Category: Casino News

A Look At Wynn Resorts Third Quarter Earnings

Wynn

Wynn Resorts reported third-quarter earnings for its properties from Las Vegas to Macau just after the end of ZorkFest. While overall revenue was up slightly, the company missed the mark on Wall Street. Craig Billings, CEO of Wynn Resorts painted a prettier picture in the earnings press release: “Our third quarter results reflect healthy demand […]

Let’s Check Out Some Las Vegas Casino Implosions

Tropicana Las Vegas is set to be imploded in late 2024. Mark Loizeaux, president of Controlled Demolition, Inc who has handled many Las Vegas implosions previously, confirmed to a local Vegas news channel on Thursday. This will be the 15th major Las Vegas casino implosion property demolition since 1993, while others were simply torn down. […]

Vegas News | F1 Leads To Record-Breaking Weekend For MGM Resorts, Something Is Phishy At The Sphere And A Look Inside Fontainebleau

Vegas News Update - TravelZork Vegas News

Here’s a preview of Fontainebleau. The casino floor looks great, and I can’t wait to check it out. Jonathan Halkyard, MGM Resorts CFO, recently spoke at the Leveraged Finance Conference. He mostly discussed how the Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend went from one of the slowest of the year to the “highest-grossing weekend in hotel revenue in the history of the company.” 

Walking In Mandalay Bay And Down Memory Lane

Mandalay Bay Casino Resort Vegas

Ahhh…the memories. — Mandalay Bay Las Vegas

It doesn’t take much for me to remember amazing moments in Las Vegas.

Sportsbook Tom kicked up a variety of memories with this video of walking into the Mandalay Bay sportsbook.

Fontainebleau Opening Dec. 13, Let’s Take A Look

Fontainebleau Las Vegas - Fontainebleau Rewards

This week Fontainebleau Las Vegas announced the massive blue casino resort on the north end of the Vegas Strip will finally open on December 13th. This has been a long time coming. Construction on Fontainebleau started in 2007.

Caesars Holiday Happenings

caesars holiday linq christmas tree

One of the nice things about Las Vegas is that the city is always ready for a party. Rarely is a reason ever needed: holiday, sporting event, day ending in -y, etc. And you know that Caesars is always going to be the one to lead the way.

Vegas News | It’s Officially Holiday Season, March Madness Is Coming To Las Vegas And There’s a New Casino Opening In Downtown Las Vegas

Vegas News | It's Officially Holiday Season, March Madness Is Coming To Las Vegas, And There's a New Casino Opening In Downtown Las Vegas

Hopefully, you had a great Thanksgiving with friends and family. It’s now time to look ahead to the holiday season in Las Vegas. Thanksgiving week is usually a slow time for news in Las Vegas as many companies aren’t working on Thursday or Friday. Since Wednesday is a partial day for some, there are really only a couple of days for casinos to get the news out.

Caesars Entertainment Update: Ratcheting Up The Good Stuff

Dominique Ansel Las Vegas at Caesars Palace

It’s always fun to write about some of the “soft changes” going on in Las Vegas. Sometimes it’s “Sin City,” and other times, it’s a place to play Skee-Ball or stuff yourself with bad shrimp. But there’s always time for a Caesars Entertainment update, since they are always adding something new. Here’s what I’ve got.

MGM, Cosmopolitan Las Vegas And Loyalty Programs. How Much Harmonization Is Enough?

Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas

The MGM Cosmopolitan Las Vegas acquisition was a game-changer for the company. Not only did MGM solidify its position on the west side of the Strip but it also picked up one of the hottest properties with a higher ADR (average daily rate for a room). Its sale of Mirage will help finance the purchase. In the realty world, it’s pretty straightforward. MGM is now the owner of Cosmo-Vegas operations.

Vegas NEWs | New MGM Grand Rooms, New Buffalo Slot And New Construction Update

Vegas NEWs | New MGM Grand Rooms, New Buffalo Slot And New Construction Update

This week we will get to a new construction update as well as some current renovations. We mentioned that MGM Resorts planned on renovating a portion of the rooms at MGM Grand after the company’s recent earnings call. Some of the rooms in the newly named Studio Tower (former West Wing) will be available in late October. The rest should be completed before the end of the year.

Vegas News | MGM Operating Cosmopolitan Sportsbook, Robotaxis Launch And New York-New York Gets New Rooms

Vegas News | MGM Small Steps Cosmopolitan - MGM Operating Cosmopolitan Sportsbook, Robotaxis Launch

It is very real that we are seeing MGM taking small steps at Cosmopolitan. Last week we mentioned Silk Sonic performing at the Barbershop inside the Cosmopolitan as the first marker that MGM Resorts is taking over operations at the property. Typically performers at Park MGM make aftershow appearances at the same property. This was a change of pace to have an aftershow at a different MGM Resorts property.

Vegas News | Vegas Quick Hits and Summer Fun

My annual Summer Break was fun as always. We split a week on the Vegas Strip between Park MGM and The Cosmopolitan. More in-depth coverage in the future, but for now lots of Vegas Quick Hits.

Vegas News | Circus Circus Renovating Now, Hard Rock Debut May Be Delayed Until 2025

Vegas News | Circus Circus Renovating Now, Hard Rock Debut May Be Delayed Until 2025

Last week I mentioned that I’ve been hearing more grumblings that the transformation of The Mirage to the Hard Rock might take longer than expected. Well, the same source of last week’s information has some specifics from a stock analyst that pretty much confirms this. Not really related, but you might have noticed our headline: Circus Circus Renovating Now? Yes, it looks like they will be renovating Circus Circus.

Vegas News | Palms Opens, NFL Drafts, Prices Everywhere Increasing

Vegas News | Palms Opens, NFL Drafts, Prices Everywhere Increasing

This was such a fun week in Las Vegas. The big event was the NFL Draft on the Vegas Strip. Hundreds of thousands of people were in town to catch the NFL spectacle. 

Palms reopened this week. I was lucky enough to enjoy the pre-opening party. Scroll down my twitter media page to see some pics from the night.

Vegas News | Head Off-Strip To Enjoy The Durango Casino And More

Vegas News | Head Off-Strip To Enjoy The Durango Casino And More

Earlier this week I received an email from Aristocrat for a slot machine I found last month at Cosmopolitan. I receive lots of press emails but this one hit me because it was for a game I randomly discovered just wandering around The Cosmpolitan one afternoon.

Vegas News | The Most Vegas News Ever… Masks Now Optional, And Dice Are Loose At Wynn

Vegas News | The Most Vegas News Ever... Masks Now Optional, And Dice Are Loose At Wynn

This week will be a very different edition of Vegas News. We originally started wishing you a Happy Super Bowl Sunday and are finally posting just before March. 

The big news in Las Vegas since the beginning of February is that masks are no longer mandated in public places and casinos. Wearing a mask in both locations is still optional for anyone that would like to wear one. 

Vegas News | WSOP Moving To The Vegas Strip And More Parking Fees

News In Las Vegas November 21, 2021 | Vegas News | WSOP Moving To The Vegas Strip And More Parking Fees

We just finished a relatively slow news week in Las Vegas, except for news about WSOP moving to the Vegas Strip. News tends to slow down in Las Vegas after the final earnings reports heading into the holidays. Day-to-day marketing mostly evolves around holiday events and sales. Side note – check your favorite property for current deals. There are plenty available.

Vegas News | Cosmopolitan Sold, Superfrico Opens and LAS Was Busy Last Weekend

News In Las Vegas October 3, 2021 | Cosmopolitan Sold, Superfrico Opens, and LAS Was Busy

Let’s start the news with a quick Covid-19 update in Las Vegas before we get to the big news: “Cosmopolitan Sold!” It appears as though the Clark County Covid-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are getting lower. If this trend continues there could be a change in public mask-wearing policy sooner than later. 

Vegas News | To The Moon! + A “big” Cancellation

Vegas News September 19, 2021 | To The Moon! + A "big" Vegas Cancellation

NAB (National Association of Broadcasters) Show was canceled earlier this week. It will return to Las Vegas next April. The cancellation of the broadcasting expo wasn’t much of a surprise, even if it is considered a “big” Vegas Cancellation. Sony and a couple of other large companies had already pulled out of the expo. 

Vegas News | Busy July In Las Vegas, Lady Gaga Returning And Robo Puppies At Resorts World

Vegas News August 29 2021 | Busy July In Las Vegas, Lady Gaga Returning And Robo Puppies At Resorts World

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.

Vegas News | Covid Update And KISS, Journey, and Chippendales Are Returning To Las Vegas

Vegas News August 22 2021 | Covid Update And KISS, Journey, and Chippendales Are Returning To Las Vegas

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. 

Vegas News | Vegas COVID-19 Update And Another Casino Reopening Soon

Vegas News August 15 2021 | Vegas COVID-19 Update And Another Casino Reopening Soon

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. […]

Vegas News | Mask Up Vegas and Get Down!

Vegas News August 1 2021 | Mask Up Vegas and Get Down!

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.

Vegas News | New Caesars Taking Shape And “Imploding The Mirage In 2022” – The Killers

Vegas News July 25 2021 |  New Caesars Taking Shape And "Imploding The Mirage In 2022" - The Killers

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.

Vegas News | COVID, Rumors, Bootlegger Bistro, And Backstreet Boys

Vegas News July 18 2001 |  COVID, Rumors, Bootlegger Bistro, And Backstreet Boys

“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.

Vegas News | Busy Weekend In Vegas, COVID Isn’t Over And A New Gordon Ramsay Restaurant?

Vegas News July 11 2001 | Busy Weekend In Vegas, COVID Isn't Over And A New Gordon Ramsay Restaurant?

The Great Vegas Comeback (™) continued this weekend with action up and down the Vegas Strip. COVID Isn’t Over — COVID-19 rates, hospitalizations, etc. have spiked to the same level as February. I spent a couple of days at the Cosmopolitan this week and it was crazy busy. 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.

Vegas News | More Resorts World, MGM Is Selling and Hagar Goes To The Strat

Vegas News July 4 2001 | More Resorts World, MGM Is Selling and Hagar Goes To The Strat

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!

Vegas News | Resorts World Open and So Much More

Vegas News June 27 2021 | Resorts World Open and So Much More

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.”

Food Halls Are All The Rage In Las Vegas

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.

Vegas News | It’s Hot and Resorts World Goes Cashless

Vegas News June 20 2021 | It's Hot and Resorts World Goes Cashless

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. If you don’t love the topic of Vegas Weather, we have some news about how Resorts World goes cashless.

Vegas News | More Vegas Rideshares, Buffalo, And A Grand Opening For Virgin

Vegas Rideshares | Vegas News June 13 2021 | More Rideshares, Buffalo, And A Grand Opening For Virgin

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 News | The Great Vegas Comeback Is Underway!

TravelZork Las Vegas News May 30 2021 | The Great Vegas Comeback Is Underway!

I’m fresh off my first Vegas Vacation since 2019 and feel amazingly refreshed. This was four whole days eating, drinking, and gambling and not working in casinos. This is slightly different from my typical casino visits, which are usually for some kind of work. The Great Vegas Comeback has arrived!

Vegas News | Vegas Masks Optional, Caesars Dumps Lots Of Shows And Party With The Raiders

Vegas Masks Optional - Vegas News May 16 2021 | Vegas News | Caesars Dumps Lots Of Shows And Party With The Raiders

Boy, the Covid-related news escalated quickly. Last week, a few Las Vegas casinos were approved to increase capacity to 100% and remove plexiglass. Early this week Caesars, MGM Resorts, and more joined the “100% Club”. That was just the beginning. On Thursday, the CDC updated its mask guidelines. Nevada followed suit allowing businesses to change their policy. Next, Nevada Gaming Control announced that it’s allowing casinos to update their policy.

Vegas News | Palms sold, A buffet opens, Plexiglass comes down!

plexiglass in Vegas comes down - Vegas News May 9 2021 | Palms sold, A buffet opens, Plexiglass comes down!

The Great Vegas Reopening (TM) is in full swing. Capacity limits and plexiglass are gone at Wynn and Cosmopolitan. Most are quite relieved and happy with the news that plexiglass in Vegas comes down! There should be more casinos to follow. I’m hoping the worst of the coronavirus is behind us. That would mean life for everyone is getting back to normal.

Vegas News | Hold On Tight, There’s A Lot Going On!

a lot going on in Vegas - Vegas News May 2 2021 | Hold On Tight, There's A Lot Going On!

Brace yourself. This will be one of the longest Vegas News articles in a few years. I even dumped a few items to keep this somewhat manageable. Still, this will be a quick read since the majority of info comes via quick hits.

Vegas News | Another Step Closer To Full Capacity

Vegas Closer To Full Capacity - Vegas News April 25 2021 | Another Step Closer To Full Capacity

Every week Las Vegas is closer to being the place so many remember. Last week we saw venues already preparing for big crowds and sold-out events. This week Clark County submitted a plan to increase capacity beginning May 1. Nevada Gaming regulators will allow 80% capacity in casinos beginning Saturday. One step at a time, we notice Vegas closer to full capacity.

