Las Vegas Sports Books

For those who couldn’t score tickets to this year’s big college bowl games, consider the next best thing: a Las Vegas sports book. “It’s like being at the game,” said Paul Mello, a sports book expert.

Sin City is home to more than 70 sports books, where patrons can watch and bet on sporting events. Last year, $2.3 billion was wagered on sports in Nevada casinos. These books have come a long way since the days of the Rat Pack. Today’s corporate Las Vegas casinos no longer rely on wise guys – the bookmakers who used instinct to set betting lines. They’ve been replaced by computers.

One of the city’s last “wise guys” is Scotty Schettler, who ran the sports book at the now-defunct Stardust from 1983 to 1991. “Nowadays they don’t hire ‘bookmakers’ like me,” he said. “So they get more corporate-suit types that book defensively. They try and present good amenities, but as far as good bookmaking, that’s a thing of the past.”

In the neon jungle of the Las Vegas Strip, here are some names to keep in mind:

Bellagio
If you want to live like the men of “Ocean’s 11” – the 21st-century George Clooney version, not Frank Sinatra’s original – look no further than the Bellagio. “It’s a little bit classier than the other guys,” Mello said.

With plush leather chairs and high-end drinks, this upscale sports book will leave an impression. Order a screwdriver and the waitress asks your vodka preference.

Statistics:

•Televisions: 47 plus 90 individual desk screens
•Big screens: Four
•Largest TV: 18 feet by 22 feet
•Food and drink: In the book’s snack shop or the Starting Gate Bar
•Seating: 200

Las Vegas Hilton
Although it’s off the Strip, a short cab ride to the Las Vegas Hilton’s huge sports book is a must.

The Hilton is also a favorite among veterans, such as Schettler. “They’re the closest thing to the old Vegas bookmaker,” he said.

As a bonus, the Hilton offers proposition bets – lines such as how many field goals a team will kick. During the Super Bowl, there were more than 300 proposition bets, said Jay Kornegay, Hilton’s sports book executive director. “We started it mainly for the Super Bowl because the games were boring,” he said.

Stats:

•Televisions: 42
•Big screens: 30
•Largest TV: 15 feet by 20 feet
•Food and drink: A buffet adjacent to the sports book counter or a sandwich from nearby Vegas Subs
•Seating: More than 400

Caesars Palace

ESPN.com refers to it as the “Yankee Stadium” of sports books. “It’s just one of those places you don’t want to miss,” Mello said.

Caesars Palace is home to some of the biggest sporting events in Las Vegas history – especially boxing matches.

Stats:

•Televisions: 10
•Big screens: Seven
•Largest TV: 20 feet by 30 feet
•Food and drink: In the race and sports book
•Seating: 250

The Venetian

For those looking for something cozier, The Venetian is it. With TVs at eye level and fewer seats, The Venetian feels like a place where it’s OK to ask questions, Mello said. The Venetian also keeps the party going more than the others. “Just about every place will pass around free drinks,” Mello said. “But it’s all about frequency.”

Stats:

•Televisions: 36
•Big screens: Three
•Largest TV: 72 inches
•Food and drink: In the race and sports book
•Seating: 80

Mandalay Bay

Since it opened in 1999, Mandalay Bay has etched itself as one of Las Vegas’ premier places to watch sporting events. Modern and lively, the Mandalay Bay owns the sporting action on the southern tip of the Strip. “You’re not going to miss anything,” Mello said. Also, Mandalay has plenty of bet takers, which means shorter lines, he said.

Stats:

•Televisions: 84 (45 are 9-inch individual TVs)
•Big screens: 17
•Largest TV: 28 feet by 30 feet
•Food and drink: A snack bar in the book
•Seating: 300

Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa Expands

Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa, the first billion-dollar resort to be built off the Las Vegas Strip, has expanded by adding more than 400 new guestrooms and suites, doubling its number of rooms since opening in April 2006. The resort, operated by Station Casinos, Inc., and considered the most lavish off-Strip casino ever built in Las Vegas, now offers 816 guestrooms and suites. The new rooms are now available, with standard guestroom rates beginning in the low $200s.

"Since opening our doors in April, we have been attracting guests from around the world who enjoy Red Rock Resort because they get a true Vegas experience in a more intimate resort setting away from the Strip," said Ronan O'Gorman, vice-president and general manager of Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa.

Inspired by the natural beauty of the neighboring Red Rock mountains and the elegant desert oasis resorts of the mid-20th century, the property is a return to classic Las Vegas, reinterpreted for the 21st century with a contemporary design and the latest amenities, comforts and technology. The property opened in April with more than 400 luxury guestrooms and suites. It features a full complement of gaming offerings and an array of nightlife options, including Rande Gerber's CHERRY nightclub; a 16-screen movie theatre; nine restaurants; a 25,000-square-foot, full-service spa and a unique adventure spa program that lets visitors take part in a wide variety of local nature activities. A 72-lane bowling center will open by summer 2007.

Designed with five-star/five-diamond amenities and service, Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa incorporates natural light through glass walls throughout the casino, which provide views of the mountains from multiple vantage points. The lavish decor includes exotic woods, imported stone, rich fabrics and 3.1 million crystals displayed in dozens of dramatic chandeliers.

Wynn Sues Lloyd's of London over Picasso

Casino mogul Steve Wynn sued Lloyd's of London Thursday, saying the insurance company failed to act properly on his demands to pay $54 million in lost value for a Picasso that was damaged when Wynn accidentally poked a hole in the canvas with his elbow.

The lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Manhattan sought an order to force Lloyd's to expedite Wynn's claims for reimbursement and restoration costs for Picasso's 1932 work, "Le Reve," by providing him with an appraisal report or initial damages assessment.

Wynn's representatives told Lloyd's in November that the painting was worth $139 million the day before Wynn damaged it in his Las Vegas office on September 30, but was believed to be worth no more than $85 million afterward.

In 1997, Wynn paid $48.4 million for the painting depicting Picasso's mistress, Marie-Therese Walter.

Wynn has described the damage to the canvas as a thumb-sized flap and said it was "the world's clumsiest and goofiest thing to do." He damaged the canvas as he showed it to guests, including screenwriter Nora Ephron and husband Nick Pileggi, broadcaster Barbara Walters, New York socialite Louise Grunwald, lawyer David Boies and his wife, Mary, and art dealer Serge Sorokko and his wife, Tatiana.

