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Articles by Corey Levitan
Las Vegas Airport Plans Multibillion-Dollar Expansion
Clark County aviation officials outlined a sweeping modernization plan for Harry Reid International Airport this week. The multibillion‑dollar overhaul will expand capacity, replace aging infrastructure, and prepare Las Vegas for continued visitor growth and major events. Passengers at Harry Reid International Airport play slot machines while awaiting their departures out of Las Vegas.
ESPN Producer Whose Gambling-Addicted Brother Died On Streets Says She Quit Over Its Embrace of Sports Betting
A longtime ESPN producer who lost her brother to gambling addiction resigned from the network after 24 years due to its pivot into sports betting. Nicole Noren—winner of multiple Emmy, Murrow, and Peabody awards—told the Columbia Journalism Review (CJR) this week that ESPN’s business priorities have overtaken its journalistic responsibilities. The breaking point, Noren said, was the sports network’s decision to license its name to the ESPN Bet app in 2023. “I was out,” Noren told CJR.
Report: Walton Laurie Vegas NBA Bid Adds Raiders Stakeholder Durban and Plans New Arena Near Allegiant
The Las Vegas NBA expansion race picked up fresh drama this week, according to the Sports Business Journal (SBJ), as Silver Lake co‑CEO Egon Durban—already a 22% stakeholder in the Raiders—has joined the Nancy Walton Laurie-Bill Laurie bid for an NBA franchise.
VEGAS MYTHS RE-BUSTED: The Luxor’s Sphinx Jinx
EDITOR’S NOTE: “Vegas Myths Busted” publishes new entries every Monday, with a bonus Flashback Friday edition. Today’s entry in our ongoing series originally ran Oct. 13, 2025. The Great Sphinx of Giza in Egypt faces east, toward the rising sun—a symbolic alignment tied to ancient sun worship and rebirth. Its famous modern Las Vegas replica, the Luxor Sphinx in Las Vegas, faces west, toward the Strip and away from the sunrise.
Officials Identify Body Found in Barrel on Drying Lake Mead Shore in 2022
Clark County officials on Thursday (Oct. 15) released the identity of the man whose remains were discovered inside a corroded metal barrel on the exposed shoreline of Lake Mead—a case that initially reignited decades‑old speculation about Las Vegas’ organized‑crime past.
Vegas Club Promoter Sentenced to 8-20 Years for DUI Crash That Injured 2-Year-Old and Her Mom
A Las Vegas club promoter who plowed his Tesla into a visiting family near the Strip—critically injuring a mother and her two‑year‑old daughter—was sentenced Thursday (Oct. 15) to a prison term that could keep him incarcerated for up to two decades. This two-year-old girl was hit so hard by a vehicle driven by an impaired Las Vegas club promoter, she was ejected from her stroller and struck a metal pole.
Boyd Gaming Named in Teen Sex Assault Lawsuit
Boyd Gaming has been named as a defendant in a civil lawsuit alleging that a 16‑year‑old girl was sexually assaulted inside a hotel room at The Orleans, a Las Vegas property owned and operated by the company. The complaint was filed Tuesday (Oct. 13) in Clark County District Court. Boyd Gaming’s Orleans casino hotel in Las Vegas.
VEGAS DINING NEWS Sonic the Hedgehog Pop-Up, $20K Metallica Steak Package
The Sonic the Hedgehog Speed Café zooms into Chinatown on Saturday (Oct. 17) at 5600 Spring Mountain Road, Suite A. That’s the space vacated by One Piece Café earlier this month. The Blue Blur himself holds court at the Sonic the Hedgehog Speed Café pop-up in St. Louis.
Juror Removed from Flamingo Abuse Trial After Profane Remark About Defendant
A prospective juror was dismissed Tuesday (Oct. 13) from the trial of Mitchell Fairbarn, the Canadian tourist accused of stealing and abusing a flamingo at the Flamingo Las Vegas in March. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the man was overheard making a profane remark about Fairbarn in a hallway at Clark County District Court. A still from elevator surveillance footage allegedly shows Mitchell Fairbarn abducting a flamingo at 5:15 a.m. on March 3, 2026.
