Royally Flushed

Fireworks will light up the sky on New Year's Eve in Las Vegas.

There’s still plenty of time to pack a suitcase and head to Las Vegas for a memorable New Year’s Eve celebration.  Las Vegas hotels – both on and off The Strip – are more affordable than ever this year with many offering dining and show ticket discounts as well as last-minute hotel deals.  (Really, if I hadn’t offered to host this year’s party for friends, I would so be loading up the car RIGHT NOW.) (more…)

We’ve got a few things to pick up in the stores this holiday season but most of our shopping is being done online this weekend.  Easy on the budget and the feet plus we can buy lots of unique gifts without ever leaving the couch! 

So, sit back and relax, pour yourself a cup of cocoa, and shop for all the casino fans, poker players, and slot players on your list with our tailor-made gift guide.  We sorted through tons of items and websites to bring you our “Best Gifts for Casino Players.” 

I’m giving P.B. a watch this Christmas and in my search found a great site with a huge selection of the most popular watch brands including Fossil, Citizen and more – both men’s and women’s — at phenomenal prices with free shipping and a 110% price guarantee.  Be sure to use the special coupon code “10off” to save an additional $10 on any watch purchase.

Here’s the link: 
Watchco.com- HOLIDAY SPECIALS- BRAND NAME WATCHES- 40%-70% OFF!

A custom thermal from Bad Beat Clothing.

Also, check out the custom-designed tee-shirts, thermals and more at Bad Beat Clothing.  This stuff rocks!  Speaking of poker, great article at Poker Listings about the Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic that starts today at The Bellagio. 

And here’s a quick-click way to access all of our holiday gift posts so far this season:
Gifts for Poker Players       Gifts for Slot Players/Casino Gamers         Holiday Gifts for Players     JAQK Wines

Happy Shopping!

The slot-playing casino kings and queens on your shopping list will simply love receiving one of these great holiday gifts.  We’ve chosen the best gifts for casino lovers in a wide range of prices ($10 to $299) that will keep them organized, entertained, on time and more while you get all the credit for your gift-giving savvy.

I love a compact wallet or little case that can hold all my players club cards, my room key, some cash, my credit cards and keep everything perfectly organized.  These all fit the bill and do it stylishly to boot!  Left to right:  I love this Colorful Credit Card Holder.  Check out the rainbow of hues on this one — from basic black to “Pumpkin” and “Ocean,” $14.88.   Pictured in the center is the sleek little Metro Mini Designer Card Case which will hold all the necessities and comes in ten great colors/textures.  At just $9.88 each, this hard case makes a great stocking stuffer. The zippered leather case on the right is perfect for my sweetie. He can pack it with all his club cards, stash it in a pocket and off to Vegas we go!  Leather Credit Card Holder, $25.50. (more…)

The newest room deal from The Venetian in Las Vegas continues the $119 weekday/$159 weekend room offer that has been so popular since first being announced back in October.  Along with the fantastic rates, the package (available on select dates) includes not only the luxury room suite but also the following enticements:

- $25 in Slot Credits or Table Match Play
- 2-for-1 drink voucher at the V Bar
- 2-for-1 Gondola Ride
- 2-for-1 admission to Madame Tussauds Wax Museum

Book offer code EVODECR by December 15 to nail those rates. 

Unlike the last offer, The Palazzo is NOT included in those rates at this time.  Rates at The Palazzo are $159 weekdays/$199 weekends and again, for select dates.  Visit their website for details. 

While you’re at The Palazzo site, don’t miss the opportunity to register for “The Lamborghini Italian Getaway Sweepstakes.”  Fill out the entry form for your chance to win a Grand Prize that includes a trip to Italy and a demonstration racing drive at the Lamborghini factory among other goodies.  The drawing will be held in April 2009.  (Some exclusions apply so be sure to read all the fine print at The Palazzo’s website.)

Win THIS!

Beginning today and continuing for the next few weeks, you have a chance to win a copy of the 2009 American Casino Guide FREE just by leaving a comment on that week’s designated “Hot Post!”  The winner will be randomly selected from all comments left on that specific article. 

This Week’s Hot Post – “And It Feels Like the First Time!”  Just leave a comment on this post and tell us about your first big win, or your favorite game, or simply a note saying “hello.” 

