Hard sell too edgy

The Hard Rock hotel-casino, right down the street from me at Harmon and Paradise, will pay a $300,000 fine to settle a Gaming Control Board complaint that its billboards ads not only pushed the limits of good taste (something that is de rigeur in this town), but actually violated the gaming code. From the LV Sun:

The five-page settlement document, signed by Kevin Kelley, chief executive officer of the Hard Rock, and representatives of the Gaming Control Board, said the Hard Rock's efforts to present a satirical message went too far.

"The Hard Rock had a subjective belief that the advertisement described ... was satirical in nature and never acted intentionally to promote or encourage cheating at gambling through that advertisement," the settlement said. "However, the Hard Rock now understands and agrees that as a gaming licensee, there are some subjects such as condoning cheating at gambling that are not suitable for its commercial expression."

The two ads addressed in the settlement were noted in the initial Gaming Control Board complaint, filed in January. One ad shows a man and a woman on a gaming table, surrounded by playing cards and poker chips, with the caption, "There's always a temptation to cheat."

The other ad reads, "At the Hard Rock Hotel, we believe in your Monday night rights: large quantities of prescription stimulants (and) having wives in two states ... Tell your wives you are going; if they are hot, bring them along."

Las Vegas SUN: Casino to pay $300,000 fine

Like I've said before, this kind of thing usually gets the casino a lot of free publicity, but I have to say that these ads were just plain stupid. Granted, most people who choose to spend their free time gambling are probably not intellectual heavyweights, but these ads, to me, are so stupid that they become reverse advertising, convicing people to go elsewhere.

Remember the "Dude, we're getting a Dell" kid? This is in the same category--it probably drives people away. I know that "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" (unless you catch an STD or get pregnant, I guess, in which case you bring a souvenir home with you), but inciting people to cheat--on their spouses or at casino games--is too much.

The one about the perscription stimulants and polygamy is pretty dumb, too. "If they are hot, bring them along," sounds like something a 15 year-old would say. This whole campaign begs the question: Who wrote this crap?
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Dollar and a (bad) dream

Remember the New Mexico casino whose ads suggested that gambling could solve financial problems? I've found an even more predatory radio ad that is apparently under the radar for now. While listening the the Jim Rome Show on AM-1460 here in Vegas, I heard a spot this morning for Dollar Finance. I didn't catch the whole thing, but the gist of it was that someone got a loan, hit four aces that night, and paid them back the next day with only a day's interest. Also, when you pay off your "loan," you get a free scratch-off ticket and a chance to win $10,000.

This is just wrong. Hopefully, the mainstream media or even the Gaming Control Board will pick this up. For the record, a great way to end up in poverty is to borrow money with the expectation of winning it back at gambling.
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Amazon update

Amazon.com has at last posted the correct cover art for Suburban Xanadu. After waiting for months, I took matters into my own hands and sent them the correct art myself. So now everyone can see that the pink and black attack is back!

Hopefully, this augurs well for the addition of the other content I sent, which includes the full endorsements (including Steve Wynn's) and an excerpt.

By the way, if you've read the book and liked it, please review it. I'd be grateful, and will definitely sign a copy for you if you bring it to Vegas (or if you run into me in my travels).
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posted by Dave at 3:43 PM