s usually context provided if you need that too.

Las Vegas Quick Hits

This wasn’t an especially newsy week in Las Vegas. I’m expecting more corporate announcements, like the first quick hit, as we get closer to quarterly earnings reports. The second hit is about an announcement I’m expecting later this month.

• This week Caesars announced a large renovation at Caesars Palace Las Vegas. The original main entrance, main casino, and porte-cochère will be updated to “create an extravagant entryway.” The company will also redesign the gaming areas and add a new lobby bar.
• The original main entrance of Caesars Palace isn’t the current main entrance that brings guests to the hotel lobby to check-in. This is the entrance next to the valet entrance.
• The renovation will be complete in time for New Year’s Eve. In the meantime, The main valet on the Vegas Strip will only be accessible to Diamond and Seven Star Caesars Rewards members.
• All guests will be able to enter from The Colosseum valet near the self-parking garage off Frank Sinatra Drive. Rideshare pickup is moving the exit doors next to Vanderpump Cocktail Garden.
• The Caesars Palace Las Vegas renovation isn’t much of a surprise as this was mentioned during a recent earnings call. 
• Speaking of earnings calls, Red Rock Resorts just announced its earnings call for July 28. During its last earnings call the company said we should have details about the next casino it plans on building. You can read some info about Durango Station here.
• I mentioned that Las Vegas is going to be hot a few weeks ago. Well, it’s hot. Like record-breaking heat, kind of hot. It was so hot this past week that some flights in and out of Las Vegas were canceled. Read more here.
• Rumor of the week: Vital Vegas is reporting that there’s another report that Gordon Ramsay’s next restaurant will be at Harrah’s. 
• Replacing a low-margin buffet with an upper mid-tier restaurant makes sense for New Caesars which is looking to increase profit anywhere it can. I expect this will be announced soon enough. This will also give Caesars another excuse to tout the Harrah’s renovation that was finished again earlier this year.
• Pour out a 40 for the Harrah’s buffet.
• The Las Vegas Food & Wine Festival will be back in October. Foodie events with celebrity chefs will take place throughout Las Vegas once again. Read more here.
• It looks like there are going to be plenty of live poker tournaments in Las Vegas during the fall. Read more about the other poker events happening around the same time WSOP will be at Rio All-Suite Hotel here.
• Construction and traffic are coming to the south end of the Vegas Strip near Mandalay Bay this week. This is the second phase of the awful roads and traffic happening around Resorts World. Read more here.
• Sharing this because it’s a weird one. People from *NSYNC, Backstreet Boys and Boyz II Men are going to sing hits from each other’s groups at The Venetian. Read more here. 
• Tuscany dumped the table games nobody played. Read more here. More importantly, Pub 365 will still have the largest beer menu near the Vegas Strip. This is also home to the closest Circa Sports location to the Vegas Strip.

Also, be sure to join the ZorkCast Group on FaceBook. This is the Facebook group to continue the conversation from the ZorkCast podcast and TravelZork website. Feel free to start a conversation related to anything TravelZork or ZorkCast.

Want direct access to casino news, casino reviews, narratives, loyalty programs, and video poker? Visit our casino/Vegas section directly at CasinoZork. Join the thousands of people who read TravelZork every month! Sign up here for one email per week updates. (Email is sent weekly on Monday and now includes EXCLUSIVE tips and commentary!)

The post Vegas News | Busy Weekend In Vegas, COVID Isn’t Over And A New Gordon Ramsay Restaurant? appeared first on TravelZork.

Atlantic City July 2021

Casino Smoking Ban Ends

The casino smoking ban ends. New Jersey’s ban on smoking in Atlantic City casinos ended Sunday, July 4. However, Gov. Phil Murphy indicated he would look favorably on a measure lawmakers are considering to permanently end smoking in New Jersey’s casinos. Casinos are exempted from a state law banning most indoor smoking, while an Atlantic City law limits smoking to no more than 25 percent of the casino floor.

Casino Association Of New Jersey – Opposes Permanent Smoking Ban

The Casino Association of New Jersey opposes a permanent smoking ban, saying it could cause long-term financial implications. “Going completely nonsmoking would place Atlantic City casinos at a competitive disadvantage with other nearby casinos that allow smoking,” the group said in a statement. Such a ban would lead to fewer customers, fewer casino jobs and lower tax revenue, it said.

The casinos say they have spent considerable sums on cleaning and air filtration systems to protect customers. And a considerable amount of gamblers say that smoking is an integral part of their gambling experience. But nonsmokers like Tom Cushion, who visits casinos once or twice a week, has loved the smoke-free atmosphere for the past year. “You can feel the difference,” said Cushion, “It’s time to go smoke-free.”

Free parking

Sign up for a Bally’s Players Card, earn 10 Tier Credits in a gaming day and swipe your card at any kiosk. Then present your voucher and parking ticket to the garage cashier to receive free parking. For more information, visit Bally’s Atlantic City.

Alternatively, spend $50 or more at one of Bally’s fine dining restaurants – Jerry Longo’s Meatballs & Martinis, Guy Fieri’s Chophouse, Noodle Village, Harry’s Oyster Bar and Bally’s Beach Bar & BBQ – and self-park the same day for free with a Bally’s Player’s Card. Visit the Player’s Club for details.

Motown Forever

The Motown Tribute concert Motown Forever is performed at 4 and 8 p.m. every Saturday through Sept. 4 in Bally’s Atlantic City’s Grand Ballroom. Tickets – $39 and $49 – are available at Ticket Web or at the ballroom three hours prior to showtime.

Ocean introduces new loyalty program

The Ocean Casino Resort Ocean Rewards player loyalty card program has been reimagined with four new tiers. New perks and benefits include Ocean’s new cruise partner MSC Cruises, and two new players lounges. All Ocean Rewards cardholders can visit the Ocean Rewards Desk to pick up a new card with their updated tier status. For details, click here.

Rent a seat

Bally’s offers daily beach rentals from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. All rentals are collected at 6 p.m. Rentals include chairs ($12), umbrellas ($15) or a package including two chairs and one umbrella ($35). Firepits and cabanas are available on a first-come first-served basis.

Veg out!

VegFest is returning to Atlantic City from noon to 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 17, and Sunday, July 18, on the Boardwalk near the Showboat Hotel and Ocean Casino Resort. Billed by organizers as New Jersey’s No. 1 homegrown food festival, it will feature vegan food and plant-based clothing from more than 100 chefs and local businesses from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland and Washington, D.C. There also will be live entertainment.