"The blood drained out of their faces," Wynn said. "I just turned around and said, 'Oh, my God. How could I have done this?"'

A message left with a spokesman for Lloyd's was not immediately returned.

In a letter included as an exhibit with the lawsuit, a Lloyd's representative wrote that he understood that Wynn's representatives wanted the insurers to estimate the level of depreciation at the outset, but that it was customary practice for the insured to make a claim first and for insurers to agree or disagree.

Lloyd's has already agreed to pay $90,000 to restore the painting, a consultant fee of $21,000 related to the restoration and increased security that was required during the process.

High Stakes Poker Returns for a 3rd Season

Almost a year to the day after its debut, "High Stakes Poker" will begin its third season of shows, Monday on GSN.

The program portrays some of poker's top players competing, by invitation only, in a no-limit Texas hold 'em cash game with a minimum buy-in of $100,000.

The show has emerged as a hit among fans as well as professional poker players, who are drawn by the more subtle strategy inherent in a high-stakes cash game, as opposed to the usual TV format of a tournament, coordinating producer Mori Eskandani said. "The pros can't get enough of it," Eskandani, a former poker pro, said.

Footage for the 13-week third season of "High Stakes Poker" was shot during two days of extended play on a specially con structed - and tightly secured, given the amount of money on hand - set in October at South Point . Many players opted to buy in for more than the $100,000 minimum, so it was common for more than $4 million - in the form of live casino chips and bundled stacks of $100 bills - to be sitting on the table at any given time, Eskandani said.

The two previous go-rounds of "High Stakes Poker" were also filmed in Las Vegas. Season 1, which began airing last January, was shot at the Golden Nugget. Season 2, which ran for 16 weeks starting in June, was shot at the Palms.

As in previous versions of the show, players in Season 3 posted "blinds," or forced bets, of $300 and $600 along with an ante of $100 to get the action going. Players who bust out, or lose all their chips, were permitted to make one "short" buy of $50,000 (or more) if they wanted to continue playing. As in a casino poker game, players were allowed to take breaks at will and cash out at any time.

Regular viewers will notice one difference in Season 3. Producers asked the players to refrain from engaging in so-called "props," or proposition wagers - meaning side bets among themselves on what community cards would be dealt. Although betting on props is common in big casino poker games, in Season 2 of "High Stakes Poker," players could be heard chattering about the results of prop bets, which some viewers might have found distracting.

The cast of Season 3 will feature "High Stakes Poker" veterans such as Doyle Brunson, Daniel Negreanu, Shawn Sheikhan and Mike Matusow, along with newcomers such as reigning World Series of Poker champ Jamie Gold, World Series finalist Paul Wasicka, Internet poker star Brian Townsend and Bill Chen, co-author of the book "The Mathematics of Poker."

Established poker stars Chris "Jesus" Ferguson and Phil Ivey also make their first appearances on "High Stakes Poker" this season.

Gabe Kaplan, the series' on-air analyst along with host A.J. Benza, makes a surprise entrance onto the set during the second episode. One of the players in the game volunteers to relinquish his seat, and Kaplan sits down to take on the game's elite with his own money. An accomplished poker player and investor, Kaplan is best known for his starring role on "Welcome Back, Kotter" and for a classic, if brief, interview with Stu Ungar after Ungar's 1997 World Series of Poker victory. After a poignant conversation in which the troubled Ungar says he hopes to turn his life around, just before the ESPN footage fades to black, Kaplan cracks: "Can I get that $300 you borrowed from me about six years ago?"

Gold, who won the $12 million top prize at last year's World Series, figures to be a draw on "High Stakes Poker," as viewers tune in to find out if he can reprise his successful run at the Rio. Show executives do not reveal the game's big winners and losers beforehand, nor do the players. Eskandani did say Gold was feeling confident enough to ask for more playing time in the high-stakes cash game at South Point after his scheduled allotment had expired.

As a teaser for the Season 3 premiere, GSN will air a one-hour special in which Kaplan and Benza recap the best moments from the first two seasons.

"High Stakes Poker" podcasts, featuring interviews in which the players discuss their strategies in the big game, will be available on Apple's iTunes.

Thanks to Jeff Haney

BoDog Girls and Mini-Fights Hit the Strip

What better place than Las Vegas to kill time in strip traffic watching a fight in a ring on the back of a flat-bed truck?

Enter the Red Light Fights - Vegas style, created to generate excitement and promote BodogFight around the National Association of Television Programming Executives (NAPTE) Conference. The Red Light Fights are mobile fighting matches that feature two martial arts experts sparring with each other in real rings attached to a 16-foot box truck.

When the vehicle stops a loud bell will sound, a Bodog Girl will walk across the ring holding a round card and the sparring will begin. The Red Light Fights will take place in Las Vegas from January 12th - 26th. Two specially designed vehicles, wrapped in eye-catching graphics, will be used to promote the BodogFight shows. The vehicles will be up and down the strip and at other locations. Get ready to rumble!

"Red Light Fights are a unique way to take the BodogFight brand message to TV programmers and the general public, while giving traffic-bound drivers the thrill of catching a hot Bodog Girl and a mini-fight. This is one time you won't mind waiting at a stop light!" says Calvin Ayre, Bodog.com Founder and BodogFight creator. "Our girls and fighters will be cruising the strip and hitting the hottest events, so keep an eye out for them."

The premiere episode of BodogFight: St. Petersburg is set for January 23. As in the inaugural season of the series, fans can expect elimination battles, behind-the-scenes training, interviews with fighters, and a soundtrack featuring Bodog Music artists. The weekly, one-hour BodogFight: St. Petersburg episodes will lead into a PPV main event in April 2007. For up-to-date MMA action visit "The Latest" section on the official BodogFight website: http://www.bodogfight.com/.

Discount Syndicate Honors the Golden Age

I am certain that some of my sharper soldiers have noticed that I have added a 5th site to the Syndicate Series. That site is called the Discount Syndicate. While you can make your bones at the Chicago Syndicate, relax at the Music City Syndicate, cheer at the Sport Syndicate and party at the Vegas Syndicate, the Discount Syndicate will help you save large.

