The gold of the Silver State

Nevada is called the Silver State, but you can still find gold here... :-) Check out our Studying at UNLV blog for pics of UNLV Rebels cheerleaders.

Las Vegas according to the New York Times

Well, it's not a hot news (I saw these articles while I was on holidays in Hawaii) but it's still a very interesting eye on Vegas. The NY Times, which I consider the most useful and interesting newspaper (after the Las Vegas Sun and the Las Vegas Review), published for an entire week a serie of interview with people who moved to Vegas. See why they came, what they got, why they stayed. *Registration to the NY Times is free but required to read these articles*.

Quoted from the site: "Las Vegas is at the center of a population boom that has transformed the American desert over the last three decades. This series will examine what a few typical dreamers have found in this place of unmatched opportunity and extreme dysfunction".

Index of NY Times articles:
Crossing the Border Into the Middle Class In Las Vegas, unlike most U.S. cities, busboys, dishwashers and janitors can easily gain a foothold in the middle class.

The Pied Piper of Las Vegas Seems to Have Perfect Pitch In Las Vegas, the job of mythmaker falls to Billy Vassiliadis, adman, huckster, deal maker and fixer extraordinaire.

A Life as a Live! Nude! Girl! Has a Few Strings Attached HOT! :-)

Other articles and interesting interactive features on http://www.nytimes.com/pages/national/nationalspecial3/

Casino business: an offer you cannot refuse :-)

If you are in the gaming business and you are in Vegas in early October, don't miss CAC 2004. I look forward to meeting you there and have a chat with you! BTW, I am going to be a speaker there...(http://www.cac2004.com/speakers-lasvegas-2004.php)

CAC is an industry event that covers marketing and advertising of gaming business, and includes a focus on both internet and traditional marketing. The next event is at the Excalibur Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, on October 3-4 2004.

Las Vegas vs. cities with casinos

Several cities tried to imitate Las Vegas. I don't want to rewrite sociological and economical studies which were made on this topic, so I'll go straight to the point.

Las Vegas is the American city. It's the youngest example of the gold rush. Las Vegas stands from the middle of the desert, it's constatly reiventing itself (well, Las Vegan as Steve Wynn are reshaping it day by day), it's shining and it's profitable. Las Vegas is possible only here and nowhere else in the world, maybe even in US.

Think about Atlantic City. If you were there, you spot the difference in a second. Atlantic City was the first area to legalize commercial gambling outside Nevada. But Las Vegas is younger than its NJ counterpart: the Strip has been redesigned during the '90s and great projects are coming soon, while Atlantic City Boardwalk is almost '80s style.

Think about European casinos. Montecarlo, Nice: gorgeus casinos, but they are stucked in the "ancient regime". Las Vegas casinos compete to host you: comps, low cost - rich buffets, singing stars and shining clothes. French casinos often require you to dress-to-impress your fellow players, otherwise you are left in a box-sized room with slots and you cannot even see the real action.

Think about the scent of freedom you find all around Vegas. There's something for everyone. If you are a highroller and you like to astonish the vips with your tuxedo, you can go to exclusives card rooms; if you want to put your baseball cap on and throw hot dices, just go to a craps table. You can choose what to do, where to do, with whom to do. You can even bet on sport events while waiting to delight yourself from one buffet to the next!

If you have already visited a city with casinos, give a try to Vegas. You'll miss the Strip when you are back home but - ehy - you had the time of your life and you may even get famous sharing your pics with other LVConfidential.com readers! :-)

About your guide in Vegas

Heloooooo Vegas!

Today, I am proud to talk about the second hottest topic in my life (the first being Vegas, of course): myself!

I decided to start this blog (a.k.a.: live journal. A.k.a.: the latest, brand new Internet version of egocentric vanity :-) to share my living experience in Las Vegas - Sin City.

I talk about gaming/gambling in Las Vegas because that's a topic I studied quite for a long time, both from a practical and mathematical point of view.

I talk about entertainment in Vegas, because what happens here stays here so... give it a try!

I talk about starting and running a business in Vegas, because I am a businessman - well, the most voted, #1 businessman selected by an undisclosed jury :-)

I talk about studying at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, because here we have the best University for people seriously interested in gaming and hospitality studies. There are other reasons to study here, find them out keeping an eye on the UNLV (unofficial) blog.

Everyone talk about Vegas, we see it on TV almost 24/7. And we can't simply get enough of Vegas, so stay tuned and see what's hot here! I consider your (and mine) time very valuable, so I talk about what's hot, and not what's not. I love your feedback, the same for the friends and freelancers collaborating with me. You, them, me and this wonderful miracle in the desert, we are the real LVConfidential.com!