Hard Rock is one of the most recognizable brands on the planet. In big part, it’s thanks to its famous logo often presented in the forefront of an upright standing guitar. The company has already created several venues shaped like the guitar, the most famous being the one in Hollywood, Florida.
At least that’s for the time being as Hard Rock has been given the light for the construction of a new guitar-shaped hotel on the Las Vegas Strip.
Hard Rock Guitar Tower to Be Constructed at The Mirage
Earlier this week, Clark County officials greenlighted the construction of the Hard Rock guitar tower on the location of The Mirage Volcano. The building is supposed to have almost 40 floors, featuring a gaming space, as well as restaurants, bars, and accommodations for the guests of the casino.
The tower is going to be constructed on the grounds of The Mirage, a luxury casino hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, which is operated by Hard Rock International. As per the deal, the tower construction will be just one piece of a much larger project meant to revamp the iconic resort.
The Mirage has been owned by Hard Rock for just over a year. It was December 2021, when the company bought the casino hotel from MGM Resorts for a reported price of $1.08 billion. Since then, the new owners haven’t done too much to rebrand the venue, but that’s about to change. In fact, we could see Hard Rock commence the construction of the guitar-shaped tower in the next couple of months.
Grant Mahon
Grant is the self-professed casino madman and reporter that brought this eclectic team of dedicated and talented writers together from around the world to proudly build an humble empire of authentic casino news.
After 5 years and $4.3 billion spent on its construction, Resorts World Las Vegas is finally here! The most expensive resort in Nevada’s history had its grand opening on Thursday, June 24.
With 3,500 hotel rooms, 1,400 slots, and almost 120 table games, the 66-story resort is on the good road to becoming the #1 entertainment hub in Las Vegas. Apart from being huge, the resort is also situated in a premier location – on the Las Vegas Strip.
The complex has a number of high-end restaurants, bars, shops, and boutiques. For instance, there’s the Kardashian Kloset, a boutique that sells clothes previously worn by the members of reality TV’s royal family. There’s also a sexual wellness shop called Pepper, which employs licensed sexologists.
On top of everything, Resorts World Las Vegas is planning to provide top-level fun to its visitors, something that’s ensured through signing such superstars as Katy Perry, Celine Dion, and Carrie Underwood as its headliner musical acts.
A few days ago, visitors had the opportunity to get a glimpse of what expects them in the future. The 66-story complex opened its doors with a spectacular grand opening.
Resorts World Grand Opening Was Really Grand
Resorts World Las Vegas let the crowd in at 11 pm on Thursday for the first time in its history. Judging by what we saw that evening, this seems to be the beginning of something beautiful.
Last night was one for the books! If you couldn’t make it, here’s what you missed. Thank you to everyone who celebrated our grand opening with us! We look forward to welcoming you all to Resorts World Las Vegas! pic.twitter.com/omBg4aQpVd
— Resorts World Las Vegas (@ResortsWorldLV) June 26, 2021
Among thousands of attendees, the Resorts World grand opening saw many celebrities, as well as some influential figures from the world of politics. Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak was one of the dignitaries who held a speech at the grand opening.
“We’re getting better. We’re not finished yet, but we’re getting better, and we’ve got this magnificent property to propel us forward,” Sisolak said in a speech Thursday.
The opening of a new luxury resort has certainly been received as good news among Nevadans. It comes at the right moment for the state that suffered heavily in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevada, and especially Las Vegas, belong to states/cities that rely on tourism as their prime source of revenue.
The First New Resort to Open on the Strip in 11 Years
The Las Vegas Strip had to wait 11 years for a new property to pop up. And it popped up in style! The most expensive resort in the city’s history has finally opened its doors. Located at the northwest end of the boulevard, the property is surrounded by several iconic Las Vegas buildings.
Circus Circus is just north of the new resort, Encore and Wynn are located a few hundred yards to the south. Trump International Hotel Las Vegas is also nearby, so is The Venetian. The Mirage, Flamingo, and Caesars Palace are also in its vicinity.
Advertised as a luxury resort, Resorts World Las Vegas hundreds of high-end rooms on offer, but also some relatively affordable ones. At the moment, it’s possible to book a standard room at $145 per night for mid-week stays.
Grant Mahon
Grant is the self-professed casino madman and reporter that brought this eclectic team of dedicated and talented writers together from around the world to proudly build an humble empire of authentic casino news.
