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ECONOMY

Down on Its Luck

Las Vegas used to be a recession-proof oasis. Not anymore.

Newsweek Web Exclusive
May 5, 2008 | Updated: 1:27  a.m. ET May 7, 2008

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  • Posted By: ploughman @ 05/14/2008 10:43:37 PM

    Comment: I'm one of the budget-traveling riffraff they've been trying to chase away. All I can say is that they had this coming to them and they'll probably need a few more lumps for it to stick. Same story as the housing market: You can't chase up the prices over the long term when MEDIAN INCOMES ARE FLAT, as they have been under Bush. Median family income is actually slightly down vs. 1999 after inflation. That's why the housing bubble broke and why Vegas is out of touch. Sure, a few at the top have done well (lots of golden-parachuted CEOs with time and money, plus John Daly and Bill Bennett), but Vegas learned some time ago that there weren't enough "whales" around to cater ONLY to the high-rollers.

    The best remaining values, in case you're wondering, are downtown and in a few pockets off-strip (if you have a car), though even those have been compromised in recent years since Jackie Gaughan sold out most of his places.

    Also, don't forget RENO. Much more humble and affordable and similar to what Vegas used to be like.

  • Posted By: kriley0923 @ 05/13/2008 2:21:11 PM

    Comment: I would rather go to The Commerce in Los Angeles than play poker in Vegas. They treat their customers with World Class service. Vegas needs to understand that it is a competitive world out there. Treat your customers right and they will keep coming back ...with their friend. Mistreat and lose a customer, then you will have to spend a lot of money trying to get a new customer.

  • Posted By: Canadian Perspective @ 05/09/2008 4:24:28 PM

    Comment: I'm writing to give you one solid reason why the US gambling revenues from Canadians is suffering, and why it will get worse unless new border crossing restrictions are eased. In my past (about 20 years ago) I had a criminal record conviction occur related to pocession of a marijuana cigarette . With such a conviction they say (US Homeland security) I must apply for a permit to access which will cost several hundred dollars with no assurance that access to the US would granted. This process would also likely take 6 months to year to complete. Due to the time lag , expense, and uncertainty, I have avoided pursuing. My extended family have suggested gatherings in the US, which would have resulted in the expenditures of $10,000's of dollars in the US, but due to this, all my immediate family members have curtailed or avoided the US as a travel destinations. I have also had friends voice the same comments. In the meantime, speaking for Province of Alberta in Canada, most of the casinos are expanding their operations to meet the resident populations gaming wants. Until there are changes the US better be prepared for a partial collapse of the businesses that use to thrive from the Canadian gaming tourists.

    Cheers

    Gary of Alberta, Canada

  • Posted By: FirstZebra @ 05/08/2008 5:09:45 PM

    Comment: Gotcha, ya dunb twits!
    The high rollers won't keep you flush without the dumber poor suckers loosing their few buck@ rigged joints!

  • Posted By: earthquake1280 @ 05/07/2008 7:34:33 PM

    Comment: Vegas is still the adults playground. If people do not like it they could always go somewhere else. Visit my ebay store FOURTH ROW COLLECIBLES for sports and non sports cards, comics, autographs and game used. Thanks

  • Posted By: wiersgalla7670 @ 05/06/2008 10:45:10 PM

    Comment: Just vacationed in Las Vegas the week of 4/26-5/1. The slots paid out nothing. Stayed at Hard Rock Hotel and they charged us to use the refrigerator in our room. Also stayed at Main Street Station and they charged us to use the television. Plus 3-digit hotel prices....The only good deal was the add on coupon we found for free lobster at the Rio Seafood buffet. The Hofbrauhaus rocks in Vegas as it does in Munchen! -CMW

  • Posted By: mjd503 @ 05/06/2008 9:52:42 PM

    Comment: Vegas is boring. Romanesque with a strong dash of PC thrown in for fun. No thanks. Maybe if I had a few million in the bank and could afford the lavish bachelor parties. Otherwise, the weather is better, people are nicer, activities are more fun in Florida or New Orleans.

  • Posted By: runningman @ 05/06/2008 7:42:40 PM

    Comment: vegas is so boring! they should legalize marijuana and create smoking lounges and also create a red light district like amsterdam by legalizing prostitution. it would make billions again...just like in holland. but they won't do it. what a boring, anal retentive nation we are.

    • Posted By: aristonymus @ 05/07/2008 13:11:28

      Comment: This is your lucky day, runningman! Simply go to this website...

      http://www.immigratiedienst.nl/EN/verblijfwijzer/

      and in minutes you can apply for Dutch citizenship! How wonderful for you -- no longer must you put up with a "boring, anal retentive nation"! Be sure to write and tell us all about your new, fun-filled life in Holland.

  • Posted By: runningman @ 05/06/2008 7:42:29 PM

    Comment: vegas is so boring! they should legalize marijuana and create smoking lounges and also create a red light district like amsterdam by legalizing prostitution. it would make billions again...just like in holland. but they won't do it. what a boring, anal retentive nation we are.

  • Posted By: bpjam @ 05/06/2008 5:37:57 PM

    Comment: Newsweek much just love having America in a downturn. FINALLY, America is closer to the picture that Newsweek constantly paints of our economy, our citizens and our society. Newsweek writers must feel like psychics since they finally predicted a bad economy. They've undoubtedly predicted 10 of our last 2 recessions.

    And this story makes it look like Las Vegas is in the dumps. And the very end of the story they manage to provide the actual truth. Of course, the truth is in the final quarter of the story and buried way deep behind the headline and the dramatic lead paragraph. I know the hotel business very well since I own part of one. And I can tell you that there is a slight stall right now. But there is no 'recession' as they mention in their title. And any AD MAN will tell you that putting the word 'recession' in your subtitle will tell readers that Vegas IS in a recession. And unless Newsweek didn't plan on saying that, they are just spinning. And if they are, why would they want to spin things as being WORSE than they really are? What kind of anti-social would try to convince readers that things are bad? What is wrong with the editors and writers at Newsweek? They even wrote this week that America is 'last century'. These guys sound like Michelle Obama and her bitter pessimism of America and Americans. Maybe Newsweek is on the Obama campaign payroll and they are going to suddenly start preaching how great everything is if Obama manages to win.

  • Posted By: olderwiser @ 05/06/2008 5:34:12 PM

    Comment: Old Blue Eyes went to heaven. You better quit writing articles like this or he'll send a posse of angels with pistols after your journalistic self. The angels have pistols in Old Blue Eyes' heaven.

