$5

ANTHONY CURTIS’ August 2019 Vol. 36 LasVegasAdvisor Issue 8

THE BRONX WANDERERS Street-corner crooners light up … pg. 8

ALL SHOOK UP Vegas fades two earthquakes and a grasshopper invasion … pg. 1

RESORT FEES Are they on the way out? … pg. 1

NEW POKER CHAMP ‘Old’ guy beats the kids … pg. 10

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News and World Report ranked Nevada’s transportation COUPONOMY infrastructure number one in the nation. The state’s by Anthony Curtis bridge quality placed number two overall and road reliability came in at number 16. Many of Nevada’s roads and bridges are relatively new, so they’ve been Apocalyptic Vegas built from scratch to withstand seismic events, accord- ing to the Nevada Department of Transportation. The DOT inspects Nevada’s 1,900 bridges every two years “Did you feel that?” a friend asked. at a minimum and as soon as possible for those within a I didn’t feel anything. But when I looked up from the 50-mile radius of an earthquake of 5.0 or more. table at a meeting I was attending, the dangling light Nevada isn’t earthquake-proof; nowhere in earth- fixture was swaying. quake country is or can be. But as I conveyed to Derek Earthquake? In Las Vegas? Stevens, Nevada is solid. n Heck, yeah! On July 4, Vegas was shaken by a 6.4-magnitude earthquake whose epicenter was about 60 miles northwest of Barstow, California, 150 miles due Grasshoppers Next west of Las Vegas. We get a fair number of earthquakes in these parts, but very few of them are palpable (about one per decade), and this one was bigger than those Following the earthquakes came grasshoppers. Mil- that rang the Richter bell in 2001 and 2015, so it was lions of them. In a strange occurrence, even for Vegas, major news. swarms of pallid-winged grasshoppers descended on the One day later, it happened again and the second city at the end of last month. They gathered on the Strip, one was stronger, in the 6.9 range. This time I was in drawn by the lights on the marquees (the Luxor beam the dome of Oscar’s Steakhouse at the Plaza. Things was a prime attraction). So pronounced was the swarm, rattled a bit inside the dome, but the real evidence was it reportedly showed up on weather-radar screens. across the street at the construction site of Circa, where There was no connection between the grasshoppers the giant main crane was gently moving to and fro and and the earthquakes. The latter was an unusually intense street lights were noticeably swinging. When the quake northerly migration (due to a wet winter and spring) that stopped quaking, everything had remained in place. happened to roll through Las Vegas this year. Said one After dinner I walked over to the D, where I ran into entomologist, “They don’t carry any diseases, they don’t Circa owner Derek Stevens. “Where were you when it bite, they’re not even one of the species that we con- happened?” he asked. sider a problem.” “I was looking directly over your construction site.” In true Las Vegas fashion, savvy marketers seized “Really? How’d we do?” the opportunity. Downtown’s Evel Pie unveiled the “Solid as a rock.” Çanyon Hopper, a pizza made with goat cheese, aru- That pretty much describes the rest of Las Vegas as gula, chorizo, and a “sprinkling of seasoned Mexican well. A number of sporting events, including two NBA grasshoppers” ($5.50 a slice). “Hoppy Hours” popped Summer League games at Thomas & Mack and Cox up and grasshoppers—those of the crème de menthe Pavilion, the Las Vegas Aces game at Mandalay Bay variety—were suddenly the featured cocktail in several Events Center, and the at the Rio bars. The chefs at El Dorado Cantina, which has long were called off in progress during the second quake, but had sautéed grasshoppers (chapulines) on the menu, neither damage nor injuries were reported. were running around with harvesting nets (just kidding As it turns out, Nevada’s propensity for experienc- on that one). ing (small) earthquakes and its proximity to California’s Earthquakes. Grasshoppers. What’s next? More bigger faults has manifested in a high state of prepared- resort fees? n ness. A recent study of earthquake readiness by US continued on next page

AUGUST 2019 • LAS VEGAS ADVISOR • 1 Couponomy continued … soon be worth your time to check the website periodi- cally for new additions. For now, Balboa’s spicy sausage and fresh mushroom pizza sounds pretty darn good— Ganging Up on Resort Fees especially for free. n

Sometimes things just snowball. In June, I wrote Blackjack Insiders about the pressure on resort fees stemming from the online travel agencies (OTAs) wanting a cut of the action. Now, new pressure is coming from state agencies. Sports betting is currently the rage and we have Last month, the attorney general of Washington, several books on beating the bookies in development at D.C., singled out Marriott Corporation in a “Complaint Huntington Press. In the interim, however, blackjack has for Violations of the Consumer Protection Procedures been our focus. Our next book, The 21st-Century Card Act.” The lawsuit accuses Marriott of deliberately hid- Counter—The Pros’ Approach to Beating Today’s Black- ing the bottom-line price of hotel rooms from consum- jack, is about to go to the printer. We’ll tell you about it ers. The first line of the Introduction to the Complaint is, next issue and there’s more information in the pre-pub “This is a straight-forward price deception case.” The offer on the wrap. AG argues that Marriott should be forced to advertise Our current book is The Blackjack Insiders—How the total price of rooms up front, like the airlines have Two Pit Bosses Beat the Casinos at Their Own Game. to do for tickets; he’s also asking Marriott to provide It’s the story of a pit supervisor and a shift boss at a refunds to D.C. guests who “have been harmed by this Mesquite casino who teamed up to attack blackjack policy.” tables across the country. It’s instructional in its insider A couple weeks later, the attorney general of look at how the casinos deal with perceived good play- Nebraska sued Hilton Corporation, accusing the ers; the author and his partner often knew exactly what company of doing the same thing as Marriott. the bosses were doing and why. But it’s also a fun read Incredibly, Marriott’s CEO said something to the that conveys a first-hand account of what it’s like to take effect that he believes resort fees are here to stay. Huh? on the casinos in a professional capacity. Following is an For one thing, they’re not staying anywhere if the courts excerpt. rule against them. But even if they don’t, it seems there’s just too much backlash from too many directions for When Mark called, saying we needed to meet, we were resort fees to survive. As I’ve pointed out before, the in the same area. He was leaving the Rio and I was across the abolishment of resort fees won’t really mean savings street at the Palms, where we arranged to meet in the food court. for customers, since the fees will just become part of It was unusual that Mark wanted to meet like that and my curios- a room’s base price. But it will still make everyone feel ity was piqued. better. n When I saw Mark at a table by himself in the food court, he looked paranoid and shaken. “What happened?” “I had an incident at Rio. I won’t be going back there any BOGO Pizza time soon.” He was talking . Slower this time, I asked, “What incident?” “I was playing, not noticing any heat at all. Then it hit me Don’t worry, it’s not grasshopper pizza. We’ve just that an unusual number of security guards were around the pit. posted a new Printable Reward coupon at LasVegasAd- I got a bad feeling and started cramming all my chips into my visor.com for a buy-one-get-one at Balboa Pizza, a cool pocket, without coloring up. Right then, someone tapped me on pizzeria/bar in the District at Green Valley Ranch. This is the shoulder. When I turned to look, two gigantic guards were an exclusive LVA offer for a whole pie. standing behind me. The guy closest to me asked for my ID. I It’s a good deal, but the greater significance of this asked why. He said they needed to check my age. I wasn’t pre- news is that we’re revving up our Printable Rewards, which are deals we secure outside of the Member LAS VEGAS 3665 Procyon Street • Las Vegas, NV 89103 (702) 252-0655 • (702) 252-0675 Fax Rewards Book during the course of the year that can be ADVISOR e-mail: [email protected] • Internet: LasVegasAdvisor.com accessed online and printed out for redemption. Actu- Publisher: Anthony Curtis Customer Service: Nicole Watchus Senior Editor: Deke Castleman Shipping & Receiving: Scotch Henderson ally, by the time you read this, a second offer will prob- Accounting: John Leitner Contributing Writers: Jeffrey Compton, Bob ably be up for the new Flights restaurant in the Miracle Production Manager: Laurie Cabot Dancer, Stewart Ethier, Bob Fuss, Scot Krause, Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood. And we’re in the pro- Web Manager: Tanya Maynard Bradley Peterson, Blair Rodman, Jean Scott Research Assistant: Brenda Stewart Cover Image: Elizabeth Jane Hunt cess of negotiating two others. LAS VEGAS ADVISOR (ISSN 1064-167X USPS 008602) is published monthly and is available for $50 per year ($60 Canadian; We’ve started and stopped on Printable Rewards in $70 foreign purchasers) and $5 per single issue at 3665 Procyon St., Las Vegas, NV, 89103. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Las Vegas Advisor, 3665 Procyon St., Las Vegas, NV 89103. All information is current at press time. Listed offerings the past, so I don’t want to overhype this, but it should are subject to change at any time. Huntington Press ©2019

