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A N T H O N Y C U R T I S’
LasVegasAdvisor
August 2021 • Vol. 38 • Issue 8 $5
RESORTS
WORLD
Checking out the
new Strip monster
… pgs. 1, 3, 4, 7,
10, 13, 14, 15, 16
MASKS
RETURN
Vegas takes a
step back
… pg. 1
STADIUM
TOUR
Getting a gander
at the Raiders’
new digs
… pg 10
CASHLESS
GAMING
We don’t pay no
stinkin’ load fees
… pg. 14
RATING
ROULETTE
1, 2, or 3 zeros?
… pg. 15
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August 2021 $5
ANTHONY CURTIS’
LasVegasAdvisor
COUPONOMY
by Anthony Curtis
Masks Up
Really? Again?
Yes, again.
In an emergency meeting in late July, Clark County Commissioners
imposed a new mask mandate on employees who work indoors at Las
Vegas businesses. That was ominous, but would state officials really
extend the edict to the customers? I didn’t think they would, but I’ve been
wrong before on these COVID maneuvers and I was wrong again. Sure
enough, one week later, Nevada’s governor made another announcement:
The masks are back.
This latest mandate stipulates that masks must be worn by everyone
in public areas, whether you’re vaccinated or not. The rule applies indoors
only, at least for now, which means masking is required in all casinos,
restaurants, and bars in Las Vegas and throughout Nevada. Oddly, the
rule does not apply to show members and musicians performing indoors
and no additional precautionary measures were directed aside from casi-
nos being told to update their signage accordingly. The new rule went into
effect on July 30. No date has been given for its lifting or reevaluation,
though a review of the employee directive is scheduled for August 17 and it
seems likely that the whole program will be assessed at that time.
Right or wrong, it’s a setback for the Vegas comeback. Some won’t
care, but no doubt many will. Are further restrictions on the way? Don’t ask
me. Like I said, I keep guessing wrong. n
Resorts World
Now a month since the opening, we’ve gotten plenty of feedback
about Resorts World Las Vegas. “Glitchy” is the term we keep hearing. It’s
valid in some cases—there were definitely some systems problems early
on—but much of the criticism is a product of fear/misunderstanding of
technology. RW is doing everything it can to emphasize the emerging trend
continued on next page
Couponomy continued …
toward technologically driven operating procedures: how you get into your
room, how you order food, how you book a show, how you pay, even how
you gamble. It’s a bold move, because a lot of opposition is coming from
customers who just aren’t that used to relying on their smart phones for
90% of what they do. Getting around that will take some time.
That said, two complaints don’t fall into this category. The first is pric-
ing. Rooms, restaurants, bars, shows, table limits—everything’s high. Is
that a surprise? It’s the most expensive single casino ever built in Las
Vegas. Things are bound to be expensive there.
The second is something that I’d never have guessed would hit such a
strong negative chord, but so many have brought it up that it’s obviously
an issue. It’s access. Complaints range from the distance from the Strip
with no moving walkways to the placement of the parking garages. No
doubt, it’s a bit confusing, especially with regard to the garages, of which
there are two. If you park in the southern-most, you have a fairly long hike
to the casino, and you’re walking outdoors. Along with fading the heat, the
cold, the rain, or the wind (or some combination of same), if you don’t walk
on the left-hand side of the street, you’ll have to cut across grass or shrub-
bery to get to the front door. The north garage is the better play, since
it’s attached to the resort. You can take an elevator directly to the casino,
but there’s minimal directing signage and the elevators are hard to locate.
Don’t give up, they’re there. If you’re turning into the complex, either from
the Strip or Sammy Davis Jr. Dr., be sure to turn onto Resorts World Ave.,
which will take you to the north garage. Yeah, a bit complicated, but at
least parking is still free.
Once you get past the getting-in part, this is an amazing place that’s
taking some chances. I mean, when’s the last time you saw a new casino
with a water fountain? (Are you kidding? You’re gonna let customers
relieve their thirst in 110-degree heat for free?) They’re all over the place
here. Yes, I find some of the complaints valid, but many are just comments
from grumps who love to say nay. So much going on here that we couldn’t
fit everything into this issue, but we got a lot of it, as you’ll see. n
Radical Blackjack Is Shipping
Our newest release, Radical Blackjack by Arnold Snyder, is back
from the printer and shipping. Thanks to everyone who ordered for your
patience as we navigated the new world of production and printing
LAS Publisher: Anthony Curtis
Senior Editor: Deke Castleman
Researcher: Brenda Stewart
Customer Service: Paula Machado
Contributing Writers: Jeffrey Compton, Bob
Dancer, Stewart Ethier, Bob Fuss, Scot Krause,
VEGAS Accounting: John Leitner Shipping/Receiving: Matt Wondolleck Bradley Peterson, Blair Rodman, Jean Scott
ADVISOR Web Manager: Tanya Maynard Production: Alison Holka Cover: Deke Castleman
LAS VEGAS ADVISOR (ISSN 1064-167X USPS 008602) is published monthly and is available for $50 per year ($60 Canadian; $70 foreign purchasers) and $5 per single issue at 3665
Procyon St., Las Vegas, NV, 89103. Phone: (702) 252-0655 • Fax: (702) 252-0675 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Las Vegas Advisor, 3665 Procyon St., Las Vegas, NV 89103.
e-mail: editor@LasVegasAdvisor.com • Internet: LasVegasAdvisor.com. All information is current at press time. Listed offerings are subject to change at any time. Huntington Press©2021
2 • LAS VEGAS ADVISOR • AUGUST 2021
post-pandemic. If you ordered early, you should have your copy of Sny-
der’s most revealing book ever by now. If you haven’t, you won’t have long
to wait when you do.
