Luckily, quick thinking security guards were able to convince him to leave the actual casino, although he did remain in the proximity of Arizona Charlie’s hotel, in a grassy area outside the building.

The Bomb. Don't Ride It.

Staff was then able to evacuate the 301 room hotel and casino, while the SWAT squad Armor Unit, and Las Vegas’s bomb squad tried convincing the man to give himself up.

However, something didn’t quite add up and while he was being persuaded to surrender, the man seemed more intent on persuading the armed officers to kill him.

The stand-off lasted for a couple of hours, until 11:45 a.m., when the man finally gave up and the device was discovered to be a fake.

Speculating on the bizarre occurrence, Las Vegas police believe the man was trying to commit “suicide by cop,” but fortunately the professional law officers didn’t fall for his game of bluff.

The man is now in custody while an assessment is being made of his mental health and possible federal charges are considered.

If you DO end up in a casino, please don’t Tweet about it.

MGM Resorts International was under investigation after Marcus Jordan, the underage son of basketball great Michael Jordan, bragged on Twitter about partying at a Las Vegas Strip nightclub.

“Last night was stupid… 35K at Haze,” (at Aria Resort & Casino) the University of Central Florida sophomore guard said. “Totals 50K something the whole day.” The tweet was quickly removed from his feed, but the damage was done.

Jordan told a Fox Sports website last week that the tweet was a mistake and said he had conversations with both his parents about it.

“I didn’t mean it the way it came across,” he said. “My family and friends know the type of person I am.”

Mr. Jordan, if you spent $50,000 on something OTHER than gambling in Las Vegas, we probably need to talk. There are only a few things that money could be spent on, and you’re too young for ALL of them. May I suggest you send that money on up my way if you get the urge to do this again? Cheers.

Best Singles Bar – JET Nightclub

Looking for love, lust, or just some good-old-fashioned flirting? The place to be is JET Nightclub at The Mirage, where the stars, entourages, and the beautiful mingle in the gorgeous club and on the dance floor.  JET features three distinct rooms, each a unique space with its own dance floor, DJ booth and sound system. The main room offers the best of rock, hip-hop and popular dance music. Another room is dedicated to house music spun by guest and international DJs while the other plays an eclectic mix of music ranging from 80s to rock. Four full-service libation bars offer creative specialty cocktails. European bottle service is featured in each room.

Best LGBT Bar – KRAVE Nightclub

A wild, anything-goes type of place, KRAVE nightclub is perfect for those who want to spice up their nights. KRAVE is the self-proclaimed #1 gay nightclub in the country with events like “Meat Market” and “Flesh Fridays”, and a guest list a mile long. They’ve entertained guests including Sir Elton John, Holly Maddison, Naomi Campbell, Drew Barrymore, Janice Dickinson, Lady Gaga, Jake Shears, Pamela Anderson, Steve Wynn, Bette Midler, Ricki Lake, Rose McGowan, David Furnish, Lance Bass, Amanda Lepore, Wayne Brady, Bill Maher, The Pointer Sisters and Rupaul among others.

Honorable Mention:  Fun Hog Ranch. For those who would rather not spend all their cash in one night, Fun Hog Ranch might be the place to go. While it’s a little smaller and can be smoky, it has a reputation as a fantastic bar with great staff and a friendly atmosphere.

Best Karaoke Bar – Karaoke Q Studios

Are you that special kind of drunk where you want to give everyone a taste of your musical prowess? Try Karaoke Q Studios; while it’s a little off the strip, the service and selection more than makes up for it.  Featuring 13 private Karaoke Rooms seating up to 20 people, you can belt out the best tunes with a huge selection of songs in English, Korean, Filipino, Vietnamese, Japanese and more.

Best Sports Bar – BLONDIES

Is there a game you’d like to catch before heading back to the tables? Check out Blondies Sports Bar, which has been voted #1 sports bar in the country. Major sports games are displayed on more than 40 plasma and big screen televisions throughout the comfortably appointed restaurant, or the games can be enjoyed on a patio overlooking the mall.

And if that puts you in the mood for a little competition yourself, check out Blondie’s weekly beer pong tournament.

Shares rose 1.4% to $30.18 in recent trading. The stock has more than doubled this year. That’s what I like to hear!

S&P only expects gradual improvement in performance of the Las Vegas properties over the next few years. Its upswing in revenue reflects continued strong performance in Macau and encouraging initial results from Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.

Las Vegas Sands earlier this year received a strong reception to the opening of its $5.5 billion Marina Bay Sands casino on Singapore’s main waterfront. The casino operator’s strong performance in the Chinese gambling enclave of Macau and prior-cost cutting also have improved the company’s performance–leading to improved prospects for its lower-than-low credit ratings.

The company generates most of its revenue in Asia.

Stardust Heist

In September of 1992, Bill Brennan, a cashier at the Stardust’s sports book, left for lunch with over $500,000 in cash and chips inside of a bag draped over his shoulder — the biggest theft from a Las Vegas casino in history. Even after being on the the FBI’s most wanted list, and appearing on America’s Most Wanted, there have been no signs of Brennan. Police believe he has fled the country, and he still hasn’t been found.

