University of Nevada Las Vegas| Gaming Studies Research Center | Dave Schwartz |
University of Nevada Las Vegas |
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Casino [ptz]
formerly the Gaming Studies Weblog |
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 Friday, November 16, 2001 I have a correction to make. Though the Palms still definitely reeks of awesomeness, apparently I am not in the target demographic. According to this LVRj story:
Partying at the Palms I am still seven years away from making the grade. Oh well. It's funny how in a casino, being 36 would make you "young and hip," but if you showed up at a taping of TRL you'd be shunned as impossibly stodgy. Come to think of it, 36 year olds should have better things to do than crusing TRL. Another thought on demographics: Do any casinos actively court the 21-35 crowd? I always thought that, if you could keep out those under 21, a senior week/spring break type thing at a casino would bring in a ton of money. SERIOUS NEWS TODAY: An article about how a casino would complement the Northwest's rural landscape. As Hurricane Helms might say, "Whatupwitdat?" I can imagine a casino doing many things--producing a profit for its operators, income for the state, and jobs for locals, but I can't imagine how it could dress up a natural landscape any more than a shopping mall would. Other news: N'SYNC played Atlantis in Paradise Island, a bunch of people won at lotteries, some other tickets are still unclaimed, and a few gaming companies will be making fiscal announcements. Also, the Aladdin, with its great location between the empires of Park Place Entertainment and MGM Mirage on the Strip, had a negative cash flow last quarter. That's all for today. Have a great weekend, and see you next week.
Artist Paints Palms Casino - RGT Newspage>
Palms Opens Tonight, LV Sun These articles were written before the opening, so they only capture some of the excitement of the big night. I was there and it was very cool. I got there about 7, and there were already a host of people milling around the casino and enjoying the free food. The casino's design recalls art deco, but can't really be classified as one style. The sports book, food court, and movie theater end of the casino is filled with video poker, while the "high end" half of the floor has other slots and table games. The nightclub, Rain, absolutely reeks of awesomeness. There is a moving lighting system over the main dance floor, and periodically blasts of flame erupt from it. Pretty cool. The pool and spa areas are also nice. So anyway, if you will be in Vegas soon, definitely check this casino out. I'm not going to come out and shill for it, but if you are interested in casinos as a player or researcher, the Palms is very interesting. By the way, the painted people were kind of freaky. The ones who were painted to look like cards and dice were somehow OK to me because they seemed less natural. But on my way in, I almost leaned against a statue for a second and recoiled in shock when suddenly the statue looked back at me. That was one of the most dead-on nightmare freakout moments I've had in this town, and I've had many. Basically, the "people paintings" were men and women wearing speedos covered with body paint. Once I got used to it, it wasn't a problem, but when you first come up on something that looks like stone but then moves its eyes, it is pretty shocking. Another thought--back when I was in grad school at UCLA the student union had a Panda Express, so it was neat to eat at the one in the food court. The pizza place was also good, but to me $2.75 for a slice of pizza is a little out of line. To me, about $1.50 plain and $2-$2.25 with a topping is reasonable. Still, the pizza was really good-thin crust, with a lot of cheese. The theaters were great, too--all stadium seating, which is a great way to see a movie. The sit-down restaurants look to be ambient and high quality. As someone who is probably in their target demographic, I can honestly say that the Palms is a place that I would want to hang out in. At 11 PM, the place officially opened. After some kind words from George Maloof jr thanking everyone who helped to make the Palms a reality, the DJ hit Springsteen's "Born in the USA," the gambling started, and the doors opened to the general public. Mr Maloof is a true class act--my dealings with him and his staff in getting info about the Palms for the Reseach Center have been great. In an time when Las Vegas is seen to be dominated by impersonal corporations, some might see Mr. Maloof as a throwback to a bygone era of friendly owner-impresarios, but I see him as the future of casino gaming. And he and his associates certainly know how to throw a good party. It was truly a good time had by all.
Thursday, November 15, 2001 Not much in the news today. There is a piece about a online goat race. It's for charity (allegedly) so I guess that makes online wagering OK.
What's on in Las Vegas today? The biggest casino opening in a long time is happening today. The Palms is opening just west of the Strip on Flamingo. Your favorite Gaming weblogger is going to the big VIP bash. I will have a full report tomorrow.
I'm working on the formatting of this weblog and integrating it into the rest of the site. I'd like to thank Kurt Raschko of UNLV web services for walking me through the installation. I'm looking to make this an integral part of the Gaming Studies Research Center experience. If you have any feedback to offer, please email me.