Raw Bar opens at Dougherty’s

The Raw Bar at Dougherty’s Steakhouse and Raw Bar in Resorts Casino Hotel has opened in the space formerly occupied by the Burger Bar. Dougherty’s has uncovered the windows and created an expansive new bar and raw bar featuring herringbone tile details and a fresh, indoor/outdoor feel.

The Raw Bar features six different oysters daily, shucked fresh before your eyes from the tiered raw bar display. The Raw Bar is the more casual counterpart to the Steakhouse and offers salads, sandwiches and burgers, along with the raw bar selections and appetizers designed to be shared.

Happy Hours

Happy Hour has returned to Guy Fieri’s Chophouse bar and lounge at Bally’s from 5 to 6:30 p.m. seven days a week. Specials include half-price draft beers, wine by the glass and a 23-ounce draft beer for $6.

There also are daily happy hours at the L Bar from 3 to 5 p.m. Specials include: Half price cocktails, beer and win

Circus, circus

The circus is in town through Labor Day, with performances every weekend next to the Showboat Resort and Convention Hotel. Two shows – one family-friendly, the other more adult-oriented – will be offered. Visit Super American Circus for tickets and more information on the family-themed show; for the adult show, go to Cirque Risque.

Come, fly with me

Travelers from up to 75 U.S. departure cities now can fly to Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa with flight service from markets such as Cincinnati, Buffalo, Charlotte, Houston, Detroit and others. Borgata’s charter flights to Atlantic City International Airport will operate on a Sun Country 173-seat 737-800 aircraft.

Borgata is offering nonstop jet service packages starting at $553 per person including round-trip airfare, deluxe accommodations for three nights, and round-trip ground transportation between the airport and Borgata. Reservations for these travel packages may be made by calling 866-755-7117.

Meanwhile, Hard Rock Air getaways include:
• Charter service on an exclusive 30-seat jet
• Private charter check-in at the airport
• Complimentary airport parking
• Overnight accommodations at Hard Rock Atlantic City
• Ground transportation to/from Atlantic City International Airport

To find out more about Hard Rock Air, or to book a flight package, contact a Hard Rock Air VIP Specialist at 609-449-5757 or email HardRockAir@hrhcac.com.

In the cards

Blackjack players at Bally’s will find wider aisles, new gaming tables, more room at the tables and comfortable seating. Among the new options is an exclusive $25 blackjack pit offering eight games and no mid-shoe entry. Players cannot join the table until the current players have played through the shoe.

In addition, Blackjack Surrender – for players who prefer to fold their hand and surrender – is offered to every player. Players also can “re-split” aces, which allows for up to three hands. As a result, three hands can be created from one.

Another option is available to players who dine at Jerry Longo’s Meatballs & Martinis in Bally’s. Players can play blackjack at one of two tables offered before or after they dine.

This has a nice ring to it

Philadelphia’s Hard Hitting Promotions has announced a 12-fight boxing series at Showboat Atlantic City. The series, dubbed Boardwalk Boxing, begins Saturday, July 31, and will include Christian Tapia, a Super Featherweight from Puerto Rico with an 11-0 record and 10 knockouts, Dylan Price, of Philadelphia, a Bantamweight with a 13-0 record including 10 knockouts, and Atlantic City’s own Anthony Young a Welterweight with a record of 21-2 that includes eight knockouts.

The matches will be held either upstairs in the Bourbon Room – the former House of Blues – or in the Carousel Room. The next show will be Saturday, Aug. 28, with another at the beginning of November. The series will begin again in February.

Gone fishing

The “Quest for the Ring” Championship Fishing Week is coming July 12 to 17 to the Frank S. Farley State Marina at Golden Nugget Casino, Hotel & Marina. Hall of Fame football coach Jimmy Johnson’s annual fishing tournament offers a grand prize starting at $1 million for teams, but it will be increased by $200,000 for every additional 15 boats past 85. Parties will be held every night during the tournament. For more information, visit Quest For The Ring AC or call 305-255-3500.

That’s entertainment

Through Aug. 4: Masters of Illusion, Harrah’s
July 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, 31: The Rat Pack: Back in Town, Hard Rock
July 3: High Noon (Lynyrd Skynard tribute), Hard Rock
July 3: Brian McKnight, Ocean Casino Resort
July 9: Sister Sledge, Tropicana
July 10: Draw The Line (Aerosmith tribute), Hard Rock
July 15: Rock & Roll Hall of Famer: Dion, Borgata
July 16: Little River Band, Tropicana
July 17 and 18: Bert Kreischer: The Berty Boy Relapse Tour, Borgata
July 17: Rockin’ the Paradise (Styx tribute), Hard Rock
July 21 to 25: Legends In Concert, Tropicana
July 16: Jim Breuer, Borgata
July 17 and 18: Bert Kreischer – The Berty Boy Relapse Tour, Borgata
July 23: The Drifters, The Cornell Gunter Coasters, The Platters, Hard Rock
July 23: Dierks Bentley, Hard Rock
July 24: Wanted DOA (Bon Jovi tribute), Hard Rock
July 24: Air Supply, Borgata
July 30: Joe Gatto: Traffic Cam Live, Hard Rock
July 31: Nightrain (Guns N’ Roses tribute), Hard Rock

That’s Entertainment – Plus. . .

Dueling pianos every Friday night starting at 9 p.m. at Hard Rock Cafe.

Hard Rock, in collaboration with North Beach, offers live entertainment and specials every Monday throughout the summer. Stop by the Beach Bar and Balcony Bar for a bucket of domestic beer for $30 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Island vibes and $14 perfect margaritas are offered every Thursday for the summer at the Beach Bar at Hard Rock.

The Hard Rock Lobby Bar offers free live entertainment plus drink specials every Saturday and Sunday.