  • Posted By: olderwiser @ 05/06/2008 5:31:31 PM

    Comment: Old Blue Eyes is just rolling over in his grave, his way to protest this. He always does it his way.

  • Posted By: bpjam @ 05/06/2008 5:18:20 PM

    Comment: Newsweek much just love having America in a downturn. FINALLY, America is closer to the picture that Newsweek constantly paints of our economy, our citizens and our society. Newsweek writers must feel like psychics since they finally predicted a bad economy. They've undoubtedly predicted 10 of our last 2 recessions.

    And this story makes it look like Las Vegas is in the dumps. And the very end of the story they manage to provide the actual truth. Of course, the truth is in the final quarter of the story and buried way deep behind the headline and the dramatic lead paragraph. I know the hotel business very well since I own part of one. And I can tell you that there is a slight stall right now. But there is no 'recession' as they mention in their title. And any AD MAN will tell you that putting the word 'recession' in your subtitle will tell readers that Vegas IS in a recession. And unless Newsweek didn't plan on saying that, they are just spinning. And if they are, why would they want to spin things as being WORSE than they really are? What kind of anti-social would try to convince readers that things are bad? What is wrong with the editors and writers at Newsweek? They even wrote this week that America is 'last century'. These guys sound like Michelle Obama and her bitter pessimism of America and Americans. Maybe Newsweek is on the Obama campaign payroll and they are going to suddenly start preaching how great everything is if Obama manages to win.

  • Posted By: cpalmer12 @ 05/06/2008 5:05:30 PM

    Comment: Slide show included a picture of the $7.5 billion dollar MGM City Center. Only in the far right corner is the Cosmopolitan Resort that the writer was referring to. He made it sound like the MGM City Center was being foreclosed on which in not true. It is the largest private construction project ever attempted in the US. Dire predictions of Vegas happen every year going back to the 50's when it comes to its building booms and they are proved wrong every time!

  • Posted By: pwpr1039 @ 05/06/2008 3:16:42 PM

    Comment: Was on the strip weekend of 4/12. Huge throngs of people everywhere, sold out shows, full casinos, traffic at a standstill. Didn't look "hurtin" to me, but I guess it is all relative.

  • Posted By: jaybyrd @ 05/06/2008 2:53:49 PM

    Comment: Weird. This is somewhat contrary to my experience. For one thing, competitive airfares from Denver (a major US hub) to LV are a relatively inexpensive $150., + or -, with a corresponding decline in hotel rates.Also, I have noticed a large influx of Europeans in LV that seem to be having a significant impact on the LV economy given the large variance between the Euro and the dollar. I go there almost monthly,I love it. Iwonder

  • Posted By: jaybyrd @ 05/06/2008 2:53:41 PM

    Comment: Weird. This is somewhat contrary to my experience. For one thing, competitive airfares from Denver (a major US hub) to LV are a relatively inexpensive $150., + or -, with a corresponding decline in hotel rates.Also, I have noticed a large influx of Europeans in LV that seem to be having a significant impact on the LV economy given the large variance between the Euro and the dollar. I go there almost monthly,I love it. Iwonder

  • Posted By: jaybyrd @ 05/06/2008 2:52:48 PM

    Comment: Weird. This is somewhat contrary to my experience. For one thing, competitive airfares from Denver (a major US hub) to LV are a relatively inexpensive $150., + or -, with a corresponding decline in hotel rates.Also, I have noticed a large influx of Europeans in LV that seem to be having a significant impact on the LV economy given the large variance between the Euro and the dollar. I go there almost monthly,I love it.
    tretreated well, and enjoy playing poker with internationals.
    influx of foreigner

  • Posted By: Jcherro @ 05/06/2008 2:12:39 PM

    Comment: Yep, I Totally agree. The cost to go to Vegas used to be fairly inexpensive. Now, a couple has to spend over a $1000 just to get there and stay at a hotel for three nights. We would have gone several times over the last couple of years, but have opted for Hawaii, San Diego and Mexico since it costs the same anymore.

  • Posted By: DelawareVol @ 05/06/2008 12:44:36 PM

    Comment: I'm not sure if it's been said or not because I haven't read all the posts but my take on it is this... Vegas use to be the Anti-Atlantic City... A place you could go to Eat, Drink and Stay---relatively inexpensively and live pretty large.... Not anymore can you do that in Vegas... The rooms in the big strip hotels are way overpriced, the meals at a lot of the above average restaurants are way expensive as well---along with the buffets.... I don't even want to discuss drink prices at the clubs, lounges and bars---12 or 14 bucks a shot is friggin ridiculous... Thirty dollar cover charges to get into said clubs for the "privilege" of paying 12 or 12 bucks for a martini... And they wonder why times are tough in Sin City??? Vegas has now become Atlantic City West with palm trees and no ocean...

  • Posted By: DelawareVol @ 05/06/2008 12:42:43 PM

    Comment: I'm not sure if it's been said or not because I haven't read all the posts but my take on it is this... Vegas use to be the Anti-Atlantic City... A place you could go to Eat, Drink and Stay---relatively inexpensively and live pretty large.... Not anymore can you do that in Vegas... The rooms in the big strip hotels are way overpriced, the meals at a lot of the above average restaurants are way expensive as well---along with the buffets.... I don't even want to discuss drink prices at the clubs, lounges and bars---12 or 14 bucks a shot is friggin ridiculous... Thirty dollar cover charges to get into said clubs for the "privilege" of paying 12 or 12 bucks for a martini... And they wonder why times are tough in Sin City??? Vegas has now become Atlantic City West with palm trees and no ocean...

  • Posted By: Wbaere @ 05/06/2008 12:12:45 PM

    Comment: Vegas used to be all about getting people into town and into the casinos--and they would offer you all kinds of deals. Although I thought that the shift towrds the 'party vibe' made alot of sense, it inevitably got more and more pretentious, trying to attract an increasingly upscale crowd. The celebrity chef restaurants and $1000.00 VIP clubs are great for celebrities and 'others' in the fast lane, but for regular folks it is just out of reach. If an enjoyable long weekend in Vegas is going to cost me more than two grand (incl. gaming) than I'd rather spend my money on a week's vacation in the carribbean. As far as trade shows and conventions go, I'd much rather go to Orlando as my expense account will go alot further.