Due to the extensive coverage of Resorts World in this issue, we’re
holding an excerpt from the book until next month. n
NEWS
Resorts World—Despite missing its originally announced opening date
by several years, Resorts World executives say they’re already planning
an expansion of the resort. No specifics were given, but a large portion of
the 88-acre footprint remains undeveloped, with room for another tower or
three.
Venetian Expo—As of September 2, the Sands Expo & Conven-
tion Center, the fifth-largest private convention facility in the country at
2-1/4-million square feet, will be known as the Venetian Expo. No reason
was given for the name change, but it’s surely related to Las Vegas Sands
Corp.’s pending sale off the entire Venetian/Palazzo/Expo property, which
will be completed by the end of the year.
The Drew—Since no official name change has been forthcoming since
its sale in February, we’ll continue to identify the former Fontainebleau as
The Drew. Now word comes that it will open in the 4th quarter of 2023 as
JW Marriott Las Vegas Boulevard. The new plan calls for 3,700 rooms, a
casino, 500,000 square feet of convention space, and some combination
of restaurants, nightlife, and retail. We’ve heard it before.
Caesars Palace—Work has begun on a makeover of the main entrance
to Caesars Palace. The cost of the project wasn’t revealed, but changes
will include a raised dome ceiling, a 15-foot-tall Caesars statue, and rede-
signed casino and bar areas. Completion is scheduled for December.
Railroad Pass—Railroad Pass celebrates 90 years of operation on
August 10. The small casino located between Las Vegas and Boulder City
is the oldest in Nevada.
Lake Tahoe—MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa at Stateline is now Bally’s
Lake Tahoe. The casino is owned by Bally’s Corp., which also owns the
Tropicana, but is not affiliated with Bally’s in Las Vegas.
Colorado—The same Bally’s Corp. will also rebrand three casinos in
Colorado—Golden Gates, Golden Gulch, and Mardi Gras—apparently all
with the same name: Bally’s Blackhawk (presumably with an added delin-
eator). It’s the latest move in what appears to be a plan to put the Bally’s
name on all of its 14 casinos across 10 states.
Statistics—Nevada’s statewide gambling win was up 20,971% in May
compared to the same month last year. The huge percentage increase was
again due to the comparison with numbers during the shutdown, but the
continued on next page
AUGUST 2021 • LAS VEGAS ADVISOR • 3
$1.23 billion win also eclipsed the former all-time monthly record of $1.17
billion set in October 2007. It was the third straight month in which Nevada
has posted more than $1 billion in gaming revenue. Clark County also set a
record for slot win at $358.3 million.
Visitation was up 1,802.3%, with 2.87 million people coming to town,
even though conventions reported 0 for the 14th consecutive month. The
hotel occupancy rate was up again, rising to 70.9%, with 87.8% weekends
and 62.8% weekdays.
Airline traffic was up 789%, with 3.5 million travelers in May. However,
the counts continue to lag 2019 numbers by more than 20%. A new three-
plane Burbank-based ultra-low-cost airline, Avelo, has announced direct
flights between Las Vegas and Sonoma, California starting on September
16. Avelo will make one round-trip daily on Monday, Thursday, Friday, and
Sunday, with one-way fares starting at $39.
Sports Betting Scorecard
The Department of Justice has decided not to appeal an appellate court
ruling that the Wire Act applies only to sports betting. While not repealing
the Act completely, it’s possibly the next best thing, almost ensuring that
there will be no related barriers to the expansion of non-sports-betting
forms of online gambling, including lottery, casino, and poker, and rep-
resenting another step toward the total rescinding of the antiquated law.
Meanwhile, South Dakota and Wyoming look like the most likely candi-
dates to start taking wagers by football season.