2 • LAS VEGAS ADVISOR • AUGUST 2019 pared for that answer, so I got it out and held it out for him to see. He snatched it out of my hand, told me I needed to go with Las Vegas’ Top Ten Values them, and started talking into his radio. I said, ‘Hey, I didn’t say you could take it! Give it back.’ He told me I could never come 1. Steak Dinner • Ellis Island • 24 hours • $7.99 back there again; if I did, they’d arrest me. I heard him start to 2. Buffet • Palace Station • Daily • $9.99-$16.99 relay my information through the radio, so I ripped my license 3. Mac King • Harrah’s • Tues.–Sat. • $14.98 out of his hand and ran off. They chased me at first, yelling for 4. Hot Dog • South Point • Daily • $1.25 me to stop, but I was pretty close to the door and hauled ass out- 5. Beer • Stage Door • 24 hours • $1 side. My car is still there. I ran here.” 6. Shrimp Cocktail • Skyline • Daily • $2.25 “Whoa!” 7. Breakfast • Club Fortune • Daily • $1.99/$2.99 “Yeah. Of course, they have no grounds to arrest me. I’m not sure why he said that. If they’d trespassed me, maybe, but 8. $1 Blackjack • Hooters • 24 hours • $1.20 I took off before they could. Still, I don’t think I’ll be welcome 9. Lunch • Planet Hollywood • Daily • $4.99 back anytime soon. You’ll have to cash these out or play them 10. No Resort Fee • Four Queens • Daily • $39 and up for me.” He started pulling green $25 chips out of his pocket, spreading them all over the table, about $1,250 in all. The Ellis Island complete steak dinner moves I couldn’t help but laugh. “What the hell am I going to do back into the #1 spot after making room last with fifty green chips?” month for the traditional acknowledgment of July’s “Find the big security guy, tell him I sent you, and that I ex- ultra-low room rates. Served 24/7 in the Café, get pect full payment. And call him a fat ass while you’re at it.” the $7.99 price by playing at least $5 in any slot Bringing us back to reality, I said, “Or maybe I should just machine with your club card inserted, then down- take them to the cage and cash them out.” loading the required discount coupon from an EI kiosk. If you don’t want to play, you can get it for See the wrap for information on ordering The Black- $9.99 ($3 off the listed price) just by downloading a jack Insiders. n coupon from the kiosk that’s available to everyone with a club card. The Feast Buffet at Palace Station (#2) is our choice for Las Vegas’ best buffet when considering the combination of quality and price; get the listed prices by showing a Boarding Pass card. NEWS Get a ticket to the Mac King Comedy Magic Show and a drink for $14.98 by asking at the players club booth (#3). The hot dogs at South Point (#4) are sold Sahara—The $150 million renovation at the Sahara from a cart in the sports book from 10 am until they is moving into full gear. The transformation in the casino close down the cart around 5 pm. Michelob and is noticeable, with the former maze-like layout converted Michelob Light are $1 at the Stage Door slot house to more traditional travel paths. The restaurant line-up on Flamingo, just east of the Strip (#5); a ¼-pound is being revamped, the check-in area is being relocated hot dog and a Michelob is $3. The Skyline shrimp from the back to the front of the resort, the center bar cocktail (#6) is available 24/7 at the main bar. The has been completely removed, and a new high-limit Club Fortune breakfast (#7) served in the Club Café gaming area is about to debut. is bacon or sausage & eggs for $1.99 weekdays —Joining the upgrade parade, The from 6 to 11 am and ham & eggs for $2.99 on week- STRAT is in the midst of a $140 million renovation of the ends during the same hours. Hooters’ $1-minimum property. Targeted areas are the casino floor, includ- blackjack game (#8) runs 24/7 in the pit; naturals pay ing an upgraded sports book; ; and rooms. even money on bets of $1-$4. The $1.20 listed cost Recently completed was an extensive remodel of the is your expected loss for one hour of play at these tower’s indoor-outdoor observation deck on the 108th stakes. Everything on the lunch menu is $4.99 at and 109th floors. Ocean One (#9) in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Binion’s—The 81-room boutique Apache Hotel at Hollywood; lunch hours are 11:30 am to 4 pm daily. Binion’s has opened. The rooms feature vintage ’30s’ The Four Queens takes the #10 spot as the last furnishings, hardwood floors, and stained-glass win- major casino still not charging a resort fee. For more dows; a new front desk is in the old lobby to check in on the state of resort fees, see Couponomy. guests. A survey of rates reveals weekdays for $99 and weekends for $199 (and so far no resort fee). points at the casino. The TI brand will remain. It’s Radis- Treasure Island—Treasure Island will join Radisson son’s first property on the . Hotel Group’s system before the end of this year, allow- MGM Grand—The MGM Grand Conference Center ing Radisson Rewards members to earn and redeem continued on next page

