Daily Archives: March 21, 2021

Bounty programs: Ineffective in the war on money laundering – The Conversation CA

Posted: March 21, 2021 at 5:23 pm

Much like the war on terrorism and the war on drugs, the politics of law-making around the war on money laundering could easily be co-opted to impose Orwellian measures that risk eroding our liberties.

As the political hysteria over money laundering reaches its pinnacle, and as I have pointed out before, policy-makers are resorting to measures, oftentimes first seen in the United States, that would result in serious invasions of privacy.

Now, there is a growing push to import another Americanism into the Canadian anti-money laundering strategy: a whistleblower incentive program that would amount to bounty hunting for violations.

Implementing a program such as this would not only be unfair, it would be fundamentally ineffective.

The U.S. has had bounty hunting programs for banking law violations for some time, presented under the guise of whistleblower protections. Most notably under the Dodd-Frank Act, which encompassed a series of reforms brought about to better regulate Wall Street after the 2008 financial crisis.

An enhanced bounty program for anti-money laundering violations came into effect this January with the passage of the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA). It was included as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, an omnibus bill that passed in December 2020 with bipartisan support, despite former President Trumps veto.

Under the new AMLA, a whistleblower that reports violations of anti-money laundering laws to the government that results in an enforcement action of more than US$1 million (about C$1.3 million) is entitled to a reward, calculated as a percentage of the money collected by the state.

Under Dodd-Frank, these rewards were capped at US$150,000; but the new AMLA has no cap. Instead, whistleblowers receive a reward of up to 30 per cent of the enforcement action. Given the magnitude of some recent money laundering scandals, whistleblowers could receive hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars.

The AMLA also expands the scope of who may receive a reward to people that were ineligible under Dodd-Frank, such as internal auditors, lawyers or compliance officers people whose job it is to find and correct behaviour before it turns into misconduct. It also protects whistleblowers from retaliation against their employers.

Being our closest ally and trading partner, what happens in the U.S. inevitably influences Canada, and the anti-money laundering bounty hunter program is no exception.

The Ontario Securities Commission has already implemented a similar program and recently made its first payments under the scheme, totalling $7.5 million. Likewise, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) has created a bounty program for offshore tax cheating, called the Offshore Tax Informant Program, which offers informants up to 15 per cent of the tax collected relating to the non-compliance they report.

With recent calls to enhance whistleblower protections in this country, it is only a matter of time before we see more programs like this across Canada.

At first glance, these programs might seem attractive. But they suffer from three fundamental flaws.

First, they are completely reactionary, only rewarding the reporting of misconduct after it has occurred. This means that an employee who finds out about potential misconduct and does nothing, but reports it to the government later, gets a reward. Whereas an employee who stops misconduct from happening, gets nothing. This underscores that when you do things right, people wont be sure youve done anything at all.

Second, research suggests that financial incentives like these may actually decrease whistleblowing, which upends its entire purpose.

Third, and most troublingly, as Ive raised previously in relation to the CRAs offshore tax informant program, bounty programs like this create a strong incentive to provide misleading or unreliable information in the hopes of receiving an award.

It has long been understood in the criminal law context that information provided based on the hope of gaining an award or advantage particularly from someone who may themselves be implicated in the wrongdoing is unreliable. This lesson was only learned in the criminal law sphere after countless wrongful convictions.

Anti-money laundering policy-makers would be wise to look to these unfortunate experiences before extending a fundamentally flawed structure to yet another facet of our legal system.

Bounty programs: Ineffective in the war on money laundering - The Conversation CA

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Billie Holiday was the godmother of civil rights: Andra Day on playing the first lady of blues – VOGUE India

Posted: at 5:23 pm

During the film, we witness Holidays battle with addiction as a consequence of the abuse she experienced at the hands of the men in her life, contrasted by a tender, albeit hypothetical, relationship that unfolds with Jimmy Fletcher (Trevante Rhodes), an undercover FBN agent sent to spy on her. The script, based on a chapter from Johann Haris book Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugs (Bloomsbury, 2015), was written by the Pulitzer-winning playwright Suzan-Lori Parksa student of literary legend James Baldwin. Its a great lesson in why women telling womens, particularly Black women telling Black womens stories, is imperative, explains Day. No one else will see and understand it with such depth and nuance.

Here, the 36-year-old actor describes how she got to the heart of Holiday in order to authentically embody her.

Your stage name is partly inspired by Holiday's nickname, Lady Day. Where did you first encounter her music and how has she influenced you as an artist?