Vegas News | Get Ready To Party In July!

Vegas News April 18 2021 | Vegas - Get Ready To Party In July

Like I mentioned last week, we’re starting to see the light. Las Vegas is very much on the rebound. At this point, it feels as though demand is ramping up faster than businesses can handle. We’ve been slowly detailing this for weeks and months. So, Vegas – get ready to party in July!

Vegas News | Starting To See The Light

Vegas News April 11 2021 | Starting To See The Light - Vegas is busy

I see the light! The end of the coronavirus may not be here yet, but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel in Las Vegas. (Also, Vegas is busy!) My monthly visit to Cosmopolitan was fun as usual. Unfortunately, I’ll be surprised if the offers keep rolling in despite my gambling losses and spend on dining and booze.

Vegas News | Vegas Visitation Jumping and Virgin Opening

Vegas News March 28 2021 | Vegas Visitation Jumping and Virgin Opening

It is pretty fair to say that Vegas Visitation is jumping. It’s been a while since there’s been a supply and demand problem for visitors in Las Vegas, but here we are. According to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Association Executive Summary, visitation in February was up almost 19% from January. That should increase even more when March figures are released.

Vegas News | Venetian Sold, Resorts World Takes Shape, And Vegas Loves Sports

Vegas News March 7 2021 |  Venetian Sold, Resorts World Takes Shape, And Vegas Loves Sports

Let’s start the weekly Vegas News roundup with a short story about a big deal. This week Las Vegas Sands (LVS) sold all of its properties (aka “Venetian Sold”) in Sin City. The company is now just “Sands” since it has no more businesses in Las Vegas. The deal happened early in the week so I’m not going to get too deep.

Vegas News | Short Pouring Just Before Pool Season

Vegas News February 7 2021 | Vegas Short Pouring Drinks Just Before Pool Season

This week Vital Vegas tipped us off to The Linq short pouring mixed drinks. This is useful to prep for future casino visits. A few years ago I wrote about the unintended consequences of drink monitoring systems at casino bars in Las Vegas. I don’t mind the practice because I usually play fast enough to not worry about getting complimentary drinks.

Vegas News | Getting Ready For Casino Earnings And More Vegas News

Vegas News January 24 2021 | Getting Ready For Casino Earnings And More Vegas News

We’re coming up on casino earnings season. The quarterly earnings calls and reports are useful to learn about Las Vegas casino operators. The reports allow us to look back at the quarter. This quarter will also look back at the entire year of 2002. The calls offer more commentary as the casino operators look to the future.

Retrospective: Wynn Palace and Design DNA

Most hotel operators, especially those in the hospitality world, are known for touting the word revolutionary. Revolutionary new designs, services, offerings, and amenities are all the rage in the PR buzz word dictionary for hoteliers today. Is Wynn Palace Design revolutionary?

Vegas News | Changes and more changes? Rio, Venetian, and nightclubs

Vegas News January 10 2021 | Changes and more changes? Rio, Venetian, and nightclubs

This week seems to be a week of Vegas changes and more changes, potentially. We will have to wait and see how several rumors “play out.” There are just a few days remaining in Nevada’s statewide “pause.” This week Governor Steve Sisolak will announce if the same 25% capacity “pause” restrictions will continue.

Vegas News | It’s A New Year In Vegas!

Vegas News January 3 2021 | It's A New Year In Vegas!

Happy New Year! I hope the holiday season treated you and yours well. You may have noticed we posted a handful of 2021 Las Vegas predictions on New Year’s Day. Many of the topics were speculative based on information I’ve heard from casino operators during their earnings calls. The first topic was not speculation; it was based on real-life events in the news. Coronavirus isn’t going away quickly, and Las Vegas will be slow to recover. Case in point – New Year’s Eve.

🎉 2021 | Las Vegas Predictions

Las Vegas Predictions

It’s a new year, and there’s a lot to look forward to in Las Vegas. There will be a lot of moving and shaking behind the scenes in 2021. On the front lines, the general population will continue to deal with the daily effects of coronavirus. Businesses, however, will be looking to the future. This brings us to our Las Vegas Predictions for 2021.

Vegas News | The Pause Continues!

Vegas News December 20 2020 | The Pause Continues!

We’re entering what’s typically a slow news period while everyone gets into holiday and vacation mode. That doesn’t mean there’s nothing happening, but there’s less than usual (and “The Pause”). Funk that! We got the goods right here!

Vegas News | Black Friday, Hsieh, COVID And More

Vegas News November 29 2020 | Vegas Black Friday, Hsieh, COVID And More

The big news stories in Las Vegas happened early and late in the week. We’ll start with a quick update from early in the week and move to the news that happened about 14 hours before I sat down to put this together. Plus, do not forget about Vegas Black Friday deals and offers!

Vegas News | MGM Opens And Closes

Vegas News November 8 2020 | MGM Opens And Closes

Pushing Forward Back by Temple of the Dog is a song I think about often. I don’t know what the actual lyrics are other than the chorus, but these words often come to mind when I think of doing business. It’s also a good entry point to discuss our main theme this week: MGM Opens and Closes.

Vegas News | Mohegan Sun Plans For Las Vegas and More

Vegas News October 11 2020 | Mohegan Vegas - Mohegan Sun Plans For Las Vegas and More

Before we get to the scoop on Mohegan Vegas… The week started with a “work from Vegas” kind of experience. The working staycation was inspired by various casino promotions and a need for a change of scenery.

Wynn Palace Cotai – Chasing Macau | Someone Is Opening A New Joint

Steve Wynn would go onto recapture the imagine of the gaming and resort world and would go on to re-invent, or perhaps even invent, the Las Vegas that we know today. How far we have come. But, let’s not focus on Las Vegas, or even Atlantic City, let’s focus on the the new ‘joint. Introducing Wynn Palace Cotai

Vegas News | Non-Smoking Casino Park MGM Opening, Caesars Packed + COVID Update

Vegas News September 20 2020 | Non-Smoking Casino Park MGM Opening, Caesars Packed and Another COVID Update

Two weeks without Vegas news on Sunday is wild! This was the first year I’ve taken a break from my weekend duty with TravelZork. Relaxing an extra day was nice, but I’m a creature of habit and was fidgety while trying to relax. Happy to be back sharing the ‘scoop and also the announcement of the first completely non-smoking casino on the Vegas Strip.

Vegas News | The Mirage Gets Ready To Open, T-Mobile Selling Tickets Again, Maybe Park MGM Opens For Halloween and More

Vegas News August 16 2020 | Mirage Ready To Open, T-Mobile Selling Tickets Again, Maybe Park MGM Opens For Halloween and More

No major Vegas COVID-19 update again this week. It hasn’t gone anywhere, and casinos remain under the same protocol. Read this if you’re curious about the local bar situation. Layoffs seem like they’re about to hit some non-gaming hotels too. You can always visit the Nevada Independent for Nevada COVID data. Perhaps, our most significant news is that Mirage is ready to open.

Vegas News | Palms and Tropicana Reopening Still TDB, Vegas Visitation Down + COVID News

Vegas News August 9 2020 | Palms and Tropicana Reopening Still TDB, Vegas Visitation Down + COVID News

This was a wild week in Las Vegas. Well, maybe not so wild but very newsy. This might be the last heavy news week for a while. Multiple casino operators released second-quarter earnings. Earnings season is done for casinos so there may be a lack of news for the next few weeks. We also touch on something we are all well aware of: Las Vegas visitation is down.

Vegas News | Open Now, Closed Tomorrow? New Caesars Coming Soon.

Vegas News July 5 2020 | Open Now, Closed Tomorrow? New Caesars Coming Soon

Phase 2 of Nevada’s roadmap to recovery has been extended until the end of July. The State, like much of the country, appears to be going in the wrong direction regarding COVID-19 cases. As a reminder, the Nevada Independent has the raw data if you want to see up to date information. There is also a big question? “Vegas Open Now, Closed Tomorrow?”

Exploring The Re-Imagined Wynn Las Vegas Buffet

Wynn Las Vegas Buffet

The law of inertia says “objects in motion tend to stay in motion; objects at rest stay at rest.” That’s me at a buffet. I grab enough food on one trip and rarely go up for a second plate of food. There are two reasons for this: 1) Portion control and 2) I’m lazy. Today I visited the “Re-Imagined” Wynn Las Vegas Buffet

Vegas News | Vegas Continues To Reopen

Vegas News June 21 2020 | Vegas Continues To Reopen

I thought about writing an intro this week but this trip report is a good enough reminder about what Las Vegas casinos are like right now. Las Vegas continues to reopen and will be for a while.

Vegas News | Reopening Continues

Vegas News June 14 2020 | Reopening Continues

Vegas News June 14, 2020Vegas Reopening Continues Vegas Reopening Continues – The Sunday (TravelZork) Vegas News has required a lot of preamble over the past month or so to make sure that we’re sharing all of the information correctly. Hopefully, we accomplished that. I think we’re finally at the point where there’s plenty of news […]

Vegas Is Back…Kinda

Vegas News June 7 2020 | Vegas Is Back…Kinda

This is the week, so many of us have been waiting for. Las Vegas casinos are allowed to reopen. The first wave of openings took place in downtown Las Vegas and around the city just after midnight on June 4. The Vegas Strip casinos waited until sunrise to open their doors. For sure we can say, Vegas Is Back…Kinda.

Vegas News | Casinos Open This Week!

Vegas News May 31 2020 | Casinos Open This Week!

Businesses in Las Vegas are slowly opening. Phase 2 of the state’s Nevada United: Roadmap to Recovery reopening plan started on Friday. Gyms, bars, spas, and more are allowed to reopen. Of course, most of you are here for the casino biz and the news that casinos open this week!

Las Vegas Casinos Set To Reopen On June 4

Vegas Casinos Set To Reopen

Big news, Vegas Casinos set to reopen. On Tuesday night, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak released Phase 2 of the state’s Nevada United: Roadmap to Recovery reopening plan. The second phase of reopening Nevada begins on May 29. However, casinos won’t reopen right away.

Vegas News | More Plans And Vegas Casino Opening Announcement Coming

Vegas Casino Opening Announcement | Vegas News May 24 2020

So, seriously, Las Vegas casinos are really close to opening and an “official” Vegas casino opening announcement. Friday evening, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak announced he will hold a press conference for Tuesday, May 26 with details about Phase 2 of reopening Nevada.

Vegas News | Getting Closer To Las Vegas Casinos Opening…Maybe

Closer to Las Vegas Casinos Opening - Vegas News May 17 2020

Heyo! Las Vegas is 115! I’m old enough to remember when the TV show “Las Vegas” celebrated Las Vegas turning 100 (originally and last week). This week’s big “maybe” revolves a lot around whether we are getting closer to Las Vegas Casinos opening.

Vegas News | Reopening Las Vegas One Phase At A Time

Vegas News May 10 2020 | Reopening Las Vegas One Phase At A Time

Before we get to talking about the reopening of Las Vegas…… On Saturday I woke up crankier than usual since it was 3:30 am. After listening to a couple of podcasts I grabbed a cup of chamomile tea and plopped down on the couch to see what was on TV. It was with great surprise that reruns of the old NBC show “Las Vegas” were airing on E!

Vegas News | MGM, Boyd, Station All Planning For Reopening

Vegas News May 3 2020 | MGM, Boyd, Station All Planning For Reopening

For a few weeks, it looked as though there wouldn’t be much Vegas news to share. Well, that concern is over. There should be lots of news now that Las Vegas has a “roadmap to recovery.” This is a multi-tiered plan to reopen the entire state. There’s one important thing to know before you read this plan – there is no opening date for casinos yet.

Vegas News | Traveling Downtown, Opening Vegas, And Lots Of Biz

Vegas News April 26 2020 | Traveling Downtown, Opening Vegas, And Lots Of Biz

On Friday I took a nice mellow drive to downtown Las Vegas. This was my first visit downtown since casinos closed. My primary objective was to grab some Pizza Rock to go. I took a longer route heading downtown to see how Circa Resort is progressing. The photo above is from Symphony Park (more on that another time) to show the scale of Circa vs. Plaza. It’s huge! Now, onto the Vegas News!

Vegas News | Looking Forward To New Vegas

Vegas News April 19 2020 | Looking Forward To New Vegas

Las Vegas casinos remain closed for the month but there are signs that things are starting to get back to a new normal, “New Vegas.” This week local TV news started actually reporting on news besides providing COVID-19 updates.

Vegas News | Casino Players Club Updates and Casino News

Vegas News April 12 2020 | Casino Players Club Updates and Casino News

The local Las Vegas news is usually a waste of time for me. They typically have 3-5 minutes of local news before going to national news, weather and human interest stories. I don’t watch the local news often because 95% isn’t interesting to me. Don’t get me wrong – I love that I live in a sleepy town like Las Vegas. (Unbelievably, we still have a number of weekly items to share, including details today about the casino players club updates.)