In order to benefit from it the most, I recommend that you subscribe to it or save it as one of your favorites. Currently, over 40 associates of mine are offering discounts and special offers to the Syndicate crew. However, that is just a taste of what will eventually be available. When I finish opening the books, the total of connected specials will be closer to 100. Many of these offers will not be available anywhere else. The only way to save more would be to come heavy. Fortunately, I am not one to eat alone nor am I bound by a Code of Silence on these offers.

No need to pay tribute to the boss for this thing of ours. This is just my way of saying piacere.

2007 World Series of Poker Full Schedule

Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. said today the 2007 World Series of Poker Presented by Milwaukee's Best Light will offer the most diverse event schedule in the tournament's illustrious history.

The 38th edition of the world's most prestigious poker tournament, set for June 1 through July 17, 2007, at the Rio(R) All-Suite Hotel & Casino - and televised exclusively by ESPN - features 55 bracelet events with buy-ins up to $50,000. Among the additions to the schedule are $2,500 HORSE event and $5,000 Mixed Hold'Em Events and a $5,000 Heads-up No-Limit Hold'Em World Championship.

"The 2007 schedule offers something for everyone," said Jeffrey Pollack, commissioner of the World Series of Poker. "As part of our commitment to innovate for the benefit of all players, we've added nine bracelet events and created more opportunities for both amateurs and professionals to win poker's most coveted prize."

The 55-event 2007 WSOP schedule compares with 46 events in 2006, when more than 42,000 entrants from 56 countries generated a total prize pool exceeding $171 million - the largest purse in competitive sports. The 2006 World Series of Poker Main Event - the $10,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold'Em World Championship - attracted a field of 8,773 players. More than 870 players won money in the 2006 WSOP Main Event, including reigning world champion Jamie Gold, who captured the top prize of $12 million.

In addition to an expanded schedule, the 2007 World Series of Poker will offer players more space, with up to 300 tables available for tournament and live-game play. The additional tables will enable tournament officials to reduce the start days for the WSOP Main Event to three. As in 2006, World Series of Poker officials will allow players entering the WSOP Main Event to choose their start dates as long as seats are available on the selected dates.

For the third straight year, the Rio Hotel & Casino will host the annual Gaming Life Expo July 5-8. A free consumer show featuring exhibitors from around the globe, the 2007 World Series of Poker Gaming Life Expo will showcase a broad array of gaming and poker products, memorabilia, books and clothing. In 2006, more than 100,000 people visited the Expo.

Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. is the world's largest provider of branded casino entertainment through its operating subsidiaries. Since its beginning in Reno, Nevada 68 years ago, Harrah's has grown through development of new properties, expansions and acquisitions. Harrah's Entertainment is focused on building loyalty and value with its customers through a unique combination of great service, excellent products, unsurpassed distribution, operational excellence and technology leadership.

More information about the World Series of Poker or Harrah's is available at the Web sites www.worldseriesofpoker.com or www.harrahs.com. To learn more about the 2007 Gaming Life Expo, please visit www.harrahs.com/gaminglifeexpo. Save up to 30% on Playboy Men's Products

The complete schedule of 2007 World Series of Poker events follows:

