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bigup2dahorns

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  • 2 weeks later...

Lawsuit: Vegas Strip resorts used vendor to fix hotel rates

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A federal lawsuit in Nevada is seeking class-action damages for countless hotel patrons who booked rooms in Las Vegas since 2019, alleging that most hotel-casinos on the Las Vegas Strip have used a third-party vendor to illegally fix prices.

The complaint filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas alleges that casino giants MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment, along with Treasure Island and Wynn Resorts, share information with a company that used pricing algorithms to “maximize market-wide prices.”

It accuses the resorts and Rainmaker Group Unlimited, a revenue management company owned by Cendyn Group, of “algorithmic-driven price-fixing … at the expense of consumers and in violation of antitrust laws.”

The Associated Press sent an email to Rainmaker seeking comment. Michael Bennett, a representative of Boca Raton, Florida-based Cendyn, declined to comment.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of plaintiffs Richard Gibson and Heriberto Valiente by attorneys from the law firm of Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro in Seattle and Berkeley, California.

It seeks class status and unspecified monetary damages for “tens of thousands if not hundreds of thousands” of people based on alleged antitrust violations of the federal Sherman Act.

MGM Resorts, which operates properties including Bellagio, New York-New York, MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay, responded Thursday with a statement calling the lawsuit “meritless.”

“The claims against MGM Resorts are factually inaccurate, and we intend to defend ourselves vigorously,” it said.

Wynn Resorts declined to comment. The Associated Press left messages seeking comment from representatives of Treasure Island and Caesars Entertainment.

Caesars Entertainment operates Las Vegas Strip properties including Caesars Palace, Harrah’s, the Horseshoe, Paris Las Vegas and the Flamingo.

In a statement, plaintiffs’ attorney Steve Berman invoked and reshaped a ubiquitous advertising campaign tagline introduced in early 2003.

“What happens in Vegas will no longer stay in Vegas,” Berman said. “We intend to expose the under-the-table deals perpetrated by these Vegas hotels.”

Spoiler

Alan Feldman, a longtime MGM Resorts executive who is now a fellow at the International Gaming Institute at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, said hotels, airlines and car rental companies monitor costs and prices throughout what he termed “the travel ecosystem.”

“Rest assured, they watch each other,” Feldman said. “Then they can decide if they want to go above it, below it, or just ignore it.”

“But I can’t imagine these companies talking to one another,” he said, “and certainly not on price.”

The lawsuit points to concerns about algorithmic pricing identified in a 2017 speech by Maureen Ohlhausen, a former acting chairperson of the Federal Trade Commission.

Ohlhausen defined a computer algorithm as a set of rules or instructions that can model thousands of “extremely complex and nuanced behaviors” in a fraction of a second “and react almost instantaneously to changes.”

She said companies provide their pricing data to “a common, outside agent” that uses the information to program its algorithm “to maximize industry-wide pricing.”

“We even have an old-fashioned term for it,” Ohlhausen said, “the hub-and-spoke conspiracy.”

“In effect, the firms themselves don’t directly share their pricing strategies,” she said, “but that information still ends up in common hands, and that shared information is then used to maximize market-wide prices.”

The court filing said two former Rainmaker employees told attorneys the company’s products are used by 90% or “just about every” property on the resort-lined Las Vegas Strip. The lawsuit didn’t identify the former employees.

The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that average daily room rates for Strip resorts hit record highs in 2022, topping $200 a night in October during a busy convention month.

For the year through November, the average rate was $170.45, the highest in history, and did not include add-on resort fees or account for complimentary rooms provided to high-rollers, the newspaper said.

 

Edited by RPM
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Highly recommend the Peppermill two blocks same side of the Strip north of the Encore. It has been a go-to place for our Vegas group for 20 years (although I haven’t been there for 5 years)…but it isn’t cheap.
https://www.peppermilllasvegas.com

I used to eat at Peppermill often when I was going to Vegas all the time. Love it for a breakfast meeting.
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  • 2 weeks later...

Anyone playing Blackjack in Vegas is a fool. You can't beat a multi deck shoe. The only cards I play are in Tournament Hold 'em. Haven't played Baccarat yet, but it's the next highest odd of winning. I stick to craps and hold 'em tourneys.

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Anyone playing Blackjack in Vegas is a fool. You can't beat a multi deck shoe. The only cards I play are in Tournament Hold 'em. Haven't played Baccarat yet, but it's the next highest odd of winning. I stick to craps and hold 'em tourneys.

You can’t beat baccarat or craps
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On 2/7/2023 at 4:41 AM, bigup2dahorns said:

It appears that there are some blackjack changes coming to Mirage, which will eventually be rebranded to Hard Rock.

https://vegasadvantage.com/report-blackjack-changes-coming-to-mirage/

House edge has to be pushing 10% with those changes.  You've got better odds playing slots.  Blackjack used to be beatable.  But it hasn't been for a long time.  Poker is the only game I'll play in a casino.