My musical theatre instructor suggested I listened to Billie Holiday when I was 11 and looking for singers to study. I remember thinking, Ugh, I don't want to study a male singerI don't know who this dude Billy Holiday is. [laughs] Of course, when I heard Sugar, I knew Billie was a woman. Her voice, her tone, her phrasing was nothing like the great singers I was used to such as Whitney Houston, Aretha [Franklin], Gladys [Knight], Patti [LaBelle] or Chaka [Khan]. It reminded me of a train thats about to come off the tracks, but never quite does. From then on, I was hooked.

When did you learn about Holiday being persecuted by the FBN and what was happening in your own life at that time?

I was 19 or 20 when I really understood how the government tried to silence her. I was reconciling being a Black woman in the US, and through reading about and listening to Billie, I realised there had been multiple wars on drugs. We still have drugs, but we dont have Billie Holiday. We still have drugs, but we dont have [civil-rights activist] Medgar Evers or any of these great Black influencers. And then it crystallises: the war on drugs is a war on us. The war on drugs was crafted to take Billie down.

Blood on the leaves, blood at the root, always stood out to me. Damu means blood in Swahili and in my song I put damu at these roots because I saw it as life soaking into the roots of the trees, fertilising, strengthening and creating healthy fruit. Its about connecting the diaspora.

What do you think are the most widespread misconceptions of Holiday?

I hate it when people say she was a complicated figure because that's a polite way of saying she was difficult or troubled. What the hell is complicated about her? She was a Black queer woman trying to live peacefully and freely and truthfully. But unfortunately, she was living in the 1920s to 1950s, so its really the era that was complicated. The government going after Billie for singing Strange Fruit; men stealing from and physically abusing her; being raped at 14; her father dying [as a result] of Jim Crow lawsthats complicated!

Meeting people in recovery from addiction was an important part of your character study. What did you learn from this experience?

When we talk about drugs, everyone thinks of parties, but with heroin, you're trying to escape trauma. From spending time with recovering addicts, I learned that youre trying to get well; youre trying to put the battery in your back so, in Billies case, she could go on stage and sing. Theres a line in the movie where she says, [in reference to Strange Fruit] Ive got to be pretty high to sing that one. Its no wonder she needed some kind of assistance. Drug addiction needs to be a mental health conversation.

Billie Holiday was the godmother of civil rights: Andra Day on playing the first lady of blues - VOGUE India

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Las Vegas Reopening Dates: Casinos, Restaurants …

Posted: at 5:20 pm

Last Updated on March 18, 2021

Update March 15: As promised by Governor Sisolak, most establishments can now reopen at 50% capacity. These include:

Places still closed until May 1:

Update March 6, 2021: Governor Sisolak adjusts the space between performers and audience members from 25 ft to 6 ft if performers are wearing masks, and 12 ft unmasked.

This allows many smaller shows to reopen now with that 25 ft gutter removed! Check out the shows reopening chart below.

Update February 13, 2021: Las Vegas restaurants and bars can increase capacity to 35% starting on Feb 15, 2021.

Outdoor dining can fully reopen and reservations are no longer required. The number of diners per table will increase from 4 to 6 people per table.

Gatherings will increase from 35% capacity or 100 people, whichever is lower starting on February 15, 2021.

On March 15, restaurants and bars will expand to 50% capacity. The governor will allow larger public gatherings expanded to 250 people or 50% capacity on March 15, 2021.

Adult entertainment establishments, nightclubs, day clubs, and brothels will remain closed until at least May 1.

Update January 2021: Governor Sisolak has extended its 50-person limit on show audiences.

Las Vegas is a city known for its bright lights and vibrant energy. This all came to a halt this past March when, per state orders, the Las Vegas Strip was closed down due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Recently, after thanking Nevadans for doing an incredible job of flattening the curve, Las Vegas Governor, Steve Sisolak, has officially announced the Las Vegas reopening after 78 long days.

This means that while some of your favorite Vegas destinations will be reopening, not all of them will open their doors just yet. It also means that you can expect some changes in your experience as safety measures and protocols are put in place to protect both guests and staff at your favorite Vegas destinations.

Heres a rundown of what is open in Las Vegas, and what to expect when you visit.