Las Vegas is on the road to complete resurrection after the COVID-19 pandemic put Sin City on its knees. Things aren’t going to be as before; they’re going to be even better! Las Vegas is getting some major additions in the form of some new exclusive hotels, such as Resorts World Las Vegas.
The $4.3 billion-worth complex is opening on June 23, ready to offer visitors a high level of entertainment. In addition, Resorts World Las Vegas’ plan to attract the crowd is to get some A-list celebs involved.
Celine Dion, Carrie Underwood, and Katy Perry are just some of the superstars who will take the stage in Resorts World Las Vegas. On top of that, the resort will also give visitors a chance to buy some Kardashian memorabilia in a retail outlet named Kardashian Kloset.
Kardashian Kloset to Sell Clothes Previously-Worn by the K Family
A day after the grand opening of Resorts World Las Vegas, Kardashian Kloset is going to start working. It’s actually a second-hand store, in which all the items were previously worn by the members of the Kardashian clan.
Kardashian Kloset isn’t meant to be necessarily a high-end store, although there are going to be some luxury items on sale. According to the store co-owner, Cici Bussey, people will get a chance to buy Atelier Versace clothes worn by Kim Kardashian for as high as $6,500.
On the other hand, the store will also offer more affordable items, such as Kim’s Lululemon leggings, which could cost as little as $40.
This isn’t the only store in Las Vegas that offers Kardashian second-hand clothes. Kardashian Khaos at The Mirrage, has been offering Kardashian-branded items, either worn or endorsed by the first family of reality TV.
A-List Celebs Going to Resorts World Las Vegas
Celine Dion is going to be the first headliner to get on the stage at Resorts World Las Vegas. The Canadian singer who holds the record for the highest-grossing residency artist in Las Vegas is starting her job in November. A month later, Carrie Underwood is getting on the stage, followed by Katy Perry.
All of the aforementioned artists will perform at the 5,000-seat Resorts World LV theatre, which is just one of many venues in the complex. In addition to music halls and discotheques, Resorts World will also have 40+ bars and restaurants.
The complex will have a total of 3,506 rooms across three hotels operated by Hilton – Las Vegas Hilton at Resorts World (1,774 rooms), Conrad Las Vegas at Resorts World (1,496), and Crockfords Las Vegas (236 rooms).
The casino floor of Resorts World Las Vegas stretches over 117,000 square feet, where visitors will get to choose from thousands of slots and table games. The complex will also have a sportsbook at Dawg House Saloon & Sportsbook.
Grant Mahon
Grant is the self-professed casino madman and reporter that brought this eclectic team of dedicated and talented writers together from around the world to proudly build an humble empire of authentic casino news.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic took out “sin” from Sin City, Las Vegas has been suffering heavy financial losses. However, good days area head and everyone in Nevada is preparing for 100% reopening sometime this month.
In the pre-pandemic era, Las Vegas was having 40+ million visitors per year (in 2019, 42 million visited Sin City). However, in 2020 only 19 million people visited Vegas. The same year, the city saw its unemployment rate skyrocketing from 3.9 to 34 percent.
It all started with a 25% capacity. Then, in February, the Government of Nevada increased the percentage to 35. Finally, in March, the capacity was lifted to 50%. At the start of May, everyone’s hopeful that the next stop if 100%.
Tourists Start Flocking to Las Vegas
People have started returning to Las Vegas. Over the last couple of weeks, the city has witnessed a significant increase in arrivals from other parts of the US. Not only is this good news for the city but it’s also something that’s encouraged by the city officials.
A few days ago, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) released a TV advert inviting tourists to return.
With the officials sending signs that Las Vegas is starting to open up, things are expected to come back to normal over the next couple of months. Judging by what we saw recently, such a scenario does not seem unlikely.
In March over 2.2 million people visited Las Vegas, which is a significant increase compared to only 1.5 million tourists in February.
New Resorts Open in Time for the Summer Season
Saying that things are about to get back to normal in Las Vegas might not be completely true – things are going to get even better than before the pandemic!
One of the biggest additions to Las Vegas is Circa Resort & Casino, an adults-only establishment that is the biggest of its kind in downtown Vegas.
Virgin Hotels Las Vegas
What used to be Hard Rock Hotel is now Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, after more than $200 million were invested in the project.
The venue will feature a 60,000-square-foot gaming floor operated by Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment. What this means is that for the first time in history, Las Vegas has a tribal casino.