AUGUST 2019 • LAS VEGAS ADVISOR • 3 News continued … more valuable as retail space. The new owner described the Strip as “one of the best retail streets in the nation.” Tropicana Avenue—A $10.5 million five-mile has completed its $130 million expansion. The 250,000 upgrade of East Tropicana Avenue between Maryland square feet of additional space gives the MGM facility Parkway and Boulder Highway has been announced. 850,000 square feet and brings MRI’s combined space Work will begin in mid-August and be completed in at MGM, MBay, Aria, and Park MGM to 4 million square August 2020. Construction will take place weekdays feet, more than all the space in Manhattan combined. from 6 am to 4 pm. Wynn Las Vegas—Thought to be gone forever Florida—Part of a $1.5 billion expansion of the Sem- when it was closed in 2017 to make way for the later- inole Hard Rock Hollywood is the world’s only guitar- aborted Paradise Park project, the 130-acre Wynn Golf shaped building. The 450-foot hotel tower designed to Course will reopen in October. The greens fees haven’t resemble back-to-back guitars has 638 rooms, including been announced, but were as high as $500 per round swim-up suites and villas partially submerged in water, before the course closed. which include butler service and private pools, and a Moulin Rouge—It’s hard to get too excited about 12,000-square-foot bar is on the rooftop. Fronting the new Moulin Rouge announcements, since so many pro- tower are 14 restaurants, retail, a comedy club, a 7,000- posals have come and gone. However, there’s another seat Hard Rock Live theater, a 41,000-square-foot spa, on the table, this one for a $1.6 billion mixed-use devel- a convention center, and a 10-acre water park with a opment that would include a casino, two hotels, several lagoon-style pool and lazy river. The hotel-casino is set entertainment venues, convention space, retail, and resi- to open on October 24. dential. That pretty much checks off all the boxes. The Macau—Wynn Resorts has announced a $2 billion first step, though, is for the developer to deposit the $9.5 expansion of its Wynn Palace in Macau. Construction million purchase price for the property. will begin in 2021 with a grand opening scheduled for Delta Hotel—Work has begun on Delta Hotel by 2024. Wynn Resorts is also in the process of upgrading Marriott at the corner of Flamingo and Valley View, just its Wynn Macau to the tune of $125 million; that project east of the Palms. The 284-room hotel will be part of will be completed by the end of this year. the 8.5-acre mixed-use property that includes a luxury Statistics—Nevada’s statewide gambling win was apartment complex, along with retail and restaurants. down 6.0% in May compared to the same month last The hotel is slated for completion in late 2021. year. It was the fifth consecutive monthly decline and Hawaiian Marketplace—A New York-based the year’s biggest. The Strip win was down 11.1%, while investment firm has bought a 9.5-acre Strip parcel that downtown was up again, +2.8%. The win from sports included the defunct Hawaiian Marketplace for $172 mil- betting saw a reversal from recent strong showings, lion ($18.1 million per acre). According to a press release, dropping a big 45%. plans include razing the existing buildings and opening Visitation was up 1.7% following two months of “a new flagship retail, entertainment, and dining experi- declines. Airline traffic was up 5.3% and set a new ence.” The parcel was purchased in the early 2000s record of 4.59 million passengers, surpassing the pre- for an Elvis Presley-themed casino, but is now deemed vious record of 4.44 million set in October 2018. Las Vegas’ reported available room inventory in May was 148,909 with a 90.8% occupancy rate. n 50 Years for Westgate

Westgate Las Vegas celebrated its 50th anniversary last Sports Betting Scorecard month. When it opened as the International in 1969, it had the most hotel rooms (1,500), the largest casino (30,000 New York and Arkansas booked their first legal square feet), and was the tallest building (30 floors) in Ne- sports wagers and Illinois, New Hampshire, and North vada. Barbra Streisand opened the 2,000-seat theater, Peggy Carolina passed laws to legalize sports betting last Lee opened the lounge, and Benihana of Tokyo was one of month. While the New York news sounds significant, it’s the restaurants. Hilton acquired the megaresort in 1971 and really not, since wagering is restricted to four upstate added 1,500 rooms in 1973 and another 390 rooms were casinos and mobile betting isn’t allowed. Hence, the tacked on in 1981, making the Las Vegas Hilton the largest huge market will continue to cross over hotel in the world at the time (with 3,174); it was the largest into New Jersey to play. in Las Vegas for 16 years, until the Flamingo Hilton surpassed That dynamic had a lot to do with New Jersey’s it with 3,500. The property became LVH Las Vegas Hotel and betting handle exceeding Nevada’s for the first time in Casino in 2012, then the Westgate in 2014. The International May. New Jersey booked $318.9 million in sports bets to was built by Kirk Kerkorian for $60 million. Nevada’s $317.4 million; however, a big portion of Jer-

4 • LAS VEGAS ADVISOR • AUGUST 2019 sey’s betting came from promotional free-play. for each. The prix fixe at Mesa Grill is $55 (there’s also a Follow the progress of sports betting legalization lunch for $30), Old Homestead is $55, Rao’s is $74, and across the country and track developments as they Gordon Ramsay is $80. There’s also a prix fixe in Mar- occur via our blog and map at LasVegasAdvisor.com. n torano’s at Paris for $49. n

Vanderpump Cocktail Garden DINING Lisa Vanderpump first emerged as an unlikely media darling on the Bravo reality series, “The Real House- Most Expensive Eats wives of Beverly Hills.” A spinoff, “Vanderpump Rules,” stars the British restaurateur and her staff at SUR res- taurant in West Hollywood. A number of episodes have The San Francisco Chronicle recently published a followed the staff to Las Vegas, where what happens list of the “craziest fanciest high-rollers-only meals” in here ends up on Bravo in an endless rerun loop. So it Las Vegas on its website, SFGate.com. While we can was no big surprise when Caesars Palace announced say with confidence that it isn’t exhaustive—missing, for Vanderpump Cocktail Garden, which opened a few example, is the $1,000 filet mignon covered with gold months ago. leaf and served with caviar and Krug Grande Cuvee Brut The Cocktail Lounge is carved out of the slot floor in Champagne in Mr Chow at Caesars Palace and the $100 front of the main entrance to the Forum Shops. It’s done sandwich at Ike’s (see “Dining Notes”)—it’s an interest- up in Vanderpump’s uber-trendy English-country-garden ing list that drives home the point that you can spend a décor, with a wrought-iron fence surrounding faux trees lot of money in Vegas’ big-time restaurants. and plastic horticulture, opulent chandeliers over every Leading the list are the 12-ounce A5 Kobe steak in table, and family photos adorning one of the walls. Prime Steakhouse at Bellagio ($720), the seven-course There’s a perpetual line at the gate and you’re seated, Japanese A5 Wagyu dinner in Red Plate at the - even at the bar, by three-piece-suited hosts. This seat- politan ($688), the Krug’s Chef’s Table dinner in Restau- ing ritual is one of the reasons for the lines. Of course, if rant Guy Savoy at Caesars ($650), the Buddha Jumps you’re a fan of Lisa’s and the show and are just dying to Over the Wall Soup (Japanese abalone, sea cucumber, make this scene, you won’t mind waiting (otherwise, you and other expensive ingredients, $498) in Red Plate, and will!). the degustation menu in Joel Robuchon at MGM Grand The bar serves expensive frou-frou cocktails with ($445). The list also highlights Bazaar Meat at the Sahara cutesy names (Vanderpink Margarita, Please Her Cae- (caviar flight, $350), Jean George Steakhouse at Aria sar, Cold-Blooded, Rome Is Burning) and small plates, (42-ounce Wagyu tomahawk, $265), Bavette’s at Park such as tuna and MGM (seafood tower, $210), Morimoto at MGM Grand Grilled steak skewers at Vanderpump salmon tartare, (54-ounce tomahawk ribeye, $170), Zuma at Cosmo smoked eggplant (premium omakase, $168), NoMad Restaurant at Park crostini, stuffed MGM (32-ounce 80-day dry-aged rib eye, $150), Mott 32 olives and bacon- at the Venetian (Japanese A5 Kobe beef, $148), and the wrapped dates, and comparatively SW Steahouse at the Wynn (toma- lots of desserts (all hawk chop, $130) and 24-ounce bone-in rib eye for two, $14-$19). We tried $110) in Aureole at Mandalay Bay. the grilled steak We’ll be reviewing all these meals when the Foun- skewers on a rec- tains at Bellagio freeze over. n ommendation from the bartender; it was a full six ounces of Cheaper Eats filet mignon and good enough not to complain about. On the other side of the coin, prix fixe (fixed price) With a Heineken and tax, the bill came to $27.60, and menus often provide a good way to sample a high-end darned if we can’t now say we did the Vanderpump. As restaurant at a reasonable price and Caesars Palace has an aside, when we asked the bartender if he had goat- introduced summer dinner specials at a few of its top cheese balls (a fixture at SUR), he didn’t miss a beat, restaurants. These meals are typically three courses— replying, “No! I always walk this way.” Nice! n appetizer, entrée, and dessert—with a couple of choices continued on page 8