Vegas News | Get Vegasy At Home…And Read Some News

Vegas News April 5 2020 | Get Vegasy At Home...And Read Some News

It was April Fool’s Day last week and thankfully nobody was making bad jokes. Unfortunately, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak made another announcement. He extended the non-essential business closures through the month of April. As of now, the big Vegas News is that the soonest Las Vegas casinos may be able to re-open will be May 1. Of course, that could change again by the time this is posted on Sunday.

Vegas News | Casinos Looking Towards Opening Again

Vegas News March 29 2020 | Casinos Looking Towards Opening Again

Las Vegas is essentially shutdown to slow the spread of coronavirus. You know that by now so I won’t rehash what’s going on. We have a few updates on the business side of things as well as information about how the different players clubs will be affected by the shutdown.

Vegas News | Shut It Down + Pics

Vegas shut down

This will be a bit of a different Vegas News since there isn’t much happening in Las Vegas right now. COVID-19 is spreading across the country and just about everything fun in Las Vegas (and the world) is shut down. The week didn’t start off so stark.

Vegas News | Mostly CoronaVegas

Vegas News March 15 2020 | Mostly Coronavegas - Coronavirus Vegas

Coronavirus is now a national emergency. As you’d imagine, the travel and live entertainment industries are getting crushed since people are trying to stay away from each other. Las Vegas is a vacation and entertainment town and there’s a lot happening…and not happening.

Vegas News | Jimbo Out, Bet MGM Soon and another Look at Vegas Rumors

Vegas News February 16 2020 | Jimbo Out, Bet MGM Soon and another Look at Vegas Rumors

This week in Las Vegas was dominated by one story. No, it wasn’t MGM Resorts announcing new sustainable sourcing goals for eggs and chickens. Just prior to reporting earnings, MGM Resorts sent out a press release that Jim Murren, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, informed the Company’s Board of Directors that he will step down from his positions before his contract expires.

Vegas News | Quick Hitting All Over Las Vegas

Vegas News February 2 2020 | Quick Hitting All Over Las Vegas

There’s always something new to enjoy in Las Vegas. There’s so much to do that even old things can be new in Las Vegas. On Friday I made my first trip close to the top of The Strat. GASP!

Vegas News | Football, Circa Restaurants, Renovations At The D and More

Vegas News January 26 2020 | Football, Circa Restaurants, Renovations At The D and More

What a week in Las Vegas! You may remember that my week started with an amazing flight to Vegas from Los Angeles on JSX. As you may have read, the experience was fantastic and stress-free, unlike most flights I’ve taken. That experience seemed to set the tone for what would hectic week in Las Vegas. Let’s just get to it.

Vegas News | Happy (Almost) New Year

Vegas News 29 December 2019 | Happy (Almost) New Year

Congratulations! We made it through another year! This will probably be the shortest Vegas News of the year so I’ll deliver it once again in Quick Hits format.

Vegas News | Quickly Hitting Everything Happening In Las Vegas

Vegas News 15 December 2019 | Quickly Hitting Everything Happening In Las Vegas

Earlier this week I was able to tour the construction site for the property that will eventually become Circa Resort & Casino. I’m normally not a fan of hard hat tours unless the project is about to open. For sure, this is part of everything happening in Las Vegas this week.

Vegas News | Rio and Circus Circus Redux, Rodeo, and Residency Rumors

Vegas News 8 December 2019 | Rio and Circus Circus Redux, Rodeo, and Residency Rumors

We start this week’s Vegas News mentioning that The National Finals Rodeo (NFR) is in town! There will be cowboys and cowgirls all over Las Vegas for another week. The weeks after Thanksgiving and before Christmas used to be a quiet period to visit Las Vegas. The rooms were cheap and too many people didn’t visit. That’s not quite the case anymore with the rise in popularity of the NFR.

Vegas News | Resorts World, Residencies and a $2.3 Million Pai Gow Winner

Vegas News 24 November 2019 | Resorts World, Residencies and a $2.3 Million Pai Gow Winner

Before I get to the “big” Vegas News about the Resorts World plan, I must say this has been a chaotic two-week stretch with friends visiting. So many people I know visit Las Vegas for work and/or pleasure. Being able to catch up with friends and acquaintances so frequently is part of what makes living in Las Vegas so great.

Vegas News | KAOS Out At Palms, Eldorado Almost In With Caesars, Getting Out Of Vegas Fees, +More

Vegas News 10 November 2019 | KAOS Out At Palms, Eldorado Almost In With Caesars, Getting Out Of Vegas Fees, +More

Quarterly casino earnings calls and reports often have information that we can use to look at the current and future state of the companies. The calls, specifically, don’t have major breaking news. This week Red Rock Resorts (AKA Station Casinos) dropped a news bomb that was news but not all that surprising. Let’s just get to it because this is probably the biggest story to hit Las Vegas during the week. Plus, we will be talking (again) about Vegas fees.

Vegas News | More Casinos On The Market

Vegas News 3 November 2019 | 3 November 2019

Quarterly earnings are the best and worst at the same time. They often have interesting information. The earnings calls are another level. They often have additional commentary that isn’t in the reports and press release. Let’s explore more in Vegas News.

Vegas News | 2 Casinos Sold, Another On The Block?

Vegas News 20 October 2019 | 2 Casinos Sold - Another On The Block?

What a week! The Global Gaming Expo (G2E) was a blur. That blur sparked many memories both inside and outside of the expo itself. I’ll share thoughts on G2E another day. Let’s direct attention to the Vegas News focusing on casinos sold!

Overview Vegas Strip | Las Vegas Resort Fees + Las Vegas Parking Fees

Vegas Parking Fees

Booking a hotel room in Las Vegas isn’t as simple as it used to be. Actually, just visiting the Vegas Strip isn’t as simple as it used to be either. The addition of resorts fees to advertised hotel room prices in Las Vegas over the years mean that your hotel room price isn’t what you’re being told it will be. But wait, there’s more! There is another fee if you plan on using a car in Las Vegas. Many casino operators on the Vegas Strip are now charging an hourly and daily parking fee for self-parking and valet. These parking fees are applicable to anyone with a car visiting or staying at the property.

Vegas News | G2E Preview + This Week Was a Blur

Vegas News | G2E Preview + This Week Was a Blur

The Las Vegas PR machines might be slow right now but this week was a blur and I expect more of the same next week. A friend was in town for a conference and that gave me an excuse to enjoy Las Vegas like a tourist for a few days. Let’s get to all the Vegas scoop, and also my Vegas News G2E Preview.

Vegas News | The Calm Before The Storm

Vegas News 6 October 2019 | The Calm Before The Storm

Let’s call this week the calm before the storm. It was a relatively quiet week in Las Vegas aside from the Palms Casino Resort drama (details on that shortly). The Global Gaming Expo (G2E) is in just over a week. Casino operators and gaming manufacturers will have lots of news for us around the gaming conference.

Vegas News | Rio Sold, the Drew Has Plans and a Flat Fee From LAS

Vegas News 29 September 2019 | sale of Rio Drew Has Plans and a Flat Fee From LAS

I started writing this outside on a beautiful Las Vegas morning. Unfortunately, it’s so windy (about 40 MPH) that my cold brew was shaking on the table and looked as if it was going to fall over. I decided to move inside one of my favorite coffee shops, Madhouse Coffee, to drink the good stuff. Back to your regularly scheduled Vegas News.

Vegas News | MGM Rumors Continue and New Players Clubs in Las Vegas

Vegas News 22 September 2019 | MGM Rumors Continue and New Players Clubs in Las Vegas

We made it through another Vegas summer! High temperatures appear to be in the double digits for the rest of the year. Low temperatures will be in the mid 50’s by the end of the week with highs less than 80. This summer in Las Vegas wasn’t as brutal as recent years, but it’s still nice to be able to drive with the windows down again.

There are lots of rumors floating around about the future of a few Las Vegas casinos. “Rumors” might have accelerated to “talks” but the deals still aren’t agreed to so there’s nothing officially happening…yet.

Vegas News | Circus Circus Rumor, Airbnb and More Changes at Plaza

Vegas News 15 September 2019 | Circus Circus Rumor, Airbnb and More Changes at Plaza

It’s race day in Las Vegas! Beastmode – Marshawn Lynch – will be driving the pace car at the South Point 400 today. This is the second NASCAR race in Las Vegas this year and the first race of the NASCAR playoffs. Enjoy!  Let’s start off the Vegas news of the week with a rumor […]

Vegas News | New Booze Fees, Football Season, and Drama

Vegas News 8 September 2019 | New Booze Fees, Football Season, and Drama

We’re heading into my second favorite time of the year to be in Las Vegas. Temperatures cool but aren’t really cool. It’s warm but not hot. It’s still iced coffee weather but air conditioning isn’t necessary. It’s the best time to enjoy the great outdoors.

Vegas News | Virgin Hotels Las Vegas Still On Track

Vegas News 18 August 2019 | Virgin Hotels Las Vegas Still On Track

his was a very rare week in Las Vegas with little drama and little news. Since there isn’t much major news, we’ll touch on one big topic, a less big topic but still interesting, and then expand Quick Hits as needed.

Vegas News | Casino Earnings, Cat Cafe and Lots Of Beer!

Vegas News 11 August 2019 | Casino Earnings, Cat Cafe and Lots Of Beer!

This week in Vegas news was dominated by casino operators reporting earnings. Sometimes these calls offer insight into future plans for the businesses. Other times these casino earnings calls offer financial information that helps explain the Vegas experience. This earnings period has a combination of both without any major breaking news.

Vegas News | Tropicana, M life Changes, Rumors and More

Vegas News 4 August 2019 Tropicana, M life Changes, Rumors and More

I’m always in awe of Las Vegas. There’s so much happening. There’s also a lot that’s almost happening. This week we’ll touch on both ends of the spectrum without even mentioning the possibility of All Net Arena being built or the Virgin train.

Vegas News | Grasshoppers Invade!

The big news in Las Vegas this week seems to be the grasshopper invasion! I live about 20 minutes west of the Vegas Strip towards Red Rock Casino and I’ve only seen one grasshopper. He or she was outside of my apartment four times I went in and out on Friday. I named my new […]

Vegas News | Take Cover! – Vegas Earthquake

Vegas News 7 July 2019 | Take Cover! - Vegas Earthquake

My week of vacation on the Vegas Strip was a great time and personally enlightening. I’ll just touch on a couple of newsy items today and will dive deeper with some kind of trip report. Coincidentally, there wasn’t much news while I was taking a break. (Well, except for a Vegas Earthquake!) This will be […]

Vegas News | Caesars Almost Sold, SLS to Sahara and More

Vegas News 9 June 2019 | Caesars Almost Sold, SLS To Sahara and More

As Caesars Turns: Get Ready For Eldorado Palace! No introduction this week. We’re going right into the strange week in “As Caesars Turns.” On Thursday night the New York Post reported that “Icahn, Caesars reject too-low takeover offer from Eldorado Resorts.” While the article mentions that the deal is still being negotiated and close to […]

Vegas News | MGM, Wynn, Caesars, and so much more

Vegas News 19 May 2019 | MGM, Wynn, Caesars, and so much more

MGM, Wynn, Caesars — The news from Las Vegas and casinos never seems to stop. On Friday afternoon I headed out to Cleaver for a delicious half-price steak for Happy Hour and news was still developing. It wasn’t until I returned home that I really caught up.

Looking All Around Las Vegas For The Finest Vegas News

Vegas News 28 April 2019 | Looking All Around Las Vegas For The Finest Vegas News

The Finest Vegas News | Sometimes we have an action-packed week of news. I like slower news weeks. The lack of “must cover” news allows me to look at some of the Las Vegas news and rumors that you may not have seen all week long.

Tips For Visiting The “Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas” Sign

Fabulous Las Vegas Sign

One of the most popular sights in Las Vegas is the “Welcome To Fabulous Las Vegas” sign. Unlike the magnificent fountain show at Bellagio and other famous things to see in Las Vegas, it’s not located right in the middle of the action. The iconic Las Vegas Sign is technically located on the world famous Las Vegas Strip, but it’s isolated and away from everything else you’ll see in Las Vegas.

Vegas News | Drama, Data and Fighting

Vegas News 14 April 2019 | Vegas News | Drama, Data and Fighting

We’re going to start off the Vegas News this week with a little baseball. I want to share the picture of the new Las Vegas Aviators mascots because…well, you need to see this.

Vegas Dreams | Failed Las Vegas Projects

Astral Las Vegas

There were so many renovation and expansions of existing casinos that never got off the ground. It’s fun to take a stroll around the Las Vegas that never was.

Top Gambling and Las Vegas Podcasts 2019

Top Gambling and Las Vegas Podcasts 2019

Gambling Podcasts and Las Vegas Podcasts promise unique, captivating content, inside information, a regular schedule and state of the art production. Despite so many podcasts turning out to be duds, there are a few gems that survived.

