Two Way Hard Three | Las Vegas Casino & Design Blog

Thanks to reader John for pointing out that Steve Friess, of popular Las Vegas podcast, The Strip, has posted some photos of Wynn Macau, opening next week.

Also, an article on Steve's trip:

http://www.nvtoday.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=93&Itemid=33

Photos: http://www.stevefriess.com/gallery/onmacau/index.htm

Technorati Tags: casino design, gaming industry, macau, wynn

One year after Katrina struck, the Beau Rivage in Biloxi, MS is back open for business putting 3,800 folks back to work.

The casino has been substantially rebuilt since the hurricane destroyed the facility. Beau Rivage is the largest single contributor to state gaming tax coffers.

Technorati Tags: gaming industry, mgm mirage

Steve Friess has written an article in the current Newsweek magazine about Steve Wynn and Macau.

To read the article:

A Vegas-Size Bet On China

Trying out a new chat service right now.

If you're online, join in:

http://ratevegas.campfirenow.com/2e171

We'll probably put in a permanent chat room in the future.

Thanks to one of my readers who, for now, will remain anonymous, I was able to take a tour of the back of house areas at Bellagio.

This includes service kitchens for the restaurants, lake pump equipment, soda and liquor distribution, uniform cleaning and control, security, IT and much, much more.

I even saw the room where they put the bad people before Metro grabs 'em!

All that plus the VIP elevators and villa areas (sadly not the villas themselves) and other guest areas.

I left with am impression that Bellagio is a one of a kind masterpiece. If you want to read this very long entry, continue on after the jump.

Technorati Tags: bellagio, casino design, gaming industry, las vegas, mgm mirage, vegas

My photos are now online. I updated all the various categories but if you just want to see the new photos, use this URL:

http://photos.ratevegas.com/photo/gallery/august2006

There are a load of pictures of the Palazzo model they have up at The Venetian. There's no note at all about what the thing is but everyone that walks by checks it out.

I did get a couple of requests and I tried to fill them. I did peek around the barrier and take Social House photos (not open yet) but they DID NOT come out so I am not posting them. Social House looks kinda neat on the inside, as does Japonais at The Mirage.

Keep reading after the jump for more...

Technorati Tags: las vegas, photography, vegas photos, web sites

Starting September 1st, dealers at Wynn Las Vegas will be sharing their tips with pit bosses. This is a dramatic shift for a Strip resort to make - typically pit bosses are salaried and make far less than dealers, a bit of an oddity in the business world where supervisors usually make more than subordinates.

Apparently the dealers are less than pleased and I'm not surprised. Still, I think that this has a good shot at become the new Strip standard. The disparity was growing and a lot of dealers turned down promotions for this reason. This evens it out a bit. I'm sure they'll lose some dealers over this but I doubt any customers will notice.

Thanks to KLAS for the story: http://www.klastv.com/global/story.asp?s=5316119

Technorati Tags: gaming industry, las vegas, vegas, wynn, wynnlasvegas

The new 'European Bathing' area at The Mirage, Bare, is now open.

They are advertising it as 'Pool - Bar - Beds'. That made me laugh for some reason.

For those interested, the Web site has some info, though there are still no pictures. I will try to get some this weekend as I have a friend slumming it at The Mirage.

http://www.mirage.com/amenities/amenities_bare.aspx

Technorati Tags: casino design, entertainment, gaming industry, las vegas, mgm mirage, mirage, vegas

MGM MIRAGE issued a press release today regarding a project with Cirque du Soleil based on Elvis Presley to be performed at the upcoming Project CityCenter. The entire text of the press release follows after the jump.

Technorati Tags: cirque du soleil, entertainment, gaming industry, las vegas, mgm mirage, project citycenter, elvis, vegas

Monte Carlo has completed their transition to the MGM MIRAGE 'Players Club' from Mandalay's former 'One Club' system.

The system is already live at Mandalay Bay, Bellagio, The Mirage, MGM Grand, Treasure Island, and NYNY.

Luxor comes this Fall, then Excalibur toward the end of the year with Circus Circus converting early next year.

Technorati Tags: bellagio, gaming industry, las vegas, luxor, mandalay bay, mgm grand, mgm mirage, mirage, treasure island, vegas, wynn

Thanks to reader Motoman, we have some new Vegas photos from I believe July 2006. Enjoy:

http://photos.ratevegas.com/photo/gallery/wynnlasvegas
http://photos.ratevegas.com/photo/gallery/encore
http://photos.ratevegas.com/photo/gallery/palazzo
http://photos.ratevegas.com/photo/gallery/trump

Technorati Tags: casino design, gaming industry, las vegas, photography, palazzo, trump, vegas, vegas photos, wynn, wynnlasvegas

Joel Bergman has worked on quite a few prominent Las Vegas casinos including The Mirage, Treasure Island, Paris and parts of Caesars among others.