Resorts World Las Vegas
The most ambitious of Las Vegas’ 2021 projects is Resorts World Las Vegas, whose development cost more than $4.3 billion. It’s still not open, but that’s supposed to happen in summer.
Las Vegas Casinos on a Hiring Spree
Last year, we saw Las Vegas casinos laying off their employees at a higher rate. For instance, MGM Resorts furloughed about 40% of their 2019 workforce, reducing the number of employees from 70,000 to 42,000.
However, with Las Vegas being ready to reopen 100%, MGM is on a hiring spree. It’s expected that in the following weeks, the casino company will return back to its 2019 levels.
The same goes for all the other companies operating casino resorts in Las Vegas. Further, with new casinos opening ahead of the summer season, the city is expected to get tens of thousands of new job posts.
Grant Mahon
Grant is the self-professed casino madman and reporter that brought this eclectic team of dedicated and talented writers together from around the world to proudly build an humble empire of authentic casino news.
One of the worst years in history for the gaming industry (and otherwise) is finally over. And over in Vegas, they’ve blown the sign saying “2020” with dynamite. Speaking of blowing things up, Stormy Daniels wants to be the one to push the demolition button on Donald Trump’s former casino in Atlantic City.
To do that, she will need to enter an auction organized by the government of Atlantic City. The bids are still coming in, but at the moment of writing, the highest one stands at $175,000.
Stormy doesn’t feel too good about paying the money on her own, which is why she’s asking for your help – anyone who wants to see Stormy blowing up Trump Plaza can fund her GoFundMe campaign.
See…? Dreams can come true! This will piss off Tiny so fucking much! And it's for charity…one he can't steal from. LOL! https://t.co/zQwddmL0CI
So far, Stormy’s campaign has raised only $1,935 thanks to 91 donors. Still, the goal of the campaign is to reach $1,000,000. For those who think it’s a bit much to pay to see Trump’s former sex partner blow up his former casinos, we need to remind you that the money is going to charity. All the proceeds from the auction will go to Atlantic City’s branch of Boys & Girls Club.
Philadelphia Casinos to Return to Business on Monday
In other casino news, Philadelphia Governor Thomas Wolf has signed a decree allowing all of 14 casinos located within the state borders to return to business starting Monday, January 4. They’ve been closed for three weeks due to the COVID-19 pandemic that’s been making a comeback in the Commonwealth.
Pennsylvania Casinos Reopen Monday
Pennsylvania casinos have been greenlighted to reopen as of Monday, Jan. 4, rekindling revenue streams that fund Thoroughbred purses in the state.
Governor Tom Wolf announced Dec. 30 that because COVID-19 mitigation efforts have been work…
Once they re-open their doors, casinos will have to operate under different conditions. They will have to make certain adjustments inside the venue in order to adhere to the social distancing rules. Casinos are also required to use high-tech air purification systems, as well as clean the premises on a regular basis, while also providing hand sanitizers for the guests.
The biggest change that Pennsylvania’s casinos will go through over the next period is 24/7 surveillance. At any given moment, the state police and the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB) need to have a presence in each of the 14 casinos, either in-person or through surveillance cameras.
Casino Industry Hopeful of a Big Comeback in 2021
The return of Pennsylvania’s casinos is definitely very good news, but more good news are expected to follow in the upcoming weeks. With the COVID-19 vaccine available, the end of the pandemic is near.
Sure, it might take some time for things to get back to normal but a general consensus is that 2021 is going to be much, much better than the last one.
Some of the things casino aficionados should be excited about include the opening of Resorts World Las Vegas and Virgin Hotels Las Vegas.
Over in Hawaii, officials are thinking about changing their stance on gambling. If everything goes according to plan, the construction of Kapolei casino resort.
Finally, more and more states are going through the process of sports betting legalization. There are also some that plan to make online casino gambling legal in 2021.
Grant Mahon
Grant is the self-professed casino madman and reporter that brought this eclectic team of dedicated and talented writers together from around the world to proudly build an humble empire of authentic casino news.
Once it reopens on the last day of September, the Park MGM Casino on the Las Vegas Strip is going to become the first smoking-free casino in the area. No other casino in this part of the United States has ever made such a decision, even after Las Vegas came out of the COVID-19 shutdown.
