Vegas News | Circa Gets Boring, Planet Hollywood Dumps Poker Again, and Bally’s Has A “Plan”
Did you know that Derek Stevens is a billionaire? I never thought about it, but that’s something I learned last week. The article doesn’t have much new information, but it is a good overview for anyone not familiar with the downtown Las Vegas casino operator. Read the Forbes article here. I had a few minutes […]
When Compliance Fails Quietly: Why Bowyer Happened at Resorts World — and Likely Wouldn’t Have at Wynn
Last week’s Nevada Gaming Control Board hearing around Resorts World Las Vegas was one of those moments that quietly says a lot about how casino compliance actually works — and how it fails. The facts are now public. Resorts World agreed to a $10.5 million fine tied to its handling of an illegal bookmaker, Matthew […]
Vegas News | Adios Cromwell and Blue Ribbon, Hello Vanderpump and Metallica!
We’re back on track for Vegas News in 2026! Casinos will begin reporting fourth-quarter and full-year earnings in a couple of weeks. As usual, Boyd will be the first to report on Feb. 5. Why does this matter to you? Because this is usually when we hear big announcements and new developments. The financial info […]
Vegas News | New MGM Rewards, New Restaurants, And A Boring Airport Update
12/12 While casino operators took time to celebrate the holidays, so did Vegas News. While there wasn’t much news, things definitely slipped past me, as well as many popular news outlets. Since it’s a light news week, I’ll share some quick hits from my recent visits to the Strip at the end. Well, it’s a […]
Vegas News | NoMad at Park MGM Rebrands, The Tavern at Fontainebleau is 24/7, And Bingo Is Back!
Zorkfest came and left Las Vegas in no time! It was great to see familiar faces and meet new people. The crowd was great, and it appeared almost evenly split between casino enthusiasts and those visiting to learn about general travel points and miles. Having been with TravelZork since almost day one, it’s great to […]
Vegas News | Caesars Palace and Flamingo Upgrades, Cosmo Flips To Pickleball And 3 Boring Updates
Happy Thanksgiving to those who celebrate. If it wasn’t already, it’s officially the holiday season and the most wonderful time of the year! Let’s start this edition of Vegas News with my favorite Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens display of the year. I’m always amazed that this is inside a casino. Read about it here […]
Let’s Take A Look At What To Expect at M Resort as ZorkFest Gets Closer
ZorkFest is almost here! We’re two weeks out from the conference, which takes place Dec. 5-7. We’ve shared plenty of information for those unfamiliar with the conference, which focuses on travel loyalty, casino comps, and everything in between. By now, you should have a good idea of which tracks you want to follow and which […]
Vegas News | Carbone 2 Is Open, Durango Is Expanding Again, And Lots Of Show News!
Carbone Riviera at Bellagio is now open. As you’d imagine, the restaurant looks beautiful. Read more here. It will cost you a minimum of $175 per person if you want to sit on the dock of the Bellagio fountains at Carbone 2. See the tweet here. Here’s a quick look at the restaurant and food. […]
Vegas News | Aria and Cosmopolitan Renovations, Durango Expansion and Remembering Lion’s Share Slots
If you’ve been reading Vegas News regularly, you know that I listen to earnings calls to A) find out official news about what’s being planned for casinos and B) try to understand the mindset of a casino corporation. Casino earnings season started last week, but the most telling quote came earlier this week when MGM’s […]
Vegas News | Bally’s Has A Plan For Vegas, $5 Booze At New York-New York and What’s Up With MGM?
No idea how the TravelZork podcast fellas found this to be a slow news period for Las Vegas and casinos, but that’s why I’m here, as Movestro said. Let’s get to it, starting with MGM Resorts news around the country. Nine Fine Irishmen at New York-New York updated its outdoor space and has $5 booze […]
Vegas News | Bally’s Has A Plan, Free Music Festival and More Cheap Gambling!
Before diving into the various Vegas News items over the past couple of weeks, I’m curious if anyone in the TravelZork fam took advantage of the big 5-Day Sale by the LVCVA. The deals weren’t great to me, and I’m curious if anything stood out to anyone. On a related note, the casino earnings season […]
Vegas News | Brothel Tours, Bellagio Changes, Free Booze At Golden Gate, And More!
Five times a year, I lead Vegas News with details about the newest display at the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Garden. As usual, the fall display is my least favorite. It’s beautiful as always, but not my preference. Christmas is my favorite if you’re curious. See pics below and read about it here. The process […]
Vegas News | M Resort Ahead Of Schedule, Bazaar Opens At Palazzo, And Deals-A-Plenty
M Resort is ahead of schedule with construction on its new hotel tower, and it will be open on Dec. 1. Yes, that’s in time for ZorkFest on Dec. 5. They’re also adding a restaurant from Emeril. BAM! See renderings below and read more here. Caesars has a $300 midweek deal that includes 2 room […]
Vegas News | Mirage Auctions Art, Golden Gate Dumps Human Dealers, And New Vegas!
The biggest Vegas News over the past couple of weeks has to be Hard Rock putting more than 300 art pieces from the Mirage on the auction block. The online part is underway with the live auction on September 20 at 10:00 a.m. PDT. You can see the full list of Mirage auction items here. […]
Vegas News | A’s Stadium Construction Update, More Vegas Adjacent Deals, And Metallica Is Interested In Vegas
I’ve been sharing progress on A’s baseball stadium construction weekly. Here’s the past seven days for those of you who are curious about the future of the Tropicana site. I don’t normally follow GLPI’s earnings because it’s a real estate company, but the most recent update has some interesting info: “Finally, in Las Vegas, we […]
Vegas News | Bellagio Boat, Paris Is Hard All Day, And More Vegas Deals
The rumors about a second Carbone in Las Vegas are true. This location will take over the Picasso space at Bellagio. It won’t just be Carbone 2: Electric Boogaloo, it will be a seafood-focused restaurant. That makes sense as long as Lago is open and still great. Read more here. The most fun quote from […]
Vegas News | Summer Deals, Fireworks, And Downtown Butts
The first order of business is the July Fourth weekend. One night celebrating 🇺🇸Three epic fireworks shows 🎇July 4, 2025 – live viewing from our pools🧨 @GVRcasino 🧨 @redrockcasino 🧨@durangoresortlv https://t.co/rI6IFgdKJm pic.twitter.com/nEYtJwF9u6 — Station Casinos (@stationcasinos) June 2, 2025 Seven casinos are shooting July Fourth fireworks this year: You can watch for free or pay […]
Vegas News | New Food Hall Opens, More F1, WrestleMania, And Circa Gets The Butts!