Event
Date Day Time # 2007 Buy-In
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
World
Championship
Mixed
Hold'em
(Limit/No-
June 1, 12 Limit) (3
2007 Friday noon 1 Day event) $5,000.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
Casino
Employees
No-Limit
June 1, Hold'em (2
2007 Friday 5 PM 2 day event) $500.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
No-Limit
June 2, 12 Hold'em (3
2007 Saturday noon 3 day event) $1,500.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
Pot Limit
June 3, 12 Hold'em (3
2007 Sunday noon 4 day event) $1,500.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
Omaha/Seven
Card Stud
Hi-Low-8 or
June 3, Better (3
2007 Sunday 5 PM 5 day event) $2,500.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
Limit Hold'em
June 4, 12 (3 day
2007 Monday noon 6 event) $1,500.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
Pot Limit
Omaha
June 4, W/Rebuys (2
2007 Monday 5 PM 7 day event) $5,000.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
No-Limit
Hold'em
June 5, 12 w/Re-Buys (3
2007 Tuesday noon 8 day event) $1,000.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
Omaha Hi-Low
Split-8 or
June 5, Better (3
2007 Tuesday 5 PM 9 day event) $1,500.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
No-Limit
June 6, 12 Hold'em (3
2007 Wednesday noon 10 day event) $2,000.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
World
Championship
Seven Card
June 6, Stud (3 day
2007 Wednesday 5 PM 11 event) $5,000.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
No-Limit
Hold'em /
Six Handed
June 7, 12 (3 day
2007 Thursday noon 12 event) $1,500.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
World
Championship
Pot Limit
June 8, 12 Hold'em (3
2007 Friday noon 13 day event) $5,000.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
Seven Card
June 8, Stud (2day
2007 Friday 5 PM 14 event) $1,500.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
No-Limit
June 9, 12 Hold'em (3
2007 Saturday noon 15 day event) $1,500.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
June 9, H.O.R.S.E. (3
2007 Saturday 5 PM 16 day event) $2,500.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
World
Championship
Ladies Event
No-Limit
June 10, 12 Hold'em (3
2007 Sunday noon 17 day event) $1,000.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
World
Championship
Limit
June 10, Hold'em (3
2007 Sunday 5 PM 18 day event) $5,000.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
No-Limit
June 11, 12 Hold'em (3
2007 Monday noon 19 day event) $2,500.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
Seven Card
Stud Hi-low-
8 or Better
June 11, (3 day
2007 Monday 5 PM 20 event) $2,000.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
No-Limit
Hold'em
June 12, 12 Shootout (2
2007 Tuesday noon 21 day event) $1,500.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
No-Limit
June 13, 12 Hold'em (3
2007 Wednesday noon 22 day event) $5,000.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
Pot Limit
June 14, 12 Omaha (2 day
2007 Thursday noon 23 event) $1,500.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
World
Championship
Seven Card
Stud Hi-Low
Split-8 or
June 14, Better (3
2007 Thursday 5 PM 24 day event) $3,000.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
No-Limit
June 15, 12 Hold'em (3
2007 Friday noon 25 day event) $2,000.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
June 15, H.O.R.S.E. (3
2007 Friday 5 PM 26 day event) $5,000.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
No-Limit
June 16, 12 Hold'em (3
2007 Saturday noon 27 day event) $1,500.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
No-Limit
June 17, 12 Hold'em (3
2007 Sunday noon 28 day event) $3,000.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
Seven Card
June 17, Razz (2 day
2007 Sunday 5 PM 29 event) $1,500.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
No-Limit
Hold'em /
Six Handed
June 18, 12 (3 day
2007 Monday noon 30 event) $2,500.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
World
Championship
Heads Up No-
Limit
June 19, 12 Hold'em (3
2007 Tuesday noon 31 day event) $5,000.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
Seven Card
June 19, Stud (2 day
2007 Tuesday 5 PM 32 event) $2,000.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
Pot Limit
Omaha W/Re-
June 20, 12 Buys (2 day
2007 Wednesday noon 33 event) $1,500.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
Limit Hold'em
June 20, (3 day
2007 Wednesday 5 PM 34 event) $3,000.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
No-Limit
June 21, 12 Hold'em (3
2007 Thursday noon 35 day event) $1,500.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
World
Championship
Omaha Hi-Low
Split-8 or
June 21, Better (3
2007 Thursday 5 PM 36 day event) $5,000.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
Pot Limit
June 22, 12 Hold'em (3
2007 Friday noon 37 day event) $2,000.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
No-Limit
June 23, 12 Hold'em (3
2007 Saturday noon 38 day event) $1,500.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
World
Championship
H.O.R.S.E.
June 24, 12 (5 day
2007 Sunday noon 39 event) $50,000.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
Mixed Hold'em
(limit/no-
June 24, limit) (3
2007 Sunday 5 PM 40 Day event) $1,500.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
World
Championship
Seniors No-
Limit
June 25, 12 Hold'em (3
2007 Monday noon 41 day event) $1,000.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
Pot-Limit
Omaha Hi-low
Split-8 or
June 25, Better (2
2007 Monday 5 PM 42 day event) $1,500.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
Limit Hold'em
June 26, 12 (3 day
2007 Tuesday noon 43 event) $2,000.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
Omaha Hi-Low
June 27, 12 Split (2 day
2007 Wednesday noon 44 event) $2,000.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
No-Limit
Hold'em /
Six Handed
June 28, 12 (3 day
2007 Thursday noon 45 event) $5,000.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
Seven Card
Stud Hi-Low-
8 or Better
June 28, (3 day
2007 Thursday 5 PM 46 event) $1,000.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
No-Limit
June 29, 12 Hold'em (3
2007 Friday noon 47 day event) $2,000.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
2-7 Triple
Draw Lowball
(Limit)
June 29, W/Rebuys (2
2007 Friday 5 PM 48 day event) $1,000.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
No-Limit
June 30, 12 Hold'em (3
2007 Saturday noon 49 day event) $1,500.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
World
Championship
Pot-Limit
July 1, 12 Omaha (2 day
2007 Sunday noon 50 event) $10,000.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
July 1, S.H.O.E (2
2007 Sunday 5 PM 51 day event) $1,000.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
No-Limit
Hold'em
July 2, 12 w/Re-Buys (3
2007 Monday noon 52 day event) $1,000.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
Limit Hold'em
July 3, 12 Shootout (2
2007 Tuesday noon 53 day event) $1,500.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
July 4,
2007 Wednesday Satellite Day
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
World
Championship
No-Limit 2-7
Draw Lowball
July 4, 12 w/Re-Buys (2
2007 Wednesday noon 54 day event) $5,000.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
Satellite
July 5, Day/Media
2007 Thursday Event
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
World
Championship
No-Limit
Texas
July 6, 12 Hold'em Day
2007 Friday noon 55 1A 3000 $10,000.00
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
July 7, 12
2007 Saturday noon Day 1B 3000
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
July 8, 12
2007 Sunday noon Day 1C 3000
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
July 9,
2007 Monday OFF
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
July 10, 12
2007 Tuesday noon Day 2
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
July 11, 12
2007 Wednesday noon Day 3
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
July 12, 12
2007 Thursday noon Day 4
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
July 13, 12
2007 Friday noon Day 5
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
July 14, 12
2007 Saturday noon Day 6
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
July 15, 12
2007 Sunday noon Day 7
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
July 16,
2007 Monday OFF
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
July 17, 12
2007 Tuesday noon Final Table
---------------------- --------- ----- ----- ------------- -----------
For Event No. 55, the No-Limit Texas Hold'em World Championship Event,
you may request your first day of play.
Based on availability, you will be placed by your preferences during
the Registration or Pre-Registration process.
General Information:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
For vendor information please call 702-777-2310
Single Table Satellites, Mega Satellites and Live Action begin on
June 1, 2007
Mega Satellite Schedule:
$550 Mega Satellites will take place Monday - Thursday at 9 PM.
$1060 Mega Satellites will take place Friday - Sun at 9 PM.
Mega Satellite Days on July 4 and July 5:
$550 Buy-In Mega Satellites will take place at 10 AM and 4 PM.
$1060 Buy-In Mega Satellites will take place at 1 PM and 9 PM.
Second-Chance Tournaments From June - July 3:
$1,060 Buy-In No-Limit Hold'em tournaments will take place daily at 7 PM.
Second-Chance Tournaments From July 9 - 16:
$550 Buy-In No-Limit Hold'em tournaments at 7 PM.

For Tournament Info: Visit our web site at
www.worldseriesofpoker.com
or call us at 1-877-FOR-
WSOP (1-877-367-9767)

For Room Reservation Info: 1-877-746-8342

The following percentages will be withheld from the Buy-In for each event:
Buy-In Take-Out
$500.00 10%
$1,000.00 9%
$1,500.00 9%
$2,000.00 9%
$2,500.00 8%
$3,000.00 8%
$5,000.00 6%
$10,000.00 6%
$50,000.00 4%

All winners will be required to show a valid picture ID and must provide an Individual Tax Identification Number. Foreign players without an ITIN and Foreign Players from Non-Treaty
Countries are subject to 30% Tax Withholding. Harrah's reserves the right to cancel, change or modify the Tournament or any Tournament Event, in part or in whole, without notice.

Playboy's AVN Party with Jenna Jameson

January 11th, at the Palm's Playboy Club and Moonbar, Jenna Jameson will host an opening night AVN party.

