LasVegas

noreply@blogger.com (mateQ) — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 15:06:00 +0000

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (also known as CSI: Las Vegas) is an American crime drama television series, which premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000. The show was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer. It is filmed primarily at Universal Studios in Universal City, California.

The series follows Las Vegas criminalists as they use physical evidence to solve grisly murders in this unusually graphic drama, which has inspired a host of other cop-show 'procedurals.' An immediate ratings smash for CBS, the series mixes deduction, gritty subject matter and popular characters. The network quickly capitalized on its hit with spin-offs CSI: Miami and CSI: NY.

The Hangover (film)

noreply@blogger.com (mateQ) — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 17:33:00 +0000

The Hangover is a 2009 American comedy film directed by Todd Phillips, written by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, and produced by Todd Phillips and Daniel Goldberg. The film was produced by Legendary Pictures for Warner Bros. Pictures. It stars Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha, Mike Tyson and Heather Graham. The plot follows four friends who travel to Las Vegas for a bachelor party, only to wake up the next morning not remembering a thing and missing the groom, whose wedding is scheduled to occur the next day. The film was inspired by the filmmakers' real-life misadventures, and was released in North America on June 5, 2009, to critical praise and box office success, and going on to win awards including the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy .From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Caesars Palace

noreply@blogger.com (mateQ) — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 16:12:00 +0000

Caesars Palace is a luxury hotel and casino located on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, an unincorporated township in the Las Vegas metropolitan area. Caesars Palace is owned and operated by Harrah's Entertainment. Caesars is located on the west side of the Strip, between the Bellagio and the Mirage.

Caesars has 3,348 rooms in five towers: Augustus, Centurion, Forum, Palace, and Roman. The Forum tower features guest suites with 1,000 square feet of space.

In 1962, Jay Sarno, a cabana motel owner, used ten million dollars that had been lent to him by the Teamsters Central States Pension Fund to begin plans for a hotel on land owned by Kirk Kerkorian. Sarno would later act as designer of the hotel he planned to construct.

Building of the 14-story Caesars Palace hotel began in 1962. That first tower would have 680 rooms on the 34 acre (138,000 m²) site.

Sarno struggled to decide on a name for the hotel. He finally decided to call it Caesars Palace because he thought that the name Caesar would evoke thoughts of royalty because of Roman general Julius Caesar. Sarno felt that guests should feel they were at a king's home while at his hotel. It is called "Caesars" and not "Caesar's" because every guest is a Caesar.

Sarno contracted many companies to build the hotel, from the Roman landscapes it presents, to the water fountains that have been stages of various events and the hotel's swimming pools.

Rear of Caesars Palace

An interior view of the Forum Shops at Caesars

On August 5, 1966, the hotel was inaugurated, with Andy Williams and Phil Richards providing entertainment; they both played Julius Caesar at a play that night. Two days later, Latin bandleader Xavier Cugat and flamenco guitarist Charo became the first couple to marry in the new establishment.

On December 31, 1967, Evel Knievel unsuccessfully tried to jump the hotel's water fountain with his motorcycle.

On July 15, 1969, executives lay ground on an expansion area of the hotel, and they buried a time capsule in the area, but the time capsule was stolen days later.

In 1973, the Del Webb company was contracted to build a 16-story building adjacent to the Palace. That project was finished in 1974.

Many top performers, such as Liberace, George Burns, Diana Ross, Cher, Julio Iglesias, Judy Garland, David Copperfield, Gloria Estefan, and most notably Frank Sinatra have performed at the hotel.

1980s

In 1980, Gary Wells gained much media coverage, and much physical suffering, when he unsuccessfully tried to jump a motorcycle over a water fountain at the Caesars Palace. He sustained injuries to many different parts of his body.

In 1982 Ronnie Vannucci, now playing in Las Vegas-based The Killers, became the youngest musician to play with a band at age six in a lounge in Caesars Palace.

The Las Vegas Grand Prix car race (a Formula One World Championship event) was held at Caesars in 1981 and 1982. After Watkins Glen race course was removed from the schedule after 1980, Formula 1 put an event in Las Vegas for the 1981 campaign. The new race was not popular among the drivers, primarily because of the desert heat. The track was laid out in the parking lot of the Caesars Palace hotel and was surprisingly well set up for a temporary circuit: wide enough for overtaking, it provided ample run-off areas filled with sand, and had a surface that was as smooth as glass. Its counter-clockwise direction, however, put a tremendous strain on the drivers' necks. When Nelson Piquet clinched his first World Championship by finishing fifth in 1981, it took him fifteen minutes to recover from heat exhaustion. The 1982 race was won by Michele Alboreto in a Tyrrell, but the race was not renewed for the following season due to poor attendance.

During the 1980s, the hotel opened an Atari game room that had over 60 Atari video game arcade machines.

In 1989, Robbie Knievel successfully completed what his father could not do years before by completing the fountain jump.

Several championship boxing matches were held in Caesars Outdoor Arena. Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvelous Marvin Hagler, Thomas Hearns, and Roberto Duran all headlined here, along with Larry Holmes against both Muhammad Ali and Gerry Cooney. Also three bouts between Evander Holyfield and Riddick Bowe were contested here, one of which included the infamous "Fan Man" incident which saw a parachuter with a fan attached to his back parachute down to the ring in the middle of the fight. Michael Moorer also won the Undisputed Heavyweight Championship of the World when he defeated Holyfield. The fight led to Holyfield's first of several retirements. Oscar De La Hoya also headlined several boxing cards here during the mid-to-late '90s, as did Shane Mosley.

