Category: Entertainment

Crazy Motorcycle Stunts in Las Vegas

December 31, 2017

December 31, 1967 – Caesar Palace
It all Started with Evel Knevel. On December 31, 1967, Daredevil Evel Knievel attempted to jump over the water fountains at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Knievel’s jump was a 141 foot attempt and his longest to-date. When he hit the takeoff ramp, he felt the motorcycle unexpectedly decelerate. The sudden loss of power on the takeoff caused Knievel to come up short and land on the safety ramp which was supported by a van. This caused the handlebars to be ripped out of his hands as he tumbled over them onto the pavement where he skidded into the Dunes parking lot. As a result of the crash, Knievel suffered a crushed pelvis and femur, fractures to his hip, wrist, and both ankles and a concussion that kept him in the hospital for a month in a reported coma for 29 days.

September 15, 1980 – Caesar Palace
Gary Wells gained much media coverage, and much physical suffering, when he unsuccessfully tried to jump a motorcycle over the water fountains at the Caesars Palace. He sustained injuries to many different parts of his body.

August 9, 1988 – Binion’s Horshoe Parking 7th Floor to Mint Parking garage 6th Floor
Johnny Airtime teamed up with Joe Reed and they billed themselves as The Guardian and The Bandit. They launched themselves from a seven story parking structure and landed 120′ later on top of a six story building. No safety ramp or landing ramp was used! Upon landing, they had to crash into a net to keep themselves from falling off the landing structure. The jump was billed as “Super Jump II” and was on the Guinness Book of Records television program. The gap between the two buildings was 90′.

February 4, 1999 – Jockey Club Towers in Las Vegas
Robbie Knievel jumped the 130-foot gap between the two 13-story Jockey Club Towers in Las Vegas. To avoid falling off the second tower, Robbie intentionally crashed his motorcycle into hay bales.

May 4, 2006 – Caesars Place
Mike ‘The Godfather’ Metzger sets a Guinness World Record with a 125-foot long motorcycle jump that included a back flip over a fountain at Caesars Palace on May 4, 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

December 31, 2007 – Rio Hotel
Australian stunt rider Robbie Maddison, jumps the distance of a football leaping a world-record 322 feet, seven inches in Las Vegas on New Years Eve obliterating the previous Guinness World Record of 277 feet by Trigger Gumm.


December 31, 2008 – Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas
Robbie Knievel was scheduled to jump the volcano at the Mirage Hotel. At the actual 200-foot jump, Knievel gave the appearance of jumping the volcano, but limited the stunt to a ramp-to-ramp jump in front of the volcano with fireworks behind him.

December 31, 2008 – Paris Las Vegas
Robbie Madison, live on ESPN in front of a world audience, Maddison successfully jumped 96 feet up onto the Arc de Triomphe in front of Paris Las Vegas and then descended a 80-foot drop off the monument to return safely to ground level. Robbie said after the jump that he may have broken his hand and had a gash to the bone in the webbing of his left hand.

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Ten Wild Facts about Las Vegas which Blow Your Mind

November 14, 2017

Image Source: Searchrank.com

Las Vegas, also renowned as Sin City, is best known as the gaming capital of the world. Being home to thousands of casinos that offer a wide assortment of thrills, Las Vegas is nothing short of a party destination. The city has been used as an inspiration for most online gambling destinations and the bonuses they offer, including the Bet365 casino bonus. Even though it is well known for gambling, not many people known much about the city of Las Vegas. Here are some mind-blowing facts about this flashy city that you probably didn’t know:

1. Public drinking

Some places may allow residents to walk around with drinks in their hands including Las Vegas, but the city has some strict laws on how to go about it. You are only allowed to have an open drink in public if the place where you made the purchase permitted you to leave with it. Additionally, glass and metal containers are not allowed, and one can only use a plastic container. With a drink in hand, you cannot go within one thousand feet of learning, medical, or religious institution. These drinking regulations are only upheld within the city limits.

2. Legendary Crime Lords
It is no secret that the city was built to its current gaming status by notorious mobsters. The mobster era was especially rampant between 1905 and 1910 when the law restricted gambling. The ban did not stop gambling activities, which were being undertaken underground. During this time until the ban was lifted in 1910, law enforcement engaged them in a great war, which went down in history as among the most gruesome mobster wars of our time. Even though gambling was legalized, the lottery remained banned even to date. Efforts to overturn this ban have proved futile.

You can learn more about this war in the Mob Museum located in the same city. It is filled with artifacts that were preserved from those days, and the staff tell stories of how the Las Vegas came under the influence of some of the biggest crime lords.

3. Numerous accommodation facilities
Apart from a lot of gambling establishments, Las Vegas boasts among the highest accommodation facilities, which amount to a total of one hundred and thirty thousand hotel rooms. The MGM Grand Casino has the most accommodation rooms, amounting to five thousand of them. The number of rooms available in Las Vegas are way more than those available in the entire State of Oregon, and it would take one person about two hundred and eighty-eight years to spend a night in each of them. These accommodation establishments are almost always over ninety percent full, which goes to show that the population of Las Vegas demands such a high amount of rooms.