In other parts of the country, casinos did have to ban smoking temporarily as per the state orders. The decision to banish smoking out of the casino was not forced to the Park MGM casino by anyone. Instead, the casino management decided on this step following “guest demand.”
Casino Patrons Want Non-Smoking Environment
According to the president of MGM Resorts’ Las Vegas Portfolio, Anton Nikodemus, the reason behind this decision lies in “recurring guest demand for a fully non-smoking casino resort on The Strip.”
Nikodemus insists that this thought has been on the casino executives’ mind since the casino resort opened in 2018. The COVID-19 pandemic just confirmed that a non-smoking Las Vegas casino would be a good idea.
Anti-smoking advocates have been calling for an indoor smoking ban in Las Vegas casinos after the COVID-19 shutdown. The main reason cited was the fact that smoking simply doesn’t go together with the face mask rule. One can’t smoke and weak a face mask at the same time.
Nevertheless, all the Las Vegas casinos that have reopened do allow indoor smoking, while still requiring the patrons to wear face masks inside the venues. This includes all the other MGM-owned casinos in Nevada, including the MGM Grand Las Vegas, The Mirage, and Mandalay Bay.
Las Vegas Entering a New Era
Smoking in casinos has been the imagery associated with Las Vegas since its early days. The author of 11 books on Las Vegas, David G. Schwartz, agrees, but also adds that times are changing in Sin City. One of the sins that the city might get rid of in the future is smoking.
According to him, banning indoor smoking in Las Vegas casinos is something several companies have tried in the past. It’s needless to say that all of them failed in the endeavor. An example he points out is the old Silver City Casino, which went smoking-free in 1991 but decided to give up on that decision after only a couple of months. The reason to back down was a drastic decrease in the number of visitors.
Almost two decades later, smoking is no longer trendy, but many casino patrons still seem to indulge in it. For many of them, smoking is something they do only when on vacation, following the mantra of “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.”
Still, recent experiences have shown that smoking is not as an essential part of the casino experience as previously believed. The anti-COVID-19 measures set up in many states have banished indoor smoking in casinos, something which most patrons did not mind.
Smoking Is Back in Atlantic City Casinos
Atlantic City casinos reopened just before the 4th of July weekend, but in the first two months after the shutdown, they had to do business differently. Until early September, the AC casinos had to work at 25% capacity, as well as banish drinking, dining, and smoking out of the premises. However, starting Friday, September 4, those bans are lifted.
Indoor smoking is officially back in casinos in Atlantic City, but the same is not the case in other parts of the US. Commercial casinos in New York have returned to business earlier this month but will have to fulfill certain anti-COVID-19 conditions in order to remain open. One of those conditions is the smoking ban.
Grant Mahon
Grant is the self-professed casino madman and reporter that brought this eclectic team of dedicated and talented writers together from around the world to proudly build an humble empire of authentic casino news.
Las Vegas casinos are back to business after more than two months. On March 17, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak ordered the shut-down of all non-essential businesses in the state due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, all of the nearly 140 Las Vegas casinos ended up closed to visitors for nearly three months.
The 2020 Las Vegas lockdown was the only time the entire Strip was shut down since the assassination of JFK. Even in 2017, when the Las Vegas shooting happened, not all casinos and resorts on the Strip decided to shut down.
Las Vegas Casinos Reopen to Public on Thursday
For nearly three months, Las Vegas was a real ghost town. In mid-March, all of Sin City’s casinos closed down, together with bars, restaurants, and even strip clubs. There was one strip club that tried to stay in the business during the lockdown, advertising “coronavirus-free” dancers, but it too had to shut down eventually.
‘Sorry, we’re clothed’: Las Vegas Strip, strip clubs dark amid coronavirus pandemic
The fully nude jiggle joint had tried to stay afloat by advertising “coronavirus-free” dancers, nude hand sanitizer wrestling and drive-thru strip shows — but to no avail.#vegasshutdownpic.twitter.com/F8LWrKw4jf
The days of lockdown are finally over in Las Vegas, with casinos starting to reopen as of Thursday, June 4. Business, however, is not as usual. At least, not for the moment being. In order to be allowed to reopen, Las Vegas casinos are required to make some changes.
The Nevada Gaming Control Board has issued a plan for casino reopening that every venue needs to adhere to in order to be allowed to operate. Some of the requirements stipulated by this plan include a reduced number of visitors, increased frequency of cleaning, and so on.