1990s

he hotel's management wanted it to have a new, family-oriented atmosphere as the 1990s approached, a trend mirrored by many of the big Las Vegas resorts. This move was not strange to Las Vegas hotel owners, as most hotels there were planning to modernize anyway by adding more children features and making Las Vegas hotels seem more family friendly and less gambler oriented.

In 1992, The Forum Shops at Caesars opened; it was one of the very first venues in the city where shopping, particularly at high-end stores, was an attraction in itself. The fourth phase opened on October 22, 2004. It now has the 2nd built circular escalator in the USA. The other one is at the Westfield San Francisco Centre.

WrestleMania IX, one of the annual World Wrestling Federation spectacles promoted by Vince McMahon, was held here in 1993. The theme was "The World's Largest Toga Party".

In 1993, the NBC game show Caesars Challenge was taped here.

Magician David Copperfield was a headliner for several stints in the Circus Maximus Theatre.

Comedian George Burns had performed there a number of times in the early '90s and had stated that he wanted to perform there on his 100th birthday but could not due to failing health.

In the summer of 1996, a venue opened known as "Caesar's Magical Empire", showcasing major magicians such as Whit Haydn, Jon Armstrong, Jeff "Magnus" McBride and Lee Asher in a dinner theater. The show was profitable, but was eventually closed on November 30, 2002 to make room for Celine Dion's new venue.

Over the years, the hotel has been owned by various companies, including Sheraton and The Hilton International Corporation. Caesars Entertainment (originally known as Park Place Entertainment) bought the property in 1999 before it merged with Harrah's in 2005. That year, Caesars Palace was affected by a large flood.

2000s

Caesars has opened the Roman Plaza, an open-air area with a cafe on the corner, and the Colosseum theater, where Céline Dion (A New Day...) and Elton John (The Red Piano) are regular performers. The Colosseum was specifically built for Dion's show, A New Day..., a spectacular produced by former Cirque du Soleil director Franco Dragone. Dion's show was also notable for having some of the highest ticket prices for any show in the city, with seats as high as $200 each; nonetheless, the show regularly sells out.

On October 2, 2004, big-time boxing returned to the Palace, as Wladimir Klitschko and former Olympian Jeff Lacy headlined a card televised on Showtime.

Caesars Palace opened the Augustus Tower in August 2005. It stands 46 floors high and is perpendicular to the Strip.

In 2005, Harrah's Entertainment acquired Caesars Entertainment and became the owner of Caesars Palace.

On May 4, 2006, Mike Metzger became the first person to ever backflip on a motorcycle over the fountains.

Future

With the success of the Augustus Tower, Harrah's Entertainment is planning a $1 billion expansion and upgrade to the famed resort. The expansion will include another hotel tower and a sports complex replacing the events center.

New features include:
A new 29-story, 1,017-room hotel tower adjacent to the Palace Tower, which will frame the pool area at the back of the property along with an extension of the existing Convention Center.
An additional 37,000 sq. ft. of casino space and about 110,000 sq. ft. of added retail and restaurants will cover the area closest to the strip replacing the new outdoor Roman Plaza.
A “pedestrian promenade", with several decorative fountains surrounded by landscaping which will guide strip-walkers into Caesar's domain. Underneath the promenade, Caesars will excavate a parking garage, with 389 valet-parking spaces. The timeline for construction was undisclosed.

In May of 2007, Bette Midler was announced in a press conference as Dion's formal replacement. Midler will reportedly only perform about 100 shows a year, with Elton John continuing to perform his popular Red Piano show 50 nights a year while Midler is on hiatus. There is also a widespread but unconfirmed rumor that Cher, now in semi-retirement following her very successful Farewell Tour, could also potentially return to the stage to alternate headlining with Midler for the remainder of the year.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

New York-New York Hotel & Casino

noreply@blogger.com (mateQ) — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 11:17:00 +0000

New York-New York Hotel & Casino is a hotel and casino located on the famed Las Vegas Strip at 3790 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, Nevada. It is one of the largest casinos owned by MGM Mirage.

New York-New York uses the New York City theme of its name in many ways. Its architecture creates an impression of the New York City skyline; the hotel includes several towers configured to resemble New York City skyscrapers, such as the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building. In front of the property is a pool representing New York Harbor, with a 150 ft (46 m) tall (half-scale) replica of the Statue of Liberty, a roller coaster, and replicas of the Brooklyn Bridge, Soldiers and Sailors Monument, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and Grand Central Terminal, among other well-known structures. Within the resort, particular gambling areas, bars, eating areas and meeting rooms are named after New York City neighborhoods or landmarks. The main casino area, for example, is named after Central Park, while the "Village Eateries" food court is modeled after New York City's Greenwich Village, even including real menus from New York Chinese takeout restaurants taped to the doors of the mock apartment buildings. New York-New York uses the trademarked slogan "The Greatest City in Las Vegas".