Vegas News | Come For The Casino Drama, Leave With The News

Vegas News 3 March 2019 | Come For The Casino Drama, Leave With The News

Sometimes corporate drama can be fun. Then there are times when there’s so much casino drama that it overshadows what’s actually happening on the ground. With that in mind, I’m going to start with some corporate drama because it’s interesting and move on to things that might actually impact how you spend time in Las […]

This Local Loves Dining at the Venetian Vegas

Venetian Las Vegas

Dining Venetian Vegas | The casinos on the Vegas Strip with my favorite restaurants are Aria and the Cosmopolitan. However, I head north on the Vegas Strip when I’m not exactly sure what to eat.

Vegas News | MGM Grand Blowout, Super Bowl Parties and more

Vegas News 20 January 2019 | MGM Grand Blowout, Super Bowl Parties and more

News often happens for a reason. Sure there’s news in Las Vegas all year long but there are a few times a year we hear official announcements from large casino companies. MGM Grand Blowout, Super Bowl Parties and all the Vegas scoop!

Check Out The Transformation of SLS Las Vegas

SLS Las Vegas

The original aesthetic of SLS Las Vegas was a nod to the past while mostly looking forward. SLS Las Vegas is currently being renovated. The dark and high industrial ceilings are being lowered. Light colored overhangs and chandeliers are offering a more cozy and comfortable feeling.

Vegas News | MGM PGP 2.0, Bye Britney, Caesars + NFL and More

Vegas News 6 January 2019 | MGM PGP 2.0, Bye Britney, Caesars + NFL and More

Happy New Year! I hope the holiday season treated you well. Even though the temperatures dipped below freezing for the first time in a long time, Las Vegas is off to a blazing new year. Lots of Vegas News, Caesars + NFL and all the Vegas scoop!

Vegas News | Short, Sweet, Chock Full of Info

TravelZork Las Vegas News 18 November 2018 Vegas News | Short, Sweet, Chock Full of Info

We haven’t missed a Vegas News post since TravelZork first launched the weekly Vegas News feature. To keep the streak going, this will be a shorter version than usual due to some kind of parasite that seems to be fighting to get out of my body.

Vegas News | Paradise Park Out, Golf Back at Wynn, and More Vegas

TravelZork Las Vegas News 11 November 2018 Vegas News | Paradise Park Out, Golf Back at Wynn, and More Vegas

Casino operator earnings season is quite fun when business is good. It’s at least interesting when the businesses are in flux. RIP Wynn Paradise Park, Wynn West Lives…Sorta, Caesars Expands Property-Wide Progressive Table Games + More Vegas and all the Vegas Scoop!

Vegas News | Caesars and MGM Dive Into New Vegas

This is going to be a different look at the news from Las Vegas. We’re going to focus mainly on earnings from MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment before diving into a few quick hits. The earnings reports didn’t have much top-line news but they both touched on leisure travelers similarly, and that was interesting. (And, also a look at New Vegas….)

Vegas News | Waldorf Vegas Goes Boom, NoMad Las Vegas Available, Lucky Dragon No More

TravelZork Las Vegas News 23 September 2018 Vegas News | Waldorf Goes Boom, NoMad Available, Lucky Dragon No More

More than a few people I know are noticing the increased number of promotions for Caesars that we mentioned last week. I saw comps almost across the board in my Total Rewards app and decided to book a night at Planet Hollywood. I had to shoot some video of the new Block 16 Food Hall at the Cosmopolitan so I figured I’d get a room and work in my room instead of driving back home. Lazy? Sure. Fun? You bet!

Vegas News | Much Ado About Caesars News

TravelZork Las Vegas News 16 September 2018 Vegas News | Much Ado About Caesars News

Caesars news dominates in and around Las Vegas this week. Last week they released an investors presentation and this week they held a meeting with investors at the 2018 Gaming & Lodging Conference.

Vegas News | Vegas Football Season, Renovations, New Casinos, and More!

TravelZork Las Vegas News 26 August 2018 Vegas News | Vegas Football Season, Renovations, New Casinos, and More!

Let’s get to the Vegas News right away since my intro bleeds into the first story. Palace-Station Renovations And Sportsbook This is the most fun time of the year to be a sports bettor in Las Vegas. Football season is the busiest time of the year in the sportsbooks. Sportsbooks will be packed, and the […]

Vegas News | Robots, Sports Books and Name Changes

TravelZork Las Vegas News 15 July 2018 Vegas News | Robots, Sports Books and Name Changes

The past two weeks have given me the best of both worlds in Las Vegas. You may remember that I took most of the first week of July off to enjoy life as a tourist on the Vegas Strip. Las Vegas is an amazing place to visit and it’s a great place to live! Time for the news in Las Vegas!

[Low Roller Friendly] Hooters Casino Vegas Comp Room – Generous But…..

Hooters Casino Vegas

Hooters Casino Vegas – Generous Offer | I signed up for a new slot card at Hooters Casino Vegas during a coupon run in Las Vegas in January. I didn’t think anything more about it until I received an email offer from them for 3 any day comped room nights, $40 in free play, $20 in food and beverage credit and a $10 match play.

Vegas News | Hold On To Your Hat, Vegas Is About To Get Extreme!

TravelZork Las Vegas News 8 July 2018 Vegas News | Hold On To Your Hat, Vegas Is About To Get Extreme!

There’s not much better than a week in Las Vegas without work. My summer Vegas vacation was really without a major flaw. Even gambling on the Vegas Strip wasn’t as awful as it’s been in the past. I’ll share some observations about Las Vegas over the next few weeks but today is for the Vegas News.

Vegas News | 4th of July in Las Vegas Holiday Edition

TravelZork Las Vegas News 1 July 2018 Vegas News | 4th of July in Las Vegas Holiday Edition

By the time you read this, I’ll be enjoying my summer vacation on the Vegas Strip. I’ll be staying in a casino and will be as immersed in Vegas for a week. It’s always fun to be a tourist in Las Vegas instead of someone on a mission to do X, Y, Z before going home.

[Overview] New Jersey Sports Betting

New Jersey Sports Betting

Thursday June 14th, New Jersey followed Delaware to become the second non-Nevada state to offer legal sports betting. Two operations were open and ready for business. Monmouth Park, whose sports book is run by William Hill, and Borgata who is owned by MGM Resorts, who offers their own lines.

Vegas News | Wynn Parking, MGM Sniffing and Golden Knights Losing

Las Vegas News 10 June 2018 Wynn Parking, MGM Sniffing and Golden Knights Losing

Vegas News | Wynn Parking, MGM Sniffing and Golden Knights Losing — All good things eventually come to an end. The Vegas Golden Knights had a miraculous season but lost to the Washington Capitals in the Stanley Cup Final. There will be movies and/books to detail how inconceivable this season was. In the meantime…

[On Location] DELAWARE Sports Betting – Gambling with Training Wheels

DELAWARE Sports Betting

On Tuesday June 5th, 2018 Delaware became the first state outside of Nevada to offer legal single-game sports wagering through their state lottery. This distinction is important because Delaware has been offering multi-game parlay wagers for some time, but now is offering in their words “Vegas Style Sports Betting”.

Vegas News | A Little From Vegas, Outside Of Vegas And ZorkFest

TravelZork Las Vegas News 3 June 2018 Vegas News | A Little From Vegas, Outside Of Vegas And ZorkFest

Whew! ZorkFest, 360 Vegas Vacation, and Memorial Day Weekend are gone and life is almost back to normal! The combination of learning, partying, and a day off for a holiday weekend was something else. This weekend was more than just a hang or conference. There’s really a great supportive community that loves casinos in Las Vegas and beyond.

Vegas News | ZorkFest Quick Hits Edition

TravelZork Las Vegas News 27 May 2018 Vegas News | ZorkFest Quick Hits Edition

Vegas News this week will be shorter than usual thanks to the influx of people in Las Vegas for ZorkFest! Here is your Quick Hits of Vegas News to catch you up on what’s happening in this great city.

Vegas News | Signs, Sphere’s, Sports Betting And More

TravelZork Las Vegas News 20 May 2018 Vegas News | Signs, Sphere's, Sports Betting And More

We’re going to go behind the scenes a little this week. Following Las Vegas closely can be exciting. We hear about news before it’s news and everyone else knows what’s happening. However, there’s a downside being first to know everything.

Vegas News | MGM Resorts News and Three Renovations

TravelZork Las Vegas News 13 May 2018 Vegas News | MGM Resorts News and Three Renovations

We’re a week removed from the Kentucky Derby and Cinco De Mayo weekend in Las Vegas. I didn’t think I’d feel this way but Derby Day felt incomplete without a big fight. I haven’t been a boxing fan for a few years but the excitement a big fight brings to Las Vegas is unmatched. Boxing also brings in the biggest customers according to MGM Resorts.

Vegas News | Plans, Rumors and a Sock Store

Las Vegas News 6 May 2018 Vegas News | Plans, Rumors and a Sock Store

You may have noticed that we made an emergency news post during the week. We didn’t think that the news about 18 Fremont and Wynn Paradise Park plans should wait until Sunday. Having said that this news post will be a little shorter than some others.

Vegas News | Wynn & MGM Have Delays While El Cortez Has CSM’s

TravelZork Las Vegas News 29 April 2018 Vegas News | Wynn & MGM Have Delays While El Cortez Has CSM’s

All the Vegas scoop! Wynn & MGM Have Delays While El Cortez Has CSM’s – Peppermill Sign Going To The Neon Museum – Wynn Resorts Earnings – $20 Concert and Show Tickets – El Cortez Brings In Continuous Shuffle Machines – Podcasters After Dark

[Jimbo needs a hug] MGM Resorts Earnings and Park MGM Delays

Casino Earnings Reports Casino Financial

There’s no way to sugar coat MGM Resorts first quarter earnings. I opened the quarterly MGM Resorts earnings presentation as soon as I woke up and saw a slew of red down arrows. After a cup of coffee and actually spending time reading the why there were red arrows it’s easy to see that MGM Resorts just had a bad quarter.

Vegas News | Things Happened And I Played Virtual Reality

TravelZork Las Vegas News 22 April 2018 Vegas News | Things Happened And I Played Virtual Reality

Variety is the spice of life. I’m easily bored and don’t like discussing the same topics every week. I was looking forward to a week of news that didn’t include rumors about MGM Resorts and Wynn Resorts. However, I saw some information that I haven’t seen anywhere. Not even the twitters have been rumoring this!

Casino Overview | Resorts World Catskills

Casino Overview | Resorts World Catskills

Resorts World Catskills, the $1.2 billion year-round destination resort in Monticello, New York is the fourth and largest of the four Las Vegas-style upstate casinos opening under a voter-approved amendment to the state constitution.

Vegas News | Wynn, MGM, And Fried Chicken

TravelZork Las Vegas News 8 April 2018 Vegas News | Wynn, MGM, And Fried Chicken

No intro today…just straight to the news! What’s Up With Wynn? – MGM Making Moves Outside Of Las Vegas – Rumor of the week: Chick Fil A coming to Vegas Strip + all the Las Vegas Scoop

Vegas News | Let’s Welcome Virgin Hotels To Las Vegas

Vegas News | Let’s Welcome Virgin Hotels to Las Vegas – We’ve officially entered my favorite time of the year to be in Las Vegas. It’s so perfect outside during the day that a major business conglomerate held a press conference outside on Friday. Let’s actually start the news here because there’s a lot to discuss.

Vegas News | So Long Sam

TravelZork Las Vegas News 25 March 2018 Vegas News | So Long Sam

Vegas News | So Long Sam – SLS Las Vegas Sale Approved, eSports Arena Opens At Luxor, Big Changes Ahead For The Stratosphere Players Club + all the Vegas scoop from TravelZork

Vegas News | March And Madness!

TravelZork Las Vegas News 18 March 2018 Vegas News | March And Madness!

I try to keep my love of sports to a minimum for Vegas News. I know that not everyone who loves Las Vegas has the same passion for sitting in a sportsbook that I have. However, we need to begin with a little sports talk.

Skip The Strip To Save During March Madness In Vegas

March Madness

The first weekend of March Madness is one of the best times of the year to be in Las Vegas. The long weekend of fun begins on Thursday, March 15, with 16 basketball games. However, there are some viewing options that offer a great viewings experience for little to no cost.

Caesars | Vegas Pools Opening for 2018 Season

Caesars Vegas Pools

Vegas Pools Opening for 2018 Season – Spring is less than two weeks away and the pools at Caesars Las Vegas Resorts started opening this week! So, pack your bathing suit and take advantage of the many poolside experiences Caesars has to offer.

Fontainebleau to Become The Drew | Opening on the Vegas Strip 2020

Fontainebleau taken from SLS

The massive big blue casino-resort on the north end of the Vegas Strip just received a permanent name – The Drew Vegas. This is now the third name for the massive blue glass building. The structure was built with the intention of being the Las Vegas version of Fontainebleau.

Vegas News | Full Steam Ahead

TravelZork Las Vegas News 11 February 2018 Vegas News | Vegas News | Full Steam Ahead

I’m always looking forward in life and in Las Vegas. Dealing with the current moment and what’s ahead makes life easier to handle than wallowing in the past.