Follow the progress of sports betting legalization across the country
and track developments as they occur via our map at
LasVegasAdvisor.com. n
Temp Record Tied
The thermometer hit 117 degrees on July 10 to tie the all-time record
high temperature in Las Vegas. It was the fifth time since 1937 when tem-
perature records began being kept that the city saw 117. The others were
on June 20, 2017; June 30, 2013; July 19, 2005; and July 24, 1942. n
DINING
Resorts World Dining
There are a lot of places to eat at Resorts World, even with several
restaurants yet to open. Nearly 20 of them are part of the big Famous
Foods Street Eats food hall that’s as impressive as any we’ve seen. Most
4 • LAS VEGAS ADVISOR • AUGUST 2021TOP 10 VALUES 1. Steak Dinner • Ellis Island • 24 hours • $7.99
2. Buffet • South Point • Daily • $9.95-$19.95
The Ellis Island complete
3. Shrimp Cocktail • Skyline • Daily • $1.50
steak dinner returns to the #1
4. Beer • Stage Door • 24 hours • $1
spot in the Top Ten. Served
5. Breakfast • Arizona Charlie’s • Daily • $5.99
24/7 in the Café, get the $7.99
price by playing at least $5 6. Hot Dog • South Point • Daily • $1.25
in any slot machine with your 7. $1 Blackjack • OYO • Daily • $1.20
club card inserted, then down- 8. $2 Menu • Jake’s Bar • Daily • $2
loading the required discount 9. Prime Rib • Ellis Island • Daily • $19/$38
coupon from an EI kiosk. If you 10. Room Rates • El Cortez et al • $49 and up
don’t want to play, you can get
it for $9.99 ($3 off the listed price) just by downloading a coupon from
the kiosk that’s available to everyone with a club card. Of the now eight
operating buffets in Las Vegas, the South Point buffet (#2) is the least
expensive by far. Breakfast, which includes unlimited bloody Marys,
is the best deal; show a club card to get the $9.95 price. The Skyline
shrimp cocktail climbs the list and is now in the #3 spot based on its
quality compared to anything else in town within $10 of the price; it’s
served around the clock at the main bar. Budweiser and Michelob Light
in the bottle are $1 at the Stage Door slot house on Flamingo, just east
of the Strip (#4); a ¼-pound hot dog and a Bud is $3. The steak or ham
& eggs at either Arizona Charlie’s (#5) is served in the Sourdough Cafés
for $5.99 when you show your club card, available 24 hours at Decatur
and 6 am-mid. weekdays and 24 hours weekends at Boulder. The hot
dogs at South Point (#6) are sold from a cart in the sports book from
10 am until they close down the cart around 5 pm. Oyo’s $1-minimum
blackjack game (#7) runs 24/7 in the pit; naturals pay even money on
bets of $1-$4. The $1.20 listed cost is your expected loss for one hour of
play at these stakes. Jake’s Bar at Eastern and Sahara has more than a
dozen food selections for $2 each (#8)—and that includes tax—available
all day to everyone, not just gamblers. We’ve taken the Ellis Island prime
rib tandem (#9) out of the penalty box after a one-month suspension for
a price hike. We searched for a better option, but even after the increase,
it’s still our top recommendation for the best quality-to-price ratio on a
complete prime rib dinner. Summer pricing almost assures that you can
get a room in Vegas for a fraction of the cost in just about any other big
city anywhere, especially if you’re willing to stay off the Strip. If you want
to stay in one of the primo joints, there are some good bundled deals at
the top resorts that you can access at LasVegasAdvisor.com. n
of the outlets there feature Asian cuisine, but there’s also Blood Bros.
Texas barbecue, Streetbird serving chicken, and Mozz Bar specializing
in Italian sandwiches. Casual-dining restaurants include Suns Out Buns
continued on next page
AUGUST 2021 • LAS VEGAS ADVISOR • 5News continued …
Out (see review), Agave (Latin), Marigold (“burgers and lobster”), The
Kitchen (coffee shop), Market Eats & Drinks (sandwiches/snacks), Dawg
House Saloon (part of the sports book), and two ice cream shops, Craig’s
(vegan) and Aubi & Ramsa (alcoholic). On the high end are Genting Palace
(Chinese), Kusa Nori (Japanese), Fuhu (Asian fusion), Viva (Mexican), and
Breeza (Italian). And these are just the restaurants that are open now. Sev-
eral others are due soon; we’ll report as they open.
True to the high-tech theme of RW, ordering is often different, espe-
cially in the food hall. You’re expected to order from tablets and pay with
credit instruments. Similar to the automated paid-parking garages around
town, employees are there to help if needed, but it’s something of a culture
shock for most of us who are over 30. You can view a good synopsis (with
photos) of how it works by checking out our blog “Resorts World—Famous
Foods Street Eats” at LasVegasAdvisor.com.
Another odd aspect of the RW dining scene is a completely different
spin on room service. You still pick up the (cell) phone and order food to
your room. But now, rather than speaking to a dispatcher, you leap into
2021 and use a GrubHub app to order. The good news is you aren’t con-
fined to a limited room-service menu—you can order from any of the RW
eateries. The bad news is … it’s different (suck it up, Luddites). n
Buffet Update
There’s no significant news to report regarding the status of buffets
this month. Bellagio, Wynn, and Excalibur all opened theirs, joining South
Point, Cosmopolitan, Caesars Palace, MGM Grand, and Circus Circus.
The Tropicana ran a three-day experiment with a buffet set up in a banquet
room, but if that translates to a regular AYCE, we’d be surprised. Com-
ments from Station and Boyd spokespeople continue to reinforce the belief
that the value buffets won’t return.
Prices and times continue to jump all over the place, including a $5
bump to $69.95 for dinner at the Wynn, while MGM reduced prices from
$27.99 for breakfast and $36.99 for brunch to $25.99/$29.99. They’re all
trying to find their level, with the tendency definitely toward going up rather
than down. See our listings at LasVegasAdvisor.com for current pricing. n
Silverado Steak House at South Point
Silverado continues to solidify its place as one of our favorite steak-
houses. As prices go up everywhere, Silverado holds the line, with steaks
starting at $38 for an 8-ounce filet, just $2 more than it was when we last
reviewed it three years ago (LVA 3/18). Along with a 12-ounce filet ($44),
we got the chef’s special—baked sea bass topped with a heap of king
6 • LAS VEGAS ADVISOR • AUGUST 2021crab for $56. What’s great about
Silverado is that the meals come with
choice of potato or vegetable, bread,
and a salad prepared tableside, so
a complete dinner is just the price of
the entrée plus your drinks. Whatever
you do, choose the baked potato.