A few weeks ago, I wrote an article called “Summer of Savings in Las Vegas.” That hasn’t been posted yet due to technical issues, but you’d be hard pressed not to find any discounts or deals if you’re visiting Las Vegas this summer. The LVCVA shared some of those deals here. On the topic of […]
Vegas News | 2 New Poker Rooms, $20 Guy Fieri AYCE, and Pushing Dirt Around The Old Tropicana Site
The new summer display at the Bellagio Botanical Gardens & Conservatory is different. See pics below and learn about it here. A few press pics of Bellagio's Conservatory & Botanical Gardens display "Glam Menagerie: A Surrealist Summer" pic.twitter.com/np3UyXwdWq — Marc (@MeltzVegas) May 28, 2025 This isn’t new, but I don’t remember seeing the brochure for […]
We’re the Least Profitable Guests for Casinos (And That’s a Good Thing)
So, as it turns out, TravelZork Readers are considered the least profitable guests. How I know this: I’ve been sitting on this topic for a couple of weeks since the most recent round of casino corporation earnings calls. I listen to casino operator earnings calls every quarter for news you won’t hear elsewhere until there’s […]
Vegas News | New Poker Rooms, Free Concerts Downtown and More!
We skipped most of the Vegas News last week to give a heads up about reserving M Resort hotel rooms for Zorkfest before the NFL announced whether or not the Raiders would be playing a home game on the same weekend. The good news is that rates haven’t changed much, if at all, even though […]
Vegas News: Book ZorkFest Rooms ASAP and a Roundup Of Casino Operator Earnings
In case you missed the announcement, ZorkFest 2025 is taking place December 5-7, 2025, at M Resort. This is TravelZork’s annual conference to discuss travel and casino loyalty. The event offers expert-led sessions focused on maximizing travel rewards (miles and points) and casino comps. The dates are more important than usual this year, and reserving […]
Vegas News | Durango Has Poolside Blackjack, MGM Has A New Credit Card, And There’s A New Poker Room Coming To Planet Hollywood
This will be a somewhat brief edition of Vegas News, with the short week for the long holiday weekend, I learned about at 8 a.m. on Friday. Before I get started, I want to remind everyone that you’ll need a Real ID to fly to Las Vegas soon. I finally gathered my info and need […]
Vegas News | Goodbye Cromwell, People Rarely Get Comp Hotel Rooms, And Rio Made Jeopardy!
I hate to start the Vegas News on a sour note but longtime Las Vegas writer Norm Clarke passed away this week. He was a great writer with legitimate connections and insight. From what I’m told he was an even better person. Read more here. On another somewhat sour note, the new spring display at […]
Vegas News | 30 Seat Swim-Up Bar, NetFlix Bites, PALMS is 3:2 Blackjack Exclusively
This turned out to be a PACKED edition of Vegas News. Enjoy! MGM reported fourth-quarter and full-year 2024 earnings last week. Evidently, the numbers were good because the stock jumped after hours and during the next day. You can get the details here. Based on the call it sounds like room rates will increase modestly […]
Vegas News | Plenty Of Caesars, More Bruno & Kelly, And How Many Slot YouTubers Do You Watch?
Happy Super Bowl weekend for those who observe! Vegas News is coming to you from the East Coast this week. Have no fear, most of the info we have is the same as if I were sitting in a Las Vegas coffee shop, casino, or office. There’s a slew of Caesars news and rumors to […]
Vegas News | Chesney Coming To Sphere, MGM Grand Confirms New Rooms, And Circus Circus On The Market
The Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Garden switched to its Lunar New Year display. It’s beautiful as usual although it looks more like Year of the Panda than Year of the Snake. Read more here and see pics below. You knew that MGM Grand was renovating its rooms since we shared it last year. They finally […]
New Las Vegas Hotels Opening Soon And A Look At More Construction Plans
New Las Vegas Hotels are a good thing, for some, casinos attached to those are hotels are even better. With that said, the 2025 construction calendar doesn’t look fun for someone who loves new casinos like me. While there’s plenty of new building on the books there’s not much that excites me. I love visiting […]
Vegas News | New Restaurants, New Year’s Eve Fireworks, We Explored The World Of Swingers
Happy end of days! (for 2024) Las Vegas doesn’t stop and neither does the news. The Vegas Strip seems to be busier than ever for the holiday season. I tend to keep my distance while the tourists gawk and walk slower than usual around the most touristy parts of town. The burbs are also busy, […]
Vegas News | All-Net 2.0 Moves Forward And Jimbo’s Back!
We’re well into the holiday season in Las Vegas. I hope to check out the Fontainebleau ice rink above next week. You can get a rundown of New Year’s Eve fireworks, shows, and parties from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority here. Pro-tip: The Vegas Strip is a blast on New Year’s Eve but […]
Vegas News | It’s the Holiday Season, F1 Wrapup, Plenty Of Dining And Show Info
Hope you and yours had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Hopefully, this edition of Vegas News will give you some entertainment while dealing with Black Friday sales, Small Business Saturday, or whatever you’re up to. Holiday weeks are typically a little slow on news but that’s ok, we have two weeks of news for ya! On top […]
Vegas News | Room Renovations, Go Karting And Swingers On The Vegas Strip And RIP Mr. Piffles
ZorkFest was a blast but now it’s back to the semi-regular Vegas News column. This week will be a mega-Vegas News catch-up. Buckle up, it’s been a while! Casino earnings We’re going to start with a quick recap of casino earnings. If the numbers bore you just read this and move down. The biggest news […]
Vegas News | Rooftop Ice And Roller Skating, Changes At The Venetian And New Games Coming To Casinos
Last week was the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) and I think I’m finally caught up. Well, not caught up but back to a normal schedule. There’s still plenty to do. Here are a few pieces I’ve already written. DJ Cornsquealius! #G2E2024 pic.twitter.com/e2bEDjSvpE — Marc (@MeltzVegas) October 9, 2024 Marble Run is real and fantastic. There […]
Vegas News | Tropicana About To Go Boom, Chia Pet Slots And A Macallan Tasting At Aria
I was about to file this but news about a Macallan tasting at Aria got in the way. This news is so fresh that there’s no information beyond the press release I just shared here. The bridge connecting Paris Las Vegas and the new Versailles Tower (formerly Bally’s/Horseshoe Jubilee Tower) is finally open. Bienvenue à […]
Vegas News | Venetian Tier Match, Big Show Announcements, Lots Happening In Downtown Las Vegas
The Venetian will start to do a Tier Match promotion in October. There are no details on the match but you can read some words here. The Venetian tier match promotion is different from the rewards offer match the casino offers. You can read more about that here. The Fall display in the Bellagio Conservatory […]
Vegas News | Riviera Site Plans, Tropicana Implosion Party And A Boring Update
Holidays are good for the soul but they’re bad for news announcements. Businesses tend to lay low with good news heading into long holiday weekends because the news can get lost while people are enjoying time off. We’re coming off the end of summer Labor Day Weekend celebrations so news is limited. Having said that, […]
Vegas News | Swingers Opening, Resorts World Complaints, And Poolside Craps At Fontainebleau
The BetMGM App now allows players to use the same app and funds anywhere the app is legal in the US. Until this week, this was available everywhere except Nevada. This is a great feature but all players must sign up for new accounts in person at an MGM sportsbook due to Nevada gaming regulations. […]
Vegas News | New Slots, MGM’s Big 3 And Rod Stewart Gets A Haircut!