Las Vegas - That's Hot, Paris - She's Not

Google, Las Vegas, Yahoo! and Target - take a bow. These four are expected to be among the top 10 brands in 2007, according to a latest brand ranking report from Landor Associates. Not so lucky are Hollywood's reigning "brat pack" of Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie and Britney Spears. All three were relegated to the predicted 2007 "losers" list.

The fourth annual list of brand winners and losers from marketing firms Landor Associates and Penn Schoen & Berland was based on a Newsmaker Brands survey that asked 2,017 consumers to rank 92 brands familiar to them - products and celebrities - on their performance last year and prospects in the year ahead, the report said. The survey was conducted from Dec. 11 to 15.

Google topped the most-powerful brands ranking last year in terms of its impact on consumers. The report said Google is arguably the strongest and most-powerful search engine on the planet and continues to increase its offerings to users.

Google "has extended the brand to offer book searches, blog searches, views of the Earth and with the recent purchase of YouTube, now offers users the ability to distribute their own video content, anywhere on the Internet," the report said.

Las Vegas followed Google at No. 2 in the projected winners list. As a brand, Vegas has benefited from the "what happens here, stays here" advertising campaign wave. "Las Vegas has taken the cake as THE destination for people of all ages and parts of the country to vacation and beaten out such stiff competition as New York City and Miami," the report said.

While baseball is considered America's favorite pastime, the league has yet to be a winner on the Newsmakers brand survey. However, the NFL is expected to be the third most-powerful brand in 2007. "Whether it's a positive resurrection since the 2005 Super Bowl, an increased focus on what the NFL brand means, or a revamped game schedule and partnership with ESPN, [NFL] came in No. 10 on the 2006 winners list and is expected to rise to the No. 3 spot this year," the report said.

Meanwhile, Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie and Britney Spears scored the top three slots on the losers list. "The secret to being a successful celebrity brand is to define what you stand for, for example, environmental well-being or advocate to the ailing. Merely being in the spotlight does not position you for success, standard branding tenants must apply: as exemplified by the clueless Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie and Britney Spears, who are expected to continue on their downward spiral in 2007," the report said.

Social networking sites such as eHarmony.com and Match.com and high-end boutique hotels like the W Hotel also got a thumbs-down from consumers. "The survey tells us that brands who successfully vary their appeal across customer segments were most favored by consumers," said Allen Adamson, managing director of Landor Associates, told CNNMoney.com.

For instance, he said retailer Target caters to customers across different income levels and to entire families as well as to single-individual households. "Also, the most successful brands today have a simple and clear message. These brands appeal to the masses rather than to a niche consumer market," Adamson said.

Thanks to Parija B. Kavilanz

Daniel Negreanu's First Book: Hold'em Wisdom for All Players

Professional poker superstar Daniel Negreanu's first book, titled Hold'em Wisdom for All Players, is now available for purchase at book sellers throughout the world. .

Daniel is one of the most popular and charismatic players in poker. He exudes the confidence of a new generation of poker players raised on video games, the internet and MTV. Daniel Negreanu provides 50 easy-to-read and right-to-the-point Texas Hold'em poker strategy nuggets that will immediately make you a better player at cash games and tournaments. His wit and wisdom makes for great reading; even better, it makes for killer winning advice.

Avery Cardoza, publisher of Hold'em Wisdom for All Players, stated "Daniel Negreanu's writing style is conversational, straightforward, and educational. This book covers topics as diverse as the Top 10 Rookie Mistakes to Bullying Bullies and Exploiting Your Table Image."

Respected poker authority Howard Schwartz of the Gambler's Book Club said Hold'em Wisdom for All Players "is sure to find its way into every serious player's library. Be happy with this little gem--priced right and packed with valuable advice for any level player."

Steven J. Miller, President of Card Shark Media, syndicator of Daniel Negreanu's weekly poker advice column to newspapers across the USA and Canada said, "Daniel is one of the most popular and charismatic players in poker. He exudes the confidence of a new generation of poker players raised on video games, the internet and MTV."
Daniel Negreanu's accomplishments include three World Series of Poker bracelets, two World Poker Tour championships, consensus 2004 Player of the Year, and more than 40 wins in tournaments worldwide.

"Daniel Negreanu has proven himself to be one of the best young players in the world," said professional poker legend "Texas Dolly" Doyle Brunson. Jennifer Harmon, a two-time WSOP bracelet winner added, "Daniel is one of the most talented poker players in the world."

Supremes Reunion in Las Vegas?

A Las Vegas reunion of Supremes stars Diana Ross and Mary Wilson? I hear rumblings that it's being discussed, with the Aladdin/Planet Hollywood as a possible venue. Wilson, who moved to Henderson about five years ago to be close to her grandchildren, is working on several projects, and a Las Vegas show makes sense. Wilson and Sheryl Lee Ralph, who played the original Dena Jones in Broadway's "Dreamgirls," recently had dinner in Las Vegas. Jones' character was based on Ross.

Thanks to Norm

Guardian Angels Coming to Downtown Vegas

Wearing a signature red beret and jacket with the words "Guardian Angels" emblazoned on the back, Robert McClintick strutted down Fremont Street like a platoon sergeant.

Five more men, dressed like McClintick and toting handcuffs and flashlights, followed. They nodded at passers-by and stopped briefly to speak with a store owner near Sixth Street.

McClintick, western regional director for the Guardian Angels, said the organization plans to maintain a presence on Fremont Street, including the area east of Las Vegas Boulevard with a reputation as the city's open-air drug and sex market. "We're here for the community so people can ride the bus and walk the streets and feel safe," McClintick said. The Guardian Angels are starting a chapter in Las Vegas for the first time in more than 20 years, said Weston Conwell, regional coordinator.

Founded in 1979 in New York City, the Guardian Angels patrol city streets, call the police when they see crime and sometimes make citizen's arrests of suspects. They are unarmed but are trained in self-defense, legal issues and basic first aid.

They've not been without critics over the years. In the 1980s, then-New York City Mayor Ed Koch denounced group members as vigilantes with little accountability. They have since received awards from New York City Mayors Rudy Giuliani and Michael Bloomberg and have won praise from former President Clinton.

Their effort to organize locally is receiving support from some Las Vegas officials. "The Guardian Angels are certainly just another resource to be the eyes and ears to any impropriety," said Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman, who met with Conwell to discuss the group's goals. "I welcome them to the community."