The resort is located on the northwest corner of the Tropicana - Las Vegas Boulevard intersection. At street level, pedestrians are blocked from crossing by concrete barriers. Instead, New York-New York is linked by overhead pedestrian bridges to its neighboring casinos to the south (the Excalibur, across Tropicana Avenue) and to the east (the MGM Grand, across the Strip).

The property opened on January 3, 1997. The project, which was first announced in 1994, was a joint venture of MGM Grand Inc. and Primadonna Resorts.

After the September 11, 2001 attacks, people spontaneously sent various tributes to New York-New York, especially T-shirts from police, fire and rescue departments around the country. These are displayed along the fence in front of the "Lady Liberty" replica. Eventually, they added a permanent memorial. The twin towers of the World Trade Center are not included in the skyscrapers depicted in its facade.

The Roller Coaster at New York-New York, formerly known as 'Manhattan Express', travels through the property's interior and exterior, and has cars painted to resemble a traditional Checker Cab; the coaster is 203 ft (62 m) tall, has a maximum drop of 144 ft (44 m), and reaches speeds up to 67 mph (108 km/h). The ride has recently undergone a variety of enhancements including the introduction of a magnetic braking system and new trains from Premier Rides.

New York-New York is also home to Zumanity, the third show from Cirque du Soleil to take up permanent residence in Las Vegas and the first to be directed primarily toward adult audiences. It is the only permanent Cirque show to restrict admission to those over 18 years of age. The theatre is arranged as a cabaret, with sofas and bar stools complementing the standard theatre seats. The Master of Ceremonies for the show is Joey Arias, a drag queen hailing from New York City.

An ESPN Zone is located in the casino, accessible from street level.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Luxor Hotel

noreply@blogger.com (mateQ) — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 13:41:00 +0000

The Luxor Hotel is a hotel and casino located on the famed Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada (but like many other hotels on the Strip it uses a Las Vegas address) and was one of the resort city's first fully-themed megaresorts. Ground was broken for the Luxor in 1991, the same year that construction began on the Treasure Island and the current MGM Grand. It has an Ancient Egyptian motif and contains a total of 4,407 rooms lining the interior walls of a hollow pyramid and contained within twin ziggurat towers that were built as later additions. The hotel is named after the city of Luxor (ancient Thebes) in Egypt, the site of the Valley of the Kings, Karnak and Luxor Temples, and scores of other pharaonic monuments — but no pyramids.

In July 2007, owner MGM Mirage announced plans to thoroughly renovate the Luxor, spending $300 million to remodel 80 percent of Luxor's public areas, removing much of the ancient Egyptian theme and replacing it with more adult-oriented and modern lounges, restaurants and clubs.

The Luxor is located on the southern end of the Las Vegas Strip, opposite the McCarran International Airport. The resort is flanked by the Mandalay Bay to the south and by the Excalibur to the north; all three are connected by free express and local trams. All three properties were built by Circus Circus Enterprises, which later became Mandalay Resort Group.

When it opened on October 15, 1993, the pyramid was the tallest building on the strip;[2] it cost $375 million to build. A theater and two additional hotel towers totaling 2,000 rooms were added in 1998 for $675 million. In June 2004, the Mandalay Resort Group was purchased by MGM Mirage, adding this hotel to its vast array of properties on the "Strip".

When the resort opened, it featured a more heavily Egyptian-themed interior, including a river that encircled the casino with a ferry that would carry guests to their inclinator core at the corners of the pyramid. The ride was then turned into a river ride that passed by many pieces of ancient artwork after people complained that the ferry service took too long. Most of the ancient Egypt theme and the river ride were taken away as part of a campaign to tailor the property towards more upscale tastes in 1995. According to the unofficial, albeit popular, ghost story, the Nile River attraction was removed because guests kept seeing ghosts of the three workers killed during the Luxor's construction whenever the river passed through dark tunnels.

The resort has been home to some very popular entertainment attractions in Las Vegas. The main level featured the nightclub, RA, which closed indefinitely on July 22, 2006. From 2000 to 2005, the Luxor Theatre was the home of the enormously popular performance-art show Blue Man Group, which has since moved to The Venetian. On February 15, 2006, the main theatre became the home of the musical Hairspray which ran until 2006.

In 2006, MGM-Mirage began renovating Luxor. Rooms in the East and West Towers have been refurnished. Two upscale restaurants, Isis and Sacred Sea Room, closed. The RA nightclub, which had previously been one of the most successful in the city but had been seeing reduced attendance in recent years, was shuttered. Replacing it is the Las Vegas branch of LAX, a Los Angeles nightclub, which opened on August 31, 2007, in an event hosted by Britney Spears. Also advertised yet unopened is a restaurant named Aspen 702.

Illusionist Criss Angel signed a deal in 2006 to film episodes of his TV series Mindfreak at the hotel. Angel currently has a production office and store in the Luxor. In 2008, Criss Angel will star in a new magic-themed Cirque du Soleil production at Luxor.

The Luxor is among the most recognizable hotels on the strip because of its striking design. Designed by renowned hotel architect Veldon Simpson, the main portion of the hotel is a 350-foot-high (106 meters), 30-story pyramid of black glass (in comparison, the Great Pyramid of Giza tops out at 450 ft, or 138 m). The hotel is marked by a large obelisk with the name of the property in lighted letters, while the porte-cochere travels underneath a massive recreation of the Great Sphinx of Giza.

