Are Casino Carpets Ugly On Purpose?

Above, a casino in Nassau, Bahamas. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Here's a topic I've never thought about.

Are casino carpets ugly on purpose to keep people gambling? 

That is the topic of an article in RV Travel. Frankly, I figured that they are designed the way they are to hide spills. 

The article begins with:

Many RVers like to stop at casinos on their trips. They stop for a buffet, or sometimes to stay overnight in a casino RV park or for free in a parking lot. And, yes, some like to gamble. If that’s you, have you ever noticed that the carpeting in at least some of those casinos is gaudy, even ugly? 

In Las Vegas, one of the most enduring gambling myths is that the loud, colorful carpets in casinos are designed to keep people gambling longer. Is that true?

To read the full article, go here. 

Free Cruises For Gambling? What To Know

Above, the cruise ship casino entrance. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I am not much of a gambler. I have to really be in the mood to go to a casino. I go by the adage, "Only gamble what you can afford to lose!" I only play roulette and avoid slot machines.

Fire Rock Navajo Casino is only ten miles from home, but I have rarely gambled there. I usually only go there to dine at their restaurant.

During the last two cruises I went on, one with Royal Caribbean and one with Norwegian Cruise Line, I did some gambling. I limited myself to an hour's worth of casino fun in both instances. But, I ended up making money at both. I walked out ahead.

Cruise lines offer some rewards programs for gamblers, such as free cruises.

USA Today posted:

On Jorge Martinez’s first cruise, he won a second sailing before he even disembarked.

Martinez got a last-minute invite to join a prepaid Carnival Cruise Line trip to Alaska in 2023 when his friend's partner couldn't make it. The 38-year-old New Mexico resident just had to pay for his plane ticket.

Once on board, Martinez – who has enjoyed gambling for most of his adult life – headed to the casino, where he won more than $1,000 in cash. “I did get lucky on that cruise,” he said.

He continued to play with that money and earned a complimentary sailing through the Carnival Players Club. After he got home, other deals followed. “Even before I left on that (second) cruise, the offers just kept rolling in,” he said.

Cruise line casino rewards programs can give travelers discounts, onboard perks and even free fares – in addition to paying out any wins. But they may not always be worth the money and time passengers have to invest to win. Here’s what to know.

To read more, go here. 

The Points Guy: Cruise Ship Guide

Above, a cruise ship docked at Freeport, Bahamas. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Up to now, I have been on three cruises in my life.

The first was with Celebrity in 2001 with my mom and daughter to Alaska. The second was with Royal Caribbean for a cruise to Key West, Florida and Havana, Cuba in 2019.

The last was two months ago (already?!) with Norwegian to the Bahamas. 

While all were enjoyable, cruising is not my favorite way to travel. I caught some viral bugs with the trips to Alaska and Cuba. I came out unscathed with the cruise to the Bahamas. Considering how many people are packed onboard, it should come as no surprise that one may catch a bug, especially in this era of COVID-19.

I prefer smaller ships (about 2,000 passengers tops) as I don't like crowds. The new mega ships may be nice with a lot of amenities, but I am not thrilled to sail with 3,000 to 5,000 people. I am perfectly satisfied with a smaller ship with good food, plenty of bars, hot tubs/swimming pools and a casino (I've come out ahead on the cruises to Cuba and Bahamas).

Above, the casino during the Key West/Havana cruise. I came
out ahead here playing roulette. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

But, if one is thinking about taking their first cruise, The Points Guy has a guide to 20 popular cruise lines. 

They begin their guide with:

Thinking about booking your first cruise? The sheer range of choices can be daunting. There are more than two dozen lines marketing to North Americans — no two alike.

The list of brands includes everything from giant companies such as Royal Caribbean and Carnival Cruise Line, which are household names, to lesser-known small-ship operators such as Windstar Cruises.

Some of the brands — Royal Caribbean, MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line, in particular — operate massive vessels that are like giant floating resorts with multiple pool areas, deck-top water parks and other over-the-top amusements. Others specialize in intimate, boutique hotel-style ships.

Some lines, such as Carnival, are aimed at a budget crowd. Others operate vessels that are as luxurious as any upscale resort found on land. A few small luxury players such as Regent Seven Seas Cruises have ships with lavish suites that'll cost you as much as $11,000 a day.

Where should you start your search for the perfect cruise for you? Below, you'll find our quick guide to some of the most popular cruise brands. As you'll see, it's not meant to be an in-depth review of the lines. It's just a short overview — enough to give you a sense of which particular cruise operator might best appeal to you.