Heather Tallchief and Roberto Solis Rob Circus Circus

In October of 1993, Tallchief, 21, and Roberto Solis, 48, made off with a Loomis Armored truck filled with $2.5 million outside of Circus Circus. The two escaped the United States via the Cayman Islands and St. Martin. Solis, a man who Tallchief thought was in love with her, later left, leaving her with only $1,000 and their child. After running from the law for over 12 years, Heather Tallchief finally surrendered in September of 2005.

The 2005 Mandalay Bay Heist

On March 11, 2005 two men approached a casino change booth inside Mandalay Bay at about 4 p.m. and held up the cashier working inside the booth. The men then fled in a vehicle parked near an entrance, making off with an untold amount of money. Neither police nor Mandalay Bay spokesman Gordon Absher would specify which entrance they used or which booth was robbed, leaving the entire event shrouded in mystery.

Jose Vigoa Wreaks Havoc on Vegas

Vigoa’s biggest mistake came when he robbed the Bellagio wearing the amazing disguise of sunglasses and a baseball cap. The Bellagio managed to get extremely detailed shots of Vigoa, which ended up being broadcast for four days on Vegas TV and finally resulted in a 100 mph car chase through the city. Vigoa’s capture, arrest, and sentencing left him facing more than 500 years in prison with no possibility of parole.

Reginald and Donell Johnson Make a Repeated Mark of Treasure Island

In 2000, a lone gunman jumped over the main casino cage just after midnight hitting and robbing a cashier. He shot at and missed two security guards as he fled with an undisclosed amount of money, said Alan Feldman, spokesman for MGM Mirage, which owns Treasure Island hotel-casino.
During Reginald Johnson’s taped confession, he said he struck the cashier with his because his brother had recognized the cashier from the earlier heist.

Unfortunately, their holdings company, the Riviera Holdings Corp, has filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy. According to the casino operator, the recession has hit the casino too hard for them to continue paying their loans, and Riviera Holdings Corp. has defaulted on over $225 million in loans from Wachovia Bank. The terms of the bankruptcy will transfer the properties to the lenders, which means that for now, both the Riviera Hotel and Casino and its sister operation the Riviera Black Hawk Casino in Colorado will be able to continue operating.

The news, though far from shocking, is a bad sign for the land-based casino world. Even with the UIGEA in place, more and more bettors are placing their wagers online. Moreover, state after state is opening or expanding their casinos making Las Vegas much less of a casino destination than it used to be. The current downturn in the economy means that more Americans are doing without vacations, staying closer to home, and spending less money when they do vacation. For Californians who used to drive to Las Vegas for a weekend, economic hardship coupled with rising gasoline prices have made the trip much less appealing.

The trend is likely to get worse before it gets better. Casinos around the United States are feeling the pinch. The only ones profiting are the online casinos. If the government doesn’t move to allow America’s land-based casinos to offer online games, they simply won’t be able to continue operating, meaning lost revenues from taxes, lost jobs for those employed by the casinos, and the end of an era for Las Vegas.

The Las Vegas Strip casinos are working hard to bring in more customers and keep them at the tables longer, but the reality is that fewer tourists are even making it into Las Vegas these days. Those who do want to play for lower stakes, and those who do play higher stakes are often those who can ill afford the losses, meaning the casinos are often forced to turn down their credit cards and send them on their way.

Watanbe filed a claim against Harrah’s with Nevada’s Gaming Control Board. According to Watanbe, he was served alcohol and illegal prescription drugs at the casino, and was allowed to continue gambling even when he was visibly intoxicated. According to Nevada law, casinos may not accept wagers from visibly intoxicated patrons. According to Watanbe’s statements, he frequently gambled while mostly asleep and drunk.

The court dismissed the case after Harrah’s and Watanbe agreed to go to binding arbitration. This does not close the case filed by Nevada’s Gaming Control Board, but industry experts do not believe that Harrah’s will see much more than a fine and a warning even if it is found that they acted against regulations.

It looks like one of those cases where everyone’s wrong. If Harrah’s or any of their employees gave a patron prescription drugs, that’s pretty serious wrongdoing. It’s one thing to offer someone a cocktail and hope it will loosen them and their wallets, but handing them a Valium or a Vicodan is a whole different ballgame. That’s a criminal offense. The fact that the DA is letting that go makes me wonder if that really happened. Maybe it was a one-time thing. Maybe Watanbe had a monster hangover and a casino employee offered him something a little stronger to deal with the headache. I’m guessing if it were a regular occurrence, we’d be hearing more about that. Even assuming that the prescription drugs charge is overplayed or inaccurate, though, the pit boss and dealers shouldn’t be allowing people who look like they’re not keeping their heads to be out on the floor. It’s a matter of safety for other patrons, not to mention just bad practice. If the man enjoys his game, he’ll be back when the whiskey wears off, too, and he’ll be glad that his wallet isn’t completely empty when he wakes up in the morning.