Las Vegas Councilman Gary Reese, whose district includes parts of Fremont Street, sees potential for the group to do good in Las Vegas. But he was concerned someone could get hurt if they make arrests. "I would never support them without the blessing of the sheriff," Reese said, adding that he doesn't want them to "infringe upon what Metro is doing."

Conwell, who has lived in Las Vegas for six years and is a 25-year veteran of the Guardian Angels, said he is to meet with Clark County Sheriff Doug Gillespie in about two weeks.

Bill Cassell, spokesman with the Metropolitan Police Department, said police hope the Guardian Angels obey the law. "If there is any individual or group that wants to be an extra set of eyes and ears for Metro, they can do so. The Police Department is always willing to take those phone calls" alerting police to crimes, Cassell said. "But anyone who undertakes this has to understand that they have to follow the law and they have no standing other than that of a private citizen."

The Guardian Angels, who have about six local members, have been in Las Vegas before. In 1982, they started a chapter but disbanded after a few months because of dwindling membership.

One man who seemed pleased that the Guardian Angels were patrolling Fremont Street on Saturday was tourist Paul Harmon, 54, of Granville, Ohio. While walking behind the group near Sixth Street on Saturday afternoon, Harmon said he felt more secure with the group on hand. Harmon said there appeared to be a greater risk of crime in downtown Las Vegas than on the Strip, where he usually stays.

As he walked with the Guardian Angels, Harmon noted that no one was bothering him. "I don't know if criminals are afraid of them or me," he joked.

Thanks to David Kihara

Crazy CES Brings Tech World to Vegas

From the moment you step off the plane at the Las Vegas airport, you see ads from Intel and Microsoft along with signs promoting the warhorse casino celebrities like Barry Manilow, Celine Dion and Art Garfunkel. This is the land of marketing-gone-wild, with promos on cabs and billboards, and banners on the sides of the giant casinos and threading through the clouds as skywriting airplanes pass overhead.

They all mean one thing: CES is the place to be seen.

It's the annual Consumer Electronics Show, a Darwinian circus that every technology company has to attend because 140,000 of the movers and shakers of the tech world are here to do business with each other. Everyone wants to impress upon the world's watching consumers that their products are going to be on the hot list.

In the carnival atmosphere of Las Vegas, there are a million ways to do this. As thousands of people stream from the monorail, buses and cabs into the Las Vegas Convention Center, they're going to know that Intel has the swagger to plaster the whole side of the building with its ``Multiply'' ad. You can get a pitch in a limousine or on the Samsung bus.

On Saturday, the Teamsters were driving forklifts and unpacking pallets for the exhibits that go for $35 a square foot. Companies find out later whether their money was well spent or not.

The stakes in Vegas are huge. If you get noticed by the key pundits in the media and by consumers, you can be anointed the company with the best product of the show among thousands. The free publicity and mileage in terms of buzz will give your products an edge in the market place. Consumers will be more aware of your brand and products, and the sales pitch won't be as hard come fall when the mad sales rush starts again.

This year, the CEOs of Microsoft, Motorola, Disney, CBS, and others are delivering the keynote speeches. Each will be evaluated by thousands of industry analysts and journalists, like horse races in the casino sports books.

This year, the buzz is already building over whether the show will be stolen Tuesday by Apple Computer's coinciding convention, MacWorld, in San Francisco. Some journalists and industry analysts are leaving early to attend Steve Jobs' opening keynote at Macworld. Does Jobs alone have enough star power to pull the technorati away from CES and the allure of Las Vegas?

Some companies think the answer at CES is spending a lot more money than the other guys do. Hewlett-Packard is throwing a bash tonight at the exclusive Pure nightclub (where the Pussycat Dolls perform) at Caesar's Palace. That kind of amusing stunt can grab the attention of jaded show-goers. Monday night, Microsoft will try to appeal to hard-core Internet fans with a giant puzzle game that includes taking over the famous water fountains of the Bellagio Hotel on the Strip to showcase its new computer operating system, Windows Vista.

Another consumer electronics maker, Sharp, got some bragging rights this afternoon with a familiar ritual of the we-can-only-build-one demo as it pulled a black curtain off the world's largest flat-panel television, a 108-inch liquid crystal display TV.

Others think that the star power of A-list celebrities and hip Vegas joints are the way to prove they are worthy of attention. Last year, Sony CEO Howard Stringer scored the biggest celebrities as actor Tom Hanks and author Dan Brown came on stage at the Las Vegas Hilton to promote the ``Da Vinci Code'' film -- and Sony's own electronic book readers. Last year, Bill Gates could only manage Justin Timberlake at his own keynote.

The rivalry between those two companies shows up in many ways this week. Sony scheduled a dinner with the press and its executives during the middle of Bill Gates' keynote speech tonight. Journalists had to choose which company would have the most important things to say.

While Gates gets the strategic one-hour, kick-off speech every year before the show starts, smaller companies are reduced to the indignity of the elevator pitch. Marty Winston, a scotch-drinking public-relations guy at Newstips, held an annual event dubbed ``Cherry Picks'' on today at the swanky Wynn Hotel where dozens of small company CEOs had the chance present their products to a group of sleepy journalists.

Winston honed his list of presenters over six months and wound up with 62 nervous executives who knew they only had 45 seconds on stage. One was so shaky he couldn't finish his presentation and Winston, normally a strict timekeeper, stepped in and finished reading the teleprompter for the product.

Companies that don't show up can be viewed as also-rans. That's why IBM, absent from the show floor for a decade, is coming back to the show this year with its own booth and a message that says it's as good a partner for consumer businesses as rivals.

``We have not had a major presence at the show and folks conclude that we are not in the consumer space,'' said Mike Cadigan, a general manager at IBM. ``That's not the message we want to send. We partner with a lot of companies that show off their products at CES.''

HP in particular routinely says in its sales pitches that it understands consumers better because it has so many consumer products itself -- and therefore is the best information technology partner for consumer businesses.

``That's exactly why we're here,'' Cadigan says. ``In the U.S., CES is the major play.''

Thanks to Dean Takahashi

Tropicana Revamp is Coming

Yet another Strip icon appears to be living on borrowed time. The Las Vegas Tropicana's casino, with its barrel-vaulted, stained-glass ceiling, doesn't figure in plans for the property's future.

