Casino [ptz]

ASSORTED NOTES

Long time no blog, I know, but I've been working hard nonetheless. I gave a paper about the NY-NY tribute at the ACA/PCA conference in New Orleans and have been generally overwhelmed with work.

I've gotten a student to help out formatting the images for the Neon Survey, and some images are already up. This is going to be a great addition to the site.

I've also been working on an online exhibit for the Harrah's Collection. This will be a truly cool thing when it is finished. Bill will be proud, even though I'm not a "car guy."
That's funny because Bill Harrah reportedly only trusted advisors and associates who shared his own interests, such as classic automobiles. I have access to literally hundreds of pictures of Bill with cars. UNLV Special Collections now sports a great display of some of his hood ornaments, as well.

When I was busting my chops getting a Ph.D., no one ever told me that I'd be designing websites with car ornaments. One never knows what the future holds.

SUBURBAN XANADU UPDATE

The release date for my first book is rapidly approaching--June 15, at the latest. I'm still planning a book tour. So remember, if you work in a bookstore or library or just want me to come to wherever to talk and sign books, email me. I've been told that I'm a good speaker, and casino history is a great topic, so it's a can't miss proposition. Guaranteed entertainment! Plus I'm still young and hungry enough to do really foolish things to try to generate excitement and interest in what will surely be an important work in the canon of the new urban history. ;)

If you write for a newspaper or magazine and would like a review copy, email me as well. I'll see what I can do. If you just want to read the book, please spend the $22.95 and buy a copy.

NEW FRONTIERS IN GAMBLING/CRIME RESEARCH

With the first book out of the way, I'm working on a second. This one is about the Wire Act, passed in 1961to fight bookmaking but used today to try to stop internet gambling. I am making the tranisiton from a gambling historian to a criminal historian. I love the way that sounds--like going from a gateway vice to a hardcore one.

#1 GAMING CONFERENCE!

Yes, the 12th International Conference on Gambling and Risk-Taking is being held in Vancouver May 26-30. I'll be presenting a paper about the NY-NY Tribute (a different one from the popular culture one, trust me) and chairing a discussion on graduate gaming research. This is a great conference, and if you are interested in gaming you should definitely attend.

NEWS AND COMMENTS

Today's big news: gambling expansion. States everywhere are looking to use gaming revenue to bridge budget gaps. They should buy a few copies of Suburban Xanadu and read it first, because the increased availability of gaming may lead to a backlash.

In other news, the Internet Gambling Funding Prohibition Act is working its way through Congress. I prefer the alternate bill that would allow for the study of internet gambling. This is more stuff that I talk about in Suburban Xanadu that is in the news. Wow. I want to know exactly how all this is going to work, and what the ethical difference between allowing, even encouraging citizens to gamble by buying lottery tickets and visiting commercial casinos and betting on sports online. I personally don't gamble at all, but it seems that if you say that it is acceptable in one case, it should be acceptable in the other as well.

LAS VEGAS: MMA CITY?

There are going to be 2 quality mixed martial arts/no holds barred/ultimate fighting events in Vegas soon. King of the Cage: Sin City is going to be at the new Orleans Arena next Friday, May 16, and UFC 43 will be at the Thomas and Mack Center, which is about 100 yards from my office. I have no excuse not to go to both, so I'm going. I'm looking forward to seeing some great fights. Both cards look solid and it's great to see the sport gain in popularity.

That's all for today. I will hopefully find time to post next week.
posted by Dave at 3:30 PM