Casinos Set Another Record For Gambling Wins
Red Rock Station Gets Opening Date
POSTED: 9:58 am CST March 14, 2006
For the 17th month in a row, the casinos in Nevada raked in a record amount of money in January, with the biggest chunk of change going to the gambling palaces in Las Vegas.The statewide win was an astounding $1.14 billion, up almost 25 percent over January 2005. Strip casinos earned more than half of that, roughly $627.5 million, up nearly 30 percent over the same time last year.Downtown casinos, which have not been participating in the record-making of late, also showed gains, with more than $57 million pumped into the Glitter Gulch slots and tables, representing a 15 percent increase.Analysts say the January profits were a result of a combination of factors, including a relatively soft 2005 due to bad weather, a very successful Consumer Electronics Show and a very lucrative Chinese New Year. In fact, the biggest game gain came from baccarat play, a game very popular with Asian tourists.Keep in mind that this total is what the casinos won from gamblers. The total amount of money wagered was almost $14 billion.
Las Vegas' newest casino resort, Red Rock Station, cleared the last regulatory hurdles and is officially set to open on April 18, 2006.Operated by the very popular Station Casinos chain, Red Rock is located on the far west side of town near the Red Rock Canyon National Conservancy Area. Featuring a New Millennium twist on a retro, 1960s design scheme, Red Rock Station will be the most luxurious of the company's portfolio of hotels, which includes Green Valley Ranch, Sunset Station and Texas Station.The hotel, built at a cost of around $925 million, will feature 415 rooms (with another 435 opening in late 2006); an 87,000-square-foot casino with more than 3,000 slot machines and more than 60 table games; 11 restaurants; a 35,000-square-foot spa, a three-acre recreation area with a beach and pools; a nightclub and several bars and lounges; a 16-screen movie theater; and a Kids Quest playcare center, among other amenities.Future development will include more hotel rooms and condominiums.According to casino executives, the room rates are supposed to start at around $129 per night for the super-plush accommodations (including plasma TVs, iPod sound systems and other luxe touches), but a quick check of the room rate calendar on the property's Web site showed most nights during the week between $150 and $250 a night, with weekends from $185 to more than $300.For more information, RedRockStation.com.
Comedian Louie Anderson will share the stage with the male strippers of "Thunder From Down Under" at the Excalibur starting March 17.No, the zaftig comic will not strut his stuff with the hunky Aussies, but instead will get his own show in the same theater. Anderson, a stand-up vet, is widely known as the former host of the syndicated version of "Family Feud" and voiced a cartoon character in the popular "Life with Louie." The show will be performed at 7 p.m., with the beefcake moving to 8:30 and 10:30.For more information or tickets, contact the Excalibur box office at (702) 597-7600 or book online at Excalibur.com.
Hogs and Heifers will host a once monthly Blues, Brews, and Barbeque event outside the popular honky-tonk bar in downtown Las Vegas.The first one will be held on March 26 and will then repeat on the last Sunday of every month through October. Entertainment at the first go-round will come from popular blues band the Moanin' Black Snakes, who will perform at 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. inside the bar, but outside on the street is where you'll find the food -- all manners of barbecue and fixins, free with the purchase of any beverage.Hogs & Heifers is located at 201 N. 3rd Street, just one block off of the Fremont Street Experience. For more information call (702) 676-1457.
The mermaids have apparently all found their sea legs and are departing from the Silverton. The free underwater show Azure, which featured a bevy of comely "mermaids" performing aquatic stunts in a 117,000-galllon aquarium has been discontinued.Hotel officials say there will be a new show (Mermans?) opening later in the year. The aquarium itself is staying and features more than 4,000 tropical fish from all over the world, three species of stingrays and three species of sharks. There are daily fish feedings at 1:30, 4:30, and 7:30 p.m. that feature an interactive Q&A with a marine biologist who provides the expertise from inside the tank.The Silverton is located a few miles south of Mandalay Bay on Blue Diamond Road, just off Interstate 15.
Las Vegas' newest casino resort, Red Rock Station, cleared the last regulatory hurdles and is officially set to open on April 18, 2006.Operated by the very popular Station Casinos chain, Red Rock is located on the far west side of town near the Red Rock Canyon National Conservancy Area. Featuring a New Millennium twist on a retro, 1960s design scheme, Red Rock Station will be the most luxurious of the company's portfolio of hotels, which includes Green Valley Ranch, Sunset Station and Texas Station.The hotel, built at a cost of around $925 million, will feature 415 rooms (with another 435 opening in late 2006); an 87,000-square-foot casino with more than 3,000 slot machines and more than 60 table games; 11 restaurants; a 35,000-square-foot spa, a three-acre recreation area with a beach and pools; a nightclub and several bars and lounges; a 16-screen movie theater; and a Kids Quest playcare center, among other amenities.Future development will include more hotel rooms and condominiums.According to casino executives, the room rates are supposed to start at around $129 per night for the super-plush accommodations (including plasma TVs, iPod sound systems and other luxe touches), but a quick check of the room rate calendar on the property's Web site showed most nights during the week between $150 and $250 a night, with weekends from $185 to more than $300.For more information, RedRockStation.com.
Comedian Louie Anderson will share the stage with the male strippers of "Thunder From Down Under" at the Excalibur starting March 17.No, the zaftig comic will not strut his stuff with the hunky Aussies, but instead will get his own show in the same theater. Anderson, a stand-up vet, is widely known as the former host of the syndicated version of "Family Feud" and voiced a cartoon character in the popular "Life with Louie." The show will be performed at 7 p.m., with the beefcake moving to 8:30 and 10:30.For more information or tickets, contact the Excalibur box office at (702) 597-7600 or book online at Excalibur.com.
Hogs and Heifers will host a once monthly Blues, Brews, and Barbeque event outside the popular honky-tonk bar in downtown Las Vegas.The first one will be held on March 26 and will then repeat on the last Sunday of every month through October. Entertainment at the first go-round will come from popular blues band the Moanin' Black Snakes, who will perform at 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. inside the bar, but outside on the street is where you'll find the food -- all manners of barbecue and fixins, free with the purchase of any beverage.Hogs & Heifers is located at 201 N. 3rd Street, just one block off of the Fremont Street Experience. For more information call (702) 676-1457.
The mermaids have apparently all found their sea legs and are departing from the Silverton. The free underwater show Azure, which featured a bevy of comely "mermaids" performing aquatic stunts in a 117,000-galllon aquarium has been discontinued.Hotel officials say there will be a new show (Mermans?) opening later in the year. The aquarium itself is staying and features more than 4,000 tropical fish from all over the world, three species of stingrays and three species of sharks. There are daily fish feedings at 1:30, 4:30, and 7:30 p.m. that feature an interactive Q&A with a marine biologist who provides the expertise from inside the tank.The Silverton is located a few miles south of Mandalay Bay on Blue Diamond Road, just off Interstate 15.
The Full Story
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In Next Week's Column
Next week: The latest from Las Vegas.Plus, don't forget to send your questions about Las Vegas. I've got room for more, so send them in today!Find the hotel that's right for you with Vegas4Visitors.com's reviews!And check out the new Moon Handbooks Las Vegas.Rick Garman is the head writer for Vegas4Visitors
