Category: Entertainment

On This Date: May 18, 1985, Wet ‘n Wild opened on the Las Vegas Strip

May 18, 2017
Wet-n-Wild-waterpark-Las-Vegas-1990-5

Wet ‘n Wild Waterpark Las Vegas Strip 1990’s

On this Date, May 18, 1985 Wet ‘n Wild opened at the North end of the Las Vegas Strip at 2601 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, Nevada. Las Vegas Strip Wet ‘n Wild was a 27-acre water park located on the Las Vegas Strip next to the Sahara Hotel. If featured water rides: Willy Willy, Der Stuka / Bomb Bay / Blue Niagra, Royal Flush, Suntan Lagoon, Lazy River, Dragon’s Den (former Banzai Banzai), Surf Lagoon, Kids Park, Raging Rapids, Plaza Pool (former Bubble Up), Black Hole & Whitewater Slideways and Beach Club.

The park closed in September 2004 to make way for the now defunct and never completed Fontainebleau Resort.

Editor’s Note: From personal history, my roommate was a lead lifeguard from the opening date, problems that occurred included: the Lazy River had too many pumps running causing the river to flow too fast. The water slides had ran too fast, which lead to some patrons flying over the sides and landing on the ground below. additionalprotective sides had to be added to extend the height. The concrete walkways had to be acid washed every night, due the falls on the slick surface. I spent the opening summer there hanging out with lots of staff during and after work.

Wet 'n Wild Waterpark Las Vegas Strip 1990's

Wet ‘n Wild Waterpark Las Vegas Strip 1990’s

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Wet ‘n Wild Waterpark Las Vegas Strip 1990’s

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Wet ‘n Wild Waterpark Las Vegas Strip 1990’s

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Wet ‘n Wild Waterpark Las Vegas Strip 1990’s (Der Stuka)

 

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On This Date May 14, 2015 Blues Legend and Las Vegas Local B.B. King passes away

May 14, 2017
B.B King in 2009

B.B King in 2009 Photo by: Tom Beetz

On this date May 14, 2015, B.B. King passed away in Las Vegas. Born, Riley Ben King (September 16, 1925 – May 14, 2015), but known by his stage name B.B. King, was an American Hall of Fame blues singer, songwriter and guitarist. also,King had been a long time Las Vegas resident since 1975.

His biggest hit was “The Thrill Is Gone,” which won him the first of 15 Grammy awards. King was also known for performing tirelessly throughout his musical career, appearing at more than 200 concerts per year on average into his 70s.  His famous guitar was named  Lucille which was a Gibson ES-355 “Lucille”.  B.B King was 89.

Photo by: Tom Beetz – http://www.flickr.com/photos/9967007@N07/6577873073

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On This Date: May 4, 2015 The Riviera Closes its doors

May 4, 2017
The Riviera Closes after 60 years

The Riviera Closes after 60 years

After barely 60 years on the Las Vegas Strip the classic Riviera Hotel and Casino will close forever today on May 4, 2015.  The hotel opened on April 20, 1955.  It was the first high-rise of 9 stories to open on the Las Vegas Strip.  The Riviera opened its doors on April 20th, 1955.  Liberace and his brother, George were the headliners and actress Joan Crawford was the official hostess.

The hotel had over 2,100 rooms and 110,000 sq. ft. casinoof gaming space.

In February of 2015, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority acquired the Riviera hotel and its land for $182.5 million. The hotel will be demolished to make way for a planned expansion of LVCVA’s Las Vegas Global Business District exhibit and meeting center project.

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Wall sized photo in the entrance of the hotel

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Front of the Riviera side from the Las Vegas Strip

 

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“No Ifs and or butts

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Valet entrance from Las Vegas Blvd.

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The Entrance of the Riviera from the Strip

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The Pool at the Riviera

 

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South side of the Riviera stretching from Las Vegas Blvd. to Paradise Rd.

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The Riviera having its 60th Anniversary

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Looking at the north end of the hotel from the Las Vegas Strip heading south

Photos by: LasVegas360.com
Date Taken: May 2, 2015

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On This Date: April 20, 1955 The Riviera Hotel & Casino opened on the Las Vegas Strip

April 20, 2017
Riviera Hotel & Casino

Riviera Hotel & Casino on the Las Vegas Strip

The Riviera opened on April 20, 1955 as the first high-rise and the ninth resort on the Las Vegas Strip. The Riviera is one of the oldest and most famous casino resorts in Las Vegas.
The Riviera closed in May 4, 2015 and is currently own by the Las Vegas Convention authority which who paid $182.5 million to acquire. Here are some photos of it’s last operational day on May 4, 2015.

Photo by: LasVegas360.com

 

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The Evolution of Online Gambling

September 16, 2016

Casino ChipsThese last few years or so have seen a revolution in online gambling, no longer it is considered as a somewhat shady operation, in fact the industry is widely respected for its transparency and fairness towards its customers, so what has changed?

Firstly it is a matter of course that as the number of people that enjoy to gamble online increases then, just the same as any other ecommerce business, gambling online has become a credible, established alternative to bricks and mortar venues.