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Mark Savard Comedy Hypnosis

PPE RequiredSocial & Physical Distancing

Temperature Screens

PPE RequiredSocial & Physical Distancing

Temperature Screens

PPE RequiredSocial & Physical Distancing

Las Vegas Live Comedy Club

PPE RequiredSocial & Physical Distancing

Physical & Social DistancingPPE ProvidedTemperature Screens

PPE RequiredSocial & Physical Distancing

The Axis & Planet Hollywood

PPE RequiredSocial & Physical Distancing

The Ultimate Variety Show

PPE RequiredSocial & Physical Distancing

Physical & Social DistancingPPE RequiredTemperature Screens

PPE RequiredSocial & Physical Distancing

Physical & Social DistancingPPE RequiredTemperature Screens

Brad Garretts Comedy Club

Physical & Social DistancingPPE RequiredTemperature Screens

Alexis Park All Suite Resort

PPE RequiredSocial & Physical Distancing

Australia's Thunder From Down Under

Physical & Social DistancingPPE RequiredTemperature Screens

PPE RequiredSocial & Physical Distancing

Physical & Social DistancingPPE RequiredTemperature Screens

Alexis Park All Suite Resort

PPE RequiredSocial & Physical Distancing

Alexis Park All Suite Resort

PPE RequiredSocial & Physical Distancing

Alain Nu - The Man Who Knows

Alexis Park All Suite Resort

PPE RequiredSocial & Physical Distancing

Amazing Magic with Tommy Wind

Alexis Park All Suite Resort

PPE RequiredSocial & Physical Distancing

Physical & Social DistancingPPE RequiredTemperature Screens

PPE RequiredSocial & Physical DistancingHotel

PPE RequiredSocial & Physical Distancing

Physical & Social DistancingPPE RequiredTemperature Screens

Physical & Social DistancingPPE ProvidedTemperature Screens

Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man

Mac King Comedy Magic Show

Friends the Musical Parody

Jimmy Kimmels Comedy Club

Paranormal Mind Reading Magic

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Vegas and casino are words that are practically synonymous with each other, and Las Vegas casinos reopening is a huge event that many have been waiting for. Its important to note that not all casinos will be opening on the first day of Phase 2, & the ones that are reopening immediately already have plans in place to protect your health and safety.

While some safety measures are mandated under Phase 2 of the reopening plan, some casinos have taken it a step further by implementing their own safety plans that include additional measures.

If youre visiting several casinos during your stay or visit to the strip, being prepared and knowing what to expect at each location will make your time in Las Vegas casinos more enjoyable.

In true Vegas style, Downtown casinos opened in a massive celebration with all casinos on Fremont Street turning on the lights at 12:01am on June 4, with the exception of Binions, who opens at 10am.

The Fremont Street Experience had a 144-hour countdown to the reopening at 12:01am.

PPE RequiredSocial & Physical Distancing

Physical & Social DistancingPPE RequiredTemperature Screens

Physical & Social DistancingPPE ProvidedTemperature Screens

MGM Resorts first openings include the Bellagio, MGM Grand, New York New York, and the Signature at MGM Grand. As a long-standing icon in Vegas culture, MGM Casino Resorts takes one of the most thorough approaches to their casino reopenings with their Seven-Point Safety Plan.

PPE ProvidedSocial & Physical Distancing

Physical & Social DistancingPPE RequiredTemperature Screens

PPE ProvidedSocial & Physical Distancing

Las Vegas Reopening Dates: Casinos, Restaurants ...

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Las Vegas, After Its Latest Bust, Aims for Another Boom – The Wall Street Journal

Posted: at 5:20 pm

LAS VEGASInside a strip mall here, blackjack students practiced flipping cards onto tables empty of gamblers. Nearby, a few people leaned over a craps table, the thrill of the game replaced by quiet study as the dice rolled.

At CEG Dealer School, an academy for would-be casino dealers, the pipeline of workers aiming to join Las Vegass battered tourism economy is robust, even though the city has the highest unemployment rate of any major metro area in the U.S.

Las Vegas is slowly climbing out of a steep hole, lifted by tentative reopenings and the vaccine rollout. The Las Vegas areas unemployment rate was 10.5% on a seasonally adjusted basis in December, the latest month availablethe worst of any metropolitan area in the country with more than a million residents. Thats a major improvement since the rate hit 34.2% at its worst point last year. January figures are scheduled to be released on Friday.

The leisure and hospitality sector, which used to employ more than a quarter of the regions nonfarm workers, ground to a halt last spring. By January, there were roughly 30% fewer leisure and hospitality jobs here.

Yet laid-off workers are signing up for training at the dealer school, new casinos are opening and big entertainment events and conventions are slated for this summer. One of the Strips most valuable properties, the Venetian Las Vegas and related assets, was just sold for $6.25 billion to private-equity investors and a real-estate investment trust.