Wednesday, November 14, 2001 Welcome to the Gaming Studies Research Center Weblog. Some of the posts will be relatively dry academic accounts of published reports on gaming and its social and economic impacts. Other posts will be fun-filled chronicles of my adventures around Las Vegas and other gaming jurisdictions.
Watch for daily or even twice-a-day updates.
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What is Casino[ptz]? In a sentence: "A weblog featuring news, notes, and opinions from the world of casinos and gambling." Casino is self-explanatory; ptz refers to a surveillance camera that can pan, tilt, and zoom, thus offering the operator a better perspective and more detailed shot. Casino [ptz] was maintained by Dave Schwartz, coordinator of the Gaming Studies Research Center at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. As of now, Casino [ptz] is not being updated. Instead, you can find Dave's wit and wisdom on his own website, www.dieiscast.com. \ Go there now, for casino carpets and more. The opinions expressed are those of Dr. Schwartz and not those of UNLV or any of its students, staff, or faculty. If you have any questions, please direct them to Dave at dgs@unlv.nevada.edu. ---------------------------------
Quizzes Test your knowledge with two quizzes I have devised for your enlightenment and entertainment. 1. Do you know gambling? If you've read this weblog, I'll bet you do. Take the... (view the Scoreboard) This quiz features ten questions about gambling, mostly in casinos.
2. Do you know casino history? Take the... (view the Scoreboard) This quiz features ten questions taken from the pages of Suburban Xanadu. If you've read the book, the quiz should be a snap. Or, take the quiz and see what you are missing. -----------------------
Classic posts Mystery
Creature from Maryland Dave's book quoted in Parliament Bird
gets Trumped Slots, urban design, and destination dreams Don't be afraid, the clown's afraid too Hastert blasts casinos/2 tiger tales --------------------------
In Memoriam
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Other blogs Alberta Gaming Research Institute Library Online Casino Legalization Blog
Email Dave if you want him to add your blog. --------------------------
Who is Dave Schwartz? Dave Schwartz is the coordinator of the Gaming Studies Research Center at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, which means that he spends most of his time at work doing three things: 1) Extending and improving the collection of books, journals, and primary materials about gambling known as the Gaming Collection. 2) Working on digital initiatives, such as this weblog and the GSRC site, that facilitate the understanding of gaming research and gaming issues. 3) Answering questions about gambling from media and researchers, or directing them to the answers.
Before coming to UNLV, Schwartz worked in the Atlantic City casino industry as a surveillance officer. He is also the youngest person known to have received a Ph.D. in History from UCLA.
Schwartz is the author of Suburban Xanadu: The Casino Resort on the Las Vegas Strip and Beyond, which is an intelligent, accurate account of the creation and legacy of the Las Vegas Strip. Click on the link for more information about this best-selling book, or just buy it from amazon.com. --------------------------
In his own words: "To answer the biggest question I get, no, I don't gamble. I know the odds and, having spent more hours than I care to remember watching people gambling, it doesn't excite me at all. So why do I study gambling? Because the industry and the interactions fascinate me. "Las Vegas is an interesting place to live, and my job gives me a good window on the city. In a typical day, I might go from talking about gambling books with a system player to answering a question from a reporter from a major newspaper to meeting with casino executives. So I think I can bring a unique perspective on the industry and the people who make it work." To learn more about Dr. Schwartz, go here. ---------------------------- The unofficial Casino[ptz] mascot
It's the mystery mammal, of course. Dave is currrently developing a "Mystery Mammals" cartoon idea. Hey, if "Father of the Pride" works, maybe animal cartoons will become the next big thing. ------------------------------ Just because Dave just likes these images, and hopes you do as well.
It's always important to remember your roots. Dave has chosen this image to constantly remind him just where he came from. It is a heraldic crest gone wrong.
Oh yeah, Dave also likes to see his name in lights. This is a genuine, non-photoshopped image...or is it?
Casino carpet is almost (but not quite) abstract art. This is from a real casino floor in a real Las Vegas Strip casino. Guess where and win a prize!
Here are some closing thoughts from Orff's Carmina Burana, "Fortuna, Imperatrix Mundi" (Fortune, Empress of the World): O Fortune, Somehow I don't think you'll find that in any casino advertisements. But Carmina Burana would be a great casino show, particularly sectons 2 and 3, which deal explicitly with gambling, drinking, debauchery, and sex. The opera is almost an adaptation of the 13th century version of "what happens in Vegas (or, in this case, Beuren), stays in Vegas. Certainly it has all the elements of a great revue extravaganza. |
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