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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 Monday, July 15, 2002 Here's the latest--I'm going to be out of town for the next week, but I'll still make an effort to update the weblog, particularly if I hear any interesting news. Today's a busy news day, so here's what's hot:
IRVINE, CA: NO GAMBLING, SUICIDE LINK That's what researches at UCI are saying in a study that should make the industry very happy. Anti-gambling forces like to link gambling with suicide, so it's good to see some actual numbers on it. Story here from the LV Sun. BIRMINGHAM, UK: ENGLAND'S LARGEST CASINO TO OPEN In the summer of 2003, the Stanley Star City Casino will open, with 40 table games and a whopping 200 employees. It will be England's largest casino. Story here from the LV Sun. WOODSTOCK, CN: ANTI-GAMBLING GROUP FORMS The Connecticut Citizens Against Casinos will attempt to educate citizens about the negatives of possible casino expansion. Story here from the LV Sun. JACKSON, MS: INDIAN CASINO OPENS WATER PARK This article also details some recent developments in Mississippi gambling. Casinos there appear to be moving towards providing more amenities. Story here from the LV Sun. LAS VEGAS, NV: ENVIRONMENTALISTS HATING ON MBG'S PANDA PLAN That's right, some environmentalists are criticizing Mandalay Bay's plan to build a pandadome that will house two pandas. Story here from the LV Sun. This reminds me of an incident when I was working at the Trump Taj Mahal as a security officer. Some protesters were upset about a visiting circus using animal acts which boarded the animals in the parking garage. Striking up a conversation with a protester, I listened to her catalog the inhumane conditions in the garage. Then I raised the point that people worked in the garage for 8 hours at a time, and that nobody protested their inhumane treatment. She didn't find that funny. ATLANTIC CITY, NJ: SANDS NO LONGER THE LOOSEST That's right, the Sands will no longer promote itself as the city's champ of loose slots. Honestly, it seems that the property is in transition right now and could go a number of ways. Story here from the AC Press. And while you're there, read Joe Weinert's Casino Notes--a very informative digest of what's happening around the industry. That's all for today--I'm off the AC myself. Keep it real.
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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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