  • Posted By: Jersey @ 05/06/2008 12:06:24 PM

    Comment: After reading what everyone has to say here, my only question is "why haven't people realized this sooner?".  Having lived in Vegas the past five years, I see the exact same trends.  I never did understand why people even went to Las Vegas.  Horrible service, especially for what you pay for.  Customers are taken for granted.  Room rates are insanely high.  Food and drink prices are insanely high for average quality.  All this for what?  It is just the same ol Vegas mentality of "if it is not you, someone else will take your place" and it looks like less and less people are stepping up to take that place.  As a local, I don't even go to the Strip.  I just head down the street to the local bar where you DO find specials and machines DO pay out.  I see a big correction for Vegas in the future. 

  • Posted By: Jersey @ 05/06/2008 12:06:01 PM

    Comment: After reading what everyone has to say here, my only question is "why haven't people realized this sooner?". Having lived in Vegas the past five years, I see the exact same trends. I never did understand why people even went to Las Vegas. Horrible service, especially for what you pay for. Customers are taken for granted. Room rates are insanely high. Food and drink prices are insanely high for average quality. All this for what? It is just the same ol Vegas mentality of "if it is not you, someone else will take your place" and it looks like less and less people are stepping up to take that place. As a local, I don't even go to the Strip. I just head down the street to the local bar where you DO find specials and machines DO pay out. I see a big correction for Vegas in the future.

  • Posted By: dellitoso @ 05/06/2008 11:50:15 AM

    Comment: I live and work in Vegas, and I work on the Strip. The room rates are ridiculous. The casinos aren't offering any deals. The slots have been tightened over the years. I wonder if they've tightened them to such an extent that while their "win" has gone up, the "play" has remained the same or even gone down? That artificial rise in profits can't last forever. People will wise up, eventually. You can't even ENJOY losing your money anymore. Vegas doesn't even attempt to give you the IMPRESSION -- however false -- that you are getting a "deal". They just blatantly expect you to hand over your money.

  • Posted By: dellitoso @ 05/06/2008 11:50:04 AM

    Comment: I live and work in Vegas, and I work on the Strip. The room rates are ridiculous. The casinos aren't offering any deals. The slots have been tightened over the years. I wonder if they've tightened them to such an extent that while their "win" has gone up, the "play" has remained the same or even gone down? That artificial rise in profits can't last forever. People will wise up, eventually. You can't even ENJOY losing your money anymore. Vegas doesn't even attempt to give you the IMPRESSION -- however false -- that you are getting a "deal". They just blatantly expect you to hand over your money.

  • Posted By: dellitoso @ 05/06/2008 11:47:05 AM

    Comment: I live in Las Vegas and I deal poker on the Strip. The room rates are astronomical -- I hear how much people pay for a room, and I wonder how they have money left over to gamble with? Now they have 6/5 Blackjack, which is a joke. The slots NEVER pay anything back. I never see anyone win anything of a sizeable amount -- I even watch, and their money just gets eaten. Is it possible casinos over the past few years tightened slots to such an extent that it artificially kept profits and the gambling "win" on the rise, while "play" remained the same or even went down!? That cannot continue forever. Soon, the public will wise up. You can't even enjoy losing your money anymore. You don't see promotions anymore or "deals" -- you just see $8 burgers.

  • Posted By: Jersey @ 05/06/2008 11:44:36 AM

    Comment: Vegas

  • Posted By: clistwan @ 05/06/2008 11:23:33 AM

    Comment: If an advertisement such as the "Dangers of Thinking" ad upset Tania Franco, what else is going to upset her. There are probably hundreds of insulting advertisements on the air preying upon people who are probably not the smartest consumers. How can an ad that asks you to drop what you're doing and 'come to Vegas' be interpreted as you are a wallowing loser if you don't. Let's be careful not to say anything that can remotely be misconstrued to Miss Tania.

  • Posted By: Gambit242 @ 05/06/2008 11:21:54 AM

    Comment: The Greed of Vegas hotels is coming back to haunt them.. They price gouge during EVERY major trade show. The Riviera is normally around $70/night but during CES, the "dump of a room" was over $250/night. I had planning on going to CES for 4 days but after the price gouge, I only went for one day. Vegas lost out on 3 nights of food, client entertainment and taxi revenue becasue of hotel greed.

    I don't go to Vegas unless I HAvE to.

  • Posted By: thetk51 @ 05/06/2008 10:42:35 AM

    Comment: We have held a convention in Vegas 3 years in a row; no more. What killed them is the inability to understand why people saw it as a fun place to go for everyone. At a Vegas convention, rooms are $250 a night, the organizers spend $100+ for a gallon of coffee, $8 a can for soda, $80 a plate for dinners, $9 each for drinks. and the best part; they treat you like cattle and like your business is not important to them. It is friendlier and cheaper to go to Paris, where they treat you like s**t and charge you like you are royalty.

  • Posted By: pug_ster @ 05/06/2008 10:20:07 AM

    Comment: Las Vegas charged too much and alot of conventions are going somewhere else because of it. These greedy owners of the las vegas hotels got what they deserve. Soon, Las Vegas will go downhill like Atlantic City.

  • Posted By: gb0138 @ 05/06/2008 10:14:03 AM

    Comment: What can I say about Vegas. Let's face it, spending a bundle and not being able to get a good deal anywhere is getting old. Lose a couple of hundred bucks should be worth a meal. Lose a thousand should be worth a room or a good show. Bring back the value to losing money. Did I say that?

  • Posted By: gb0138 @ 05/06/2008 10:13:55 AM

    Comment: What can I say about Vegas. Let's face it, spending a bundle and not being able to get a good deal anywhere is getting old. Lose a couple of hundred bucks should be worth a meal. Lose a thousand should be worth a room or a good show. Bring back the value to losing money. Did I say that?

  • Posted By: gb0138 @ 05/06/2008 10:13:48 AM

    Comment: What can I say about Vegas. Let's face it, spending a bundle and not being able to get a good deal anywhere is getting old. Lose a couple of hundred bucks should be worth a meal. Lose a thousand should be worth a room or a good show. Bring back the value to losing money. Did I say that?

  • Posted By: gb0138 @ 05/06/2008 10:13:39 AM

    Comment: What can I say about Vegas. Let's face it, spending a bundle and not being able to get a good deal anywhere is getting old. Lose a couple of hundred bucks should be worth a meal. Lose a thousand should be worth a room or a good show. Bring back the value to losing money. Did I say that?

  • Posted By: pug_ster @ 05/06/2008 10:12:08 AM

    Comment: Las Vegas charged too much and alot of conventions are going somewhere else because of it. These greedy owners of the las vegas hotels got what they deserve.

