More Competition

“It’s no longer a question of ‘if’ Internet gaming is coming,” said Frank Fahrenkopf, the soon-to-be-retiring president of the American Gaming Association (AGA). “It’s a question of ‘when’.” The AGA is the trade and lobbying arm of the (to date) land-based casino industry.  ”Unless there is a federal bill passed, we are going to have the greatest expansion of legalized gambling in the United States. I don’t think that’s what anyone intended, but it is what we’re seeing.”  (Not what you intended, Frank? Then it’s good you’re retiring, you’re a crappy lobbyist.)

Here’s the deal: the more gambling competition, the better for you, the player. It means to get your business, whether online or land-based, casinos will need to offer better and more comps, more enticing player reward programs and cash back bonuses, higher matching welcome and rebuy bonus programs online, and even better, faster customer service. You’re in the driver’s seat as these gaming operators fight for your dollars; use it to your advantage to look for the best rewards programs out there.

More Land-Based Lures

One of the questions that is yet to be answered is how unilateral online casino availability will eventually affect the brick-and-mortar casino business. And while land-based casinos certainly want your online gambling dollars, they also don’t want to lose you as a land-based customer, and here’s why: people who actually enter casinos spend all kinds of money that online players don’t; on hotel rooms, fancy meals, entertainment and high-end shopping sprees. So they still need to get you into their hotel-casinos, and now they will probably have to offer you better deals to do that. More free or inexpensive room nights, more meal comps, more show tickets, and so on. If you play enough, you can even get a designated casino host who can usually get you more than just what the casino sends you, so work it!

More Players

Chances are, now that it’s slowly becoming legal and regulated and (soon to be) right on your desktop or mobile device, gambling online is going to appeal to a lot more players. This explosion in audience is also good for you; the more money casinos make, whether by land or by data, the more they can afford to offer generous incentives and rewards to players.

Overall, you can expect this incipient online casino boon to be a great benefit to players like you; so sit back, relax and enjoy the rewards that will be coming your way in the near future.

1. Rounders (1998)

Though Rounders only grossed $22 million when it was released in theaters, it’s grown a cult following, particularly among poker players, in the years since. This movie was one of the first mainstream representations of Texas Hold’em, and may be considered a contributing factor to rise of Texas Hold’em in the 2000′s. The poker action and the portrayal of the protagonist that (probably) has a gambling problem were both totally realistic and non-judgmental. Vanessa Rousso has said that it’s the best poker movie ever made, due to its ability to capture the energy of poker.  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0128442/

2. The Sting (1973)

With a combination of horse racing and poker, The Sting is actually a caper movie that uses gambling throughout. The complicated story is loosely based on a real life conman who released a book detailing some of his real-life crimes. In this story, he and a partner are pulling a long-con while seeking revenge for the death of a partner. The movie was a huge hit, earning $160 million in theaters, and winning seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture.  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0070735/

3. The Cincinnati Kid (1965)

With Steve McQueen in the leading role, no gambling movie list can ignore The Cincinnati Kid. It follows Eric Stoner, an up-and-coming poker player who’s aiming to establish himself in the gambling world by beating an older and more successful player. When it was released, this movie met mixed reviews (though it was a huge success with $180 million earned in theaters), but it has aged well to become one of the most iconic and well-respected gambling movies of all time.  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059037/

4. Owning Mahowny (2003)

Based on the real life story of a gambling addict who committed the largest known case of one-man bank fraud in Canada, Owning Mahowny takes a look at gambling from the perspective of  a problem gambler, while also briefly looking at the casino gambling world in a larger light. The movie won praise for Philip Seymour Hoffman’s performance, and for its down-to-earth point of view. Robert Ebert placed this film in his Top Ten Films of 2003 list but, with a miniscule world-wide gross of $1.1 million, Owning Mahowny was a commercial flop.   http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0285861/