In the previous review, we made the
point about how good these bak- Loaded baked potato at Silverado
ers are and we’ve received plenty
of confirming feedback from members. They’re not nuked; the butter and
sour cream are top-grade; and the fresh chives are the tastiest we’ve ever
had the pleasure to top a tater with. We know. Sounds crazy. It’s not. Awe-
some potato. Great room. Excellent meal. n
Suns Out Buns Out at Resorts World
Resorts World has a fabulous restau-
rant line-up, but they’re definitely pricey. An
exception is Suns Out Buns Out, which serves
several variations of breakfast sandwiches.
Opening at 7 am daily, they run $9-$16, about
the same as Eggslut at the Cosmopolitan and
the quality is as good or better. We had a
bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich and avo-
cado toast and the total was $21 (about what
we paid last month for two bagel sandwiches
at the Vegas Test Kitchen). These are big
Bacon, egg, and cheese at SOBU sandwiches made from quality ingredients.
The major negative is slow service—we waited almost 25 minutes from the
time we put in our order and we’ve heard similar stories. n
Ristorante Italiano at The Pass
The new Pass in downtown Henderson
has two restaurants, Emily’s Coffee Shop
and Ristorante Italiano, the latter intended to
add a little upscale-dining clout to the small
casino. Sometimes these places are real
value finds. This isn’t one of them. Entrée
prices are good: Pastas are $16-$20, veal
parmagiana is $22, and the most expensive
item on the menu is a 16-ounce rib eye for
$29. But everything is a la carte and adding Chicken parm at Ristorante Italiano
continued on next page
AUGUST 2021 • LAS VEGAS ADVISOR • 7Dining continued …
a salad is another $6. We got a chicken parm ($18) and ravioli alla vodka
($16) with a salad and glass of chianti and the bill was $47. Portion-size
trumped quality. It would be OK if the room had some character, but it’s
more of a banquet hall. Maybe a work in progress, but in that case, there’s
still a ways to go. n
Texas and Carolina Barbecue
Continuing our survey of Las Vegas
barbecue restaurants, we tried two that
appeared to have the most regional
authenticity. The first is Big B’s Texas
BBQ on the west side at 6115 Ft.
Apache Rd. (there’s another in Hen-
derson). In the open kitchen, six guys
were bustling around, a 25-gallon pot
simmered on the stove (for the mac
& cheese sauce), and the centerpiece
is the big wood-fired smoker. A full
bar features the classic Texas beer,
Shiner, and a cord of oak and mes-
quite is stacked neatly on the patio.
Walking in, the primal smoke smell
definitely “puts some south in your
mouth.” After you pay for your order,
the cashier rings a cow bell. So Big The works at Project BBQ
B’s has the look and the build-up, but
it tapers off at the food. The big beef ribs featuring a good dry rub were
the best of it. The brisket was fairly dry and tasteless; it definitely needed
sauce, a bad sign. The slaw was standard, the mac & cheese bland. Our
bill for the two-meat two-side meal before tax and tip came to $22.50—not
bad, but there’s better and less expensive bbq in Las Vegas.
We were similarly jazzed about trying Project BBQ at Circa downtown,
served from a food truck at the corner of Fremont and Main. It’s the only
place in town we’re aware of that touts itself as Carolina barbecue, which
means only one thing: the best smoked pork in the country. Unfortunately,
again, the hype outpaced the ’cue. Since we wanted to give it a full test,
we bought lunch for the office, making it possible to try a big portion of the
menu. The Project Platter ($20) comes with pulled pork, brisket, chicken,
sausage, slaw, and homemade potato chips (everything comes with chips;
don’t order them as a side). We also got a chicken sandwich ($13), an
order of ribs ($16), cracklin’ skins ($5—kind of like pork rinds or chicharron,
but harder and spicier), and grilled elote ($4—Latin street corn, usually on
8 • LAS VEGAS ADVISOR • AUGUST 2021the cob, but this wasn’t). We were surprised by the skimpy pulled pork,
brisket, and sausage in the platter. Also, the brisket is chopped, which is
cheating; the best smoked brisket is sliced. The chicken, both in the sand-
wich and platter, was forgettable. The ribs weren’t the best either. All in all,
the elote was the hit of the order. The price was $80—we expected more
and better. Benny’s Smokin’ BBQ right next door at Binion’s is easily the
better choice. n
Enchilada Special at Mr. D’s
We’ve written about the good spe-
cials at Mr. D’s (1810 S. Rainbow).
On Mondays and Tuesdays, it’s $1.50
tacos and on Thursdays and Sundays,
it’s a $13.99 rib eye special. The other
good one is on Mondays, when D’s
serves shredded pork enchiladas with
rice & beans for $7.99. This pseu-
do-biker gringo bar somehow has a
knack for Mexican cuisine and it’s Enchilada special at Mr. D’s
exhibited in this dish. Last mont,h we
reported that the tacos were no longer available on Mondays, but that was
incorrect, so you can throw in a homemade taco if you want, but you prob-
ably won’t finish the enchilada plate by itself.
While it’s difficult to go wrong with the food at D’s, it’s not impossible.