4.  Gambling is within the city limits only

Las Vegas is most popular for its gambling activities, with casino games being found in nearly every nook and cranny. However, gambling is only allowed within forty kilometers of the famous Las Vegas Strip. Past the twenty-five-mile limit, one will be welcomed by the quieter side of Las Vegas. This law was enacted in 1931 during the construction of the Hoover Dam. The officials overseeing the construction were worried that the workers, who lived in a town just outside the city, would take all their wages to the casino tables and slots. Even with many evolvements happening in the small town, the authorities have still maintained the restriction.

5.  MGM Casino inferno
With the numerous guests that go in and out of casino establishments in Las Vegas, installing equipment to control infernos is fundamental. However, during the establishment of brick and mortar casinos up to the 1980s, most gambling destinations did not have some of the fire safety measures that are considered crucial today. The MGM Casino fell victim to an inferno in the ground floor, which happened to be one of the two floors which lacked water sprinklers. This led to a huge fire that saw the death of eighty-five people, and six hundred and seventy-nine being injured. This incident went down as one of the worst fire cases in the United States.

6. Gambling hospitals

Even though Las Vegas is well known for the thrill of gambling, one hospital took it too far, and workers began placing wagers on when their patient would pass on. These workers were stripped of their licenses, while one nurse faced murder for apparently killing one of her patients to win a wager. There have since been strict rules on where gambling can be undertaken in the city.

7.  Prostitution is banned

Being dubbed Sin City may lead most people into believing that it allows legal prostitution. The law in Nevada states that such activities are only allowed in states that feature the inhabitants not being less than four hundred thousand people. Seeing that Las Vegas has surpassed that mark by far, the practice is banned by the state. However, this does not mean that underground rings do not conduct the business.

8.  Las Vegas was among the most racially segregated states in the 1950s

During the legalization of gambling, African-Americans were not restricted from gambling at casinos. However, in the 1950s, tourists complained about the interaction of races, which led to the banning of African-Americans from gambling and living on a certain side of town. These laws were lifted in 1960.

9. Vegas saved FedEx
The Chief Executive Officer and Founder of the FedEx Company decided to dance with lady luck to save his company, which was facing bankruptcy and probable closure. He wagered the firm’s last five thousand dollars during a blackjack game. This saw him win twenty-seven thousand dollars, which helped him pay off the company’s debts.

10.  Hosts the brightest place on Earth
With about fifteen thousand miles of neon lights running through the strip, which is more than what most states have, it is no wonder the Las Vegas Strip is the brightest place on the globe when observed from space.

Las Vegas has much more exciting facts to it other than being the gambling capital as seen in this review.

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On This Date: November 13, 1982 “Boom Boom” Ray Mancini Defeats Duk Koo Kim Ends in Tragedy

November 13, 2017
Boom Boom Ray Mancini

Boom Boom Ray Mancini boxing Duk Koo Kim on November 13, 1982

On this date: November 13, 1982, a 21-year-old “Boom Boom” Ray Mancini met 23-year-old South Korean challenger Duk Koo Kim. The title bout, was at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, it was also  televised live on CBS Sports. It was a fight filled with action, but Mancini had an easy time hitting Kim during the 14 rounds the fight lasted. Kim suffered brain injuries during the fight that led to his death four days later. The week after his death, the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine showed Mancini and Kim battling, under the title “Tragedy in the Ring”.

Mancini went to the funeral in South Korea and he fell into a deep depression afterwards. He has said that the hardest moments came when people approached him and asked if he was the boxer who “killed” Duk Koo Kim. Mancini went through a period of reflection, as he blamed himself for Kim’s death.

Photo: Cover of Sports Illustrated, November 22, 1982

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The Best Bet-and-Buffet Spots in Vegas!

July 12, 2017

The Best Bet-and-Buffet Spots in Vegas!

Get your belly as well as your pockets full next time you hit the Las Vegas Strip at some of the best restaurants in the country. With diverse buffet spreads including local and foreign delicacies make sure you enjoy the following acclaimed all you can eat joints in the city!

Feast at the Cosmopolitan’s Wicked Spoon

Cosmopolitan’s Wicked Spoon

Cosmopolitan’s Wicked Spoon

The Wicked Spoon is home to one of the most incredible buffet spreads in the city, where you can find anything from Korean style squid to Coulotte steaks. They take the concept of cafeteria style buffets and elevate it to a classier level.

The décor makes the restaurant just as lavish the casino floor, and the prices depending on the time of day are reasonable. For between $28 and $49 you can eat as much gourmet steaks as you want. If you’re gambling just for fun and want to get a little festive, for an extra $15 you can have bottomless drinks, and that includes beer, mimosas, wine and more.

The Glorious Bacchanal at Caesars Palace

Bacchanal Buffet

Bacchanal at Caesars Palace

Unlike the Wicked Spoon’s bizarre menu that happens to include delicacies like dormice dating back to Ancient Rome, the Bacchanal’s menu does offer a staggering 500 mouthwatering dishes ranging across many niches both global and regional. From Atlantic and Pacific oysters to exquisite Chinese food, there’s little missing from their extravagant range of options.