The PRIZE:  The 2009 edition of the American Casino Guide contains 496 pages of detailed information on every U.S. casino, plus it includes more than $1,000 in valuable casino coupon offers!  This book is a gem for casino players and retails for $18.95. 

Each contest will run Wednesday to Wednesday and the winner from the random drawing will be announced each Thursday.  An email confirmation will be sent to the winner so be sure to use a proper email address when registering your comment.  Good Luck!

“The Fine Print” (more…)

Do you need gifts for poker players?  Gifts for gamblers?  Gifts for slots players?  We’ve got you covered!  We’ve done all the work for you in gathering in one spot a great selection of gifts you can buy for the gambling fans on your list.  Lots of special gift items – in all different price ranges — are available through our specially-designed ”Gift Guide.”  Here are just a few of the cool gifts you can choose from:

For her –

Sparking crystals and silver make up this “well-suited” pendant from Eve’s Addiction.  Called the “Lucky Casino Pendant,” I would wear this on a black sweater or turtleneck to really show off the shine.  $38 

I really like these red and black drop earrings!  You have to look closely to see the four card suits represented in these hand-painted enamel on vermeil Poker earrings designed by artist Teresa Starkweather.  Also available as clip-on earrings.  SALE $26.99 ($30)

 
This cute Christmas ornament with it’s Lucky 7’s will delight the slot player on your list. A unique gift or stocking stuffer! $6.99

 

For Him –

These handsome poker chip cufflinks are made from fiber optic glass which is made by fusing millions of fiber optic glass strands together creating glass that changes color when seen under different lighting conditions. Cufflinks arrive in hiqh-quality chrome presentation box. Covered by Cuff-Daddy’s Lifetime product guarantee.   SALE $28.99 (More than 1/2 OFF the usual price of $59.99!)

Poker players will love these unique designs.  Shop our “WEARABLES” category for T-shirts, hoodies, long-sleeved T’s, camp shirts, and more with interesting and distinctive graphics.  Here’s just one custom design that’s available in a variety of colors.  Prices range from $17 - $20 for the all-cotton, long-sleeved tee-shirt.  

Choose from a slew of entertaining DVD’s with a gambling/casino theme like this cult hit from Guy Ritchie “Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.”   Cockney boys Tom, Soap, Eddie, and Bacon are in a bind; they owe seedy criminal and porn king “Hatchet” Harry a sizable amount of cash after Eddie loses half a million in a rigged game of poker.  Before the boys can blink, they are caught up in a labyrinth of double-crosses that lead to a multitude of dead bodies, copious amounts of drugs, and two antique rifles.  This movie is a great addition to any DVD collection.  “Unrated - Locked & Loaded Director’s Cut” — Smoking price!  $14.99

I LOVE that The Mirage Volcano will reopen in December.

UPDATE:  The Mirage Volcano opened December 8th to thunderous applause.  See the Mirage Volcano video here.

I don’t know what I’m more excited about — The Mirage volcano returning to the Las Vegas Strip this December or the $33 a night room rates in my player’s club offer! 

I have to say, we have really missed seeing the volcano explode at The Mirage during our last couple of trips to Las Vegas so reading that it will “thunder back to life” next month is pretty cool.  And, not only is it back, but it sounds like it will be better than ever.  Here, let me just quote from the mailing — (more…)

Wynn Las Vegas offers a winter getaway for you and your friends.

P.B. and I have always been big fans of heading to Las Vegas before the Christmas holidays.  We get a little shopping done, take in the holiday decorations — especially the winter display at The Bellagio’s Conservatory and Botanical Gardens — and just kick back and enjoy some down-time during what can be a pretty hectic time of year.  We’ve never found December to be particularly busy in Las Vegas and with the economy in such a downturn we look for it to be even quieter this year so here’s your chance to enjoy the city at a much more relaxed pace and at some great prices. (more…)

Harrah's Ak-Chin Casino gives players a "mystery multiplier" this Monday.

Just a quick Sunday “drive-by” post for players in the Phoenix area.  Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino in Maricopa has a terrific special promotion going on tomorrow - Monday - for Total Rewards Club (TRC) members.  Swipe your card at the Total Rewards center to receive a multiplier of 10x, 15x or even 20x on Bonus Reward Credits earned on play from 6 AM until midnight.  (The website reads 6 a.m. - 5:59 a.m. but I was told midnight when I called to check on details.) 