Mike Tyson Sued for Million $2M After Refusing to Participate in iGaming Promo with Talking Pigeon
Mike Tyson and his wife, Lakiha Spicer, are being sued for just under $2 million (£1.5 million) in London’s High Court over a collapsed promotional deal with Medier Ltd., the company behind the Rabona online gaming brand. Mike Tyson, 60, and his wife of 17 years, Lakiha Spicer, attend a New York gala in September 2026.
The Villas at Caesars Palace Ranked No. 1 Casino Hotel in Inaugural AAA List
The Villas at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas has been named the top‑ranked casino hotel in AAA’s first‑ever list evaluating casino hotels and resorts across North America, Mexico, Costa Rica, and the Caribbean. The designation places the property at the top of 161 AAA‑rated casino hotels included in the inaugural ranking. A terrace at one of The Villas, an exclusive collection of luxury accommodations at Caesars Palace frequented by celebrities, dignitaries, and high-rollers.
The Venetian to Open Exclusive Milano Hotel-Within-a-Hotel in March 2027
The Venetian Resort Las Vegas announced this week that Milano, a 275-suite hotel-within-a-hotel inside The Palazzo, will open in March 2027. The boutique enclave features a dedicated arrival experience, a private concierge team and a exclusive outdoor pool developed in collaboration with Dolce & Gabbana.
VEGAS MUSIC NEWS: John Mayer Hits 21 at Sphere, Sting to Headline Caesars
John Mayer has added three more dates to his 2027 Sphere run, bringing the total to a Vegas-lucky 21. The newest shows—June 9, 11 and 12—were announced Tuesday (Oct. 13) after another surge in demand. Mayer announced six shows in September, then added a dozen more last week. The residency, titled “Solo + Full Band + John Mayer Trio,” now runs from April 8 through June 12, 2027. He’s the new Mayer of Vegas.
Keffe D Gets 40 Years to Life for Orchestrating Tupac Shakur’s Murder
Duane “Keffe D” Davis was sentenced on Tuesday (Oct. 13) to 40 years to life for orchestrating the 1996 murder of rap icon Tupac Shakur. The 63-year-old defendant was convicted in August of first-degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon. He is the only person ever charged in the murder of Shakur, whose popularity was peaking at age 25. Duane “Keffe D” Davis, shown after learning of his conviction in August 2026, is likely to die in prison for the murder of Tupac Shakur.
Resorts World is the Best Vegas Spot for NBA arena … Says Resorts World
Resorts World should be the home of Las Vegas’ NBA future, according to the president of Resorts World, who is doubling down on his property’s 42-acre footprint as the most turnkey option available. Resorts World argues its rare combination of Strip frontage and back access via Sammy Davis Jr. Drive, and its existing infrastructure, should make building a new NBA arena easier and faster.
LOST VEGAS: The Old Vegas Theme Park
Las Vegas has always been brilliant at selling fantasies. One of its earliest and most persistent was the idea that the city grew out of a dusty frontier settlement—a place of cattle drives, saloons, and shootouts. This was the theme of Old Vegas, an amusement park that sold a version of Vegas that never existed. The Old Vegas theme park, photographed in August 1980, wasn’t old and it wasn’t Vegas.
VEGAS MUSIC NEWS: Lionel Richie Postpones, Pearl Jam’s Sphere Fear, En Vogue, Chicago & Nickelback
Lionel Richie postponed three shows this week at Encore Theater at the Wynn: Oct. 14, 16, and 17. The 77-year-old “Hello” singer recently disclosed that he underwent a procedure for atrial fibrillation, which also forced him to cancel tour stops with Earth, Wind & Fire. He previously halted performances in St. Louis and St. Paul after experiencing dizziness onstage. Lionel Richie begins his show at the Muny in St. Louis on Aug. 29, 2026.
