Works by Las Vegas artists now available in casino vending machines

Sunday, June 16, 2024 1:40 PM
  • John Katsilometes, Las Vegas Review-Journal

The Las Vegas casino executive is making an art run in his own casino. He is led into a partitioned-off area, to a small art gallery which is actually a vending machine.

The big box is filled, not with Doritos and Snickers, but with nifty pieces created by local artists. A Wheel of Fortune slot machine is shown in the reflection of the glass as the exec runs his card, then bends to fetch a little stuffed unicorn.

“It worked!” Virgin Hotel President Cliff Atkinson says, holding up his prize. “I won!”

Elizabeth “Ziz” Atkinson won too. She is the 13-year-old daughter of Cliff and his wife, Jennifer Atkinson, vice president of marketing for Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group.