AUGUST 2019 • LAS VEGAS ADVISOR • 5 ADVANCE PLANNER—HEADLINERS AND EVENTS

AUGUST 8/18 • George Clinton & Parliament 8/31 • Brian Wilson and The Zombies 8/4–9/1 • Matt Goss • Mirage • $18–$88 Funkadelic • Brooklyn Bowl • Hard Rock • $39.50–$195 8/4–9/7 • Def Leppard $49.50–$69 8/31 • Collective Zoo Block Party • LV Planet Hollywood • $48–$249 8/20 • Kacey Musgraves Events Center • $36.70/$55.05 8/9 • Leonid & Friends: Music of Cosmo • $115–$250 8/31 • Led Zepagain • Orleans • $19–$34 8/21 • Noise Tour Suncoast • $19.95 8/9 • Rick Derringer Hard Rock • $20/$38 8/31 • MJ déjà vu: Michael Jackson Golden Nugget • $29–$99 8/21–8/24 • Jackson Browne Tribute • Cannery • $19/$26 8/9–8/10 • Lionel Richie Venetian • $63–$326 8/31 • Paulette the Great Impression Wynn LV • $69.50–$356.50 8/21–9/1 • Classic Cher Silverton • $29/$44 8/9–8/11 • Tony Orlando Park MGM • $90–$362 8/31 • Roger Clyne & The Peacemak- South Point • $50–$60 8/23 • BJ Thomas ers • Brooklyn Bowl • $30/$35 8/10 • AFAN’s Black & White Party Golden Nugget • $29–$109 8/31–9/1 • Ali Wong Hard Rock • $35–$1,000 8/23 • Laughing All the Way Wynn LV • $59.50–$149.50 8/10 • Billy Bob Thornton Orleans • $71/$89 SEPTEMBER Red Rock Resort • $39–$63 8/23–8/24 • Folk Legacy Trio 9/1 • Claudia Oshry 8/10 • JoJo Siwa D.R.E.A.M. South Point • $20–$30 Mirage • $29.99–$105 MBay • $39.50–$69.50 8/23–8/31 • Lady Antebellum 9/1 • Katchafire 8/10 • Lonestar Palms • $32–$275 Brooklyn Bowl • $25/$27 Sunset Station • $20–$40 8/23–12/7 • George Strait 9/1 • Martin Nievera and Pops Fer- 8/10 • Long Run: Eagles Tribute T-Mobile • $50–$550 nandez • M Resort • $33–$108 Suncoast • $19.95/$22.94 8/24 • Boz Scaggs • Green Valley 9/1 • Night of Soul All White Party 8/10 • Moby Dicks: Led Zeppelin Trib- Ranch • $39–$137 Silverton • $45/$65 ute • Cannery • $19.95/$22.94 8/24 • Chris D’Ella 9/1 • Papa Roach • Downtown LV 8/10 • Theo Von • Mirage • $50–$70 Mirage • $43.59/$54.49 Events Center • $129–$299 8/11 • PRETTYMUCH: FOMO Tour 8/24 • Deon Cole • Orleans • $34–$44 9/1 • Russell Peters Palms • $31–$250 8/24 • GOAPELE • Rio • $23–$72 Palms • $36–$128 8/13–8/17 • Paula Abdul 8/24 • Hot August Nights: 9/1–9/23 • Daniel Emmet Flamingo LV • $69–$199 Rob Garrett’s Tribute Caesars Palace • $59/$79 8/14–8/24 • Diana Ross Suncoast • $19/$24 9/3–9/14 • Bruno Mars Wynn LV • $60.50–$301 8/24 • Iration w/Pepper and Katastro Park MGM • $171–$1,100 8/14–8/31 • Def Leppard MBay • $37/$82 9/5–9/15 • Dionne Warwick Planet Hollywood • $48–$249 8/25 • Harlem Globetrotters Caesars Palace • $125/$150 8/15–8/29 • Frankie Moreno Orleans • $20–$98 9/5–9/19 • Frankie Moreno South Point • $20–$30 8/25 • Pete Davidson South Point • $20–$30 8/16 • Fortunate Son & Evil Waze Mirage • $39.99/$49.99 9/6 • Bill Burr • Cosmo • $49–$169 Cannery • $19/$24 8/25 • Shonen Knife 9/6 • Buckinghams 8/16 • Lynyrd Skynyrd Hard Rock • $16/$25 Golden Nugget • $29–$99 T-Mobile • $39.50–$250 8/25–8/26 • Daniel Emmet 9/6 • Farruko • Palms • $36–$118 8/16 • Young the Giant/Fitz and The Caesars Palace • $59/$79 9/6 • Richard Cheese & Lounge Tantrums • LV Events Center • 8/26 • Veil of Maya w/Gideon and Against the Machine $22–$63 Hawk • Hard Rock • $18/$35 Red Rock Resort • $35–$60 8/16–8/17 • James Darren 8/28 • Morgan Heritage 9/6 • Scott Stapp of Creed South Point • $20–$30 Brooklyn Bowl • $22/$25 Brooklyn Bowl • $30/$35 8/16–8/17 • Mary J. Blige 8/30 • Brian Setzer 9/6–9/7 • Elton John Hard Rock • $41–$225 Green Valley Ranch • $35–$65 T-Mobile • $59.50–$249.50 8/16–8/17 • Ron White • Mirage • $68–$88 8/30 • Danny Duncan 9/6–9/8 • Letterman 8/16–8/18 • PSYCHO LV Hard Rock • $27 South Point • $35–$45 MBay • $99–$499 8/30 • Lisa Lisa, Trinere, Connie, 9/6–10/12 • Bill Maher • Mirage • $65–$104 8/17 • Chris Young Nocera • Brooklyn Bowl • 9/7 • Arch Allies MGM Grand • $45–$159 $40–$60 Aliante Casino • $25–$35 8/17 • CSN Express & Kelly Sheehan 8/30 • Lita Ford 9/7 • Blackberry Smoke Cannery • $19/$24 Golden Nugget • $29–$109 Brooklyn Bowl • $27/$30 8/17 • December 63: Frankie Valli & 8/30–8/31 • George Lopez 9/7 • Lost 80’s Live the Four Seasons Tribute Mirage • $65–$87 LV Events Center • $23–$145 Suncoast • $16–$24 8/30–8/31 • Rebelution • MBay • $36–$122 9/7 • Manhattans 8/17 • JOYRYDE: Brave World Tour 8/30–8/31 • Winehouse Experience Orleans • $19–$39 LV Events Center • $30/$35 Rio • $23/$33 9/7 • Whispers w/The Emotions 8/17 • Vegas McGraw: Tim McGraw 8/30–9/1 • Air Supply • Orleans • $41–$61 Cannery • $29–$79 Tribute • Aliante Casino • 8/30–9/1 • Bob Anderson 9/7–9/8 • Duran Duran $20/$25 South Point • $25–$35 Cosmo • $87–$799