Some Casinos Seem to Be Ignoring Social-Distancing Guidelines
Casinos, as well as players, were super-eager to get back to reopen the casino doors. Once that happened on Thursday, the enthusiasm caused people to break some social-distancing rules.
The good news, however, is that all the evidence is pointing out that the casino staff has been at top of the game.
Sin City Hopeful of Recuperating from the Crisis
Everyone in Las Vegas seems to be thrilled by the news of casinos reopening. The reason is that the local economy is very reliant on the casino industry. According to the Nevada Resort Association, “no other state depends on tourism at the magnitude as Nevada.”
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the state, and in particular its biggest city Las Vegas, billions of dollars in damage. So far, it’s estimated that Nevada has lost over $2 billion, with the potential economic damages measured in tens of billions of dollars.
The worst has passed, but now it’s time for the state to get back on its feet. Las Vegas casinos are open once again, but the number of tourists is still very low. The good news is that as the COVID-19 measures are loosening up, the number of visitors is expected to go upwards dramatically.
Grant Mahon
Grant is the self-professed casino madman and reporter that brought this eclectic team of dedicated and talented writers together from around the world to proudly build an humble empire of authentic casino news.
As confirmed by Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak on Friday, Nevada casinos are to reopen June 4 if everything goes according to plan. The only condition is that the number of COVID-19 cases does not go up dramatically during Memorial Day weekend.
Sisolak will hold a news conference next week to confirm the decision to reopen Nevada casinos. The Governor is waiting for the stamp of approval from the health officials. If approved, the casinos in Las Vegas and other parts of Nevada will be able to go back to business after nearly three months.
Nevada Casinos to Reopen After Nearly Three Months
Sisolak ordered casinos to lock their doors to customers to prevent the spread of the coronavirus on March 17. Since then, Las Vegas has turned into a real ghost town.
Apart from the eerie atmosphere of one of the most vibrant cities in the country, the COVID-19 lockdown caused many other problems. Its impact on the local economy is measured in billions of dollars.
According to a study by AmericanGaming.org, the pandemic has cost the casino industry more than $43 billion dollars, with over 650,000 employees ending up jobless during the lockdown.
Social Distancing Measures in Las Vegas Casinos
Casino owners and employees alike are eager to get back to the job, hoping the gambling business in Nevada will come back to life on June 4. The business will be far from normal, however. At least in the beginning.
Nevada’s plan for casinos reopening implies that the casinos will have to take some serious measures in order to be allowed to go back to work. For instance, casino personnel might be required to do temperature checks on the visitors before letting them in.
Furthermore, all casinos will have to reduce the number of visitors to achieve social distancing. For that, they will have to reduce the number of seats in table games.
As a result, roulette tables that used to have 15+ seats will now have fewer than ten. Craps tables will have about five-six seats. Baccarat tables? No more than four. Blackjack? Three seats.
Nevada Gamblers Curious About Online Casinos
In mid-March, Google Trends recorded a huge increase in search volume for terms like “online casino.”
Google Trends screenshot
Casino-related searches in Nevada peaked around March 17, which is when Gov. Sisolak ordered the closure of Nevada casinos. A day before, the White House had asked Americans to stay home for a period of two weeks to prevent the spread of the novel virus.
Google shows that Nevada residents have been interested in internet gambling during the lockdown. However, despite their interest, they haven’t been able to actually play any real-money casino games on the internet. At least not without breaking the state laws on gambling.
The thing is that Nevada does not belong to the category of states where online casinos are legal. At the moment, there are only three states where internet gambling is possible – New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania.
Grant Mahon
Grant is the self-professed casino madman and reporter that brought this eclectic team of dedicated and talented writers together from around the world to proudly build an humble empire of authentic casino news.
Even though Nevada belongs to those 26 states where stay-at-home orders are still in place, its Gaming Commission has decided to approve a plan for casino reopening. It’s supposed to serve as a guideline for the casino industry once the state looseness its anti-coronavirus measures.
The plan will bring many new changes to the casino industry in Las Vegas. For instance, each of the 441 casinos located within the state borders will have to reduce its capacity by half. Undoubtedly, the measure is going to impact the industry revenue compared to the pre-pandemic era.
However, considering that the Las Vegas casinos have been closed since March 18, even a slight increase in customers would do wonders for them.