It’s your bi-monthly edition of Vegas News! We’re going to change things up in my weekly column for the next couple of months. The news will still be delivered every other week. In the weeks I don’t share what’s happening in Las Vegas, we’re going to explore what you’ll experience at ZorkFest in November. There […]
Vegas News | Peppermill Closing, Celine Returning To Las Vegas, And The Cosmopolitan Finally Becoming Part Of MGM Rewards
We all know The Mirage is closed. I would love it if people stopped asking if Hard Rock is Imploding The Mirage. We all know that’s just a Killers song, right? PEPPERMILL IS CLOSING! The restaurant is closing for maintenance from Aug. 11 – Aug. 17. You can see the info here. TMZ says Celine Dion […]
Vegas News | The Mirage Closing Next Week, Trop Readies The Boom And Great Happy Hour At Palms
I visited The Mirage for the last time this week, before the Mirage Closing next week. I’ve had so many great memories at The Mirage but those ended before Hard Rock International purchased the casino from MGM Resorts. The property has felt dark and dingy for the past few years. The Mirage needs some TLC […]
Vegas News | The Eagles Confirm Sphere Shows, July 4 Fireworks Update And More Fontainebleau?
The Eagles are coming to Vegas, more on that in a bit. This might be a bit meta, but let’s start the Vegas News this week with a Vegas news roundup from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA). You might notice some of the info in the last Vegas News or below. Enjoy […]
Vegas News | The Mirage Closing! The Cosmopolitan Moving! (Games) And Hot Noods!
Hard Rock / Mirage Guitar Stuff We’ll get to Hot Noods in a moment, but first…..the sale of The Mirage to Hard Rock started in 2021 and was closed in 2022. In May 2024, the company finally announced its timeline to close, renovate and reopen. Read the press release here. I love that Hard Rock […]
Vegas News | MGM + Marriott Details, Caesars Drops Rewards For Some, And Circus Circus Elevators Look Fun!
Much of this edition of Vegas News will come from casino corporation earnings reports and calls. These calls focus on a business’s financial health for investors. They’re also a good source of news from the past few months and some things the company might be planning. Financials do nothing for the average person so I […]
High-Speed Rail From Vegas To Los Angeles Isn’t to Los Angeles
The high-speed rail will slash 4 1/2 hours on the road to two hours on trainS that’s with an S. Here’s why.
Vegas News | Weekly Fireworks At Plaza This Summer, What Happened To The Sphere And Cheap Margs On The Vegas Strip
Now a look at Vegas News for the week ending 4/19/2024. YIKES! What happened to The Sphere?! They destroyed the Sphere for the new Civil War movie. Unbelievable. pic.twitter.com/q8m1mEJzUV — Las Vegas Locally 🌴 (@LasVegasLocally) April 18, 2024 Read about the movie ads here. If you love fireworks, head to the Plaza every Friday this […]
Las Vegas: Few People Stay In Complimentary Hotel Rooms
This might come as a shock to anyone reading this but the majority of visitors to Las Vegas aren’t staying in complimentary hotel rooms.
New Trend: The Emerging Cannabis Lounges in Las Vegas
The city is always looking for new ways to attract visitors, and cannabis lounges have become a new attraction.
Vegas News | Suncoast Renovating, Tropicana Closed And Poolside Blackjack At Fontainebleau
Vegas News April 5th 2024 Before we get to the Suncoast Renovating, let’s dive into Poolside Blackjack at Fontainebleu. The six blackjack games at the Fontainebleau pool are now open. I’m working on an article about all outdoor gambling in Las Vegas that should be out soon. There will be more info soon. Suncoast is […]
Vegas News | A Spherical Armadillo, Reminder That The Tropicana Is Closing And Scorpions At The Venetian
Before we get to the Spherical Armadillo, We are going to start this edition of Vegas News with a couple of reminders. First, the Tropicana is closing for good on April 2 at 3 a.m.
Vegas News | Venetian Poker Room Moves, MGM & Caesars Report Earnings, And Spongebob In Vegas!
The new Spongebob ride at Circus Circus opens on March 1. The Fontainebleau opening in December wasn’t a soft opening but there are still restaurants coming online. Two more restaurants just opened.
Vegas News | Record-Breaking Year For Wynn, Fontainebleau Decides To Tier Match And A Dude Climbed The Sphere
This will be a throwback edition of Vegas News for some of you. We will start with an overview of the first few Las Vegas casino operator earnings before getting quick hits of individual items. Also, be sure to take note that Fontainebleau Las Vegas has announced a tier match!
Vegas News | Drama And Nacho Gate At Fontainebleau, The Killers Announce Caesars Palace Residency And Another Jackpot At LAS
Before we get to Nacho Gate, The Bellagio Conservatory Botanical Garden Lunar New Year display is as beautiful as always.
Vegas News | Slow Start To The Year But We Have Visitor And Gaming Data, Super Bowl Info And More on Fontainebleau
Since our last Vegas News, I was finally able to spend substantial time at Fontainebleau. My thoughts on the property are mixed, but I had a great time. Even though it has been a rather slow start to the year, we’ll begin with some “chatter” about Fontainebleau and Super Bowl Info.
Vegas News | Fontainebleau And Durango Open And Live Events Are Redefined In Las Vegas
Since the last Vegas news, two new casinos have opened in Las Vegas. Fontainebleau is open on the Vegas Strip and Durango Resort is open about 15 minutes west of Mandalay Bay.
Vegas News | F1 Leads To Record-Breaking Weekend For MGM Resorts, Something Is Phishy At The Sphere And A Look Inside Fontainebleau
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.”
Vegas News | Casino Earnings, F1, And A New Cigar Bar
MGM Resorts released earnings last week. I listen to the (casino earnings) calls because they usually offer some context to the financials in the reports.