Now, online gambling has proven to be so popular and has become so well organised that no legitimate operator would even think of possibly ripping off any of his customers as it would certainly damage the future of his business, bad new travels quickly over the internet.

Choice is the name of the game with online gambling, there is now a massive selection of games to choose from and a wide selection of top quality casinos to play at.  Most of the most popular games are offered with variations, for an example, if you play Conquer Casino you can play a complete selection of games including slots, a live casino, a full range of table games plus a great selection of jackpot games and for those who like to play on the go there is a great mobile option available.

This greater variety of games compared to those offered at a bricks and mortar venue is what pulls in a lot of people, and because any successful online business wants to protect its reputation besides guarding its integrity then players can enjoy their time spent online knowing that their safety and security have been covered by the site.

Today, games are offered with high quality graphics, audio and video clips to enhance player experience and gameplay is almost seamless with pages loading and opening up almost seamlessly.

One tip for the new player would be to invest a little of their own cash at a time when they first go online, this is to make sure that the site suits you and gives you the type of bonuses and promotional offers that appeal. Another tip is to read a few reviews on the sites that jump out at you. These reviews are much like the ones you will look at before you commit any of your money online and work in the same way, rating and ranking the casinos on their performance in the market.

It is a simple fact that millions of people like to gamble and those people come from all sectors of life.  The reasons behind this are the same whether they gamble in physical venues like casinos, betting shops or race tracks, or indeed whether they have a bet online. Taking a gamble is in-bred into our societies or none of us would ever cross a road or make a decision, so using this trait as a form of entertainment is natural.

One thing is for certain, and that is that online gambling is here to stay, whether we use our computers or mobile devices to source our favourite casino games, online gambling provides a little bit of excitement with the possibility of a win and if we keep any bets to a sensible amount, the thrill of this type of entertainment can be one of the best to experience.

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How Bitcoins Are Taking Over Online Casinos

September 9, 2016

bitcoin

Bitcoins have started to make a splash in an unexpected location: online casinos.

Bitcoin is a type of currency, similar to American dollars or pounds, that is used primarily for transactions made on the web. You’re never going to have a physical bitcoin, instead, it’s a form of digital currency you can use to make purchases. The currency was originally used primarily for purchasing of things online you didn’t want tracked, for instance, illegal firearms or drugs; however, now it has started to enter the mainstream, and can be used to purchase everything from a new pair of shoes to takeout for dinner.

Using bitcoin for online gambling can have many benefits, the largest of which is that the currency is by default international. That means that from your home in America, you can gamble in online casinos that are located everywhere from the UK to China, just as if you were a native in those countries. On a basic level, that might allow you access to a casino you might have otherwise not been able to use, but it can also have a dramatic effect on your winnings. The good news for the casino, and even better news for gamblers.

Typically when you gamble in a foreign casino you’re required to transfer the funds that you’re gambling with into the native country’s currency. Then when you’re done gambling, you have to exchange the money once again back into the currency for your country. Depending on the casino you’ve chosen and how you’re handling the transaction (your bank account, credit card, etc), that could mean paying exchange fees on both sides of the equation. Depending on how much money you’re transferring in and out of the casino, that could add up to a ton of cash.

With bitcoin, you’re using an international currency, that means there are no exchange rates on either side of the transaction. Depending on the cost of the transfer, that could equate to big savings for you.

Another reason people are moving toward using Bitcoin over other forms of currency online is for security reasons. Bitcoin is one of the most secure ways you can conduct business online. The highly-secure currency is less susceptible to fraud than other forms of payments like credit cards. Using it can be a great way for you to gamble, without handing over private information to a foreign entity.

Speaking of private information, the private nature of Bitcoin is one of its largest advantages. With Bitcoin you’re able to conduct transactions completely anonymously. That’s why the currency gained such popularity in the “black” market because it could not be traced by the government (or any other), so you were able to make purchases of whatever you want without fear you were being tracked or watching.

In a casino environment, that means you could gamble online without anyone knowing that it was you specifically doing the gambling. Despite this being a feature of the currency, you might run into issues where the casino still requires that you provide some form of identification in order to gamble. That need isn’t currency based, however, so it might be bypassed in some situations.

And then there’s the matter of Bitcoin casinos. Bitcoin gambling sites have started to pop
up all over the web. With these, they’re counting on you coming to the
party with just Bitcoin, in fact you can’t use anything but Bitcoin to
gamble in them. When you win, that’s also what you walk away with: more
Bitcoin.

Bitcoin casinos do have another strong advantage: they often have better odds and high payouts. With traditional casinos, the owner has to deal with the cost of taking in and distributing funds to bank accounts, credit cards and the like. While you might take on some of those charges, there are others in place for the casino, and they can add up to be something pretty high.

With a Bitcoin casino, everyone is able to transfer Bitcoin in and out freely, that means there’s no cost for the casino when it comes to bringing cash in or out. Since they’re saving there, they can afford to pass some of that saving on to customers through bigger jackpots and better odds.

Visit bitcoincasino.best for a great selection of trusted bitcoin casinos.

 

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