I guess in the grand scheme of things I'm a little tardy getting to the official and obligatory "Happy New Year". It is only January 2nd, but it already seems passe. Regardless, better late than  never so Happy New Year to all my friends, family, followers and contributors. 

Sure my title to this blog entry isn't the most eloquent that one could hope for, but the truth of the matter is I don't know if I could say much more here. Las Vegas casinos, well actually Las Vegas is synonomous with Casinos. The way Kleenex is synonomous with tissues and Petroleum Jelly is synonomous with Vaseline. To that end I just go the fever in me this past week and I'm planning a trip to Sin City in late January. Probablly not the best time to go to Las Vegas because everyone is looking to get out that way during the late part of January, but I'm going nonetheless. Well I figured I'd give a little bit of my insight to the best things to see and do while in the City where "things that happen there stay there".

My opinion let's start with giving some links to the official web sites supporting Las Vegas tourism. First is Visit Las Vegas, brought to you by the Las Vegas Visitors and Convention Authority. This site is a great tool to utilize in planning a trip to Las Vegas Nevada for several reasons. First, it actually offers the ability to book hotel rooms and other travel related information. Therefore, if you have information about a special or vacation pacakge, or something to that effect, you can use the site to see if the rates are comparable. Second, because this is an offical site of the visitors and convention authority information such as transportation in the local area and other non-commercial information is presented in a very useable fashion. Another website that is fantastic to use is none other than the offical web site of the City of Las Vegas Nevada. Now just so we're clear, this is a web site that is mainly used for people operating businesses in the city or surrounding areas. What I have found so useful about this web site is that it gives the little bit of information that really might be important in going to a city with such a moniker as sin city. This is an information source that offers great facts about local law enforcement, codes, etc. I 'm just saying, if you really have certain things on your mind when you're visiting Las Vegas, this is the kind of information you want to familiarize yourself with.

Now on to my trip. I'm actually breaking the trip up in to a few parts. First off are my Las Vegas Accommodations. I will be staying at the Mirage Casino and Resort located at 3400 Las Vegas Boulevard, and here's a online map of the location. My stay at the Mirage will be from January 22nd to January 25th. Now the reason I did it like this is because I arrive on January 22nd, which is a Thursday, but I check out on Monday the 25th. This does a few things. First, I was able to lock in a good rate for each day because of the multiple day check in, and I'm also not getting kicked in the shins with the weekend rate hikes. I will be getting back to this, but I will be then checking into Mandalay Bay Las Vegas from January 25th to January 28th. We'll get into all the fun things that come along with that change of venue in a second, but now to the Mirage. The Mirage Resort in Las Vegas is a fabulous Multi Start Award Winning hotel and casino property. I'm looking forward to eating at the Samba Brazillian Steakhouse and the the all time Award Winning Spa.

Now heading to the Mandalay Bay Las Vegas is located at 3950 South Las Vegas Boulevard. Again, we're talking about another great Las Vegas property with award winning service, decor, restaurnats and more. One of the fun things I can't wait to do during my stay at the Mandalay Bay is to rock and dance the night away at the Rum Jungle. Also the Mandaly Bay Las Vegas there is some really good entertainment. First and Foremost the hit Musical "Mamma Mia" is ongoing and tickets are available for many dates and times. Check out this link. Also check out Shark Reef which is open daily. For more information about Mandalay Bay Hote Reservations, you will find great information at the accompanying web site. Also, here is some additional information about the Rum Jungle at Mandalay Bay. I know it's the holiday's and we are all looking for the fun that goes along with this time of year, but my trip to Las Vegas is palpable. A little rest and relaxation for after the holiday season and something to look forward to do right in the middle of what I feel is the worst month of the year, Januaryl.

Ok fuckers. Its sports betting time. Anyone you who knows knows I think we need sports betting in Atlantic City. Times are tough and they are about to get tougher. In my last blog I begged Steve Wynn to come back to Atlantic City and he has yet to return my call. Now for plan B.

Sports betting is federally against the law. A few years back Atlantic City had a last chance to pass it before the federal law took hold. Bill Bradley whore for professional sports and the mafia made sure it didn't pass. I hope he dies.

Since then the Internet has made legitimate billionaires out of former mobsters. Betting on sports is easier then opening a bank account. But oh no you cant do it in Atlantic City, what about the children. Well the children aren't going to be able to eat unless Atlantic City stops the bleeding.

Last week, surprise surprise, Curtis Bashaw announced that his and Wally Barr's billion dollar project is shelved due to financing. Duh Without a shot in the arm this town is fucked. Be glass is half full all you want. Last time we saw a problem like this was the early 90s. Then there was only Foxwoods to contend with and even they were tiny at the time. Now its Philly, New York, West Virginia, Delaware. Wake up assholes. Sports betting now or AC will look like in did in the winter on 1975 by this time in 2010.