6 • LAS VEGAS ADVISOR • AUGUST 2019 ADVANCE PLANNER—HEADLINERS AND EVENTS

9/8 • Heart w/Joan Jett & The Black- 9/15 • Doobie Brothers SHOW NOTES hearts • Palms • $55–$367 Palms • $49.95–$269.95 9/8–9/29 • Carlos Santana 9/15 • Marc Anthony • Little Miss Nasty has opened at the Rio; MBay • $99–$374 Planet Hollywood • $110–$300 tickets are $52.66/$64.56. 9/10 • CAKE and Ben Folds 9/18 • Mountain Goats Hard Rock • $40–$174 Brooklyn Bowl • $26/$30 • Cherry Boom Boom opens at Hooters 9/11 • Xavier Rudd 9/18–9/21 • Smokey Robinson Aug. 15; tickets are $55.54/$66.40. Brooklyn Bowl • $25/$28 Wynn LV • $59.50–$199.50 • Ticket prices for Mystére at Treasure 9/12–9/18 • Cesar Millan 9/18–9/30 • Rod Stewart Island have been decreased from MGM Grand • $56–$261 Caesars Palace • $49–$234 $103.61-$164.65 to $76.36-$118.60. 9/13 • Banda MS 9/19 • Machine performs Pink Floyd Planet Hollywood • $72–$458 Brooklyn Bowl • $20/$25 • The lowest priced tickets for Potted 9/13 • Café Tacvba • MBay • $42/$82 9/20 • Gary Puckett & The Union Gap Potter–The Unauthorized Harry Experi- 9/13 • Cat & Nat • Planet Hollywood Golden Nugget • $39–$129 ence at Bally’s have been increased from • $31/$45/$55 9/20 • Kathleen Madigan $54.84 to $102.44. 9/13 • Daddy Yankee Mirage • $33–$55 • Ticket prices for Thunder From Down Cosmo • $49–$249 9/20 • Los Angeles Azules Under at Excalibur have been increased 9/13 • David Crosby & the Sky Trails MBay • $50/$87 from $63.04-$73.94 to $63.04-$101.19. Band • Red Rock Resort • 9/20–9/21 • Jeffery Osborne & Peabo $20–$50 Bryson • Orleans • $63–$103 • Ticket prices for The Australian Bee Gees 9/13 • Eric Clapton 9/20–9/22 • Crystal Gayle Show at Excalibur have been changed T-Mobile • $99–$500 South Point • $45–$55 from $68-50-$84.85 to $64.14-$96.84. 9/13 • Felipe Esparza • TI • $43–$59 9/20–9/28 • Christina Aguilera • Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox Planet Hollywood • $60–$226 9/13 • Iron Maiden Hideaway has closed at . MGM Grand • $49.50–$125 9/21 • 10,000 Maniacs 9/13 • Last In Line Cannery • $29–$49 • lusión Mental has closed at Paris. Golden Nugget • $29–$99 9/21 • Gerald Albright 9/13 • Marco Antonio Solis Aliante Casino • $35–$65 MBay • $96–$389 9/21 • Iliza • Mirage • $32/$43 9/13 • OneRepublic 9/21 • La La Brooks Palms • $55–$183 Suncoast • $19–$32 9/13 • Three Lock Box: Sammy 9/21–9/28 • Aerosmith Hagar Tribute • Cannery • $20 Park MGM • $68–$821 9/13–9/14 • Gabriel Iglesias 9/27 • Banda El Recodo and Mar- Mirage • $65–$98 iachi Vargas de Tecalitlan • 9/13–9/15 • Good Vibrations: Beach Boys Cosmo • $95–$145 Celebration • South Point • 9/27 • Greta Van Fleet $20–$30 Hard Rock • $39.50 9/13–9/16 • Luis Miguel 9/27 • Jefferson Starship Caesars Palace • $84–$364 Golden Nugget • $39–$109 9/14 • Enrique Iglesias 9/27 • We Are Two Different People • Caesars Palace • $73–$550 Brooklyn Bowl • $30–$39.50 9/14 • Gloria Trevi 9/27–9/28 • Daniel Tosh Planet Hollywood • $36–$321 Mirage • $65–$104 9/14 • Maluma • MBay • $65–$756 9/27–9/28 • Jerry Seinfeld • Caesars 9/14 • Maná Palace • $82.50–$165 MGM Grand • $188–$412 9/27–9/29 • Frankie Avalon 9/14 • Pancho Barraza South Point • $45–$55 Cosmo • $53–$153 9/27–10/5 • Eagles 9/14 • Queen Nation: Queen Tribute MGM Grand • $321–$1,421 Cannery • $19/$24 9/28 • Chris Tucker 9/14 • REIK • Palms • $41–$137 Wynn LV • $59.95–$139.95 9/14 • Serpentine Fire: Earth, Wind, 9/28 • Marianas Trench & Fire Tribute • Suncoast • Brooklyn Bowl • $25/$30 $19/$22 9/28 • Patty Smyth and Scandal 9/14 • Women In Me: Country Tribute Cannery • $23–$40 Green Valley Ranch • $19 9/28 • Peter Frampton 9/15 • Alejandro Fernandez Red Rock Resort • $40–$95 MBay • $109–$299 9/28 • Social Distortion & Flogging 9/15 • Alejandra Guzmán Molly • Downtown LV Events See inside wrap for “Weather,” MBay • $55/$114 Center • $36/$143 “Room Rates,” and “Key Dates.”

AUGUST 2019 • LAS VEGAS ADVISOR • 7 Dining continued … Spring Mountain, but there’s also good reason to at Irene’s Gaming Lounge at 6125 W. Tropicana. You’d expect the same menu, but it’s completely different on Jerry’s Nugget Gambler’s Sub Trop, where the specialty is Mexican fare. Tortilla soup is one of our comparison benchmarks, so we’ve tried a lot of them and this is one of our favorites. A full bowl, pre- Of the two dining options at Jerry’s Nugget, the cof- pared in a rich red broth with ample chicken pieces and fee shop is considered the play most of the time, but topped with crisp tortilla chips, is $4.99 and available 10 there’s also a good snack bar next to the sports book. am-10 pm daily. We like the Gambler’s Italian Sub that’s a little less Poke—Perhaps meat-and-cheese heavy in favor of lots of fresh lettuce, you haven’t noticed, tomatoes, and onions. It’s a big sandwich for just $7.89 but there’s a whole and you don’t have to take the time for table service. lotta poke goin’ on in Just order and go. The homemade soups are also good Vegas. The problem for $4 and they box securely for take-out. n is it’s usually mushed up in a burrito or topped with some Specialties strange mayonnaise concoction. Hawaiian Style Poke at Spring Single-selection poke bowl Crispy Chicken Sandwich—This thing’s just crazy. Mountain and Wynn The biggest chicken sandwich we’ve ever seen is served sells authentic mixes of the raw-fish salad that you can at Magoo’s Bar at get either in small portions or make a meal of with a Flamingo & Buffalo. poke bowl that comes with rice. Get one selection of fish No joke. The chicken for $10.95 or two selections in a bigger bowl for $14.95. patty dwarfs the bun The $10.95er will make two meals. n and is topped with cheese, lettuce, and tomato. It comes with Dining Notes a pickle and fries or slaw for $10 (add $1 if you get it to go). Buffet Updates—After one month, the price of the Magoo’s has good Friday lobster buffet at Silverton has been raised by $2 to food all around, but $39.99 ($37.99 when you show a players card). Use our the monster crispy Member Rewards offer for a 2-for-1. Prices are up $1 for chicken sandwich is breakfast ($19.99) and $3 for dinner ($32.99) and Sunday the highlight here. brunch at the Mirage. Prices are up $1 for Champagne Crudité—Not many restaurants serve a crudité (a brunch ($29.99) and $3 for dinner ($34.99) at the Rio. starter basket of fresh vegetables and dip), but it’s still Dollar Oysters—The $1 raw oyster special in the part of dinner at Pamplemousse le Restaurant. Whereas Oyster Bar at the Hard Rock (LVA 4/19) now runs on you usually dip a few carrot sticks as an appetizer, here Tuesdays and Thursdays. Must purchase a beverage you can turn it into a whole fresh-vegetable salad. It’s and show a players card. the perfect start to AYCE Sushi—Rikki Tiki Sushi at Westgate Las a dinner of French Vegas has all-you-can-eat sushi for $28.88 that includes cuisine (we had wild one sake. boar and scallops Ceviche—The price of our pick for the best ceviche for entrées on our in town at Peru Chicken (LVA 5/16) has gone up $2 to last visit). See a full $12.95. The excellent rotisserie whole chicken is $17.50, review of this classic just $1 more than when we first reviewed it in 2014 French restaurant in $100 Sandwich—Getting into the spirit of Las LVA 8/15. Vegas, the new Ike’s Love & Sandwiches at the Fash- Chicken Tortilla ion Show Mall offers a “high-roller” menu unique to the Soup—We’ve writ- 70-store chain. Along with two $69 sandwiches, the ten often about the $100 Howard Hughes is two pounds of American wagyu kitchen at Irene’s roast beef, brisket, prime rib, and duck bacon, topped Crudité at Pamplemousse Cocktail Lounge on with a truffle sauce. n