Once you've narrowed down the choices to a few brands that you think best fit your style, do a deeper dive into them and their specific ships, their itineraries and home ports and their comparable costs (either on your own or with the help of a cruise-savvy travel agent). Note that TPG has many in-depth guides to individual lines, which you can find by clicking on our cruise line hub pages linked in each segment below.

To read more, go here. 

What Is The Age To Gamble In Las Vegas?

Above, slot machines in Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

During the cruise to the Bahamas, I did some gambling in the Norwegian Sky casino. I played roulette and ended up making $60.

Roulette has been my favorite table game. I first started playing it in Las Vegas at the "ripe old age" of 19. Yes, I was illegally playing as Nevada law stipulated that one must be at least 21 years old to play. Yes, teens do crazy things. I must have looked at least 21 as I was never questioned.

This got me thinking, What is the current age to gamble in Las Vegas?

Well, it is still 21.

According to Casino.com:

Now comes the real question: “How old do you have to be to gamble in Vegas?” Though it is a hedonist destination, there are rules. And like the rest of the United States, the rules dictate that all players must be at least 21 years old in order to play.

Each establishment that offers gambling has to get a license from The Nevada Gaming Commission. Whether it be for a handful of slots or a full-service casino, the same rules apply. Both the Commission and the Nevada Gaming Control Board fully expect license holders to adhere to the regulations and laws that have been put into place to protect the perception and integrity of the gaming industry as a whole.

Failing to adhere to those stringent rules comes with heavy penalties. Like the six-figure-fine kind of penalty. There are even some cases where an establishment can have its license revoked without measures to improve security.

For that reason, casinos and any other establishment that offers gambling is strict about the “21 or older” rule. More importantly, the casinos aren’t the only ones being governed here. Anyone caught trying to play at a casino that is underage faces penalty as well.

In Nevada, anyone gambling in a casino that is under the age of 21 faces a fine of up to $1,000 and a jail sentence of up to 6 months. At the very least, expect to sit in a jail cell for a night and be forced to stare down expensive legal bills.

There are stories of underage gamblers who have won massive jackpots only to be forced to give them up because they were underage. Vegas staff has been trained to spot a fake, which means there is an exceptional chance of getting caught.

Some states have the same 21 years of age laws and some do allow 18-year-olds to gamble. If one is in a state where you must be 21 years old to gamble, it is best not to do it for the reasons stated above.

Bus Tour of Nassau

Following our Nassau, Bahamas boat tour, we headed into tour buses to tour the city.

We made a couple of shopping stops while on the tour. The first was at a flea market next to Fort Fincastle and the other was at a very high-end mall at Crystal Court at Atlantis Resort .

During our stops, we had to brave downpours while shopping. I picked up a windchime consisting of shells for Greg Lucier for taking care of my cat Sierra. I also got a Bob Marley hat for Larry Lucier as a gag. I told him he can wear the hat while toking on a "Bob Marley joint". He appreciated it.

Here's some photos of the land tour:

Above and the next three photos, Fort Fincastle. Photos by Armand Vaquer.

Above, yours truly with a shop clerk at the flea market near Fort Fincastle. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

Above, our tour bus at the mall. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the Rolex store. One watch was priced at $40,000. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the Cartier store. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the mall even had a casino. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a tuckered-out Mitch after the tours of Nassau. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Dinner At Fire Rock Navajo Casino

Above, last evening's dinner. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last evening, I headed to Cheii Grill at the Fire Rock Navajo Casino outside of Gallup for dinner.

On Fridays, they have a special prime rib dinner. I've been meaning to go there to try it out, but one thing or another would crop up and I couldn't go. 

However, last evening I made it there.

Above, enjoying a glass of merlot with dinner.

I had the Friday night prime rib. It comes with a baked potato, corn on the cob and a dinner roll. I substituted broccoli for the corn and had a glass of merlot wine with it. 

While I was dining, a Navajo rock band began playing (not too loud, thank God). 

Above, the dinnertime entertainment. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After dinner, I wandered around the casino. The blackjack and craps tables were open, but the sole roulette table was closed. I might have played a few rounds of roulette had they been open. I suppose I saved some money.

The dinner was good, so I will likely go there again.

Remembering Las Vegas Hacienda Hotel

Above, the Las Vegas Hacienda Hotel around the early 1960s.