AJ OUT

As far as I'm concerned today is the day that the 2008 Christmas and Greater Holiday season has started. For some it's the day after Halloween. That's just a little too early. To others it's Thanksgiving. Well I have a special friend who has a birthday today and I start the holiday season on this day. Some Happy Holidays !!!

The current economic downturn has effected more than Wall Street, Main Street, the Auto Makers and other big industry. The Gaming industry and the casinos in the various jurisdictions are feeling the pain. As most of you have heard I've been on a rant for a few days on many posts about the Atlantic City Casinos and the problems they have been experiencing for almost a year now. The issue is, that these problems are far more reaching than just the Atlantic City areae and that is just what the 2008 Gaming Conference has on it's agenda to discuss. The convention's official name the Globabl Gaming Expo, is expected to bring with it about 30,000 gaming professionals to the city of Las Vegas. Sure the economic times are tough, and even this kind of traveling is expensive to any company's books, but a sign of solidarity and bouncing some ideas off of each other is still a must.

Statistics that have been gathered show that as a whole, industry revenue across the United States in the third quarter was down by 4.6%. Many gaming officials are seeing two general reasons for this issue. The first , the economy is keeping the consumers from coming to the casinos and spending money. The second, due to the tight credit markets financial institutions are less likely to lend money with decent interest rates in order to keep casinos a float and to invest in property and marketing initiatives.

The opinion of this writer is that there is far more issues that face the gaming industry today. No doubt that the economic downturn keeps people from spending money. That's an easy one to analyze. The issues I'm seeing are that for whatever reason, the jursidictions, the states, the very people that have benefited economically from legalizing these businesses are more than half the problem. Tighter legislation, laws that actually negatively effect the industry such as anti-smoking, and other efforts on the part of the populace of many of these jurisdictions just are hindering any rebound.

It is my hope that this conference brings to the forefront these issues a little more and in greater view of the people that are being effected. In times when economic downturn was an issue, the legalization of casinos was a viable option. Why, now are many biting the hand that feeds them?

To the pundits, the readers, the members and everyone in between, there is no doubt where my opinion lies when it comes to the effects of the smoking ban on Atlantic City casinos. For those of you not intimately involved with the day to day routine of the Atlantic City New Jersey area, today officially, a suspension of that ban was created. The expected back lash or anti-smoking groups, labor groups and any one else that fits into that category of course is completely irate at this latest step back in there cause. I even heard on a local talk radio station today one caller trying to make the case that anti-smoking laws actually had little to do with contributing to the declining performance of the Atlantic City Casinos. She cited the fact that during the same time the Las Vegas Casinos, which do not have anti-smoking legislation in place, have also reported a decline of 22% during the same time period. No doubt her point being that, overall, the failing economy is the real monster behind all decline and unfortunately, the anti-smoking laws in the Atlantic City casinos is just a spurious correlation.

Hello and welcome back to my blog. Recently I've been obsessed with posting my opinions relating to the smoking ban legislation and how it is effecting, or to be fair contributing to the negative performance of the overall casino market in Atlantic City. Well, I'm going to take a break and step down from my stump for a bit here and get back to some basics.

One thing I have commented on in some time are the myriad of Poker Tournaments and the overall poker circuit. For anyone even remotely interested in casino action, the subject of poker has to be exciting. In my "travels" online I constantly search for good resources that offer first hand and informed information and for this subject of Poker I've found a great blog. One such blog that is authored by a professional poker player and who reports on Poker Tournaments is a great place to check out.

You'll see updated information about well known players on the circuit, schedules of up and coming tournaments around the country and get an inside feel for the world of professional poker.

October was another shitty month in Atlantic City. 10 percent off from last year. Considering auto sales were way off from even that number maybe gambling is recession proof. LOL/

The Water Club at Borgata is not doing nearly the business that Boyd had expected. Their stock price is at 1/4 of what it was when the Borgata opened 5 years ago and only a fraction of the stocks high point. This has put some of the executives on the hot seat. Which is bullshit. Larry Mullin is the best casino executive this town has produced since Peter Boynton left town in 1995.

Pinnacle has put their Atlantic City project on hold indefinitely. I told you that 6 months ago. MGM has put their Atlantic City project on hold. Its the early 1990s all over again. For almost a decade Atlantic City was deluged with sketches of the next big thing. Then somehow it would go down the shitter.

I remember specifically having breakfast with my father reading about The Quarter to be built at the Tropicana. We laughed hysterically because at the time it had seemed so far fetched. The tunnel was supposed to bring Atlantic City 3 new casinos. The crown jewel of which was the return to Atlantic City of Steve Wynn. That never happened. We only got the Borgata.

Its deja vu all over again. We need Steve Wynn to start buying in AC on the cheap. We know that he has problems of his own in Maccau and Las Vegas, but those towns dont adore Mr Wynn like AC does. Lets throw him a birthday party and get him to buy Bader Field for $5. He'll turn around and sell it to someone else for 10 billion, but it will rejuvenate Atlantic City.

Not to get off on a rant or anything.

AJ - Out