Online Casino Gambling

For the first time in over 25 years, the Tropicana Las Vegas is going through renovations. In July of 2009, the Tropicana officially pulled themselves out of bankruptcy. Since that point, management has spent a considerable amount of time and money upgrading the property.

The total cost of renovations is around $165 million. Areas that are part of the renovation include:

• The casino floor
• Restaurants
• Pool
• Hotel rooms
• Convention center

In addition to these upgrades, the Tropicana is planning on building a nightclub-pool attraction named The Mob Experience. This will contribute to paying off this once run-down property. Despite a decrease in revenue and room rates for the second straight quarter; renovations, marketing and advertising for the Tropicana Las Vegas has increased the number of weekend visitors.

From now until the end of 2010, weekend room rates at the Tropicana are between $99 and $229 per night. This rivals competitors rates found at the Luxor and Treasure Island. Normally, weekend rates at the resort linger between $129 and $159 per night. The highest rate of the year is $229 for New Years Eve and the final weekend of September when many conventions are in town.

Prior to the renovations, some rooms were as cheap as $38 per weekend night in 2009. This was on track with rivaling casinos like the Sahara and the Rivieria. The room rates in 2010 compared to 2009 were primarily attributed to a rise weekend demand. This shows great promise for the casino industry.

The last time rooms at the Tropicana were renovated was in 1985. Recently, the casino announced that the renovation of the hotel rooms had been complete. They have been updated with a South Beach motif including new color patterns, carpeting and furnishing. All rooms are equipped with brand new mattresses and 42 inch plasma televisions.

This has significantly increased online reviews thus improving bookings at the hotel. In addition to renovating the hotel, the Tropicana upgraded its logo and marketing campaign to “We’re Changing Everything.” The hotel expects to complete the casino and floor phase of the renovations with an extended sportsbook including mobile gaming.

The Tropicana has certainly changed its reputation from an unclean, old casino to a modern, South Beach-style hotspot. Since emerging from bankruptcy in 2009, they have really hit the ground running and are on track to climb back into the black.

The Talking Stick Resort opened its doors on June 10^th, 2010 in Scottsdale, Arizona. It’s the most lavish casino in the area and is being compared to the several of the high-end properties found on the Las Vegas strip. The comparison is appropriate because the security system was designed by North American Video and M. Malia and Associates, the same designers used on the strip.

The casino boasts 240,000 square feet of gaming excellence complete with 497 premium guest rooms and suites. The resort also features a state of the art spa, a grand ballroom, several fine dining as well as casual restaurants and a 36 hole golf course.

The Security System at the Resort

The security system at the Talking Stick Resort features a 1,500 camera system with serverless storage solutions created by Pivot3. The specifications include 41 Cloudbanks and a 492 Terabyte storage capacity. The cameras are under the control of a NICE video management system.

This video surveillance system is highly sophisticated and well-designed rivaling many Las Vegas casinos. Since security is such a major contributor to the success and profitability of a casino; advanced, high-end systems like this are becoming increasingly important. North American Video is hoping to mitigate any security threats through the extensive technology offered by this equipment.

What Was Installed?

North American Video developed and installed a hybrid analog/digital video surveillance system. A few product demonstrations were given to Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community representatives as well as operators of the project.

How Does the System Work?

Cameras tape images taken from one of the 1,500 cameras throughout the casino. These images are recorded onto serverless computing infrastructure. The benefit of this is that the system provides storage and server resources within a single array. This reduces the amount of space needed for additional equipment within the server rooms.

The size and amenities offered by this resort rival many Las Vegas casinos on the strip. The experience provided by this establishment warrants a state of the art security and surveillance system. 1,500 cameras that view all areas of the 240,000 square foot gaming floor are sure to protect the casino and its patrons.

As casinos become larger; offer more amenities than ever before, they are going to need the surveillance industry to keep pace and offer advanced technology. The Talking Stick Resort is the first of many to implement these types of elaborate security systems.

The free drinks while gambling at a casino is a long tradition. These are staples in places like Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Unfortunately, as casinos have expanded to other areas of the country, this tradition has not followed.

There are many reasons for this lack of Las Vegas at every table. Depending on the area of the country, some view this amenity as immoral. Other casinos are hit hard by the economic crisis and cannot afford to give away free alcohol. As new casinos pop up, local legislators, many of whom do not support the arrival of a casino, set the guidelines. Consequently, they do not approve of this practice as they would like to maintain balance.

Many avid gamblers and party-goers are disappointed by these actions. They feel as if the combination of gambling and drinking run hand-in-hand. Oho recently passed a law that prohibits complimentary drinks in all new casinos. It also prohibits the 24 hour sale of alcohol in Ohio. Other Midwestern states that follow this same practice include:

• Missouri
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Kansas

The nine states (not including Native American establishments and racetrack casinos) that do permit free alcohol while playing include:

• Colorado
• Iowa
• Louisiana
• Michigan
• Mississippi
• Pennsylvania
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• South Dakota

Kansas takes the idea of no free drinks in casinos even further by outlawing free drinks at any establishment across the state. There is also a statewide ban on any type of happy hour specials as well as games that promote drinking, such as beer pong.

The combination of Mothers against Drunk Driving (MADD) and bars, restaurants and taverns have lobbied against free alcohol at casinos in Ohio. Competing establishments state the economic impact as a major factor. They saw free drinks as impeding on the willingness of casino-goers to go out and eat dinner, or visit a local tavern for drinks.

This mentality has made its way back to major casino areas like Las Vegas and Atlantic City. Both areas showed a significant drop in the amount of drinks comped in 2009. They have come to realize that they sell much more alcohol when they’re not giving it away.