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Las Vegas, After Its Latest Bust, Aims for Another Boom - The Wall Street Journal

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Book authors venture to Las Vegas to meet the main subject of Classroom 15 – NRToday.com

Posted: at 5:20 pm

Smoke swirled lazily throughout the hazy, stale atmosphere of the MGM Grand Casino as the sounds of slot machine payouts and rowdy groups of bachelors flooded the room. One of the most famous hotel-casinos on the Strip, the colossal emerald building towers over most of Las Vegas Boulevard as it has for a couple of generations of revelers.

The smoke seeped through the automatic doors as throngs of tourists walked out and onto the Strip, immediately exposing themselves to the hot, arid desert air. The scene outside the hotel was an extension of the inside crowds and noise its a wonder anyone can live in this oven of a climate.

Of course, only a few of the people who live in Las Vegas reside along the infamous Strip. Suburbs surround the city, and thats where Janice Boyle and her husband live.

The ride to Janices was a calm, pleasant one as calm and pleasant as a drive through Las Vegas can be. Its easy to momentarily forget that there are places in Las Vegas beyond just the Strip, and that these places are lined with homes and families that look and act just like most cities and Americans.

The glitter and glamour of the Strip faded away as the road turned into one filled with residential homes, basketball hoops and AstroTurf front lawns. The Strips grandeur was replaced by a sense of idealized 1950s-style American domesticity, which must have provided a comforting transition from building bomb shelters during the hyper-tense Cold War era to the relaxed simplicity of post-Red Scare backyard barbecues and pool parties.

Her terra-cotta-roofed stucco home sits on the corner of her residential subdivision, with heat waves visibly radiating off the roof tiles. Janice and her husband live in Henderson, a suburb of Las Vegas that is already a sweltering 90 degrees mid-March.

Janices dogs are inside, barking at the undoubtedly threatening Jeep that dared pull up outside their house. Janice hushed the dogs and welcomed me to her home and memories.

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Book authors venture to Las Vegas to meet the main subject of Classroom 15 - NRToday.com

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NCAA Tournament by the odds: Vegas picks and preview of Sunday’s round of 32 – Las Vegas Sun

Posted: at 5:20 pm

Robert Franklin / AP

Oral Roberts players and coaches celebrate after beating Ohio State in a first-round game in the NCAA mens college basketball tournament, Friday, March 19, 2021, at Mackey Arena in West Lafayette,Ind.

By Case Keefer (contact)

Sunday, March 21, 2021 | 2 a.m.

Handicapping second-round games involving mid-major teams that pull off major first-round upsets is always a tricky equation.

Its even trickier this college basketball season given the diminished non-conference schedule, and therefore, fewer data points of where teams from other conferences fit in with each other.

Is Oral Roberts, which shocked Ohio State as 15-point underdogs, just a lot better than expected in general? Is the same true of North Texas, which dispatched Purdue as 7.5-point underdogs? Or was the betting market just too high on the Buckeyes and Boilermakers Big Ten Conference?

More evidence to use towards finding answers is coming today with the start of the round of 32. As far as Oral Roberts and North Texas, Im believing in one more than the other as they continue their tournament journeys today.

Read below for picks on all of Sundays round of 32 games, separated into three confidence categories and listed in rough order of confidence.

No. 1 seed Illinois -7 vs. No. 8 Loyola Chicago, over/under: 133.5. Loyola is no longer the cute underdog story trying to dismantle the powers at be. The Ramblers are one of the powers at be. Theyve graded out as one of the most efficient teams in the nation all season and should only be this big of an underdog to one team Gonzaga. Sell high on Illinois because its recent run has inflated this number beyond reason. Play: Loyola Chicago +7.

No. 3 seed Arkansas +1.5 vs. No. 6 seed Texas Tech, over/under: 140.5. Texas Tech has gotten by all year by being a well-coached team that doesnt make a lot of mistakes. Now the Red Raiders have to take on a Razorbacks team thats well-coached, doesnt make a lot of mistakes and has a whole lot of talent. Because they werent fully healthy until late in the year, Arkansas doesnt get the credit for the caliber of players on its roster. The Razorbacks should be the favorite here. Play: Arkansas +1.5.

No. 5 seed Villanova -6.5 vs. No. 13 seed North Texas, over/under: 126.5. North Texas record may not have indicated as much but its more dangerous than Winthrop, and thats not revisionist history based on what happened in the round of 64. Villanova handled Winthrop but not all that convincingly, ultimately pulling away for a 73-63 win and cover as 6.5-point favorites. Against better competition today, the Wildcats shouldnt be favored by the same amount. Play: North Texas +6.5.