Council Oak Steaks & Seafood has free entertainment from 5:30 to 11:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Recreational gambler Darryl D. McEwen is the publisher of the Seven Stars Insider – both the website (SevenStarsInsider.com) and the monthly newsletter. For a free subscription to the newsletter, email him at SevenStarsInsider@gmail.com and tell him how you heard about it. You also can download the newsletter from the website where he frequently updates news about Caesars Entertainment Corp. and Caesars Rewards under “Latest News” on the Home page. In addition, be sure to follow @7StarsInsider on Twitter. Darryl also writes a bi-weekly column, Mr. AC Casino, for the Atlantic City Weekly. The companion website is MrACCasino.com and the matching Twitter account is @MrACCasino. A former professional journalist, based in Wilmington, Delaware, Darryl is president of his own consulting firm that manages several small national and international trade associations, and provides public relations and fundraising services for a number of charitable organizations.

The post Atlantic City July 2021 | Casino Smoking Ban ENDS July 4 appeared first on TravelZork.

Vegas News July 4, 2021

More Resorts World

The big news in Las Vegas is still the opening of Resorts World Las Vegas. The soft opening was last week and the grand opening will take place on July 4th. I visited Resorts World in between despite the soft opening issues I was warned about. Thankfully, they’re being addressed and very slowly fixed. So, we are going to be sharing More Resorts World for you to enjoy!

I visited Resorts World Las Vegas twice last week. Years ago I’d wait a week or so to visit a new property to let them work through any opening problems. That’s not possible today so I made a plan to stop off after Resorts World was open for a few days.

The early visitors did some great recon and pointed out some things to avoid. The parking situation at Resorts World can be a bit of a mess with a garage that’s about five minutes away from the casino and resort. I tried to valet at Conrad Las Vegas but they’re only accepting hotel guests. I was pointed to the Hilton Garage. Everyone driving to Resorts World should park here. The casino also has a valet if you prefer. Parking was free during the soft opening but will be instituted soon. The pay stations are already installed.

I Love The Aesthetic Of Resorts World

Knowing there were some issues I still met up with a longtime friend. He was one of a few people I know in town for a conference(!) last week. The Great Vegas Comeback () continues with business travelers returning.

I love the aesthetic of Resorts World and can see the vision for the property. The casino is large and feels like a Vegas Strip casino. The renovation of Monte Carlo to Park MGM didn’t feel as grand. The off-strip renovation of the Hard Rock to Virgin didn’t feel like a grand debut either.

Maybe building from the ground up allows a casino to truly define itself. Circa was built from scratch and feels like a destination property with must-see amenities in downtown Las Vegas. Resorts World has a similar feel with different features. 

Amazing Pool Complex

Like Circa, Resorts World has a great pool complex. This can be such a great amenity some people will stay just for the pools. The Dawg House saloon and sportsbook is offering free musicians nightly unless a superstar turns up for a ticketed event.

The sports bar and book isn’t my cup of tea to watch the games (I prefer a traditional setting like Circa) but the combination of free music and sports will attract people. Lastly, the convenience of using Hilton Honors points will also be a draw. 

(Some) Problems Fixed

Some of the problems I had on Sunday were mostly fixed by the time I stayed at Conrad Las Vegas to review the hotel room on Wednesday.

Not everything was ready for prime time but they were slowly getting there. The property was still short on some items midweek. This should be solved like the other issues. Thankfully the bill breaker/ATM machines weren’t paying in singles by the time I returned on Wednesday.

TITO @ResortsWorldLV paid out all singles for my $44. Guess I’ll go to @TheSapphirePool for the afternoon pic.twitter.com/fSZE3dkHa1

— Marc (@MeltzVegas) June 27, 2021

20K Showed Up – Opening Night

Resorts World hired a lot of experienced workers from other casinos. They had to repeatedly apologize for the issues throughout the week. I started to feel bad after speaking to a variety of people with different jobs.

I don’t think Resorts World officials were quite prepared for the 20,000 people who showed up on the opening night and beyond. 

Besides the one ticket being paid in singles, I didn’t run into many problems firsthand. My biggest complaint right now is that it’s a pain to get an iced coffee. Right now, the only place service cold coffee is Starbucks. At least, that’s the only place I found it. Hopefully, I just missed another option.

I think I can see the vision of Resorts World. I’ll wait at least a few weeks for the property to work out its problems. You can read a quick review of the Conrad Hotel Las Vegas room at Resorts World Las Vegas here.

Las Vegas Quick Hits

The news doesn’t stop in Las Vegas no matter how distracted I am. Let’s take a quick look at some news highlights around Las Vegas.

• Nevada casinos won a record-breaking amount of money in May. The newspaper headline could also read, “Nevada gamblers lose a record $1.23B in May.” Read more here.
• MGM Resorts made a big real estate deal for CityCenter. Read the press release here.
• The company essentially flipped Aria and Vdara to Blackstone and will lease the properties. Nothing will change with your experience. You can read about the deal here.
• MGM Resorts’ Shadow Creek golf course is raising green fees to $1,000. Read more here.
• I wouldn’t be surprised if Wynn follows this with an increase of its green fees. The only casino on the Vegas Strip with a golf course merely charges a $550 green fee. Read more here.
• Speaking of Wynn, the company shared details about the podcast studio across from La Cave. Read more here.
• Sammy Hagar will have a residency at The Strat later this year. I’m curious to see if this draws new visitors. Read more here. 
• Rooms tend to have walls but that hasn’t stopped anyone from calling the poker area at PLANET HOLLYWOOD Las Vegas Resort a ” Poker Room.” Regardless, poker is leaving Planet Hollywood on July 11. Read more here.
• If you’ve been reading this column for the past two years, you’ve probably seen that casino operators have been looking for ways to reduce expenses. New Caesars Entertainment (old Eldorado) and Boyd have led the way saying buffets are wasteful and not profitable. 
• The former has been planning to save money by reducing overlapping jobs and services and creating greater synergies between the two merged companies. That’s continuing throughout the company’s operations. The latter has been squeezing money from its most profitable customers while reducing benefits to less profitable customers. Both are sound business decisions for the two corporations. 
• COVID-19 caused all casino operators to focus on streamlining expenses so they could keep the companies operating last year. In addition to reduced amenities, there are also fewer workers at the casinos. According to an analyst, MGM Resorts has reduced its staff by 40%. The casino operators will continue to add automation to keep payroll down. Don’t be surprised if the staff reductions stay intact if the companies can continue to operate successfully and be more profitable with fewer employees.
• The Vegas experience continues to change. Earnings calls are around the corner and I expect we’ll learn even more.

Also, be sure to join the ZorkCast Group on FaceBook. This is the Facebook group to continue the conversation from the ZorkCast podcast and TravelZork website. Feel free to start a conversation related to anything TravelZork or ZorkCast.

