Las Vegas News - Page 603

Nevada's taxable sales jumped 12 percent in September over the same month a year ago, the second double-digit increase in the important economic indicator in as many months, the Department of Taxation reported Tuesday.

This time each year, just days before Black Friday, the first holiday shopping day after Thanksgiving, many Las Vegas retailers seem to roll out annual projections calling for `double-digit sales increases’ in holiday sales.

fter months of testimony involving regulators, lawyers and taxpayers, it took less than 30 minutes Friday for the Nevada Tax Commission to approve a regulation governing live entertainment taxes in casinos as well as non-gaming venues new to the tax.

A real estate limited partnership controlled by investor Carl Icahn may be in talks with a company regarding the possible acquisition of the Las Vegas Hilton.

Convention center insiders and Wall Street analysts are bullish about business in December and the 2004 first quarter despite storm clouds being reported on the horizon.

he final draft of regulations governing a new tax on live entertainment is likely to contain loopholes that will result in disputes and even lawsuits over whether certain venues are taxable, Nevada regulators say.

The Nevada Gaming Commission gave final approval to regulations that will overhaul the present work card system for casino workers across the state and replace it with an employee registration system that begins next year.

The Aladdin hotel-casino, in the process of being sold to a group headed by the CEO of Planet Hollywood International Inc. for $635 million, reported a profitable October before bankruptcy expenses.

he Nevada Gaming Commission on Thursday sided with its sister agency, the state Gaming Control Board, in supporting draft regulations that would require casinos to pay a 10 percent live entertainment tax on nightclub and lounge venues where disc jockeys play recorded music.

Binion's Horseshoe is past due on bills with Nevada Power Co., and utility executives said Thursday that they are negotiating a settlement with Horseshoe owner Becky Behnen.

Nevada Gaming Commission voted 5-0 to remove deceased mobster, Marshall Caifano, from its List of Excluded Persons, popularly known as the Black Book.

Opponents of a proposal to build a 300-foot tower along with a new casino and resort in Summerlin announced that they would hold a rally Friday to pressure developer Howard Hughes Corp. to abandon its support of the project.

ews Brief: The Las Vegas Strip is planning a half-million-dollar New Year's Eve fireworks display that organizers hope will rival East Coast celebrations and help mark Sin City's 2004 centennial.

Nevada gambling casinos that feature trendy nightclubs may be in for a tax windfall of up to $4 million under the new live entertainment tax.

The cost of Michael Gaughan's planned South Coast has jumped $25 million, the locals casino operator said Wednesday.

The construction of the $70 million water-themed theater at Wynn Last Vegas is well under way, and will be finished about eight months before the property's scheduled April 2005 opening, developer Steve Wynn said.

News Brief: Arson and conspiracy charges were dropped against a man accused of setting a blaze that destroyed the historic Moulin Rouge casino.

Due to overwhelming demand a third show has been added to Jerry Seinfeld's December 26 - 27 engagement at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.

he Bellagio and Four Seasons hotels on the Strip and the Ritz-Carlton Lake Las Vegas in Henderson received the Five Diamond award in the lodging category, while Le Cirque and Picasso at Bellagio and Renoir at The Mirage received the award in the restaurant category.

Now, for the first time since it was built in 1997 at the intersection of the Strip and Tropicana Avenue, New York-New York hotel-casino is getting a new $10 million marquee sign.