Online Casino Edition – Casino News News about online casinos and gambling

November 8, 2013

Hitting the Clubs Is Just About As Popular as Vegas Gambling

Filed under: Casino — Tags: , — OCE News @ 2:43 am

While it still true that most people come to Vegas for the gaming opportunities, another venue is now showing signs of becoming just about as popular. That venue is clubbing. As more and more entertainment venues come into existence, this trend is only going to continue. And that could mean some trouble to those businesses that rely on gaming customers.

In a poll that was taken earlier this year, conducted by a gambling lobby, it discovered that nearly 26 percent of those people who are casino patrons are now choosing to spend their money on clubbing. This is especially true for those who enjoy going to what are called the mega-clubs. As mentioned above, this is being seen as a problem for casinos who are now losing that income.

For their part, club owners are thrilled that they are seeing so much new, and steady, business coming through their doors. To keep the ball rolling, they are adding some big names to their entertainment lineups as well as investing in modern optics such as laser shows. Their goal is to provide their patrons with some of the most exciting evenings in Vegas. In terms of lasers, a few years ago, most clubs may have had one or two lasers. Now, it is not uncommon for clubs to have as many as 25.

Vegas now can say that of the 100 most lucrative nightclubs in the US they have 21 of those. This is according to Nightclub & Bar a respected trade publication. What may surprise some people is that 7 of the clubs that now operate in Vegas are earning over $25 million a year. That is some serious cash.

To get into the action, many casinos are now opening their own clubs in the hopes of competing with outside clubs. To bring in their own customers these casino clubs are planning to go all out in terms of offering customers the “wow” factor that they are looking for.

Some clubs are trying to attract customers by offering such novel ideas as 3D glasses to watch the shows with, bringing in professional lighting directors to set up shows, some will be adding new LED walls to their clubs to bring in even more visual entertainment. The main goal is to provide an all-out thrilling experience that patrons will not soon forget and cause them to return again in the future. Some are even adding cannons that go off in sync with the music that is being played. The cannons shoot out confetti that covers those who are on the dance floor. A few clubs are even buying handheld cannons that they can give to their patrons to shoot off as they wish. Hakkasan at the MGM Grand is one club that is already doing this.

How all of this will play out in terms of taking money away from the gaming tables is yet to be seen. For those casinos that are getting into the club action the loss may not be as severe as will be to those who are not adding their own high-quality clubs.

November 6, 2013

What Exactly Is That Vegas Eye in the Sky Looking At?

Filed under: Casino — Tags: — OCE News @ 2:42 am

Everyone knows that Las Vegas casinos are some of the most videotaped spaces on the Earth. Those tiny cameras are everywhere, and one might think it impossible to get out of their reach. It has been said that Vegas has more camera working than any airport in the US (per square foot). But, are those cameras looking at every square inch of a casino? Some people say no, and they are alarmed at what is not being watched.

In some casinos, it has been reported that cameras are not used to monitor guest room hallways and other areas where people travel as they get from one point to another. This, they say, may make these areas more vulnerable to criminal activity such as robbery and rape.

For their part, casinos say that there is no real need for any added security in these areas. They, did not, make much more comment beyond that other than to say that areas such as elevators, lobbies and gaming floors are always monitored.

Even so, it has been reported by the Associated Press that some 23 of 27 (major) casinos on the Strip do not have surveillance camera located in hallways or on the elevator landings. Of these, all but four are owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment Corp., MGM Resorts International, Las Vegas Sands Corp. Or by Wynn Resorts Ltd.

According to The AP, they report that they came up with these numbers when interviewing casino officials. And they also went to those hotels that did not comment. It was also reported that only Planet Hollywood, Caesars Palace, MGM Grand and the Tropicana Las Vegas have monitors in the halls that are located above the gambling floor.

It is no secret that hotel room burglaries are said to account for the majority of reported hotel and casino crimes. This particular crime is increasing while traditional home burglaries are going down for the city. This comes from numbers supplied by the police. Police officials have said that because there are no cameras in many hotel areas, criminals feel safe doing their dirty business in those areas. Without the cameras, it is also harder to make a case and prosecute those who are caught.

Some of those who are particularly worried about this lapse in security are hotel housekeepers. Many of these employees have stories that involve dangerous or threatening actions taken toward them. Many of these workers do not report altercations as they know there is no way of proving what they say without some type of filmed evidence.

The main excuse for not having this added security boils down to cost. Not only is there a cost of buy and installing the equipment, but there is also the added cost of having the systems monitored. Some experts suggest that lawsuits may also be a reason hotels are no so eager to add cameras to these areas. If something happened to a patron or employee and it was ignored by hotel personnel, lawsuits could follow.