Want direct access to casino news, casino reviews, narratives, loyalty programs, and video poker? Visit our casino/Vegas section directly at CasinoZork. Join the thousands of people who read TravelZork every month! Sign up here for one email per week updates. (Email is sent weekly on Monday and now includes EXCLUSIVE tips and commentary!)

The post Vegas News | More Resorts World, MGM Is Selling and Hagar Goes To The Strat appeared first on TravelZork.

Conrad Las Vegas

This is a review of the Stip View Premium King Room at the Conrad Las Vegas at Resorts World Las Vegas. The casino was still in a soft opening phase when I visited on June 30. The grand opening will take place on July 4th. The property is still having some glitches getting up and running, so I’ll stick to the good and bad of the Conrad experience.

I arrived at the Conrad Las Vegas valet around noon. The valet is free and only available for Conrad hotel guests. If you don’t like to use a valet, you can park in the Hilton garage and walk about a quarter-mile to the Conrad hotel to check-in. Similarly, you can’t valet here if you want just to visit the casino.

How Did I Book?

I booked using the TravelZork Travel Luxury Hotel Collection
Conrad Las Vegas is a Hilton Impresario Program Property
Midweek Room Rate for June 30th (one night)
Base Room Rate (guaranteed strip view) was $209.00, Taxes and Fees USD $78.99 (including the resort fee)
Total Price For The Room USD $287.99 (includes Impresario Benefits)
Ask for a quote today!

Hilton Luxury Impresario Program

• $100 USD food&beverage credit
• Full Breakfast for 2 ($50 credit)
• Room Upgrade (based on availability)
• Late Check-out (based on availability)
• DOUBLE HILTON HONORS POINTS

There were only a couple of people checking in early. This was a breeze. I requested a room with a strip view on a high floor. I ended up in the middle of the tower on the 30th floor. The strip view is two-faced. 

Vegas Strip View – Conrad Las Vegas

If you look to the east (Wynn) and south (Cosmopolitan), the view is great. If your eyes focus on the closer view, you’ll see the amazing pool deck, construction, and the empty lot that was formerly land for Wynn West. I’m sure this is better than the view looking in the other direction, but it’s not 100% amazing.

Conrad Las Vegas has 1,496 rooms and suites. This makes it the largest Conrad in the world. The rooms are 550 square feet but feel much larger. That’s probably because the bathroom is relatively small. I like this layout better as I’d much rather have more space in the living area. 

What About My Room Upgrade?

The Hilton Impresario Room Rate includes an upgrade (at check-in, if available). Hilton Gold and Diamond members also receive upgrades based on the Hilton Honors Loyalty Program terms&conditions. We confirmed that for this room (“STRIP VIEW PREMIUM ROOM – ONE KING BED”), the Hilton Impresario Program (TravelZork Travel) upgrade would be to a Conrad One Bedroom Suite. The Hilton Impresario Program and TravelZork Travel were very forthcoming that this upgrade was “very scare” currently. As expected, no upgrade was received at check-in.

Entering The Room

The bathroom is the first thing you’ll notice walking into the Conrad room. The shower is large and there isn’t a bathtub. The main showerhead isn’t very powerful but it gets the job done. There’s a rain showerhead above but I didn’t use that.

The toiletries in the shower and vanity are locked in place. Sadly, there are no goodies to take home. That’s too bad because the lotion and shower gels smell nice. The water closet is behind a frosted glass door and wall. I hate the trend of high toilets but that’s personal. This might be TMI, but I might just have to need a travel squatty potty.

The minibar has everything you’d expect plus some hard seltzer and premade cocktails. 

The Main Room – Conrad Las Vegas

The living and sleeping area in the Conrad room is large and comfortable. The huge TV didn’t wasn’t set up and two calls to get it fixed resulted in nothing. Not a big deal for this visit as most of the time spent here was by the pool or at the casino. Chalk this up to the new hotel glitches.

The bed is comfortable with a firm but soft mattress. The pillows felt a bit airy. I kept switching pillows over the night as the deflated pillows weren’t comfortable. The bench at the foot of the bed was useful as a luggage rack and changing.

The end tables are about a foot away from the bed. This should cut down on people walking into them. However, reaching over to get glasses or a phone might be difficult for some.

One end table has an alarm clock with a wireless phone charger. That’s useful. The other end table has three USB outlets and one plug outlet. This was my preferred side since I have a 6’ charging cord and could use my phone in bed while charging.

The dining/work space had plenty of room. The chairs are comfortable and the table is large enough for a few people to eat and/or work. The only downside is the nearest outlet to keep a laptop changing is far away and the table may be too heavy for some to move.

Room service is provided by On The Fly via Grubhub. Room service takes about an hour and the fee is $8.50. I didn’t use the service but that’s a decent price. You can also order food to pick up in the casino. There’s no fee for this service.

Resorts World Pool Deck

The pool deck at Resorts World is fantastic. It’s one of the best parts of this gorgeous property. I counted eight pools of varying sizes. One of the pools is the only infinity-edge pool with a view of the Vegas Strip. Again, the view could be amazing but you’ll see that construction and empty land. That said, it’s definitely something to check out.

There are multiple places to grab food and/or drinks on the pool deck. There’s also plenty of seating available. One of the features I appreciated were giant coverings above some chairs. This makes seeing a phone or tablet screen easy. The glare of the sun is the enemy of anyone trying to read computer screens.  

This pool deck is for the Conrad and Hilton towers. Crockfords has its own private pool.

Resorts World Las Vegas Casino

I explored the casino for a bit and it’s not ready for prime time. Let’s start with the positive. The casino is large and beautiful. This feels like a grand Vegas Strip casino-resort. Between the food hall and standalone restaurants there are 40 places to eat.

A Little Food At Lots Of Places

I had a little food at lots of places to try and get a vibe. The brisket from Blood Brothers BBQ is okay but not as moist as I prefer. Suns Out, Buns Out is similar to Eggslut at the Cosmopolitan. The bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich was good but the bread felt old. I had the same issue with the pulled pork sandwich at Dawg House on Sunday. 

Craig’s Vegan ice cream was a delicious way to end the evening of too much food. The next morning I had a full breakfast at The Kitchen. The food and coffee were good. One of the soft opening glitches was the lack of paper cups for some coffee to go. It took about five minutes but they found a non-branded cup. This is just one of the glitches in the casino.