5. Casino (1995)

Casino is a mob movie from Martin Scorsese that follows the rise of a casino manager (loosely based on real-life Vegas casino exec Frank “Lefty” Rosenthal). In the process, we see the dark side of the bygone days of mafia-ruled Las Vegas and get a backdoor look at how a major casino operates. From measuring craps dice and observing blackjack dealers, to dealing with inept managers, Casino shows us a much deeper and darker image of the gambling industry than most comparable movies.   http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112641/

Largest Casino – Venetian Macao in Macau

With 3,400 slot machines and 800 tables (which include just about every game you can think of), the Venetian Macao is the largest casino in the world. It’s owned by the same company that owns the Venetian in Las Vegas, and makes use of the same theme on a much larger scale.

At nearly one million square meters (3,280,000 square feet), the entire complex is actually the 4^th largest building in the world! With so much floor space, it’s no surprise that this casino and resort has been able to rake in several billion dollars a year since its opening in July of 2007.

Fanciest Casino – Monte Carlo in Monaco

The Monte Carlo is the peak of decadence. After all, it is located in Monaco: Europe’s playground for the rich and famous. They have 1,000 gambling machines and countless tables that have historically been famous for their use of European (single pocket) roulette. As part of its luxurious reputation, the Monte Carlo has a gorgeous opera house and has been featured in several James Bond movies, including Golden Eye. Since 1963, it has seen all sorts of high-limit players, but its biggest payout to date came in 2003 when one lucky player won $2 million!

Most Exclusive Casino – Ritz Club in London

The Ritz Club, located in the basement of the Ritz Hotel, has only five machines and 16 tables (along with regular poker games), but what it lacks in size, it more than makes up for with mystique! It is partially members-only and all players must pay a fee just to enter. With over a century of catering to super high-limit players (it was opened in 1906), the Ritz Club is on every savvy gambler’s radar.

Most Interesting History – Spielbank Casino in Baden-Baden

While this is far from the most famous casino in Europe, it is among the oldest and most interesting. They have 138 gaming machines, blackjack tables, and roulette (both American and European). Players can wager between €5 and €500 (approximately $6 and $650), which makes this a very accessible casino for all kinds of players playing in Germany, and it has been there for well over 200 years. In fact, this is the infamous casino in which Dostoyevsky wrote The Gambler and, in the process, blew his entire bankroll!

Most Massive Complex – CityCenter in Las Vegas

While the CityCenter casino itself isn’t the largest in the word, the entire resort at CityCenter in Las Vegas is absolutely massive! The casino floor is home to 2000 machines and 224 tables, with a very wide variety of gambling options, but some of the most amazing features sit outside of the gambling areas. At a cost of $8.5 billion, this mock city is the largest privately funded construction project in U.S. history. Its various towers include nearly 5,000 hotel rooms and thousands of condos. Most impressively, the compound makes use of green technologies, including reclaimed water and a genuine on-site power plant. In total, 12,000 employees are needed to keep the entire operation running. Despite opening in the depths of the recession in Las Vegas (December 2009), it still brings in hundreds of millions of dollars each quarter.

Now, Casino Gambling is Always Available

One thing that no land-based casino can compete with, though, is the myriad of online casinos that are already at your fingertips. Forget about the hundreds of slots machines that might only really have 75 or 100 different varieties. Online casinos have hundreds of games and they can add new ones without scrapping the old. Factor in the unlimited number of seats, the ability to switch between casinos in seconds, and higher payout percentages, and online casinos come in a clear lead as your best bet for an awesome gaming experience. Save these top 5 land-based casinos for your next vacation, and play online in the meantime.

What are the Odds of Global Doom? Discover the chances of the world ending…

The world seems a pretty stable place. We go about our lives taking for granted that the sun will rise the next day.

Only it almost didn’t – at least not on a world we would recognise. We have come perilously close to global doom many, many times. In fact you can even make a wager on it…

Take a look at the odds of the world coming to an end, and next time you look out the window, count your blessings you’re not staring down a massive asteroid, or looking out on a nuclear winter.