Although the elimination of free booze impedes on a long-lived tradition, most of the reasons point back to the economy. In this current climate, it’s difficult for businesses to give away anything for free. Perhaps once the economy returns to normalcy, the free drinks will return with it!

The newest luxury resort and casino megaplex, CityCenter in Las Vegas, has released model penthouse suites available for sale in their Mandarin Oriental building. These units are the height in luxury, at the best location, and selling very well despite the economic downturn.

The Mandarin Oriental Suites

The Mandarin Oriental offers one, two, and three bedroom permanent residences inside the CityCenter megaplex. These suites range from 1,000 to 4,000 square feet and cost about one million a piece. Each unit was built with the newest designs and luxuries in mind, but the biggest selling point to these homes is the location. Mandarin Oriental is located in the middle of CityCenter and offers residents access to all of the action of Las Vegas’ latest and greatest building development. The suites cost in the range of one million a piece. So far 29 units have been sold in the development.

CityCenter

For those not in the know, CityCenter is the latest and greatest Las Vegas, Nevada has to offer. Construction on the megaplex hit a major turning point earlier this year when the first casino, the Aria, was opened to the public. So far CityCenter has been a success, despite economic downturn and early profit losses. MGM, a major holder in the CityCenter idea, did see an initial loss in profits. However, these are expected to turn around as the economy takes a turn for the better. The CityCenter project blends a combination of Las Vegas style gambling, luxury, and entertainment with modern technology and green friendly building. It is truly a work of modern art.

Suite units are still available for sale in CityCenter, both in the Mandarin Oriental and other locations across the megaplex. While these suites will not go cheap, there has been a high interest in the location, and it likely the center will fill up quickly.

Most casinos run in hotspots like Las Vegas are owned by large gambling companies such as Harris. In recent years, casinos have started popping up across the Midwest. These casinos are typically independent from each other and most are run by Native American tribes. A lot of gamblers are switching gears and starting to prefer these casinos for their easy locations. If you have not visited an Native American casino yet, you may wonder what the difference is between their casinos and Las Vegas’ megagiants.

Are Native American Casinos Different?

Native American Casinos are very similar to corporate run casinos. They offer the same games. You will find your poker tables, and the larger casinos regularly host bingo and poker tournaments in their convention rooms. However, Native American casinos have a few subtle differences from the Las Vegas counterparts.

21 and up, please!

One of the most well known 21^st birthday traditions is a trip to Las Vegas. Do you know why? Every casino in Las Vegas requires their patrons to be at least 21 years old. This is due for a few reasons, but mainly because alcohol is free flowing inside the casino and restricting age limits is just easier. Native American casinos run things a little differently. Most Native American casinos allow entry starting at age 18. It is a trade off because there is less alcohol to be found, but younger poker players have a place to play.

No Free Drinks

Las Vegas is famous for handing out free alcoholic drinks. It is a smart system, the more players drink the less they focus on their bankroll. Native American casinos are famous for their free coco-cola. Most Native American casinos charge for their alcoholic beverages, and some even require you go get them yourself from their bar. They do, however, off all the free soda you can drink.

Not Always 24 Hours

There isn’t as much as a pressing need for a 24/7 nightlife in the Midwest as there is in Las Vegas. Most people that visit Native American casinos are locals, or nearly locals, and not tourists looking to live it up as much as possible. Some smaller Native American casinos respond to this by closing early or not staying open every day of the week. Be sure to check the times before you visit or you may end up being unpleasantly surprised.

The major casinos are more then a gambling hot spot. In fact, they offer so much entertainment that many people are turning their visit to a casino in to a full vacation, even taking their kids along. If you are planning a vacation soon you may want to consider a gambling Mecca like Las Vegas. The casinos on the strip have a wide range of activities you can partake.

Gambling and Poker Tournaments: First, casinos do what they do best, gambling. Larger casinos have hundreds, if not thousands, of slot machines. They offer tables hosting all the popular games like Texas Hold ‘Em. Most casinos also throw tournaments through out the year. If you have been itching to play against other players, these tournaments are your chance.

Day Spas: Several casinos have top-of-the-line day spas inside their hotels. The spas offer massages, facials, steam baths, and everything else you imagine. Some casinos offer discounts on their spas throughout the year, especially during tourism downtimes. They might even offer the spa as a comp for their biggest players.

Entertainment and Shows: Larger casinos have nightly shows that go on in their banquet halls. These shows offer everything from singers, to acrobats, to burlesque shows. Some of the classic shows include Elvis impersonators, but you can also find acts from the actual artists themselves such as Tom Jones.

Dining: Most casinos offer a 24-hour buffet that serves lunch, dinner, and breakfast. Larger casinos also have several restaurants inside the casino. These restaurants range from reasonably priced hamburger joints to top-of-the-line steak houses and Japanese restaurants. Some of the most famous chefs in the world have made their home inside a casino.

Pools and Water parks: If the casino has a hotel, it is likely they have at least one pool. Some of the larger casinos even have small water parks with slides for the kids. These pools range from the simple oval shaped floating pool to all out beach resorts with sand and simulated tides. The pools offer a chance for the whole family to relax for the day.

Golf Courses: Some resort style casinos have a full 18-hole gold course on site for golfing fans. These courses were designed by golf pros to give the golfer the same experience they would get at any golf course. You can set up tee-times through the casino, and some will even rent you clubs and gear if you need it.

A casino is no longer just a place to kick back and gamble the hours away. You can turn your casino trip in to a rewarding experience that caters to your entire family.