Areas of Expertise
85 stories by Lucas Thomas
College Football Week Two: Home Underdogs Offer Enticing Money Line Plays
Week two of the college football season features an intriguing mix of home dogs and heavy favorites who are looking to “right” some “wrongs” from week one. Whether you’re hunting for an early season money line upset, or willing to lay a...
Vegas Golden Knights Won’t Be Sneaking Up On Sportsbooks This Year, Opening With 12-to-1 Cup Odds
This time last year, a $20 bet on the Vegas Golden Knights to win the Stanley Cup was slated to win $10,000. Ultimately, the expansion franchise fell three wins short of hoisting hockey's ultimate trophy, but they gave Las Vegas sportsbooks a...
Officer Involved Shooting at Eldorado Casino in 2017 Justified, According to Washoe County District Attorney
Reno Police officer Thomas White was justified when he fired two shots, killing 24-year old Steven Valenzuela at the Eldorado Casino in Reno on February, 23 2017. Valenzuela, according to the Washoe County District Attorney’s Office, was a gang member who was...
Card Player Magazine Controller Alleged Theft Indictment Over More Than $1 Million Has Plenty of Mystery to Story
How did a Card Player magazine controller manage to allegedly steal $1.1 million over the course of five years without anyone noticing until after she resigned? Those are the questions being raised since Thursday's indictment of Shelby McCann -- who also goes by Anna...
Landing International Hits Another Snag as Philippine Lease Partners Become Subject of Possible Government Probe
A lease agreement between Hong Kong-based Landing International Development and the Nayong Pilipino Foundation (NPF) is adding to the resort developer's woes. The Philippine Senate has been asked to investigate former board members of NPF — a local non-profit operating under the country’s...
Penn National Gets Missouri Approval for Pinnacle Buyout: Will Operate Five Properties Within State
Penn National Gaming now has a dozen states on board for its takeover of 12 Pinnacle Entertainment properties for the price of $2.8 billion. The Missouri Gaming Commission approved the buyout during its August 29 meeting. The deal calls for Pinnacle to sell...
Fewer Chinese Travel Visa Restrictions Mean More Business for Macau Casinos
Macau casinos were already prepping for the increase of visitors from mainland China over the first six months of the year. After a decision by the Chinese Ministry of Public Service earlier this week, they might need to double down on those...
Las Vegas Casino Security Needs to Watch for More Than Cheaters to Qualify for Federal Liability Protection, Expert Says
If Las Vegas casinos and hotels want to receive the type of liability protection that MGM Resorts is seeking nearly one year after the Oct. 1 shooting, they’re going to have to prove that their security systems can do more than just...
MGM Boss Jim Murren Still Talking His Way Out of Shooting Victim Lawsuit at MGM Springfield Massachusetts Opening
MGM Resorts CEO Jim Murren surely preferred even the 48 percent humidity among temps in the high 80s in western Massachusetts to the much drier, much higher literal and figurative heat of the Las Vegas summer he's been having so far. Murren...
MGM Resorts Partners With Nevada for Education Program, Tries to Move on from Summer PR Nightmare
MGM Resorts is getting a much needed dose of good publicity by joining with the Nevada System of Higher Education to offer free credit hours for professional development and college education courses to its employees. Employees will have the opportunity to take...