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Above all else, don’t forget the details! The little things separate a boring, uneventful night from one that people will be talking about years from now, and it all starts with the invitation. Send them out early, and make sure they grab people’s attention and set their expectations high. To really set the mood, request that everyone dress like Vegas high rollers! For a funkier vibe, costumes can also lead to a crazy night. Finally, slip a chip into each invitation to get your guests excited!

Setting Up Your Casino Night

In terms of turning your home into a casino, you have a lot to think about. Blackjack and Craps are relatively easy to set up, so these are the basic essentials that every casino night needs to have. If you’re willing to invest in the wheel (and colored chips), a roulette wheel can also be a great addition that will help to round things out. No matter what you choose, though, make sure you have enough chips for all of your guests. One chip-saving option is to give every player at least one or two very high denomination chips. This way you can keep many of the smaller denominations in play and make it easier for everyone to carry their bankroll around.

Speaking of chips, the question of money is an important one. First of all, you can always resort to using play money – just give everyone the same number of free chips and let the fun begin. For real money events, though, the best option is to just have everyone buy-in for a set amount of money and an equal number of chips. Then, at the end of the night, the players with the biggest bankrolls get some prizes – cash or not, your choice. As long as the prizes are worth more than the admissions for any one player, but less than the total amount of money collected, they will be appropriate.

Do You Need To Hire Help?

Your casino night can be totally self-run, and most in-home events probably are, but if you can at least hire a bartender, you can really take your casino night to the next level. Of course, for big events, or ones in which your guests are paying a high entrance fee, you could always consider hiring some dealers – just don’t feel like you have to! If your guests are taking turns operating the games, you only need to provide a simple sheet that explains the payouts and rules for each game, in order to keep things running smoothly.

Setting the Casino Mood

Don’t forget to offer food (something that people can snack on with one hand, but that’s not greasy), play music, and consider giving out small gift bags at the end so that everyone is a winner. It’s the little things that really blow people away, and while a casino night may sound expensive, after the first event, you can reuse many of the decorations and equipment (chips, dice, cards, etc.) for future casino nights. If you really plan things well, and gather a large group, this could even become as profitable as it is fun!

First of all, we need to address blackjack basic strategy cards. A basic blackjack strategy card is a simple way to make good decisions in any situation, but the majority of casual players don’t want to carry these around with them and there will be plenty of times when you will find yourself empty-handed. Thus, you need a strategy that you can actually memorize, and one that focuses on the fundamentals of the game, and that’s what we’re about to teach you.

Blackjack Strategy for Beginners

You can always find a blackjack strategy that’s more complicated than the last, but you don’t need to! Winning at blackjack isn’t rocket science. Our simple strategy here is designed to keep you on track, even when you don’t have a complete strategy card, and here’s how it works.

First thing’s first: you have to know when to hit, and when to stand. To do this, you need to calculate the total value of the cards in any given hand. For reference, any Ace is always worth 1 point, except when it is paired with a 7, an 8, or a 9 – in which case it is worth 11 points.

Add up the value of your cards. If the total value is in the 3-11 range, you should hit. If the total is in the 12-16 range, you should only hit if the dealer’s card is greater than 6. If your hand is worth 17-20, you should just play it safe and stand. For example, if you have a Jack and a 4, and the dealer is showing a 4, what should you do? That’s right, your hand is worth 14, and the dealer’s card is low, so you should hit! Easy, right? Right.

How Should I Play Pairs?

Pairs are special in blackjack. If you have any pair EXCEPT with 4′s, 5′s, or 10′s – then you should split the hand. With a pair of 4′s, hit. With a pair of 5′s, hit if the dealer shows a 10 or an Ace – or double down otherwise. With a pair of 10′s, just stand! So, for example, if you have a pair of 3′s, split your hand. If you have a pair of 4′s, hit.

What about Doubling Down?

