Category: The Strip

On This Date: December 10, 2008, the New Frontier hotel marquee was taken down

December 10, 2023
The New Frontier was a hotel and casino

The New Frontier Marquee removed December 10, 2008

At the Request of Steve Wynn, prior to the opening of the Encore, the New Frontier Hotel’s marquee was taken down. The Hotel which closed on July 16, 2007, was later imploded on November 13, 2007 leaving only the sign standing. The orginal Hotel was called the Last Frontier” an opened on October 30, 1942. In April 4, 1955, it was renamed the New Frontier, following a modernization of the resort.

Photo By: Mark Sadowski
Source: Wikipedia.org

Posted by: Vegas Info      catagory The Strip, Vegas comments Leave a comment

How to Prepare for Gambling in Vegas for the First Time (Beginner’s Guide)

November 11, 2022
Las Vegas at Night
Vegas for the First Time

Are you heading to the Las Vegas Strip to hit the tables and do some gambling? If so, that’s awesome – you’ll have an experience to remember. But before you head out there, it’s important that you prepare for your gambling experience. Through plenty of preparation, you can give yourself the best possible shot at leaving Las Vegas as a winner – which not everybody can do!

As soon as you’re ready, you can dive straight into the steps detailed below.

Step 1: Practice in an Online Casino

In the modern age of gambling, millions of people are playing in real-money online casinos. Some do it for fun, while others do it to practice and hone their skills before playing in big casinos like Caesar’s Palace.

If you’ve never gambled online before, then it’s recommended you use the best real money online casino in the USA. This will enable you to learn the rules and foundations of all the major casino games, such as blackjack and video poker. The only difference is that you’ll be playing them online using either a smartphone or a PC!

After practicing in an online casino for a couple of days or weeks, you’ll be ready and pumped to hit the tables and machines in Las Vegas.

Step 2: Dress Smart

Some Las Vegas casinos have strict dress codes, while some expect you to dress in a smart-casual outfit. This is something you and your friends should double-check prior to heading there. Essentially, it’s the perfect excuse to wear that suit or dress that you’ve had in your closet for too long!

Step 3: Follow Casino Etiquette

In life, etiquette is important – especially when it comes to casinos.

In any casino, whether it’s in Las Vegas or Paris, players are expected to follow traditional casino etiquette. This involves everything you would expect, from being polite to dealers to not engaging in antisocial behavior. If you were to break any of the casino etiquette rules, then you’d likely be asked to leave the establishment – which you obviously don’t want to happen!

Step 4: Prepare Your Budget

After arriving in Vegas, don’t be reckless and gamble all of your life savings at the blackjack table. Under no circumstances are these types of bets ever a good idea! Instead, you need to be responsible and gamble with a budget.

Each individual is different regarding their gambling budget in Vegas. One person might take $150 with them, while another individual might take $1000 – it’s all down to disposable income.

Upon arriving in Vegas, you might drink a little and be tempted to expand your budget, but this is highly discouraged. You and your friends should always stick to your original budgets and avoid drinking while gambling so that you bet responsibly!

Step 5: Learn the Tricks of the Trade

In the casino industry, there are lots of tricks that you can learn to give yourself an advantage.

Here’s one you need to know: when you’re in a Las Vegas casino, avoid the double-zero roulette wheels. Instead, go with the single-zero wheels, as there’s a higher chance of you winning (whether you bet on red or black).

Posted by: Vegas Info      catagory Archive, Downtown, The Strip comments Leave a comment

On This Date: December 1, 2009, the Vdara Hotel & Spa Opens in City Center on the Las Vegas Strip

December 1, 2020

Vdara Hotel & Spa on the Las Vegas Strip

Vdara Hotel & Spa on the Las Vegas Strip

On this date December 1, 2009, the Vdara Hotel & Spa opened. The property is located within the CityCenter complex across from Aria Resort & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. The Vdara is 578 feet high in a 57-story tower and houses 1,495 suites. There is a two-story spa, salon and fitness center. It also has a 40,000 sq ft pool and deck area. The Vdara does not have a casino and is a non-smoking hotel within CityCenter located near Harmon and the Las Vegas Strip.

Photo Date: March 6, 2010
Photo by: By Cygnusloop99 (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 or GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons

Posted by: Vegas Info      catagory On This Date, The Strip, Vegas comments Leave a comment

On This Date: November 7, 1995 The Landmark Hotel was Imploded in Las Vegas

November 7, 2020

The Landmark Hotel and Casino

The Landmark Hotel and Casino was imploded on November 7, 1995

The Landmark Hotel and casino opened on July 1, 1969. It took more than 8 years to complete and was bought up by Howard Hugues 6 months before its completion.

