Author Archives: Vegas Info

About Vegas Info

Since 1999, providing a panoramic perspective of Las Vegas, including: history, food reviews, hiking, day trips, local information and photos of this great city.

Will the Vegas Golden Knights Complete their Fairytale Start?

April 12, 2018

At the start of this NHL season, not much was expected of the Vegas Golden Knights. Having selected players from most teams in the expansion draft, Vegas was expected to finish near the basement and sell off their bigger names at the trade deadline.

82 games later, in their inaugural season, the Golden Knights stand atop the Pacific Division with 109 points and a +44 goal differential. There’s also a huge grin on the faces of all sports fans in Las Vegas. As the first league to make the leap into Las Vegas, the NHL couldn’t be happier with the emphatic start that the Golden Knights have had.

Not only did they get involved with the community following a horrifying incident, but they also went on to become the best expansion team in their inaugural season. Vegas is also the first team to reach the playoffs in their first season for 38 years. The last team to do so already had an established team moving from the WHA, which boasted Wayne Gretzky in its ranks.

Now, the Vegas Golden Knights have a chance to extend the historical season that they’ve crafted for themselves.

It seems like destiny

For the Vegas Golden Knights to connect with the community as they have, beat all the odds, and impress the rest of the ice hockey world in such a way, they now look destined to win the Stanley Cup.

Over the history of sports, you can see many occasions when teams simply look destined to win the ultimate prize, such as Zambia’s win at the 2012 African Cup of Nations or Muhammad Ali’s huge comeback to defeat George Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle. Now it’s Vegas’ turn to fulfill their sporting destiny.

Golden KnightsSource: Vegas Golden Knights, via Twitter

Of course, people are more swayed by the regular season standings than they are the opportunity for Vegas to complete their fairytale start. But they also recognize how volatile and unpredictable the Stanley Cup Playoffs are. At +750 in the NHL betting odds, Vegas is only behind the +400 Nashville Predators and +550 Tampa Bay Lightning to win the Stanley Cup in their first time of asking.

But a team can’t get anywhere without putting in the performances on game night, and the Vegas Golden Knights have certainly been pulling their weight.

Playing as a team

Forging a team through the expansion draft meant that the Vegas Golden Knights would start without the high-selection elite-level superstar that all other teams have collected over the years. But that didn’t matter. Vegas’ general manager, George McPhee, was calculated and selected model professionals, hard workers, and those who would buy into the new Golden Knights ethos.

Golden Knghts
Source: Golden Knights Realm, via Twitter

While the likes of Marc-Andre Fleury, James Neal, and David Perron headlined their picks, they quickly integrated themselves as team members instead of star players. Vegas excelled in all phases of the game, with the whole team pulling their weight. Vegas hosts five players on over 50 points for the regular season: only the Lightning, Predators, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Winnipeg Jets have more. But this didn’t stop one Willaim Karlsson from emerging as a star of the league.

Not exactly the biggest name taken in the expansion draft, William Karlsson boomed this season. From 25 points in 81 games with the explosive Columbus Blue Jackets last season, the 25-year-old Swede ended this regular season with 43 goals and 78 points. Karlsson also finished with the highest rating in the NHL at +49 and had the third-most goals (only behind super snipers Alex Ovechkin and Patrik Laine).

It’s been a superb season from a bundled assortment of players who are playing for their team and their new home. Now it’s time to see how far this momentum can take Vegas. The Golden Knights have already made history – now they’ll extend their incredible young legacy.

Vegas Info
Posted by: Vegas Info      catagory Entertainment, The Strip, Vegas comments Leave a comment

On This Date: March 31, 2014 the Largest Ferris Wheel opened in Las Vegas – The High Roller

March 31, 2018
The-High-Roller-observation-wheel

The High Roller Observation Wheel Largest in the World with a 520 Foot Diameter

High Roller is a 550-foot tall  520-foot  diameter giant Ferris wheel on the Las Vegas Strip. It is the world’s tallest observation wheel, 9 ft  taller than the 541-foot Singapore Flyer, which held the record for the world’s tallest observation wheel from 2008 until 2014. After nearly three years of planning and construction it opened to the public on March 31, 2014.

High Roller Facts:

  • The High Roller tops out at 550 feet making it the largest observation wheel in the world.
  • In addition to its great height, the High Roller offers an immersive pre-ride experience for its passengers on their journey from ticketing through the wheel house complete with a lounge, to the wheel ride which features unparalleled views of the Las Vegas Strip.
  • The wheel structure boasts 7.2 million pounds of steel and 112 cables. Each cable measures approximately 225 feet, for a combined total of 25,256 feet.
  • The High Roller features 28 spherical cabins that hold 40 guests.
  • Each cabin weighs approximately 44,000 pounds and includes 300 square feet of glass.
  • The cabin windows are doubly curved and fabricated from four sheets of laminated glass.
  • Fabrication of the wheel began in late 2011 and took place in several locations across the globe including China, Japan, France, Sweden, Italy, Netherlands, Germany, Colorado, California and Las Vegas.
  • The High Roller travels at one foot per second and take roughly 30 minutes to make one full revolution.
  • The wheel is lit with more than 2,000 LED lights.