VEGAS MYTHS BUSTED: The Scout Who Named Las Vegas
Rafael Rivera is credited with bestowing Las Vegas with its name. In return, Las Vegas named Rafael Rivera Park in his honor. The 10-acre park features the Rafael Rivera Community Center, in front of which stands an 11-foot fiberglass statue of Rivera on horseback, sculpted by Jim Casey in 1978 and originally erected at the Old Vegas amusement park in Henderson, Nev. Except that there is zero evidence that Rivera named Las Vegas.
Recovering Barry Manilow Ends Second Show of Vegas Comeback After Two Songs
Barry Manilow’s long-anticipated comeback run at the Westgate hit a setback Friday night (Oct. 9), one day after his long‑delayed return to the stage. After performing only two songs, according to Casino.org‘s Vital Vegas, the 83‑year‑old “Copacabana” singer exited early, telling the audience to “talk amongst yourselves.” Barry Manilow attends the funeral of record executive Clive Davis on June 29, 2026 in New York.
Arrest Report Sheds Light on Viral Vegas Showgirl Impersonator Brawl
New details have been brought to light by the arrest report of two showgirl impersonators who allegedly attacked a man and woman in a Sept. 30 incident on the Las Vegas Strip. Making the attack even more painful, the victims had come to town to get married.
FanDuel Debuts Lil Wayne NFL-Season Ad
FanDuel has released a new commercial featuring a cameo from rapper Lil Wayne. The ad, titled “Little Boost,” premiered on Thursday (Oct. 8) as part of the company’s “Most Rewarding Season Ever” initiative for the current NFL season. Rapper and Green Bay Packers fan Lil Wayne Stumps for FanDuel. (Image: FanDuel) “Football season is always a vibe, so teaming up with FanDuel for this one was fun,” Lil Wayne said in a statement from FanDuel.
Judge Upholds Vegas Strip Ban on Stopping Along Pedestrian Bridges
A federal judge has upheld Clark County’s controversial ban on stopping or standing on pedestrian bridges along or around the Las Vegas Strip, rejecting an American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) challenge that argued the rule violates constitutional protections. Tourists stop to photograph the Sphere. Stopping along a Las Vegas pedestrian bridge like this is currently a misdemeanor offense for which they can be jailed for up to six months and/or fined up to $1,000.
Nevada Gov. Candidate Makes Final Table at Vegas Charity Poker Event
Danielle Ford is hoping for a stronger showing on Nov. 3 than she managed on Oct. 3. Fifth place in a charity poker tournament is respectable, but anything short of first place in the Nevada governor’s race is a loss. Nevada gubernatorial candidate Danielle Ford wants your votes and your poker chips. (Image: Danielle Ford/Facebook) Ford spent last Saturday reaching the final table at the “Every Hand Makes a Difference” tournament.
Maverick Gaming Co-Founder Moves to Reacquire Bankrupt Nevada Casinos
Maverick Gaming co‑founder and Las Vegas poker pro Eric Persson is attempting to buy back two struggling Elko, Nev. casinos he once owned, a move he says would keep them open and prevent more than 239 layoffs. What’s unusual about Eric Persson’s purchase of the Maverick Casino Hotel and the Gold Country Inn and Casino is that he’s buying the properties, and his name, back from the lenders.
Offset Faces Default Risk in Detroit Casino Lawsuit After Missing Court Deadline
Offset’s legal fight with Detroit’s MotorCity Casino Hotel is now in danger of moving ahead without him. A judge says the rapper missed the deadline to respond to the casino’s lawsuit, and the case is now shifting toward a possible default judgment. Rapper Offset walks the runway as part of Fashion Week in Paris, France, on Oct. 2, 2026. (Image: Justin Shin/Getty) A Sept.