No. 1 seed Baylor -6.5 vs. No. 9 seed Wisconsin, over/under: 137.5. Lets hope Wisconsin saved some baskets after shooting North Carolina out of Mackey Arena in an 85-62 stomping on Friday. As long as the Badgers dont go completely cold on offense a real concern with this team they are set up to give the Bears all they can handle. Wisconsins defense, pace and smarts should frustrate Baylor. The opening line of -5.5 seemed closer to the true price. Play: Wisconsin +6.5.

No. 3 seed West Virginia -3.5 vs. No. 11 seed Syracuse, over/under: 148. If this number had stayed on 3 instead of swelling immediately, this would be higher up on the list. The half-point makes it a bit harder, but the Mountaineers remain the only way to look. Syracuse played its best game of the season in swallowing up San Diego State defensively and hitting seemingly every shot in a 78-62 win as 3-point underdogs. Thats not a true reflection of the Orange; this is a team thats gone cold on both sides regularly throughout the season. West Virginia came out sluggish in its 84-67 win over Morehead State as 13-point favorites but got into rhythm in the second half a rhythm that will be too much for the Orange if the Mountaineers can carry it over. Lean: West Virginia -3.5.

No. 7 seed Florida -8 vs. No. 15 seed Oral Roberts, over/under: 148. Ohio State didnt have the defensive pieces to adjust effectively to the Kevin Obanor-led Oral Roberts onslaught on Friday. Florida will on Sunday. The Gators have their issues but theyve been consistently tough to score on throughout the season. Oral Roberts defense leaves much to be desired, hence Ohio State nearly completing its comeback, with the Tre Mann-Colin Castelton duo likely taking advantage. Lean: Florida -8.

No. 2 seed Houston -8.5 vs. No. 10 seed Rutgers over/under: 132. On the one hand, Rutgers will slow this game down and at the least make it tough for Houston to cover a big number. On the other, Houston wants to play at that pace anyway and is better at it than anyone in the nation. Im not interested in betting against the Cougars unless their power rating elevates to a point where selling is the only option. Thats not the case here. Lean: Houston -8.5.

No. 4 seed Oklahoma State -6 vs. No. 12 seed Oregon State, over/under: 142. Even at its best, Oklahoma State hasnt blown out many opponents this year. The Cowboys dont have any wins as dominant as two of the Beavers last three 70-56 over Tennessee as 8.5-point underdogs and 75-64 over Oregon as 8.5-point underdogs. That being said, Oregon State doesnt have anyone who can slow Cade Cunningham if he plays anywhere near his best. You might be better off flipping a coin here. Guess: Oregon State +6.

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [emailprotected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.

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NCAA Tournament by the odds: Vegas picks and preview of Sunday's round of 32 - Las Vegas Sun

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Enjoy curated cocktails at The Dorsey in Las Vegas – Lasvegasmagazine

Posted: at 5:20 pm

Asking Whats your sign? at a bar has a whole new meaning at hot spot The Dorsey. Share your zodiac sign and a little bit about your personality with the bartender, and theyll whip you up one of 12 new drinks dedicated to each sign of the zodiac calendar. Theres also a Social Hour menu, too, from opening till 8 p.m., with specialty cocktails like the Snow Queen daiquiri (made with Belvedere Lake Bartezek vodka, Diving Into Hampton Water ros, lime and simple syrup) for $14 each.

The Venetian, 702.414.1945

Click here for your free subscription to the weekly digital edition of Las Vegas Magazine, your guide to everything to do, hear, see and experience in Southern Nevada. As part of your subscription, each week via email you will receive the latest edition of Las Vegas Magazine, full of informative content such as restaurants to visit, cocktails to sip and attractions to enjoy.

Enjoy curated cocktails at The Dorsey in Las Vegas - Lasvegasmagazine

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Virgin Hotels set to open Thursday. Heres what to expect. – Las Vegas Review-Journal

Posted: at 5:20 pm

Imagine taking a drive toward Las Vegas at sunset.

The light has started to dip behind the horizon, filling the air with pastel shades pink and purple. The desert landscape stretches before you, eternal, spotted with surprising bursts of green from cactuses and shrubs. Then, you see it: the hazy glow of Las Vegas lights in the distance.

Thats the feeling Virgin Hotels Las Vegas wants to give its guests when they step inside the newly renovated resort-casino. The property, set to open at 6 p.m. Thursday, has combined modern with midcentury; floral with industrial; loud, colorful pieces with white space.

