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Episode Description
This week we learned of a new #slot machine that avoids the need for a W2-G in a clever way. Is technology going to continue pushing this forward and when will the IRS revise the $1,200 limit for receiving a W2-G on a slot jackpot?
In other #news traffic near the Strip is about to get a lot worse thanks to the massive Dropicana project which will reimagine the I-15/Tropicana interchange. We also discuss someone breaking the bagel eating world record, what’s left for Prime Rib specials in Vegas, how casinos are cutting back on building maintenance and what Lunar New Year looks like in #Vegas for 2023.
Produced & Edited by: Shawn Coomer
0:00 Crazy Vegas freeway art installation
1:08 A new slot machine that cleverly avoids “taxable” jackpots
3:20 Why the slot jackpot taxable threshold probably needs to change
4:30 Dropicana massive freeway project coming – Huge impacts on traffic
6:18 The most interesting things being added during the Dropicana project
7:00 World Bagel Eating Championship – New world record set
8:00 Shaq’s Big Chicken opens second Las Vegas location
8:48 Best Vegas Prime Rib specials in January, 2023 – What is left?
10:22 Is building maintenance a big problem in Vegas casinos?
12:26 Is Caesars spending money on the right things?
13:30 Vegas hotels canceling bookings during F1 weekend booked before the race was announced?
14:22 Stunning Lunar New Year displays at Bellagio & Venetian
16:05 MGM’s Lunar New Year activities at Aria, Bellagio, MGM Grand and Cosmo
Relevant Links:
Big eyes –
Art crash –
New slot machine –
New slot –
Dropicana –
Bagel contest –
Big chicken –
Prime Rib specials –
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Host – Shawn Coomer – @MtM_Vegas
Host – Mark Ostermann – @DetroitMark
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42 comments
Another thing about the W2Gs is that you can only offset them with gambling losses if you itemize deductions. When the standard deduction was increased by a large amount several years ago, it was no longer worthwhile to itemize for many taxpayers.
I wanted to get a bagel at Siegel's Bagels when I was in town last April but didn't realize they close early. I thought they open 24/7 and I wanted to get some late afternoon snacks from them between my conference sessions. I guess I'll have to go there for breakfast when I'm heading back to Vegas for the NAB Conference this April.
Love the content. I'm loading up my Vegas word doc with lots of things to see, do, and eat when I'm out there for Star Trek Las Vegas. Thanks guys!
Screw healthcare and education. Screw feeding the homeless. I want giant metal heads on the roadside!
I was born in the year of the snake…..slither, slither, slither
we American's are accepting less and less in customer service and less for our dollar.
I love that slot machine idea. I don’t think it will affect most people unfortunately since I don’t know many people betting 25 dollars a credit
When it comes to Shaq's Big Chicken, I went to the one on Paradise when I was in Vegas last month. Really good chicken sandwiches. They also have one here in Seattle at Climate Pledge Arena (though the prices are much more than a stand alone location). One example of an MGM property that is falling apart is Excalibur which likely hasn't had any updates since at least the mid 2000's. The carpet on the casino floor there is quite dirty & smells of cigarette smoke & the elevators always seem to be broken.
I think the Paris is now the step child to Caesar’s like ballys use to be
The Willie Nelson slot machine had a $1,199 bonus, to commemorate his relationship with the IRS.
Time to call 📱 in C. Angel to solve Vegas problems. Right Mark !😈🙈😱👀
I live near the south point, and it always super packed…. They have done a good job with catering to horse people and bowling tournaments people… every week it seems that there is something going on there
Glad I found you two, love the updates. Oh, Mark, I might be able to find $1.00 for that go fund me for a Criss Angel statue 🤣🤣🤣
Vegas needs strip clubs on the strip !😈👀🤪🍺🔥🤓
I see those $100 a spin slot machines in the high limit room and wonder how does the $1200 handpay work with them? Having to stop playing every 10 minutes and wait for who knows how long because you hit a handpay would be very annoying.
You guys haven’t mentioned the no resort fee option at TI . Hope other casinos/hotels offer similar offers! Vegas is getting way to expensive!! Local casinos getting to be a much better deal! Keep dollars local?
13:37 these casinos are charging thousands a night on F1 while the buildings are falling apart.
What makes you think they money will provide bonuses and raises for the employees that make it work? I am gonna bet zero.
Wife and I have been going to Vegas about twice a year since 2014 from Australia. Missed 20-21 and went back in Sept 22. Stay at Luxor in the tower 1 bedroom suite. All the hotels (inside and out) and strip in general just looked/felt tired and worn. Bang for buck just isn't there anymore. Decided to skip Vegas in future USA trips until about '25.
The full hand pay was a way for the slot attendants to get toked. I bet eliminating that didn't get them a raise.
Screw Vegas. Only stupid idiots our going to this ripoff town… I’ll never go again. Used to be a gamblers paradise. Greedy scumbag corporations ruined it!!!
I think the building maintenance issue is because a big portion of how management is compensated by stock price. Stock prices are mostly based on the here and now and less on what the casino will look like in 5-10 years.
Its money laundering…all those public projects
Overpopulation is ruining cities and the country.
YEARS AGO the cheap buffet helped to heal the losses at the casino and gave a renewed run at the casino games
always great guys
Caesar's doesn't actually own their properties anymore, right? I wonder if neither them nor the property owner has the same incentive to keep the properties out of disrepair that they had a decade or two ago.
funny resorts are falling apart and yet the city is working full steam on new construction for formula 1 garages (yes different budgets.. but still)
Vegas is becoming Disney charge more for less.
If they tax for winning then losing is going down as a business expense
I've never seen rates so high, such a lack of service and building maintenance being neglected. Look at Mandalay Bay and Delano, so many of the gold LED strips on the buildings are burnt out.
Why do you feel the need to plug VV every episode? I love everything about your site except for the regular lip service paid to that hack. Happy Lunar New Year or as my Vietnamese friends say Chuc Mung Nam Moi!
Good stuff thanks guys. My girlfriend just got a job interview at the Wynn and she is really excited.
The Hookers at Tropicana and WildWest are going to lose income because of this Dropicana!
I do like the sculptures , but I will not like Dropicana, that is where I turn off to go home.
Those freeway sculptures are ridiculous! They should put the money into the infrastructure
The spinoff to REITS is why I think there is a lack of maintenance. But 100% a guess
Are you guys brothers? Look like it.
The highway sculptures are stupid. Think about the trove of Native American artifacts that were probably destroyed with every freeway project around the city. I know that was an issue when they expanded the 215 to Summerlin some years ago.
Although the googly eyes (and earrings) is vandalism,it is kinda funny…for the short term. Clark County should be going after the shabby buildings. 😒 Another Caesars failure post-"merger".
The Criss Angel statue would get more eyes on it than people watching any of his shows combined.
1:09 This is another reason why I don't like the new VP that have 50 cents $1 or more per credit. On 25 cents per credit ($1.25 total bet) the Royal pays $1000 so no taxes
Asians are the only group of people left that will show up to squander all their money on gambling. The rest of us, have no money to go to vegas. You can kiss your channel goodbye, as Vegas becomes a ghost town. And Google, is going to reduce the Ad Sense program down to nothing, as advertising crashes in the next three months.