Special Anti-Coronavirus Measures for Las Vegas Casinos
Once the Nevada officials decide to end the stay-at-home order for preventing the pandemic of COVID-19, Las Vegas casinos are going to open their doors to the public. It’s already been almost two months since they had to lock their doors, so everyone in the casino industry looks very eager to get back to business.
However, once the lockdown is over, business is not going to be as usual. At least not at the beginning. The Nevada Gaming Commission has come up with a set of policies meant to ensure social distancing inside casinos.
Some of those measures include the following:
Every casino to reduce its maximum capacity to 50% of the current number.
Blackjack tables to reduce the number of seats from six to three.
One roulette table to have no more than four seats.
No more than four poker players to sit at the same table.
Casino’s cleaning staff to disinfect all tables and seats regularly.
Casino personnel to wear face masks and gloves.
Commissioners believe that these sorts of measures should be able to prevent the coronavirus from spreading among gamblers. However, not everyone agrees. There are some who think there’s a need for additional measures.
Indoor Smoking Remains Allowed Despite Pleas
Jennifer Pearson from the School of Community Health Sciences at the University of Nevada in Reno was one of those who raised their concerns about the plan for casino reopening. According to her, the plan leaves some crucial questions unanswered.
For instance, she wonders why there aren’t any changes in the state’s laws regarding indoor smoking. Her reasoning is that if smoking is allowed inside the casinos, gamblers would have to take their face masks off in order to have a cigarette.
The public seems to be on her side; however, no policies have been discussed formally by the Nevada Gaming Commission. Still, the chairman of the NGC John Moran has reassured everyone that the guidelines for casino reopening are subject to modifications in the future.
When Will Casino Reopening Start in Las Vegas?
A few weeks ago, Las Vegas mayor called casinos to re-open their doors to the public. Her plea was met with a public backlash as the COVID-19 pandemic was raging at the time in the United States. Several weeks have passed since and American epidemiologists suggest the end of the crisis is on the horizon.
At the moment of writing, there are 19 states that have decided to loosen their anti-coronavirus measures. For instance, Florida has labeled some sports as essential businesses, the result of which is that many large events are going to take place in the Sunshine State, including the UFC 249.
However, Nevada still doesn’t belong to this category of states. However, things are going to change soon, as the state is planning to start working on bringing the life back to normal. The decision of the Gaming Commission to come up with a plan for casino reopening is certainly giving hopes to gambling aficionados that Las Vegas venues are going to go back to work by the end of the month.
Grant Mahon
Grant is the self-professed casino madman and reporter that brought this eclectic team of dedicated and talented writers together from around the world to proudly build an humble empire of authentic casino news.
Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman has called for casinos to reopen in Sin City as the gambling industry has started losing big money due to the coronavirus lockdown. She labeled the decision to shut down all non-essential businesses in the state “total insanity” and that the Nevada Governor is “killing Las Vegas.”
Goodman, an independent, urged all Las Vegas establishments to start bringing business back to normal as the pandemic is starting to show signs of backing down.
Mayor Goodman gave an interview to Anderson Cooper on CNN, in which she expressed her opinion that the coronavirus pandemic is not anything out of ordinary and that “viruses for years have been here.”
Goodman also suggested that Las Vegas residents could be used as a “control group” to test whether relaxing restrictions would be a good decision for the rest of the country. She did, however, add that she bears no responsibility for finding ways on how to maintain social distancing measures once the lockdown is over.
Reaction From Other Nevada Officials
Not everyone, however, shares Goodman’s opinion. Steve Sisolak, Governor of Nevada, a state with more than 4,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 at the moment of writing, has responded to Goodman’s comments saying the state is not yet ready to return to normal.
Similar reactions came from other Nevada officials as well, one of whom even called Mayor’s comments “reckless and dangerous.”
It’s been more than a month since Governor Steve Sisolak signed the closure of non-essential businesses in Nevada, thus shutting down every casino in the world’s capital of gambling. The order will remain in motion until at least April 30.
With nowhere to go to quench their thirst for gambling, casino aficionados have started looking for alternatives on the internet. As a result, many retail casino businesses are missing out on the opportunity to make money during the shutdown.
On the other hand, web-based casinos have been experiencing a major increase in revenue since the start of the pandemic. According to Morgan Stanley analysts, the industry is booming in the states that have legalized this form of gambling. In New Jersey, for instance, online casinos have recorded a 66% increase in revenue in March.
