If there was a smoking ban in casinos, Jokers Wild and The Eastside Cannery might have to close down.

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"Michael Lawton, senior research analyst for the board, said it was the second highest win for baccarat in Strip history. The amount wagered was $1.9 billion, the highest drop of all time."

These baccarat numbers are amazing. From what I can see, most baccarat games are in high limit rooms, and are played by Asians. I wonder how many total people wagered that $1.9 billion? I am guessing the number is very small.

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Attention Penn Gaming: Do what you want with the joint, just don't fire any of those beautiful waitresses! Nadia from Romania -- she works in the poker room, good lord!
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Let's hope this hotel is successful. Personally, Harrah's and MGM will do whatever it takes to get people over to their properties.

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"But the posh mall is still at least 10 retailers short of its target. Matraki said he hopes to have between 62 and 65 stores upon completion, depending on the plans of future tenants."

How about lower the standards a bit and get an ABC store or Marshall's in there?

Matraki said "Crystals is sticking to its strategy of strictly high-end luxury."

Hello, we are in a recession, 15%+ UE in the city. There are only so many Asian whales available to blow their money at this "mall."

Time for a reality check at Crystals.

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Small pittance for Harrah's to pay.

Word is that Mr. Chen -- Asian whale from Taiwan dropped over 2 million on baccarat during this visit.

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Sure, we have nice cabbies. Friendly, helpful...

Of course, they should be nice. As they are longhauling every other tourist to the Strip.

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Until the big casinos stop ripping of customers with "resort fees", $12 draft beers, 6/5 blackjack, high table minimums, $18 deli sandwiches, etc., the return to prosperity will be very slow. People will only take so much abuse before they find other places to go and spend their money.

Casinos need to go back to that fine balance between profits and giving people something back to take away the sting of losing. Now the average casino customer is viewed as a sucker who needs to be bled dry of every penny.

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I think the location of the Plaza is an issue. It's at the west end of Fremont Street -- all alone there. Behind the hotel is the railroad line. Just south of the hotel is the Greyhound station. The place just seems to attract low lifes and a seedy element.

Even if the place was gutted and fixed up like the Golden Nugget, could it make money? Even then could it attract customers? -- it certainly does not get as much foot traffic as the rest of the Fremont St. Even if fixed up they would have to have an army of security personnel to chase out the rif-raff.

To make that place right -- where tourists would be willing to stay there, what's the cost going to be to renovate those 1000+ rooms, plus the casino, pool, restaurants, etc.?

Perhaps implosion might be the only way to go in the case of the Plaza. Perhaps something else could be built there instead of a hotel?

First was the Lady Luck, then Binion's, now the Plaza. The Golden Nugget and few others may be all that's left when this is said and done!

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These words by Mr. Donovan sum up his views and the views of his boss so perfectly...

"I would never believe that the private sector, left to its own devices, is the best possible solution. I'm in government because of the role of government in setting rules and working in partnership with the private sector. On the other hand, there's no way you could ever get to a scale that can really affect the housing problems in this country without working with the market." (From a 2006 New York Times profile).