Whenever we see fried clam strips on a menu, it’s an insta-try, because
they’re hard to find in Las Vegas (and whenever we’ve found a good one, it
soon disappears), but Mr. D’s clam boat tastes like it’s already sailed. It’s a
rare miss for one of our favorite food bars. n
Dining Notes
Vickie’s Returns—White Cross Drugs, which operated for 48 years on
the Strip, was known for its landmark diner, first named Tiffany’s Café, then
renamed Vickie’s Diner. Even after White Cross closed in 2012, Vickie’s
remained open until August of last year, when the building was sold. Now,
Vickie’s has reopened in a storefront in the venerable Commercial Center
at 953 E. Sahara Ave., serving the same menu that made it famous.
Another $100 Burger—Last month, it was Slater’s 50/50’s “whale
burger,” this month it’s Posh Burger’s (Aria) “royale burger.” The Posh
royale is made from wagyu beef and is topped with truffles, foie gras, gold
dust (that again?), lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, and secret Posh sauce.
Really? No lobster? No champagne? The whale burger has those. Looks
like we’re going to Slater’s the next time we get a $100-burger hankerin’. n
continued on next page
AUGUST 2021 • LAS VEGAS ADVISOR • 9Dining continued …
Openings/Closings
Zeffer’s has opened at the Sahara. Though they don’t call it a coffee
shop, that’s the best way to describe it.
A third El Dorado Cantina has opened at 8349 W. Sunset Rd. in the
former location of No Regrets Bar. Like the preceding El Dorado’s next to
Sapphire gentlemen’s club and at Tivoli Village, it’s open 24/7.
Lily’s Kitchen, serving Taiwanese cuisine, has opened at 3466 S. Deca-
tur Boulevard.
The high-end Italian seafood restaurant Costa Di Mare has closed at
Wynn Las Vegas. Eating Las Vegas author John Curtas tweeted that it will
be replaced by a Gucci store.
The original Lola’s in the Arts District has closed. The Lola’s in Summer-
lin remains open. n
ENTERTAINMENT
Resorts World Entertainment
It’s not a stretch to say that the marketing plan for Resorts World might
be the most entertainment-reliant in history. It starts with the obvious, the
powerhouse residency line-up that features Celine Dion, Carrie Under-
wood, Katy Perry, and Luke Bryan taking turns in RW’s 5,000-seat theater
beginning late this year. As impressive as the rotation was in the Dion-led
heyday of Caesars’ Colosseum, this one might be better. And that’s just
now. There are already rumors of Adele joining the rotation and who knows
who’s next?
The pool component is called Ayu Dayclub and the primary nightclub
will be Zouk, featuring big-name DJs, such as Tiësto and Zedd.
The resort is packed with bars, anchored by the fancy Gatsby’s Cock-
tail Lounge and the Crystal Bar in the center of the casino. In addition, it’s
tough to choose among a self-pour bar in the food hall with 36 selections
that you purchase by the ounce; RedTail with video games and beer pong;
the Dawg House Saloon & Sports Book; the latest in “secret” drinking
spots, Here Kitty Kitty Vice Den; and when it opens, Starlight 66 will over-
look the city from the 66th floor (natch). The Conrad and Crockfords hotels
have their own “lobby lounges,” and there are more bars in the Crockfords
casino and in several restaurants throughout, including the not-yet-open
Wally’s Wine & Spirits, with more than 8,000 wines, 125 by the glass. n
Allegiant Stadium Tour
Ever since it was initiated, we’ve been receiving regular questions about
the tour of Allegiant Stadium and we understand the curiosity. It’s not every
10 • LAS VEGAS ADVISOR • AUGUST 2021day you get to go behind the scenes of a $2 billion building, let alone one
you see on television with 65,000 people in the stands, NFL teams on the
field, and celebrity broadcasters in the booth.
The tours depart from the first-level base of the Al Davis Memorial
Torch, which rises to the third level of the stadium. Upwards of 20 people
were on the tour in front of ours and 25 on ours; they’re definitely popular.
Our guide was excellent—full of energy and passion for the building and
team, he imparted a steady stream of information about both. After getting
your first view of the field, you head to one of the restroom/concession
areas and learn that the stadium has 297 restrooms and 1,430 toilets,
along with 76 concessions, so people at games and concerts won’t have
to miss much while waiting in line for food and bathroom breaks; you also
see a video of the “flush test,” in which the plumbing for all 1,500 toilets
and urinals was checked.
From there, you go up a level to where the corporate suites and broad-
casters’ booth are. The booth is just an empty (carpeted) box; the networks
and radio stations have up to 72 hours before games to load in all their
sets, electronics, robot cameras, etc. But the view, right at the 50-yard line
on the second level, is the best in the stadium. Second-best is from the
127 VIP and corporate suites on two levels that feature luxury box seats
and bars and buffets behind them in small rooms; we walked through one
of MGM Resorts’ high-roller hangs.
Then you descend to the bowels of the stadium for stops at the Raider-
ettes exhibit and locker room, post-game press room, and Raiders locker
room. Again, they’re pretty much empty, just a few props for the tours,
and smaller than you might expect for all the people they accommodate
on game days. The players’ locker room, though, is fancy, with black-and-
silver décor; you watch a video of Raiders of different eras getting ready
for games, then the climax of the tour is a hologram of current coach Jon
Gruden giving a rousing pep talk.
From there, it’s right onto the field for your pro-football fantasy. You
have five minutes to take a line-of-scrimmage stance, run, do a touchdown
victory dance, and/or tackle your husband. It’s interesting to see the Wynn
Field Club behind the north goalpost for the highest rollers. As always in
Las Vegas, you exit the field right at the logo store. From there, the cheap
tickets go through the store and out to the parking lot, while the VIP tick-
ets—tour and a drink—go back up to the main concourse bar.