I also went to Mozz for lunch on the second day and the chicken parm sandwich was delicious. It was small but the chicken, sauce and even the bread were great. I have to alert the Chicken Parm club to this.

Kiosks

The POS system was down for periods of time over the weekend and people had to use cash instead of credit cards. The ATMs ran out of money. The kiosks to order in the food hall weren’t working creating chaos for early visitors. Both problems appear to be fixed. I didn’t have a problem with either.

I tried to order a signature cocktail at Here Kitty Kitty Vice Den but was shunned because they didn’t have the ingredients. The entire hotel was out of tequila that night too. At least every bar had the ingredients for the signature “Genting Old Fashioned”.

Genting Old Fashioned @ResortsWorldLV pic.twitter.com/hiEJDyidGc

— Marc (@MeltzVegas) July 1, 2021

I feel bad for the employees on the front lines that have to continually appologize to upset customers. Each person I spoke with seemed to have a different problem over the first few days at the casino. 

Some Final Thoughts – Conrad Las Vegas

The Conrad Las Vegas room and Resorts World are both very good right now. I enjoyed my time in the casino and the room. The potential for both is great. It may take some time to get there but I can see the potential. I’m excited to return in a few weeks after everything is sorted.

Disclosure: TravelZork paid $287.99 (including all taxes and resort fees, guaranteed strip view) for the room. The deal (Hilton Impresario) came with a $100 food and beverage credit. There was another $25 food credit that almost covered breakfast. (The Hilton Impresario Breakfast Benefit is $25 for one or $50 for two registered guests. Hilton Diamond and Gold Members also can “stack” another $50 breakfast credit.)

FAQ – Conrad Las Vegas
and Hilton at Resorts World Las Vegas

The post Hotel Review | Conrad Las Vegas at Resorts World appeared first on TravelZork.

Vegas News June 27, 2021

Resorts World Open

The big news in Las Vegas this week was the opening of Resorts World Las Vegas. This wasn’t a “grand opening” despite the ribbon-cutting, fireworks, celebrity appearances, and so on. This was a big deal since it’s the first casino built from scratch to open on the Vegas Strip in a decade. Having said that, consider this a “soft opening.” You can read about Resorts World opening here.

The moment we have all been waiting for…Our doors have officially opened! pic.twitter.com/j1Atvr58xp

— Resorts World Las Vegas (@ResortsWorldLV) June 25, 2021

Resorts World Open
Ready For Prime Time?

Leading into the opening day a handful of tweets led me to believe that the casino that broke ground in 2015 wasn’t ready for prime time and its opening in 2021. This was confirmed repeatedly on the first day where people aired their issues. I didn’t plan on going until next week and seeing some people having issues took away some of the FOMO. 

By the time you read this, I’ll either be at Resorts World or have just finished my first visit. Despite the glitches on the opening day(s) the property looks and sounds great. Hopefully, things like working credit card machines will be fixed by the time I make it to Resorts World.

Resorts World Las Vegas Looks Gorgeous

Problems aside, Resorts World is open and it looks gorgeous. I look forward to checking it out. The grand opening of Resorts World is officially July 4. We might want to withhold judgment until then. I’ll try but I can be judgy.

I’ll share some first-hand experiences next week. For the time being, let’s look at some Resorts World developments since last week. Last week, Resorts World announced the specific technology the property would have. 

This week, Resorts World shared information about ordering food. The partnership with Grubhub will allow food from many of the restaurants to be delivered throughout the property. 

Delivering food is fine but there might be a better function specifically for coffee people. You can order in advance and pick up your order presumably without waiting in line. I order food and coffee for pickup pretty often and have been surprised the casinos didn’t offer this as they reopened during the peak of the coronavirus pandemic.

I’m not sure when I’ll be staying at Resorts World but this will definitely be something I’ll use. I was hoping the Cosmopolitan would use a similar system to order food in advance. Standing in that hallway waiting to order Eggslut is miserable with or without coronavirus concerns.

Resorts World Sportsbook App

The Resorts World sportsbook app is available. You can download it for iPhone here. 

Resorts World Gaming Conditions

I didn’t expect Resorts World to offer great gaming conditions since the big bossman, Scott Sibella, comes from MGM Resorts. Vegas Advantage visited Resorts World on Friday afternoon and found what I expected. Similar to Aria and Bellagio, all blackjack at Resorts World under $100 is 6:5 and dealt from a CSM (Continuous Shuffle Machine). Everything else sounds similar to what you’d expect on the Vegas Strip. 

The information about the games is useful. I haven’t heard about drink service at the video poker bars. That’s probably more interesting to me than the paytables. Give me great drinks and I’ll see if playing bad paytables makes sense. I’m not sure I’ll have time to stop for a drink when I visit today but I’ll be back later in the week.

Las Vegas Quick Hits

The opening of Resorts World wasn’t the only news in Las Vegas this week. Let’s get to it! 

I went to Urth Caffe at Wynn Las Vegas for the first time this week. The coffee was huge and delicious. It’s one of the best cups I’ve had from a coffee shop I haven’t been to before in a long time. I expect to return here again sooner than later.

Absolutely delicious and massive cup of coffee @UrthCaffe @ Wynn this morning. The green thing is a pretty rose matcha tea something. pic.twitter.com/Xu3C4yWD9A

— Marc (@MeltzVegas) June 23, 2021

• New Caesars remains fun. I think this was shared earlier this year but I can’t remember. The casino operator is no longer allowing players to be grandfathered in when limits are increased. Most properties still allow players who start playing at a lower limit to keep that minimum bet when the limits are increased. You can see the reminder here.
• The buffet at Excalibur is reopening on July 1. Read more here.
• Mohegan Sun paid a $60,000 fine for coronavirus protocol violations during its first opening night. The fine was levied, in part, because the company circulated pics of unmasked guests on social media and through the press. All of those images have been deleted and unlinked. The casino that opened in October was smart enough not to highlight any violations that might have occurred. Read more here.
• A bunch of restaurants are reopening at Mandalay Bay. Read more here.
• The Beatles Love at The Mirage will reopen in August. Read more here.
• This article should be useful if you want to watch July 4 fireworks in Las Vegas.
• The Tiki Lounge will remain at Ellis Island until Aug. 1. 
• Sebastian Maniscalco is coming back to Wynn in August. Read more here.
• McCarran Airport saw a lot of people in May. Read more here.
• The Go Go’s are playing The Venetian on New Year’s Eve. Read more here.
• Hotels dot com has a sweet-looking Vegas promo happening. Read more here.
• The Westgate NFL SuperContest is back. Registration begins July 1. Read more here.
• The Big West college basketball tournament is moving from the campus of UNLV to Henderson next year. Read more here.  
• It’s time for the monthly train article from the newspaper of record in Las Vegas. Read about it here.
• Las Vegas is getting a pro lacrosse team. They’ll play home games at Mandalay Bay. Read more here.