The tip of the pyramid contains a fixed-position spotlight that points directly upward – it is the brightest beam in the world, and is visible from anywhere in the Las Vegas valley at night, and can be seen at flight level from above Los Angeles, California, over 275 miles (440 km) away.[citation needed] At ground level, on clear nights, the beam could also be seen as far south as Laughlin and even as far north as Mesquite or Beatty. It is directly straight ahead on US-93 in Arizona, north of Kingman, before reaching the Hoover Dam. In the spring, the bright light attracts huge numbers of moths into the light beam, creating a phenomenon that has been likened to snow. The beam is currently powered by 39 Xenon lamps operating at 7 kilowatts each at an hourly operating cost of $53 (lamps, repairs, and electricity costs). The beam's output is rated at 41.5 gigacandela. This translates to 30.2 billion lumens.

Paris Las Vegas

noreply@blogger.com (mateQ) — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 16:59:00 +0000

Paris Las Vegas is a hotel and casino located on the famed Las Vegas Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA , that is owned and operated by Harrah's Entertainment. As its name suggests, its theme is the city of Paris in France; it includes a 1/2 scale, 540 foot (164.6 m) tall replica of the Eiffel Tower, a neon sign in the shape of the Montgolfier balloon, a two-thirds size Arc de Triomphe and a replica of La Fontaine des Mers. The front facade of the building suggests the Paris Opera House and the Louvre.

The Paris is linked via an underground tunnel to its sister property, Bally's Las Vegas. It also is linked to the Las Vegas Monorail.

The project was originally announced by Bally's Entertainment, owner of the adjacent Bally's Las Vegas.

Ground was broken for the Paris on April 17, 1997. It opened September 1, 1999 with fireworks being shot from the Eiffel tower. French actress Catherine Deneuve flipped a switch, turning on all of the Paris' lights.

Building began under Hilton Hotels, which purchased Bally Entertainment in 1996; Hilton's casinos were subsequently spun off into Park Place Entertainment, which purchased Caesars World in 2000 and changed its name to Caesars Entertainment in 2004.

At the time of its opening, the hotel ran amusing television advertisements throughout the United States implying that it had ensured the authenticity of its reproductions of Paris landmarks, culture and cuisine by looting the real city.

When the scale model of the Eiffel Tower was built, it was planned to be full scale, but the airport was too close and the tower had to be shrunk.

Paris cost USD $785 million to build, and occupies 24 acres (97,000 m²).

The casino itself contains a sky painted ceiling, a popular choice among Las Vegas resorts. Another unique aspect of Paris Las Vegas is that a back leg of their Eiffel tower actually comes down through the middle of the casino floor.

In November 2006, the Paris sports book was temporarily shut down pending an investigation of its employees for allegedly underreporting tips.

In 2007, Paris Las Vegas premiered their new show The Producers, headlined by Tony Danza. In addition, the resort also contains the Anthony Cools hypnosis show, many praised restaurants, the dance club Risque and is also well known for having the absolute best bathrooms on the strip.

Las Vegas Is More Than Casinos

noreply@blogger.com (mateQ) — Sat, 06 Oct 2007 15:27:00 +0000

Did you realize most people that fly to Las Vegas never experience many of the great attractions the Las Vegas area offers? Most people that arrive by plane, take a taxi or shuttle to their strip area hotel, stay there two to three days, and then head back to the airport. The Las Vegas area offers so much more so get out of the casino for a little while and see everything else the Las Vegas offers.

Hoover Dam, originally called Boulder Dam and Boulder Canyon Dam is located about 30 minutes southeast of Las Vegas in Black Canyon on U.S. 93. Construction of the dam began in 1930 and was completed in less than five years. The dam is named after Herbert Hoover, America's 31st president. The dam generates 4 billion kilowatts of electricity every year from the Colorado River that feeds it.

Red Rock Canyon is located just west of Las Vegas and has some spectacular views. From the red cliffs and desert beauty to the abundant wildlife, Red Rock Canyon is an oasis of natural beauty just a few minutes from the Las Vegas strip. There is a 13 mile scenic loop which offers views of the geological history of the canyon and there are many, many spectacular photo opportunities.

Mt. Charleston is located west of Las Vegas and is about a 30-45 minute drive depending on where in Las Vegas you are. Mt. Charleston is a wonderful place to visit anytime of the year. In the summer, temperatures typically are 20-30 degrees cooler than the Las Vegas Valley area which means when you are trying to beat the 115 degree heat, its about 80 degrees at Mt. Charleston.

Mt. Charleston is part of the Spring Mountain Range which has peaks from 3,000 to 12,000 feet. Mt. Charleston is the eighth highest peak in Nevada. There are many activities on the mountain including hiking, camping for both tent campers and RV's, skiing, and more. There is also lodging available at the Mt. Charleston Hotel and there are cabins you can rent.

Lake Mead was created by Hoover Dam and is the 16th largest man-made lake in the world. The lake is about 1.5 million acres and has 820 miles of shoreline. The lake area is managed by the National Park Service and offers year round recreation including boating, hiking, and swimming. Lake Mead also offers campgrounds, motels, RV parks, five marinas, beaches, restaurants and more.