Back during Spring Break in 1973, two friends and I spent several days in Las Vegas, Nevada. We stayed at the Westward Ho Motel and Casino (closed in 2005) on the Las Vegas Strip. It was near the now-gone Stardust Hotel and Circus Circus.

Above, the Westward Ho Motel circa 1976. Photo from Vintage Las Vegas.

We spent the week hanging out at the hotel's pool and roamed around town and took an excursion to Hoover Dam. On the way back from the dam, we rode some ATVs (the now-outlawed three-wheeled ones). 

As far as gambling was concerned, as we were slightly under age (19 years), we limited our gambling to the Hacienda Hotel on the Strip. 

About the Hacienda Hotel according to Wikipedia:

The Hacienda was a hotel and casino on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, that operated from 1956 to 1996. It was opened by Warren Bayley, who owned other Hacienda properties in California as well. Bayley opened the hotel portion in June 1956, although the opening of the casino was delayed as the Nevada Gaming Control Board objected to his choice of casino manager, Jake Kozloff. The casino portion eventually opened on October 17, 1956. The $6 million property had 266 rooms and the largest pool on the Las Vegas Strip. Like its sister properties in California, the resort included a neon sign that depicted a cowboy riding a palomino horse.

The Hacienda was built at the south end of the Strip, making it the first resort to be seen by tourists driving up from California. The Hacienda was located by itself at the time, a distance away from other resorts. Because of its location, most guests did not bother to visit the other resorts. The Hacienda was the first Las Vegas resort to target a family clientele, and until 1962, it operated a plane service to fly in guests from out of state.

Above, the Hacienda Hotel in the  mid to late 1960s.

The Hacienda Hotel property is now occupied by Mandalay Bay.

The Hacienda casino had some old mechanical slot machines and were pretty generous in payouts, at least to me. They were nowhere near like the more modern slot machines in use at the time and the electronic ones of today. I did pretty well with the Hacienda's slots. I did even better at their roulette tables. Those were the days when we gambled with Eisenhower dollar coins. I made enough money that all I ended up paying (for the week) was my share of the room expense and food. I was able to bring cash back home with me.

Las Vegas was actually fun back then and not at all crowded, unlike today. Since slot machines are all electronic today with push-buttons instead of pull handles, I don't bother with them. They don't pay out like the olden days. If I do any sort of gambling these days, it will be at the roulette wheels.

TheTravel: Finding The Best Las Vegas Vacation Package Deals

Above, yours truly, Max Bettman and Mitch Geriminsky in Las Vegas in November 2018.

A friend and I were talking about the old days of Las Vegas, Nevada the other day.

The days were were discussing were when it wasn't a crowded mess it is now and when hotels, shows, restaurants and even casinos (with perks of free drinks and cigarettes) were a lot more reasonable. Those were the days when things weren't run by greedy corporations, but by the mob. Oddly, Las Vegas seemed like it was more fun and less expensive under the mob. Even the airport was easier to navigate in back in the old days.

But, bargains can still be had and TheTravel has posted an article on how the find the best Las Vegas vacation package deals.

They begin with:

Going to Vegas? Vegas is a destination that can swallow all the money one has, but it is also possible to do it on a budget. One of the best ways to experience Vegas on a budget is the plan ahead and look for cheap deals (and at the last minute for deals on shows). The good news is that accommodation and attractions in Vegas are competitive and can be booked on a budget.

To read more, go here. 

A Visit To Fire Rock Navajo Casino

Above, the main entrance to Fire Rock Navajo Casino. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today, I was a bit bored at home, so I decided to head over to the Fire Rock Navaho Casino near Gallup to wander around.

It had been two years since I was last there. Cheii Restaurant inside is a nice place for dinner. 

Above, yours truly at he casino's food court.

There weren't too many people inside when I got there. I decided to get a cup of complimentary coffee at the food court. After being handed the coffee, I tipped the girl who served me.

I wandered around the casino for a while after finishing my coffee. Although they have signs posted about taking no photographs at the casino, I had to shoot one of a slot machine. It was of Bela Lugosi as Dracula along with other Universal Pictures classic monsters. Lugosi was most prominent. I do hope Bela Lugosi Jr. received a nice paycheck from the machine's manufacturer and, possibly, the casino since he owns the rights to his father's image.

Above, the slot machine featuring Dracula and other Universal monsters. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Cheii's restaurant has some interesting specials during the month of February (particularly the crab legs). I took a photo of their sign for future reference. 

