Richard N. Velotta

Story Archive

Venetian ties abound at Gaming Hall of Fame ceremony
Monday, Oct. 31, 2011
This year’s induction ceremony for the Gaming Hall of Fame will have a distinctive Venetian flavor. Sheldon Adelson, chairman and CEO of Las Vegas Sands Corp., will be joined by one of the resort’s entertainment icons, Blue Man Group, in a ceremony and charity dinner Tuesday night benefiting the National Center for Responsible Gaming at the Venetian.

Fitness tourism making strides in Las Vegas
Monday, Oct. 31, 2011
Once a year, Bellinda Erikson packs a special little something in her bag and hits the road for a weekend of romance on the Las Vegas Strip. But don’t get the wrong idea. This isn’t another tale of naughtiness in Las Vegas. The little something is exercise gear.
Raise, bonus recommended for top LVCVA officer
Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority’s compensation committee is recommending a 4 percent raise and a 12.5 percent bonus for the organization’s president and CEO, Rossi Ralenkotter.
Asian market fuels record revenue for Las Vegas Sands Corp.
Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011
In a conference call with investors today, Las Vegas Sands Chairman Sheldon Adelson promised to send “egg-wiping face towels” to analysts who doubted the projections he made for the company’s properties in Macau and Singapore.
LV chamber officer Steve Hill high on list for state economic development board
Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011
The state’s new Board of Economic Development has recommended the names of three candidates for the office’s first executive director, including a longtime officer with the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce.
Proposed DesertXpress high-speed rail line chugging along
Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011
A proposed high-speed rail line between Las Vegas and Southern California has received another federal government approval from a board that grants licenses to build new railroads.
Allegiant reports 17 percent increase in revenue for third quarter
Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011
Las Vegas-based Allegiant Travel Co., parent company of Allegiant Air, offset higher fuel costs with increased revenue to propel its 35th straight profitable quarter, the company said today.
Allegiant Travel sees 35th straight profitable quarter
Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011
Las Vegas-based Allegiant Travel Co., parent company of Allegiant Air, offset higher fuel costs with increased revenue to propel its 35th straight profitable quarter, the company said today.
Tourism czar to focus on promoting Nevada via Twitter, Facebook
Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011
Claudia Vecchio has four weeks to cram for a big test. The newly appointed director of the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs will deliver opening remarks for the two-day Governor’s Conference on Tourism beginning Nov. 29 at the Rio.
Boyd reports drop in 3rd-quarter earnings, but sees improvements in Las Vegas
Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2011
Boyd Gaming, which operates three downtown Las Vegas properties and four locals resorts in Southern Nevada, today reported a third-quarter decline in earnings on flat revenue compared to the same quarter a year ago. Executives of the company said in a conference call this morning that cash flow has improved dramatically in Las Vegas, indicating a continued improvement in the local economy.
New medical tourism book on Las Vegas to hit shelves next week
Monday, Oct. 24, 2011
“The Las Vegas Health and Wellness Destination Guide,” a 176-page book offering information to patients traveling to Las Vegas for medical procedures, will be unveiled this week at the fourth annual World Medical Tourism and Global Healthcare Congress in Chicago.
Fuel costs cause dip in Southwest Airlines' earnings
Thursday, Oct. 20, 2011
Executives with Dallas-based Southwest Airlines, McCarran International Airport's busiest air carrier, blamed an increase in fuel costs and bad fuel-hedging bets for a rare loss reported by the company today.
Development organization gives thumbs up to 'Yes Vegas'
Thursday, Oct. 20, 2011
The Nevada Development Authority has a new brand identity and logo — and it got a fantastic deal on the artwork.
Macau revenue pumps up Wynn Resorts earnings
Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2011
Riding a wave of revenue from Macau, Wynn Resorts Ltd. today reported third-quarter earnings of $127.1 million on net revenue of $1.29 billion.
Corporate jet owners applaud scrapping $100-a-flight fee
Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2011
Owners of corporate aircraft are breathing a little easier this week after the Senate dropped a proposal to add a $100-per-flight fee on business planes that had been part of President Barack Obama’s American Jobs Act tax plan targeting the wealthy.