Vegas News | Fontainebleau And Durango Opening Soon, More U2, And Free F1 Attractions
I couldn’t make it to Zorkfest this year, but by all accounts, it sounds like the conference was a success. If you’re a super early planner, you can plan for Zorkfest 2024 to take place from Nov. 1- Nov. 3.
Since we skipped Vegas News last week, there’s a ton of information to get to from the past few weeks. Let’s get right to it.
Are You Cancelling Or Rescheduling Trips To Las Vegas?
Here’s a dramatic statement that may or may not be true. The current disruptions are a sign of things to come in Las Vegas. Are You Cancelling Or Rescheduling Trips To Las Vegas?
Vegas News | Caesars & MGM Hacked, First Look Inside The Sphere And Trees Removed In Front Of Bellagio
You may have heard that Caesars and MGM Resorts were both hacked. Caesars has divulged a lot of information in its 8-K filing to the Security and Exchange Committee.
Vegas News | Peter Luger Sets Opening Date At Caesars Palace, New Sportsbook At The Venetian And Preview New Rooms At Rio, MGM Grand And Fontainebleau
This is an extended Labor Day Weekend edition of Vegas News. Getting ready for lots of info from the past couple of weeks. It’s a good thing many of you have a long weekend.
Vegas News | Cosmopolitan To MGM Rewards Next Feb., $10 Million Slot Win And Lots Of Show Announcements
The big news was from MGM was released a day before earnings. The Cosmopolitan will become an MGM Rewards property on Feb. 1, 2024.
Vegas News | NFL Slot Machines Hitting Casinos, New Rio Coming Sooner Than Later And Long Live Bubble Craps
Aristocrat has been very secretive about the development of its NFL slot machines. Well, they finally released a preview of the game and it looks like an Aristocrat slot machine. See the preview below and read about the different versions of the game here.
Vegas News | Rio Plans Develop, Fontainebleau Will Have Poolside Gaming And A Naked Man At Harrah’s
We’re changing Vegas News a little. Instead of posting weekly, we’re going to share the Vegas News every other week. This will make the news rundowns more concise with less fluff and easier to navigate. This will also give us a chance to dive deeper into specific newsy topics.
MGM And Marriott Make It Official: They Are Joining Forces In Las Vegas
This morning, MGM and Marriott announced a strategic partnership between the brands in Las Vegas. Starting in October, this agreement replaces the one that MGM had with Hyatt.
Vegas News | Taxi Price Increase, July 4 Fireworks And The Golden Knights Win The Stanley Cup!
Welcome to a very special birthday edition of Vegas News! This one will be a doozy since it covers most of June and previews a little bit of July.
Vegas News | Fontainebleau Room Preview, Plaza Carousel Bar Opens And Spice Girls Tribute Is Coming To Excalibur
I like to change the format of Vegas News every now and again. This week will be all Quick Hits-style with a bunch of embedded tweets with pictures for visual interest. Also, pay close attention to the Fontainebleau Room Preview, which is making this new casino resort seem “more real.”
Vegas News | New Outdoor Bar Opens At Plaza, NBA Con This Summer And New $2 Billion Venue Has Obstructed View Seats
The two-year saga about the Oakland A’s possibly moving to Las Vegas might finally be coming to the finish line. Also, in other sports news, be sure to check out NBA Con!
Vegas News | Cosmo Dumps Britney Slots, A New Casino Might Replace Tropicana And Live In A Four Seasons Residence
I’m fresh off my monthly overnight visit at The Cosmopolitan… Four Seasons is opening private residencies in Henderson + all the news and ‘scoop!
Vegas News | Fontainebleau Plans December Opening, Wynn Announces The Match And Stranger Things On The Vegas Strip
The casino earnings season is over. All of the corporations had a great first quarter financially. You can see the earnings report press releases below if you care about the numbers…
Vegas News | U2 Shows, Paris Expands And Where To Find A 4 Foot Boozy Milkshake
I had a moment with U2 when I was in college. Those days are long gone, but I can appreciate that many people my age still passionately love the band. I still love plenty of bands from my college years. You’ll see a few of those below.
Vegas News | A’s Making Vegas Moves, Summer Poker And Spending in Las Vegas Is Up
The following stood out from the press release about the report “Total spending by visitors in 2022 outpaced the prior year by 24.4 percent and the 2019 total by 21.8 percent.”
Vegas News | A Show Pauses, A Casino May Be Sold And The Casino With A Disco Restroom Gets Tiki Bar
Earnings season is almost here. This reporting period is when casino corporations report first-quarter earnings. The companies will also share some plans moving forward. Though, wouldn’t you rather dream of a new Tiki Bar in Las Vegas?
Vegas News | Hard Rock Guitar Approved, Dream On Hold, And The Plaza Looks Different
The biggest news in Las Vegas surrounds The Mirage/Hard Rock. Clark County approved Hard Rock’s (Hard Rock Las Vegas) plans to build a guitar-shaped hotel tower in front of the existing property.
Vegas News | Vegas Strip Paving In May, New Vegas Visitor Data And The Most Popular Dog In Las Vegas
Let’s kick off this week’s edition of Vegas News with some information about the average visitor to Las Vegas in 2022 (Vegas Visitor Data). The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority’s (LVCVA) annual Visitor Profile is a small sample snapshot of visitors to Las Vegas.
The Las Vegas Celebrity Chef Restaurant Revolution Continues
Las Vegas has entered the era of “celebrity chefs.” Here’s a look at who is coming to Sin City.
Vegas News | More F1 Tickets, New Casino Plans And CHICKEN GUY Is Coming To Caesars Palace
Yep, another Las Vegas Grand Prix Update. There’s a large international following for F1, and the sport fascinates me. The intrigue is as much off the track as it is race related. The business angle is particularly interesting – especially as it relates to Las Vegas.
Vegas News | MGM Drops New F1 Package, The Strat Is Renovating Rooms And You Can Buy Siegfried And Roy’s Old House
MGM was in the news for a few reasons last week. You already know about the MGM Rewards tier accelerator we slid into Vegas News before posting last week. This week? MGM New F1 Package.
Vegas News | MGM Rewards Daily Tier Status Accelerator, Caesars Is Busy, Someone Finds A Cat In Their Room And Downtown Gets Hot & Juicy
Caesars didn’t have much information beyond finances during its earnings call. Here’s a quick overview of what the company discussed about Las Vegas. Oh, and a last-minute addition about a new promotion MGM Rewards Daily Tier Status Accelerator, which somewhat mimics the current Caesars Rewards Loyalty Program Daily Tier Promotion.