8 • LAS VEGAS ADVISOR • AUGUST 2019 Openings/Closings from his Italian-American Bronx neighborhood; over the years, they were replaced by Vinny’s two sons, drummer Nicky and singer and multi-instrumentalist Vin A., along La Cave at the Wynn has completed a million-plus- with three of their friends from high school. As classic- dollar expansion, doubling in size, enhancing its garden rock cover bands go, it’s hard to imagine a tighter or lounge, and adding new small plates and 100 wines to more polished and entertaining sextet. its already-extensive list, including 50 selections by the The pre-show on large screens surrounding the glass. stage sets the scene with clips from TV, movies, and Ambra Italian Kitchen & Bar has opened at MGM music videos from the ’60s and ’70s, until the band Grand in the space that was formerly Fiamma. The res- stomps onstage and bangs out “The Wanderer.” Then taurant joins the “hidden-room” trend with an adjacent Vinny launches into the narration that provides the back- bar area (see Entertainment). ground and fills the space between songs. Though at 108 Eats by James Trees has opened on the obser- times there are a few too many spoken words, from the vation deck at The STRAT. first note of the next song, the needle hits the red zone Freshii, a Canadian-based healthy-fast-food chain, on the energy meter: a five-song Four Seasons medley; has opened its first Las Vegas location at the Palms. It’s Billy Joel’s “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant”; some open 24 hours and joins McDonald’s, Panda Express, Neil Diamond and Stray Cats; and Eric Burdon’s “We Earl of Sandwich, the Coffee Bean, and Chronic Tacos in Gotta Get out of This Place” and Creedence Clearwater the food court. Revival’s “Fortunate Son” (with screen scenes from Viet- Water Grill has opened in the Forum Shops at Cae- nam). The show switches eras in order to give the boys sars in the spot where Spago used to be. The menu spe- their due with “Uptown Funk” (Vin A. doing a killer Bruno cializes in oysters (16 varieties) and the décor features Mars), then flashes back to a Vinny duet with a screen a chandelier made from 14,000 oyster shells. There are Elvis and his gospel choir on a couple of tunes. Add in four Water Grills in southern California and one in Dallas. some Queen, Beatles, and a little more Four Seasons Chosun Hwaro and Nara Teppan have opened and by the time the show is over, you feel like you grew in the Miracle Mile Shops at Planet Hollywood in the up on Arthur Avenue and shared a Bronx street corner space that was formerly Todai Sushi. The “grandiose” with this bunch. 13,000-square-foot 485-seat restaurant is being touted There’s really not a bad seat and at the Sunday 4 pm as the “largest Korean BBQ in Nevada.” It’s the latest show we attended, the usher asked us if we wanted to in a chain of more than 150 of the brand’s restaurants move closer from the cheap seats. The Wanderers spent located in Korea and 50 more throughout Asia; this one a couple years in the intimate Windows Showroom at is its first U.S. location. Bally’s before moving into the larger Mat Franco Theater Hello Kitty Café, serving mostly desserts and drinks, at The LINQ, where they’ve apparently cranked up the has opened in the Park outside of T-Mobile Arena. volume, so if you don’t want your ears ringing for hours Valencia Gold, a fast-serve build-your-own paella n after the show, take some precaution (in other words, restaurant, has opened at 7960 S. Rainbow. earplugs). n

Drive-In Movies ENTERTAINMENT If all goes according to plan, Las Vegas will have its second drive-in by the end of this summer. Burger51, The Bronx Wanderers a combo drive-in-movie theater and drive-thru burger joint, is in the early stages of construction at 101 N. Decatur Blvd. a block north of the Decatur-US 95 inter- The LINQ change. It’s the brainchild of the proprietor of the Heart Mon., Tues., Fri. 9:15 pm; Wed.-Thurs. 8 pm; Sun. 4 pm Attack Grill downtown and according to VegasEater. $64.98/$84.99/$94.98/$114.99 com, it’s “designed with a sci-fi futuristic dystopian theme and 1950s’ retro style, where customers will place The Bronx Wanderers is the name of a colossal their orders at the drive-thru, then park to watch vintage six-piece band, fronted by 61-year-old Vinny Adinolfi, a horror and science-fiction films on the outdoor movie longtime producer for Columbia Records whose dream screen.” Burger51 will join the West Wind Drive-in Movie had always been to be a bandleader on the Las Vegas Theater located at 4150 W. Carey Ave. near N. Rancho Strip. After being downsized out of his job when Sony Drive just south of the North Las Vegas Airport, which n bought out Columbia, he started a band with musicians opened in 1964. continued on next page