Jail for Woman Who Funded $300K Vegas Gambling Habit By Marrying Multiple Men
A Clark County judge on Tuesday (Oct. 6) sentenced Jiaying Chen to nearly a year in jail after police said she stole hundreds of thousands from numerous men she fraudulently married to fuel a gambling habit. Convicted serial bigamist Jiaying Chen—better known to her more than a dozen husbands as “Vicky Liang”—appears in court on Tuesday.
Study: Online Sports Betting Causes Spike in ER Visits
Legalization of sports betting in Ontario, Canada was linked to a rise in severe gambling-related health problems. That’s the conclusion of a new study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. An ambulance is shown parked at the ER entrance to North York General Hospital in Toronto, Canada.
‘Ghost Adventures’ Host Zak Bagans to Make Museum Out of Bizarre Underground Vegas House
Zak Bagans just purchased the most bizarre residence known to exist in a town with many contenders for that title. The Underground House is a sprawling Cold War fallout shelter buried nearly three stories beneath an unassuming house in a quiet suburb near Flamingo Road. Investigator of the bizarre Zak Bagans has purchased the most bizarre home known to exist in Las Vegas.
Gas Up, Cash In: Terrible’s Offers $100 in Free Play at Primm
Terrible’s Gaming, the new operator of Primm Valley Casino, has introduced a promotion that awards fuel purchases at its Terrible’s Chevron stations with free casino play. The offer provides guests with up to $100 in free play when they present a qualifying gas receipt at the casino cage. The Primm Valley Resort & Casino, the sole casino currently operating in the tiny border town of Primm, Nev., opened in 1990 as the Primadonna Resort & Casino.
VEGAS MYTHS BUSTED: Nevada Gaming Taxes Provide Crucial Funding for State Public Schools
A stroll down the Las Vegas Strip makes the idea feel intuitive: with no state income tax and roughly $1 billion in annual gaming tax revenue, Nevada must fund its public schools, roads, and municipal services primarily through casino floors. It is a compelling narrative, but state balance sheets tell a different story. This is not a photo of Las Vegas schoolchildren stopping to thank the primary patrons of their education.
VEGAS DINING NEWS: Cosmo’s Corner Store Sets Opening, Durango Food Hall to Close 3 Food Stations
The Corner Store opens at the Cosmopolitan on Nov. 9, 2026, marking the SoHo restaurant’s first location outside New York. Reservations are now available. No renderings of the Corner Store’s Las Vegas location have been released yet. So please enjoy this photo of the restaurant’s other location, in New York, which the Cosmo outpost is expected to resemble. (Image: Corner Store) The Las Vegas outpost takes over the former Blue Ribbon American Grill & Oyster Bar space on the resort’s third floor.
Showgirl Impersonators Brawl with Las Vegas Strip Tourists in Viral Video
Two showgirl impersonators were arrested and charged with battery after attacking a man and woman on the Las Vegas Strip this week. A wild bystander video of the attack was obtained and posted by TMZ on Friday (Oct. 2) The video, embedded below, opens mid-brawl, as two impersonators attack a woman in white pants, knocking her to the ground near the entrance to a Las Vegas Strip pedestrian walkway by Flamingo Road.
Woman Sues Las Vegas Bar Over Injury on Mechanical Penis
An Illinois woman has filed a lawsuit against a downtown Las Vegas bar called The Nerd, alleging she was injured after being thrown from a mechanical penis ride during a late-night visit last fall. The complaint, filed Wednesday (Sept. 30) in Clark County District Court, claims the bar failed to maintain the attraction, warn patrons of hazards, or require any safety waivers before use. The entrance to The Nerd bar inside Neonopolis.
Metallica Burns Through Las Vegas Sphere Debut
Metallica kicked off their highly anticipated “Life Burns Faster” residency at Las Vegas’ Sphere on Thursday night (Oct. 1) with an electrifying, 16-song set matched to expectedly eye-popping visuals. They were the first metal band to headline the venue. With video of the Sphere projected behind him, James Hetfield belts out “Wherever I May Roam” on Oct. 1, 2026, during the first of 24 Metallica shows at the Sphere scheduled through March 13, 2027.