Vegas News | MLB at Rio? Plaza Saves A Dog! And Forbes Does Vegas
MLB at Rio? Evidently, Dreamscape has been in super duper top-secret discussions with the Oakland A’s for a few years about building a new stadium on vacant land and we’re just hearing about it now. Sounds legit.
Vegas News | Casino Earnings, New Places To Gamble And MSG Sphere Touts Opening + U2 Shows
The casino biz was abuzz with casino earnings last week, with MGM Resorts, Red Rock, and Wynn reporting. As expected, all had very good financial results for the fourth quarter and the full year in 2022.
Vegas News | MGM Tier Match Downgrades, Two New Casinos And Casino Earnings Season Gets Underway
Two new Las Vegas casinos are opening or have opened this week depending on when you read this. Chances are few tourists will take the trip to visit more than one but new casinos are always fun so let’s take a look. Of course, don’t miss the news below about MGM Tier Match downgrades, which is a huge topic of conversation in the casino and travel loyalty world.
Vegas News | A Return Downtown To See New Sportsbooks And New Downtown Wildfire Casino Sets Opening Date
Last week, I made my first trip to downtown Las Vegas this year and loved it. This is somewhat monumental, as I regularly visited this part of town when I first moved to Las Vegas. Station Casinos Downtown Wildfire Casino is opening on February 10.
Be Even Healthier With Wynn Living Well
So you’re in Las Vegas. Last night, you smoked, you drank and you ate too much at the buffet. So what now? Well, if you’re staying at Wynn, they have the answer with “Wynn Living Well.” Remember, this is the hotel that already brought you TB12 by Tom Brady. Now, they’re announcing their formal health […]
Vegas News | New Casino Revenue Report, Catching A Predator And A Cannabis-Friendly Hotel
New Casino Revenue Report – The 2022 Nevada Gaming Abstract was released last week. This report from the Nevada Gaming Control Board includes all income and expenses for Las Vegas casinos from the last fiscal year. The report covers July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022.
Vegas News | New Comp Drink Policy At Cosmo, Bellagio Is Ready For Lunar New Year and Adele Reminds Us About Cheap Show Tickets
I enjoyed a couple of comp nights at the Cosmopolitan. This is my monthly work/play casino trip and my first for 2023. New Comp Drink Policy At Cosmo…
Vegas News | New Cosmo Promo, F1 Schedules Races And Another Show Closes
It’s a new year, and I’m stoked to finally get back to enjoying Las Vegas. New Cosmo Promo – The Cosmopolitan has an interesting offer match available.
Vegas News | MGM Sells Land, Boyd Lowers Rewards Benefits And Vegas Is A Pepsi Town!
Happy New Year! – Las Vegas – This is our first Vegas News of 2023, and it starts with late news and rumors from the last business day of 2022.
Vegas News | Mirage Unity, Trying Proper Eats And Randy’s Donuts Is Coming To Resorts World
I visited the new Proper Eats food hall at Aria last week. The fancy food court occupies space old buffet space on the second floor of the casino.
Vegas News | Get Ready To Rock Hard With Bugs Bunny And Game Of Thrones
There’s really no major news from the past week so I’ll share some info about a couple of days and nights I spent with tourists on and around the Vegas Strip.
Vegas News | All About That Hard Rock Guitar Hotel, Expanded Casino And Museum
Last week in Las Vegas was a blur. This week will be as well, but that’s a story for another day… Hard Rock International was in front of the NGCB looking for a recommendation for the Nevada Gaming Commission (NGC) to approve the company to take over operations of the Mirage.
Vegas News | Casino Deals, Show Announcements And A Tour Of The Newest Bar On The Vegas Strip
The newest bar on the Vegas Strip… The (not really) big news on the Vegas Strip is that VICI purchased the remaining 49% of the Mandalay Bay and MGM Grand joint venture from Blackstone real estate.
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.
Vegas News | Million Dollar Wynn-F1 Package, Food Hall Mania and Fatburger at Sapphire
We’re just about done with the pre-race hype for the Las Vegas Grand Prix. I thought we were done but Wynn has a $1 million ticket and hotel package that sounds fantastic for those with the discretionary income.
Vegas News | Bellagio Grandstands And New Red Rock Location For Lotus Of Siam
The initial excitement for the launch of the Las Vegas Grand Prix (LVGP) next year is coming to an end. The first batches of tickets for the event are sold out but some more will be released early next year.
Vegas News | Vegas F1 Room Rates Are Through The Roof And MGM + Caesars Post Earnings
This was a fun news week in Las Vegas. Between the Las Vegas Grand Prix and casino earnings, there was a lot happening. Add that to the mix of a normal week of Vegas News and you have a busy week.
Vegas News | F1 Tickets, 24/7 Bacon At The D and Earnings Season Is Underway
We’re going to flip Vegas News around today. Instead of starting with the big news of the week, we’re going to begin with Quick Hits.
Vegas News | More Info On New Vegas Strip Casino And So Many Restaurants Opening
This week the big news is that Tilman Fertitta received approval from Clark County to build a new Vegas Strip Casino. As a reminder, the land across from The Cosmopolitan and Harmon Corner includes the Tex Mex restaurant, souvenir shops, and the Travelodge, which is closed.
Vegas News | New Casino Games, The Venetian Is Changing And Bally’s Opens An Arcade
The Global Gaming Expo (G2E) blew through Las Vegas this week. As always, it was a fun time seeing new games, meeting new people, and connecting with others I don’t see very often.
Vegas News | Plans For New Vegas Strip Casino, Wynn To Open New Show and A Camel Goes To In N Out
Tilman Fertitta, the owner of the Golden Nugget, finally shared some plans for the six acres of land he purchased on the Vegas Strip near Harmon Ave. diagonally across from The Cosmopolitan.
Is Las Vegas About To Get Its Third Major Sports Team?
Could the Oakland A’s, the home of Moneyball and Rollie Fingers’ mustache, soon be no more? According to several news sources, including the R-J, it’s becoming increasingly likely, as Las Vegas becomes a top contender to win the franchise, which would be its third major sports team since 2017.
With Wynn’s Help, You Can Become Tom Brady – TB12 Body Coach
The GOAT has finally met the GOAT. Wynn Las Vegas has just announced that it is partnering with Tom Brady’s fitness and nutrition company TB12, and really, the only question is “What took so long?”
Vegas News | New Players Club At Tropicana And Sahara And Maybe MGM Should Keep Cosmo Marriott Deal
The autumn display at the Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is up. While beautiful, this is probably my least favorite every year. Tropicana has a new rewards program. This is not currently connected with Bally’s casinos around the country.