Also, be sure to join the ZorkCast Group on FaceBook. This is the Facebook group to continue the conversation from the ZorkCast podcast and TravelZork website. Feel free to start a conversation related to anything TravelZork or ZorkCast.

Want direct access to casino news, casino reviews, narratives, loyalty programs, and video poker? Visit our casino/Vegas section directly at CasinoZork. Join the thousands of people who read TravelZork every month! Sign up here for one email per week updates. (Email is sent weekly on Monday and now includes EXCLUSIVE tips and commentary!)

The post Vegas News | Resorts World Open and So Much More appeared first on TravelZork.

Caesars Palace.
Yes, Caesars Palace. Oh, what a difference an apostrophe can make!

But wait, isn’t it Caesar’s Palace. NO! It’s actually not. Perhaps you have heard of Jay Sarno and his vision. Often when the “apostrophe conversation” comes up, people have no idea what I am talking about. Sometimes, I even like to tell the story backwards.

Sarno’s Vision

According to the internet (ok, WIKIPEDIA), “Sarno died of a heart attack on July 21, 1984, at the age of 62, at Caesars Palace Las Vegas, a hotel he formerly owned, while on a gambling stay at the hotel.” On a “gambling stay” is probably the G-rated version. I mean, this is Jay Sarno, the man responsible for the Bacchanal restaurant (no, not the current Bacchanal Buffet version). A restaurant where there were goddesses, wine goddesses to be exact, massaging gentleman during dinner. I am not particularly knowledgeable about the Roman Empire, but I know that Bacchus was the Greco-Roman god of wine, freedom, intoxication, and ecstasy. It definitely seems to work with regard to hotel theming and Vegas. Though, this was years before the first super-casino Mirage would open in 1989.

Bacchanal

I had the pleasure of dining at the Bacchanal at Caesars Atlantic City a few years ago before it closed. It is now a Caesars Rewards Loyalty Program Seven Stars (highest public VIP tier level) lounge. The Vegas version has been gone for even more years. Caesars did open a buffet (which just reopened due to Covid-19) in the last few years named the Bacchanal Buffet which is considered one of the higher quality and more popular buffets in Las Vegas. But, a buffet is hardly a substitute for Sarno’s original Bacchanal restaurant concept, pictured above from a vintage Caesars hotel guide in my collection.

As memorialized by Paul W. Papa in “It Happened in Las Vegas: Remarkable Events that Shaped History,” Sarno envisioned a resort where people lived the life of the Roman Empire.

“We wanted to create the feeling that everyone in the hotel was a Caesar,” Recalled Sarno. Hence, the apostrophe was left off intentionally. Sarno named the resort Caesars Palace NOT Caesar’s Palace.

Las Vegas has been in a constant state of change, both with regard to its identity and focus as well as the physical nature of the city. The history is fascinating and checkered with many colorful characters. Caesars Palace Las Vegas is just one example of that history. If you enjoy Las Vegas history and the story of the creation of modern Las Vegas I recommend reading “Grandissimo: The First Emperor of Las Vegas: How Jay Sarno Won a Casino Empire, Lost It, and Inspired Modern Las Vegas” by David G. Schwartz.

Taking On The Role of Caesar

Caesars Palace was designed by Sarno with the ultimate vision of the guest in mind. You were not enjoying your vacation at Caesar’s Palace, but instead, you were taking on the role of Caesar. When you think about it that way it would have been impossible to name the hotel property Caesar’s Palace instead of Caesars Palace.

Note: This article originally appeared at InsideFlyer. Originally published at TravelZork in 2018. Revised in June 2021.

The post Caesars, NOT Caesar’s Palace | Las Vegas appeared first on TravelZork.

Food Halls Las Vegas

Before I dive into Food Halls in Las Vegas, let’s talk food! I’m a big fan of chef David Chang and have now visited all four of his Las Vegas eateries. Until April, I’d eaten at his Momofuku at Cosmopolitan every month this year since I was already staying at the property. A couple of friends and I shifted plans from the full-service Momofuku restaurant in April to check out the much less expensive David Chang dining option at Cosmopolitan.

Bang Bar by Momofuku

Bang Bar by Momofuku replaced Pok Pok Chicken at the Block 16 Food Hall at Cosmopolitan on April 1. The prices for “street food” are more than you’d pay for food from the street. Having said that, $10 for a main course at the Cosmopolitan is a solid deal. 

Most of the dining options at Block 16 are some of the best values at the property. I don’t mind spending money on a good dinner when I’m out. At the same time, I’d rather not spend that much for lunch or breakfast in a casino. Enter food halls and food courts. 

Quick serve dining options are often the least expensive eateries inside casinos. When I stay at a casino I’ll typically grab a quick bite for breakfast and lunch. During the peak of coronavirus, bringing food back to the room was important to me. In addition to being a decent value, food halls are usually are suited perfectly for food to go.

Block 16 Food Hall

The Block 16 Food Hall at the Cosmopolitan is one of my favorites. Bang Bar is a great addition but this area is also home to some other good quick bites. Prices are what they are inside of casinos. Everything would be less expensive off the strip but they’re a value at a luxury casino. It’s nice that Cosmopolitan has a few less expensive dining options available than at its full-service restaurants.

Hattie B’s

Hattie B’s chicken tender meal for $13 might be the best deal at the property. Three huge tenders and two sides are filling enough for lunch or dinner. Heads up that drinks are expensive ($5 soda, $10 beer) so you might want to grab something elsewhere.

Lardo

Lardo makes a fantastic grilled cheese…with delicious brisket. The $11 a la cart sandwich is YUGE and more than enough for most people. It’s a nice quick meal if you’re hungry and in a rush. I’m told other items are hit or miss. I haven’t strayed from this because it’s delicious.