  • Posted By: gb0138 @ 05/06/2008 10:11:11 AM

    Comment: Vegas.

  • Posted By: pepina @ 05/06/2008 9:09:19 AM

    Comment: We stopped our fairly regular trips to Vegas a couple of years ago wen room rates and food jumped out of site. Frankly, with an Indian casino on every corner who needs to drop a grand for a couple of days in a place where you're treated like "crap" (no pun intended...)

  • Posted By: ezpacmang @ 05/06/2008 7:52:59 AM

    Comment: dont be such a puss. I think the reason vegas is not doing so well is the sluts are tighter than ever and the room prices are outragous! And there are no deals to be found. Vegas is still acting like we are in the housing boom. If vegas gets back to its roots then they can turn a profit again. Im not old only 25 but I remember when you could get a buffet meal for $10 maybe right. Now everything is $25 plus! The "bada boom bada bang" is gone. Atleast vegas should kinda make you feel like your getting something after you waste your childs school fund.

  • Posted By: red2dye4 @ 05/06/2008 1:32:58 AM

    Comment: I used to enjoy going to Vegas about 4 times a year. Now with the price of gas, and the price gouging for food and sundries, I have no money left to gamble with. I used to win at the slots, I have not won more than $10 in 2 years. The y are now "gentrifying" downtown by putting in lofts, and making it a "destination" When a city does that, it makes prices go up. I have to say, I don't relish driving from L.A. to Vegas for the pleasure of spending thousands a weekend to not have a good time.

  • Posted By: red2dye4 @ 05/06/2008 1:32:46 AM

    Comment: I used to enjoy going to Vegas about 4 times a year. Now with the price of gas, and the price gouging for food and sundries, I have no money left to gamble with. I used to win at the slots, I have not won more than $10 in 2 years. The y are now "gentrifying" downtown by putting in lofts, and making it a "destination" When a city does that, it makes prices go up. I have to say, I don't relish driving from L.A. to Vegas for the pleasure of spending thousands a weekend to not have a good time.

  • Posted By: red2dye4 @ 05/06/2008 1:32:26 AM

    Comment: I used to enjoy going to Vegas about 4 times a year. Now with the price of gas, and the price gouging for food and sundries, I have no money left to gamble with. I used to win at the slots, I have not won more than $10 in 2 years. The y are now "gentrifying" downtown by putting in lofts, and making it a "destination" When a city does that, it makes prices go up. I have to say, I don't relish driving from L.A. to Vegas for the pleasure of spending thousands a weekend to not have a good time.

  • Posted By: red2dye4 @ 05/06/2008 1:32:10 AM

    Comment: I used to enjoy going to Vegas about 4 times a year. Now with the price of gas, and the price gouging for food and sundries, I have no money left to gamble with. I used to win at the slots, I have not won more than $10 in 2 years. The y are now "gentrifying" downtown by putting in lofts, and making it a "destination" When a city does that, it makes prices go up. I have to say, I don't relish driving from L.A. to Vegas for the pleasure of spending thousands a weekend to not have a good time.

  • Posted By: red2dye4 @ 05/06/2008 1:31:56 AM

    Comment: I used to enjoy going to Vegas about 4 times a year. Now with the price of gas, and the price gouging for food and sundries, I have no money left to gamble with. I used to win at the slots, I have not won more than $10 in 2 years. The y are now "gentrifying" downtown by putting in lofts, and making it a "destination" When a city does that, it makes prices go up. I have to say, I don't relish driving from L.A. to Vegas for the pleasure of spending thousands a weekend to not have a good time.

  • Posted By: mercurialmike @ 05/06/2008 1:15:26 AM

    Comment: I am a local blogger ( http://whatshappeningvegas.blogspot.com/ ) and I definitely miss the old Vegas when the gaming revenues subsidized the hotel rooms, restaurants and shows. That was not so long ago, especially in the eighties before the Mirage opened. But I am not against progress, just corporate greed that makes Vegas into one homogenized blob.





    in the Southwest, but lately the outside developers are changing it into a "travel destination". --- I hate that, it makes Vegas available only to people who have a lot of money to throw away. I like the old Vegas I knew back in the 80's. It may seem silly to say, but that's why the free live music "lounge" scene is kind of a symbol for me of the kind of old Vegas entertainment that is quickly dying here. It is all so corporate bottom line, cold, & homogeneous now. ( Dare I say that Vegas was better when it was run by the mob! )







  • Posted By: John Galt @ 05/06/2008 1:12:07 AM

    Comment: Been to Vegas twice this year. CONEXPO was as busy as I have ever seen Vegas in 15 years of visiting. Spring break in April was as busy as usual. I love the place and I'll still go as often as I can (I live 600 miles away). My gambling budget ill be lower though. Seems some places have tightened up the comps.

  • Posted By: John Galt @ 05/06/2008 1:11:59 AM

    Comment: Been to Vegas twice this year. CONEXPO was as busy as I have ever seen Vegas in 15 years of visiting. Spring break in April was as busy as usual. I love the place and I'll still go as often as I can (I live 600 miles away). My gambling budget ill be lower though. Seems some places have tightened up the comps.

  • Posted By: John Galt @ 05/06/2008 1:11:48 AM

    Comment: Been to Vegas twice this year. CONEXPO was as busy as I have ever seen Vegas in 15 years of visiting. Spring break in April was as busy as usual. I love the place and I'll still go as often as I can (I live 600 miles away). My gambling budget ill be lower though. Seems some places have tightened up the comps.

  • Posted By: John Galt @ 05/06/2008 12:57:40 AM

    Comment: Been to Vegas twice this year. CONEXPO was as busy as I have ever seen Vegas in 15 years of visiting. Spring break in April was as busy as usual. I love the place and I'll still go as often as I can (I live 600 miles away). My gambling budget ill be lower though. Seems some places have tightened up the comps.

  • Posted By: John Galt @ 05/06/2008 12:57:25 AM

    Comment: Been to Vegas twice this year. CONEXPO was as busy as I have ever seen Vegas in 15 years of visiting. Spring break in April was as busy as usual. I love the place and I'll still go as often as I can (I live 600 miles away). My gambling budget ill be lower though. Seems some places have tightened up the comps.

  • Posted By: John Galt @ 05/06/2008 12:57:16 AM

    Comment: Been to Vegas twice this year. CONEXPO was as busy as I have ever seen Vegas in 15 years of visiting. Spring break in April was as busy as usual. I love the place and I'll still go as often as I can (I live 600 miles away). My gambling budget ill be lower though. Seems some places have tightened up the comps.