The Landmark Tower was a 525 rooms hotel/casino located at 364 Convention Center Drive on the corner of Paradise Rd. and Convention Center Drive. The Landmark opened on July 1, 1969 and closed on August 8, 1990.

The Landmark played host to famous celebrities such as Danny Thomas, Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and Freddy Fender’s first appearance. The Landmark was one of the few hotel properties not located on the Strip or in downtown Las Vegas but across the street from the Las Vegas Convention Center.

The Landmark was closed on August 8, 1990. and on November 7, 1995, it was imploded. The demolition was filmed and used in the movie Tim Burton, “Mars Attack”. The Landmark was also featured in such movies like Viva Las Vegas, Diamonds Are Forever, Casino, and The Cooler. Also seen in TV Shows like Vegas and Crime Story.

Photo By: University of Nevada, Las Vegas University Libraries

Posted by: Vegas Info      catagory On This Date, The Strip, Vegas comments 1 Comment

On This Date: December 18, 1993: MGM Grand Las Vegas Opened

December 18, 2019

MGM Grand Hotel & Casino

MGM Grand Las Vegas Opened on December 18, 1993

The MGM Grand Las Vegas  opened on December 18, 1993. The hotel casino is located on the Las Vegas Strip on the corner of Las Vegas Blvd and Tropicana Ave. The MGM Grand is the second largest hotel in the world by number of rooms and the largest hotel resort complex in the United States, ahead of The Venetian. When it opened in 1993, the MGM Grand was the largest hotel in the world.

Owned and operated by MGM Resorts International, the 30-floor main building is 293 ft. high. The property includes five outdoor pools, rivers, and waterfalls that cover 6.6 acres, a 380,000 sq ft. convention center, the MGM Grand Garden Arena, and the Grand Spa. It also houses numerous shops and night clubs, restaurants, the Grand Garden Arena and the largest casino in Clark County, which occupies 171,500 sq ft.

The original hotel that existed on the current site before the MGM was built was the Marina Hotel. The Marina with was incorporated in to the new design and makes up the west wing of the hotel.  The MGM Grand name was originally used for the MGM Grand on the Flamingo Road and the Strip which was renamed when it was bought up by Bally’s Inc.

Originally, the main entrance on the Strip was inside the mouth of a giant cartoon-like version of MGM’s mascot, Leo the Lion, but this entrance feature was changed to a more traditional entrance; many Chinese gamblers avoided the casino or entered through the back entrance, due to the feng shui belief that entering the mouth of the lion was “bad luck.” In 1998, a large bronze statue of Leo was added above the entrance to keep with the MGM Lion theme.

Photo by: Wikipedia

Posted by: Vegas Info      catagory On This Date, The Strip, Vegas comments Leave a comment

On This Date: November 22, 1989, The Mirage Resort Opened on the Las Vegas Strip

November 22, 2019

The Mirage

The Mirage

On this date, November 22, 1989 the Mirage Resort & Casino, initially scheduled for an opening in early December 1989, was opened early on November 22, 1989. At the time of its opening, The Mirage was the largest hotel in the world, with 3,044 rooms. The hotel tower, standing 29 stories, was built out in a Y-shape design, a concept that was later copied by Las Vegas’ Treasure Island, Monte Carlo, and Mandalay Bay resorts. The hotel’s top five floors were used exclusively for high roller rooms and penthouse suites.

The Mirage was proposed with an initial cost of $565 million. Financier Michael Milken helped finance the project by selling $525 million worth of mortgage bonds. The Mirage was the first resort that was built with the money of Wall Street through the use of junk bonds. The project went over budget,  and was the most expensive hotel-casino in history, with a construction cost of US $630 million. The Mirage was the first new resort to be built on the Las Vegas Strip in 16 years, after the completion of the MGM Grand in 1973. The Mirage was the first casino to use security cameras full-time on all table games.

Panoramic Photo of the Mirage in 1999

Panoramic Photo of the Mirage in 1999

On May 31, 2000, the Golden Nugget, The Mirage (and all of Steve Wynn’s other properties) were sold to Kirk Kerkorian; the consolidated corporation was known as MGM Mirage and has been the largest casino corporation in Las Vegas since that date. The property is currently owned and operated by MGM Resorts International.

Posted by: Vegas Info      catagory The Strip, Vegas comments Leave a comment