A lot of the inspiration really came early on from the travel that you would see as you came to Las Vegas through the desert, said Gary Scott, chief operating officer for JC Hospitality, the hotels operator. Youre going to see a lot of greenery but its light, its fresh and its airy. And really, it embodies the spirit you might have found at Palms Springs years ago.

The hotel will be put to the test by opening mid-pandemic, but management says theyre ready to usher in guests to experience the newest product in Las Vegas tourist corridor.

Reimagining the property

A lot has changed inside the off-Strip property since Feb. 3, 2020, when it closed its doors as the Hard Rock Hotel for good. Thirteen months, $200 million and one global pandemic later, the property is ready to welcome back guests.

Food and beverage options have been updated. A tribal enterprise is heading the casino. And theres not a single guitar in sight.

We really wanted to reidentify the property and make sure we gave Virgin Hotels Las Vegas its own history moving forward, Scott said.

The property hopes the design captures the attention of travelers from all over the world: Leisure and business travelers. International tourists from Asia and Europe. West Coast drive ins.

You have everything coming into Vegas, David Givens, vice president of hotel operations for Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, said during a tour of the property. (Were marketing) anywhere from the 25- to 48-year-olds with disposable income.

Gaming Consultant Josh Swissman of The Strategy Organization said the venues design should have no trouble attracting Generation X, those born between 1965 and 1980, and older millennials.

It has a relaxed, kind of spa-like feel to it, Swissman said. Thats good because its a specific design strategy, but it also caters to a broad range of consumers across the country and across the globe. Theyve got enough going for them to attract all types of customers.

UNLV Assistant Professor of Hospitality Amanda Belarmino, a Gen Xer herself, also sees the property being popular among her generation, especially since this age group is already familiar with the Virgin Hotels brand.

Thats a crowd that has more disposable income, she said. (But) this is something thats exciting for the entire city. Theres going to be a lot of locals in there the first weeks to dine, to look around, and to see whats going on.

Macquarie analyst Chad Beynon said resort renovations dont always equate to success, but there has been a history of new or updated offerings near the Strip attracting droves of visitors. Virgin Hotels could be exceptionally alluring since there hasnt been a new resort opening on the Strip since the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas in 2010.

Its been the If you built it, they will come (mentality in Las Vegas), Beynon said. Thats why there were so many new hotels built in the 90s and early 2000s. Every property you opened essentially increased the visitation to the market and people wanted to see that new, shiny item. Having Virgin open this spring and Resorts World this summer would be a huge positive.

Changes inside the casino

Virgins 60,000-square-foot casino relatively small by Las Vegas standards will be the first operated in Las Vegas by a tribal casino enterprise.

Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment, operated by Connecticuts Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, was licensed by the Nevada Gaming Commission in October, and Joe Hasson, a 40-year casino veteran who once worked at Station Casinos, is its general manager.

Hasson said 90 percent of the casino workforce are returnees from the Hard Rock days.

Certainly over the 25 years that this resort previously existed, there was a fabulous, veteran, talented workforce here, Hasson said during a recent tour of the property. On the casino side, 90 percent of those team members are rejoining us and nothing could please me more.

Hasson said the casino will offer about a 50-50 split of slot machines that were at the old Hard Rock casino and new, updated video machines that are eye candy screaming out for attention. About 650 slot machines and 44 table games will dot the casino floor.

Virtually every slot machine is protected on two sides with plexiglass.

Of course, I look forward to the day where medical science comes to the rescue and I dont have to do that, Hasson said. Theyre easy enough to remove when that day comes. In an abundance of public safety, I want to start with it on virtually every slot machine.

Theres a high-limit section with higher play limits and slot denominations.

In an area once occupied by the Heat Bar is a semi-public anteroom for highly rated players.

Were in a position where we can take care of a discerning guest before were ready to take them up to the 16th floor of the Ruby Tower and a private salon, Hasson said.

Virgins casino will have a small sportsbook that wont be operational until the second quarter of 2021. It will be operated by Betfred Sports, a wholly owned U.S. subsidiary of Betfred Group, a United Kingdom-based bookmaker that owns and operates more than 1,500 betting shops in the United Kingdom. Betfred has yet to be licensed by Nevada regulators, but Swissman described the company as a top-notch operator in other jurisdictions.

Theyre an international company thats relatively established and well-known, but not super established in the U.S., he said. But what a vote of confidence to have Virgin and Mohegan Sun behind you and having you operate their sportsbook.

