Las Vegas Casino Boom Continues

[dgridley]

Americans — and an increasing number of foreigners — can’t seem to get enough of Las Vegas. The current construction craze is driven by a 95 percent weekend occupancy rate — and rates that approach 100 percent at the city’s newer properties. Last year, even the weekday rate fell just shy of 90 percent, partly because of the city’s success in positioning itself as an attractive convention destination.

Fueling the current boom as well are the enticing riches to be made catering to a new kind of guest: aging boomers entering the empty-nest phase of their free-spending lives.

And contrary to some predictions, the opening of American Indian casinos and other gambling outposts in more than 30 states has not hurt Las Vegas.

Far from it. The smaller, more prosaic gambling halls stretched across the country have actually helped the boom, casino executives say, serving as a kind of a feeder system for Las Vegas as people gain a taste for gambling and then aspire to a touch of the big time. The soaring popularity of poker has also helped drive growth as the game has drawn a younger crowd to the city.

“I suppose one day Las Vegas will reach its limit,” said Anthony Curtis, president of LasVegasAdvisor.com, a local travel site. “But that day is nowhere in sight.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/24/b...&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=print

With over 151,000 hotel rooms in Vegas and more "bigger & better" casinos being built to draw in gamblers, it seems like this is just the beginning of the Golden Age in Las Vegas.

 

[arejayell]

Americans — and an increasing number of foreigners — can’t seem to get enough of Las Vegas. The current construction craze is driven by a 95 percent weekend occupancy rate — and rates that approach 100 percent at the city’s newer properties. Last year, even the weekday rate fell just shy of 90 percent, partly because of the city’s success in positioning itself as an attractive convention destination.

Fueling the current boom as well are the enticing riches to be made catering to a new kind of guest: aging boomers entering the empty-nest phase of their free-spending lives.

And contrary to some predictions, the opening of American Indian casinos and other gambling outposts in more than 30 states has not hurt Las Vegas.

Far from it. The smaller, more prosaic gambling halls stretched across the country have actually helped the boom, casino executives say, serving as a kind of a feeder system for Las Vegas as people gain a taste for gambling and then aspire to a touch of the big time. The soaring popularity of poker has also helped drive growth as the game has drawn a younger crowd to the city.

“I suppose one day Las Vegas will reach its limit,” said Anthony Curtis, president of LasVegasAdvisor.com, a local travel site. “But that day is nowhere in sight.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/24/b...&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=print

With over 151,000 hotel rooms in Vegas and more "bigger & better" casinos being built to draw in gamblers, it seems like this is just the beginning of the Golden Age in Las Vegas.

Yeap! The baby boomers are coming out here in the masses. We have a plethora of communities that are 55+ and we have one 1 block away from my house, which is really nice because when you have the 55+ communities its quiet, no cops, no nothing..

And also downtown and around the strip are places setup just for the 55+

And this year has been the year of the convention, you name it they had there convention here. My fav was the glassblowing convention, some pretty interesting stuff there.

 

[The Equivocate]

I can guarantee Las Vegas has an NFL team within the next 5 years and and NBA and possibly MLB to follow.

 

[dgridley]

And I'll bet you're right about that prediction..

I can guarantee Las Vegas has an NFL team within the next 5 years and and NBA and possibly MLB to follow.

 

[commes]

I can guarantee Las Vegas has an NFL team within the next 5 years and and NBA and possibly MLB to follow.

I'm actually somewhat surprised that they don't have one now, but then again, its more of a business city then anything else. But then again there is a lot of money in Vegas, so I'm sure theres a ton of people who would want to sponsor such sports team.

I dont particularly agree with them building so much more, because, no offence to anyone here if you are a baby boomer, but they arent gonig to be around in 25-40 years, so what are they gonig to do then?As then theres going to be a lot of empty csinos, jsut like theres starting to be a lot of empty job positions as the boomers come out of the work force. Sure 25 years may be long, but honestly, the baby boomers arent gonig to gamble till there 80, the average person will probably stop in about 5-10 years.

 

[arejayell]

I can guarantee Las Vegas has an NFL team within the next 5 years and and NBA and possibly MLB to follow.

You know it, thats a big issue I just saw on the local cable channel @ the city councel meetings.

Plus the news keeps talking about it, along with the revamp of a BIG civic center that will be done in 2 or 3 years, which by then will most likely have a team to fill that space

I could not even imagine the crowds.

Just a few weeks ago they had the 1st grand prix downtown.. Oh boy that was almost as nuts as the NBA weekend

 

[Michelle]

Big appeal to alot of brits :tu:

I would love to visit here and hopefully one day I will

 

[bizwiz]

Gambling is good business since it very addicting.