In 10 of the most unusual room amenities in Vegas, Renée LiButti begins with the “unusual” idea of intimate items provided by Love Jones at the Hard Rock Hotel. I’m not sure I find such “room service” options an unusual concept.
…Well, perhaps it’s unusual to be so open about it. I guess I’m just thinking of the errands & tasks you could discretely ask the concierge to perform. But now that I think about it, it seems like a natural for more hotels to offer.
I was rather correct about my predictions for this season’s Dancing With The Stars. Currently the odds look like this after the first round of voting:
Current Odds For Celebrity Dancers
Dancing With The Stars begins it’s 14th season tonight — and I’ll surely be watching!
Sight unseen, these are the odds Dancing With The Stars cast members for Season 14:
William Levy — 4/1
Jaleel White — 9/2
Donald Driver — 5/1
Maria Menounos — 5/1
Roshon Fegan — 9/1
Gladys Knight — 10/1
Katherine Jenkins — 10/1
Melissa Gilbert — 12/1
Sherri Shepherd — 12/1
Jack Wagner — 15/1
Gavin DeGraw — 20/1
Martina Navratilova — 20/1
I wouldn’t rate Gladys Knight so low… Pips aside, older women tend to do much better than that. Melissa Gilbert is likely to be a dark horse — those actresses seem to do quite well. However, placing Martina Navratilova so poorly is likely dead on; historically, female athletes just don’t perform with the required grace. But I wonder how much of the right now betting is just based on who people like…
Donald Driver, DWTS
If you’re a fan, now’s the time to bet!
Global gambling revenue grew to a record $419 billion last year, according to Global Betting & Gaming Consultants (GBGC).
Revenue rose 5.6% from $397 billion in 2010 and is forecast to reach $448 billion this year. However, all that glitters isn’t due to the gold (or coins and cash) in Las Vegas; the growth in gambling revenue is due to Asia. According to GBGC’s Director Lorien Pilling, “The strongest growth was in Macau, Singapore and Cambodia, as emerging markets proved more resilient to the global economic crisis than developed countries.” In fact, the GBGC’s forecast that global gambling revenues will reach 500 billion by 2014 is based on the number of new casinos under development in Asia and the relatively new gambling options in Singapore.
The GBGC also predicts that the Vegas strip won’t be back until 2014. “The recovery started toward the end of 2009. In spite of a 9% uplift from 2009 to 2011 Vegas has a long way to go and on current growth rates and the prospect of some Federal budget balancing after the Presidential election we predict that 2014 will be the year when Vegas is back to where it was in terms of revenues from gambling,” said Warwick Bartlett.
What’s this mean for you and I? Well, I suspect we’ll see plenty more ads promoting cheap airfare, hotel packages, etc. for Vegas along with our political campaign ads.
The bottom line on gambling around the world from GBGC is this:
Of course, the global economic situation will be a major influence on gambling markets. If China’s economy does have a “crash landing” it is difficult to see Macau’s gaming growth rates being maintained. A strong economic recovery in the US would help gaming revenues that have been hit hard in recent years. In Europe, the gambling industry really needs the Eurozone crisis to be resolved because the uncertainty is really hurting the gambling sector in the likes of Greece and Spain.
As if we weren’t already for this economic mess to clear itself up.
If travel doesn’t seem to be in your immediate future, the GBGC’s report had this to say about online gambling:
Interactive gambling accounted for 8.4% of global gambling revenues in 2011, up from 8.0% in 2010. This figure would suggest there is still scope for further growth in Interactive sector, especially if the US does adopt some kind of federal or state regulation for Internet gambling in the coming years.
I found these cool Oscar ballot forms (and other free downloadable items) at Here’s Looking Like You, Kid. What’s neat about them is the fact that you and your party guests can each make your predictions for the honors and then you can easily find the winners — whether you treat the process like a betting pool, give out little prizes, or just win braggin rights. *wink*
Has it really been that long since I’ve posted here? Ah, well, that’s the holidays for you — and the gamble readers have with a blog done for love, not money (I don’t get paid to show up! lol)
I really got a kick out of The Rundown‘s post about the Superbowl, Money Ball: Between wings and commercials, you oughta be side betting. You needn’t be a fan of the Patriots or the Giants — or even give a crap about football to enjoy this one!
Artwork for a vintage paperback by Ernest Chiriaka.
Winner Take All Pulp Cover Ernest Chiriaka, 1959
Yes, I’m a fan of gambling; but I’m a fan of gambling responsibly. Gambling, like anything else in life, is a matter of moderation. Treated like any other form of entertainment, i.e. spend only what you can afford to spend and make sure it’s only a part of your life, gambling is fine. But it would be remiss of me not to mention this blog on the subject poverty, casinos, and minorities: A Black Woman’s Reflections on Casino Gambling. Of particular note is this post on addressing gambling through therapy:
Last month, I mentioned that I found a site that offered gambling therapy online while it also actively promoted gambling. Well, as it turned out, that site, which really is a UK based gambling site, was doing what most casinos do: offering help to clean up the mess of gambling addictions after the damage has been done.
In the United States casinos are required to set aside a fixed amount of money to fund gambling hotlines and to post in the casinos and on their advertisements the number to call to get help. For most people, it is much too late. By the time they reach out for help, they are in deep financial trouble and emotional distress and usually don’t know where to turn, since there are so few facilities or counselors trained to deal with gambling addictions.
Recently, someone mentioned an online gambling therapy group that is not in cahoots with the gambling industry. This gambling therapy site is connected to the Gordon Moody Association, which provides residential treatment for compulsive gamblers. Gordon Moody is in the UK; the gambling therapy site is international and apparently is moderated by gambling addiction counselors.
It’s annoying o be playing a game of solitaire and having someone over your shoulder, telling you what moves to make. …But if you are tired of playing alone, dressing like this will put an end to that. *wink* Via.
Topless Playing Solitaire
