ONLINE GAMBLING AND CASINO GUIDE

Well look who just pulled their heads out of their collective asses ... You know, I just got done lavishing praise on our local mainstream media (in my own way, of course) -- and no sooner did the ink dry on the screen before my new daily newspaper of choice completely insulted me to my digital face. Even though we're all a bunch of ad-centric tools as well, this my friends, is why real bloggers are still the reporters of the future: http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/jun/18/blackjack-paying-6-5-making-headway/ You see, I learned something today when I fired up my web browser.  Apparently, get this .... there is a new form of Blackjack sweeping Las Vegas, and this new variation offers lower payouts than the traditional game. Yeah, I kid you not. From what I hear, this new creation is called "6:5 Blackjack" WHO KNEW???!!! In related breaking news:  The Boardwalk Hotel will be demolished to make room for a new MGM/Mirage ... Read the full blog post...

I don't know what in the hell is going on at the Wynn, but I'm going to have to put a filter on my newsreader because every time I try to take a dump, a new headline pops up from the polarizing company. From Google News via the Associated Press (dear god please tell me an RJ writer did not contribute to the article) @ http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jxDJpplVAfwdW6DZWvawoRlw7b0QD9GC27F80 In summary: Wynn Resorts Ltd. CEO Steve Wynn says his company has laid off 220 hourly and 41 salaried workers from its two Las Vegas hotel-casinos. To say that Steve Wynn (or "Thugdog Nasty" as he is known in the 'hood) has been a busy man is an understatement.  Stealing tips, hiding fees in fine print, opening pools, booking ringtone bands, laying folks off ... homeboy deserves a break. Perhaps he should take a few days off, chill by the pool, and drink some shots shots shots shots shots ... Read the full blog post...

Contrary to popular belief, I hate being right.  Since my outlook on life is hyper-realistic to the point of being constantly cynical, skeptical, and miserable ... saying "I told you so" brings me no joy.  If I were wrong a little more often, I have little doubt that I would be a happier person. I rarely have this opportunity, however. Take for example, tip stealing.  When the Wynn began the practice of stealing dealer's tokes some years ago, I was certain that it would only be a matter of time before other casinos followed suit. Well, it looks like that day is nigh: Italicized quotes in this article are from the Las Vegas Sun @ http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/jun/14/daily-memo-gaming-caesars-looking-change-tips-wynn/ (NOT the Review Journal) "... Caesars Palace — a property where union-represented dealers are at loggerheads with management about changes in benefits and working conditions they don’t like — recently adopted language in its contract with dealers that allows ... Read the full blog post...

Just when you thought Steve Wynn was above the hi-jinx of his less elite peers ... Yesterday, both Wynn Las Vegas and the Encore Las Vegas began implementing a $20/night "resort fee". What does the "resort fee" include? Apparently, it gets you the following: In-room Internet Access Local Phone Calls Use of the fitness center The ability to print your boarding pass at the hotel Oddly enough, what it does not get you, is entrance to the new Encore Beach Club.  That will still run you $70/day for a husband and wife combo. This latest move also means that, were I to check into the Wynn tomorrow, I would personally be paying an extra $20 for absolutely nothing. I have a cellphone, I have my own wireless internet connection, I don't use fitness centers, and I can print my boarding pass in any number of inexpensive places.  Even if I did want the pass printed ... Read the full blog post...

Back to the topic at hand. The R-J's latest actions have provoked much thought by yours truly, and I have come to a few conclusions. First of all, I think the R-J is seriously damaging their brand with these lawsuits. In my opinion, these suits are going to be a PR catastrophe.  Sometimes being technically right is not enough, and this is one of those situations.  I don't care how right you think you are, suing a non-commercial cat blog for $75,000 makes you look like an anus. This is especially true when you realize that the R-J is unlikely to actually get paid if they win.  How many bloggers have $75K laying around during the great recession?  A victorious lawsuit isn't worth the paper it is printed on if you can't collect the judgement, and I'm sure that in some of these cases a $75K judgment might as well be ... Read the full blog post...

For those who are unaware, there has been a controversy brewing in the Las Vegas "netsphere" for roughly the past month. I'm not going to re-tell the story from beginning to end because it's already been told.  But if you need to be brought up to speed, I urge you to read the following article: http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/jun/05/8-more-websites-sued-over-r-j-copyrights-34-total/ To sum up the situation very succinctly, as of today, the Las Vegas Review-Journal has sued 34 bloggers, and by all accounts, they will almost certainly sue more.  In their suits, the R-J is alleging copyright infringement against a variety of blogs who have either cut-and-pasted R-J articles, or who have excerpted from those articles too much ... "too much" being at the sole discretion of the R-J's hired suing company. Some of the targets of the suits have appeared to be legitimate defendants, while others have left people scratching their heads, such as a non-commercial blog ... Read the full blog post...