Avalon Bay Casino pictures

Panos F. just send to me these fresh pictures of the Avalon Bay Casino.
I have never been there, but it looks good!

Forbes.com article on Steve Wynn

Billionaire-owner Steve Wynn's modus operandi in his long history in the Vegas hotel and casino business has been to offer luxury and elegance in a city that---before him---was known for seedy gambling joints, conventioneers and drunken stag parties.

Created by an army of architects and designers, the Wynn includes 2,700 rooms, 22 bars and restaurants, an art gallery displaying Wynn's personal collection, a 45-room spa, full fitness facilities, high-end shopping, an 18-hole golf course and its own Cirque du Soleil-style copycat show.

And, in an attempt to create exclusivity along the Vegas strip, Wynn has even built a 140-foot mountain that shields the hotel---and, presumably, its high-flying guests---from the hoi polloi of the strip.

Long ivory pillars and pretty taffeta-cloaked chandeliers are perfectly complemented by a bold carpet, done in greens, golds and reds and designed by Jacques Garcia, the famed interior designer of Paris' Hotel Costes.

Gambling facilities are standard fare, but have the advantage that the Wynn Las Vegas possesses the casino equivalent of the "new car smell."

The swimming pool is definitely upmarket and possesses a European formality, going as far as to cordon off an area for bathers who wish to go topless.

To read the full article visit www.forbes.com

Gaza Strip Casino?

It was announced today that a well known Israeli businessman has been talking with the Palestinian Authority for the possibility of opening a brand new casino directly on the Gaza Strip area that is due to be evacuated by the end of next month.

The settlement is one of 21 Israeli territories that will be released to the Palestinians in August, and Mr. Shmuel Flatto-Sharon, said he is planning to run the casino in partnership with the Palestinian Authority in this northern Gaza area. It will be a 50/50 partnership to create the largest casino and hotel complex in Israel.

Casinos have long been banned in Israel, but are welcomed by the Palestinian Authority. Not long ago, a casino located in the West Bank, used to be filled with hundreds of Israelis night after night until the start of the Palestinian uprising almost 5 years ago. Now Mr. Flatto-Sharon hopes that the new Israeli government may not raise new security issues, as long as Israeli gamblers do not have to enter any part of the Gaza Strip.

Seniors in Casinos and Problem Gambling

When compared to other age groups, seniors tend to be at much higher of a risk for problem gambling. A new survey shows that gambling in general is on the rise for people aged 50 and over, especially for women.

Most Casinos in Las Vegas or Atlantic City try to successfully target seniors by providing nice musicals, shrimp cocktails, huge buffets, or anything else that will appeal and attract the older population. They try to get the seniors because they are retired and often have more money to gamble with.

But a lot of them are gambling with their lifetime savings... Also many seniors gamble because of loneliness or depression. And when they get into debt, they are sometimes too embarrassed to ask for help from their family, and go into more depression.

The survey concludes with some key factors that casino operators need to check, to see if a senior is having such problems, and steps that need to be taken to prevent such issues.

Sumo comes to Vegas!

The Japan Sumo Association announced today that they are planning to bring Sumo to Las Vegas for the very first time. One of the oldest sports in the world, with a history of more than 1,500 years is finally coming to Vegas for a 3 day Grand Sumo Championship tournament. The event will take place on Oct. 7 to 9, at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino.

Some of the highest professional level sumo athletes will compete in the tournament, including the current champion Makunouchi Rikishi. A winner will be determined after the end of each day, and a Grand Champion will be crowned on Sunday after the final match. You can purchase tickets for the event at $175, $125 or $75 per day.

This is not the first time that Sumo comes to the US though. The last Grand Sumo 3-day tournament was in early June 1985 at the Madison Square Garden in New York.

The Sportsman Newspaper

A new new daily newspaper that talks about gaming news is about to be issued in the UK by Ben and Zac Goldsmith, sons of the late billionaire Sir James Goldsmith. The brothers have managed to put together an impressive team to run the newspaper.