The tours depart every 20 minutes between 10:40 am and 9 pm, though
the number of tours and days is shrinking as the stadium hosts more
events. They last 75 minutes and cost $59, or $80 for the drink and view
(discounts available for locals and “those who serve”). Make reservations
and pay online. Parking is free. Wear walking shoes; you cover a lot of
ground. It’ll be fun to watch Raiders’ home games on TV after seeing the
stadium from the players’, cheerleaders’, broadcasters’, and high-roller
points of view. n
continued on next page
AUGUST 2021 • LAS VEGAS ADVISOR • 11Entertainment continued …
Cirque Schedule
After originally planning to reopen at a pace of one show per month
starting in July, Cirque du Soleil has accelerated its schedule. Both Mys-
tere at Treasure Island and O at Bellagio are already performing. Michael
Jackson ONE will resume at Mandalay Bay August 19, while LOVE is also
scheduled to return to the Mirage sometime this month. KA at MGM Grand
is expected to be the last to reopen in October. The only Cirque show
that won’t return is Zumanity, which played at New York-New York. Three
other Cirque-like shows that have already reopened are Blue Man Group
at Luxor, Criss Angel MINDFREAK at Planet Hollywood, and Absinthe at
Caesars Palace. n
Sand Dollar 2
A longtime Las Vegas venue for live music, the Sand Dollar Lounge, will
open a second location at the Plaza, bringing late-night live music down-
town. The Sand Dollar Blues Bar opened in 1976 on Spring Mountain Road
near the Strip and quickly became one of the top blues bars in the country.
It closed in 2007, reopening a couple years later as the Sand Dollar Lounge
before going through a series of changes, becoming Bar 702 after a “Bar
Rescue” makeover, then the Bikini Bar for a short stint, and ultimately
taking the Sand Dollar name back again. The Sand Dollar Downtown will
occupy 5,000 square feet next to the casino (previously the showroom),
with live music Thursdays through Saturdays. There’ll be a full menu of
craft cocktails and pizza by Pop Up Pizza. The opening date hasn’t been
announced, but it’s expected to be sometime this fall. n
Bars and Happy Hours
Jaleo at the Cosmopolitan runs Sangria Hour Tues.-Sat. from 5 to 7 pm,
with $8 Spanish Brambles (infused vodka) and wine, $6 sangria and beer,
and $5 tapas.
Sickies Garage Burgers & Brews has happy hours Sun.-Fri. from 3 to 6
pm and daily from 9 pm to close, with $6 drinks and appetizers and a $10
Bud & burger special.
The happy hour at Honey Salt now runs Mon.-Fri. from 3 to 6 pm, with
drink specials starting at $4 and appetizers for $6.
The Venetian is making a play for locals, offering discounts of 10%-
25% for showing Nevada ID at several restaurants, including Chica, Moon
Palace, and Yardbird.
The Spa at Virgin Hotels has a daily happy hour from 2 to 4 pm, with
three “alcohol-inspired treatments”—e.g., a “Blushing Rose Massage with
organic agave oil and wine-infused recovery serum”—that are accompa-
12 • LAS VEGAS ADVISOR • AUGUST 2021nied by wine or champagne. The 50-minute treatments are $175 Mon-
day-Thursday and $185 Friday-Sunday.
Following the success of Vanderpump Cocktail Garden at Caesars
Palace, Vanderpump à Paris is planned for Paris and is expected to open
before the end of the year.
Jackpot Bar & Grill has moved to 4485 S. Jones Blvd., in the space that
was formerly Viola’s.
Lost Spirits, a famous boutique distillery of whiskey and rum with a sec-
ond-generation “highly thematic” distillery and tour in downtown Los Ange-
les, is opening a Las Vegas location next month at AREA15. The Las Vegas
experience is touted as being “much bigger and grander.”
Taco Dive Bar has closed on E. Flamingo. n
Entertainment Notes
Stones—The Rolling Stones will play Allegiant Stadium on Nov. 6 as
part of their “No Limit” tour.
Super Karaoke—The SuperBook at Westgate Las Vegas hosts “Super-
Karaoke on Thursdays beginning at 10 pm. If you want to sing, text first
name, last initial, song title, and artist to 702-588-2513 and you’ll be added
to the list.
Plaza Selfies—As part of its 50th anniversary celebration, the Plaza has
opened Studio 71, a space that offers “disco-inspired” neon- and LED-lit
backdrops for selfies and group shots. The 71 in the name stands for 1971,
the early days of the disco craze and the year the Plaza opened. It’s free,
located near the dome entrance next to the casino, and open from noon
to midnight on Saturdays and Sundays and 4 pm to midnight Mon.-Fri.
through the end of the year.