Pair of conventions, with a lot in common, have a beef with feds
Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2011
They met in separate, completely unrelated conventions in halls about a mile apart. But their messages were strikingly similar: Why is the federal government making it so difficult for us to thrive?
AG asked whether $10 million state fund can be used to entice firms into Nevada
Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2011
The state Economic Development Commission has formally asked the state Attorney General’s Office for an opinion on whether the use of a catalyst fund to entice companies to relocate or expand in Nevada is constitutional.
Hawaiian manufacturer heading to Las Vegas
Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011
A Honolulu company that manufactures and sells indoor and outdoor LED lights, marketing exclusively in Japan, will relocate to Las Vegas and use it as a base to enter the North American market.
Southwest Airlines' price drop ignites fare war
Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011
An airfare sale initiated by Southwest Airlines has blossomed into a fare war among discount air carriers serving McCarran International Airport, enabling local residents to fly to Southern California for less than $70 round trip.
Could eclipse be a ray of light for Nevada tourism?
Monday, Oct. 17, 2011
It could be an extraordinary tourism event for rural Nevada and it’s been on the calendar for a millennium. A total solar eclipse.
Allegiant Air launches nonstop flights between McCarran, Kentucky city
Friday, Oct. 14, 2011
Las Vegas-based Allegiant Air today began flying nonstop round-trip flights to Kentucky’s third-largest city, Owensboro.
Dutch airline to offer seasonal flights to Las Vegas
Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011
Dutch air carrier ArkeFly will begin seasonal nonstop air service between Amsterdam and three western U.S. cities, including Las Vegas, next summer.
AeroMexico opens route to Guadalajara from McCarran
Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011
Representatives of the AeroMexico, the airport and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority gathered at McCarran’s international Terminal 2 this afternoon for the kickoff of service to Guadalajara.
Neighborhood association slams DesertXpress rail plan
Thursday, Oct. 13, 2011
A Southern Nevada rural neighborhood organization has sent a letter to the Federal Railroad Administration calling the proposed DesertXpress high-speed rail plan "a complete farce."
Tech recycling company opens Las Vegas facility
Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011
When the tires of your car kiss the curbing at the front of a space in the parking garage, consider this: That nondescript block on the ground may have been your desktop computer in a prior lifetime.
Las Vegas takes lead in luring foreign business travelers
Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2011
Las Vegas has taken center stage in a bid to attract more business travelers to the United States, a key component in the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority’s goal of increasing the percentage of foreign visitors here from 18 percent to 30 percent by 2021.
Corporate site scouts say region suffers serious shortcomings
Friday, Oct. 7, 2011
Southern Nevada will have a tough time overcoming its shortcomings as a site for companies seeking relocation sites, said speakers at a gathering of commercial real estate developers.
Survey: Gaming industry pros optimistic about 2012
Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011
A survey of more than 1,150 gaming industry professionals at this week’s Global Gaming Expo finds most participants are optimistic that 2012 will be a good year for the industry.
Internet gaming spurs regulatory dilemmas, G2E panelists say
Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011
While the American Gaming Association is calling for regulatory reforms, rapidly changing technology and iGaming opportunities will present new issues for regulators to consider when they set policy and interpret legislative intent.
MGM Resorts pinning growth on Asia, emerging technology
Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011
MGM Resorts International CEO Jim Murren brushed aside pessimism over the economy and shared pieces of his company’s growth strategy in a keynote address at the Global Gaming Expo.
Element of surprise is key to gaming's success, panelists say
Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011
Sometimes, all it takes is an occasional surprise to generate enthusiasm in table games, panelists said Wednesday at the Global Gaming Expo. The point: Sometimes, all it takes is an occasional surprise to generate enthusiasm.
G2E panelists tackle 6:5 blackjack payout
Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011
Read a few casino player forum comments online and you’ll know that changing the blackjack payout from 3:2 to 6:5 — that is, paying $6 for every $5 wagered instead of $3 for every $2 bet on natural 21s — is heresy.
Velotta: Time for McCarran to tap new celebrities for TSA explainers?
Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011
The folks at McCarran International Airport had a pretty cool idea to enlist some Las Vegas celebrities to guide passengers through the Transportation Security Administration checkpoint procedure.