  • Posted By: John Galt @ 05/06/2008 12:56:49 AM

    Comment: Been to Vegas twice this year. CONEXPO was as busy as I have ever seen Vegas in 15 years of visiting. Spring break in April was as busy as usual. I love the place and I'll still go as often as I can (I live 600 miles away). My gambling budget ill be lower though. Seems some places have tightened up the comps.

  • Posted By: John Galt @ 05/06/2008 12:56:35 AM

    Comment: Been to Vegas twice this year. CONEXPO was as busy as I have ever seen Vegas in 15 years of visiting. Spring break in April was as busy as usual. I love the place and I'll still go as often as I can (I live 600 miles away). My gambling budget ill be lower though. Seems some places have tightened up the comps.

  • Posted By: faces702 @ 05/06/2008 12:55:06 AM

    Comment: I have lived and worked in LV for 6 years. This city is one big corporation, it sucks. Organized crime was pushed out by unorganized crime, these corporations are heartless and have taken LV to a new level of greed. There is no costumer sevice training and most the employees do not speak english. It use to be that the guest was the most important thing, your money is the most important. I have taken a cut in pay several times in the past 2 years, but the price of my services have gone up. Talking about the 1% oh yeah, they live here. I pay $1150 a month for a 750 square foot apartment, $3.75 for a gallon of gas, and grocery prices are some of the hightest in the country. I understand that I sign up for this misery everytime I walk into work. I am considering cashing out my 401k just to get the hell out. Unless you are willing to gamble 10s of thousands of dollars you will not even get a free drink in this city. When planning y;our next trip, go to a community that will appreciate your hard earned money. The old LV with comps, happy employees, cheap meals, and fun times will never return if you do.

  • Posted By: Silentmajority @ 05/06/2008 12:51:46 AM

    Comment: c

  • Posted By: faces702 @ 05/06/2008 12:51:41 AM

    Comment: I have lived and worked in LV for 6 years. This city is one big corporation, it sucks. Organized crime was pushed out by unorganized crime, these corporations are heartless and have taken LV to a new level of greed. There is no costumer sevice training and most the employees do not speak english. It use to be that the guest was the most important thing, your money is the most important. I have taken a cut in pay several times in the past 2 years, but the price of my services have gone up. Talking about the 1% oh yeah, they live here. I pay $1150 a month for a 750 square foot apartment, $3.75 for a gallon of gas, and grocery prices are some of the hightest in the country. I understand that I sign up for this misery everytime I walk into work. I am considering cashing out my 401k just to get the hell out. Unless you are willing to gamble 10s of thousands of dollars you will not even get a free drink in this city. When planning y;our next trip, go to a community that will appreciate your hard earned money. The old LV with comps, happy employees, cheap meals, and fun times will never return if you do.

  • Posted By: LuckyDog03 @ 05/06/2008 12:49:47 AM

    Comment: We were in Vegas in December of 2007...The Christmas gift we recieved for going there was to lose to machines at every casino because they were sqeaky tight..The food is outrageous and mediocre at best,unless you want to pay at least $300 for a decent meal,but with poor service do to servers who expect a tip regardless of how poor there service was...The drinks only come if they see you playing dollar machines,and they are even weak..I used to look forward to our regular 5 trips a year there from Indy,but i have to admit that after this last visit,we were so dissapointed with the price gouging and that we most likely will never return..If Vegas could step back 9 years ago,when you could have some nice perks for your play time,it would be great..You could play for hours with strong drinks and have a most excellent time even if you did end up losing $400-$1000..And every time we stayed there for 8 days..Now,you can't stay there for 3 without feeling like you are being price gouged and priced out of a good time because of the greedy machines..Vegas was once very nice,and we got excited evertime we came upon it right before landing,but now,Vegas will just be a distant reminder of what used to be..Good Luck Vegas!

    • Posted By: LuckyDog03 @ 05/06/2008 01:12:37

      Comment: Oh,and another thing..We even had waitresses that remebered us from year to year at the Riv,but not anymore,they just pass you by if it is not in their best interest..And i mean by not playing high denomination machines..I can spend just as much in a penny machine as i do in $5-$10 dollar slot..No difference because of the multi-line machines..The big difference between both machines is no different either in payouts..We always believed that the higher the denomination,the better percentage payout..That is definitely not the case anymore...We lost $2000 in 7 hours at Paris when we stayed there this last time..And another $1500 between downtown casinos..Nothing even came close to even making you think that you might win something..The machines were dead!

  • Posted By: vegasvic @ 05/06/2008 12:46:32 AM

    Comment: I'm screaming with laughter at all of your comments, thanks for the good laugh. I live in Vegas, work at a major resort that's not selling out for the first time in ten years. Things are bad, but not as bad as this article or you naysayers think it is. Anyone who come to Vegas and thinks they're gonna turn their $500 into $5 million is more stupid than that recent movie '21'. Those of you who bought those cookie cutter homes with absolutley NO back or side yards and paid $250k for them and thought they would be worth a million in 10 years you're stupid too. These homes were $120k in 2001, went up to $250K and are now worth $160. Greed built this town and wil be it's demise! Viva Las Vegas

    • Posted By: Grace8 @ 05/06/2008 09:55:19

      Comment: The difference is in the old days, yes people always lose money but they were satisfied with decent service, now this kind of things do not exist anymore.

  • Posted By: sincitystrippers @ 05/06/2008 12:43:08 AM

    Comment: Mr. Freiss,
    I run a bachelor party company in Las Vegas- www.sincitystrippers.com Your article is correct, Vegas is slowing down. Are numbers have dropped this year compared to the past 5 years. Being in the Las Vegas stripping business you wouldn't think so. I hope things change soon! Marcus- SIN CITY STRIPPERS

  • Posted By: laguna123 @ 05/06/2008 12:40:33 AM

    Comment: the Cosmopolitan is next to the Bellagio contrary to what Eikelinvegas thinks. And Duetsche Bank has continued construction at full-speed. It is being built on schedule. vegas is slow but so is the whole country, so you idiots dont feel too bad for us. because we will be back before you get your next welfare check. If you dont like Vegas because you lost your money, cry to your mother because we dont care.