Photo By: Wikipedia Creative Commons

Vegas Info
Posted by: Vegas Info      catagory On This Date, The Strip, Vegas comments Leave a comment

Top 5 Favorite Movies Online Slots

March 28, 2018


Are you looking forward to an exciting slots gaming experience? The movie-themed slots will certainly provide the excitement you expected and so much more. Software developers have found a way of creating outstanding slots using the most sophisticated technology. You will feel like you are taking part in the action of your favorite movies character whenever you play the slot on BETAT and other reputable casinos.

This has been made possible by using spectacular graphics and soundtracks that portray the theme excellently. The ambiance created will certainly keep gamers intrigued and hooked on their online or mobile slots. They also have gameplays involving some of the most prominent movie characters that can lead to exemplary payouts.

The bonus features of these games certainly deserve to be mentioned. They are exceptional and can lead to significant gains. The most common bonuses offered include multipliers, free spins, re-spins and instant prizes. They can all be activated in their own unique ways depending on the specific game that is being played.

There are several movie-themed slots which are very popular among gamblers. They have been created by the biggest software developers which have an untainted reputation.  However, the following are captivating enough to make our top five favorite movies online slots. Keep reading for more information about these slots.

Planet of the Apes

Planet of the Apes slot by NetEnt and 20th Century Fox deserves the top spot when it comes to movie slots. It is a ten reels forty paylines video slot that is based on two Planet of the Apes films, that is, Rise of the Planet and Dawn of the Planet. It has spectacular sounds and graphics featuring the characters of both of these films.

The bonus features of the game include the Rise Free Spins and the Dawn Free Spins. The former can award up to ten spins while the latter can award up to fifteen spins. The final one is the Multiple Bonus feature where the player gets both of these free spins. During the Dawn Bonus feature, you can land extra spins and a higher multiplier of up to five times.

Rocky

Rocky is a five reeled twenty-five bet lines video slot powered by Playtech. It has been the top movie themed slot for several years. It is based on the Sylvester Stallone movie Rocky which was a blockbuster hit at its time. This game has excellent graphics and a music track that brings out an ideal gaming aura. The symbols of the game include the five alphabets that spell Rocky and other high paying symbols like Clubber Lang, Ivan Drago, Paulie and Rocky among others.

There are three bonus features in this Rocky slot. The first one is the Knockout feature triggered when you land a white and red boxing glove on reels one and five respectively. It is a ten rounds match, and you will win instant cash prizes for the rounds that Rocky wins. The second one is the Rocky bonus where you are expected to spell his name from left to right leading to a five times multiplier.

The final one is the free spins activated when you land three or more scatter symbols. You will get either fifteen, twenty or twenty-five bonus spins with a two times multiplier.

Terminator 2

Terminator 2 video slot is a five reeled 243 ways to win slot powered by Microgaming. It is based on the Terminator films which were, for several years, the best sci-fi films ever created. This game has excellent graphics and sound effects that enable a player to join Arnold Schwarzenegger in his endeavors. The game is quite interesting and even becomes more entertaining during the free spins bonus when the winning ways increase to 1024.

The T2 is the wild while the orb is the scatter. The former can replace all other regular symbols leading to a winning combination. The scatter symbol, on the other hand, activates the free spins. When the T-1000 appears, it substitutes other symbols leading to the biggest winning possible. Another bonus is the T-800 vision which awards instant prizes when it hits the high paying symbols.

Jurassic World

Jurassic World is a five reeled 243 ways to win video slot that was developed by Microgaming. It is based on the famous movie, Jurassic Park. It is another spectacular movie slot with excellent features. The logo of the game is the wildcard, and it can replace all other regular symbols leading to a winning combo. It is also a high paying symbol in the base game.

The scatter symbol is the Mosquito Yellow Rock. It is responsible for triggering the free spins and can turn wild if only two of them appear. The game has three unique free spins bonuses namely, Creation Lab, Gyrosphere Valley and Raptor Den. Another bonus feature is the Indominus bonus which can increase your winnings to up to one thousand times your wager. It is activated by the Indominus Rex.

Bridesmaids

This is a five reeled forty paylines video slot by Microgaming. It is perhaps the only slot that has a ladies oriented theme in this list. The slot is based on the movie Bridesmaids. It features symbols such as cupcakes, poker card symbols and the movie characters. The Bridesmaids icon represents the wildcard which can replace other symbols while the scatter is the cupcake.

