Anthony Curtis’ nationally syndicated weekly column.
March 9, 2011
Caesars Palace has announced that it’s teaming with Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s hospitality company to transform the 180-room Centurion Tower—one of its oldest, opened in 1970—into a Nobu-branded hotel, restaurant, and lounge. The room mix will include 16 suites and a deluxe penthouse and guests will be able to order room service from the famed Nobu kitchen. The project is expected to be completed in 12 to 15 months and will be the world’s first Nobu hotel. The existing Nobu restaurant at the Hard Rock Casino is expected to continue operating.
Green Scene: The U.S. Green Building Council has named Nevada the greenest state (per capita) in the nation, with 10.92 square feet of LEED-certified commercial and institutional green buildings per person in 2010.
Show Extends: Sinatra Dance With Me at Encore will be extended through April 30. It’s the second extension for the show that was supposed to be in for a short run, but has been too popular to close. Reflecting that popularity, however, the ticket price has been raised from $69 to $95, plus tax and service charge.
Heads-Up Champ: After finishing as the runner-up to Annie Duke last year, Erik Seidel went all the way this year, defeating Chris Moneymaker in two straight matches to win the prestigious NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship and a $750,000 first prize. The matches will be aired on NBC later this year.
99¢ Margaritas: All casino bars at all Station Casinos are serving 99¢ margaritas 24/7. Not much more needs to be said about that.
Question: You wrote that baccarat has surpassed blackjack as the most profitable table game for the casinos. Aren’t baccarat games fading away, as opposed to proliferating?
Answer: The traditional “Big Bac” tables that sit in isolated (or private) areas of the big casinos are less popular than in the past. However, self-contained “mini” and “midi” tables have sprung up everywhere to help fuel a significant increase in baccarat play.
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