Gaming - VEGAS INC

Casino equipment maker SHFL reports record revenue

Las Vegas-based SHFL entertainment rode strong demand for its automatic shuffling machines to record second-quarter revenue of $77.4 million, 17 percent ahead of last year's quarter, the company announced today.

4 June 2013

By Richard N. Velotta

Governor signs bill banning sports kiosks in small casinos

A bill stopping small casinos and slot bars from running sports and race books has been signed into law by Gov. Brian Sandoval.

4 June 2013

By Cy Ryan

Tropicana expanding meeting space

The Tropicana Las Vegas, one of the last of the iconic classic Strip hotel brands, is expanding its meetings and conventions area in the property’s Club Tower.

4 June 2013

By Richard N. Velotta

Nevada high court to hear arguments on Harmon demolition

The Harmon at CityCenter in Las Vegas on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011.

The fate of a flawed hotel at the glittery CityCenter development on the Las Vegas Strip will be argued before the Nevada Supreme Court.

4 June 2013

Ken Ritter, Associated Press

MGM Resorts extends contract with Culinary Union while negotiations continue

MGM Resorts International has signed a contract extension with the Culinary Union as both groups work to negotiate a new labor deal.

3 June 2013

By Ed Komenda

Gaming industry wins the day at Nevada Legislature

Gamblers play roulette at the Eastside Cannery on Boulder Highway in this file photo.

The state’s most powerful industry is poised to come out of this legislative session the victor in a number of key battles that it asked lawmakers and Gov. Brian Sandoval to broker for them. “So far, it’s been an OK session,” a leading gaming lobbyist said.

3 June 2013

By Anjeanette Damon

Union website warns Las Vegas visitors of potential strikes

Culinary Local 226 members picket outside the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013.

The Culinary Union has launched a new website to warn travelers about possible labor disputes in Las Vegas. VegasTravelAlert.org allows Las Vegas-bound visitors to sign up for email alerts about potential strikes as resort leaders work to ink new contracts with the Culinary, which represents more than 60,000 workers.

31 May 2013

By Ed Komenda

MGM names new CEO of hospitality with focus on 3 brands

Promoted from executive vice president of global development, Michael Evans is now in charge of developing and operating resorts under the brands Bellagio, MGM Grand and Skylofts.

31 May 2013

By Ed Komenda

'Millionaire Maker' to boost World Series of Poker this weekend

Players participate in the $1,000 No Limit Hold 'Em Tournament at the World Series of Poker at the Rio on Thursday, May 30, 2013.

The scene for the first couple of days at the World Series of Poker was perfect for tourists and fans who wanted to sightsee. The halls at the Rio were not yet congested to the point where no one could move during tournament breaks, but a mass of well-known professionals was already out in full force.

31 May 2013

By Case Keefer

Sports betting, once mob territory, continues on path of sophistication

A look at the William Hill Sports Book at Terrible's, one of the many new additions the property has unveiled during their $7 million renovation, Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013.

Wagering on sports has come a long way since the days of the cigar-chomping, mob-backed neighborhood bookie who would take bets on games. Several presentations at this week's International Conference on Gambling & Risk Taking offered research on trends gamblers are using to become more sophisticated in their betting.

30 May 2013

By Richard N. Velotta

Players, tournaments and stories to watch at the 2013 World Series of Poker

Poker players compete during Day 7 of the World Series of Poker $10,000 buy-in, no-limit Texas Hold'em main event at the Rio Monday, July 16, 2012.

The best players turn out to play the biggest tournaments in the most prestigious environment. That’s the World Series of Poker in a nutshell. This summer’s set of 62 tournaments for bracelets, the most coveted award in poker given to winners of WSOP events, got underway Monday at the Rio.

30 May 2013

By Case Keefer

Pop quiz: What was the original name of the Hooters hotel? Where was Castaways?

The 31-year-old Aladdin crumbles to the ground on April 27, 1998, while the under construction Bellagio hotel looms in the background. The hotel's implosion cleared the way for the $1.3 billion Aladdin Project. However financial troubles caused the Aladdin to close. The property reopened in November 2007 as the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino.

Las Vegas is constantly evolving: hotels and casinos are built and torn down, money flows in and out, tourists and residents come and go. The names of local resorts are no different. They have transformed over the years, too.

30 May 2013

By Alison Saclolo

Mock trial tackles tricky question: Should social gaming be regulated?

As Internet gambling begins to pick up legal steam across the United States, it's hard to ignore the massive growth of social gaming.

29 May 2013

By Ed Komenda

Judge instructs Las Vegas Sands to pay businessman $102 million

Hong Kong businessman Richard Suen is shown during a courtroom break at the Regional Justice Center Thursday, April 4, 2013. Suen is suing the Las Vegas Sands saying he is owed millions of dollars in an agreement in which he helped Sands secure its gaming license in Macau a decade ago.

A Las Vegas judge affirmed a $70 million verdict against Las Vegas Sands Corp. on Tuesday and tacked on another $31.6 million in interest.

29 May 2013

Associated Press

Renowned MIT card counters return to Vegas — this time as gaming panelists

Professional Poker Player Andrew Bloch speaks about his experiences on the MIT Blackjack Team during a panel discussion during the 15th International Conference on Gambling and Risk Taking, Tuesday May 28, 2013.

They used math to beat casinos for a living. Their exploits have been immortalized on the silver screen — in films like "21" — and before that between bindings on the best-seller list. Educated at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the MIT Card Counting Team hauled millions of dollars out of casinos from coast to coast throughout the '80s and '90s. Now, the team is long gone, but a few of its former members made an appearance at the 15th International Gambling and Risk Taking Conference at Caesars Palace this week to look back at their time counting cards ...