Casino [ptz]
formerly the Gaming Studies Weblog

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Thursday, December 04, 2003

Indian New Deal?

No, I'm not posting something about John Collier's tenure as commissioner of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. It's actually a plan to license and regulate two Indian tribes to run casinos in Pennsylvania as if they were any other commerical casino. From The Philadelphia Inquirer Online:

Indian gaming in Pennsylvania, a concept once pronounced dead at the state Capitol, has been revived in a Senate bill that would provide licenses to two Oklahoma tribes - if they agreed to be treated as any other gambling entity.

The proposal, described by gaming experts as a first, would spare the Delaware Tribe and the Delaware Nation years of legal battles in the uncertain pursuit of federal approval to run gambling halls. In exchange, they would be taxed and regulated by the state.

The bill, being drafted by Sen. Vince Fumo (D., Phila.) as the latest in a series of bills to legalize slot machines in Pennsylvania, represents the first attempt to expand the slots proposal to include the Indian tribes since they surfaced in May. It also sheds light on the strategy that the tribes will use to press their case.

The prospects of the bill, however, are uncertain.

A top Fumo aide said that Indian gaming would be a reality and that the senator preferred it to be regulated, but critics say the tribes have little chance of winning their case.

Gov. Rendell, who was not available for comment yesterday, has been dismissive of the tribes' land claim in Northampton County. Senate Republicans, who must give the minority Democrats the votes they need to pass any slots bill, are likely to oppose it.

FULL STORY

This is an interesting development, but it isn't fully fleshed out, and given that the governor is on record as being opposed to Indian gaming, it doesn't seem likely anytime soon.
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posted by Dave at 9:46 AM

Wednesday, December 03, 2003

Trop tries TV

Let's say you're a devotee of the sedentary, couch potato lifestyle that has helped Americans become progressively fatter and less physically fit over the past few decades, and you want to combine two physically undemanding activities. Well then, the Tropicana in Atlantic City is the place for you. In its new Crystal Room slot parlor, the Tropicana has televisions affixed to each of the 94 slots. From The Press of Atlantic City:

Gamblers who can afford the $1 to $100 wagering minimums are treated to 34 cable channels, three music channels and movies on demand.

Plop down in the fully adjustable seat, raise your feet onto the built-in footrest, grab the remote, don the complimentary earphones and enjoy the show on an 8-inch LCD screen.

'This is for our A-plus customers,' said Dennis Gomes, president of resort operations for Tropicana parent Aztar Corp.

Adorned with crystal chandeliers and sconces, the Crystal Room opened Thanksgiving weekend at a cost of $3 million.

As luxurious and relaxing as the room might be, Gomes said, it is foremost a vehicle for Tropicana to make money. In other words, gamble or get out.

'We'll watch to see if people aren't playing, but we can do that with any machine in the building,' he said.

It remains to be seen whether the personal TVs encourage players to gamble longer or divert players' attention and result in less gambling.

'I'm going to do more playing than watching, but it's nice to look at while you're playing,' said Barbara Leathers, 66, a gambler from Durham, N.C.

She was more interested in the shrimp-and-sandwich tray delivered to her slot by a tuxedoed server.
FULL STORY

I remember a few years ago there was a modicum of fuss made over a combination slot machine/stationary bike. Perhaps the slot/TV says it all: people want to relax and gamble, without having to worry about exercising. Hence the interest in the shrimp and sandwhich tray. Combine this with the news that walking and talking at the same time may pose a health risk, and you've got all the justification you need to avoid any kind of activity.
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posted by Dave at 2:25 PM

Look into the Strip's future

There was an interesting article in today's RJ about the expansion tower at the Bellagio. Apparently, MGM Mirage execs are already looking to the day in April 2005 when they have to compete with Steve Wynn's new resort. From reviewjournal.com:

The scheduled December 2004 completion date for the $375 million Spa Tower project is just in time for a revitalized Bellagio to face an expected challenge for Strip supremacy from Steve Wynn's $2 billion Wynn Las Vegas, set to open in April 2005.

Randy Morton, a 20-year Four Seasons executive lured to Bellagio three years ago as hotel operations vice president, doesn't mention Wynn by name, but the Bellagio boss's goal clashes directly with Wynn's.

"Our goal is to stay on top forever," Morton said. "We want to be the top casino resort in the world and that's something we're working on every day."

Dave Ehlers of Las Vegas Investment Advisors said that in pure return-on-invested-capital terms Bellagio ranks behind a number of casinos in less competitive, relatively underserved markets.

"But by Las Vegas standards, Bellagio is very good," Ehlers said. "And, as a single property, Bellagio is unquestionably considered the best by premium players."

FULL STORY

Since the emergence of the Strip in the early 1950s as a true vacation destination, casino operators have competed with each other in trying to build the biggest pool, largest neon sign, and the biggest revue extravaganza. Competition is what made the Strip what it is. So that desire to be number one--or just to remain competitive--will continue to drive Strip operators to expand, retool, and improve.
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posted by Dave at 2:13 PM

Gaming Studies@UNLV | Casino [ptz] | Archives | Email

I am the maker of rules, dealing with fools/I can cheat you blind

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.

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You can't win money here, but you can take a quiz or two.

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...

Gambling quiz

(view the Scoreboard)

This quiz features ten questions about gambling, mostly in casinos.

2. Do you know casino history?

Take the...

Suburban Xanadu quiz

(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.

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Read about strange slots and more.

Classic posts

Bashing the Donald

Betting on cheating

Las Vegas bites!

What happens in Vegas...

Porn or advertising?

New Jerseyans talk funny?

Mystery Creature from Maryland
Update: Mystery solved

Seven questions

Dave's book quoted in Parliament

Bird gets Trumped
(Fuzzy Zoeller unleashed)

Merger update, 7/04

A game called hope

Casino blocking monument?

Slots, urban design, and destination dreams

BJ by the sea

News of the Inane

Dogs not playing poker

My book is a buzz word

Mega merger mania

Stripped of dignity?

Of sleaze and goldmines

The Real Addicts

WSOP thoughts ('04)

Sweet Georgia busted

Secret to a long life

Don't be afraid, the clown's afraid too

Failed casino marketing

Out of this world?

It's a Hard Rock Life

Hastert blasts casinos/2 tiger tales

Russian Regulation?

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In Memoriam

Claude Trenier

Shannon Bybee

Si Redd

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These bloggers are in the Casino[ptz] club.

Other blogs

Alberta Gaming Research Institute Library

Bill Barol's Blather

Love and Casino War

Online Casino Legalization Blog

Poker Babe's
Game Journal

Presence of Mind

PokerProf's Pokerblog

Email Dave if you want him to add your blog.

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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.

Atlantic City, NJ-you can see Dave's home in this photo, but he won't say where.

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.

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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.

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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.

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Just because

Dave just likes these images, and hopes you do as well.

You'll find strange non-sequiturs in many Las Vegas casinos, but none as heart-warming (literally) as this dragon. He once belched flames and terrifying townsfolk, but now he stands watch over some nickel progressives.

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,
like the moon
you are changeable,
ever waxing
and waning;
hateful life
first oppresses
then soothes
as fancy takes it;
poverty and power,
it melts them like ice.

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.

people have panned, tilted and zoomed since July 2004.