On the other hand, personal responsibility plays a role here. If you’ve already racked up a million dollars in casino losses, then it’s time to admit you have a gambling problem. There are plenty of ways to get help. If you don’t get that help, you bear culpability for what happens next, and you shouldn’t be able to blame the casino for your irresponsible behavior.

The Luxor is the first hotel in the city to host a LGBT pool party. If you’re into real debauchery without fear of disturbing the family crowd, the clothing-optional status of the Blue Moon Resort probably keeps them at bay. It is far from the Strip, but you can strip there.

If you thought pool parties were only for teens, that’s just not true in Las Vegas. Each Sunday at the Luxor is Temptation Sunday, Jay. Son (you pronounce the dot) hosts the pool party. There is a new theme each week. Some previous themes have been I (Heart) the Eighties, Summer of 69, and Wild Wild West. Over at the Venetian, at the same time, 1-7pm on Sundays, the lesbian pool party is called the Kitty Dip. Tao Beach provides loungers, cabanas, and bamboo trees. There’s no need for themes when there are mojitos and sushi at the bar. DJ Lisa Pittman provides the music, an eclectic mix including everything from hip hop to indie pop.

For drinks, ladies can go to Down at Ghostbar at the Palms Hotel or BootyBar behind the Bootlegger Bistro. Gentlemen can try Krave, which is a gay disco with all the trimmings. You’ll find a great sound system, bright lights, and fantastic drinks.

For a gay-friendly day tour, try the Las Vegas Historical City Tour organized by Pink Jeep Tours. You can hear all about the city’s gay history. There are stops on Freemont Street and the Strip. The tour devotes a big chunk of time to Liberace, a famous entertainer and piano player who was known for his flamoyant costumes and personal style.

It’s easy to see why. 6/5 blackjack doesn’t cater to high rollers. It caters to the tourist crowd. First, the casinos drop the minimum bet to attract people with a more modest bankroll. Then they use a number of techniques to make the tables more appealing to the average tourist. For example, these games tend to move a little more slowly than games frequented by blackjack high rollers. Put them in what is known in the industry as a “party pit,” and there’s even more appeal. A party pit is usually found near the nightclub. The dealer is usually female and adds some attractive eye-candy to the gambling experience. There can be music. Basically, it feels like you’re at a bar hanging out with friends and playing a game. While high rollers avoid party pits like the plague, for a vacationer, it’s the ideal Vegas experience.

Some Vegas vacationers were interviewed about their feelings regarding the 6/5 blackjack games, and initially expressed outrage that they were being conned into playing a version of blackjack with poorer odds than the usual game. However, when faced with the possibility of a minimum bet being $20 instead of $5 or $10, some players said they’d prefer to play lower odds for more hands.

In today’s recession, the gambling floor has been hard hit, but gamblers still come. The best way to get the low-rollers to come in, though, is to drop the minimum bets to the floor. Penny slots are becoming more popular, and low table minimums present a big draw. According to Las Vegas casino representatives, the house edge on regular blackjack is simply too low to drop table minimums further. Instead, they’re offering players the game they ask for, but the price is higher than the players realize.

Unlike at a regular blackjack table, if you’re playing 6/5 blackjack, there’s only one deck instead of a shoe of six or eight decks. You’re allowed to touch your cards, pick them up. Card counting works, because there’s only one deck. It looks like a much better deal, as long as you’re not counting your winnings in the equation.

Even if you only vacation on the Vegas Strip, being on the M Life rewards plan is a good idea, since MGM Resorts International has stakes in ten properties on the Vegas Strip. These include the obvious like the MGM Grand Las Vegas and the Mirage, but also those that don’t bear the MGM label as loudly, like the Luxor and CityCenter which is a joint venture.

According to MGM’s management, when MGM bought out Steve Wynn’s Mirage, the name change was meant to inspire confidence for Mirage employees, making the move feel more like a merger than an acquisition. MGM changed the name to signal that they did not intend to make large changes in the Mirage properties. Since that was ten years ago, employees have gotten used to the idea of the acquisition and there is no need to keep the Mirage name in the company name. The Mirage Resort will probably keep its name, since it is well-recognized and liked by tourists.

Interestingly, despite the decline in land-based gambling in the United States in general and in Las Vegas specifically, MGM Resorts recently cooperated to bring the CityCenter project to life. According to many experts on the economic situation of land-based gambling in Las Vegas, casino-resorts are looking for ways to create more profits from their resorts in order to rely less on the casino side of the operation. This is logical, since tourists can easily stay home to gamble online, but spas, live shows, swimming pools, and amusement parks like those available on the Vegas Strip aren’t replaced by internet usage in the same manner. Moreover, bringing tourists in to the resorts for the resort experience increases the number of players on the casino floor. Despite the claims that gambling is a recession-proof business, many players suffering from economic hardship have at least lowered their stakes and are spending less on the casino floor. MGM Resorts seems to be meeting the current challenges well though.