Hasson isnt worried about the small size of the sportsbook, noting that most sports bettors make their wagers on cellphone apps and Betfred will have one of those.

They are still working their way through licensing and suitability with the Nevada Gaming Control Board, Hasson said of Betfred. While everything is illuminated and ready to go, we expect to be able to take wagers in the second quarter of 2021. We cant get them fully to the starting gate by March 25, but as their licensing and suitability is completed, well turn on the book.

One thing the Virgin casino wont have is a poker room. Mohegan Sun executives told the Gaming Control Board there werent any immediate plans for poker at the property.

Spirit of Aquai

Hasson said the Mohegan Tribe will bring a cultural philosophy to the property that considers the long term.

The tribe calls it the Spirit of Aquai, a centuries-old guiding philosophy that encourages a warm and welcoming atmosphere, passionate and dedicated employees based on mutual respect, providing outstanding service that goes above the beyond and building productive long-term relationships.

Mohegan would bring the experience of operating casinos in nine properties in eight jurisdictions, with 25 million annual visitors, 4,600 hotel rooms by 2023, more than 110 restaurants, bars and nightclubs, and more than 22,000 employees by 2025.

In addition to its flagship Mohegan Sun property in Uncasville, Connecticut, which opened in 1996, the tribe operates the Ilani tribal casino in Ridgefield, Washington; the Paragon Casino Resort in Marksville, Louisiana; Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City; Mohegan Sun Pocono in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania; the Fallsview Resort Hotel and the Casino Niagara in Niagara Falls, Ontario, in Canada.

Dont sleep on Mohegan Sun, said Nehme E. Abouzeid, president of consulting firm LaunchVegas. Yes, they will be the first tribe to operate in the Las Vegas resort corridor, but they are no stranger to the casino business. They have been expanding in the U.S. beyond their original Connecticut resort that everyone knows. And they are even building an integrated resort in Greece.

Gaming analyst Brendan Bussmann, director of government affairs for Las Vegas-based Global Market Advisors LLC, said the multiple loyalty affiliations will help the property grab market share.

Virgin has a lot of tools in its shed to attract customers between Mohegan that has a good database from the Northeast and the two hotel databases between Hilton and Virgin, he said. These will all be positives as consumers and business customers return to the destination in addition to a fresh product in the market. I think it is great timing for the opening of this property.

Mohegan also has a global reach that cant be ignored.

The entrance of a Mohegan as a casino manager shows that operators still want to be able to have a Nevada gaming license and the power it still holds for other destinations in the United States and around the globe, Bussmann said. Mohegan continues to try and go after international developments such as those in South Korea and Greece while also looking at Japan with its partnership with Oshidori.

Mohegan has a loyalty club program called Momentum, and that, Hasson thinks, will help draw customers from casinos where Mohegan already operates because points will be transferable and transportable.

Other loyalty programs operated through the Hilton Curio Collection Hilton Honors and Virgin Hotels should also draw customers.

In this integrated resort, consider that were a group of operators Hilton with the Curio Collection, Virgin Hotels, Mohegan Sun, AEG Presents, a fabulous array of restaurateurs, all under one roof, Hasson said. That alone is enough, I think, to serve as a terrific magnet for people to say, I need to try that. I need to experience that.

Still to come

Virgin Hotels opens its doors to the public next week, but its official grand opening has been delayed because of the pandemic. Richard Boz Bosworth, president and CEO of JC Hospitality, said the typical celebratory event will come at a later date, once its safer.

Certain venues and amenities also will be absent on Thursday. The Betfred sportsbook isnt set to open until summer, a second sports betting venue called Money, Baby! should open mid-spring, and the property aims to have its dayclub open in time for Memorial Day weekend. Visitors will need to wait to see the opening of the propertys live music club 24 Oxford, Kassi Beach Club, resort pool theater and two food options: Olives and Afters Ice Cream.

Scott said some of the offerings on the event lawn built atop the Hard Rock Hotels Rehab pool party venue will be worth the wait.

Weve got a considerable amount of investment going into the backyard, he said. The pools are being completely reimagined.

Virgin Hotels operators also have the return of convention and meeting business to look forward to.

Flexibility will be the key to Virgins convention and meeting space, which also will double as an entertainment venue.

Lia Rispoli, vice president of events, sales and services for Virgin Las Vegas, said The Manor includes 130,000 square feet of indoor space, five acres of pool deck space and an outdoor event lawn.

If you can dream it, we can do it, Rispoli said during a tour.