District Donuts

District Donuts is currently home to the best coffee at the Cosmopolitan since Va Benne (Illy) is closed. The food is fine but that coffee is fantastic. I usually grab 2-3 cups of the hot or cold brew when I stay at the property.

Ghost Donkey

Ghost Donkey just reopened inside the food court. I love that tiny bar but won’t be visiting anytime soon because it’s so small. Soon enough!

More Food Halls

Resorts World is opening with a massive food hall called Famous Food Street Eats. I’m looking more forward to this than any of the full-service restaurants. Number one on my list is FUHU Shack. I need that Peking Duck burrito. This will likely be my first meal when visiting the new casino.

When I stayed at Harrah’s a couple of years ago, I had lunch every day at the Fulton Street Food Hall. Specifically, I had a salad for lunch every day. Much like the other food halls and food courts, the price is right. My big salad was less than $14 and that was usually “free” with Caesars Rewards Loyalty Program points.

There are plenty of food hall and food court dining options available at the larger Las Vegas casinos. Many have upgraded from fast food (like McDonald’s) to quick serve (like Chipotle) and offer a solid less expensive option if you’re just looking for a quick bite or something to go.

Maybe someday, I’ll share the secret about mall dining on the Vegas Strip. 

The post Food Halls Are All The Rage In Las Vegas appeared first on TravelZork.

Vegas News June 20, 2021

Vegas Is Hot

It’s that time of the year again. We’re reminded that Las Vegas can get hot. It’s so hot this year that two daily high-temperature records have already been broken. While I don’t love the dry heat, it’s better than the swampy east coast air in the summer. It’s also better than dealing with snow in the winter. It took my body about seven years to acclimate to the weather. If you don’t love the topic of Vegas Weather, we have some news about how Resorts World goes cashless.

The only thing more annoying than talking about the weather is talking about parking and resort fees. Having said that, here are a few tips that will make dealing with the heat more tolerable. 

This should be obvious, but it’s noticeably cooler in the shade. Las Vegas will still hot but it’s about 10-15 degrees cooler when you’re not in direct sunlight.

Don’t forget to hydrate your body inside and out. Everyone knows to drink water but there are more ways to hydrate yourself.

Try to avoid cracked lips by using lip balm. I used to always forget regular-priced lip balm from home when I visited Las Vegas. I almost always ended up paying 2-3 times the regular cost for chapstick in the casinos.

Use body moisturizer often. Skin will get dry when it’s so hot. If you bring sanitizer, make sure it has moisturizer too. The regular stuff will dry your skin. I hate getting dry skin and moisturize often.

The casinos are full of cool air. It can get so cold inside casinos during the summer that you might need to bring a sweater. Vegas can be strange like that.

Las Vegas Quick Hits

Once again, there’s lots of news of what’s coming and going in Las Vegas. We’re going to kick off the Quick Hits with something you should have been expecting if you read TravelZork.

Quick Hits – Caesars, Is it Cost-Cutting or Streamlining?

• Caesars continues to streamline expenses by consolidating Caesars Rewards Loyalty Program desks with cashier cages.

Labor/cost-saving measure of the day: Multiple Caesars Ent. resorts in Vegas eliminating loyalty club desks, rolling services into casino cages. (h/t @JamesInLasVegas) pic.twitter.com/MhBjQKZb0c

— Vital Vegas (@VitalVegas) June 18, 2021

• Caesars isn’t the first casino operator to put the two services in one space. During my last to Paris Las Vegas a few weeks ago the Caesars Rewards rep offered zero assistance to my Diamond level friend. We were told to use the kiosk. The process will be the same moving forward. As someone who prefers kiosks to humans, this doesn’t bother me.
• This move makes sense for a company looking to increase revenue and reduce expenses. This will allow Caesars to use the space on the casino floor for revenue-generating games, amenities, or services.
• Expect to see more consolidation from #NewCaesars. This was the plan even before the merger with Eldorado was approved.
• The great thing is that we don’t have to spend time or money where we don’t find value. If you don’t like this or other changes at Caesars, you should feel free to go elsewhere. TravelZork does a great job detailing rewards programs if you want to make a switch.
• If you’re Diamond or Seven Stars at Caesars you can explore Wynn with the current status match deal. Read more here.
• The Wynn buffet reopens on July 1. Read more here.
• Speaking of value, I enjoyed the full-service buffet at Wynn last year but didn’t think the price was a good deal. Read about that here.

Quick Hits – Resorts World Goes Cashless

• Resorts World will offer cashless everything. There will also be some other gaming enhancements like a TITO system where tickets work at slots AND table games. I wrote about all of it here. 
• There’s a fee for going cashless at Resorts World. You can still use cash, credit cards, or charge to your room if you prefer not paying the fee.
• Rhumbar at The Mirage is closing. A new concept will open in the space. Read more here.
• Crazy Girls got the boot from PLANET HOLLYWOOD Las Vegas Resort and so did the butts. Have you heard any rumors about those butts? Read more here.
• Caesars dropped the entire World Series Of Poker schedule this week. Read more here.
• All Cirque Du Soleil shows should be open by October. Michael Jackson “One” at Mandalay Bay will be the next to open. Read more here.
• Bruno Mars has more residency dates at Park MGM. Read more here.
• Our Canadian friends are going to have to wait a little longer before visiting Las Vegas. Read more here.
• Joel Robuchon restaurants at MGM Grand are reopening in July. Read more here. 
• Rod Stewart is coming back to Caesars Palace Las Vegas. Read more here.
• I love steak and can’t wait to try the steakhouse at Resorts World. Maybe they’ll open just in time for my birthday. Read more here.
• Nevada has a lottery! HOLLA! Read more here.
• The Vegas Golden Knights are going to play a practice game in Utah. Read more here.
• Life Is Beautiful added 10 new performers you probably never heard of. Read more here.
• Expect to see traffic trying to exit the freeway in downtown Las Vegas. Read more here.
• Speaking of traffic, there will be a little less around Resorts World. Read more here.

Also, be sure to join the ZorkCast Group on FaceBook. This is the Facebook group to continue the conversation from the ZorkCast podcast and TravelZork website. Feel free to start a conversation related to anything TravelZork or ZorkCast.