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Aug-14-Mon-2006/business/8630403.html

Technorati Tags: casino design, gaming industry, las vegas, mirage, vegas

VegasTodayandTomorrow.com has an update on the Jockey Club. It will be renovated at Cosmopolitan's expense as part of a deal reached when Jockey Club permitted Cosmopolitan to build on its parking lot. The report says Jockey Club has more than 14,000 owners. This sure is a Win for the tired, old Jockey Club.

Details can be found at:
Jockey Club Renovation Funded by Cosmopolitan

The Fontainebleau, which is planned for the old El Rancho site, is almost a done deal. The LV Business Press has an item which includes a link to the Clark County Comprehensive Planning agenda. Fontainebleau will be presented to the Commission on September 6. Glenn Schaefer is the CEO of Fontainebleau Resorts.

This is another step in the strenghtening of the North Strip.

Read the article here:
Fontainebleau Appears To Be A 'Go"

Two bits of MGM Mirage news this morning.

First off, MGM has created a realty company to sell condos in City Center. The unique move will enable buyers to purchase direct from the developer.

More in the LV Biz Press:
http://www.lvbusinesspress.com/articles/2006/08/08/breaking_news/02news.txt

And on David's Blog:
http://www.dieiscast.com/2006/08/08/city-center-realty/

Next up, a press release talking about upcoming evening pool parties at TI. Honestly, the pools at all these hotels seems like a very underutilized nighttime asset.

The TI event is called 'Whisper' and runs Thursdays in August and Labor Day Monday, 6pm-11pm.

Technorati Tags: condos, gaming industry, las vegas, mgm mirage, project citycenter, treasure island, vegas

This article, submitted by motoman (thanks!), details the concrete and foundation procedures for constructing Wynn Las Vegas (then called Le Reve) and THEHotel at Mandalay Bay. It makes for an interesting comparison of techniques for sure.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0NSX/is_1_48/ai_97298256

Technorati Tags: casino design, las vegas, mandalay bay, vegas, wynn, wynnlasvegas

This is a little bit outside the normal realm of Las Vegas news but Scott is a friend and I personally find this stuff interesting, so here goes:

PodWorx LLC is a new Las Vegas based company that specializes in helping businesses get their podcasting game on. The company is run by Scott Whitney, one half of the team that produces the entertaining Living in Las Vegas podcast.

So, if you're looking to expand your marketing reach with podcasting (and if you're not, you should consider it - huge potential in the podcasting stuff), take a look at the Web site and maybe give Scott a call... He's a nice guy, that I can vouch for.

Technorati Tags: las vegas, podcast

MGM MIRAGE reported their financials today.

The company's press release is all roses:

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=101502&p=IROL-NewsText&t=Regular&id=891814&

Not everyone is buying that though:

MGM MIRAGE Misses : TheStreet.com

Technorati Tags: bellagio, gaming industry, las vegas, mgm mirage, vegas

Las Vegas Sands reported their quarterly financials and I'm sure that Steve Wynn is reading them and licking his lips. Why? Revenues from the Sands Macau continue to pump cash into the company and Wynn's Macau property opens in early September.

Here's a link to Sands info:
http://www.lvbusinesspress.com/articles/2006/08/02/breaking_news/02news.txt

Technorati Tags: gaming industry, las vegas, macau, venetian

Wynn Resorts posted their second quarter numbers today.

From the AP:

"The company posted a quarterly loss of $20.1 million, or 20 cents per share, compared with a loss of $41.8 million, or 43 cents per share, during the same period a year ago."

Reaction seems mixed but shares are rising in after hours trading.

Some commentary and details:

AP: Loss Narrows

The Street.com: Unexpected Loss

Technorati Tags: gaming industry, las vegas, wynn, wynnlasvegas

Real quick as I am jumping on an airplane (not to Vegas), but today's RJ has a story on MGM MIRAGE starting to get approvals for a condo-tel complex on Luxor property that will look like Mandalay Bay style architecture:

http://www.reviewjournal.com/lvrj_home/2006/Aug-01-Tue-2006/business/8803174.html

Technorati Tags: condos, gaming industry, las vegas, mandalay bay, mgm mirage