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I tried the free bet blackjack at Cosmo on Sunday, the house will match your bet for you on double downs and splits.  The only caveat is if the dealer gets a 22, then it's a push instead of a bust.   The dealer got so many 22s.  That's bullshit.

Caesars also had the free bet tables, but I don't remember the dealer having a "push" when they got a 22.  Are the free bet tables a bad choice to play?

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I tried the free bet blackjack at Cosmo on Sunday, the house will match your bet for you on double downs and splits.  The only caveat is if the dealer gets a 22, then it's a push instead of a bust.   The dealer got so many 22s.  That's bullshit.
Caesars also had the free bet tables, but I don't remember the dealer having a "push" when they got a 22.  Are the free bet tables a bad choice to play?

As noted above, you can’t beat blackjack in Vegas, so “bad choice” is really just a measurement of how fast you will lose your money.

That said, the house edge on free bet blackjack in Vegas is over 1%, which is roughly double their standard blackjack tables. So, yeah…

https://wizardofodds.com/games/free-bet-blackjack/
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For buffet, I’d go Caesars > Wynn > Cosmo but all solid and obv Wynn furthest. I did hear someone strongly recommend the brunch buffet on weekends at Veranda at Mandalay Bay but have not tried yet.

Didn’t realize cosmo had one. That’s probably where I’ll go so I can use my mgm rewards
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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...

Stanton Social Prime will soon open its doors at Caesars Palace. Tao Group Hospitality and Chef Chris Santos continue to redefine the dining scene as Stanton Social Prime officially debuts on Tuesday, March 21. Reservations for the restaurant and lounge may be booked online.

Stanton Social Prime brings Chef Santos’ signature sharable dishes to the center-Strip resort, with the return of the Famous French Onion Soup Dumplings topped with Gruyère cheese and garlic croutons, as well as Pierogies made with potato, goat cheese and truffle. New creations include the Smoked Butter Board with Thumbelina crudités, Maldon sea salt flakes and sourdough demi baguette and the ‘Al Pastor’ Yellowtail Crudo, which features grilled pineapple, cilantro, lime and pineapple ponzu.

“We have carefully curated dynamic offerings to bring an exciting, new energy to Caesars Palace," said Terrence O’Donnell, Vice President and Assistant General Manager of Caesars Palace. “The addition of Stanton Social Prime gives our guests an incredible dining experience while perfectly complementing the recent changes at the resort."

Stanton Social Prime’s steaks are a highlight of the menu, seasoned with house dry rub, rested in a bath of Beurre de Baratte, finished with pink Himalayan salt and served with roasted black garlic. The restaurant offers a large selection of prime dry-aged steaks for the table, including ‘Pretty in Pink,’ a 10-ounce filet with pink peppercorn sauce, pink oyster mushrooms, and decadent sides such as the Dirty Tots with caviar and lobster crème fraîche. Guests can choose from a selection of sauces in vintage perfume bottles to drizzle onto their steaks, like the Eau de Poivre and Chanterelle No. 5.

True to the showmanship of Las Vegas, Stanton Social Prime also features theatrical tableside presentations, delectable desserts and charming craft cocktails. Those looking for a unique cocktail served in a bottle can try The Black Regiment, made with Bulleit rye whiskey, Carpano Antica vermouth, Amaro Montenegro liqueur and cinnamon. A signature zero-proof beverage is Strawberry Rhode created with Kin Euphorics High Rhode, strawberry puree, elderflower and lemon juice.

“We are thrilled to bring another Tao Group Hospitality concept from Chef Santos to Las Vegas," said Ralph Scamardella, Chief Culinary Officer of Tao Group Hospitality. "The Las Vegas iteration of the Stanton Social in New York City will delight diners with shareable staples complemented by new offerings."

Designed by renowned architecture and design firm Rockwell Group, the 200-seat space draws inspiration from the original restaurant on New York’s Lower East Side and the Las Vegas Strip, with a modern nod to Art Deco style and dramatic showmanship. Guests enter Stanton Social Prime through the velvet curtain to the main dining room featuring bold colors of ruby red, sapphire blue and gold with rich textures and patterns found in extravagant costume design. The 10-seat bar spotlights top-shelf spirits and a globe-spanning wine list. Additionally, the two private dining rooms transport guests to their own backstage salon with decorative paneling evocative of a dressing room screen.

Adjacent to OMNIA Nightclub, Stanton Social Prime will be open Sunday, Monday and Wednesday from 5 to 10:30 p.m., and Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday from 5 to 11:30 p.m. Guests can visit caesars.com/caesars-palace/restaurants/stanton-social-prime for more information.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — It was announced Tuesday morning at the Las Vegas Convention and Visitor’s Authority board meeting that repaving of the roads to be used for the November F1 race will start at the beginning of April.