“We believe the impact of COVID-19 could spur more states to legalize online casino and sports betting”, Thomas Allen of Morgan Stanley said.
The current situation is likely to prompt a number of states to start thinking about making online gambling legal. Right now, there are more than 15 states where activities like online gambling and sports betting are legal and regulated. That number is expected to double by the end of the decade. The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to speed up that process.
The same goes for land-based casinos who are expected to adjust their modus operandi and expand their business to the world of online gambling.
Grant Mahon
Grant is the self-professed casino madman and reporter that brought this eclectic team of dedicated and talented writers together from around the world to proudly build an humble empire of authentic casino news.
Luck often determines the outcome of Las Vegas games and this is a fact of life.
Nevertheless, the public has a strange fascination with who exactly makes the big plays work for them. An unnamed hero managed to land the Monopoly Millionaire jackpot for St. Patrick’s Day and became the latest headline of a gamer who has managed to amass over $1 million in winnings at an instant.
Hawaiian tourist wins $1 million in Las Vegas
The player lands the Monopoly Millionaire jackpot
Plaza Hotel and Casino shares the news on social media
Winning Big in Las Vegas on St Patrick’s Day
An unnamed individual won over $1 million from Monopoly Millionaire playing at the Plaza Hotel and Casino during St Patrick’s Day in Las Vegas. The news was quickly picked up by social media with people sharing all throughout the day and the week to follow.
The individual had asked for anonymity and as such there wasn’t much info readily available about him or her. What’s available as information is that the person flew in from Hawaii, choosing Las Vegas as his destination for rest, fun and leisure.
Coming in, the individual headed into the Plaza Hotel and Casino and took a shot at Monopoly Millionaire, unwitting that they would be counting $1,029,529.13 in fresh earnings very soon. The casino reported that it took the player less than five minutes to secure a victory.
Luck has of course played its role, but the anonymous winner hasn’t protested against how fate had favored him. Jackpots have been a common sight in Las Vegas, with winners making headlines week in and week out.
Feeling the Luck of the Irish
The festivities surrounding St Patrick’s Day have definitely caught a lot of people in a festive mood. Even though the holiday is not as well-known around the country, St Patrick’s Day upbeat ambiance has made it so for many foreigners to readily join the party.
St Patrick’s Day celebration in Caesars Casino, Las Vegas. Photo Credit: Caesars
If there is one place where you will see a lot of St Patrick’s though, that’s Las Vegas. The gambling haven has used every opportunity to whip up excitement and make visitors slightly headier in deciding how much to stake on one of the many opportunities out there.
In the case of our Hawaiian visitor, though, luck had found him before Las Vegas could suck him in entirely.
Now, $1 million richer, this islander will remember St. Patrick’s quite fondly and while he’s unlikely to make another headline any time soon, he’s already had quite the profit to take home indeed.
Kat Orlov
Newcomer Kat is our newcomer poker aficionado whos skill not only lives on the table but flourishes on the site as through her many sources she never fails to be the first to hear of any important or exciting poker news around the world.
Genting Berhard denies wrongdoing, responding to Wynn Resorts’ claims that the company had copied its design for an upcoming integrated resort property in Las Vegas
The company has presented visual proof and pushes ahead with construction while preparing to meet Genting in court
Massachusetts wraps up probe against former CEO Steve Wynn
Embroiled in a dispute over copyrights, the impasse between Genting Berhard and Wynn Resorts remains unchanged. Genting Berhard has denied wrongdoing or attempting to copy the design of Wynn in the newly-constructed Resorts World Las Vegas LLC integrated resort.
Genting Berhard Says It Didn’t Copy Wynn Resorts’ Design
In December, Wynn Resorts lodged a lawsuit against Genting Berhard’s Resorts World Las Vegas LLC and its property under construction in Las Vegas. The $4-billion project developed by Genting’s subsidiary is due to arrive late in 2020, located in the vicinity of an already existing Wynn property.
Last week, Genting filed their official rebuttal of Wynn Resorts’ demands to halt construction and overhaul the exterior design of the property. In their filing dated December 21, 2018, Wynn Resorts said that the property had “a substantially similar architectural design and trade dress.”
On the other hand, Genting has been set against the position outlined by the plaintiff. According to the company, the Resorts World Las Vegas will not resemble its neighbor, with Genting laying down the following argument:
[Wynn’s position] is predicated on speculative extrapolation regarding the appearance of the Defendant’s unfinished resort and casino, which is still in an early stage of construction with nearly two years left to go before opening.
