VEGAS INC Magazine - Latest Las Vegas business news, features and commentaries about gaming, tourism, real estate and more
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the strip Casino companies encouraging customers to head outside By Ed Komenda staff writer It's not often casinos dump truckloads of cash into projects that take customers out of buildings and put them under the sun. But that's the idea behind MGM Resorts International's new $100 million plan to transform land along the Strip between New York-New York and the Monte Carlo into an outdoor plaza and mall, anchored by shops, restaurants and a park. The project smashes the long-held belief that resort operators want people to stay inside, get lost in a maze of games, bask in artificial light and landscapes, and spend more money along the way. Experts say MGM's park is part of a growing trend that's pushing the business model out of the casino and into the community. "Clearly, this shows the recognition of and move toward open spaces and navigability," said Bo Bernhard, a fifthgeneration Las Vegan and director of UNLV's International Gaming Institute. "Openness wins." Research has shown casino patrons don't like feeling shut in. In a random sample of Las Vegas slot players in 2003, UNLV mathematician courtesy of mgm resorts international welcome outside: An artist's rendering depicts the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Rue de Monte Carlo after a $100 million overhaul of the area. Tony Lucas found that players were more satisfied in areas that were easier to navigate. "People don't want to feel trapped," Bernhard said. "When was the last time you felt frustrated with a design or layout of a place and were immediately inclined to consume more there?" Revenue on riverboats illustrates the point, too. The most secluded games, located on the boats' upper decks, typically attract the lowest revenue because people want to be around other people. Resort executives are taking heed. "Today's customer wants to be out in the open and wants to be independent," said Jim Murren, MGM Resorts' CEO. "They don't want to be told what to do. They don't want to be captured and trapped in any kind of resort." Take a peek at artist renderings of the development and you'll notice the MGM project resembles more of a downtown neighborhood than a thoroughfare be- tween resorts. In the coming weeks, the company expects to turn the crowded sidewalk between New York-New York and the Monte Carlo into a tree-dotted plaza lined with benches, food trucks and shops. Steps away from those stores, the replica of the Brooklyn Bridge will remain. Coming attractions will include a beer garden a high-end burger restaurant. Then, there's the plaza, intended as a transitional space leading to a 20,000seat arena behind the two casinos. MGM isn't alone. Caesars Entertainment has long planned to open the Linq, an outdoor shopping, dining and entertainment promenade between the Flamingo and Quad anchored by a 550-foot-tall observation wheel. On the 63rd floor of Encore, five private gaming parlors offer floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing natural light to pour into the rooms. And the Cosmopolitan's Boulevard Pool has become a popular stop for concertgoers who once had to drive to Fremont Street to catch an outdoor show. The resort's open-air pool overlooks the heart of the Strip and uses a communal atmosphere to attract people to its movie nights and cookouts. gaming being first with online poker has both perks and pitfalls By Ed Komenda staff writer The race to roll out the first legal, real-money poker website in the United States is over — and it ended in Nevada. Station Casinos has launched a trial of UltimatePoker.com, which allows in-state gamblers to play online poker from computers or mobile devices. "It's a new day in online gaming," Ultimate Poker Chairman and Founder Tom Breitling said. "Nevada is first, and Nevada should be proud." For both the state and Station, it's a resounding victory — with a burden. The world will be watching to see whether Station can draw gamblers to | 1 3 M AY 2 0 1 3 20130513_VI07_F.indd 7 | its new site and whether Nevada can successfully set the standard for online poker operations in the United States. Offerings include Texas hold 'em, single-table cash games and multi-table tournaments. Buy-ins range from a penny to $100. To play, gamblers deposit money into an online account and log onto the site, which lists open tables and the number of players sitting at each. Players can cash in winnings at any Station casinos. The appearance and mechanics of Ultimate Poker resembles most free poker sites, including PokerStars.com, but there's one major difference: Liquidity, a fancy term for player traffic. Since Nevada law requires online gamblers to bet from within the state only, the pool of potential players is limited. Nevada has a population of only 2.8 million. To help boost traffic, Ultimate Poker will allow tourists who plan to visit Nevada to create an account before they arrive. Once they're in state, they can legally play poker online — a phenomenon industry officials have dubbed "poker tourism." Nevada attracts more than 47 million visitors a year. Company and state officials hope to serve as an example to other states con- sidering Internet gaming. "What Nevada is showing is proof of concept," said Tony Cabot, an Internet gaming expert and lawyer for Ultimate Poker. "Once you can show a concept works, it takes away a bit of the uncertainty around it." Officials say the gaming system is equipped with law enforcement tools to prevent identity theft and underage gambling, some of the major concerns surrounding Internet gambling. If all goes well, a good showing from Ultimate Poker could lead to interstate compacts that would expand online gaming. 7 5/9/13 2:16:12 PM