Companies laying groundwork for online poker
Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011
While the legalization of online poker isn’t a done deal, some companies have already gone to work developing business models for the eventuality.
Capital markets for casino projects starting to rebound
Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011
Just as the economy is slowly rebounding, so, too, are the capital markets casino companies seek out to finance their projects.
Gaming Association pitches for regulatory reform at G2E
Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011
The American Gaming Association is seeking reforms in gaming regulations nationwide to help the industry keep pace with evolving technology. Frank Fahrenkopf, president and CEO of the association, said Tuesday the organization’s white paper, “Improving Gaming Regulation: 10 Recommendations for Streamlining Processes While Maintaining Integrity,” is designed to educate lawmakers and regulators nationwide about eliminating government red tape while keeping important restrictions in place.
Sandoval appoints tourism director
Monday, Oct. 3, 2011
The former head of Ohio’s travel and tourism initiatives has been named director of Nevada’s revamped Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs.
Internet gambling spurs chats at G2E's opening day
Monday, Oct. 3, 2011
How online gaming — particularly Internet poker — should be regulated, how it would be taxed and how the industry would prevent the wrong people from playing were discussed today in a panel on online gaming’s legal landscape.
Allegiant Air to end service at Long Beach Airport
Monday, Oct. 3, 2011
Las Vegas-based discount air carrier Allegiant Air announced Friday that it would end its service at Long Beach Airport on Nov. 28.
Velotta: Scheduling change was the right move for G2E
Monday, Oct. 3, 2011
If it seems a little early for the nation’s gaming industry to be in town for the annual Global Gaming Expo, it’s because it is a little early.
How Macau became a powerhouse (with a little help from Las Vegas)
When this Chinese peninsula's gaming market opened in 2002, Las Vegas moguls pounced, creating an opulent gold mine
Monday, Oct. 3, 2011
MACAU -- The cylinder-shaped hotel tower housing the Casino Lisboa was what defined gambling for decades in this 17-square-mile former Portuguese colony parked on the shore of the South China Sea. Lacking amenities, flash and class, it lived in Las Vegas’ shadow.
Global Gaming Expo kicks off at Sands Convention Center
Monday, Oct. 3, 2011
The four-day Global Gaming Expo opens today and will bring more than 25,000 people to the Sands Expo and Convention Center to see the latest casino innovations.
Taxicab Authority's deadlocked vote means no change in rates
Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2011
The riding public won’t see a taxi rate increase this year after the Nevada Taxicab Authority on Tuesday deadlocked on a proposal to raise the rate by 20 cents a mile. Representatives of two unions representing cab drivers asked the board that oversees 16 cab companies operating in Clark County to raise rates.
McCarran records boost in August passenger count
Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2011
Passenger activity at McCarran International continued its upward trend in August with 4 percent more people using the city’s airport than in August 2010.
Online poker hearing reveals little tension over proposed regulations
Monday, Sept. 26, 2011
If the process for approving online poker regulations goes as smoothly as Monday's workshop explaining the proposed rules, Nevada will have a document in place in no time.
Allegiant Air to add Las Vegas to Mesa, Ariz., route
Monday, Sept. 26, 2011
Allegiant Air will begin service between McCarran International Airport and Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport on Nov. 17 and fly six nonstop round trips a week. The airline will use 150-passenger twin-engine MD-80 jets on the route.
Safety is essential in a state that depends so heavily on tourism
Monday, Sept. 26, 2011
In a state like Nevada, there’s almost nothing worse than a tragedy colliding with tourism.
New 'What happens here, stays here' ads hit airwaves
Friday, Sept. 23, 2011
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority began rolling out two new “What happens here, stays here” television advertisements this week, investing between $10 million and $15 million in network and cable media buys.
Gaming Commission OKs mobile gambling in hotel rooms
Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011
Las Vegas resort guests will be able to gamble from their hotel rooms using mobile communications devices — a concept unheard of a decade ago — following unanimous approval Thursday of an amendment to regulations by the Nevada Gaming Commission.
Revenue sharing OK'd for race and sports book kiosks in PT's Pubs
Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011
A request by two companies to share race and sports book revenue generated by kiosks in a tavern chain was approved today by the Nevada Gaming Commission after the proposal appeared doomed to failure.