AUGUST 2019 • LAS VEGAS ADVISOR • 9 Entertainment continued … In the Casbar at Sahara, a Macallan 12 YR scotch is $16.24 and a draft Stella Artois is $8.66. In Oscar’s at the Plaza, a house Pinot Noir is $12.99. In Montecristo Bars and Happy Hours Cigar Bar at Caesars Palace, a draft Stella is $11.91. In Vanderpump Cocktail Garden at Caesars Palace, a Heineken is $9.20. In Vue Bar at the D, a Heineken is $7. Cleo at the Sahara has a happy hour daily from At El Dorado Cantina, a Bud is $6.50 and a draft Bohe- 5 to 6:30 pm, with $6 Kirin or Yuzu beer and $7-$8 mia is $5.41. At Irene’s Spring Mtn., a draft Coors Light appetizers. is $4. At Mr. D’s, a Bud is $3.50. Craft + Community at the Hard Rock has a happy Note: Macallan at Sahara served neat is $19.49. n hour Mon.-Fri. from 3 to 6 pm, with $5 beer and $5-$8 appetizers. Wild Wild West has a happy hour daily from 11 pm to 7 am, with 50% off beer, wine, and cocktails. Entertainment Notes In celebration of its 25th anniversary in August, all casino bars at Boulder Station are selling $5 Miller Lite Downtown Comedy—The Downtown Grand and and $5 Jack Daniels shots in commemorative glasses the Plaza are both opening new comedy shows. Hypno- that you can keep. mania (7 pm) and “Delirious Stand-up Comedy” (9 pm) The Village Pubs have happy hours Mon.-Fri. from 3 are already running Wed.-Sun. at the Grand; tickets are to 7 pm, with beer, wine, and well drinks for $2.50, call $29.99 for each. “The Comedy Works at the Plaza” will drinks for $3.50, and 25% off wine by the glass. open in September, with tickets starting at $20. Crown & Anchor East has a happy hour daily from Blanc de Blanc—The international production Blanc 5 to 6 pm, with $2 Coors Light in an aluminum cup that de Blanc debuts at the Sahara August 16. The Austra- you can keep. It runs concurrently with the “Players lian-produced show will perform at the Foundry, which Happy Hour” there (see Gambling). has been completely remodeled to accommodate hot The Friday happy hour at Crazy Horse III that we tubs for which VIP tickets will be sold; guests will soak wrote about last month also runs Mon.-Thurs., with free and drink Champagne while watching acrobats, aerial- beer and well drinks from 3 to 6 pm, but without the ists, circus acts, and dancers perform (bring your own food discounts. CH3 is also the best place currently to swimwear). Blanc de Blanc has performed in 32 coun- watch UFC telecasts. Admission is free and while a bot- tries since opening in 2016. Tickets start at $49. tle of Bud is $15, during the fights, buckets of four are Venetian Pool—The main pool at the Venetian, $20 and sometimes there’s free pizza. which closed last September for a major overhaul, has Spa Aquae at Rampart is advertising “happy hour reopened. haircuts” Mon.-Wed. from 1 to 5 pm—$39 for women, Residencies—Dionne Warwick will play several $29 for men. dates between September 5 and May 1 in Cleopatra’s Beer Park, the second-level rooftop bar and grill at Barge at Caesars Palace; tickets start at $125 base. Paris that sits under a retractable canopy, has opened Tony Bennett will play three dates at the Venetian begin- a big expansion, most of which is indoors. Oversize ning September 25; tickets start at $49.95 base. Van garage doors lead into the new area, which features Morrison will play five dates in the Colosseum at Caesars dozens of high-def TVs, arcade games like Skee-Ball, Palace beginning January 31; tickets start at $109 base. foosball, darts, billiards, and karaoke; stadium food and See the Advance Planner for dates, prices, and addi- 100 varieties of beer, including 36 on tap, are available tional show updates. n inside as well as out. The new restaurant Ambra at MGM Grand has a private room called Privata, touted as a speakeasy that serves high-end alcohol. 108 Drinks has opened on the observation deck at GAMBLING The STRAT. Mama Rabbit tequila bar out of LA opens at Park MGM August 28. WSOP Champion A Minus5 Ice Experience is scheduled to open this fall at The LINQ. Another one of Nevada’s famous rural bars bites the The new poker world champion is Hossein Ensan, dust with the closing of Joe’s Tavern in Hawthorne. The a 55-year-old professional player from Germany who bar had operated for 74 years across the street from the emerged from a near-record starting field of 8,569 to El Capitan casino. take down the $10 million first prize in the World Series

10 • LAS VEGAS ADVISOR • AUGUST 2019 of Poker’s Main Event. Hossein outlasted Dario Sam- Poker HOF martino in a 100-hand heads-up session during which he held the lead almost the entire time. On the final hand, and David Oppenheim have Ensan had K-K to Sammartino’s 8-4 suited. The first four th th community cards gave Sammartino flush and straight been voted the 57 and 58 members of the Poker Hall draws, but neither came in and Ensan’s kings took the of Fame. Moneymaker won the Main Event in 2003 after winning a seat in an online satellite and is widely all-in pot. Sammartino earned $6 million for second, fol- st lowed by Alex Livingston ($4 million), Garry Gates ($3 credited as the spark that ignited the 21 -century poker boom. Oppenheim has no major tournament wins, but is million), Kevin Maahs ($2.2 million), Zhen Cai ($1.85 n million), Nick Marchington ($1.525 million), Timothy Su considered a top-level high-stakes cash-game player. ($1.25 million), and Mios Skrbic ($1 million). The money cutoff was 1,286th position. All play- ers from that point on got a minimum of $15,000. This C&A Bonus year’s official bubble boy—the player finishing 1,287th— was Ryan Pochedly, who was awarded the traditional After years of running one of Las Vegas’ best low- $10K entry into next year’s Main Event. This year’s Last stakes instacomps, a free lunch for a $20 video poker Woman Standing was Jill Bryant, who went out in 116th buy-in, the Crown & Anchor bars on Tropicana and place (women made up only 4% of the field). Last year’s Spring Mountain discontinued that deal in February. This LWS, Kelly Minkin, finished 595th and cashed for the month, both bars launched a replacement of sorts that third time in the Main Event, one of an impressive nine they’re calling “Players Happy Hour.” It’s a play $200- total cashes for her in this year’s meet. get-$20 bonus that’s interesting on several levels and The players’ ages on the ME final table were 21, 25, provides some cautionary lessons about playing the bar- 27, 30, 32, 32, 35, 37, and 55, putting the average age bonus promos. at 32.7, the fifth year in a row with an average over 30. If you’re an aficionado of bar bonuses, you’ll recog- Ensan is the oldest player to win the Main Event since nize that this isn’t a particularly juicy deal. But it’s still a 1999, when Noel Furlong won at age 61; he’s also the positive play. Assuming you’re playing at about a -4% second German to win, along with in 2011. rate on C&A’s 6/5 Bonus Poker game, your expected Phil Hui won the $50,000-buy-in Poker Players loss is in the $9 range for playing through $200 plus the Championship, outlasting Josh Arieh in heads-up play $20 bonus. That leaves an average profit of $11 after to take the $1.1 million first prize; , who led the the bonus and you’re getting your drinks comped in the tournament late, finished 8th. Susan Faber was a rare process (less-skilled players might have more like a $7 open-event female winner, beating the boys and a big profit), but with a lot of risk, so you can easily come out field of 1,723 players to take down the “Salute to War- behind during a session even though you have the edge. riors” no-limit hold ’em event and the $121,000 first prize. This is an auto-comp, meaning you don’t have to Big-name bracelet winners (along with those listed in the inform the bartender when you’ve reached the playing July LVA) were David “ODB” Baker, , and requirement; the machines automatically add the credits Scott Seiver. There were no double winners this year. (which you have to play through once before you can There were also no significant changes on the all- cash out). With auto-comps there’s always the possibil- time leaderboard. remains comfortably in ity that the programming is off and that’s partially the the lead with 15 WSOP gold bracelets, including one case here. The happy hours run three times a day—mid- Main Event win. He’s followed by Phil Ivey, Johnny night-1 am, noon-1 pm, and 5-6 pm, and you’re sup- Chan, and with 10 each; posed to be able to play all three every day. As of now, with 9; with 8; Billy Baxter and however, the system doesn’t allow that and if you try to with 7 each; and eight players with 6 (including John play two different shifts on the same day, the second Hennigan, who won his sixth this year). Hellmuth also bonus doesn’t register (even if you play the second ses- has the most WSOP cashes all-time with 149. sion at the other bar). Once again, participation was stellar. The number Also noteworthy, this is the first such promo we’ve of overall entries was 187,298 and the total prize money ever seen where you have to start and finish the quali- was $293.2 million—both all-time records. Contribut- fying play within the specified time period. If you start ing to those numbers was the live-tournament record playing at 5:55 pm and finish at 6:05, you won’t get of 28,371 entries in the “Big 50” event that launched credited. Not only that, but at C&A West the bar clock this year’s meet and another 13,109 in the Colossus. runs 5 minutes fast, so you have to have your points The Main Event tally was a 9% increase over last year’s earned five minutes before the end of the hour there. 7,874 and the second-largest ME field in history behind In a promotion like this, it’s always important to note the 8,773 entrants in 2006. The 89 separate tournaments were also the most ever. n continued on next page