Kentucky-based hotelier Columbia Sussex has disclosed its $2 billion scheme for remaking the Tropicana Resort & Casino, at the Strip and Tropicana Ave., starting later this year.

The current Island and Paradise towers will remain, along with the showroom. All else, according to Clark County documents, will be demolished to make room for four additional towers plus a variety of other attractions. If the use permits are granted, Columbia Sussex will have two years to get started on the project.

In an item for tomorrow's Clark County Planning Commission agenda, Columbia Sussex subsidiary Wimar Landco seeks use permits for, among other things, 9,276 hotel rooms. It will also build 948 condo-hotel units -- a grand total of 10,224 guest rooms on 34.4 acres. By contrast, as of 2005, the neighboring MGM Grand Hotel Casino had 5,043 rooms (not including the Signature hotel-condo development) on almost 92 acres. At the end of its current Palazzo Tower build-out, The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino will expand from 4,027 guest rooms to 7,052 on approximately 60 acres.

Attorney Greg Borgel, representing Wimar Landco, was of the impression that the casino proper would escape Columbia Sussex's wrecking ball and said the resort would stay open throughout construction. "There is no intention to close the current property at all," Borgel said, but a Clark County planner confirmed that the casino would be demolished.

According to Planning Commission documents, the Island and Paradise towers will both be merged into much larger, new towers. The Paradise Tower (380 rooms, following renovation) will become an adjunct to a 3,170-room Tropicana Tower. A reworked, 542-room Island Tower would be combined with a proposed South Hotel Tower of 34 floors and 2,456 hotel rooms. "That's one of the higher densities that's come along," Borgel said of the proposed crush of hotel rooms, "but that's the direction everything is going" along the Strip.

The planned resort condos will be sequestered in a 33-floor Northwest Tower, standing as much as 461 feet tall. It would be complemented by a 34-story, 1,728-hotel room Northeast Tower, for a total of six towers on the South Strip acreage, much of which is currently occupied by low-rise motel structures.

Thanks to David McKee

Low Rollers Guide to Las Vegas

If hotel rooms in Las Vegas seem outrageously expensive, we have only ourselves to blame.

We just can't get enough of Sin City; once the figures are in, Vegas may count more than 38.6 million visitors in 2006. That's good news for Vegas businesses. For people visiting Vegas, that's really bad news because finding an affordable room is about as likely as hitting a royal flush at video poker. That's not to say it can't be done. Here's a rundown on some hotel deals — defined as a good night's rest for less than $200 a night — plus some no- and low-cost deals on entertainment and food (see accompanying story).

Some caveats on the cheap stays:

First, you won't be staying in the Bellagio or the Wynn, two of Vegas' more luxurious casino hotels.

Second, you won't have a view of the Las Vegas Strip from the 58th floor. The more budget-oriented hotels don't have a 58th floor.

Third, the good-deal hotels aren't always the most convenient to the Strip (but you can always get a $5 day pass for the Deuce bus, which shuttles around the Strip and beyond). To those caveats, here's another major one: Depending on when you head to Vegas, your hotel room will either mirror the city's average daily rate of $119 or far exceed it.

The city ordinarily enjoys more than 90 percent occupancy rates, which can make rooms pricey, and when there's a big convention in town — say, the Consumer Electronics Show this week that is expected to attract 150,000 people — you're going to feel the pinch. And it's going to hurt.

To get better deals on rooms, go to Vegas midweek. Avoid holidays. And avoid college-break periods.

Here's a rundown on some hotels that won't bust the budget, based on overnight stays in November:

Artisan Hotel & Spa

1501 W. Sahara Ave.; 800-554-4092,

The family-owned 64-room Artisan, which calls itself Las Vegas' first "small, luxurious, non-gaming boutique hotel," has some bizarre touches. For starters, there's the wall-to-ceiling art. Each guest room is named for an artist whose works (reproductions) hang there. Room 522 was the Kazimir Malevich Suite (a Russian abstract artist). It was all black and brown.

The Artisan calls itself the Artisan Hotel & Spa, but when asked directions to the spa, the desk clerk said, "It isn't built yet."

This isn't a family destination, unless you're the Addams family.

Price paid: $198.61, including tax.

Parking: $6.50.

Amenities: Restaurant, room service, free WiFi throughout, outdoor pool, free breakfast, air conditioning, all nonsmoking rooms.

Pros: Complimentary wine hour in lobby. The 24-hour lounge is a draw, with live music on Wednesdays and Saturdays and a $19.95 Sunday jazz champagne brunch.

Cons: Rooms overlooking the oh-so-close freeway where it meets busy West Sahara Avenue are so noisy even the drone of the air conditioner doesn't help. Neighborhood is gritty. Bathroom was poorly lighted and water flow inadequate. Hotel is a mile from the Strip, and not a pedestrian-friendly mile.

Binion's Horseshoe Hotel and Casino

128 E. Fremont St; 800-937-6537,

Binion's, a 366-room downtown hotel, is a throwback (not always nicely) to the Vegas hotel rooms of the past.

Remember when people smoked and sometimes burned the furniture with their cigarettes? Check. Remember the mauves and turquoise and sea-foam greens of an '80s dental-office waiting room? Check. Remember when bathrooms were so tiny that the doors had stoppers about knee high to keep them from smashing into the toilet? Check. You'll find all that in some Binion's rooms. Yet the king bed was comfy and the Fremont Street Experience was right out the window.

True, there was a woman crawling around on the floor in the hallway. Still, a room for less than $90 a night in Vegas is something to get down on your knees for.

Price paid: $87.69, including tax.

Parking: Free.

Amenities: Restaurant, rooftop pool, room service.

Pros: In the heart of downtown, a more navigable place than the Strip. No huge casino lobby/maze to walk through.

Cons: The room decor was dated, and the TV was so old it could have been a museum piece.

Carriage House

105 E. Harmon Ave.; 800-221-2301,

If you want to be close to the action, Carriage House occupies a sweet off-Strip spot. MGM's green glow is within sight, the fake rainstorms of Aladdin's Desert Passage shopping arcade are across the street and the roar of engines at Harley-Davidson Cafe is just a block away.