The publication will be called The Sportsman, and will be covering online casino news, online poker, and other gambling related events, as well as sports, general news, etc.

The goal is to penetrate deep into the UK gaming industry, which took in about £44 billion ($76 billion) in bets for 2004. They are also looking for an additional £12 million ($20.9 million) from investors to get things moving.

Ny Ny and Mirage Casino

Some very nice shots from Arthur H. (Ny Ny casino picture) and Tom M. (the Mirage Casino photo).
Keep them coming!

Golden Palace sponsors disabled player

Popular Online Casino GoldenPalace.com announced today that they will pay the $10,000 entry fee to the World Series of Poker for a very unique poker player.

William Rockwell loves poker, and even though he is disable in both hands continues to play using his feet. A motorcycle accident in 1990 has left 31 year old Rockwell handicap in both of his arms. But now Golden Palace is giving him the chance to participate again in the biggest event of the game he loves.

Rockwell managed to qualify for the finals of the World Putting Championships in 1997. For more information visit the GoldenPalace.com website.

Trump to open new condo building in Vegas

The new luxury hotel-condominium is called The Trump International Hotel & Tower Las Vegas and it will not offer a casino inside.

The hotel will be built right across from the also new Wynn Las Vegas resort. The properties are priced from $600,000 to $6 million, and were sold out within a week.

The building is 64 storeys high, and it will now be the tallest residential building on the Strip. It features over 1,200 high quality residential and hotel units, an indoor spa and many restaurants.

Casino Fortune makes offer on the St. Louis Blues

Casino Fortune made an announcement today that they are planning to make an offer on the St. Louis Hockey team, the St. Louis Blues. They believe that when the Hockey lockout comes to an end, they can try to build a strong brand that will grow in the next few years.

The company has tried in the past to purchase other professional teams, mostly in Basketball like the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Phoenix Suns. Casino Fortune.com has also tried to purchase other important names, such as "The Charging Bull," the statue found in the Wall Street, a seat inside a NASA spaceship, etc. They even offered as much as $400 million to Mr. Donald Trump to buy a 31% share in his casino company.

It seems that Casino Fortune is trying to follow the very successful and creative Golden Palace strategy, making huge announcements without any reason that are an attempt to publicize the gaming site and put it on the news.

Boxer dies in Vegas Casino fight

Martin Sanchez, a boxer from Mexico City, died yesterday at a Las Vegas Casino, after suffering serious head injuries in a fight with Rustam Nugaev from Russia.

The boxer went through an emergency brain surgery at a Las Vegas Casino, were he was transferred immediately. But Sanchez died on Saturday morning, he was just 26 years old.

Sanchez took a heavy beating, but he had the strength to go to his corner, and he was examined by the ring doctor. The Mexican boxer even had a chance to wave and at the crowd before leaving the ring.

The fight took place at The Orleans casino.

World Series of Poker Lifestyle Show

The Players Network made an announcement today that it will broadcast live from the Rio Hotel & Casino events for the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.

The programming is called "World Series of Poker Lifestyle Show", and will start on July 6th. It will be available on the company`s new broadband site at www.playersnetwork.com

More details of the program will be announced by the Players Network in the upcoming week.

No Medical facilities in Trump Casinos?

Last week, a female guest at the famous Taj Mahal Casino discovered the wrong way that not every casino establishment has quite the same safety standards. Sylvia Kranis has diabetes, and while staying at the resort vomited and had a sudden rise in her blood pressure. She immediately asked the front desk to be connected by phone with the medical department, but she was informed that the casino does not have medical personnel on staff...

There are 12 casinos in Atlantic City, but only Trump’s casinos do not offer medical facilities. All other casinos have a doctor on staff usually during the day, and a nurse available 24/7.

The Taj Mahal management said that all security guards are trained in basic first aid, and that Ms. Kranis should have spoken to a member of the security staff. But why didn`t the front desk tell her to?