I know that, for instance, things like sports betting have become more prevalent LEGALLY in other states now. I am not sure how much that plays a role in the downfall of Vegas, but I am sure some of the allure was taken away when you could just legally do it from your couch.
I personally like Vegas when I visit and found it fun, but I totally could see how it is starting to fade.
I disagree with you on a lot of stuff you post but you're pretty spot on here. The only difference is I don't think don't think capitalism is a great evil but unchecked capitalism is.
I've been preaching this for a long time but I think that the decline of the middle class is the biggest threat to the nation right now and no party seems to want to tackle it. My personal opinion is that empowering labor laws and strengthening/encouraging unions is the best way to give a voice to the working class as the odds are currently stacking against them.
This has been on my mind for a long time. As indoctrinees into the religion of capitalism we are always assured this is THE most efficient and most prosperous economic model. When I was a kid and the US still had some pride in our manufacturing, we were even assured that the great American Corporation was the Savior of our well-being, so much so that a President based his entire economic policy on giving them tax breaks, massive subsidies, the ability to pursue cheap labor overseas, we were told to just give these people all our money and they would be generous enough to trickle-down enough of it to make us whole (but not TOO whole, we dont want to spoil ourselves).
I moved to Vegas about a year after joining this forum. In pursuing my career I ended up in a lot of places that were inaccessible to the version of myself that was in Florida. One of my favorite early experiences was being backstage with my stablemate and former 130lb Title Holder Sharif Bogere as he fought on an ESPN card. The event was poppin', we got comped at the buffet, staff was great. This was held at the Buffalo Bill's Star Arena in Primm, Nevada:
This is Primm now:
Since moving here Ive always heard that Vegas is a good barometer for what's going on in ths Country economically over all, because we depend largely on people.having disposable income. We depend on consumer confidence. When I got here cost of living was low and pay was high, because the Casinos catered to locals and middle-class families. Deals were a-plenty. Locals got half off show prices, and NEVER charged for parking. Now it seems cost of living is higher and pay has stagnated, so what's going on with the corporations, with the Casinos who can essentially do whatever they want here?
Like every great American corporation, combinations of greed, stupidity, and stubbornness are contributing to their downfalls on real time. They aimed at the rich, neglected the people who built the town and kept it alive through multiple economic crashes, and are now suffering the consequences. Not to mention a Government not-so-friendly to international business (I'm experiencing this in my own industry, many international fighters are going to train in Mexico as opposed to coming here) because its both easier AND cheaper.
Here it's going like this:
- rooms are more expensive AND smaller
- service is colder
- food and drinks are triple-priced
- little to no comps
- payouts are less frequent
- layoffs are high, and nonsensical layoffs like long-term executive chefs
- one of the highest unemployment rates in the US
- homelessness increasing
- grosheries (as per JD Vance) high
- gas trended up recently
All that said yes we are more fortunate than say, a different Country currently under economic embargo. However give the amount of economic decimation that is now more highly visible because of YouTube, there is no denying that there is something inherently wrong with capitalism. And its not "crony capitalism"...if you didnt account for cronyism in a system where money has always influenced elections then guy failed to understand capitalism from the beginning.
You wanna live here?
I disagree with you on a lot of stuff you post but you're pretty spot on here. The only difference is I don't think don't think capitalism is a great evil but unchecked capitalism is.
I've been preaching this for a long time but I think that the decline of the middle class is the biggest threat to the nation right now and no party seems to want to tackle it. My personal opinion is that empowering labor laws and strengthening/encouraging unions is the best way to give a voice to the working class as the odds are currently stacking against them.
It's mostly that. Seems as usual, TS started with a conclusion then tried to reverse engineer an essay without giving it much thought. It's the opposite of a "failure of capitalism" when 1 city no longer has a monopoly on gambling. Dude acts like gambling overall is declining just because people have more options instead of having to travel to Vegas.I know that, for instance, things like sports betting have become more prevalent LEGALLY in other states now. I am not sure how much that plays a role in the downfall of Vegas, but I am sure some of the allure was taken away when you could just legally do it from your couch.
