Writer: John L. Smith
Books for gamblers in season
In August, when Caesars Entertainment spinoff VICI Properties announced its $17 billion acquisition of MGM Growth Properties, it was yet... more
With battles on multiple fronts, Station Casinos is fighting to maintain its image
The commercials are hard to miss on television and the internet. The full-page advertisements in the Las Vegas Review-Journal leave little... more
Living history: El Cortez celebrates its 80th anniversary with fireworks
If you’re looking for living Las Vegas history, walk through the doors of the El Cortez. The venerable and vaunted downtown gambling... more
Their kind of town? The fascinating push for a coveted Chicago casino license
The stakes are rising in Chicago, where three companies have submitted a total of five proposals in a competition to develop the first... more
A boxing hall of fame styled after the Mob Museum? That’s an easy knockout
Inside the new Resorts World casino-resort on the Las Vegas Strip, the 10-foot-tall statue towers over passersby outside the Mulberry... more
Will a grassroots anti-smoking effort finally gain real traction in the casino industry?
It’s understandable that it would be lost amid the relentless misery of the pandemic, but a strange and refreshing thing happened inside... more
With re-election campaign simmering, Governor Sisolak makes solid Gaming Commission picks
No one can deny Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak has a lot on his plate these days. From the health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic... more
As casino industry recovers, this would once again be a good time for it to stop smoking
As a kid growing up in Las Vegas, it seemed like just about everyone smoked cigarettes, including my parents, brother, and sisters. I... more
World Series of Poker a reminder Las Vegas has long been a “big-league” city
The Golden Knights, the Raiders, NASCAR – maybe one day even the Athletics. In 2021, the sports world fully recognizes Las Vegas as a... more
In a new era for sports betting, this slice of nostalgia is on me
Those searching for a symbol of the new era of acceptance of legalized sports betting need have looked no further than the season premiere... more
