The counting isn’t complete, but Las Vegas surpassed 42 million visitors for 2015. That breaks 2014’s record of 41.1 million, and the final tally will be higher when all of the December numbers are tabulated.
The record was set despite 2015 being an off year for new casinos and attractions, with Bally’s Grand Bazaar shopping area, Pawn Plaza and the City of Rock North-Strip concert grounds being the most prominent additions. The record numbers are attributed to increased air travel and convention attendance, and a big schedule of music festivals and special events. The final 2015 totals will be announced later this month.
King crab: Aliante Casino, on the far north side of town, is running a January deal on king crab legs. Sundays through Thursdays from 7 to 9 p.m. in MRKT, all-you-can-eat king crab is $60. On a separate deal in MRKT, bottles of wine are half-price on Sundays and Mondays, making for a good crab-and-wine parlay on Sundays.
Gambling heroes: The Gambler’s General Store on Main Street near downtown is the premier spot in town to find gambling books and memorabilia, but you can also get a pretty good sandwich there. The Gambler’s Cafe, inside the bookstore, serves huge heroes starting at $9.99, along with breakfasts, salads and New York specialties, like Wise chips and Dr. Brown’s sodas. Get a bite and a book at the same time.
Blackjack tourney: The Cromwell has a new blackjack tourney running Thursdays through Sundays. It’s what’s known as a total-cash-out tournament, which means the highest score (after 10 hands) wins the loot. The buy-in is $25.
Question: I saw film of the crowds on the Strip on New Year’s Eve. What was the damage report following?
Answer: This New Year’s Eve will go down as one of the most peaceful ever. Police reported just 10 arrests for unruliness, down significantly from 22 last year. A larger-than-normal police presence, put in place in reaction to recent worldwide terrorism activity, was given much of the credit.
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