The Manor will schedule a mix of concerts, special events as well as private and corporate meetings. Rispoli isnt worried about whether meetings and trade shows will return.

The feedback from corporate clients is that as much as they managed to figure out how to do it virtually, theres something missing with it and they want to come back to meeting again, she said.

The Manor can hold up to 10,000 participants at a time.

Rispoli said a big advantage Virgin will have is that our stuff is right on top of each other, meaning that there is less likelihood that conventioneers will drift away to the casino or restaurants because groups will move together within the venue.

In addition to the space at The Manor, the events staff will have access to Virgins as-yet-unnamed theater, known as The Joint in the Hard Rock days.

Rispoli said she expects to host some small board meetings in April and May before large-scale trade shows and conferences come back in June. She said the convention calendar is strong for late 2021 as well as 2022 and 2023.

Contact Bailey Schulz at bschulz@reviewjournal.com. Follow @bailey_schulz on Twitter. Contact Richard N. Velotta at rvelotta@reviewjournal.com or 702-477-3893. Follow @RickVelotta on Twitter.

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Virgin Hotels set to open Thursday. Heres what to expect. - Las Vegas Review-Journal

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Taste the beaucoup flavors at Mon Ami Gabi in Las Vegas – Lasvegasmagazine

Posted: at 5:20 pm

The beauty of the Strip is that a night in Vegas could easily feel like a night in Venice, New York City or some other oft-romanticized place that isnt the little desert town youre currently visiting.

Well, at Mon Ami Gabi, youll be transported to a charming Parisian restaurant, which all at once feels like a casual French caf and a chic, fine-dining establishment. If youre lucky to snag a seat on the patio, youll think youre dining at an authentic French bistro. Whats not so authentic, but still amazing, is the incredible view of the Fountains of Bellagio across the street.

When dining, obvious selections include the prime steak frites and trout almondine, but youd feel equally satisfied ordering the cavatelli pasta with tiger shrimp or the seared salmon with confit potatoes. Pair a meal with a delectable little gem salad and a glass of French wine.

Paris, 702.944.4224

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UFC on ESPN 21 rookie report: Grading the newcomers in Las Vegas – MMA Junkie

Posted: at 5:20 pm

Division: FlyweightResult: Bruno Silva def. JP Buys via TKO (punch) Round 2, 2:56Record: (9-3 MMA, 0-1 UFC)Grade: D

JP Buys first taste of the UFC octagon ended with a swift kick to the groin, then a poke in the eye as he found himself on the receiving end of two first-round fouls from Silva in their flyweight bout. By the end of the fight, Buys was also feeling the pain of defeat after being stopped by the Brazilian.

Buys was on the back foot throughout his debut as Silva edged the striking exchanges and had the upper hand during the scrambles on the mat through Round 1, though Buys did briefly threaten with a Kimura while trying to fend off the relentless Brazilian. He was also dropped with a spinning backfist in the final second of the round.

Things didnt get much better for the South African debutant in Round 2, as Silva took advantage of Buys lack of lateral movement by loading up and claiming a TKO finish. Buys was more aggressive at the start of the round but slipped and ended up on the bottom with Silva landing powerful strikes from top position. Buys battled back to his feet and was enjoying his best spell of the fight, but was then dropped by a big right hand and, despite gamely fighting back and circling away from trouble, was dropped once again with another big right hand as the fight was waved off.

It wasnt the start Buys was looking for as he looked to make an impact in the UFCs flyweight division. Buys showed plenty of tenacity and a willingness to stand and trade, but ultimately had no answer to Silvas punch power as he fell to a debut defeat.

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Daily Archives: March 21, 2021

Bounty programs: Ineffective in the war on money laundering – The Conversation CA

Billie Holiday was the godmother of civil rights: Andra Day on playing the first lady of blues – VOGUE India

Las Vegas Reopening Dates: Casinos, Restaurants …

Las Vegas, After Its Latest Bust, Aims for Another Boom – The Wall Street Journal

Book authors venture to Las Vegas to meet the main subject of Classroom 15 – NRToday.com

NCAA Tournament by the odds: Vegas picks and preview of Sunday’s round of 32 – Las Vegas Sun

Enjoy curated cocktails at The Dorsey in Las Vegas – Lasvegasmagazine

Virgin Hotels set to open Thursday. Heres what to expect. – Las Vegas Review-Journal

Taste the beaucoup flavors at Mon Ami Gabi in Las Vegas – Lasvegasmagazine

UFC on ESPN 21 rookie report: Grading the newcomers in Las Vegas – MMA Junkie

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