    • Posted By: wants to love vegas again @ 05/06/2008 01:32:47

      Comment: Posted By: laguna123 @ 05/06/2008 12:40:33 AM You better care as tourists are the people that pay your wages. If we don't comed then you may be out of a job. Most of us know that there will be higher prices for food etc. but if the service stinks we will go elsewhere. I think you forget most states have some gambling that we can go to without the expense of flying etc. I know they don't have the big shows but I can do without those. So I think you had better stop and think about not caring about us.

      • Posted By: LuckyDog03 @ 05/06/2008 01:57:48

        Comment: Thank you for not caring..Because Indy has 2 Racinos plus the boats..So i will just lose my money there if that's how it turns out,but at least i can say that you will never prosper a penny from me in Vegas anymore..People like you are the fine examples of what Vegas did not used to be like.

  • Posted By: Eikelinvegas @ 05/06/2008 12:29:13 AM

    Comment: Dear Mr. Freiss,
    Your article mentions the Cosmopolitan, but unfortunately your thinking of the wrong project. The Cosmopolitan is being built on the north end of the strip. The massive project next to the Bellagio and featured in the photo montage is called CityCenter. It's owned by the MGM Mirage and last I checked hasn't defaulted on any loans.
    Thank You

  • Posted By: Eikelinvegas @ 05/06/2008 12:27:26 AM

    Comment: Dear Mr. Freiss,
    Your article mentions the Cosmopolitan, but unfortunately your thinking of the wrong project. The Cosmopolitan is being built on the north end of the strip. The massive project next to the Bellagio and featured in the photo montage is called CityCenter. It's owned by the MGM Mirage and last I checked hasn't defaulted on any loans.
    Thank You

    • Posted By: TheStripPodcast @ 05/06/2008 07:55:01

      Comment: Sorry, Eikellin, but Cosmo is wedged between CityCenter and Bellagio. Not sure which project you're referring to. -Steve Friess

  • Posted By: Eikelinvegas @ 05/06/2008 12:23:51 AM

    Comment: Mr. Freiss, the Cosmopolitan Project is in jeopardy, but it's not being built next to the Bellagio. The massive project next to the Bellagio, noted in your article and in the photo montage, is called City Center. It's owned by the MGM Mirage, and last I checked they hadn't defaulted on the loan.

  • Posted By: John Monahan @ 05/05/2008 11:07:06 PM

    Comment: The writer of the story missed the entire issue. Vegas used to be a fun time because it had cheap drinks and food and a chance to win some money. Now Vegas is way too corporate (expensive). When you pay $6 for a beer, $20 dollars for a buffet, and $7 for a pack of cigarettes in their gift shops and then do not see anyone winning because the machines are too tight, you have to rethink why you go there. Instead of driving four hours to Vegas, I drive an hour to the local casinos and win money, which is why I gamble, to win money. I get offers from my players club to go to the Rio free of charge and they will even give me cash when I show up, but I do not think it is worth the drive because I know I will have to pay too much money for everything else and end up losing. I miss the pre-corporate Vegas.

    • Posted By: maafla1 @ 05/05/2008 23:50:05

      Comment: I'm not going to get in your "corporate" argument except to say that you are absolutely right about the slot machines. I've been to Las Vegas four times in the past 11 years. The first three times (1996, 1999, 2001) I remember seeing all sorts of ads for the casinos, "Loosest Slots in Town", "Loosest Slots on The Strip", "98 Percent Payouts", etc... and more or less it was true, the slots paid out reasonably well. You could take a $20 bill to a quarter slot machine and probably stay on it, winning some and losing some, for at least an hour or two before busting. The last time I went in 2006 there were ZERO signs for slot machine "payouts" and the slot machines were tighter than a virgin on her first date.

  • Posted By: John Monahan @ 05/05/2008 11:06:32 PM

    Comment: The writer of the story missed the entire issue. Vegas used to be a fun time because it had cheap drinks and food and a chance to win some money. Now Vegas is way too corporate (expensive). When you pay $6 for a beer, $20 dollars for a buffet, and $7 for a pack of cigarettes in their gift shops and then do not see anyone winning because the machines are too tight, you have to rethink why you go there. Instead of driving four hours to Vegas, I drive an hour to the local casinos and win money, which is why I gamble, to win money. I get offers from my players club to go to the Rio free of charge and they will even give me cash when I show up, but I do not think it is worth the drive because I know I will have to pay too much money for everything else and end up losing. I miss the pre-corporate Vegas.

  • Posted By: quetzl @ 05/05/2008 11:02:20 PM

    Comment: What happens in Vegas does not necessarily stay in Vegas...such as sexually transmitted diseases and exposure to manure in the guise of entertainment.

  • Posted By: saralew @ 05/05/2008 10:51:21 PM

    Comment: And also lock your suitcases when you leave your rooms. There seems to be a problem with luggage being gone through when people are not in their rooms. This happened to us when we stayed on the strip a few weeks ago.

    • Posted By: TheStripPodcast @ 05/06/2008 07:54:07

      Comment: Saralew - please come to VegasHappensHere.Com, my blog, and email me about this. I'm interested in hearing more. -Steve Friess

  • Posted By: Grace8 @ 05/05/2008 10:41:18 PM

    Comment: The visitors from Asia have dropped significantly because Wynn, MGM and Sands have opened Casino and hotel resorts in Macau. They do not need to travel across the Pacific in order to experience "Las Vegas". I

  • Posted By: timrogers @ 05/05/2008 10:37:51 PM

    Comment: Vegas used to offer cheap food and free drinks as a consolation for losing at the slots or the tables. Now the price of food and drinks exceeds the prices back home, the service is just as bad as back home, the shows cost less back home, and the price to get there keeps going up. Vegas used to be somewhat kid friendly. No more, if you walk the strip with your kids you are likely to get an x-rated surprise from the fliers handed out on every streetcorner or from the 'personal' services advertised on mobile billboards. Sure Vegas is supposed to be for adults, but is a little restraint too much to ask for the parents who want to show the kids a pirate show or the fountains or just the fantastic lights along the strip. Vegas has become more seedy now despite all its new glitz than when it was run by the mobsters. And worst of all its no fun to gamble there anymore. The dealers and pit bosses are robotic, cloneish and unfriendly. They go through the motions without any visible emotion. My kids have video games with more lifelike creatures than some of the zombies I encountered at Vegas.