Beverly Theater—Work is expected to begin this fall on a new down-
town entertainment venue called the Beverly Theater. The smallish two-
story 14,000-foot building will host “independent film, live music, arts
performances, literary experiences, and educational programming” and is
expected to open in 2022. n
GAMBLING
Resorts World Gambling
There are two casinos at Resorts World, the main RW casino and the
Crockfords casino-within-a casino, which is located off the main casino
floor on the opposite side from the food hall. In the main casino, all black-
jack games, regardless of limits, are 6 decks dealt from continuous shuf-
fling machines, dealer hits soft 17, double allowed after split, resplit aces,
continued on next page
AUGUST 2021 • LAS VEGAS ADVISOR • 13Gambling continued …
late surrender, and naturals pay 6-5 for an oppressive 1.8% casino edge
against basic strategy. The minimums during all our visits were mostly $25,
with a few $15 games sprinkled around. The games in Crockfords have the
same rules, except they deal from standard shoes, stand on soft 17, and
naturals pay 3-2. This game has only a .26% casino edge vs. basic, but
with $200 and $500 minimums. Other pit games include Three Card Poker,
Ultimate Texas Hold ’Em, Free-Bet Blackjack, Crazy 4 Poker, and Face-Up
Pai Gow. Almost all have $15 minimums. Craps offers 3X, 4X, and 5X
odds. Roulette comes in the 1-, 2-, and 3-zero varieties (see “Roulette 1,
2, 3”). There’s no live keno, bingo, or big six. See “VPL&F” for video poker
information.
The poker room is almost hidden, but it’s big, with lots of tables and
(currently) not many players. The sports book is underwhelming. It seems
like almost an amenity to the attached Dawg House Saloon, but it’s also
an independent book—which is a positive—run by Genting and IGT, with
the lines emanating from the latter (it’s the first we’ve heard of IGT being
involved in sports betting).
The players club is called Genting Rewards. We haven’t joined it yet, so
we can’t say if they give anything significant at sign-up, but it’s unlikely. n
Cashless Gaming
As part of its technological bent, Resorts World is pushing cashless
gaming, which requires depositing money into an electronic “wallet” (your
phone) that you can then use to gamble, as well as pay for food, shows,
and other purchases.
At first blush, it appears that that there’s a 2.95% “load fee” to fund a
cashless account. Whoa! They want to charge 2.95% for the privilege of
playing their negative-expectation games? “Ain’t gonna work,” we thought,
as most would balk at this arrangement (who wants to start their play with
a $1,000 bankroll $30 in the hole?). However, further investigation revealed
that the fee is charged only when you transfer money from a credit or debit
card, or other outside sources, like PayPal. If you bring cash to the cage
(checks and money orders also get charged), you can open an account
without being charged the fee.
As foreign as it might sound, it’s not a terrible idea; both convenience
and safety from loss or theft are enhanced. We think it will be slow to be
embraced by gamblers, but the industry disagrees. At the National Indian
Gaming Association Tradeshow and Conference last month, cashless was
one of the top three discussions (along with post-pandemic operations and
tribal sports betting). And according to IGT, which recently had its cashless
solution approved in Nevada, “Once people see others using cashless, it
will be a landslide of adoption.” Think TITO. Regardless, you can still play
with cash at Resorts World. n
14 • LAS VEGAS ADVISOR • AUGUST 2021Roulette 1, 2, 3
The number of zeros on a roulette wheel determines the house edge.
It’s 2.7% for single-zero, 5.26% for double-zero, and 7.69% for triple
zero. The single-zero game at Crockfords is better than 2.7%, because
it employs a European rule called la partage, or half back. Not to be con-
fused with en prison, which is a more complicated rule, in this variation,
half your bet is returned on even-money wagers (e.g., red/black) if the ball
lands on the zero. It has a house edge of 1.35%.
The easy rule is, if you can bet the same amount on all available vari-
ations, you should play the game with the fewest zeros. However, the
best choice also depends on the minimum bet required. Assuming the
minimums at the Resorts World games are $25 on a double-zero wheel
and $100 on Crockfords’ single-zero, the expected loss is slightly lower
on double-zero, -$1.32 to -$1.35 per $100 bet, due to the higher casino
edge being applied to a lower betting amount. But at any bet above $25,
you’ll lose less over time making $100 bets in Crockfords. Even as bad as
triple-zero is, you’re still fading a lower expected loss on that game vs. the
Crockfords game if you can play with a $15 minimum, -$1.15 per spin vs.
-$1.35 (with a lot less risk).
While it should be obvious that, assuming an equal bet, it’s better to
play the wheel with the fewest zeros, you’ll often see at least as many
players on a triple-zero game as on a double-zero right next to it (RW is no
exception), which makes you wonder why the casinos don’t deal 4- and
5-zero games. Maybe we just need to give ’em time. n
Bookie Blunder
Here’s something that doesn’t happen every day. Last month, the line
on the total for the WNBA All-Star Game moved more than 50 points! Circa
opened at 248.5 and the line closed 195.5, a 53-point move to the under.
What happened was Circa (and other books that followed) used data from
previous WNBA All-Star Games to make the line. Totals in all-star games
are always high, because the players want to put on a scoring show and
they play very little defense. What wasn’t considered is that this year, the
dynamic was vastly different. This year’s game matched the USA Olympic
team, which is made up of WNBA players, against the WNBA All-Stars who
weren’t chosen. With the Olympic team tuning up for the tournament and
the WNBA All-Stars dually wanting to help the training effort and get some
revenge for being snubbed, the game was played hard. Even the big cor-
rection wasn’t enough, as the total landed 178, with Team WNBA beating
Team USA 93-85. n
continued on next page
AUGUST 2021 • LAS VEGAS ADVISOR • 15Gambling continued …
Gambling Notes
Jackpots—A player at the Venetian hit a jackpot for $1.5 million on a
Wheel of Fortune machine. A player at the Sahara hit for $1.4 million on a
Buffalo Grand machine.