Dubbed by Thrillist as “the standard against which all Las Vegas buffets are judged”, for between $40 and $60 you can book yourself a table. Once again for $15 you can get yourself bottomless drinks (excluding hard liquors), but depending on whether you plan on hitting the tables later or not that may not be the best idea.

Bellagio’s Extravagant Buffet

Bellagio’s Extravagant Buffet

Bellagio’s Buffet

The Bellagio in another one of the most famous casinos in Vegas that is also known for its award-winning buffet table. In addition to exquisite takes on home cooking, you can fill your plate with crab, oysters, lamb chops, dim sum or any of the 15 chef specialties that are made fresh every single day.

While the restaurant is usually packed, as the Bellagio is one of the hottest gambling spots in Vegas, single diners and couples have the option to skip the long line if there are any free seats at the bar. While it may not be idea, it is well worth a chance to get a taste of the multitude of dishes available. It is, however, a little on the pricier side ranging for about $40 to $58 per person.

The Magical Buffet at Wynn’s Fairy Tale Restaurant

Wynn Casino’s buffet

Wynn’s Casino Buffet

The lavish dining experience offered at Wynn Casino’s buffet is something out of a fairy tale. The bouquet’s and ceiling fixtures combine fantasy with elegance, and with over 120 dishes including prime cuts of grilled steak and oceanic delights, there’s little missing from this elaborate feast.

Priced between $30 and $60 per person depending on the time of day, one of the biggest perks of the buffet is access to one of the best dessert buffets in the city. With plenty of warm pastries and even a chocolate fountain you won’t want to miss out on dessert.

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The Gambling Lifestyle in Las Vegas

July 1, 2017

Winning in Las VegasEach city has its own allure achieved by unique traits, historical background or just welcoming locals. For Las Vegas, specifically, there is a bit more than that. The lifestyle in Vegas is often described by stating that it is both everything and nothing that meets the eye.

In order to understand life in Las Vegas, people need to realize that there is much more than just the gambling industry. Although this is the driving force which has kept this city alive during the sweltering summer heat and constant movement, people in Vegas are able to experience much more. Locals are able to witness concerts, shows and performances of the greatest world-famous stars in show business without travelling to a distant city.
Not too far from the neon lights, people are also able to experience quite a number of outdoor activities. The Vegas valley is enclosed by mountains and rough terrain, allowing visitors and locals to explore various extreme sports.

Yet, the majority of people who visit Vegas are inclined towards gambling. The gambling lifestyle as seen in movies and on TV mainly aims to attract as many gamblers as possible, which is why it is often portrayed as a luxurious, easy-money, care-free way of life. After all, Vegas has been facing some serious threats of extinction. NetBet and similar popular online casinos rapidly replaced the land-based lobbies of entire resorts filled with tables and slot machines.

Still, there are a few characteristics of the gambling lifestyle in Las Vegas which make the experience exciting and irreplaceable.

Time Stands Still in Las Vegas
This characteristic of the gambling lifestyle in Las Vegas is one of the many tactics employed by hotel and resort managers in an attempt to keep players on the casino floor. They tend to provide a full-service experience and a place to eat, drink, sleep, party or even shop within their establishment in order to prevent players from leaving. Thus, gamblers often get carried away and end up spending too many sleepless nights in the lobby without any idea of the actual time.

Gambling Is Also a Profession
Although this could also be true for any other town where gambling is legal and regulated, Las Vegas does offer greater variety when it comes to developing your gambling skills. Previous generations have already set the basics for the industry, leaving youngsters with a done product which simply needs some refurbishing now and then.

In order to enjoy your stay in Vegas, you need to understand that this is not an easy way to make a living. Despite stereotypical beliefs, there is only a very small portion of gamblers who actually accumulate all their income from gambling and can sustain themselves and their family.

Gambling Etiquette
Just like any other official business, gambling in Las Vegas casinos is done under certain unwritten rules. Small things like asking whether the chair is free or not, or simply learning the rules of the game before placing your bet and throwing a fit for losing your money often mean a lot to the typical Las Vegas gambler.

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On This Date: June 30, 1996, The Sands Hotel & Casino Closed

June 30, 2017

Sands Hotel & Casino

Sands Hotel & Casino A Place in the Sun

On this date the Sands Hotel & Casino Closed, June 30, 1996. The Historic hotel was the seventh hotel to open on the famous Las Vegas Strip on December 15, 1952. The Sands was was owned by Howard Hughes in the mid 1960’s.

Sands

Sands Hotel & Casino witht the Famous Rat Pack names on the Marquee

The original movie, Ocean’s 11 was filmed at the Sands and during this time movie stars Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford performed at the Copa Room. This is considered the birthplace of the “Rat Pack” and it was called the “Summit at the Sands”.  Another Famous lounge act was that of Louis Prima who performed at the Sands in the ’60s and early ’70s. The hotel was closed on June 30, 1996 and later imploded on November 26, 1996. The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino now resides at the Sands former location.

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