  • Posted By: timrogers @ 05/05/2008 10:37:17 PM

    Comment: Vegas used to offer cheap food and free drinks as a consolation for losing at the slots or the tables. Now the price of food and drinks exceeds the prices back home, the service is just as bad as back home, the shows cost less back home, and the price to get there keeps going up. Vegas used to be somewhat kid friendly. No more, if you walk the strip with your kids you are likely to get an x-rated surprise from the fliers handed out on every streetcorner or from the 'personal' services advertised on mobile billboards. Sure Vegas is supposed to be for adults, but is a little restraint too much to ask for the parents who want to show the kids a pirate show or the fountains or just the fantastic lights along the strip. Vegas has become more seedy now despite all its new glitz than when it was run by the mobsters. And worst of all its no fun to gamble there anymore. The dealers and pit bosses are robotic, cloneish and unfriendly. They go through the motions without any visible emotion. My kids have video games with more lifelike creatures than some of the zombies I encountered at Vegas.

  • Posted By: timrogers @ 05/05/2008 10:37:05 PM

    Comment: Vegas used to offer cheap food and free drinks as a consolation for losing at the slots or the tables. Now the price of food and drinks exceeds the prices back home, the service is just as bad as back home, the shows cost less back home, and the price to get there keeps going up. Vegas used to be somewhat kid friendly. No more, if you walk the strip with your kids you are likely to get an x-rated surprise from the fliers handed out on every streetcorner or from the 'personal' services advertised on mobile billboards. Sure Vegas is supposed to be for adults, but is a little restraint too much to ask for the parents who want to show the kids a pirate show or the fountains or just the fantastic lights along the strip. Vegas has become more seedy now despite all its new glitz than when it was run by the mobsters. And worst of all its no fun to gamble there anymore. The dealers and pit bosses are robotic, cloneish and unfriendly. They go through the motions without any visible emotion. My kids have video games with more lifelike creatures than some of the zombies I encountered at Vegas.

  • Posted By: broham @ 05/05/2008 10:35:47 PM

    Comment: I think that I sat next to everyone of you on the plane to Vegas...when I used to go.

  • Posted By: broham @ 05/05/2008 10:35:25 PM

    Comment: I think that I sat next to everyone of you on the plane to Vegas...when I used to go.

  • Posted By: t85ster @ 05/05/2008 10:28:47 PM

    Comment: "Sin City" is on the way out --- Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. You will not mourn, and you will not weep; but you will rot away in your iniquities, and you will groan to one another.

  • Posted By: t85ster @ 05/05/2008 10:28:11 PM

    Comment: "Sin City" is on the way out --- Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. You will not mourn, and you will not weep; but you will rot away in your iniquities, and you will groan to one another.

  • Posted By: t85ster @ 05/05/2008 10:28:02 PM

    Comment: "Sin City" is on the way out --- Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. You will not mourn, and you will not weep; but you will rot away in your iniquities, and you will groan to one another.

  • Posted By: t85ster @ 05/05/2008 10:27:53 PM

    Comment: "Sin City" is on the way out --- Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. You will not mourn, and you will not weep; but you will rot away in your iniquities, and you will groan to one another.

  • Posted By: t85ster @ 05/05/2008 10:27:13 PM

    Comment: "Sin City" is on the way out --- Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. You will not mourn, and you will not weep; but you will rot away in your iniquities, and you will groan to one another.

  • Posted By: Old Californian @ 05/05/2008 10:24:44 PM

    Comment: Well, s someone who has been saying this for 30 years, I will just repeat myself:

    Lettuce doesn't grow there, and cattle can't drink there. There is no more silver or gold mining of any significance, and no-one wants to give up their water to a desert fraternity. Follow me if you want to be rsponsbile. I will find a place for your money and you will be able to eat and sleep, too, far in to the future, That is, if you don't give it up to a desert community of rich robbers, or fail to yeild to Californian SUV drivers.

  • Posted By: t85ster @ 05/05/2008 10:24:15 PM

    Comment: "Sin City" now being punished! Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. You will not mourn, and you will not weep; but you will rot away in your iniquities, and you will groan to one another.

  • Posted By: mikebrr @ 05/05/2008 10:22:59 PM

    Comment: Your comment page is almost as bad as Vegas. I posted once and it showed up three times. mikebrr

  • Posted By: mikebrr @ 05/05/2008 10:22:41 PM

    Comment: Your comment page is almost as bad as Vegas. I posted once and it showed up three times. mikebrr

  • Posted By: mikebrr @ 05/05/2008 10:20:22 PM

    Comment: I used to love Vegas, but now I think they are getting what they deserve. It's to corporate. What happened to the old fashion service? I was a regular(4 times a year), spent lots of money and played blacks only. Cesars and the Mirage both lost my records when I checked out. Guess what happened. Promised comps and nothing. mikebrr

  • Posted By: mikebrr @ 05/05/2008 10:20:14 PM

    Comment: I used to love Vegas, but now I think they are getting what they deserve. It's to corporate. What happened to the old fashion service? I was a regular(4 times a year), spent lots of money and played blacks only. Cesars and the Mirage both lost my records when I checked out. Guess what happened. Promised comps and nothing. mikebrr

  • Posted By: mikebrr @ 05/05/2008 10:19:59 PM

    Comment: I used to love Vegas, but now I think they are getting what they deserve. It's to corporate. What happened to the old fashion service? I was a regular(4 times a year), spent lots of money and played blacks only. Cesars and the Mirage both lost my records when I checked out. Guess what happened. Promised comps and nothing. mikebrr

  • Posted By: mikebrr @ 05/05/2008 10:19:49 PM

    Comment: I used to love Vegas, but now I think they are getting what they deserve. It's to corporate. What happened to the old fashion service? I was a regular(4 times a year), spent lots of money and played blacks only. Cesars and the Mirage both lost my records when I checked out. Guess what happened. Promised comps and nothing. mikebrr

  • Posted By: AllenW @ 05/05/2008 10:09:24 PM

    Comment: I use to enjoy Vegas. The rooms were cheap, the food was cheap, and you could win enough to keep it fun, even though we always left our money there. We would take in one of the good shows, then see several of the cheaper sideline shows.
    Now by the time I pay for the room and food, I don't have the money for a show, and my budget for gambling is gone in just a couple of hours. So we don't go anymore, and really have no desire to return.
    Ya blew it Las Vegas, Ya killed the golden goose.

    And for you Bush haters, isn't it strange everything was going good until your guys got ahold of the purse strings?

  • Posted By: AllenW @ 05/05/2008 10:07:25 PM

    Comment: I use to enjoy Vegas. The rooms were cheap, the food was cheap, and you could win enough to keep it fun, even though we always left our money there. We would take in one of the good shows, then see several of the cheaper sideline shows.
    Now by the time I pay for the room and food, I don't have the money for a show, and my budget for gambling is gone in just a couple of hours. So we don't go anymore, and really have no desire to return.
    Ya blew it Las Vegas, Ya killed the golden goose.