Steve Wynn | The King Has Fallen, But The Kingdom Will Thrive

Steve Wynn and Sinatra

Steve Wynn took all the lessons learned with the Golden Nuggets, both in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, and turned them into the Mirage, the resort that became the model for themed resorts for years to come. That success has driven us through the wild success of Bellagio, Wynn and Encore, Wynn Macau and Cotai, and the wildly inventive ideas coming to this day with Wynn Paradise Park, Wynn West, and Wynn Boston Harbor.

Marc’s ZorkFest 2017 Wrap Up

ZorkFest

Last year, Michael told me about an idea to have a conference that would discuss maximizing travel miles and points and casino rewards. Ya know, bringing TravelZork dot com to life. What a great concept. The idea went dark for awhile and popped up just a few months ago. ZorkFest 2017 was ready to go!

Vegas News | Parking, Slot Machines and Horses Oh My!

TravelZork Las Vegas News 4 February 2018 Vegas News | Parking, Slot Machines and Horses Oh My!

Happy Super Bowl Sunday! We haven’t missed a Sunday news post since starting. I’ve taken time out from vacation to write news while sitting at a bar drinking coffee. The streak will continue albeit a bit more brief than usual. Unfortunately, it appears as though the sick bug has caught me. Let’s get to it because this past week in Las Vegas was sort of all over the place.

Vegas News | Las Vegas Travel Is Changing

TravelZork Las Vegas News 28 January 2018 Vegas News | Las Vegas Travel Is Changing

Wow, what a week in Las Vegas. Sometimes it’s true, where there’s smoke there’s fire. I thought there would be a big announcement coming from Wynn Resorts and there most certainly was a big announcement.

Vegas News | Where There’s Smoke There’s Fire

TravelZork Las Vegas News 21 January 2018 Vegas News | Where There's Smoke There's Fire

Wynn Resorts announced that they will be reporting earnings on Monday morning. Hard Rock May Finally Be Sold. While the deal isn’t confirmed there’s too much smoke not to see a fire. + more news and scoop

In Memoriam – (Un)Lucky Dragon (2017-2018)

Lucky Dragon Las Vegas

But part of the trip that was critical to me was to check out, now that it was finally open and seemed to be a gem in the rough, the Lucky Dragon. I talked up the visit to the joint the entire trip to my friend. Intimate casino, catered crowd, boutique hotel, food that might rival the best Asian in the country (wrong…Arcadia always wins), and best of all…free parking. He shrugged (trust me, not a casino geek) and said sure. And along we went.

Vegas News | Looking Back At 2017 And Ahead To 2018

TravelZork Las Vegas News 31 December 2017 Vegas News | Looking Back At 2017 And Ahead To 2018

Looking back I think it’s safe to say that 2017 was an interesting year Las Vegas. There was plenty of news and I’m happy to say that we’ve never missed a week sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly of what’s happening in Las Vegas.

Exploring Las Vegas | Summerlin

Exploring Las Vegas | Summerlin

Summerlin is a planned community about 20 minutes west of the Vegas Strip. The entire area is beautiful and a well thought out combination of suburbia and what I expected from Las Vegas.

Vegas News | North Vegas Strip Growth Might Be A Bit Exaggerated

TravelZork Las Vegas News 17 December 2017 Vegas News | North Vegas Strip Growth Might Be A Bit Exaggerated

Quiet Las Vegas is a great Las Vegas. It’s still my favorite time to enjoy Las Vegas. Crazy trips to Las Vegas are fun too but the quiet time of the year allows fairly easy access to restaurants, clubs, or shows that might normally be busy or sold out. News from Las Vegas is sometimes quiet during the slow period too. Businesses sometimes take time away from announcements to focus their big news when more people are paying attention. That might be the case moving forward. However, the past week was chock full of news.

Las Vegas | Park MGM Is Coming Together Nicely

Las Vegas | Park MGM Is Coming Together Nicely

It’s been over a year since the announcement but you can finally start to see the vision MGM Resorts International has for the conversion of Monte Carlo to Park MGM. This is really just the beginning of the future.

Vegas News | A Las Vegas Holiday Quickie

TravelZork Las Vegas News 26 November 2017 Vegas News | A Las Vegas Holiday Quickie

This will be the shortest Vegas News post in about a year. Not much happened in the past week despite constant hunting high and low for anything that could pass as news. Earlier this year someone mentioned that they had FOMO. The Fear Of Missing Out is real and it turns out that I have that as well. I have to know everything happening in Las Vegas. I can’t miss out on anything!

Vegas News | The Las Vegas Holiday Season Begins

TravelZork Las Vegas News 19 November 2017 Vegas News | The Las Vegas Holiday Season Begins

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. The Las Vegas Holiday Season is upon us. This week everyone will be eating turkey and in a couple of weeks we’ll all be breaking out our winter clothes and celebrating whatever holiday works for you.

Vegas News | Virgin Hotel-Casino, Pachinko, and More Hotel Renovations

TravelZork Las Vegas News 5 November 2017 Vegas News | Virgin Hotel-Casino, Pachinko, and More Hotel Renovations

Las Vegas is a city of big events. I look at our Sunday Vegas News column the same. This column exists to highlight big news! There’s plenty of news every week but this week is just missing that one big juicy nugget. Actually, maybe there’s one nugget but it won’t be BIG until it becomes […]

Las Vegas | Wynn Paradise Park Is Still BANANAS!

Wynn

Steve Wynn first revealed an idea for Wynn Paradise Park in early 2016. The plan for the expansion of the casino-resort has always been to build some kind of lagoon experience on the golf course. After two years of design consultation, the idea is finally taking shape with dates and some more details.

The Las Vegas Bitcoin Scene

The Las Vegas Bitcoin Scene

Even though Las Vegas is sometimes on the cutting edge, Bitcoin has barely made a blip on the radar of most businesses. Bitcoin is still just getting off the ground so this shouldn’t be a surprise.

Case Dismissed | Ivey v Genting Casinos (UK) Ltd t/a Crockfords

Ivey v Genting Casinos (UK) Ltd t/a Crockfords

Case Dismissed Ivey v Genting Casinos (UK) Ltd t/a Crockfords | Ivey had taken a civil case all the way up to the UK Supreme Court (the UK’s highest court) after Crockfords refused to pay out his £7.7m Baccarat winnings, claiming he cheated. The Supreme Court has just ruled in the case, and found in favour of Crockfords.

Wynn Las Vegas – Is There An Echo?

Wynn Las Vegas Room Controls

The plan was to have Wynn become the first resort in the world to use the Amazon Echo to handle tasks including lighting, room temperature, draperies, the television and the audio-visual components in their room. The press release said that the Echo would be installed in all rooms by summer 2017 calling it a “digital butler.”

Las Vegas | Fortune Cup Lands At The Venetian

Las Vegas | Fortune Cup Lands At The Venetian

Fortune Cup by Konami Gaming in finally in casinos. You may be familiar with this horse racing game from its tour around the world in 2016. Last year, Konami took thus massive game to just about every gaming conference to gauge interest.

My Favorite Las Vegas Sports Books

Red Rock Casino Sports Book

In my eyes, there’s no such thing as a bad Las Vegas sports book. There are only degrees of how good a sports book is. You won’t find the same kind of environment where anyone can watch and legally wager on sports anywhere else in the United States.

Las Vegas | First Look At The Golden Gate Casino Expansion

Las Vegas | First Look At The Golden Gate Casino Expansion

Just over a year ago, Derek Stevens owner of the Golden Gate Casino purchased a few properties on Fremont Street. Included in the purchase were the casinos formerly known as Mermaids and La Bayou. La Bayou was on the south side of Fremont Street and also closed. This casino is now a part of the Golden Gate casino. La Bayou casino and an alley in between the Golden Gate are now a part of a large expansion of the casino floor at the Golden Gate.

eSports in Vegas

eSports in Vegas

To be clear, eSports isn’t new to Las Vegas.There has been a lot of buzz around the eSports for the past couple of years. The buzz comes with good reason. Marketing firm NewZoo projects that eSports revenue will reach $696 million by the end of 2017.

New Las Vegas Hotel Rooms From Caesars Today and Tomorrow

New Las Vegas Hotel Rooms From Caesars Today and Tomorrow

For the past year, Caesars has been devoted to renovating their hotel rooms around the country. The reason for the upgrades is $imple. The new room products result in higher room rates. The interesting thing is that renovated Las Vegas hotel rooms are sort of a win-win for customers and the hotel operator.

NETimeGambling | Casinos in New England

NETimeGambling | Casinos in New England

In addition to Atlantic City and the numerous new venues, casinos in New England feature two of the largest casino floors (Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods) in the world. If you enjoy casinos you will definitely want to pay attention to the New England casino properties and the ongoing expansion and developments in this area.

Blackjack and Brews At The Linq Las Vegas

Blackjack and Brews At The Linq

If I am at The Linq and someone wants to play low limits blackjack and won’t go to another casino, I’d steer them to the pit that offers better beer. At least I’m getting good suds and more alcohol with each drink than I would in the rest of the casino.

Las Vegas | Park MGM Renderings Are Here, Say Goodbye To Monte Carlo

Park MGM Renderings Are Here, Say Goodbye To Monte Carlo

Construction work at Monte Carlo is more of a burden on the company than they expected. The place was a wreck when I visited a few weeks ago. There are curtains and construction work being done everywhere. Monte Carlo is dragging down overall performance of the company. That said, it’s onward and upward.

Caesars Looks Outside Of Casinos For Revenue

Caesars Looks Outside Of Casinos For Revenue

Most casino operators in Las Vegas prefer to have a revenue split close to MGM than Caesars. In fact, Caesars wants to have a revenue split closer to MGM Resorts. The two casino operators have different approaches to their companies. MGM Resorts is expanding with new casinos and a massive profit growth plan. Meanwhile, Caesars Entertainment is looking elsewhere to generate revenue.

Where is Phil Ivey? WSOP 2017

Ivey v Genting Casinos (UK) Ltd t/a Crockfords

Where is Phil Ivey? WSOP 2017 | There are currently cases pending with Borgata Atlantic City and Crockfords Club Mayfair (Genting Casinos) in the UK. Tomorrow, the Supreme Court in the UK will hear the case : Ivey (Appellant) v Genting Casinos (UK) Ltd t/a Crockfords (Respondents).

Vegas News | Lots Of Changes Coming To The Cromwell and more

TravelZork Las Vegas News 2 July 2017 Vegas News | Lots Of Changes Coming To The Cromwell and more

Vegas News | Lots Of Changes Coming To The Cromwell and more…. The CROMWELL Hotel Las Vegas is one of my favorite casinos to gamble on the Vegas Strip. After a celebratory dinner at Giada, we ventured to the casino floor to play a little Pai Gow. Before sitting down for a 6 hour and 27-minute session my friend and I explored construction all around the casino.

3 Dining Hot Spots Near The Vegas Strip

Las Vegas Chubby Cattle

Dining Near The Vegas Strip | Here are a couple of my favorite new off-strip dining hot spots along with a very newly opened restaurant. I’m including Uber ride-hailing estimates so you can budget time and money. You won’t find this kind of dining experience in a Las Vegas casino.

What Does The Meruelo Group Have Planned For SLS Las Vegas?

SLS Las Vegas

What is Planned for SLS Las Vegas? After just over three years of operations, SLS Las Vegas was sold last week. The casino resort that was built on the bones of the Sahara was sold by Stockbridge Real Estate to the Meruelo Group for an undisclosed amount.

Vegas News | More Drink Monitoring, Wynn Expansion Shrinks And More

TravelZork Las Vegas News 14 May 2017 Vegas News | More Drink Monitoring, Wynn Expansion Shrinks And More

Drink monitoring systems may not affect you if you’re visiting a video poker bar in a casino specifically to play video poker. It’s a different story if you’re passively playing video poker expecting complimentary drinks. The systems aren’t ubiquitous…yet.

The Vegas Pool – Summer of Sin : Part 1

The Vegas Pool - Summer of Sin

Folks, I’ll cut to the chase – while Summer doesn’t officially start until June 20 or 21, Vegas is already heating up literally and welcomes back my favorite time of year. People complain about the heat in Vegas (it’s a dry heat), the unbearable scorch hitting you from every direction, and the dehydration that can never be quenched. Whatever! Drink more and use the sunscreen!

First Quarter Was Great For Las Vegas Casino Operators

Casino Earnings Reports Casino Financial

First quarter earnings were great for the largest Las Vegas casino operators. New Year’s Eve bled into the first quarter. The extra day of revenue was helpful for casino operators. The year always starts with a bang. The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is the largest convention and expo of the year with well over 100,000 attendees.

Vegas News | There’s A Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On

TravelZork Las Vegas News 30 April 2017 Vegas News | There's A Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On

I usually go into the weekend with one or two pages of notes with the Las Vegas news. There are three pages of fun today. There’s a lot of information this week, so buckle up! I’ll try to keep everything short, sweet and easy to read.