November 4, 2013

More Trouble as Culinary Union Continues to Picket Now With Verbal Attacks

Filed under: Casino — Tags: — OCE News @ 2:40 am

It may now seem as if trouble will not go away when it comes to the Culinary Union picket that is taking place outside the Cosmopolitan. It has now been reported that the Alliance to Protect Nevada Jobs was able to get video at a recent Culinary protest that included verbal abuse by some picketers. This is said to have occurred Oct. 5 and took place outside the Strip resort. The video was posted on YouTube. The Alliance has since said that it believes these actions were unwarranted and has asked that union officials intervene to stop these types of actions.

According to one Alliance member, “Lawmakers should see that the union bosses at the Culinary Union are engaged in guerilla tactics that give our state a black eye. The irony of Big Labor’s approach is that it results in less tourism, fewer jobs, less tips and a weak local economy, which ultimately hurts the very workers they claim to represent.”

For its part, culinary union officials have said that they see nothing wrong with the way their members are behaving or with the tactics that they are using. According to a union spokesperson, “The recent civil disobediences, rallies and pickets are exercises of workers’ First Amendment rights and part of the struggle for the Las Vegas Dream. Cosmopolitan workers are fighting for the opportunity to provide for their families, something all Vegas workers deserve.”

In the video that was taken and posted, a member of the union who is unidentified is shouting at into a megaphone. A APNJ member is also seen standing next to this person handing out cards. The video runs for about a minute and is entitled “Union Bosses From The Culinary 226 Harass Tourists”.

The APNJ is a project part of the Workforce Fairness Institute. Just last week they said they would launch what they call a counter-demonstration and that these would take place during Culinary protests that are being performed outside the Cosmopolitan. But, rather than picketing, the APNJ has said that it will distribute Thank You cards.

In the video, as the member of the APNJ hands out cards, the Culinary member yells out: “You guys are a bunch of losers.” This is aimed at some people who are entering the Cosmopolitan’s front doors. A little later in the video, the same man yells out at a verbal attack toward a couple. In the video he says, “You and your wife are a bunch of losers. Support the workers, guys. Don’t go inside of the Cosmopolitan.”

The Culinary Union represents an estimated 50,000 maids, bartenders, and food servers. The Union has said that it will remain on the picket line at the Cosmopolitan. The dispute stems from 2,000 workers who have been working for two years without a labor agreement. When those employees get a new contract, the protests will stop, according to the union.

Officials at the Cosmopolitan have not commented about the posted video and have been relatively silent throughout the protests.

November 2, 2013

Las Vegas Sands Finds Big Winner in Macau with Big Earning Boost

Filed under: Casino — Tags: , — OCE News @ 2:37 am

For the Las Vegas Sands, its Macau operations are paying off big time. Its properties in Macau have helped to boost its earnings by a whooping 80 percent. The Las Vegas Sands which is Las Vegas-based operates the Palazzo and Venetian resorts, both of which are on the Strip. But it also has properties in Singapore and Macau. The company reported its earnings for the third-quarter recently. The company is listed on the (NYSE as LVS.

In terms of revenue, the company posted $3.57 billion which is an increase of 31.7 percent over 2012 third quarter results. It was reported that very strong gaming volume increased its cash flow in Macau by some 60.8 percent which amounts to about $784.3 million.

For its earnings, the company reports earnings of $809.3 million, and this is up 82 percent over 2012 third quarter earnings. It was reported that the Venetian Macau saw a 92 percent occupancy rate; this is off by some 2.2 points from 2012 third quarter results. However, it also reported a solid average daily room rate that came in at $242, and this is 6.6 percent higher than what it reported last year. As for earnings per share, they came in at 76 cents, which is about 81 percent higher over 2012 third quarter.

According to Sheldon Adelson, Chairman of Sands, the company has been prudent in managing its cash flow including its ability to bring a profit to shareholders and has been able to do this as the company maintains a solid balance sheet along with plenty of liquidity. This means the company can invest for growth. The company is one of the leaders in the Macau area and continues to grow in that region.

What all of this means is that the Las Vegas Sands has had yet another record quarter due to the efforts and revenues that are coming from Macau, which is leading the way. Sands officials openly attribute the Macau success to what they say is the city’s gradual transition from a simple, day-trip destination into a more lucrative overnight destination in its resorts. And because they have the most rooms, this is a winning situation for them.

The news gets better as more growth is possible as the Parisian property construction is now said to be ahead of schedule. It is planned open in 2015. Also, the new high-speed rail line from Macau into central China will be opening as well. In addition, the new Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge is planned to open in 2016. This bridge will allow motorists to cross from Macau to the Hong Kong airport in 20 minutes or less.

The Sands company is also keeping an eye on Japan where new gaming may be allowed in the near future. If all goes well, they company says it may build new resorts in Osaka and Tokyo. Sands is also looking at opportunities in South Korea which may be opening up within the next year or so if all goes well.

« Newer Posts

Powered by WordPress