I personally like Vegas when I visit and found it fun, but I totally could see how it is starting to fade.
It's mostly that. Seems as usual, TS started with a conclusion then tried to reverse engineer an essay without giving it much thought. It's the opposite of a "failure of capitalism" when 1 city no longer has a monopoly on gambling. Dude acts like gambling overall is declining just because people have more options instead of having to travel to Vegas.
The last year Vegas had a monopoly on sports betting was 2017, and the total for wagers was $248 million. Last year alone, there was 142.5 BILLION worth of sports bets placed. Now add igaming and people buying short term options on stock apps, and the amount of gambling done in the country has increased by orders of magnitude, but somehow it's a "failure of capitalism" that they don't have to fly into the desert to do it?
This is like saying "damn you, capitalism" because your pot dealer doesn't make as much money after weed was legalized.
The rise of legalized sports betting on the heels of casino gambling being legalized practically everywhere has to have had an impact on Vegas.
I know it has on Atlantic City.
The rise of legalized sports betting on the heels of casino gambling being legalized practically everywhere has to have had an impact on Vegas.
I know it has on Atlantic City.
Gambling revenue is holding steady or increasing. What's getting hit is consumer spending at restaurants, bars, bars, apparel etc.
Yes that's definitely part of it. But the underlying question, as indicated in my reply above, is why does this sort of thing keep catching corporations (whose CEO's are the most politically connected class of people) by surprise? And when it does, why do they immediately try to pad their profit margins by doing things that are really really stupid? Are we to believe they had no clue this was coming? Did every Casino executive in Vegas look at Atlantic City and go: "Yeah but, we built different!!" Or are we dealing with a class of people we shouldn't depend on?
That's where I'm leaning.
The funny thing is.. if you go last minute you can find killer deals on rooms there. But they won't get rid of the resort fees for anything. They won't lower the price of anything else. But they'll try to convince you to show up because you can get 50-80 percent off the price of the room.I can’t believe how expensive the city is getting every time I go. I used to be able to catch a round trip flight for 60-100 bucks and a room at circus circus during the off season for 30-40.
Agreed. Perhaps also taking away tax exemption from organizations designated as religion-based non profits who are clearly profiting in the millions.I would argue that many of the guys at the very top have fuck it money and once they get that they don't really care what happens to the rest. The best example of this in recent history are venture capitalists. It does not catch them off guard. They know it's coming but many of them likely think like hedge funds when they buy corporations they know are failing and losing business, but they buy in anyway to take what profit is left and move on.
I'm not sure if this is a feasible solution but would one way to prevent things like this be to have a law on the books that states that if you are a business or a subsidiary of a business that has at least $1 million in profit each of the past 2 years you are not eligible for any government funds, support or taxes.
Slightly tangential, but speaking of couches and credit cards, it’s amazing how much money is spent on video game loot boxes, cosmetics, and other paywall content.I know that, for instance, things like sports betting have become more prevalent LEGALLY in other states now. I am not sure how much that plays a role in the downfall of Vegas, but I am sure some of the allure was taken away when you could just legally do it from your couch.
I personally like Vegas when I visit and found it fun, but I totally could see how it is starting to fade.
Luckily one of the fighters I train bought a place so I have a guest room when I’m thereThe funny thing is.. if you go last minute you can find killer deals on rooms there. But they won't get rid of the resort fees for anything. They won't lower the price of anything else. But they'll try to convince you to show up because you can get 50-80 percent off the price of the room.
Vegas should still be a popular place to go though as it used to have big events, popular shows, cheap buffets and other stuff that you could enjoy even if you did not gamble. All that stuff is overpriced now as well. Plus, where are all the staple shows that Vegas used to be known for? I don't hear about that at all anymore. Wayne Newton, Siegfried and Roy and consistent names like that don't exist anymore or have the name recognition they used to in previous decades.