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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 Thursday, October 17, 2002 SITE NOTES
As you may have noticied, I've changed the site's look again. This time, I'm making it look more like the UNLV main site, which features black, grey, and that sand color. Let me know what you think. ATLANTIC CITY, NJ: MGM MIRAGE NOT COMING TO PLAY It's unfortunately true. The casino giant has announced that it is suspending development of a new casino resort in Atlantic City. I've got the story from the AC Press here--it's the best account, and doesn't just reprint the press release. This is too bad, because I think that MGM Mirage could do some great things in AC. Hopefully they will revive the project soon. The company made some valid points, and I think that they will evenutally end up with a great casino in Atlantic City. In equally grim news, the Tropicana has fired or demoted 160 supervisors to effect a new paradigm of management. This should be great. Story here. LAS VEGAS, NV: FLY ME TO THE MOON Canadian entrepreneur Michael Henderson announced plans to build the Moon Casino and Resort somewhere in Las Vegas. The resort would feature 10,000 hotel rooms and several amenities and cost about $5 billion. Where this money is coming from, no one is saying, although the Sun article about it was gleefully skeptical. See the story here. It seems like such an easy idea to shoot down, it isn't any fun. I'd feel better about investing if there was an actual construction site, though. In unrelated news, the old El Rancho Vegas site is now off the market. Story here from the LV Sun. VINTON, LOUISIANA: RACINO A SUCCESS The first casino at a racetrack in Louisiana is off to a great start. Story here from the LV Sun.
Tuesday, October 15, 2002 SITE NOTE (TV UPDATE)
Well, it's not really a site note, but it's not news, either. I'm going to be on CNN's Moneyline tomorrow, (Weds, 10/16). Lou Dobbs is doing his thing from the Bellagio, and I'm going to have a brief taped segment. It'll probably just be 30 seconds of me talking over B-roll woven into a larger piece, but it's a pretty big shot for me. Moneyline airs 6pm ET, 3pm PT, and is re-aired at 11:30pm ET, 8:30pm PT. During the taped interview, I talked briefly about the state of the industry today. It was a lot of fun to do. Sometimes it's hard for me to believe that a guy who, two years ago, was sitting in a surveillance room trying to stay awake is allowed to pontificate on the state of the gaming industry on a national news network. For me, obviously, this is a big deal. For the site, it will hopefully generate some traffic (hopefully they will put a shot of the site up--I know they shot it). And that's all I've got to say about that.
Monday, October 14, 2002 LAS VEGAS, NV: MINI-VENETIAN, BINION'S OK, BOO GA LOO NO-NO
LVSI, which owns the Strip's posh Venetian casino resort, wants to open up a mini-version in Omaha. Under their plan, it would be the only casino and would help to lure conventions to the city. Story here from the LV Sun. The forced closure of part of the venerable Binion's Horseshoe downtown was more a misunderstanding than anything else, according to owner Becky Behnen. The casino is doing fine. Story here from the LV Sun. From "The Truth Is Stupider Than Fiction" Department: Take a deep breath before reading this one. Back in April, a promoter was trying to put together a huge outdoor Halloween celebration on the Strip, something that would rival New Year's Eve. The genius plan was to close down the Strip for a "parade and celebration" called the Boo-Ga-Loo, whatever that means. Before you email in, I know it's supposed to be "boogaloo," with "boo," as in scary, but it's still really lame. Why not just call it Halloween Havoc? Let's take a moment to reflect. Las Vegas Boulevard is THE major artery in a town that has thousands of tourists and conventioneers going to and from various destinations, including the airport, every day. And they were going to close this so people in costumes could parade down it? I could never dream up something so completely stupid. Notwithstanding the fact that I think Halloween shouldn't be celebrated by anyone over, say, 11, this is just monumentally without logic or foresight. Apparently, for once, everyone else balked at this horribly bad idea, and the parade will not happen. As an ex-surveillance operator, my first thought was: "people in masks + casinos + traffic problems + guaranteed slow police response = huge trouble." So luckily this bad idea will not become reality. Story here from the LVRJ. ATLANTIC CITY, NJ: CASINOS RENOVATING CARNEGIE LIBRARY No, they won't use it for additional slot space. It's going to be a satellite campus of Stockton College, specializing in hospitality management. This is bringing back memories for me....the Ocean One Mall...the third floor...a fledgling satellite hospitality program. Good luck, folks! Story here from the LV Sun. TUNICA, MS: DECADE OF CONSTRUCTION Anyone who hasn't watched professional wrestling over the past year and hasn't seen the Undertaker's "Decade of Destruction" t-shirt won't find that funny, but it is funny. Trust me. Anyway, casino gaming has been rolling for ten years in Tunica, and many people are happy with the results. Story here from the LV Sun. That's all the news for today.
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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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