Want direct access to casino news, casino reviews, narratives, loyalty programs, and video poker? Visit our casino/Vegas section directly at CasinoZork. Join the thousands of people who read TravelZork every month! Sign up here for one email per week updates. (Email is sent weekly on Monday and now includes EXCLUSIVE tips and commentary!)

The post Vegas News | It’s Hot and Resorts World Goes Cashless appeared first on TravelZork.

Vegas News June 14, 2021

The Great Vegas Comeback (Continued)

The Great Vegas Comeback () is showing visible signs of progress. There’s been much preparation to return to normal, but we actually see progress right before our eyes. It’s nice to actually see the changes (like positive news with Vegas Rideshares) rather than hear about the plans for change.

Vegas Rideshares

One of the big problems when visitors started returning to Las Vegas in high volumes was the lack of Vegas Rideshares available. Well, the government rescinded the ban on surge charging, and drivers are coming back.

“We’ve seen a lot more drivers come back onto the platform. Earnings for drivers have nearly doubled since February 2021”

Uber Spokesman Javi Correoso via LAS VEGAS (FOX5)

According to Fox Las Vegas, 90% of Uber rides are now being picked up. That’s up from 50% last month. About 75% of current Uber drivers on the street today are previous drivers for the company. It appears they’re making more money which should bring the Vegas Rideshares service back to pre-Covid standards.

New Buffalo – Wild Wild Buffalo

Here’s another sign of progress in casinos around the country. There’s another new BUFFALOOOOOOOO slot machine. Wild Wild Buffalo (Similar to Tarzan) should be appearing in casinos any minute.

Seriously, what’s more normal in casinos today than a Buffalo slot machine? Aristocrat is partnering with the Silverton on another new Buffalo slot machine. This one is called Buffalo Link and is similar to Dragon Link.

Oh yeah, Silverton is home to a slot room called Buffalo Crossing where you can play a bunch of different BUFFALOOOOOO games! The Silverton is a unique casino. I highly recommend it if you’ve never been and are looking for something new. It’s been a while for me, but the scent on the casino floor reminded me of Christmas time. 

Casino Loyalty – Wynn Status Match

The most recent exciting news is that Wynn is offering a status match from other casino loyalty programs. We know that many readers enjoy these types of matches, so we wanted to share the details we have obtained from Wynn Rewards. As with many of these types of promotions, especially when they are not listed on their website (yet), they could end at any time. Lots of ‘scoop here!

Las Vegas Quick Hits

It was a pretty mellow news week in Las Vegas when you remove the deluge of entertainment announcements. That said, there’s still plenty of information about what’s happening in and around Las Vegas today and tomorrow.

Quick Hits – Keep The Progress Train Moving

• Let’s keep the current progress train moving. The Las Vegas Convention Center (LVCC) expansion is officially open. Read about that here.
• The mainstream media seemed a bit more emotional than usual about a conference. It’s understandable as the World of Concrete conference was the first major event at the LVCC in more than a year. Read more here.
• Unfortunately, not everything is back to normal. Las Vegas businesses are still having a tough time finding workers. Lotus of Siam had to close one of its locations for this reason. Read more here.
• A post-Covid world is different. The Hustler Club is touting that all of its entertainers and staff are vaccinated. Read more here.

• Caesars sent out a press release that Harrah’s Las Vegas $200 million renovation is complete. I’m sure most of this was done already but it’s news because there’s a press release and new pictures of the de-themed casino. Read more here.
• There is one new thing at Harrah’s Las Vegas. There’s now a connector bridge to the Caesars Forum Convention Center.
• The Fremont Street Experience released a batch of free concerts with national touring bands. Don’t be surprised to see a few more drop in as tours are confirmed. Read more here.
• The Encore tower at Wynn is officially dog-friendly. Yes, there’s an additional fee for your dog to stay just like Caesars Palace Las Vegas, MGM and Cosmopolitan. Read more here.
• Budget-conscious visitors who want to travel with pets might want to consider Virgin. The off-strip property doesn’t charge an extra fee if your dog is staying with you. Read more here.
• Speaking of Virgin Las Vegas, the property finally held a grand opening party this week. Read more here.
• Élia Beach Club opening was part of the festivities at/Virgin this week. Read more here.
• Boyd has a deal with its B-Connected players club and Hawaiian Airlines. Read more here.
• The land across the street from Mandalay Bay won’t be used for a giant ferris wheel. It could become a parking lot. Or a casino. Or something else. Read more here.
• Tickets for the reopened Cirque Du Soleil shows are selling so well, that the company seems to be expediting opening “Love,” “Michael Jackson One” and “Ka.” Read more here.
• Kardashian Kloset is opening at Resorts World. Read more here. Fun fact, I was in an episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians while eating at Heritage Steakhouse at The Mirage years ago. That wasn’t the first time I was on a reality TV show and probably won’t be the last time.
• The Plaza is already selling tickets for its Super Bowl party in 2022. Read more here.

Quick Hits – Do you know what “grinds my gears?”

• Do you know what really grinds my gears? When Las Vegas newspapers and TV stations don’t realize that those playing poker-based carny games aren’t the same gamblers as poker players. Read more here.
• America’s Got Talent Live is coming to Luxor in November. Read more here.
• Pro basketball is coming to Vegas this summer. In July, the US Men’s and Women’s Olympic basketball teams plan to play some games in Las Vegas. Of course, the Olympics could be cancelled so be cautious about making plans. Read more about the games here and the possible cancelation of the Olympics here.
• The NBA Summer League returns to the campus of UNLV on August 8. This has always been a great entertainment value. As the website says you can “Enjoy up to 8 games a day for less than the price of a Las Vegas buffet!” Read more here.
• The Tyson Fury v. Deontay Wilder rematch will take place at T-Mobile Arena instead of Allegiant Stadium as previously rumored. Read more here.

Also, be sure to join the ZorkCast Group on FaceBook. This is the Facebook group to continue the conversation from the ZorkCast podcast and TravelZork website. Feel free to start a conversation related to anything TravelZork or ZorkCast.

Want direct access to casino news, casino reviews, narratives, loyalty programs, and video poker? Visit our casino/Vegas section directly at CasinoZork. Join the thousands of people who read TravelZork every month! Sign up here for one email per week updates. (Email is sent weekly on Monday and now includes EXCLUSIVE tips and commentary!)

The post Vegas News | More Vegas Rideshares, Buffalo, And A Grand Opening For Virgin appeared first on TravelZork.