There are many bonus features in this game. They include Friendship Free Spins, Jackpot, Magic Moments, Boutique, High Flying Free Spins and the Bonus. They can lead to exemplary winnings.

These are the top five favorite movie-themed online slots that have ever been created. There are other exceptional movie slots, but this article only had room for five of the best. Try them out for an unforgettable slots experience.

Vegas Info
Posted by: Vegas Info      catagory Entertainment comments Leave a comment

Sin and Save: Visiting Vegas on a Budget

February 28, 2018

If you’re planning on paying a trip to Las Vegas, you don’t need to be a high roller to enjoy yourself and get into the spirit of Sin City. If you arm yourself with some useful tips on how to get the best deals, you can enjoy a lavish visit to Vegas at a reasonable cost. Here are some of the best tips for a trip to Vegas that can save you a pretty penny without sparing the luxury.

Watch your timing

Firstly, avoid visiting Vegas at any time there’s a citywide convention taking place. Hotel rates are higher, which limits your options when it comes to booking the right room for you. The Las Vegas Tourism website, features a calendar of conventions to give you advance notice. Generally, rates are at their lowest in July and August, as the crowds tend to be deterred by the hot weather. Rates also fall after Thanksgiving right through early January.

Keep food costs low

Dinner at one of the city’s famous eateries can set you back $150 or more. If you’re dining alone, visit during lunchtime when you can expect more reasonable prices. Further, some restaurants offer a happy hour with 50% off appetisers. You could also visit some of the more popular venues early in the day, when food is often the least costly; yet at the same time, delicious and freshly prepared.

Drink at a discount (or free)

If you plan on gambling at the casinos, you can expect free drinks. The casinos serve up free drinks to gamblers, even at the penny slots. The Cosmopolitan and the Wynn provide the best in free drinks. But even non-gamblers can find up to 50% discounts at happy hours at bars and eateries all over Vegas, many located inside the most popular resorts in the city.

Enjoy the luxury you’ve already paid for

Don’t forget that you can, on occasion, enjoy the luxury of the hotel room you paid for. While taking advantage of room service, you could unwind (and, at the same time, save a few pounds) by catching up on your favourite shows or enjoying other online entertainment. There are plenty of free games online, for example, such as Miner Jump and Zombie Survival. There are no shortage of slot games online, either, which, unlike those in the casino downstairs, offer numerous bonuses. Bonus.ca features many a link to online casinos that accept Bitcoin as a valid payment method; and all with bonuses, to boot. Bitcoin is a form of payment that is becoming more popular in Vegas, with such outlets as Amusespot and Elite Visual Audio all accepting the virtual currency.

Save on entertainment

Buying a ticket for one of the city’s popular shows could set you back a small fortune. If you don’t mind making last minute plans, however, you can try Tix4Tonight, which lists deals on shows for that day. The website updates daily, and you could find such discounts as 50% off a ticket to see famous illusionist, David Copperfield. Try avoiding the most in-demand and newest shows, however, as they have a tendency to be priced higher than others, and have less seating options for groups.

If you use just some of these tips, you’re guaranteed to enjoy the trip of a lifetime without returning home with a hole in your wallet.

Vegas Info
Posted by: Vegas Info      catagory Entertainment, Locals, The Strip, Vegas comments Leave a comment

On This Date: February 24, 1992, two Elvis Presley stamp designs were unveiled at the Las Vegas Hilton.

February 24, 2018
Elvis Presley Stamp

Elvis Presley Stamp the on the left was the winning design in 1992

On February 24, 1992, two possible designs for the US Postal Service Elvis Presley Stamp were unveiled at the Las Vegas Hilton, Las Vegas, NV. The younger 1950’s Elvis was the winner. The Elvis stamp was released on January 8, 1993.

Vegas Info
Posted by: Vegas Info      catagory On This Date comments Leave a comment

On This Date: February 22, 2013 The El Cortez was placed on the National Register of Historic Places

February 22, 2018
El Cortez Hotel in downton Las Vegas

El Cortez Hotel in downton Las Vegas placed on the National Register of Historic Places on feb, 22, 2012

The El Cortez, a hotel and casino in downtown Las Vegas at 600 East Fremont Street is one of the oldest casino-hotel properties in Las Vegas. The hotel has continuously operated at the same Fremont Street location since 1941. Primarily Spanish Colonial Revival in style, it reflects a 1952 remodel when the facade was modernized. On February 22, 2013, the structure was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

El-Cortez Hotel

El-Cortez Sign Hotel in Downtown Las Vegas

Photos By: LasVegas360.com
Date Taken: July 7, 2011

Vegas Info
Posted by: Vegas Info      catagory On This Date comments Leave a comment