Above, a fire pit at the entry to the casino area. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I browsed around in the casino gift shop, but there was nothing there of any particular interest to me.

The casino was mainly assorted slot machines and table games, mainly blackjack and craps. There was only one roulette table there (my preferred gambling method). 

Above, a sign of February's specials. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I went over to Cheii Restaurant and checked out their menu. I saw that they changed it again. The chile chicken Alfredo they had three years ago was gone. That was disappointing! I was hoping they still had it.

After some more wandering around, I headed back home. But it was a good hour and a half excursion to get out the house with. 

Hard Rock To Purchase The Mirage Las Vegas Hotel and Casino

Above, The Mirage Hotel and Casino. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It appears that The Mirage Hotel and Casino will soon be a thing of Las Vegas history. Say goodbye to the volcano.

From Travel Agent Central:

Hard Rock International (HRI) on Monday, December 13, announced its agreement to acquire the operations of The Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas from MGM Resorts International, subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. Through the acquisition, Hard Rock plans to build a guitar-shaped hotel, which will be located on the Las Vegas Strip. When it opens, the hotel will be named Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas and will cover an 80-acre plot.

According to a press announcement, Hard Rock International will pay $1.075 billion in cash for the operating assets of The Mirage Hotel and Casino, subject to customary working capital adjustments. The hospitality and entertainment brand will enter into a long-term lease agreement with VICI Properties Inc. for the real estate property of The Mirage.

I've stayed at The Mirage once and attended "The Beatles LOVE" show. The hotel is noted for the volcano in front that erupts periodically.

To read more, go here.

From USA Today:

Hard Rock said it plans to build a 1,000-room guitar-shaped hotel on the Las Vegas Strip, but chairman Jim Allen would not confirm whether that means the company would demolish the Mirage or add new construction.

 

Above, yours truly in front of The Mirage in 2015.

Moon-themed Resort Is Coming To Las Vegas

Above, a winter moon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Leave it to Las Vegas to come up with things to draw visitors so that they can be parted from their money in the casinos.

The latest is a moon-themed resort.

Travel + Leisure reported:

Space tourism is slowly becoming a reality with billionaires making seemingly regular visits to the stars and the world's first space hotel planned to make its debut in 2027. Despite the promising progress, it may take a while before space tourism is available at a more accessible price point.

So what's the next best thing in the meantime? Perhaps this new moon-shaped hotel coming to the Las Vegas Strip.

Canadian-based company Moon World Resorts Inc. has announced plans for a $5 billion, 5.5-million-square-foot hotel whose signature feature will be a replica of the moon standing at 735 feet tall and 650 feet wide.

The replica will only be 1/75,000 the size of the moon, but that's large enough to accommodate 4,000 guest rooms and suites. Plans for Moon Resorts Las Vegas also include a 75,000-square-foot spa, 50,000-square-feet of food and beverage offerings, 75,000-square-feet of retail, and 150,00-square-feet of clubs and lounges.

To read more, go here. 

Travel + Leisure: 12 Mistakes Travelers Make In Las Vegas

Above, the article recommends getting out of The Strip and go downtown. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Generally speaking, Las Vegas, Nevada is not one of my favorite places to go to. This has been the case since the 1980s when the town was much smaller, more affordable and not so crowded.

These days, whenever I do find myself in Sin City, it is usually for a stopover while en route to somewhere else or for a wedding (most recently last January).

But if one finds Las Vegas alluring, Travel + Leisure has an article on 12 mistakes travelers make in Las Vergas and how to avoid them.

They begin it with:

In Las Vegas, you never have to go far to find what you're looking for — interconnected hotels, 4,000-seat theaters, retail shops, and celebrity chef restaurants can be found around every corner. And when it comes to cocktails, well, let's just say you've got options, too.

But this abundance of choice is also what makes figuring out what to do while visiting so intimidating. There are plenty of ways to have fun here — and just as many ways to blow through your spending money. That's why it's important to be strategic in Sin City, says Anthony Curtis, founder of Las Vegas Advisor.

"Vegas is such a competitive landscape," he says. "There are 70-plus casinos all vying for the same money." As a result, he says, businesses are always offering incentives to get you in the door — you just have to know where to find them. "Be a consumer," he urges. "Look around. If you see a magazine, open it up, and see what's inside. Don't just do the first thing you see; look around a little bit until you find the best deal."