When the glitter and noise of the casinos annoy instead of invigorate, Carriage House's location is a plus, because the nine-story "all-suite hotel," as it bills itself, is far enough away to allow recuperation in a soothing room whose beige and pastels are easy on the eyes.

Technically, the 30-year-old Carriage House is a time-share property, said manager Amy Lowell. But it typically rents out 30 percent of its 155 rooms to the public, she said.

The smallest is a 300-square-foot studio with a king-size bed and kitchenette. The hotel's biggest rooms, about 700 square feet, contain a full-size kitchen, living room and separate bedroom.

Price paid: $158, including tax. Rates for studio $89-$145. Larger rooms to $119-$185, excluding tax.

Parking: Free.

Amenities: Fitness center, tennis court, pool, whirlpool, hair dryer, full-size iron and board, stocked kitchens or kitchenette, large closets and in-room safe. Coin-operated washing machines.

Pros: Secure building that's locked at night. Guests need a key card to enter building and activate elevators. Within walking distance of some of the Strip's finest casinos.

Cons: The hotel is sandwiched between two towering, high-profile properties. To the east, you'll see the cranes and construction of the 40-story MGM Grand towers. In the studio, the bathroom, with tub and toilet, is tiny.

Hooters Casino Hotel

115 E. Tropicana Ave.; (866) 584-6687,

This is the sort of post-collegiate playpen, a loud, lively and intentionally tacky casino-hotel.

Hooters Casino, open since February (next door to the Tropicana), is trying to tap into the chain's reputation for sports and leering fun. In the bawdy context of Vegas, however, it seems almost sweet and all-American. The Hooters girls might wear more clothes than any other barmaids in town.

Rooms in the 700-room hotel are casual — orange lampshades, anyone? — and beds are comfortable enough. Still, the ultra-casual Hooters Casino Hotel isn't for everyone. But, then, neither is Vegas.

Price paid: $165.79, including tax.

Parking: Free.

Amenities: 24-hour room service, spa, fitness center, poolside bar.

Pros: Relatively small as casino hotels go. Nearly walking distance to the airport, free easy-in, easy-out parking.

Cons: The congested casino floor is tough to navigate. Good luck finding the elevator to your room after a few drinks. The parking garage is not well-marked. Yes, it's tacky. That's the point.

South Point Hotel Casino

9777 Las Vegas Blvd. S.; 866-796-7111,

South Point (until just recently, it was called South Coast), advertises itself as "the gateway" to Las Vegas, but it is actually a 20-minute drive south of the Strip. It's too far from the action, and it's a $25 cab ride to get there. But it's a great deal. It has an 80,000-square-foot casino with a 25-story hotel tower; rooms are big and plush; food is cheap; and the amenities are those usually found in pricier hotel rooms — including 42-inch plasma screen TVs, plush bedding and free wireless Internet.

Price paid: $162.41, including tax.

Parking: Free.

Amenities: Casino, room service, six restaurants, business center, fitness center and spa, child-care facility.

Pros: Inexpensive and well-maintained. Large casino on site features inexpensive food. (A 16-ounce T-bone or 10-ounce prime rib dinner is $9.95.)

Cons: Five miles from the Strip, but a free shuttle runs from hotel to airport and the Strip (it stops at Mandalay Bay) from 6 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. daily.

Thanks to The Seattle Times

Society of Seven to Play through 2007 at the Flamingo

The Society of Seven, a popular Las Vegas attraction with roots in Waikiki, has extended its contract with the Flamingo hotel through Jan. 1, 2008.

The group, led by Tony Ruivivar, has emerged as a major matinee attraction in the gambling capital. The SOS, featuring vocalist Lani Misalucha, do shows at 3 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays in the Flamingo's showroom.

In November, the SOS became the first Asian American performers to receive a star on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars, an award widely acknowledged in the Asian community. The group joined the Flamingo roster in 2006 but previously performed at Bally's, following a 30-plus-year run at the Main Showroom of the Outrigger Waikiki hotel. "The group's unique blend of music and comedy delights audiences every afternoon and is unmatched on the strip," said Don Marrandino, president of the Flamingo Las Vegas, in a prepared statement.

Thanks to Wayne Harada

American Idol's Randy Jackson to Produce Vegas Show?

Long before becoming a judge on the interminable "American Idol," Randy Jackson briefly played bass with Journey.

Today he's playing deal maker with the Las Vegas Hilton.

Recently Jackson and Hilton Executive Vice President Ken Ciancimino and their wives were spotted dining at the property, then they caught the Barry Manilow show at the Hilton Theater. It was more than a casual visit for all involved; the meeting was to discuss details of a Jackson-produced concert series that will be part of the Hilton's entertainment lineup early next year. Get the Top 10 Downloads at iTunes now

Although he worked on Mariah Carey's "Emancipation of Mimi" CD last year and played bass for her at the 2006 Grammy Awards (he was also onstage for the brief and bizarre appearance by Sly Stone), Jackson is not expected to perform at the Hilton. Instead, his role will be selecting artists and producing all shows in the headlining series, which will be scheduled during gaps in Manilow's schedule. Details on the Jackson series are still being finalized. Dawg.

Trivia time: What do Randy Jackson and Silverton mainstays Hootie and the Blowfish have in common? Answer: Randy Jackson's middle name is Darius; Hootie is fronted by Darius Rucker.

Thanks to John Katsilometes

Details on 2007 WSOP Coming Soon

In October, 2006, Harrah's announced the 2007 WSOP would begin on June 1 with the Main Event final table schedule to kick off on July 17. But other event details have not been announced, putting many players looking to schedule summer Las Vegas accommodations on standby. "There have to be some logistics worked out and that will take a few more weeks," said Nolan Dalla, Media Director for the World Series of Poker. "You (players) can expect something by mid to late part of this month."

Dalla said WSOP officials are still ironing out the exact number of tournaments hosted this summer at the Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino. "There may be quite an increase," Dalla said. "There is also a possibility that the number will increase by just a few."

Harrah's sale to two private-equity firms has nothing to do with the delay, Dalla says. Business "continues as usual," Dalla added.

The WSOP will begin much earlier than last year's tournaments to avoid television conflicts with post-season major league baseball, WSOP spokesperson Gary Thompson said. ESPN Poker Club Gear...only at ESPNshop.com! Players can expect the entire tournament series to be completed by the end of July.

Thanks to Ryan McLane