VEGAS MYTHS RE-BUSTED: Bugsy Introduced Mob to Vegas in 1946
EDITOR’S NOTE: “Vegas Myths Busted” publishes new entries every Monday, with a bonus Flashback Friday edition. Today’s entry in our ongoing series originally ran June 3, 2024. Benjamin “Bugsy” Siegel is incorrectly blamed for introducing the mafia to Las Vegas in 1946. That’s when the suspected murderer from Brooklyn exploited Flamingo founder Billy Wilkerson’s gambling addiction as the means to steal the under-construction casino resort out from under him.
VEGAS DINING NEWS: Wynn’s Cliffhanger, Circus Circus Courts New Food, Category 10/15
Wynn Las Vegas’ newest upscale eatery, Cliff House Grill, will open to the public on Friday (Oct. 2). The Cliff House sits atop the Wynn Golf Club’s new clubhouse, designed by architects Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (the Lever House in New York and the Willis Tower in Chicago). (Image: Scott Roeben/Vital Vegas) The dining space and its adjacent terrace sit in the new clubhouse high above the 18th green, offering spectacular views of the course, its waterfall, and the Sphere.
Westgate Las Vegas Debuts Year-Round Holiday-Themed Suites
Westgate Las Vegas is promoting four themed suites for the fall and winter holiday seasons, offering large-format rooms built around Halloween, Día de los Muertos, Christmas and the National Finals Rodeo. The resort said the suites—with layouts ranging from 1,125 to 1,500 square feet—are designed to give guests a fully decorated environment tied to major seasonal events. However, they will all also be available year-round.
IGT Debuts Queen Video Slot Machine at G2E in Vegas
International Game Technology (IGT), the Las Vegas–based manufacturer behind 2023’s Whitney Houston Video Slots, has introduced the first Queen slot machine at this week’s Global Gaming Expo (G2E). Queen Video Slots expands IGT’s music‑licensed portfolio and marks the company’s first attempt at licensing an entire band rather than a single artist. Yaas, Queen! This new slot machine can be seen this week at G2E at the Venetian through Thursday (Oct. 1).
Bravo Pumps Out Reality Trailer for Vanderpump Hotel Special
“Oh, for (bleeped)’s sake, where are the bloody carpets?” Lisa Vanderpump demands to know in the trailer to Vanderpump Rules: Lisa Las Vegas, the upcoming limited Bravo TV special about her mad dash to open the Vanderpump Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. Lisa Vanderpump, center, is bookended by her husband, Ken Todd—holding Puffy the Pomeranian—and her longtime design partner Nick Alain in front of the Vanderpump Hotel.
NBA Shortlists Three Ownership Groups for Las Vegas NBA Expansion—Report
The NBA is moving into the final stretch of its Las Vegas expansion process, with league officials preparing to choose a winning ownership group from three billionaire‑backed finalists. According to reporting from ESPN, the franchise and its accompanying arena project are expected to command at least $12-13 billion, which—if the high end holds—would put the package in the same range as the Lakers’ record-breaking $12.5 billion sale.
VEGAS MUSIC NEWS: K-pop’s LISA Adds Caesars Palace Dates, Plus Pink Floyd, A Perfect Circle, Metallica Scoops
LISA, the first K-pop artist with a Las Vegas residency, has expanded hers with two newly added shows at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace: Nov. 12 and 19. LISA performs at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards on Sept. 27, 2026. (Image: Kevin Winter/Getty) The additions bring “VIVA LA LISA” to six total dates, after the initial four (Nov. 13-14 and 27-28) reportedly sold out in under 10 minutes when they went on sale in April.