    And for you Bush haters, isn't it strange everything was going good until your guys got ahold of the purse strings?

  • Posted By: Herb S. @ 05/05/2008 9:58:43 PM

    Comment: Las Vegas is now boring and predictable. Snobby waitstaff and servers are not worth the effort to travel, and now that the real estate bubble has crashed, boarded up crack houses dot the valley. The slot machines don't even give out coins anymore, and the odds are stacked against the gullible tourists who think they have a chance of winning anything. GREED has ruined Las Vegas, and the coming depression and water shortage will turn it into a Ghost town..

  • Posted By: Herb S. @ 05/05/2008 9:57:58 PM

    Comment: Las Vegas is now boring and predictable. Snobby waitstaff and servers are not worth the effort to travel, and now that the real estate bubble has crashed, boarded up crack houses dot the valley. The slot machines don't even give out coins anymore, and the odds are stacked against the gullible tourists who think they have a chance of winning anything. GREED has ruined Las Vegas, and the coming depression and water shortage will turn it into a Ghost town..

  • Posted By: runningman @ 05/05/2008 9:33:08 PM

    Comment: they should legalize prostitution and marijuana like in amsterdam. vegas has become a huge sting operation where it's police make a living preying on tourists for commiting "crimes" that are legal in europe. ask anyone, vegas is boring! spice it up and the people will flood that place just like they flood amsterdam.

  • Posted By: SqueakerP @ 05/05/2008 9:26:38 PM

    Comment: Let them eat cake -- the same cake that the rest of us have to eat.

  • Posted By: SqueakerP @ 05/05/2008 9:23:57 PM

    Comment: Let them eat cake -- the same cake that the rest of us have to eat.

  • Posted By: SqueakerP @ 05/05/2008 9:15:12 PM

    Comment: Let them eat cake -- the same cake that the rest of us have to eat.

  • Posted By: SqueakerP @ 05/05/2008 9:15:02 PM

    Comment: Let them eat cake -- the same cake that the rest of us have to eat.

  • Posted By: SqueakerP @ 05/05/2008 9:14:43 PM

    Comment: Let them eat cake -- the same cake that the rest of us have to eat.

  • Posted By: silverhead @ 05/05/2008 9:14:41 PM

    Comment: I lived there when the prices began to soar. Everything tripled in about a 5 year period.. housing, food, lodging. And it became impossible to even have any fun gambling because on a night out, $100 lasted about 30 minutes. If you're smart, it breaks you from gambling. One can only lose for so long when the fun stops before you figure out how stupid you are. Glad to see the casinos on the losing side of the table for a change!

  • Posted By: SqueakerP @ 05/05/2008 9:14:33 PM

    Comment: Let them eat cake -- the same cake that the rest of us have to eat.

  • Posted By: silverhead @ 05/05/2008 9:14:12 PM

    Comment: I lived there when the prices began to soar. Everything tripled in about a 5 year period.. housing, food, lodging. And it became impossible to even have any fun gambling because on a night out, $100 lasted about 30 minutes. If you're smart, it breaks you from gambling. One can only lose for so long when the fun stops before you figure out how stupid you are. Glad to see the casinos on the losing side of the table for a change!

  • Posted By: SqueakerP @ 05/05/2008 9:14:05 PM

    Comment: Let them eat cake -- the same cake that the rest of us have to eat.

  • Posted By: silverhead @ 05/05/2008 9:14:04 PM

    Comment: I lived there when the prices began to soar. Everything tripled in about a 5 year period.. housing, food, lodging. And it became impossible to even have any fun gambling because on a night out, $100 lasted about 30 minutes. If you're smart, it breaks you from gambling. One can only lose for so long when the fun stops before you figure out how stupid you are. Glad to see the casinos on the losing side of the table for a change!

  • Posted By: rpl2001 @ 05/05/2008 8:43:42 PM

    Comment: It could not happen to a greedier city: A good depression will reset everything back to the good fun days of Vegas(pre-1990) when everyone had a chance to win .get used to the desert air....

  • Posted By: rpl2001 @ 05/05/2008 8:43:34 PM

    Comment: It could not happen to a greedier city: A good depression will reset everything back to the good fun days of Vegas(pre-1990) when everyone had a chance to win .get used to the desert air....

  • Posted By: juangon @ 05/05/2008 8:42:36 PM

    Comment: As a compulsive gambler that lost 100s of thousands for over a twenty year period, this is refreshing. Thanks GA for 2 years of recovery.

  • Posted By: rpl2001 @ 05/05/2008 8:38:56 PM

    Comment: It was only a matter of time; My wife and i visited vegas at least 2 times a year from 1982-2002 when we became aware that the casinos begin to fix the payoff s from all the machines.to practically zero. Instead of feeding us a few coins to keep playing and eventually leaving it al there the casinos 'computerized" the machines to keep all the coins the first time around so we decided not to visit any more.It was fun til greed tookits toll. Good bye vegas.. you cut your own throat.

  • Posted By: annticki @ 05/05/2008 8:24:28 PM

    Comment: Las Vegas is pricing itself right out of the market as far as I'm concerned. $20 for a cheeseburger and fries is a bit steep. It's cheaper to eat at the airport than anywhere along the Strip. If Vegas wants to get the ordinary working man or woman back they need to take a serious look at the price gouging of the tourist.

  • Posted By: don331 @ 05/05/2008 7:55:30 PM

    Comment: I was there last week. The food sucked and was expensive. Waited 30 minutes plus TWICE in line for a cab. Most of the FREE things to see were shut down, maintenance, etc. Nothing is close. WALK WALK WALK WALK. Gambling was not fun. Drunks, Hookers, and more Hookers.
    So BOO-HOO Las Vegas!!! You're gonna crash, and crash hard. May your condos turn to dust!

  • Posted By: okie3 @ 05/05/2008 6:03:21 PM

    Comment: Hello Dubya, don't give me that crap that you can't do anything. It's ok if you release some of our reserves, it's ok if you would ask congress to suspend the fed gas tax - we're headed for a DEPRESSION you igets.

    • Posted By: LSD4u2 @ 05/05/2008 20:22:10

      Comment: Dubya, as you so disrespectfuly call our great leader of this great country is not the cause of this economic downturn. The USA was humming along just splendedly with Dubya's eco