In some cases, you’ll want to get more cash on the table by doubling down. If your hand is worth just 9 points, double down if the dealer is showing a card worth less than 7. If your hand is worth 10 and the dealer’s card is worth less than 10, you should also double down. Finally, with a hand worth 11 points, double down in all situations! So, for example, with a hand worth 9 points, and dealer card of 8, you should NOT double down – the dealer card is too high. If your hand is worth 11 points, don’t worry about the dealer at all; just double down immediately!

Why Card Counting Won’t Cut It

In a live casino, card counting (especially as a coordinated team effort) is likely to work over the long run, but it simply will not give you an advantage online. This is because blackjack card counters depend on one simple truth – every time a card is removed from the deck, the statistics for the remaining cards change. Online, though, the deck is digitally “reshuffled” after each hand. Thus, each hand is totally random and you cannot possibly get enough information to forge an edge over the house. Online, we can only make the best decisions possible in each situation and hope that our educated strategies can give us an advantage.

Turns out that from Las Vegas to Oklahoma, from Biloxi to Detroit, the complaints are pretty much the same.  The guide, published by Casino Vacations Press, highlights the issues that bug visitors the most; here are the Top Five. Naturally, we’ve added a few comments of our own, because we have an opinion on everything.

Top Five Complaints

1) Tight machines: Oh yes, we’ve all played on machines that ate our money like a bulimic at a Krispy Kreme. Well, we can’t speak for other areas, but here’s a little hint if you come to Vegas: try the casinos on the far South end of the Strip; we mean waaaaay South end. They get a little less tourist business, so they’re a little easier to crack for locals and those out-of-towners who will make the journey.  Can we prove this? No. But empirical evidence has to be worth something, right? That being said, don’t send us hate mail if you lose your mortgage payment in these places.

2) Long lines:  Come on now, people. You really don’t know how to get to the front of a long line? Alright, here’s a tutorial. You fold a ten-spot in your palm and slip it into the hand of whoever is running the line. Magically, POOF!, you will become a VIP. By the way, this also works for “full” valet parking, trust us.

3) Not enough slot attendants:  Since so much of slot business is now handled by automated tickets and cashout machines, casinos have cut way back on their slot attendants. That means if you experience a problem, you could be waiting a good, long while before anyone shows up. We suggest ordering as many free drinks as possible while you wait, and if it’s really interminable, make a stink to a supervisor for some free slot play. We can’t guarantee it will work, but it’s worth a shot.

4) Unenticing direct mail offers:  If you market it, they will come; but only if you offer them something really fabulous. A $50 dinner coupon is worth getting dressed for; a $5 off coupon, not so much.  Casinos need to realize they have plenty of competition and juice up their offerings if they want to pull in a ready-and-willing customer base.

5) Too smoky:  Yes, we know, some people think the casino business will die if smoking is totally banned, but Atlantic City’s Revel notwithstanding, a lot of people would love a smoke-free casino. In fact, Macau, the most lucrative gaming region on earth by a landslide, put some major smoking restrictions in place as of the first of this year, and went on to have their highest-revenue February ever. The times they are a’changin’, and clearly many people no longer want to be forced to suck in a smokestack for the privilege of playing in a casino.

That’s it: the Top Five casino complaints. Now stop whining and go gamble already.

Roots

It’s believed that the first evidence of some semblance of gaming dates back to ancient times, when outcomes or predictions of certain events and when they might take place were determined by throwing objects onto the ground, and interpreting the results to see what they “foretold.” This was known in ancient civilizations as “casting of lots.” Generally, even numbers of objects were considered good, whereas odd numbers, not so much.

Evolution of Gambling

Naturally, like all gamblers throughout time, early ones wanted to put Lady Luck on their side, so they tended to pray to the gods to influence outcome, in an early rendition of “Just one time!”

It’s also possible that gambling, like sex, is so inherent in the human psyche that it had to be attributed to the deities of early times; thus some accounts of the top-tier Greek gods have Zeus, Hades and Poseidon playing some rudimentary craps to decide who got what in the grand scheme of the Universe.

