Another One Bites The Dust

Stardust casino sees last roll of dice:

LAS VEGAS - The Stardust, the neon-wrapped casino with a mobbed-up past whose 1,065 rooms once set the standard for size on the Las Vegas Strip, witnessed its last roll of the dice Wednesday.
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I happened to have worked there once. I was a busboy on graveyard shift. That was one of the worst jobs I ever had.

Anyway, most - if not all - of the joints that made up the real Las Vegas are gone. Now, it's one big competition to see who can build the biggest, flashiest, most expensive mega-resort with the most unique decorations. It ain't about the players, the great service, comping even the small time players and making everyone feel like a big time gambler having the time of their life. That's a thing of the past.

Nowdays, it's about retention. Keeping you within the walls of their own little city so you will spend all your money in one place. The atmosphere is more intimidating. No quaint little gambling halls anymore. No, it's an arena full of machines, tables, cameras, suits pacing, and high dollar games. No more of the dollar blackjack. You're lucky to find a $5 table. More likely a $25 minimum table. Which, is a bit rich for my blood. I ain't going to toss a handfull of $25 chips out for one hand.

Well anyway, enough of that. I don't gamble unless company comes to town, and I miss the old feel of Vegas. I hate to see all the old places go.