Laughlin, NV is located about 90 miles south of Las Vegas and sits right on the banks of the Colorado River. Laughlin offers stunning views of the mountains and its riverside setting offers an enjoyable and peaceful alternative to the hustle and bustle of Las Vegas. There are many casinos in Laughlin, but its main appeal is the beauty of its location, just ask any of the five million visitors every year. Laughlin is the third most visited casino and resort destination in Nevada.

Valley of Fire is a 35,000 acre state park located about 45 minutes to one hour northeast of Las Vegas where visitors can see breath taking views of a valley formed millions of years ago. A two mile drive through the park gives you the chance to stop and explore the beauty of the valley. The park offers a couple trails to hike. A quarter mile hike allows you to get a glimpse of a water basin that was used as a hideout for an American Indian in the late 1800's. The longer of the two hikes is a three mile hike through Fire Canyon. This hike has some awesome views so be sure to bring the camera.

So the next time you visit Las Vegas, get out of the casino for a little while and you will quickly find out why so many people are making the Las Vegas area their new home.

noreply@blogger.com (mateQ) — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 19:29:00 +0000

Gambling in Las Vegas

noreply@blogger.com (mateQ) — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 18:25:00 +0000

The two letter noun that completely defines gambling is LAS VEGAS. It has become the dream destination of all gamblers and holiday seekers. The one place you can drain all the tension and if unlucky all the money is VEGAS. Set in the midst of the desert it makes an oasis worth reckoning. Offering free drinks and luxurious ambiances the casinos of Las Vegas are nothing short of wonderland. It’s so easy for a person to get lost in the hustle and bustle of the busy streets or overcrowded casino tables. One must be care full while in Vegas as you may loose more then you plan to earn.

The gambling sees no rich or poor. All you need is the willingness to spend the money you have, the daring to go for the risky bets and you never know you can be the crowned king of gambling. This is the philosophy of the gambling paradise on earth. The casinos are full of games to bet on. There are sophisticated games with latest technology and there can also be the most famous card games to play. For example, despite all the advances games like blackjack and poker remain most played.

Although the whole city and places around it are mushroomed with casinos and entertainment centers but some places are better then others. And the best Las Vegas has to offer can be found on the Fremont street. It has been the street where you can find the most advertised items that Las Vegas has. The El Cortez, the Horseshoe etc. are the major places to go and try luck. Gambling majors like Steve Wynn have brought about a completely fantastic arena for the gamblers by the name of Golden Nugget. It has an excellent accommodation and luxurious settings for the gambling lovers.

Gambling is not the exclusive domain of the rich and spendthrift. With the increasing numbers of non-gambling tourist making it to Vegas every year, it has become imperative for the city to have places that offer cheap and dilettante gambling. you can make it to the Klondike, one of the most inexpensive casinos, then you can fulfill your dream of sitting on an poker table and yet not be robbed of. Most non-gambling tourists look for such places.

You may also decide to come out of Vegas with riches in both hands. This requires a lot of skill and time to spend. One has to survey the prospects and identify the one where the odds to win are the best and then intelligently with some prior knowledge bet on it. All the time one is betting, temperament is one thing you can’t loose. You have to be cool and play on. Keeping in mid what you have with you and what are you willing to loose. There is no point wonder what went wrong in the last bet that you even lost your shirt in it. The only advise for new visitors is that, in a place that offers free drinks for a person betting any thing over 25 cents, better safe then sorry.

noreply@blogger.com (mateQ) — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 13:46:00 +0000

Las Vegas: Top 5 Poker Rooms in Las Vegas

noreply@blogger.com (mateQ) — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 19:15:00 +0000

If you want to experience live poker action at the gambling Mecca of the world, here is a guide to the top poker rooms in Las Vegas. You can read here updated info on each of the recommended Las Vegas poker rooms including their game variety, limits and tournaments.

1) Bellagio Casino and Hotel
If you want to experience Las Vegas poker action and hang out with pros, the Bellagio is the casino for you. It is one of the classiest poker rooms available in Las Vegas. It is so popular that you might find yourself spending over an hour at the waiting list and then find yourself stuck with a bunch of enthusiastic amateurs.

The games offered are Texas Holdem, Omaha and stud games, and you can also join one of the tournaments, but note that this involves playing No Limit Holdem. As for the table limits for the regular games, these are as follows:
a) Limit Holdem: 4/8, 8/16, 15/30, 30/60, 60/120, 75/150 dollars and up.
b) No Limit Holdem: 200 dollars buy ins with 2/5 dollars blinds.
c) Omaha: 6/12, 15/30, 20/40, 30/60, 50/100 dollars and up.
d) Stud Poker: 1/5, 4/8, 8/16, 30/60, 75/150 dollars and up.

2) Mirage Las Vegas
If you are tired of waiting for a table at Bellagio, the poker rooms at the Mirage can be an acceptable alternative. It resembles Bellagio's with its luxurious atmosphere, variety of games and its huge popularity among pros as well as tourists.

The games offered are Texas Holdem and Omaha, Stud and as the Bellagio, playing in a tournament means getting involved with No Limit Texas Holdem. As for the limits of each table in a regular game, they are:
a) Limit Holdem: 3/6, 6/12, 10/20, 20/40, 40/80 dollars.
b) No Limit Holdem: between 100 and 500 dollars buy ins with 2/5 dollars blinds.
c) Omaha: 5/10 dollars.
d) Stud Poker: 1/5, 5/10.