Future Less Bright for Brightline High-Speed Vegas Rail
Brightline Holdings and affiliated Florida parent companies—sister companies to Brightline West, the company that still says it plans to build a high-speed rail line from Las Vegas to Southern California—have entered a new chapter. Specifically, Chapter 11. According to Brightline West’s plans, its trains will travel 218 miles on the median of Interstate 15 at speeds of up to 200 mph, making the trip in about two hours.
BetMGM Opens Las Vegas Strip’s First Poolside Sportsbook
This weekend, BetMGM opened a retail sportsbook at Tailgate Beach Club, the sports-centric pool dayclub at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino. Eligible guests can now bet at an outdoor window inside a converted cabana without leaving the pool deck. The BetMGM cabana at Mandalay Bay’s Tailgate Beach Club. (Image: MGM Resorts) Tailgate opened in May on the former Daylight Beach Club site, steps from Allegiant Stadium on the south Strip.
VEGAS MUSIC NEWS: Mayer Announces Sphere Residency, Hetfield Tours Punk Museum, Alice Cooper/Criss Angel Add Dates
John Mayer will headline at least six shows at the Sphere that will feature three distinct sets. The April 2027 residency will find the blues guitarist performing as a solo artist, with a full band, and with the John Mayer Trio. The solo set will primarily feature Mayer by himself on acoustic guitar, piano and electric guitar. And the Trio set will find Mayer reuniting with his bandmates, bassist Pino Palladino and drummer Steve Jordan, for the first time live since 2023.
VEGAS MYTHS BUSTED: Casino Betting Systems Work
Nothing destroys a casino bankroll quite like a betting system. Especially a “foolproof” one. The Martingale is the clearest example of this folly. Its logic states that you can’t lose by wagering on even-money outcomes—like red or black on a roulette wheel—if you double your bet every time you lose. At least this guy still has his shirt.
Zoox Robotaxi Involved in Injury Crash on Las Vegas Strip
A crash involving an autonomous Zoox robotaxi and a silver Nissan Murano sent one person to a Las Vegas hospital Friday morning (Sept. 25), as Nevada Highway Patrol investigated the collision on the Strip. This traffic-cam photo shows the aftermath of a collision between a Zoox robotaxi, left, and a Nissan Murano near Mandalay Bay on Friday morning, Sept. 25.
Federal Agency Sues Circa Las Vegas for Alleged Religious Discrimination
Federal authorities have filed a religious discrimination lawsuit against Circa Resort & Casino in downtown Las Vegas, alleging the gaming property unlawfully disciplined and fired a Messianic Jewish employee for wearing a headscarf in accordance with her faith.
VEGAS MYTHS RE-BUSTED: The Strip Tried Appealing to Families and Failed
EDITOR’S NOTE: “Vegas Myths Busted” publishes new entries every Monday, with a bonus Flashback Friday edition. Today’s entry in our ongoing series originally ran Feb. 17, 2023. In one of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitor Authority’s funny new TV commercials, a father informs his son that broccoli is “the only food they have” in Vegas. “Everything is broccoli,” including the ice cream, he tells the grimacing tyke, who elects to stay home instead.
Inside the Messy Court Battle Between Carrot Top and His Alleged Extortionist
The singer accused of extorting Carrot Top sent the Luxor headliner’s former legal team a video in May 2024 warning that their legal squabble was “no longer about settling.” The clip does not threaten to release a sex tape and Brian Evans doesn’t demand money in exchange for not releasing it. The 90-second clip—published on Thursday (Sept. 24) by Page Six—has become the latest exhibit in a Florida court fight that lawyers for Carrot Top (real name: Scott Thompson) say has dogged him for years.
EDC Organizer to Renovate Las Vegas’s Most Historic Rock Music Venue
Clark County has earmarked $10 million to help Insomniac, the promoter behind the annual Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC), renovate the former Sahara Event Center just east of the Las Vegas Strip. The former Sahara Event Center—located at 800 Liberace Ave. (formerly E. Karen Ave.) in the Commercial Center—is the most historically significant surviving rock music landmark in Las Vegas.
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