Vegas News | Bally’s Approved For Trop Takeover, New Food Hall At Aria Will Have Seoul and Caesars Palace Renovations Are Complete!
Caesars Palace just finished renovations that include a new lobby bar… The Nevada Gaming Commission approved the Tropicana sale to Bally’s this week…
Caesars Palace Las Vegas Renovation Ups The Ante
As travelers continue to emerge from hibernation, casinos are once again starting to pour money into properties and renovations. This year seems to be the year of Caesars Entertainment, which has just completed a new entrance at Caesars Palace Las Vegas, ahead of an upcoming rebranding from Bally’s to Horseshoe.
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 | Football Season And Tropicana Almost Has New Owners
It’s football season and Las Vegas sportsbooks will be packed every Saturday and Sunday for the next few months. This is a great atmosphere for someone that’s a football fan and/or bettor.
Vegas News | Vegas Vickie’s Beer, Station Closing Another Casino And Pre-Register For F1 Tickets
I haven’t been visiting downtown Las Vegas nearly as much in the past couple of years as I used to. It’s strange but that’s a story for another day.
Vegas News | MGM Rewards At Cosmo, FanDuel At Fremont And Time For LDW!
I made two visits to the Cosmopolitan in the past week. The first visit was to grab a cup of coffee with someone stopping by for a quick visit. Who am I to say no to 8 am coffee?!
Vegas News | MGM Operating Cosmopolitan Sportsbook, Robotaxis Launch And New York-New York Gets New Rooms
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 | Casino Earnings Continue, Caesars Palace Casino Shines And New Retail On The Vegas Strip
We’re going to start Vegas News with a look at casino earnings again. The season is over, so we can get back to regular news about what’s happening in and around Las Vegas next week. Also, some sparkling news about Caesars Palace Las Vegas and why Caesars Palace Casino shines!
Vegas News | Las Vegas Earnings Season: Caesars Not Selling A Casino And MGM Giddy About F1 Revenue Next Year
We’re going to start the Vegas News by looking at casino earnings. Both Caesars and MGM Resorts released their information last week.
Vegas News | Vegas Monsoon And Earnings Season Underway!
Rain in Las Vegas is weird. It barely rains most of the year except in July and early August. When it rains, it’s a lot.
Vegas News | U2 Residency, Ghostbar At Palms Opening, And Halo Is Live
The work week ended with another Friday evening news dump. Billboard reported that U2 will have its first Las Vegas residency starting in late 2023 at The MSG Sphere at The Venetian. Read more here.
Vegas News | Hard Rock Delayed, Station Destroys 3 And Horseshoe Goes To Flavortown
I’m almost back to normal, but this will keep Vegas News a little shorter than usual again. Plus, the confirmation, Hard Rock Delayed.
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 | Fireworks, Vegas Summer Entertainment and New Airbnb Regulations
Michael and I both had weeklong vacations with minimal work planned so we decided to drop a double issue of Vegas News after the holiday. I stayed in Las Vegas with a friend visiting and noticed more than a few things. One thing to keep an eye on is a lot of Vegas Summer Entertainment!
Vegas News | Plaza Updates, Vegas Vickie NFTs And Free Sigma Derby Shirts!
Vegas NFT ?? Circa has a Vegas Vickie NFT collection. The Plaza is making some changes to the historic downtown Las Vegas casino. The biggest modification to the property will take place before anyone walks into the casino.
Vegas News | The Plaza Is Listening, Resorts World NFTs And The Venetian Gets A CEO
The Plaza Is Listening, and international air travelers to the US no longer have to take a COVID-19 test the day before flying. The Las Vegas casinos that depend on these tourists are beyond stoked.
Vegas News | Cosmopolitan Slowly Changing And Elvis Weddings May Go Away
A handful of executives at The Cosmopolitan quit last week. I am certain we will see many examples of Cosmopolitan slowly changing over the next few months. + all the Vegas News and quick hits!
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 | MGM Closes Deal To Operate Cosmopolitan And Lots Of Sports News
We set up the latest big Vegas News story a week ago with our first Monday Vegas News. MGM Resorts is now operating The Cosmopolitan. Ta-Da!
Vegas News | MGM Creeps Closer To Cosmopolitan And Palms Goes Ding Ding Ding
TravelZork Las Vegas News — We’re moving the publishing date from Sunday to Monday beginning this week. We published the first installment of Vegas News (previously referred to as Sunday News) on March 13, 2016
Vegas News | MGM Cosmopolitan Takeover Imminent, Flamingo May Be Sold And Elephants All Over Resorts World
This was a wild week in and around Las Vegas for me and the business side of things. Much of my time at Cosmopolitan was spent in the hotel room listening to earnings calls and writing about the information. You’ll see some of those notes later.
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 | NFL Draft In Las Vegas, Palms Reopens And New Striphouse On The Strip
This will be one of the busiest weeks in Las Vegas in a while. In addition to Palms opening off the Strip, the NFL Draft will take place on the Vegas Strip. Attendance for the latter is estimated between 500,000 and 600,000 people. Navigating the Vegas Strip will be a wild ride and we’re all here for it!
Vegas News | Sneak Peek At Palms Rewards Program And Inflation Can’t Stop People From Visiting Las Vegas
Nothing new to see here but this is a promo video for the opening of Palms on April 27. I found this while looking for information on the players club (Palms Rewards Program – CLUB SERRANO). Before we get to that, I need to remind myself about the property. Hopefully, it will help keep all of our expectations in check.
Vegas News | BTS Invades Las Vegas And Botox Comps At A Casino?
We’re going to open today with a short tale of a low-mid roller (me) enjoying the casino fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic. The past year of comps reminds me of getting the most out of the last great recession in the late 2000s.
Vegas News | Formula One Coming To Las Vegas Next Year While Visitation And Hotel Room Prices Continue To Rise
The big news in Las Vegas this week was the confirmation that Formula One will start a three-race deal next year.
Vegas News | Las Vegas F1 Rumors Heating Up And AVN’s Are Returning Next Year
There’s usually something particularly interesting happening in Las Vegas. Besides recovering from the first weekend of March Madness, things were relatively mellow.
Vegas News | March Madness Is Underway And Bellagio Has A New Floral Display
The first weekend of March Madness is wall-to-wall college basketball games for four consecutive days. In total, there will be 48 games played over the weekend.
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 | March Madness Is Here And A Peek Inside Fontainebleau
Vegas News is back on schedule and there’s one big thing happening in Las Vegas over the next two weeks. The first weekend of March Madness is one of the busiest weekends of the year in Las Vegas.
