Deutsche Bank’s $4 Billion Las Vegas Bet

Posted on April 26, 2011 by admin

Publisher Anthony Curtis is quoted in the New York Times’ “Dealbook” blog about The Cosmopolitan’s difficulty in attracting gamblers.

April 18, 2011

After running into cash-flow problems, Bruce Eichner, then the owner of the casino and a developer mainly known for high-end residential properties in New York and South Beach, defaulted on his $768 million construction loan from Deutsche Bank. The lender foreclosed on Mr. Eichner and took control of the property, one of the first signs that the city was headed for hard times.

“It’s a story that’s closely linked to that of Las Vegas’s fortunes,” said Anthony Curtis, a former professional gambler who now runs the Web site Las Vegas Advisor.

Continue reading →

Posted in Online | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Deutsche Bank’s $4 Billion Las Vegas Bet

Las Vegas Show Prices at Record Highs

Posted on April 11, 2011 by admin

April 11, 2011

By Kitty Bean Yancey, USA TODAY 

Ticket prices for Las Vegas shows dropped last year, reflecting continuing tough economic times and Vegas’ attempt to woo visitors.

But this year, according to the Las Vegas Advisor’s annual survey, a $2.78-per-ticket increase scratches out last year’s $2.50 decrease. That means the average ticket price for a show – $76.46 – is the highest in the 20-year history of the survey, Advisor chief Anthony Curtis says.

Continue reading →

Posted in Online | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Las Vegas Show Prices at Record Highs

Highlights from the Advisor

Posted on April 8, 2011 by admin

Anthony Curtis’ weekly column for Vegas Seven magazine.

April 7, 20100

How about a little mishmash of entertainment, gambling, dining, and drinking deals? Following are highlights from Continue reading →

Posted in Print/Online | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Highlights from the Advisor

Crowds Coming Back to Las Vegas

Posted on April 8, 2011 by admin

Anthony Curtis’ nationally syndicated weekly column.

April 6, 2011

The 2010 visitor tally indicates that people are coming back to Las Vegas, but not as rapidly as hoped for. According to official visitor-volume statistics, a total of 37,335,436 people came to Las Vegas in 2010. It was an increase of 2.7% over Continue reading →

Posted in Print/Online | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Crowds Coming Back to Las Vegas

Pools are Open in Las Vegas

Posted on March 24, 2011 by admin

Anthony Curtis’ nationally syndicated weekly column.

March 23, 2011

Every year the Las Vegas pool season starts earlier. Among the major complexes already open and operating are Wet Republic at MGM Grand, Moorea at Mandalay Bay, Bare at Mirage, Encore Beach Club at Encore, Liquid at Aria, Voodoo at the Rio, and Palms Pool at the Palms. Soon to open are Garden of the Gods at Caesars Palace, Tao at Venetian, Azure at Palazzo, Daydream at M Resort, Naked at the Artisan, and the notorious Continue reading →

Posted in Print/Online | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Pools are Open in Las Vegas

Where to go Mad

Posted on March 17, 2011 by admin

 

Anthony Curtis’ weekly column forLas Vegas’ Seven magazine.

March 17, 2011

“Where should we go to watch the March Madness tournament?”

I’m asked this question a lot this time of year. The easy answer is, it doesn’t matter—every sports book and casino bar in town will be jumping. But that advice can be refined.

Continue reading →

Posted in Print/Online | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Where to go Mad

Baccarat, penny slots overtake blackjack as games of choice on Strip

Posted on March 16, 2011 by admin

Publisher Anthony Curtis is interviewed about the rise of baccarat and decline of blackjack winnings on the Las Vegas Strip.

March 15, 2011

Blackjack revenue is down 17 percent from a decade ago and has plummeted 31 percent from 2007. Anthony Curtis, publisher of Las Vegas Advisor, attributes much of the decline to the recession.

Gambling’s high end, represented by baccarat, has been least affected by the economy, Curtis said. Blackjack is a mass-market game played primarily by midrollers who can less afford to gamble, however, he said.

“This is why Vegas got hammered,” he said. “It needs the middle market.”

Continue reading →

Posted in Print/Online | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Baccarat, penny slots overtake blackjack as games of choice on Strip

Rich Vegas, Poor Vegas

Posted on March 16, 2011 by admin

March13, 2011

Newsweek magazine asks whether Celine Dion’s return can save a Las Vegas hurting even more than most from the economic downturn, and interviews Huntington Press’ Matt O’Brien, author of Beneath the Neon and My Week at the Blue Angel, which both profile some of Las Vegas’ less fortunate characters.

At the south end of the Strip, near the iconic “Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas” sign, a hidden concrete path leads into a 500-mile warren of wet, trash-strewn drainage pipes that function as an underground shelter for hundreds of the city’s most downtrodden. Several have been laid off from the same well-paid, benefits-packed service jobs that give Vegas its rep as a working-class paradise. The pipes are one of the few places police and hotel security don’t bother to tread, and since the recession, they’ve become increasingly populated, according to Matthew O’Brien, author of a 2007 book about the tunnels, Beneath the Neon.

Continue reading →

Posted in Print/Online | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Rich Vegas, Poor Vegas

‘Celine’ tries to revive Vegas with Sinatra-style show

Posted on March 11, 2011 by admin

Anthony Curtis is quoted in USA Today article about the significance of Celine Dion’s return to The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.

March 10, 2011

Vegas is betting on Celine.

 “Maybe it was a coincidence that the first time Celine was here, Vegas was booming, but regardless, there’s now a hope that maybe she can bring back the way it was (before the recession),” says Anthony Curtis, president of LasVegasAdvisor.com, which provides subscribers with Strip tips and updates.

  Continue reading →

Posted in Print/Online | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on ‘Celine’ tries to revive Vegas with Sinatra-style show

Nobu Hotel Planned for Las Vegas

Posted on March 10, 2011 by admin

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 Continue reading →

Posted in Print/Online | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Nobu Hotel Planned for Las Vegas

Numbers Point to Las Vegas Turnaround

Posted on March 3, 2011 by admin

Anthony Curtis’ nationally syndicated weekly column.

March 2, 2011

For the first time in three years, Nevada casinos posted an increase in gambling win compared to the previous year. Though the 2010 win of $10.4 million was a mere 0.1% above calendar year 2009, it was a welcome change from declines of 9.7% in 2008 and 10.4% in 2009. The news was even better for Las Vegas, as the Strip casinos won $5.77 billion, a 4.1% increase. Fueling the gambling-win result was a 2.7% Continue reading →

Posted in Print/Online | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Numbers Point to Las Vegas Turnaround

Top 10 restaurants in Las Vegas

Posted on March 3, 2011 by admin

USA Today Travel columnist Kitty Bean Yancey reviews Huntington Press title, Eating Las Vegas: The 50 Essential Restaurants.

February 28, 2011

The recently published Eating Las Vegas: The 50 Essential Restaurants, an opinionated guide to Sin City eateries, has a great premise. Bring together three of the town’s restaurant critics and have them dish about where to dine.

Continue reading →

Posted in Online | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Top 10 restaurants in Las Vegas