Eventually, people started to use gambling as a way to decide who got to do what; you know, like “you get to shlep all the bricks to the base of the pyramid, and then I’ll stack ‘em up” kind of thing.  A practical decision-making tool was born.

Chips Ahoy

Early gambling chips were made out of things like sticks, rocks, or bones. Bones? “Hey, Neanderthal Man, pull me a tibia for our weekly blackjack game, would ya?” must have been the word around caveman times. Turns out the earliest die were made from knucklebones ( a practice sometimes continued in the early days of Vegas by those who didn’t pay their casino debts). Knucklebones, we are told, are four-sided, albeit irregular in shape; and eventually numbers were painted on them and several sets thrown in early games of chance.

Getting Carded

Early cards were also based on superstition and divination; if you’ve ever seen a Tarot deck, you’ve seen the offshoot of early cards which featured various societal roles and the earliest version of card suits.

Eventually, these cards became part of everyday life, and an amusement to pass the time for the upper classes (the lower classes were probably too busy trying to find food or their annual bath to take much time out for such frivolities).  It is known that games such as craps, baccarat, roulette and blackjack all originated in different parts of Europe, while keno was first played as an ancient Chinese lottery game.

First Casinos

Word is that the first casinos  in any shape we may think of them were created in 17th century Italy. The word “casino” means “small villa” or “summer home” in Italian, indicating a place to “get away to” and relax and enjoy some worldly pleasures. So actually, the first casinos were more like, um, brothels, it seems. Apparently that famous lover Casanova enjoyed a few in his day.

So, there you have it: a brief look back at the history of gambling since time began. We’ll never know who placed the first bet, but you can bet they went for double or nothing when they lost.

Online gambling offers fans of chance and fortune a great opportunity to lay bets on a whim from the comfort and convenience of their own homes. But while meeting up with Lady Luck in the depths of cyberspace can be fun – not to say rewarding – it’s no trip to Vegas. In Sin City, huge casinos light up the night sky, neon signs gleam along the strip with unmatched allure, and the sights and sounds are electrifying.

Aside from the gambling, Las Vegas remains a hub of world-class entertainment. With iconic landmarks, live shows and world-famous hotels, it’s more than just a one-stop rendezvous with serendipity. And if you’re still not convinced, these aerial shots of Las Vegas icons are dazzling reminders of just how much the city has to offer.

10. Las Vegas Strip

1ZOOM.net

No Vegas experience would be complete without a walk down the famous Las Vegas Strip. The roughly four-mile stretch from the Mandalay to the Stratosphere (a site included by most Strip tour guides) engulfs the senses. The sprawling casinos are lit up like beacons, music thunders from all directions, and car horns blare. It’s like entering an alien world full of new aromas, sounds and sights – and it can get quite overwhelming on a first visit. Not only is a walk down the Strip a thrill in itself; it’s also an excellent opportunity to scout out all the casinos and plan your next move.

9. Paris Las Vegas – Eiffel Tower

Photos4travel.com

Paris Las Vegas’ Eiffel Tower replica is a must-see. Take a break from gambling and enjoy the Eiffel Tower Experience, climbing the 50-story-high icon of the Vegas skyline. Although it’s only half the height of the original, the Las Vegas version of the famous tower is definitely high enough to offer visitors a stunning panoramic view of the city. You can ride to the top in a glass elevator, stroll around the observation deck, and dine in a luxury restaurant 100 feet up in the air. The change in perspective is bound to be refreshing, providing an opportunity to see Vegas’ eye-catching casinos from a completely different angle.