Some would argue that financial prudence has no place in Vegas. But in a town full of suckers, it pays to use your head. Read on for 12 rookie mistakes to avoid on your next Las Vegas vacation.

 To read more, go here.

Travel + Leisure: Three Days In Las Vegas

Above, the High Roller at the Linq which is the highest Ferris wheel in the world. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To be perfectly honest, I prefer the Las Vegas of 50 years ago compared to the mini-Los Angeles it has become today. 

There are some places that are no longer around in Las Vegas that I enjoyed back then such as the Hacienda Hotel's casino, Westward Ho Hotel and the shows at the Stardust Hotel. I was last in Las Vegas in January for a friend's wedding.

Still, fun can still be found in the city and spending a three-day weekend there is about the right amount of time.

Travel + Leisure has an article on the "perfect" three-day weekend in Las Vegas.

They start it with: 

It takes virtually no effort to burn out after a single day in Las Vegas, where extravagance isn’t an extra—it’s expected! Pace your perfect three-day trip with a balance of indulgence and recovery, and you won’t feel like the Toxic Avenger on your plane ride home to reality. The perfect vacation in Vegas combines incredible attractions like fine dining, some soft adventure, and a few ways to take in those incredible desert views.

To read more, go here. 

Venetian Resort Is Leaving The Las Vegas Strip

Above, the Venetian Hotel entrance ceiling. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The iconic Venetian Resort in Las Vegas is leaving the Strip.

Travel + Leisure reported:

The Las Vegas Sands Corp. is selling its signature hotel, The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, and leaving the Strip.

Las Vegas Sands Corp. is selling the hotel along with the Sands Expo and Convention Center for about $6.25 billion, the company announced this week. Robert Goldstein, the group's chairman and chief executive officer, said while the Venetian "changed the face of future casino development," the company now plans to shift its focus to its properties in Asia, including the famed Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.

To read more, go here. 

Navajo Nation Casinos: Layoffs and Possible Permanent Closures Loom

Above, Fire Rock Navajo Casino has been closed since March. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Before this latest spike in coronavirus infections, Indian casinos in the Albuquerque, New Mexico vicinity were allowed to open as long as they followed CDC guidelines. But casinos elsewhere have been closed since March.

Casinos along Interstate 40 between Gallup and Albuquerque have been ghost towns. Sky City Casino, Dancing Eagle Casino and Fire Rock Navajo Casino have been shut down

Now, casino under the wing of the Navajo Nation have to lay off workers.

According to KRQE News 13:

NAVAJO NATION (AP) – Casinos run by the Navajo Nation plan to temporarily lay off more than 1,100 workers on New Year’s Day because of prolonged closures caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The tribe’s Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise announced the decision Thursday night, saying it was left with no choice but to move ahead with the layoffs because of lack of revenue caused by the closures.

“Due to the extended closure, since March 17, 2020, our business operations have been severely impacted and as a result, we must make very difficult financial and personnel decisions,” Brian Parrish, the tribal casino operation’s Interim CEO, said in a statement.

But officials also warned Thursday that permanent closure of the entire operation is possible by the end of January if casinos are not allowed to reopen or if more funding isn’t allocated to keep the operation running. The tribe allocated nearly $25 million in federal virus relief funding to the casino operation in August but that money has run out.

I rarely gamble, but I do go to Indian casinos for meals on occasion. It would be tragic if they are forced to close permanently due to the stubborn governor of New Mexico.

To read more, go here.

Navajo Nation Lawmakers Approve Casino Reopening Plan

Above, Fire Rock Navajo Casino near Gallup, New Mexico. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It has been a sad sight to see the Fire Rock Navajo Casino outside of Gallup, New Mexico closed. When I headed back home from Lake Havasu last week, I stopped at the Twin Arrows Hotel and Casino along Interstate 40 and, it too, was closed down.

Both are operated by the Navajo Nation and have been closed for months. But all that may be changing. 

According to The Middletown Press:

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — Lawmakers on the Navajo Nation approved legislation Monday to reopen the tribe's four casinos, even as the tribe's health director warned that the coronavirus is spreading uncontrollably.

The tribe's casinos in Arizona and New Mexico have been closed since March. The Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise got the blessing of the Navajo Nation Council to reopen them at a minimum 50% capacity later this month, but it still needs an OK from the tribal president.

Navajo President Jonathan Nez has 10 days to act on the legislation once it reaches him. He has not indicated whether or not he'll support it.

Above, the main lobby of Twin Arrows Casino Hotel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

 To read more, go here.