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 | Fremont Expanding, Durango Under Construction And Gritty Strips At Chippendales
It’s quarterly earnings season and a couple of corporations with local casinos really got things rolling. Boyd Gaming and Station Casinos both had great financial earnings in 2021 and during the fourth quarter. Plus, we have news of Fremont Expanding.
Vegas News | Imploding The Tropicana And Mirage (Volcano), Adele Bails On Vegas, And A Virgin Resort Fee
Vegas 2022 – This year has gotten off to a strange start. Las Vegas is trying to get back to normal but it’s not quite there yet. Yes, this is annoying but the things we love about Las Vegas are still there – mostly.
Vegas News | Las Vegas Has Little News And Fewer People This Week
I’m going to share some thoughts from the Vegas Strip this week since there’s not too much news to share. This is traditionally one of the slowest weeks in Las Vegas. This week was even slower than usual.
Vegas News | CES Happens Amid Covid-19 Spike, MGM Rewards Details And Maybe A Luxor Implosion?
Before we get to the big loyalty news and MGM Rewards Details, we are happy to report that The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) went off as planned this week. CES says that more than 40,000 people attended the convention this year.
Vegas News | Covid Still Here, Katy Perry Residency Is Fun And Another “Secret” Bar
Happy New Year! We hope you, your family, and your friends are all in good health. It looks like we’re going to start off the new year with the same annoying news as last year. (You’ll have to wait a bit until we get to some cool details about the Katy Perry Residency.)
Vegas News | Double Wide Holiday Edition Featuring Hard Rock Imploding The Mirage and Palms Opening Soon
It finally happened! Last week was the first time we missed posting a Sunday Vegas News column. Thanks to people visiting Las Vegas and another fantastic ZorkFest we got a little behind schedule.
Vegas News | Adele Residency Tickets Flying, Buble and deadmau5 To Resorts World and Miracle Mile Renovations
Last week I mentioned that I was enjoying a few days away from my computer with my crew in town when Vegas News was published. Let’s get to the news!
Vegas News | Imploding The Trop? Adele Residency Finally Announced And Weird Al In Vegas!
Imploding The Trop? – Did I Get Your Attention? This was a big weekend in Las Vegas. The headliner is that the NFR (National Final Rodeo) is underway in Las Vegas! In addition to a slew of country music concerts, there was a Foo Fighters show, Raiders game versus the Washington Football Team, and a lot more.
Vegas News | The Holiday Season In Las Vegas Continues With A Rodeo!
the holiday season in Las Vegas. The mid-week rooms were cheap, and nothing was ever never busy. We could get in any restaurant, club, etc., or gambling with ample room.
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 | Fontainebleau Las Vegas Back On Track Again, Wynn Rates Skyrocket and Maybe NHL On Ice At Bellagio
Fontainebleau Las Vegas construction is resuming again for the third (?) time! + lots of casino news and scoop!
Vegas News | The Mirage Finally On The Market And Lots Of News From Casino Earnings
The day is finally here! MGM Resorts is finally selling The Mirage. + lots of casino earnings news and scoop!
[Updated] LAS VEGAS SHOWS
Las Vegas is #VegasSmart and back with a catalogue bursting with wonderful and wacky shows ready to thrill, excite, mystify and entertain you and your loved ones. Whether you want to laugh, sing, dance, or scream, there’s always a little something for everyone on the fabulous Las Vegas strip. We are excited to bring you an informative guide; Las Vegas Shows updated for Covid Times.
Vegas News | Vegas Hotel Rates On The Rise and The Mirage May Finally Get Sold
Vegas Hotel Rates On The Rise, Spun Out Of Control, Mirage May Finally Get Sold, and all the Vegas News and Scoop for your week.
Vegas News | This Town Is Electric and Mike Tyson Eats Pizza While The Venetian Sale Is Almost Complete
Las Vegas has been the amazing destination people remember this weekend. The Venetian sale is expected to close in the first quarter of 2022. Plus all the Vegas News…
Vegas News | Details on New Palms, Riviera, And Bad Rumors
Earnings season is upon us and casino corporations are dropping news on a regular basis. Bad rumors about Circa. Plus all the Vegas News and casino scoop for the week!
Vegas News | G2E (Global Gaming Expo) Gems, Durango & Dream Casinos Approved and Adele Finally Maybe Probably
The Vegas News for me this week started mostly with the Global Gaming Expo (G2E). As expected it was smaller than usual with fewer small and international gaming operators. There was also a lack of food and beverage providers, entertainers and other random non-gaming companies showing off their goods and services for casinos to buy.
Vegas News | Cosmopolitan Sold, Superfrico Opens and LAS Was Busy Last Weekend
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 | Steve Can Finally Visit And People Wrecked A Statue At The D
This week the US finally announced it was lifting some international travel restrictions in November. Visitors from countries in the European Union, China, and more will be able to visit Las Vegas once again. You can read more from the NY Times if you’re curious about specifics.
Vegas News | To The Moon! + A “big” 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 | Las Vegas Is All About Raiders, Pirates and Fluorescent Baby Polar Bears
Wowsers, for the first time in about a while there’s hardly any COVID-19 news in Las Vegas. There have been no changes in policies so everything remains the same as the past few weeks. Having said that, this will be a relatively shorter Vegas News.
Vegas News | Cosmo On The Market, And Lady Gaga and Las Vegas Raiders Have Packages For You
Only a small COVID-19 update for Las Vegas during this long holiday weekend. There are no major changes to COVID-19 protocols when you visit a casino. You still have to wear a mask inside of casinos unless you’re eating, drinking, or smoking. The larger scoop of the week is that Cosmo Vegas is for sale.
Vegas News | 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
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 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 | Big Biz Quarter For Casinos, Kiss Residency And Andiamo Is Better Than Ever
This week Caesars Entertainment, MGM Resorts, and Wynn Resorts reported earnings. This provides a lot of insight into Vegas Casino Earnings for 2021. Much like Station Casinos and Boyd Gaming earnings last week, there was a similar theme with the earnings calls. Casino corporations have learned how to effectively operate with a smaller staff and fewer amenities for guests.
Vegas News | 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 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
“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?
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
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
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.”
Vegas News | 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
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 Will Resume In July! & Vegas Is Busy
It’s fantastic news that Vegas is busy! — Memorial Day Weekend was the busiest time in Las Vegas in more than a year. It was great being in the pre-holiday mix.