8. Luxor Las Vegas – The Great Sphinx of Giza

Jason Hawkes

This incredible reproduction of the Great Sphinx of Giza is an astonishing 110 feet high. It’s part of the distinctive, pyramid-shaped Luxor Las Vegas casino and hotel (pictured in its entirety below). Along with the hotel’s 140-foot obelisk, it’s a sight you won’t want to miss – from the ground or by air. Vegas’ version of the mythical creature is two stories higher than the original Egyptian statue, so it certainly makes an impression. If you’re on the ground, take a trip on the Strip monorail, which passes directly in front of the amazing structure. Interestingly, the venue’s basement held a replica of King Tutankhamun’s tomb and treasure, until it was given to a museum in 2008.

7. Stratosphere Las Vegas

Letsgovegas.net

High-stakes gambling can be an exhilarating thrill, but it’s only one of the adrenaline-filled activities that Las Vegas has to offer. Hotel and casino the Stratosphere comprises a mighty tower that soars above the city like some kind of stupendous lighthouse. The tower is the tallest structure in Las Vegas as well as the ninth-tallest freestanding structure in the US. It features white-knuckle attractions like SkyJump Las Vegas, which is similar to a bungee jump and allows thrill seekers to plunge 855 feet down towards the ground – just in case the gambling isn’t getting their hearts pumping enough! Other exciting rides to brave include The Big Shot, Insanity the Ride and XSCREAM. The Stratosphere also boasts a restaurant called Top of the World, a spa, pools, a fitness center, around 50 table games, 1,500 video poker and slot machines, and “crapless craps.”

6. Excalibur

Jason Hawkes

Taking its cues from Arthurian legend, the Excalibur hotel and casino offers visitors a chance to step back into medieval times – Vegas-style, of course. The resort contains more than 1,700 slot machines, a poker room, live keno, and more. Furthermore, the castle is home to what’s billed as Vegas’ most popular dinner show, the Tournament of Kings. The show includes dinner, eaten with your hands, and a jousting tournament that features a 38-member cast, 79 costumes and a dozen breeds of horses. And for a different and totally unique dining experience after a craps game, there’s Dick’s Last Resort, a restaurant with intentionally rude staff plus a take on the famous Bellagio fountain show – performed behind the bar with water dispensers by mascot “Taco.”

5. MGM Grand Las Vegas

Photographic Solutions Inc.

The glowing green windows of the MGM Grand make this iconic Las Vegas casino and hotel stand out from the galaxy of lights surrounding it. The casino is home to one of the biggest gaming floors in the city, making it a paradise for gambling enthusiasts. Opened on December 18, 1993, the casino boasts over 2,500 machines and 139 poker and table games. The massive resort also hosts Cirque du Soleil’s performance of Kà, Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, and multiple shows at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. With 19 different restaurants, five outdoor swimming pools, rivers and waterfalls, it’s like a city within a city.

4. The Venetian

Jason Hawkes

The Venetian hotel and casino (pictured here from a lofty perspective) features two canals that give it the European ambiance of one of Italy’s most famous cities. The larger canal holds 536,000 gallons of water, while the smaller one holds 278,000 gallons. The resort offers gondola rides, shopping, sightseeing tours by helicopter, and a spa. Plus, the locale offers the usual gamut of gaming options – from slot machines and baccarat to Pai Gow poker. According to one website, although only 13 percent of Las Vegas visitors say they plan to gamble, 87 percent end up trying their luck, which proves just how compelling and intoxicating the environment can be.

3. Bellagio

John Bahu

With its lake and dancing fountains, few Las Vegas attractions are as famous as the Bellagio hotel and casino. Featured in movies like Ocean’s Eleven and Rush Hour 2, the Bellagio is known for its elegance and luxury. The fountain show in front of the hotel plays from the afternoon until midnight, accompanied by lights and music. On the game-playing front, the casino is a favorite spot for professional poker players, who often refer to the casino as “The Office.” The table limits are high, and stakes at the legendary Big Game (played in “Bobby’s Room,” which gets its name from Bobby Baldwin) can reach as high as $8,000 – with the pots having allegedly far surpassed the $1 million mark. The casino also houses the Cirque du Soleil aquatic production of O, a fine art gallery, and a feature made from thousands of hand-blown glass flowers.