3) Excalibur Las Vegas
If you want to play in a less stressful environment, check out the poker room at the Excalibur casino. You can play spread limit Holdem with the lowest limits available on the Strip and enjoy beginners friendly rules such as limitation on three raises. The room has been renovated recently and the poker tables and seats are very comfortable.

At the Excalibur, you can play Texas Holdem or 7 Card Stud, and the limits are slightly lower:
a) Limit Holdem: 1/3, 2/6 dollars.
b) No Limit Holdem: 100 dollars buy ins with 1/3 dollars blinds.
c) 7 Card Stud: 1/5 dollars and up.

4) Binions' Horseshoe Hotel and Casino
If you want to play at the same room where the first WSOP took place, you must visit Binions' poker room. Although the casino has been renovated and went through many changes since the days of Nick the Greek, the ghosts of the past still haunt the place, but in a good way.

Here too you can play Texas Holdem, No Limit Holdem in their own tournament, Omaha and Stud games for the following limits:
a) Limit Holdem: 2/4, 4/8, 10/20 dollars.
b) No Limit Holdem: 100 dollars minimum buy ins with 1/2 dollars blinds.
c) Omaha: 4/8 dollars.
d) Stud Poker: 1/5.

5) Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino
If you want to follow in the steps of the 2006 WSOP champions, check out the Rio poker room. You might be surprised from the size and the small variety of games, but the thought of sharing the same location with contemporary gaming legends adds a certain appeal to it.

Other than taking part in the tournament where you can participate in some No Limit Holdem, you can pick from Texas Holdem, 7 Card Stud, Omaha or a few other variations according to what players request. The limits are as follows:
a) Limit Holdem: 2/4, 3/6, 4/8 dollars.
b) No Limit Holdem: 100 dollars minimum buy ins with 2/5 dollars blinds.

Las Vegas Top Three Land Casinos

noreply@blogger.com (mateQ) — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 19:14:00 +0000

Las Vegas is synonymous with casino playing and sports betting. While the desert blooms on its outskirts, the lights of this betting Mecca signal all who enter that this is not any other vacationing spot. Who does not recognize the big neon cowboy called Vegas Vic waving to all visitors: "Come In Come In" at the entrance to the Pioneer Club.

But, let us suppose you have decided to go to Vegas and have no idea which casinos to go to play. There are so many that you might just go to the nearest one and miss out on some real and true excitement. That is why you must read this article.

Why Do you Want to Go to a Casino?
Interested in the spectacular sights? These are the top three not to miss:
1) The Venetian
Why go to Venice if you can take a gondola ride through street just like you would in Venice? This is a definite MUST and especially so if you are going with a mate. For singles, this is still a great experience because the place is huge and the ride entertaining.

2) Paris
Similar in theme to the Venetian, this casino makes you feel like you have visited Paris in France with the imposing Eiffel Tower looming down on you from above, you can even take a fast-moving ride and wiz through and by the towers and other spectacular palaces and gardens.

3) The Bellagio
No waterfall or water fountain I have seen is as spectacular and colourful like the one sported at the Bellagio. Starting with blue and then changing from an orange to a fiery crimson tinge, I felt that the water has caught fire and I was witnessing something I had only read about: instant combustion.

More interested in playing a casino game than in sightseeing? Pick one of these three:
1) Excalibur
This is one of the most busiest corners of the entire globe. Their casino is the largest you will ever see and it addition it is not just a casino. Its designed in a medieval manor or palace kind of theme that makes you feel as if you have been jutted back in time. The tables are also easy to get a seat and the dealers are fair. Yes. The Excalibur is a great place to play your favourite casino games.

2) The Luxor
Why not enter ancient Egypt and place your bet as the age-old pharaohs look on? The casino hall at the Luxor is designed as the interior of the Great Pyramid in Egypt (actually it’s a lot better than the original one) and the betting floor is vast and encompassing of all games such as poker, craps, roulette, baccarat, blackjack and a large number of electronic slot machines.

3) The Hilton Casino Lounge
Amazing but true. The Hilton casino lounge supplies the best odds for sports and casino bets. Maybe it’s the fact that this is not one of the better known casinos in Las Vegas, or maybe its because its name is not synonymous with gambling, but in any case, if you are interested in pure card or slot gaming, this is the casino to go to.

Conclusion:
Las Vegas is one of the best locations for entertainment in the world and you can find all kinds of shows and theme parks there so you will not get bored no matter what you like. Relax, or take an active part in your trip. Learn more about casinos at http://www.gambling-portal.com because you will definitely enjoy your stay at Las Vegas.

noreply@blogger.com (mateQ) — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 19:05:00 +0000

This image of Las Vegas, Nevada, was acquired on August, 2000, and covers an area 42 km (25 miles) wide and 30 km (18 miles) long. The image displays three bands of the reflected visible and infrared wavelength region, with a spatial resolution of 15 meters. McCarran International Airport to the south and Nellis Air Force Base to the northeast are the two major airports visible. Golf courses appear as bright red meanders of grass-covered land.
The first settlement in Las Vegas (which is Spanish for “The Meadows”) was recorded back in the early 1850s when the Mormon Church, headed by Brigham Young, sent a mission of thirty men to construct a fort and teach agriculture to the Indians. Las Vegas became a city in 1905 when the railroad announced this city was to be a major division point. Prior to legalized gambling in 1931, Las Vegas was developing as an agricultural area. Las Vegas’ fame as a resort area became prominent after World War II. Image courtesy NASA/GSFC/MITI/ERSDAC/JAROS, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team

The Biggest Gamble in Your Life - Get Married In Las Vegas

noreply@blogger.com (mateQ) — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 14:54:00 +0000

The first ever wedding ceremony to take place in Vegas dates right back to the 1900s. For all young lovers wanting to tie the knot it only takes a couple of hours for your unity certificate to be stamped, once this is done you leave the chapel as a married couple to venture forth onto the streets of the worlds most glitzy neon city of lights for marriage celebrations.

