Vegas Strip during Earth Hour

Click on the photo to see the whole thing ...

Expanding sports betting

Right now, if you want to place a legal bet on an NCAA game you've got to be in Vegas. But thanks to the economic collapse, a legislator is trying to break the monopoly LV has on sports betting.

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — From March Madness brackets to Super Bowl pools to illicit back room wagers, people bet on professional sports games every day. But they can do it legally only in four states, and only two states currently offer state-sanctioned sports wagering.
With Atlantic City casinos in a financial free fall and New Jersey's budget in shambles, a state lawmaker filed a federal lawsuit Monday against the Justice Department that seeks to overturn a U.S. ban on sports betting. The casinos and their political allies say letting people bet legally on sporting events would let all 50 states in on a lucrative revenue source.

Lawsuit seeks to allow sports betting nationwide

Stardust's revenge

Somehow, I missed this back in August. Boyd Gaming, the company that imploded the magical Stardust Hotel and Casino to build a mega-resort that none of us could afford, has stopped work on the project due to the poor economy.

As much as I hate the economy being in the dumpster, it serves Boyd right for destroying a Las Vegas landmark that was home to several Party Squad vacations.

Boyd Gaming suspends construction work on Echelon project

Another Vegas landmark is gone

First, they demolished the Stardust.

Then that place that sold the 99-cent hot dogs that Brown ate was knocked down.

Now, the Golden Gate Casino in downtown has raised the price of its shrimp cocktail.

Since 1974, the old Golden Gate has promoted its "World Famous 99-cent shrimp cocktail." But on April 26, they raised the price to $1.99. (But if you're a member of the Golden Gate Players Club, you get $1 off.)

What's next? Closing the Peppermill Fireside Lounge?

I am in the wrong line of work

Doormen in Las Vegas are regularly making $8,000 to $10,000 per night.

How? By accepting big tips from regular schmoes who don't want to wait in line to get into the hottest nightclubs. The way it works is the guy working the rope line takes a toke to allow people to cut to the front of the line. This starts at $200 per person, though some idiots with more cash than brains will often tip $1,000 per person to get to the front of the line.

Once they get to the door, the door guy then charges them a higher cover charge. Since they've already tipped the guy to get to the front of the line, these dumbasses then have no problem paying $50 to $100 to get inside, even though the official cover is "only" $30 or $40. Anything above the cover goes into a kitty for the door guys to divvy up.

The IRS is investigating now. And raided the offices of some LV clubs.

But yeah, some dolts working a nightclub door in Vegas is making between $400,000 and $500,000 per year. And to think I used to get psyched over $100 and free drinks for working the door at Papa's on St. Patrick's Day and NYE.

http://www.lvrj.com/news/15834017.html