2. Mandalay Bay

Ron Niebrugge

Mandalay Bay hotel and casino shines in the light thanks to all the gold leaf on its windows, adding even more shimmering brilliance to the Vegas skyline. The resort’s gaming environment covers a staggering 135,000-square-foot area. Mandalay Bay’s beachside casino allows bikini-clad, flip-flop-wearing gamblers to try their hand at craps, blackjack and roulette. Even the dealers are similarly attired, and during the summer heat, players can enjoy Mandalay Bay’s Beach Concert Series without missing an iota of playing time. The Mandalay Bay also houses the LIGHT Nightclub, the House of Blues Music Hall, and the Shark Reef Aquarium.

1. Luxor Las Vegas

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The 30-story-high black pyramid of the Luxor Las Vegas hotel and casino resort lights up the night sky with its 42.3 billion candlepower Sky Beam – said to be the world’s brightest beam of light. The beam is visible from planes as far away as the airspace over Los Angeles, and it adds a distinctive strip of blue to the glittering Vegas panorama. The casino has an area called The Party Pit, where girls dance on stage; a high-limit area; and a poker room that features regular tournaments as well as giveaways, table games and slots. What’s more, the nightlife at the Luxor includes swanky clubs such as Savile Row and the High Bar. So whether you’re a seasoned gambler, or just keen to try it out for the first time, a visit to Vegas is a not-to-be-missed experience.

Following is a recap of what rates as the biggest hits (and misses) with tourists based on the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Bureau’s annual visitor profile, compiled end of last year for the year prior’s top trends.

Showtime!

Vegas is still a great place to catch a show, but either the cost of tickets or too many seasons of American Idol have made show business a tad lackluster there right now: 2011 had the lowest show attendance all around for the last five years.  Shows hit a zenith back in 2008, when 72 percent of visitors caught one, vs. just 60 percent in 2011.

Lounging Around

Maybe retro shows like “Mad Men” have brought the old lounge act back into fashion, along with whiskey and red lipstick; lounge act attendance hit 73 percent in recent years, versus a low of 64 percent in 2007.

Headlining

Again, pricey tickets and a still-crappy economy may be partly to blame, but we also can’t help but wonder if an awful lot of people have no flippin’ clue who half these people are with theaters named after them in Vegas; whatever the reason, only 17 percent of visitors caught a show in recent years, and that’s not too different than the 2007 numbers.

Not So Funny

Maybe the comedians aren’t as funny, or maybe people feel like they can watch them for free in their living rooms, but seems 2011 was a sad year for the funny people: only 11 percent of Vegas tourists went to a comedy show. Possibly they were too busy crying over their lost mortgage money.

Paid Attractions

We know that doesn’t even sound right, but we’re not talking about that kind of attraction; we mean things like Madame Tussaud’s and the Atomic Museum. About 18 percent of you were willing to take time out from losing money to go to one of these zany attractions in 2011.

Taking a Gamble

From a high in 2008 of 85 percent (right before the economy went into the outhouse), just 77 percent of people who came to Vegas in 2011 took a chance with their money in a casino.  Since we know the rest of you weren’t seeing a show, or laughing at a comedian, that only leaves shopping or things we can’t really discuss here.

 You’re Supposed to Have a Budget??

Seems some people actually figure out how much they’re willing to lose, er, spend, before they get to Vegas; what a whacky concept! The average gambling allotment was about $448 (the lowest in five years, by the way).

What Happens in Vegas Is Now Happening Everywhere

Seems the proliferation of casinos in almost every state is having an effect, and not a good one, on Sin City’s popularity: only 27 percent of 2011 visitors said they’d be more inclined to come back given the opportunity to gamble elsewhere.  Back in 2007, that number was 48 percent, so looks like Vegas needs a few new tricks up its sleeve if it wants people to keep coming back.

Wait, that didn’t sound right at all, did it?