Tasting The Newest Restaurant At The Venetian, Mercato della Pescheria – Vegas

Tasting The Newest Restaurant At The Venetian, Mercato della Pescheria - Vegas

I recently visited the newest restaurant in the Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian, Mercato della Pescheria. The restaurant is located in St. Mark’s square replacing upscale Italian restaurant Postrio. The layout of Mercato della Pescheria is similar to Postrio with an indoor and “outdoor” table configuration. The outdoor seats are inside the casino under the painted sky ceiling.

Vegas News | Las Vegas Sports World, Pac-Man Slots, Money And More

TravelZork Las Vegas News 23 April 2017 Vegas News | Sports, Pac-Man Slots, Money And More

I thought that following up all of the news and rumors from last week is going to be difficult. There’s so much happening in Las Vegas that I actually had to break out a section because the article would have been impossible to read. I probably should have done that today, but I didn’t. There’s a lot happening in the Las Vegas sports world, so let’s start there.

Vegas News | So Many Vegas Rumors And So Much News!

TravelZork Las Vegas News 16 April 2017 Vegas News | So Many Vegas Rumors And So Much News!

This week will be a bit different format for Vegas News. The article begins linking to another story because you love parking and jumps right into rumors. There was so much news last week that I’m just giving a bunch of quick hits for you to read directly from the sources.

Las Vegas | Cosmopolitan Parking Fees Begin This Week

Cosmopolitan Identity Club Desk

The Cosmopolitan will begin charging for valet parking on April 18. Self-Parking fees will begin on May 16. Both visitors and hotel guests will be required to pay for parking. Las Vegas locals will have to pay as well. Here are the specifics:

Sometimes Ya Just Need A Hot Bowl Of Matzo Ball Soup…In Las Vegas

On this awful day that picks me up came in the form of a hug from a delicious bowl of Matzo Ball soup at Siegel’s 1941 inside El Cortez. This was the first time I visited the new restaurant so I was hoping that the soup was the hug I wanted. Thankfully, it was as good, if not better, than any Matzo Ball soup I’ve had in Las Vegas

Will Hard Rock Atlantic City Rock The Boardwalk Back To Life?

Will Hard Rock Atlantic City Rock The Boardwalk Back To Life?

With the brand already successfully operating a signature Cafe in the shuttered resort, and the money ready for investing, the synergy happened and the result has been announced formally to the world as the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Atlantic City.

Casino Gaming | Trying Out Top Dollar Premium

Top Dollar Premium Has Real Reels

Top Dollar is by far my favorite slot machine. I love the game so much that every denomination between a penny and $5 has seen some kind of action. Sometimes that variety happens in the same casino.

These Are The Basics Of Betting On Basketball in Las Vegas

These Are The Basics Of Betting On Basketball in Las Vegas

Betting on Basketball: The Basics As a millennial-basketball fan in what could be described as the statistical glory days of that NBA, I love nothing more than wagering on basketball games. I began my fandom with the Boston Celtics. As a team with so much history and pride (and coincidentally winning the NBA title in […]

Leave The Vegas Strip For A Great Casino To Watch March Madness

March Madness SOUTH POINT HOTEL CASINO AND SPA

Leave The Vegas Strip For A Great Casino To Watch March Madness. The South Point is mostly known as a casino catering to local Las Vegas residents, horse people (fans and riders), and bowlers. It’s also becoming the home for sports bettors in Las Vegas.

Vegas News | More NASCAR and Robots Invade The Vegas Strip

Vegas News | More NASCAR and Robots Invade The Vegas Strip

It’s NASCAR weekend in Las Vegas, so let’s start the news at the track. There are over 100,000 people expected to visit Las Vegas for the races this weekend…… Robots Invade The Vegas Strip ? I wrote about robotic bars 2 or 3 years ago and wondered when they would be in Las Vegas. It looks as though it’s time for robot booze slingers to hit the Vegas Strip.

Beginners Guide To Sports Betting in Las Vegas

Red Rock Sports Book Las Vegas

Since the first weekend of March Madness is here we thought it would be a good time to share a Beginners Guide To Sports Betting in Las Vegas. No matter your level of sports betting experience this should provide useful information for you.

A Las Vegas sports book can be intimidating if you’re new to legal sports wagering. Even if you’re an experienced sports bettor at home, you may not be familiar with how the process works in a casino. It’s not quite the same.

Vegas News | Don’t Get Too Crazy About Hotel Room Prices, Hamilton Is Coming To Las Vegas

TravelZork Las Vegas News 5 March 2017 Vegas News | Don't Get Too Crazy About Hotel Room Prices, Hamilton Is Coming To Las Vegas

Average Daily Hotel Room Prices In Las Vegas Break Record. The average daily room rate is the average of all Las Vegas hotels from every day of the week and does not include resort fees, parking fees, or taxes. So, while a midweek room in downtown Las Vegas might have been $30, a hotel room during CES on the Vegas Strip might have cost $270. Together the prices of the hotel rooms averaged $150 each.

March Madness In Vegas Is Fantastic

March Madness

The first weekend of March Madness is one of the best weekends of the year in Las Vegas for a sports fan. If you’ve graduated from college recently, it’s probably the very best weekend of the year in Las Vegas

Why I Keep a Gambling Log

Why I Keep a Gambling Log

I really do try to be an Advantage Player, but the Degenerate within, has more power than I’d like it to. In order to validate the Advantage player, while taming the Degenerate, I keep a Gambling Log.

Vegas Changing | Before Our Very Eyes

Vegas Changing | Before Our Very Eyes

The Cosmopolitan and Monte Carlo aren’t the only Las Vegas casino-resorts being renovated before our very eyes. For the past year, Wynn Las Vegas has somewhat quietly updated and upgraded their bars, restaurants, casino, retail outlets, nightclubs, and hotel rooms.

Vegas | Good News, Bad News And More News

Vegas | Good News, Bad News And More News

It was a good news/bad news week for the many people who prefer Caesars and Total Rewards casinos in Las Vegas. The casino operator reported earnings last week and had some interesting information to share. After reporting earnings I found, even more, information from Caesars Entertainment. That information wasn’t “interesting” but it you should hear it anyway. Let’s start with the good news.

Winding Down Atlantic City Casino Offers

Atlantic City Casino Offers

There has been a steady and overall decline in gaming odds, comps and casino offers over the years but with fewer rooms available to comp and most of the remaining 7 casinos struggling financially, Atlantic City is rapidly diminishing as a good play for the low roller.

First Visit To Las Vegas | 5 Things You Must See

First Visit To Las Vegas | High Roller

Here are a few must visit places in Las Vegas if you’ve never been here before. These are some of the most iconic attractions you’ll find in Las Vegas. You may visit some of these places on every visit and others you may only need to see once.

Atlantic City | Borgata Black Label Changes

Borgata Black Label Changes

Effective March 1, the Borgata is raising the entry price for Black Label card holders to both the Amphora Lounge and the buffet from $10 comp dollars to $12.50 comp dollars per person. The Amphora Lounge is very nice and the buffet is decent, but this is another downgrade instituted by Mlife and there’s certainly more to come.

Vegas News | Happy Vegas Super Bowl Day!

Vegas News | Happy Vegas Super Bowl Day!

Happy Vegas Super Bowl Sunday! If the new president really wants to make an impact on America, he’ll make Super Bowl Monday a holiday. Anyway, Las Vegas has been packed all weekend with football fans getting ready to watch and wager on The Big Game. The sports book this morning at Red Rock Casino was already buzzing.

Las Vegas Hotel Luxury | 2 Of The Top 10 Luxury Hotels In The United States

ARIA LAS VEGAS | Las Vegas Hotel Luxury | 2 Of The Top 10 Luxury Hotels In The United States

Luxury is defined as “the state of great comfort and extravagant living.” By definition, everything in Las Vegas could be considered luxurious. When I think of Las Vegas Hotel Luxury, I’m thinking the best of the best. Las Vegas does luxury the way few other cities in the world do. Great service and amenities are almost second nature and provided seemingly without effort.

The Cosmopolitan Of Las Vegas Changes Its Identity

Cosmopolitan Identity Club Desk

We’ve seen a major casino transformation happening right before our eyes. Over the past year or so, the Cosmopolitan has undergone a major facelift. Changes to restaurants, hotel rooms, and the casino floor are continuing into the new year. One of the newest changes on the casino floor that you’ll see comes in the way of a new Identity players club desk.

Vegas News | From Luxury On The Vegas Strip To Fried Chicken In The Suburbs

TravelZork Las Vegas News 29 January 2017 Vegas News | From Luxury On The Vegas Strip To Fried Chicken In The Suburbs

Casino-resorts are what stir the drink for just about everything in Las Vegas. On the Vegas Strip and around town, these properties not only offer hotel rooms to sleep in but casinos for gambling, malls for shopping, bars for drinking, restaurants for eating and so forth. Everything else you can find in Las Vegas is just a bonus.

Get Free Vegas Parking At Caesars And MGM Hotels

Vegas Parking Fees

There’s no topic in Las Vegas from the past year that’s drawn more ire than paid parking on the Vegas Strip. According to the most recent visitor profile, from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitor’s Authority, 57% of the people visiting Las Vegas arrive by car.

Vegas News | Raiders Are One Step Closer To Las Vegas, $19 Hot Dogs, Magic Mike and More

TravelZork Las Vegas News 22 January 2017 Vegas News | Raiders Are One Step Closer To Las Vegas, $19 Hot Dogs, Magic Mike and More

You know it’s a slow week in Las Vegas when the biggest news was discussing a business possibly filing paperwork. Early last week it was reported that the Oakland Raiders would file paperwork to potentially move to Las Vegas. By the end of the week, that report was confirmed by the NFL Network. The Raiders still have one step before everyone in Las Vegas can lose their mind.

Las Vegas – Gaming | Three Quarterly Casino Earnings Reports To Watch

Gaming | Casino Earnings

It’s quarterly earnings season where corporations share information on their previous quarter. Hopefully, some of the luxury and large casino operators will also spend some time looking forward informing up what they have in store for Las Vegas. Here are the reporting dates for Las Vegas casino operators that I’m looking forward to.

Recap | Gambling Downgrades and “Upgrades” at Borgata Atlantic City by MGM

Borgata Atlantic City B-Bar Video Poker

I meant to publish this re-cap last week about the Gambling Downgrades and Upgrades at Borgata Atlantic City, but things got a bit busy. Figured I better get this posted before there are more changes. To be fair, there have been a few “enhancements,” for those who like to wager high amounts. I am referring to my notes, which were only semi-organized so please feel free to point out any discrepancies.

Harrah’s AC | “Snowed” by Resort Fees in Atlantic City

Harrah's Atlantic City SNOW

I was in Atlantic City last week and got snowed in…… and then had the opportunity to stay at Harrah’s Atlantic City for the cost of just the—FEES : $23.71 for the resort fee plus $3.29 tax on that and $5 for the occupancy fee for a total of $32 a night (on a COMP ROOM!)

momofuku Las Vegas Is Not Quite Ready For Prime Time

Momofuku at the Cosmopolitan

Momofuku Las Vegas opened with very little fanfare this week at Cosmopolitan. A friend was walking past it on his way to pay final respects to Blue Ribbon Sushi and saw that it was open. He immediately made a reservation for the next day.

First Glance | Borgata Atlantic City in 8 Pictures

First Glance | Borgata Atlantic City in 8 Pictures

This week we begin our look at one of the best and most exciting casino gaming resorts in the United States, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa. The hotel is composed of two properties The Borgata and The Water Club Hotel at Borgata. While the marketing and promotional materials might tell a different story, there is still a very intense focus on casino gaming at Borgata.

(W)hy Is No One Talking About The W Las Vegas?

(W)hy Is No One Talking About The W Las Vegas

But after a lengthy amount of time since opening, no one is really talking about the W at the SLS. While friends will always rave of the latest hotel openings, experiences and the like, no one in my direct contact has mentioned more than a whisper or two about the W.

Vegas News | Happy New Year!

TravelZork Las Vegas News 01 January 2017 Vegas News | Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! The last week of the year is traditionally the busiest of the year in Las Vegas. Officials expect that there were somewhere between 300,000 and 350,000 people on the Vegas Strip celebrating the end of 2016 and beginning of 2017. News and visitation don’t usually meet together. Even though there were a lot of people in Las Vegas, there wasn’t too much news looking forward into the new year.

At Wynn Las Vegas, Your Room Has Ears – Amazon Echo

Wynn has plans in place to install a white Amazon Echo in every room in his Las Vegas property, starting with the Tower Suites and working down to every last room. The purpose, not your everyday household Echo skills, but specialized tasks to operate curtains, lights, and the TV and AC. All things that the touch panels in both Wynn and Encore already do. The thought it amazing, voice control of your room for the ultimate luxury experience. Here’s the Steve himself talking about it.

Vegas News | New Restaurants, Fees And Maybe The Walking Dead

TravelZork Las Vegas News 11 December 2016 Vegas News | New Restaurants, Fees And Maybe The Walking Dead

Las Vegas has evolved in ways that you would have never expected 10 years ago. Restaurants and dining are now generating almost the same amount of revenue for casino operators as gaming. Today, the action in Las Vegas takes place in more locations than just casinos.