AUGUST 2019 • LAS VEGAS ADVISOR • 11 Gambling continued … traditional lottery sales of $8.2 billion and the “net win” for the video lottery of $2.08 billion. n your points total before you start playing (make a note of the total on the meter when you insert your players Video Poker Lost and Found card). That way you can check to see if the bonus has been transferred when you pass the coin-in requirement. Here and in other promotions, you often have to pull out The Downtown Grand has gone on a crazy trajec- your card and reinsert it to trigger the bonus. If it doesn’t tory as of last month. Out of nowhere, it installed several register, you can bring it to the bartender’s attention high-return machines, including Full Pay Deuces Wild (who can confirm your coin-in on the bar system). at denoms up to $2 on multi-play machines. When the The reason we ran this lengthy review is to provide pros descended, DG reacted by taking the schedules off you with some guidelines for whenever you play this of $2 games, eliminating FPDW, and no longer award- type of bonus. They’re fun, but you have to watch out or ing club points on any video poker games. It’s a strange you’ll over-play a bad schedule for no reward. This might situation that’s in almost daily flux, but as of this writing, also give you some incentive to try the Crowns. Both you’ll find 10/7 Double Bonus (100.17%), 10/6 Double are cool drinking places and have excellent kitchens. If Double Bonus (100.07%), 3-4-4-11-15-25 DW (99.96%), you’re looking for somewhere to hang and play during and several other good schedules, including at the bars, these hours, either is an excellent option. n in denoms from 25¢ to $1. Excellent schedules yes, club points no. Also in the process, DG’s formerly best-in-Las Vegas video keno schedules were dialed back to their Gambling Notes previous settings, yielding a house edge that’s back in the industry-normal 8%-9% range. We’re betting there will be more to report next month. Jackpots—A $1 million jackpot was paid for a dealt The online database vpFREE2 reports that Club For- natural royal flush on the Three Card Poker Millionaire tune has decimated its formerly excellent video poker Progressive at the Venetian. A $1.5 million jackpot was inventory and the best schedule now at any denomina- paid for a dealt royal flush on the progressive at Caesars tion is 9/6 DDB (98.98%). Palace. Qualifying for both requires making a $5 side bet. As mentioned in the Crown & Anchor report, the Book Bagged—The “social-gaming experiment” games at both locations are standard bar issue with 6/5 that Park MGM conducted with its sports book is over. BP as the best option. One difference is C&A East has The space that was more of a bar than a book, featured multi-line machines. So if you’re running close to the local bands on weekends, and offered billiards and mini- qualifying deadline, you can get the requirement through bowling lasted a little more than a year and has been much faster there. You also get $20 in free-play on or closed. around your birthday when you’re in the C&A system. Vaccaro Returns—After leaving town in April to On weekdays (except Wednesdays) at Sagos Spring return to his native Pittsburgh and set up the sports Mtn., any quad spins on a separate hand-operated book at Rivers Casino, legendary bookmaker Jimmy wheel with an EV of about $6.30 per spin. Playing quar- Vaccaro is returning to the South Point. ters on 7/5 Bonus Poker, this adds about 1% to the Black Book Adds Number 36—The third member 98.01% game (without considering the regular wheel and ringleader of a four-man crew of dice cheats at spin), putting you in plus-99% territory. Bellagio has been listed in the Black Book, also known The Vintner Grill has a $10 sign-up bonus that as the “Nevada List of Excluded Persons.” Marc Branco doesn’t require any play; just sign up for the card and was the crap dealer who paid off hop bets to confeder- get $10 on your machine. Vintner is a high-end restau- ates who never placed them over a two-year period from rant on the west side and has only seven machines at August 2012 to July 2014. Branco spent three years in the bar. The best schedule for quarters is 8/5 Bonus prison for the scam, which netted an estimated $1.2 Poker Deluxe (97.40%). million for him and his agents, two of whom were also PKWY Tavern at Tivoli Village has a play-$100- placed in the Black Book. get-$20 sign-up bonus. We’re told that the three other Horse Racing—Racing has been discontinued PKWYs have the same deal, but we haven’t verified. at Boston’s Suffolk Downs, which has operated since Currently, no Bob Dancer video poker classes are 1935. It was New England’s last thoroughbred track; scheduled. They will resume at South Point September harness racing still runs at Plainridge Park. 3. In the interim, be sure to check out Bob’s weekly Lottery—The New York Lottery became the first to Tuesday blog and the Thursday “Gambling With an surpass $10 billion in yearly sales in its fiscal year that Edge” podcast, with Bob and Richard Munchkin, both at ended March 31. The total was derived by combining its LasVegasAdvisor.com. n

12 • LAS VEGAS ADVISOR • AUGUST 2019 SEPTEMBEROCTOBER SEPTEMBER 10–12 Mecum Collector Car Auctions—15,000 WEEKDAY WEEKEND 15–17 G2E—26,000 Four Queens • $39 AZ C Decatur • $129 15–19 Supply West Trade Show—16,000 Fremont • $45 Four Queens • $129 22–24 Nat’l Business Aviation Association—25,000 Wild Wild West • $50 Wild Wild West • $132 Circus Circus • $51 Downtown Grand • $105 Downtown Grand • $56 Sam’s Town • $107 NOVEMBER Silverton • $58 Circus Circus • $111 2-5 Tableau Software Conference—21,000 Hard Rock • $81 Paris • $198 19-21 Autodesk—12,000 Paris • $96 Red Rock Resort • $199 19-21 ISSA Show—17,000 Palms • $98 Hard Rock • $201 22-24 Live Design Int’l —14,000 OCTOBER KEY DECEMBER WEEKDAY WEEKEND 11-13 Nat’l Marijuana Business Conf.—26,000 Four Queens • $39 Fremont • $117 El Cortez • $51 Main Street Station • $127 Wild Wild West • $51 Wild Wild West • $132 DATES Downtown Grand • $56 Downtown Grand • $120 Circus Circus • $57 Excalibur • $127 AUGUST Excalibur • $64 Tuscany • $129 Mean 88° Avg. Max. 102° Avg. Min. 73° Pools: Open Hard Rock • $91 Hard Rock • $186 A very hot and wet month. Desert electrical storms are Cromwell • $110 Mirage • $196 spectacular but can cause dangerous floods on and around Palms • $119 Palms • $204 the Strip. Attire: Summer cool, bathing suits. NOVEMBER

ROOM WEEKDAY WEEKEND Four Queens • $42 Four Queens • $99 SEPTEMBER El Cortez • $47 Plaza • $101 Mean 80° Avg. Max. 95° Avg. Min. 65° Pools: Open Wild Wild West • $51 the D • $109 Warm sunny days, mild evenings. It doesn’t get any better than this. Circus Circus • $51 Downtown Grand • $77 Downtown Grand • $53 Hooters • $89 Attire: No need for jackets or sweaters. Tuscany • $57 Circus Circus • $91 Hard Rock • $86 Hard Rock • $166 OCTOBER Paris • $99 Paris • $171 Mirage • $106 Mirage • $176 Mean 67° Avg. Max. 81° Avg. Min. 53° Pools: Open RATES Balmy days, cool evenings toward the end of the month.

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