Genting’s answer said that the final property would look “dramatically different” than Wynn’s own property. Furthermore, Genting said that the design would in no way suggest to a customer that they are entering a Wynn-owned property.
Based on Genting’s position, so far there has been no substantial evidence that proves, within reason, that the company’s subsidiary was actively trying to copy the design of its main competitor. Genting will push ahead with its integrated resort construction plans while at the same time gearing up to face Wynn in court if need be.
Genting even included a “pictorial representation” of the completed Resorts World Las Vegas (RWLV) resort and casino in order to assuage fears that the company was intentionally copying the design of the plaintiff.
Genting’s position is well-presented, which means that they are fully-prepared to take action in court. Wynn Resorts has been embroiled in a sex scandal, investigated by Massachusetts that has now finally come to an end. Nevertheless, no public information is available yet, as the state’s investigators have agreed to honor a request from Steve Wynn, the former CEO of the company.
A public release of the report might give grounds to opponents of Mr. Wynn to pursue legal recourse against him, the position read.
George Hansen
Taking a liking to the occasional bout of slots, George used to moonlight as a roulette dealer, giving him a unique perspective into the casino world. From there he continued his journalist education and has been with us ever since a star-aligned graduation brought him and our team together.
iGaming developer Aristocrat has launched a new Las Vegas campus where the company’s local employees will converge to work on cutting-edge gaming products.
Aristocrat’s New Home
Developer of iGaming solutions Aristocrat has opened its new campus worth $45 million in Las Vegas, bolstered by its strong results worldwide. The facility will bring together all 1,100 employees from the area who will converge at the site to work on the company’s future projects.
The new facility is based in Summerlin, located in the west quarters of the city with the campus sprawling on 180,000 square metres and two buildings. The buildings bear all the signs of modern designing and architecture with an open-space layout and over 100 Aristocrat games showcased in a special section of the facility.
It's a big day for us here at Aristocrat as we are moving into our new offices located in Summerlin, NV. We are so excited! pic.twitter.com/jpA7bMvFLe
Aristocrat made sure that the project was erected using environmentally-friendly materials, which reduce the building’s CO2 footprint. To secure the comfort of its employees, the company has also decided to introduce a range of amenities and facilities purposed for various leisurely activities.
The campus currently offers a gym, a meditation and game rooms, bike path, an outdoor patio, and a park. Additional products are available at each and every turn throughout each floor.
According to Matt Wilson, Managing Director at Aristocrat for the Americas, the environment played an important role in the creative process in the company. By providing employees with an inspiring work environment, each individual could perform and contribute better to the overall work process, Mr. Wilson opined.
Creating an inspiring environment for employees is critical to our success and to our culture, today and in the future. – Matt Wilson, Aristocrat’s Managing Director
Mr. Wilson continued by explaining that building the campus had been an important step for the future development of the company, with Aristocrat striving to provide a home-like, employee-centered environment first.
The design is also intended to lead to further collaboration and innovation between separate departments and co-workers, Mr. Wilson estimated.
With a quick turnout, Aristocrat saw the building completed in a little over a year, with the company now planning to hold the property for a period of 15 years.
Behind the Works of the Share Price
The good results for the Australian game maker had been strong before the announcement of the new campus. According to experts, Aristocrat owns the largest share of slot machines in Macau, in terms of shipped units.
Meanwhile, JP Morgan Securities LLC issued a note in November, outlining the robust profitability of Aristocrat throughout North America. JP Morgan also felt confident that the company’s earnings before EBITDA will rise by 17.5% or $627.1 million.
Aristocrat Leisure Ltd has strong recurring revenues and is consistently gaining market share in North American gaming operations. – JP Morgan
However, JP Morgan had miscalculated, because at the end of November, Aristocrat posted 34% increase in its net profit after tax, with the sum total reaching $729.6 million. The period spanned the 12 months leading up to September 30, 2018.
It’s in this context that Aristocrat is now pushing with expansion in new markets and consolidating its existing operations by investing in its internal infrastructure.
George Hansen
Taking a liking to the occasional bout of slots, George used to moonlight as a roulette dealer, giving him a unique perspective into the casino world. From there he continued his journalist education and has been with us ever since a star-aligned graduation brought him and our team together.
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