As soon as Steve Wynn unveiled his plans for The Rève, or the “Dream”, which has come to a happy awakening as Wynn Las Vegas, some of the other big Vegas players felt the bugging itch around the back of the neck that meant that they were about to be outplayed once again by the Man Who Changed the Face and Spirit of Las Vegas.

Sheldon Adelson had already built the wonderful The Venetian as a riposte to Wynn’s three-themed statement: The Mirage, Treasure Island and Bellagio, which are credited with the Las Vegas revival, and made plans to add a taller tower called the Palazzo across the Strip from his rival’s new signature mega resort. Since then, there has been more public animosity between these titans of the casino industry, and Wynn’s plans to build another monster resort next to his US$2.7 billion Wynn Las Vegas is sure to cause more grief.

Meanwhile back at the New Frontier, Phil Ruffin, who is flash with cash after disposing of his properties in Nassau’s Cable Beach to the new conglomerate Baha Mar, is about to upgrade his ageing property, where Donald Trump is building a couple of condo towers atop which he surely will carve his name. By the time the three buildings are finished you can bet your bottom dollar that The Donald’s namesake tower will look down on the other two.

Another bet a sensible punter should make is that the biggest Las Vegas players Harrrah’s and MGM Mirage will not stand aside and let the Wynns and Adelsons of this world grab all the headlines and, indeed, some juicy gambling revenues. As the gambling moguls keep up to raise the development ante into the 10 billion mark, the world’s biggest casino conglomerates and their future projects should put added billions into Strip development come 2010. This kinda poker was never so much fun! (E-06.09.05)

© Copyright 2005 CasinoCompendium



>>> return to archives
>>> return to frontpage