According to F1 Las Vegas, the initial round resurfacing of the roads will be divided into six parts. 8 News Now learned only one lane will be closed at a time for repaving, and medians will be removed along Koval Lane, Harmon and Sands avenues.

The first will be Sands between the MSG Sphere and the Las Vegas Strip. It will be repaved from April 2 through April 7.

Repaving then moves on to the Las Vegas Strip between Sands and Harmon. This will take place from May 9 through May 19.

Repaving continues from May 22 to May 26 along Harmon from the Strip to Koval.

Next up will be the straight on Koval from the paddock area to the corner that turns east toward the MSG Sphere. This is scheduled to take place from June 11 through June 16.

Repaving then begins in the paddock area, which is also the start/finish area. This is not on a public street so it should have minimal impact on traffic. It will happen from June 19 to June 30.

Finally, the last area to be repaved will be the turns around the MSG Sphere. It will be paved from Aug. 21 to Aug. 25.

First Round of Track Paving

Sands Ave — April 2nd – 7th
Las Vegas Strip — May 9th – 19th
Harmon Ave — May 22nd – 26th
Koval Lane — June 11th – 16th
Paddock area — June 19th – 30th
MSG Sphere corners — Aug. 21st – 25th

F1 Las Vegas also said in the board meeting it hopes the construction of the paddock area should be complete by the end of September.

A final round of paving will also happen closer to the race (dates below) when crews will lay down 2 inches of dense asphalt that will be the actual track surface.

Second Round of Track Paving

Sands Ave — July 16th – 21st
Las Vegas Strip — July 23rd – 28th
Harmon Ave — July 30th – Aug. 4th
Koval Lane — Aug. 13th – 18th
Paddock area — Aug. 6th – 11th
MSG Sphere corners — Sept. 10th – 15th

https://www.8newsnow.com/news/local-news/f1-las-vegas-grand-prix-track-repaving-dates-announced/

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Just booked the Palazzo for Memorial Day weekend Friday - Monday. I’m pumped.  Friday 26 is my bday and the 28th (Sunday) is gf’s 30th.

so far only Bouchon, Lotus of Siam and Beauty and Essex are on repeat for meals from last year.  Need to see where else we go. Most likely will do Joe’s Sunday.

 

anybody here recommend Mayfair Supper Club?

Edited by CowboyFred
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  • 2 weeks later...

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — The countdown to Formula One is officially on, as crews begin repaving roads around the Las Vegas Strip.

Work began Sunday on the stretch of Sands Avenue between Las Vegas Boulevard and the MSG Sphere and will continue through Friday.

Drivers can expect rolling road closures in both directions, with detours and delays.

From there, crews will work on the southbound lanes of the Strip from April 9 through May 19 before repaving the rest of the circuit.

It's a big undertaking to prepare for the Las Vegas Grand Prix this fall, and it has left some people to wonder how much of the work taxpayers will be on the hook for.

"It's gonna be in the millions of dollars," said Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom. "But at the end of the day, the amount of money we get back is far surpassed. The degree to consider the- again, the tourism benefit of the advertising worldwide, so it's actually very modest, and we will literally pay for itself the day the race is over."

Segerblom also emphasized the roads would have needed repairs eventually, so the work being done now only sped up the process.

The Las Vegas Grand Prix is expected to generate $1 billion in economic impact for Southern Nevada. It's scheduled for Nov. 16-18.

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9 minutes ago, tx 3 putt said:


Is that Mrs brat ?

No, she was in junior high then. 
But she was only 5’2” at her tallest 50 years ago and is now 5’1”. 
Vegas showgirl height requirement minimum is 5’8”. 
And she wouldn’t wear a costume like that one.
 

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Long overdue trip to Vegas was a blast.

First time staying at the Bellagio. Will be my go to moving forward. Newly renovated fountain view room was great. Service was always on point.

Highlights

Sky bar window seat reservations. This is a must. Great view overlooking strip. Calm, attentive service and great drinks.

Prime. Get a fountain window view table. Food, service and atmosphere were perfect.

Mon Ami Gabi. Brunch outside in the patio. Great people watching. Eggs Benedict with andouille sausage and a few bloody Mary’s to shake off the cob webs.

Tao Asian Bistro. Our server was a little spastic. Loud as fuck but fun. Drunken lobster noodles were fantastic. Sushi was well above average. Rest of the food was good not great. Not sure if rush back.

Saw O again. Still my favorite show in Vegas.

Went by Resort world to check it out. Not sure what the fuss is about. Left after 30 minutes. I’m pretty sure they are aiming at the under 30 crowd.

You can really tell which properties clean up during Covid and which did nothing and look horribly run down

Had to cut the trip short and fly back early so we missed out on a few spots/things we had reservations for.

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