Gaming - VEGAS INC

Gibbons appoints Lipparelli to Nev. gambling board

Gov. Jim Gibbons has appointed Mark Lipparelli, a former executive vice president of Bally Technology, to the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

31 December 2008

Associated Press

IGT names executive

International Game Technology today announced the promotion of Patrick Cavanaugh as the company’s new executive vice president and chief financial officer.

30 December 2008

By Amanda Finnegan

Have they loosened the slots up so we can enjoy our gambling jaunts again?

We vowed to never return to Las Vegas because the powers that be tightened up the slots so bad that it was no longer fun.

30 December 2008

Control board, too, is doing more with less

The earnings slump in the gaming industry is partly responsible for the fact that the state agency that investigates casino owners, vets gaming deals and tests gambling equipment for reliability and fairness is short-staffed.

29 December 2008

By Liz Benston

Treasure Island’s buyer talks about the art of the deal

Phil Ruffin, who started his business empire with a gas station, sold the New Frontier for $1.2 billion. He is now using some of that money to buy Treasure Island from MGM Mirage and says he can run the resort profitably in a down economy because he isn't carrying the huge debt of other casino operators.

A condensed version of a Dec. 18 interview with Ruffin on KNPR’s “State of Nevada” hosted by David Berns, edited for clarity and length.

28 December 2008

Infusion of cash is key to Station’s viability

The Fertitta brothers, Lorenzo, left, and Frank attend the groundbreaking for Aliante Station last year. Now, as their company flounders with a recession deepening, they are running out of options as they try to stave off a bankruptcy filing.

Station Casinos is hoping business will be strong in the coming weeks and that customers use some of the company’s coupons and offers flooding airwaves and mailboxes. The company’s viability depends on it.

26 December 2008

By Liz Benston

DA says Fry’s executive was major debtor in Las Vegas

A vice president of Fry’s Electronics who is accused of swindling the company out of more than $65 million has long been on the radar of Clark County prosecutors.

25 December 2008

By Brian Eckhouse

Veteran of hospitality industry finds even it provides no security

Maria Chenes, 53, who had worked on the Strip for decades, was laid off months ago from Harrah's Entertainment. She's going through a divorce, and one of her children is getting married.

Maria Chenes’ career — like the industry that employed her for 34 years — had seemed recession-proof until six months ago. Like a bad joke, she was laid off on a Friday the 13th.

25 December 2008

By Liz Benston

Las Vegas Sands cuts 500 casino workers in Macau

Las Vegas Sands Corp. says it has cut 500 casino workers at its Venetian Macao casino in China and wants to trim 1,000 others' schedules.

23 December 2008

Associated Press

Man sought in robbery at Strip casino

Metro Police said today they are still looking for a man who robbed an employee of the Sahara Hotel and Casino at gunpoint last week.

23 December 2008

By Tim Richardson

Wynn reaches for next level

The 2,034-room resort, Encore, seeks to replicate the service in high-end boutique hotels, and has its eye on the coveted Mobil five-star rating. Room rates at the hotel will start at $180 a night, compared with $150 at the adjacent Wynn Las Vegas. But they're likely to increase as soon as the economy begins to pick up. Comparable hotels in other cities can command room rates of $1,000 a night.

Lest anyone think Encore is simply another high-end hotel, or little more than a hotel addition to the attached Wynn Las Vegas resort, consider that Wynn Resorts executives consulted with experts from the Mobil Travel Guide to help them design a property that has a shot at becoming the country’s largest hotel to receive Mobil’s five-star rating.

23 December 2008

By Liz Benston

Treasure Island likely a domino standing alone

On the heels of last week’s announcement of the sale of Treasure Island, MGM Mirage officials are taking exception to rampant speculation about which company properties could be next.

22 December 2008

By Liz Benston

$2.3 billion Encore opens its doors

The spa treatment hall within Encore Las Vegas.

The newest casino on the Las Vegas Strip is open for business. Steve Wynn opened the doors tonight of his latest luxury resort, Encore Las Vegas. By the time the doors opened at 8 p.m., hundreds of people were waiting outside to enter the building in five different lines. The parking garage was full about 30 minutes later.

22 December 2008

By Amanda Finnegan

Wynn says he’s prepared to weather economic storm

Steve Wynn is hours away from opening his newest multi-billion dollar venture in one of the hardest economic times Las Vegas has ever seen.

20 December 2008

By Amanda Finnegan

Envy this casino operator

Steve Wynn's new resort, Encore, opened Dec. 22, 2008.

It’s a good time to be Steve Wynn. While competitors are slashing expenses and running their hotels on the cheap, Wynn spared little expense developing Encore, his $2.3 billion resort that opens Monday.