Vegas News | Vegas Strip Parking, New Hotels Opening, Rick Rolling And More

TravelZork Las Vegas News 04 November 2016 Vegas News | Vegas Strip Parking, New Hotels Opening, Rick Rolling And More

Just another day in Las Vegas yesterday (Friday) started at El Cortez around noon and ended a Bally’s around 14 hours later. Spending days and nights with people who don’t live in Las Vegas is a blast. Everything seems so new and fresh. It’s great to see Las Vegas through the eyes of people who visit only a couple of times a year.

An American Casually Dining at Lucky Dragon Las Vegas

Lucky Dragon

Lucky Dragon is a heavily Asian themed casino and hotel. The dining options reflect that more than any another segment of the casino and hotel. All four restaurants inside the casino serve exclusively Asian cuisine. This is unique but speaks loud and clear as to who their desired customer is.

Atlantic City December 2016 | In a “family-friendly” mood!

Atlantic City December Christmas

December seems to put Atlantic City in a more “family-friendly” mood.

The best place to head is Tropicana. The festivities begin at 7 p.m. Dec. 3 on the Boardwalk and include a special holiday sing-along presentation of Tropicana’s Multimedia Light and Sound Show.

EXCLUSIVE | Everything You Want To Know About The Casino At Lucky Dragon Las Vegas | 拉斯维加斯威龙赌场度假村

The Casino At Lucky Dragon Las Vegas | 拉斯维加斯威龙赌场度假村

Lucky Dragon Hotel and Casino are separate buildings that occupy a mere 3 acres just off the Vegas Strip. The hotel is about 20 steps west from the casino at Lucky Dragon Las Vegas. Both buildings are connected by a walkway (called the SkyBridge) on the 2nd floor so you never have to walk outside if it’s cold or hot. However, the casino is on the first floor so you’ll probably just walk outside for 5 seconds.

I want to start my flurry of information about Lucky Dragon in the casino because that’s where most people will visit before staying in the hotel itself.

Las Vegas | Lucky Dragon, We’re Coming In Hot

Lucky Dragon Las Vegas 拉斯维加斯威龙赌场度假村

Before Lucky Dragon opened over the weekend, the last casino to open that was built from scratch was the Cosmopolitan. That hotel and casino opened way back in 2010. Sure SLS Las Vegas, Downtown Grand, and The Cromwell have opened since then, but they were built using the bones of the Sahara, Lady Luck (NAME) and Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall respectively.

Las Vegas | Wynn Black Friday Sale : (AKA How Much Money Can You Burn?)

Wynn Black Friday 2016

Black Friday, as we all know, has become a tradition. Waking up at the crack of dawn to freeze to death waiting in line for a discounted digital camera you’ll likely never use, or something to that ilk, only to realize how miserable you are after the whole day is said and done. But for the Vegas-phile, this often means pretty good deals on rooms for a short period of time at some great properties in Vegas. So of course, this little beauty pops into my inbox… Wynn Las Vegas Black Friday Sale ..

What MGM Resorts 3rd Quarter Earnings Means To You

What MGM Resorts 3rd Quarter Earnings Means To You

Earnings calls are boring AF. Earnings calls for casino operators aren’t entirely boring, they’re just boring. No AF. I just need to vent before diving into the MGM Resorts 3rd Quarter Earnings call this week.

These calls are intended provide information for financial investors in corporations and not for the public. I’m closer to the latter. I’m not an investor and I write for normal people that may not understand or care about the financial jargon. For the most part, I listen to these calls to see if there’s any news that mainstream news outlets don’t report or care about.

Vegas News | Gambling On The President And More

Vegas News | Gambling On The President And More

You might have heard that there was a presidential election this week. There will be a new President next year and some people are happy while others are sad. I’m less concerned with the politics than the gambling. Go figure. This was a record-breaking year for a US presidential election around the world – but not in the country where the election was actually held. Sports books outside of the US saw record amounts of money wagered on who would become the next President. Some gamblers won bigly as Donald Trump was a long shot for much of the time.

The Cosmopolitan Has The Best Video Poker Bars On The Vegas Strip

The Cosmopolitan Of Las Vegas

For my money, there’s really one drink monitoring system that is customer friendly. It should come as no surprise that the only luxury property with a drink monitoring system, the Cosmopolitan, offers the overall best system for the customers. Below is information on how I ended up with this decision.

Vegas News | Start In The Casino And End Up At Happy Hour

Vegas News | Start In The Casino And End Up At Happy Hour

I usually start the news of the week with something from the business side of Las Vegas. Today I want to begin with news in the casino. This has been the catalyst for many of us to fall in love with Las Vegas. It’s what keeps many of us visiting Las Vegas. Sure the restaurants, bars, and shows are great but the epicenter of the action has long been the casino.

Las Vegas | Exploring Cosmopolitan Comp Drink Monitoring At The Chandelier Bar

Drink Ticket At Chandelier Bar At The Cosmopolitan

It’s amazing how life works sometimes. I’ve been meaning to visit the Cosmopolitan to a) check out the renovated Chandelier Bar and b) see how their comp drink monitoring system worked. Unfortunately, my travels haven’t taken me to the Cosmopolitan. I’ve tested the Caesars Entertainment drink system and the MGM Resorts drink system so I felt compelled to give it a run. It turns out I had a meeting at my favorite bar on the Vegas Strip (Chandelier Bar) this week. This gave me a chance to knock two things out at once. Boom!

Sunday News | Vegas Travel, Business, Tech, Sigma Derby And More

TravelZork Las Vegas Sunday News 30 October 2016

Sunday News had a short break from the action. As a writer, the lack of news was a nice break from the usual week in Las Vegas. However, I knew the following week would be different when I saw a few new rumors shortly after we posted last week. Unlike last week, there’s a lot of news so let’s just get to it.

Atlantic City November 2016 | Tattoos, Rodeo, Ballet, Casino Events and More!

Atlantic City

During November visitors will have lots to be thankful for – and they don’t even have to wait until Thanksgiving.

They’re already available for play, but the “official” debut of the first video-gaming machines in a U.S.-based casino is Nov. 2 at Bally’s Wild Wild West, Caesars and Harrah’s. The premier game, “Danger Arena,” is a first-person action video game in which player skill determines the payout.

Sunday News | More Vegas Restaurants and New Vegas Fees For You

Sunday News | More Vegas Restaurants and New Vegas Fees For You

I look forward to writing Sunday News because there has been something interesting happening every week since TravelZork launched. Having said that, last week might have been the slowest news week in Las Vegas in a while. A few restaurants opened, a new residency launched and I just learned about a new fee to hit Las Vegas.

Sunday News | Las Vegas Raiders, Rumors, Restaurants and Shows

Sunday News | Las Vegas Raiders, Rumors, Restaurants and Shows

Sunday News this week will be a little shorter than usual. I’m dealing with complications of a high toilet and it’s making me cranky this morning. Visit squattypotty.com to understand the issues. Fun fact, I’m sitting by myself at the 3535 Bar at The Linq and laughing out loud as I write this. Anyway, on […]

Testing Caesars Comp Drink Monitoring System In Las Vegas

Tag Bar at The Linq Las Vegas

Caesars Comp Drink Monitoring I recently met up with a friend who was staying at The Linq and wanted to watch football. After checking into the hotel we didn’t get out to catch the games until noon or so. This was when the 2nd half of most of the early games were beginning. The second half […]

Sunday News | Lots Of Las Vegas Casino Business News

Sunday News | Lots Of Casino Business News

As expected last week was a busy news period for Las Vegas. Even if it wasn’t blatant, the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) was the catalyst for a lot of what we learned about casinos during the week. There are a lot of places I could start but I think MGM Resorts is a good place.

Las Vegas | Aliante Station Is Now B-Connected

Aliante Station B-Connected

With all the growth, luxury and attention splurged on the Strip, we shouldn’t fail to forget there are a few really beautiful properties that are considered “locals” joints dotted around the Las Vegas valley. The M to the south is one such hotel, as is Red Rock to the west, and Aliante to the north. […]

Sunday News | More New Slot Machines And The Backstreet Boys Come To Vegas

TravelZork Las Vegas Sunday | More Slot Machines And The Backstreet Boys Come To Vegas

I don’t know about you, but one of the best feelings I’ve had in Las Vegas was seeing all of the slot machines as soon as I walked off the airplane at McCarran Airport. Most of the slot machines just sat there quietly. However, there was one slot machine that would actually greet the visitors. The chants of “Wheel. Of. Fortune” would be ingrained in my head before even getting to the baggage carousel.

Sunday News | Adele, 000 Roulette, NASCAR Warning And More

TravelZork Las Vegas Sunday | Adele, 000 Roulette, NASCAR Warning And More

As I mentioned last week in Sunday News, we’re in a slow news period in Las Vegas. I expect things to heat up in a week or so but there isn’t anything too serious happening. This might be a little shorter than you’re used to. In The Casino Slot machines When the news in Las […]

Long Live The Appetizer! 3 Great Apps In Las Vegas

appetizer las vegas

Appetizers are the great equalizer when you’re looking to save money but eat quality food when dining in Las Vegas. A single appetizer can often be filling enough for one person. Likewise, appetizers are usually large enough to share. They’re the perfect size for flexible dining. Many times these dishes are as filling as a main […]

Las Vegas | The Lucky Dragon Rises (For Real This Time!)

Lucky Dragon Las Vegas

The Lucky Dragon, the mysteriously intimate property near the now developing corner of Sahara and Las Vegas Boulevard, has teased us with wonderful renderings and beautiful design for quite some time. When I was last in Vegas a few months ago, I snapped a handful of shots showing the progress that had been made, looking as […]

Sunday News | Casino And Gambling News With A Side Of Sake

TravelZork Las Vegas Sunday News 11 September 2016 Casino And Gambling News With A Side Of Sake

Ahhhh…The summer is unofficially over. Labor Day weekend is the beginning of the end of summer for tourist season. The day clubs will slowly wind down, then some pools will begin to close and summer concert season will come to an end. There should be a couple of quiet weeks of news in Las Vegas […]

Sunday News | Holiday Edition With Mostly Vegas Hotel News

TravelZork Las Vegas Sunday | Vegas Hotel

There was a lot of hotel news last week but not all of it is relevant to your visits to Las Vegas. With that in mind, let’s start with the hotel news that actually matters in the near future. When the Blackstone Group purchased the Cosmopolitan in 2014, they detailed very specific plans to turn around the casino which didn’t have a profitable quarter since opening.

Chasing Macau | Part 3 | Initial Impression Executive Suite – Wynn Palace Cotai

Wynn Palace Executive Suite Key

There will be a more formal review in the coming week, but for now my first impressions of the Executive Suite at Wynn Palace Cotai. Totaling 89 square meters (960 square feet), our Executive Suite features an expansive living room with marble-topped dining table ideal for meetings or festive dinners, while the plush seating area is enhanced with a 75-inch HD television.

Chasing Macau | Part 2 | Opening Night – And What A Joint It Is – Wynn Palace Cotai

Wynn Palace Cotai

And What A Joint It Is — Amazingly, once you got by the initial rush of folks wanting to enter it was rather calm. The entrance I used had a lovely hallway past the VIP table games area, and the signature smell was amazing. Or perhaps, the fact that I was inside and there was air conditioning was also what made it seem so glorious. When I was writing part 1, I realized that this trip was so last minute I never got a chance to really brace myself for what I was about to encounter.

MGM Buys Out Boyd, Becomes Majority Owner Of Borgata

MGM buys Boyd Borgata

Despite not having a major presence in Atlantic City, MGM has always owned a stake in the Borgata, a collaborative operation with Boyd Gaming which is still the highest-grossing casino resort in the Atlantic City area. As of Monday however, MGM shook things up just a bit. MGM Buys Out Boyd In a deal completed […]

Upcoming Events In Atlantic City | August 2016

Upcoming Events Atlantic City

Some of these events could have a big impact on traffic and accommodations, so think about this when planning a visit. Here are some “insider” tips about what’s happening at Atlantic City’s casinos:

A Walk Through The Park Las Vegas

Las Vegas CityCenter Park

..And with this anchor as the grand plan, The Park was born, and on my recent trip to Vegas during a severe bought with the hangover demon, I got to explore this little piece of open space nestled between New York New York and the Monte Carlo..

Are You Ready For The Next Sigma Derby?

Sigma Derby

The love for Sigma Derby will never cease to amaze me. The jittery electro-mechanical horse racing game is only available in two Las Vegas casinos but has an amazing cult following. The following of Sigma Derby is both fascinating and understandable

Sunday News | Vegas News From Shows To Casinos

Vegas News From Shows To Casinos

In all my years visiting and living in Las Vegas, I’ve only seen a handful of shows. When I think of Las Vegas it’s usually eating, drinking or gambling. Shows don’t fit into that equation. That’s just me, there are plenty of people who come to Las Vegas specifically for the shows. My preference is probably […]

Sunday News | From The UFC Sale To Mobile Gambling From MGM Resorts

UFC Sale Mobile Gambling MGM Resorts

The interesting news in Las Vegas this week was all over the place. Surprisingly, the first piece of big news in Las Vegas wasn’t casino related. After a couple of months in the rumor mill, the Las Vegas-based UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) was finally purchased.

