It feels as if Las Vegas has been on a tear with news and rumors lately. I enjoyed finding time just sorting through the headlines. Well, June Vegas news starts off on the other foot. There’s not much new or interesting to report. Expect this to be a quick look at what’s new in Las Vegas this week.
Ride-hailing Services Uber And Lyft Almost Forced Out Of Las Vegas
Uber and Lyft coming to Las Vegas has been fantastic. The cost for a ride is less expensive than taxis and sometimes more convenient. However, during the week it looked as if the services could get the boot from Las Vegas within the next few days as the 2017 Nevada Legislature ends shortly. You can read about the politics of the situation here.
Well, that bill died last night according to The Nevada Independent.
This issue seems like something that will be on the table for awhile. The ride-hailing and taxi companies have different business models and think differently. They will likely butt heads until they’re on the same page or respect how one another does business. That may never happen, so this probably won’t be the last time we see this situation.
Uber ride-hailing and Lyft are less expensive and convenient for tourists to get around but they’re probably more valuable to locals. I used to stay in casinos anytime I had too many drinks. Now, I just take Uber or Lyft home. The round trip fee is about 50% of a taxi and less than most hotel rooms thanks to resort fees and parking fees. I’d rather sleep in a casino but that’s enough of saving to force me to my own bed.
Life would go on without the services. However, I love the convenience, cost, and I’d like to never hear another story about someone getting long-hauled.
Related: Save Time And Money by Using Uber or Lyft at LAS (Airport)
Drink Monitoring Systems About To Hit Casino Floor
Last year I vigorously studied each of the complimentary drink monitoring systems at Las Vegas casino bars. You can see a comparison of the different systems here. On May 14 we told you that the Ardent Gaming System was being installed in a handful of new casino bars. The Venetian, The Palazzo, Westgate, Treasure Island, Hard Rock, and Golden Nugget have either installed the systems at bars or will be installing them shortly.
After learning about the potential $1 million per year saving (see the first section here) it isn’t a surprise these systems will be rolling out beyond the bar. After speaking directly with Ardent Gaming Systems, Vital Vegas is reporting that these drink monitoring systems will be rolling out to some casino floors in the near future.
The Cosmopolitan and MGM Resorts use ticketing systems and not the Ardent red light/green light system. Caesars Entertainment casinos and the six mentioned above are using the Ardent system in Las Vegas. The new drink monitoring systems haven’t hit casino floors yet. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the expanded complimentary drink systems at any of the casinos.
Thank eSports If You Can Bet On The Academy Awards
Betting on eSports became legal last year but only William Hill offered odds on the events. Last week Nevada legalized eSports betting again. The difference this time is that the new bill has new wording. The new language could open the door for a much…MUCH bigger betting pool in Nevada.
The new bill allows pari-mutuel betting on “other events.” The word “sports” was removed from a previous bill. The primary thinking is that “other events” could include awards shows such as the Oscars and Grammy’s. The sports book operators have not been discussing this matter so I wouldn’t say this is set in stone. You can read a much more in-depth article on SB 240 here.
Related: Learn What eSports Is And Why It Matters To Las Vegas
Quick Hits:
- Magical Memories featuring Disney Fine Art will celebrate its grand opening at The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace June 8-11. Lots of Disney people will be in the house for the event. You can read about the specifics here.
- Blue Ribbon will be opening this week at the Cosmopolitan. The new restaurant won’t feature sushi like the previous incarnation. You can read more here.
- The Flamingo keeps adding outdoor performances and concerts for the summer. You can read about the latest addition, Smash Mouth, here.
- I’m not sure what to make of this next item. It’s strange enough for me to share. You can hang out with Debbie Gibson in Las Vegas and learn how to make pop songs. See the video below.
Great Read About A Visitor To Las Vegas
I feel like I write about Las Vegas changing every week. It’s something that a lot of people seem to have a problem with. This article in the NY Daily News does a good job describing how one man sees the changes over the past 20 years. It’s nice to see someone else that has seen Las Vegas evolve and take the changes in stride.
Holiday Pricing At The Cosmopolitan
I was meeting a friend for a very specific dinner at Holsteins in the Cosmopolitan on Monday night. After a delicious Gold Standard burger and boozeless and creamless Oreo shake, we headed down to the sports book to watch the end of the Stanley Cup game. I was reminded of a policy at the Cosmopolitan that I was first introduced to when I first met Mr. TravelZork.
Some of the bars and restaurants at the Cosmopolitan increase prices on holidays. The cocktail waitress handed me my delicious Macallan and sheepishly told me the prices were increased for the day for the Memorial Day holiday. While paying more for a drink isn’t optimal, I was thirsty and paid the spiked price.
Strangely, paying the higher price didn’t bother me as much as the Penguins winning the game. It’s never fun to watch a friend lose a bet. The holiday pricing is shocking if you’re not ready for it. It’s not enough to turn me away but it is something to keep in mind the next time you visit Las Vegas on a holiday.
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