Hearsay has it Rhett Butler (Clark Gable) was the first name of fame to get married in fabulous Vegas thus putting this city on the map as the most popular wedding destination for couples who want to take the plunge in style.

Five reasons why getting married in the Entertainment Capital of the World will make your day extra special...

1. Last hours of freedom as a (Singleton) in Vegas will prove to be a wonderful experience

Travel early before your set wedding date, this will give you time to enjoy the wonders of Las Vegas nicknamed Sin City by most singletons who make the most of their last few hours of freedom before getting hitched.
A night out on the strip is a must guaranteed to leave you mentally scarred with memories beyond your wildest dreams
There is so much going on here for both sexes, exciting shows/pampering parlours and gambling if this is your pleasure pastime.

2. Marry fast and easy

Now that you are prepared to take the plunge and get married to your loved one then what you need is a marriage licence and a valid form of identification, this can be your social security number along with a measly pittance sum of $55. This is all that is required to get married in Vegas. Whatever your preference you can call upon the king himself Elvis, priest or Commissioner to conduct your wedding service.

3. Marry in Style

Whether your Wedding party consists of 2 or 200 people Vegas can and will accommodate. Many wedding chapels offer variety packages, ranging from simple to grand. Readily available are flowers rings and witnesses. Impulse decisions for wedlock are catered for. If your guest list attendance is for 200 guests do not fret they are in a city famed for amusement where they will be entertained 24/7.

4. Amble and Gamble on Your Honeymoon

Unfortunately it has been known that many couples marriage are over before their honeymoon due to long flights ahead to consummate the marriage. No need to worry about that in Las Vegas, on leaving the chapel hence your honey moon begins. Amble along the strip and take in all the offerings, colourful water fountain displays luxurious hotels in abundance with bridal suites fit for a queen.

5. Settle in Las Vegas

Approx 2,000,000 Americans reside in Las Vegas. The infrastructure to combat hardy weather conditions was carefully put into force here. If undecided where to settle down after the marriage why not check out if the Entertainment city is for you and your partner

Breath taking scenery is an additional bonus to the gambling scene of Las Vegas. Besides the glimmer and shimmer from over a million light bulbs: you can visit Red Rock Canyon, Lake Mead or the Valley of Fire which are just a few sights guaranteed to take you're your breath away as it has for millions of others.

Why choose Nevada for raising a family? Why not, Nevada is home to some of the best schools in the United States, take Clark County's Green Valley High which has been recognized as one of the top 10 high schools in the US.

To get married and start a new life in Las Vegas is a dream come true for couples, well go live your dream. What do the Americans say? It's just AWESOME
Viva Las Vegas.

Best Places to See a celebrities in Las Vegas by Bob Johnson

noreply@blogger.com (mateQ) — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 14:54:00 +0000

If you want to spot celebrities, there's really only two places to go. But if you don't want to waste your time in LA or NY, then why not try Las Vegas? After all, you've got your basic celebrities singing and telling jokes on stage, your basic celebrities coming to town to gamble, and your basic celebrities coming to make movies and television shows.

And then there's always Paris Hilton checking up on her family's ownings.

When it comes to spotting hot celebs, you can take a chance on hanging out at casinos and waiting for them to drop a bundle at the poker table, or you can do something where you'll actually get a chance to see someone famous.

The Palms on Flamingo Road features two clubs well known for attracting the beautiful people. Paris herself prefers the Palms to her namesake hotel and Britney Spears makes it her prerogative to hang out there, too. At the N9NE steakhouse, musicians as varied as Paul Anka and Vince Neil have sung the praises of their porterhouses.

The best place in town to spot celebs, however, is probably the Fix at the Bellagio. Those who've peered through its large windows have been lucky enough to spot Spiderman himself, Tobey Maguire, as well as the king of the world, Leonardo DiCaprio.

Chances are probably not good for spotting famous people at Vegas' top landmarks. For one thing, the rich and famous usually make special arrangements to go to public places. And for another, Vegas' top landmark is so high that if you look down even the biggest celebrities look like ants. Great big honking fireants, maybe, but ants nonetheless. The Stratosphere tower is not only the tallest structure in Las Vegas, it's the tallest building west of the mighty Mississippi River. Much like the Eiffel Tower in Paris, you pretty much can't go anywhere without looking at it. Well, there is one place you can go. Did you know that Balzac-or was it Victor Hugo-hated the Eiffel Tower so much that he used to go there to do his writing because it was the only place in Paris he could find outdoors where he didn't have to look at it. Fortunately, if you don't appreciate the Stratosphere from afar and find yourself forced to go atop it, you'll find plenty to occupy your time, including a thrilling roller coaster ride.