Be sure to swipe your card at the TRC desk BEFORE you begin play.  That’s also when you’ll learn your “mystery” multiplier. 

If you have any questions about this promo, be sure to ask a casino host or the folks working the TRC center desk. 

Good luck!

Boo! Halloween on the Las Vegas Strip will be a hauntingly good time.

What’s scarier than a 700-point drop in the Dow but a lot more fun?  Halloween in Las Vegas, baby!   The city rolls out the blood-red carpet for grown-up ghosts, ghouls and goblins looking for some non-stop Halloween partying.   Costume contests, haunted houses and other sublimely scary events combined with terrific hotel deals up and down The Strip make Halloween in Las Vegas a very un-scary option this year.

Check out these best “pack your suitcase and go” Las Vegas hotel deals for Halloween weekend.*                 

                MGM Grand Halloween Blow-Out!   Rooms from $69 - $99 per night for a standard room or upgrade to the Bungalow King Suite for $89 - $119 per night.  WOW!

                New York New York - 20% off Room Rates Deal.  Park Avenue Deluxe room, one step up from standard and newly-renovated, for $66 - $118 per night.

                Bally’s - This center-Strip Harrah’s hotel has rooms in their South Tower at $69 - $119 per night.

And while you’re in Las Vegas, take in one - or more - of these special Halloween  events!

                Fright Dome at Circus Circus - Named one of the” Top 5 Scariest Attractions” by The Travel Channel, this event is not for the faint of heart.   Check out the “trailer” video showing killer clowns, flayed zombies and chainsaw-wielding woodsmen for a preview of what to expect. 

                Monster Mayhem at Town Square Mall - This scary site features three separate attractions including the “Morbid Clown Manor” (what is it with killer clowns?), the only-in-Las-Vegas “Aces and Eights Haunted Casino” and a haunted mansion.  (For an explanation of Aces and Eights, also called the ”Dead Man’s Hand” in poker, check out this article on Gambling Blog. 

                 Castle Vampyre - Freakling Brothers Horror Shows — love that name! —  puts on this event at the Sunset Station Casino in Henderson. 

Tomorrow - Read about  Halloween parties scheduled at some of Las Vegas’ hottest clubs.

*(Rates were checked for three nights beginning Thursday, October 30 with check-out on Sunday, November 2 and were current as of 10/23/08.  Rates do not include taxes and other fees.  Book-by dates vary by property and offer.)

Win $1,000,000 at Harrah's Ak-Chin in Arizona.

Someone will be a new millionaire on December 28th when Harrah’s Ak-Chin casino in Maricopa, Arizona gives away the guaranteed $1,000,000 grand prize in their new “Win Your Million Dollars” promotion. 

Beginning October 31 (or October 29 for upper-level Total Rewards Club members), players can earn entries into weekly drawings with those winners then eligible for the big event drawing in late December.  The weekly cash drawings will be held  every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 2pm, 4pm, 6pm and 8pm. 

There’s lots of cash being given away, lots of opportunities to earn bonus entries and lots more “fine print” so for details be sure to get all the information at the promotions center at the casino.

A luxury stay at a great rate awaits you at The Venetian.

Looking for a last-minute vacation to Vegas?  Your quest for a great deal has been answered.  Calling it “The Ultimate Escape,” both The Venetian  and The Palazzo in Las Vegas are promoting a great offer on rooms right now - especially if you can get away during the week.  For just $119 per night weekdays or $159 per night weekends on selected days from now through JANUARY, you get a luxury suite PLUS $50 per day in slot credits (up to $100 total) PLUS $50 in drink vouchers and a line pass good for four people at the brand new LAVO restaurant and nightclub at newly-opened and absolutely stunning Palazzo.  (I recently spoke to some people who attended LAVO’s opening night and they said it is definitely a place you’ll want to see in Las Vegas.) 

This offer was just in my emailbox this morning so lots of dates are still open as of this post.  Check out all the dates available in December and think about combining a fun getaway with some unique holiday shopping at The Grand Canal Shops at The Venetian.  But hurry, these terrific rates are only good if you book by October 31st so grab your calendar, pick your dates and head to Las Vegas for a fabulous stay at either The Venetian or The Palazzo.

UPDATE:  Booking has been extended through November 30th for the room rates.  Other details of the promotion may have changed so ask when you book your room.