Vegas News | 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 | Everything Is Back in Vegas, Pod Over + Resorts World Hilton Room Tour
Every week there’s something new to report about the Great Vegas Comeback (™). Things in Las Vegas are almost back to pre-COVID days. Clark County is removing all COVID restrictions on June 1. Las Vegas will essentially be operating at the same capacity of February 2020. It is worth repeating: Everything Is Back in Vegas.
Vegas News | Vegas Masks Optional, 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!
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!
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
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!
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
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 | Capacity Limits May Expand Quicker At Some Casinos
Throughout the week, you may have noticed that MGM Resorts, Caesars, the Cosmopolitan, Wynn Resorts, and Station Casinos individually announce they would be offering Vegas workers and their families Covid-19 vaccines.
Vegas News | 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 | Vegas Is Packed, Rio To Become Hyatt, Virgin Opens At 6 And Katy Perry Gonna Be Waking Up In Vegas (At Resorts World)
On Tuesday, I went to a small media gathering at Tuscany for the opening of the new Circa Sports location. Afterward, I saw a couple of friends from Florida for the first time in years. I saw more people in three hours than the entire year to date, and that was just the beginning. Wow, Vegas is packed.
Vegas News | More Casino Openings, Higher Capacity Limits and Vegas Is Starting To Look Like Vegas Again
Before we start to celebrate and discuss Vegas higher capacity limits, you may have noticed that I’ve been taking advantage of monthly offers to enjoy a couple of complimentary nights at the Cosmopolitan. My visits have remained mostly the same. I’ve been spending most of the time inside the room.
Vegas News | 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 | Things Are Looking Up As Vegas Pool Season Arrives!
Casino earnings season came to an end with a bang this week. Caesars reported fourth-quarter and full-year earnings for 2020. We all know last year was bad for casinos. You can see that in the release. On the good news side, Vegas Pool Season arrives.
Vegas News | Hamilton May Do Vegas And More Casinos and Entertainment Returning To Operation
Before we share a huge amount of Vegas Quick Hits and the rumor about Hamilton in Vegas….. We’re going to start Vegas News off a bit differently this week. I received a rare Saturday morning marketing email from a gaming company that I have to share.
Vegas News | Covid Restrictions Loosen and Casinos Opening and Changing Hands
This week’s big news in Las Vegas is that there’s a plan to loosen restrictions in place to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Nevada. I’ll just cut to the chase with some bottom-line info on the details regarding the fact that covid restrictions will loosen soon.
Vegas News | Short Pouring 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 | 2020 Is Finally Over, News Players Clubs, And Cock Fighting In Sin City
Breaking Vegas News: Visitation to Las Vegas and gaming revenue was lower in 2020 than in 2019. The numbers are in, and now we can put 2020 to bed. This section will be quick because I’d like to move on.
Vegas News | 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.
Vegas News | Siegfried and Sheldon Pass Away, Virgin Is Still Delayed And The Cosmopolitan Is Still Fun
There aren’t too many news stories this week, so I’ll kick this off with a personal story (hint: Cosmopolitan Vegas). Last week I spent a night at Circa to check out the hotel rooms and Legacy Club. I really enjoyed the day and night at the property. I love spending time in shiny new casinos, so that was a pleasure.
Vegas News | 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!
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
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 Mirage Closing, Rio Is Open, Circa’s Legacy Club Coming Very Soon
Another week of casino openings and closings in Las Vegas. Let’s start the week with an opening before we get to the “Mirage Closing” news.
Vegas News | 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 | Lots of Casino Loyalty Updates and Something’s Brewing in Henderson
TravelZork is a unique website. It captures casino news with a focus on loyalty programs to maximize your visits. Next year should be a busy year for this website as there will be multiple new casino rewards programs to dissect. We are looking forward to lots of casino loyalty updates in 2021.
9 Casino Tweets You Missed This Week – More Vegas Hotel Closures
In the week that Plaza Las Vegas announced redeveloping the bus station and more Vegas hotel closures, TravelZork brings you the top 9 casino tweets you missed this week.
Vegas News | Virgin Pushed Back Again, Plaza Redeveloping, And More
This week is mostly “quick hits” format, with some really awesome news about Plaza Redeveloping. We weren’t surprised when Virgin Hotels Las Vegas pushed its opening date back to January.
Vegas News | 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 | Openings, Closings, More Of The Same and News!
It’s been a strange week in Las Vegas. Coronavirus numbers are going the wrong way throughout Nevada. You can see the data here—also, Vegas openings, closings, and lots of news for this week.
Vegas News | A Wild Week As Coronavirus Spreads And Virgin Vegas Begins Taking Reservations
We’re going to start off with a slew of news that happened this week while I was researching coronavirus in Las Vegas. The information that follows is kind of all over the place, but it’s all somehow related to coronavirus.
Vegas News | 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 | Casino Earnings Remind Us Of The Changes Happening
The big news in Las Vegas was obviously the opening of Circa. But, casino earnings and their impact are a constant reminder of Vegas in 2020.
Vegas News | More Entertainment and a New Casino Opening
Before we touch on our feature story: entertainment returning to Las Vegas; COVID-19 shows no signs of slowing down, and neither does the return of Las Vegas.
Vegas News | Virgin Vegas Fees and more
Earlier this week, I went through the Momentum Rewards benefits for the Mohegan Sun Casino at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. They appear to be different than other markets, so I did a deep dive. Another point of interest is the overall situation regarding Vegas Virgin Fees.
Vegas News | Planet Hollywood Opening, Virgin Delayed, and Circa Approved
No big intro this week. Instead, I’ll lead with a quick Vegas Reopening note., which includes confirmation of Planet Hollywood Opening. Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak will discuss possible capacity limit increases next week.
Vegas News | Non-Smoking Casino Park MGM Opening, Caesars Packed + 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.
9 Casino Tweets You Missed – Vegas Vickie RETURNS!
In the week Vegas Vickie returned to Fremont, TravelZork brings you the top 9 casino tweets that you missed this week.
Vegas News | Biggest Craps Player Ever?
What does it mean to be the “Biggest Craps Player Ever?” We will get to that in a moment. But first, where is Marc Meltzer?
Vegas News | Vegas Is Still Rockin’ Despite Layoffs and Closed Casinos
Things aren’t the same for me and many people as we continue to try to get back to something resembling the normal from January and February. There’s not too much to update on COVID in Las Vegas this week so I thought sharing some personal effects might be interesting.
Vegas News | Tropicana Delayed, Virgin News, Finally Released – “Imploding The Mirage”
This week we celebrate “Imploding The Mirage!” No, not the obviously fake story I made up last month about Sheldon Adelson buying the Mets and moving them to a new baseball stadium across the street on the land where The Mirage once stood.