The Stratosphere is also a great place to get a view of America's own fabulous city of lights. The 360 degree view of all that Vegas has to offer really can't be beat, especially at night. However, if you are the athletic type and want to get a view that most other tourists won't get, then try the Calico Tanks Trail. This 2.5 mile hike starts out at the Sandstone Quarry pullout on the Red Rock loop. Upon reaching the far point of the trail, pull out your camera and get ready for a view of Las Vegas that even those up on the Stratosphere tower won't get.

Playing Blackjack As A Part Time Profession

noreply@blogger.com (mateQ) — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 14:53:00 +0000

What is your day to day "job". Perhaps you are living out those golden years, have been retrenched or let go or are lucky enough to be a trust fund baby, or are otherwise working for a BOSS on the day or night slog. Ever thought of playing Blackjack as a profession- fulltime for a living, to earn a living? There is no reason to stop you, taken you know and can play Basic Strategy backwards flawlessly, have the ability to count a deck down in roughly 25 seconds using a counting method, and know 12 or more Advanced Strategies to increase your odds against the online casinos.

Confident about your playing ability and have no problem with the requirement listed above - you are on your way - YOU ARE A PROFESSIONAL BLACKJACK PLAYER already. People require 3 very important things before they will be convinced to becoming a full time professional player - family, security, and finance. In fact these 3 factors will influence any person in any major job decision they take throughout their life, oh....and....where they live! Living in Las Vegas or Nevada is not quite your family neighbourhood! The lifestyle of a professional gambler could also not be to the players' liking - nor to his family's and he may lose more than just his money in the end. They must also remember that Blackjack does not come with full medical or unemployment insurance, and that his finance might not be large enough to cover a long run of losses, or to make the big bets needed to get the big one! It is a big decision, as changing any job should be, perhaps it can be taken slowly?

What if the player could make some sort of achievable goal during the time he still ahs that stable job, family, security, and extra cash to play with? If a player has "professional Blackjack" skills, why not let it work for him?

For example: A part time player has a day job making just under $ 100 / day . He keeps records his play at the tables and has a win : loss ratio of about 5 : 1, (5 wins out of 6 times). He wins on average 6 units of his smallest wager / hour. So...., if the table minimum is $5 and he places bets of between $5 - $25, he normally takes in roughly $30 / hour. Sometimes he wins more and sometimes has also lost $300, but consistency will ultimately pay off.

If a player wants to average wins of $100 / playing session, the same amount equal to his daily earned after tax income. Taking the win : loss ratio of 5 : 1, and a implementing a stop-loss set at $100, this means he had to win $120 5 x to cover for a loss of $100 on the 6th session. The players' stop-loss is set at $100 (daily work rate and maximum amount he can afford to lose). Each playing session would be treated as if it was a day at work, so...off days would simply be breaking even. Though the game of Blackjack is win some, lose some, a player can effectively double his income per day.

Any good player keeping records can come up with a similar plan or system - if he earns $50 a day and wins 2 out of 3 times, he can set a stop loss of $50 and aim to win $75 each time he plays.

The system can help players contemplating the move to professional, see that the income can remain the same or even be better than their current income at their present "jobs". They can prove it to themselves and ...become profit from playing blackjack. This system will show players what they are capable of, over a period as long as they want, until they feel comfortable to make the move.

Players who make the move to Professional must also realise that this play is a long term game, and not short term as played before. Basic playing principles much the same : small wager with a Count of +1 and larger wagers above it. This strategy is a "slowly slowly" strategy that makes most Counters their money (% advantage x size of bankroll). There are players who no bankroll, and only their table betting to play with. Here a conservative approach must be used to remove volatility from the game.

Some players (Counters) use Jerry Patterson's "Takedown" strategy. Jerry is the Father of "Alternative Blackjack" with his mentions of biases and strings of small and large cards due to shuffling and card pick-up routines. He explains why and how counters can avoid being 'caught' by betting large amounts as the count rises. "Takedown" is a method of betting for non-counters and Jerry explains that players should bet as the count drops, not as it rises, as it is now that the 10s are coming out.

Most successful Counters use a bankroll and increase their advantage when placing each wager based on the count, and end up earning more money long term, riding out the swings of the game. One such swing can result in a player quitting Blackjack play all together, usually having lost all his money. 6 and 8 deck games are the hardest to beat due to shuffling biases, which is hard to prove mathematically. Traditional Patterson betting strategies are more effective against one and two deck games, which are still common in Las Vegas.

Jerry in "Takedown" also recommends that players lock up their winnings and play on to other limits. i.e. a player must set a goal of say $150 for the day, but if he needs to bet out of his $120 win, he must not. If he got to $150, same deal. Jerry calls this a "winlock" and explains that players must divide their winnings into 3 piles. Using the above example, the player pockets his $120 and place his $30 win in 3 piles, two $5 chips each. He will place bets from 1 pile only. For the next hand he places a 1 chip bet from pile #3. If he loses, he bets the last chip from pile #3. If he loses, he is done for the day. If the player however gets on a winning streak he replenishes pile #3 back to 2 units. He then places the next win on pile #1, then pile #2, and finally to pile #3, the betting pile. He might get these 3 piles up to 8 units each, then hit a losing streak and lose pile #3, then it is time to QUIT. This is an excellent way to maximize your winnings and minimize your loses.