WELCOME to Kimo’s Vegas… The Players Edge!

The King of Pop Michael Jackson may have priced himself out of a gig… demanding $200 million for a resident Vegas show (about double what Celine Dion gets, over four years) is more than casino bosses are willing to gamble.

The casino win (the amount of money the casinos win from players) dropped 0.5% on the strip while the Downtown casino win was down 0.7%. I guess we brought home a little more then we brought up in March. For the curious, U.S. commercial casino revenue increased to $32.4 billion in 2006 with $12.6 billion coming from Nevada casinos.

We’ve all had our share of “bad beats” but Harrah's Las Vegas has implemented a progressive Mega Beat Jackpot that will change the way you feel about losing a hand. Starting at $50,000 and increasing daily (if no one wins… err loses). To win the jackpot, you have to have a 10 high, four-of-a-kind and lose to a better hand.

The 2007 World Series of Poker begins June 1 and the final table is scheduled for July 17. The $10,000-buy-in no-limit Texas hold ’em championship is expected to gross the best player less than last year’s $12 million pay-day.

At the Cal, Richard Miyasaki, of Honolulu won $11,000 and Janet Viloria, of Waimanalo, won $21,192 playing KENO!

Justin Pantohan from Ewa brought home $1,049,419 when he hit the Wheel of Fortune quarter machine at the Hard Rock. He had only put $20.00 in the machine.

Its summer and the time of the year for Las Vegas pools to party and adopt European style sun-bathing. The Wynn, Flamingo, Mandalay Bay, Mirage, Caesars Palace (Venus Pool) and Stratosphere all offer topless sun-worshiping with varying rules including limiting admission to hotel guests, charging for admission and no cameras.

In hopes on increasing its ridership the Las Vegas Monorail has reduced fares for the summer. The unlimited one day pass that usually costs $15 is now $8.

Donald Trump was on hand for the topping off ceremony of the first Las Vegas Trump Tower. The 1,282-unit condo was built for less than its $600 million budget and has grossed over $1.3 billion in condo sales.

Spotted on CraigsList Las Vegas… $465,950 No Payments For Three Years, no closing costs and a fixed interest rate make this a steal… or maybe a scam.

Now through June 30^th the Capital Grille right outside the Fashion Show Mall is offering the “$1,000 High Roller Martini”. Made with Ciroc Vodka, Crème de Mure and fresh berries you’ll get a pave diamond stack ring instead of an olive, and to make you feel better about indulging in such an excess $500 will be donated to Share Our Strength, in support of their efforts to end childhood hunger.

This week’s Vegas quote comes from Steve Wynn… “Las Vegas is like how God would do it, if he had money”!

Get more Kimo’s Vegas here online at Around Hawaii in both issues of MidWeek and with Billy V. Friday morning at 7:20 on Hawaiian105 KINE.

© 2006 www.KimosVegas.com Kimo Akane