Poker Room Closes—The poker room at Planet Hollywood has closed.
The closing of the mid-size 11-table room continues a decades-long trend
in which poker tables at casinos are becoming an endangered species,
though the new (and bigger) poker room at Resorts World more than cov-
ers the loss of tables at PH.
Olympics—The sports books are allowed to take bets on Olympic
events that aren’t decided by judging (e.g., diving and gymnastics). Bas-
ketball lines will be put up in most books, but lines on many other Olympic
events will not, due to low demand.
Vax Lotteries—In May we predicted that “Vax Promos”—monetary
incentives for people to get vaccinated—would show up in the gambling
world. Aside from some minor offers, that didn’t materialize in the casinos,
but state lotteries picked up on the idea big time. Multiple states ran lot-
teries (Nevada, where lotteries are illegal, called it a “raffle”) and several
reported that the promo increased the pace of vaccinations. That may be,
but there wasn’t much real monetary incentive to do so. In Ohio, for exam-
ple, the total amount given away in the lottery was $6 million and about
three million registered to play. That means the expected return was $2 per
person.
ND Shuns Poker—Don’t look for online poker to show up in North
Dakota anytime soon. The state senate voted down a bill on a referendum
to legalize online poker by a vote of 47-0.
San Diego Card Rooms Exit—Once home to more than 100 card rooms,
no more are now operating in San Diego. The last was the Lucky Lady
Card Room, which did not reopen after California’s pandemic shutdown.
This also appears to foreshadow the end of the single-owner card room in
California, ushered out by laws impeding the issuing and sale of licenses,
the arrival of Indian casinos, and competition from bigger corporate-owned
rooms. n
Video Poker Lost and Found
The video poker schedules at Resorts World are as reported last month,
except there are some better schedules in a few multi-play machines in
the main casino. They include Airport Deuces (98.91%), 9/6 Double Dou-
ble Bonus (98.98%), 9/7/5 Double Bonus (99.11%), and 8/5 BP (99.17%),
some starting at 25¢, but others only at $2 and up. Crockfords has the
same mix, but with some $1 games. The best schedule on the majority
of machines is 6/5 BP (96.87%), including at the bars. And you won’t get
much help from the club card, which rewards a paltry .086% in free-play.
16 • LAS VEGAS ADVISOR • AUGUST 2021If you play higher denoms, the 8/6 Bonus Poker Deluxe progressives
(98.49% at reset) at Circa are worth a look. They’re at the main bar and
in a few other locations throughout the casino for 50¢, $1, $2, and $5. At
50¢, the game is breakeven when the royal flush reaches $3,350, at $1 it’s
$6,700, at $2 it’s $13,400, and at $5 it’s $33,500. When we last checked,
the $1 meter was at $5,496, returning 99.30% for perfect play. Better was
the $2 game at $11,847, returning 99.55%. If you’re looking for a way to
pile up some good comps at downtown’s most opulent resort and you
have the bankroll to handle the swings, you can find a good play here.
Boma’s Bar and Grill at 8020 S. Durango has a lose-$20-get-$20 deal
on Tuesdays. The best game is 6-5 BP.
What will the VP be like at the Palms when it opens … whenever that
is? There’s no way to know for sure, but a good indicator might be what
the new owner, San Manuel, is dealing in California. According to the
online database vpFREE2.com, the best games at San Manuel are 9/6
Jacks or Better (99.54%) and 9/6 Bonus Poker Deluxe (99.64%), but only
at minimums of $5 and $10, respectively. The best game for quarters is 9/5
JoB (98.45%). Not terrible, but nothing to get excited about.
Bob Dancer’s video poker classes are not being renewed at South
Point. There are currently no plans for a new venue. Bob continues to write
his Tuesday blog and host the Thursday “Gambling With an Edge” podcast
with Richard Munchkin, both at LasVegasAdvisor.com. n
WEATHER KEY dates
AUGUST AUGUST
Mean 85° Avg. Max. 104° Avg. Min. 66° 9-11 - MAGIC Marketplace - 75,000
A very hot and wet month. Desert electrical storms are 10-12 - International Roofing Expo - 10,000
spectacular but can cause dangerous floods on and 10-12 - Licensing International Expo - 10,000
around the strip. 16-19 - SuperZoo West - 10,000
Pools: Open 22-25 - ASD Market Week - 10,000
Attire: Summer cool, bathing suits.
SEPTEMBER SEPTEMBER
Mean 76° Avg. Max. 96° Avg. Min. 57° 1-2 - White Label World Expo
Warm sunny days, mild evenings. It doesn’t get any 6-9 - Western Veterinary Annual Conference
better than this. 13-15 - MINExpo International
Pools: Open 27-30 - Int. Wireless Communications Expo
Attire: No need for jackets or sweaters 27-29 - Pack Expo
28-30 - LV Souvenir & Resort Gift Show
OCTOBER OCTOBER
Mean 65° Avg. Max. 83° Avg. Min. 46° 4-7 - Global Gaming Expo - 10k
Balmy days, cool evenings toward the end of the 7-9 - Mecum Collector Cars Auction - 10k
month. 9-13 - NAB Show 2021 - 105k
Pools: Open 10-13 - SmileCon 2021 - 10k
Attire: Short sleeves during the day, light jacket for 12-14 - NCAA-BASE 2021 - 10k
evenings. 21-23 - National Hardware Show - 30k
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