Official Details On Palace Station Renovations

Palace Station Renovations

Earlier this week I saw an article on Eater that had a very detailed overview of renovations coming to Palace Station. The information was almost too detailed not to be true. However, the exclusive news wasn’t available anywhere else and I wanted to see if this was indeed true

Sunday News | Lots Of Sports News + Station Casinos Turns 40

Lots Of Sports News + Station Casinos Turns 40

I’ve been on vacation all week but I love Las Vegas and always keep track of the news. I won’t be going too deep on the news items this week but I will share some highlights. Here’s a quick look at what happened in Las Vegas over the past week. The Beat is closing – […]

Wynn Palace Puts Off Her Debutante Ball…Again.

Wynn Palace Puts Off Her Debutante Ball...Again.

Just like a young woman who is not quite ready for primetime, so goes the way over at Steve Wynn’s new crown jewel Wynn Palace. Set for an early 2016 opening date, the date was pushed back again to June 25th.

SLS Update | W Las Vegas Is Coming

SLS Update | W Las Vegas Is Coming

After speculation and somewhat of confirmation from the SLS and Starwood, it appears as though the transformation of the Lux tower into the first W Las Vegas is well underway with construction walls up and certain rooms not available.

Learn What eSports Is And Why It Matters To Las Vegas

esports

Despite the rapidly growing popularity of eSports around the world, it’s just reaching this city that sees over 42 million tourists a year. Today we’ll look at what eSports is, who enjoys it and why it matters to Las Vegas.

Sunday News | Booms, Britney and News From All Over Town (Vegas)

Vegas News | Booms, Britney and News From All Over Town

Before heading into Las Vegas news, I want to take a minute to wish my father, Joe, and all the other dads a Happy Father’s day. Summer begins this week and that means temperatures in Las Vegas will be rising. An Excessive Heat Warning actually starts tonight and continues until at least Wednesday. Temperatures will […]

Sunday News | Topgolf To Booking Flights To Las Vegas

Vegas Top Golf Booking Flights

Much of the news in the past couple of weeks has been around the business side and the future of Las Vegas. That’s not entirely the case this week. There was a good amount of news that will directly affect upcoming visits to Las Vegas. Some of the news is immediate and some will let […]

Las Vegas | New Themed Casino Set To Open Later This Year

New Themed Casino

In an interview earlier this year MGM Resorts CEO, Jim Murren, said that his company would no longer theme their hotels. “We are not going to name it something from somewhere else. Those days are over,” Murren told Johnny Katz from the Las Vegas Sun about the future of the Monte Carlo at the opening of […]

Sunday News | Happenings From Downtown Las Vegas To Summerlin

Vegas Lucky Dragon Flamingo Linq

Whew! It feels as though it’s been a crazy few weeks in Las Vegas. Thankfully the openings and announcements slowed down a little this week. In fact, there weren’t any major  happenings this week. Personally, I’m thankful for the slowdown since my mother made an extended pit stop in Las Vegas this week while touring […]

Las Vegas | The New T-Mobile Arena

T-mobile Arena

A Closer Look At The Newest Entertainment Venue On The Vegas Strip: The T-Mobile Arena Last week MGM Resorts and AEG opened the newest entertainment venue in Las Vegas, T-Mobile Arena. The new arena is located behind New York-New York and at the end of The Park which is open to the public on the […]

Las Vegas | Wynn Shows Us Paradise in Paradise

Wynn

If you’ve not been under a rock, you’ve no doubt seen our articles on the shifts, slides, changes and happenings at Wynn that have been going on for quite some time now. Dining and chef changes, restaurant closures and openings, new gaming and nightlife concepts. The evidence is that now that Wynn Palace is coming […]

Las Vegas | How Wynn Is Shuffling The Nightlife Deck

Wynn Las Vegas

Steven Wynn is bipolar in mood. He’s happy with one thing, namely Wynn Palace, and that happiness leads to unhappiness with existing properties, namely Wynn and Encore back stateside. Need evidence? Look around. New art, chefs shifting around, restaurants closing, renovating, reopening. It’s like someone’s playing Wheel of Fortune in his brain and he’s hoping […]

Lake Charles | Comparison Of The Golden Nugget And Pinnacle’s L’Auberge – Part 2

Lake Charles

This is Part 2 in a 4-part series comparing two casino resorts in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Part 1 detailed the hotel rooms and now part 2 will compare both resorts’ Food & Beverage offerings. Comparison Of The Food & Beverage Offerings | Lake Charles Resorts The great thing about the Golden Nugget and L’Auberge casino resorts in Lake Charles […]

Travel Trends | Low Cost Airfare To Las Vegas Is Exploding

low cost airfare

Useful Insights For Future Travelling To Las Vegas Airport air traffic reports aren’t the most exciting things to read about Las Vegas but they offer useful insights. When looking at a market like Las Vegas tourism and travel data often help explain some things that are on the mind. Hotel occupancy rates may help explain […]

Lake Charles | Comparison Of The Golden Nugget And Pinnacle’s L’Auberge – Part 1

Lake Charles

Lake Charles: the next generation of destination gambling? I live in Houston, Texas. Since Texas does not have legalized Class III gaming (aka traditional casino gambling), Southwest Louisiana offers the closest “locals” casino for someone in my locale. There are some racinos (race track + casino) and even a land-based casino in New Orleans. However, […]

Las Vegas | Sunday News | MGM Reorganizes and The Venetian Might Expand

Vegas Lucky Dragon Flamingo Linq

I started writing this week’s edition of “Sunday News” with the thought that the news didn’t tie together. When it was finished I realized that most of this week’s news in Vegas actually does work together. In fact, there’s more MGM Resorts news than you might expect for a slower news week. Last week we […]

Las Vegas | Alon May Not Have Money But They Have Plans

Alon

Once financing is secure Alon Las Vegas will be built on the land once occupied by the New Frontier across the street from Wynn Las Vegas and next to the Fashion Show Mall. Alon is being developed by James Packer and Andrew Pascal who most recently helped open SLS Las Vegas. Pascal knows the luxury […]

Las Vegas | Sunday News | The Strip North End’s Possible Developments

Vegas Lucky Dragon Flamingo Linq

Welcome to the first week of a new Sunday column at TravelZork. This will be a synopsis and analysis of recent news, rumors, openings and closings in Las Vegas. This column won’t cover everything in Las Vegas but will analyze and speculate about some of the bigger bits of news we see or hear about. North […]

Need A Ride In Vegas? This Is What You Need To Try!

UBER

So Long Cabbies, I’ll Find My Own Lyft (Or Uber) One of the reasons I’ve preferred for years to drive myself to Las Vegas rather than taking a cheap flight is the fact that I’d prefer to spend my bankroll on the goodies and not in town transport. That’s not to say that grabbing an […]

Visiting Vegas: An Analysis Of The Non-Stop International Flights

Non-Stop International Flights

Whether you are going for business or pleasure, Las Vegas delivers on budget and extravagance all packed into a desert metropolis better than any city in the world, well, Dubai comes a close second. Let’s take a look at the non-stop long-haul flights that bring visitors to Las Vegas. To make it clear, we’re NOT […]

March Madness Is One Of The Biggest Events Of The Year

March Madness

Twenty years ago there was a fun month of sports in March with an event called the NCAA Basketball Tournament. That basketball tournament is more commonly known as March Madness today. The games aren’t played in Las Vegas but the first weekend of March Madness has become one of the most popular weekends of the year.

Las Vegas | Wynn Cooks Up Something(s) New

Wynn

Anyone who knows Steve Wynn, the personality, knows that beyond being a perfectionist when finishing a project, that same drive continues as his properties operate and are broken in. Public spaces are fine tunes, stores are changed to better perform, the casinos are reorganized for better flow and use. But most importantly, Wynn stays on […]

Viewing and Wagering | The Biggest Weekend For Sports Fans In Vegas Is Almost Here | March Madness

March Madness

In recent years, some people (like me) might say that the first weekend of March Madness has surpassed the Super Bowl as the biggest weekend of the year in Las Vegas for sports fans. Not only is there a larger crowd for the first weekend of the NCAA Basketball Tournament ( aka March Madness) but there’s a younger crowd filling sports books, bars, restaurants, nightclubs and casinos. Shows? Not so much.

Las Vegas | Five Things TravelZork Is Looking Forward To In 2016

Travelzork

A New Year means a new Vegas. Well, in reality, things come and go so fast in Las Vegas it would be more accurate to say a New Week a new Vegas. But that’s part of what makes the city, and other gaming meccas around the world like it, so addictive beyond the boozing and […]

Las Vegas | How Casinos Are Reacting To Revenue Trends

Revenue Trends

How Casinos Are Reacting To Revenue Trends The UNLV Center For Gaming Research recently released a report looking at historical departmental revenue in Nevada casinos. The report shows annual revenue trends in casino-resorts from gaming, hotel rooms, food, beverage and other (shows, retail, etc.) from 1984 through 2015 by dollar and percentage of revenue. The report […]

Cotai Macau (Macao) | Wynn Palace: A Primer

Wynn Palace

Wynn Palace It’s no big news that Wynn, with the wild success of both Wynn Macau and it’s expanded offerings with the addition of the Encore tower, has been digging in deeper into the gaming and hospitality offerings in Macau. And with the addition of new properties along the now booming Cotai strip, it was […]

How Millennials Are Changing Hotels and Loyalty in Las Vegas

Millennials

…Continuing a look at millennials in Las Vegas (Part 1: A Look At Millennials In Las Vegas) Hotel Experience The best and worst thing about millennial travelers is that they want a unique hotel experience. It’s great because this will help mold the next generation of experiences at hotel properties. It’s bad because hotels will tinker […]

A Look At Millennials In Las Vegas Casinos

Millennials

Photo: Elizabeth Hahn/Flickr Introduction: Millennials In Las Vegas Millennials are helping shape Las Vegas and that is freaking out some people who would rather return to the feeling and atmosphere of the city they fell in love with 10, 20, or 30 years ago. Unfortunately change happens and it’s happening at a rapid pace. This change shouldn’t be […]

Preview | The Julius Tower at Caesars Palace

Julius Tower

The Julius Tower It’s no secret that Caesars Entertainment has finally been giving its flagship property quite a bit of love recently. Starting with the completion of the Octavius Tower, the opening of the first Nobu hotel, the conversion of Pure to Omnia in order to compete with Hakkasan and XS, and other small renovations […]

Preview | Mandalay Bay’s Renovated Rooms

Preview | Mandalay Bay's Renovated Rooms

Mandalay Bay Although I tend to stay on top of the game when it comes to the newest changes to the Vegas hotel scene, there was one recent bit of news that managed to slip under the radar until an email landed in my inbox. Hot on the heels of the renovation of the Four […]

Las Vegas | The Dragon Rises

We’ve all seen snippets about the proposed Lucky Dragon boutique hotel on Sahara, near the now transformed SLS and Rock In Rio site at the intersection of Sahara and LVB. But the project is now very much based in reality and not just renderings, with the tower taking shape and nearly topped out structurally, and […]

Las Vegas | Update: The Downtown Grand Still Has A Pulse

Vegas Downtown Grand

A while back, we were tipped off by some VIP high level players of the Downtown Grand that the hotel was set to close. Amidst a bevy of layoffs, schedule changes, and venue closing, the news really didn’t seem too far off the mark from being what could be more than just an extremely viable […]

Las Vegas | Uber Is Back In Vegas + LAS Airport (pick-up/drop-off)

Las Vegas | Uber Is Back In Vegas + LAS Airport (pick-up/drop-off)

Note : Updates, including details on surge pricing, are at the end of this article. A few weeks ago we told you that UBER would return to Las Vegas and that it would be better than the first time. UBER’s (for now, uberX) return to Las Vegas is indeed better and it will continue to get even […]

Las Vegas | Aria’s Continuing Transformation

Aria, MGM’s self-chosen jewel property despite those loyal to Bellagio, is continuing to improve what is broken in all the right ways. Since the property opened, many issues and problems have been continually fixed, with underperforming restaurants swapped out, and boutiques replaced with pressed juicerys and bar names changed. One of the more recent changes […]

Las Vegas | The Return Of UBER To Las Vegas Should Be Better Than Expected

Las Vegas Taxi

When UBER returns to Las Vegas they will likely be allowed to pick up passengers at McCarran International Airport. This is kind of a big deal since UBER wasn’t allowed to pick up passengers at the airport their first go-around in Las Vegas in 2014. UBER is tentatively scheduled to re-launch its service in Las […]

Las Vegas | Downtown Grand To Close?

Downtown Grand

UPDATE 19 October 2015 : The Downtown Grand Still Has A Pulse UPDATE 9 September 2015 : As you may have seen in our other post it seems the Grand is getting yet another shot at life. With a revamp of the players club, modifications to the floor, and some new and updated odds it would seem […]