He Said/She Said Review: Las Vegas Little Black/Red Book

Las Vegas Little Black Book
by David deMontmollin and Hiram Todd Norman

Las Vegas Little Red Book
by Molly Sullivan, David deMontmollin and Hiram Todd Norman


The Las Vegas Little Black Book/Little Red Book bill themselves as the Guys/Girls guide to the perfect Vegas getaway. Both are co-written by David deMontmollin, currently the Executive Director of Marketing at Hooters Hotel and Casino, (Note: He has an MBA from Arizona State University...so do we!) and the Girl’s guide is co-authored by Molly Sullivan, whom you might recognize from the unspeakably god-awful E! Series, Paradise City.

Now we are generally skeptical of most travel guides, as they are usually woefully out of date, and by trying to be everything to everyone, actually help very little as far as what to actually expect when in Las Vegas. These books are different, solidly aimed at single, 21-35 year olds looking to have a sinful time in Vegas. Today we will be comparing the two, as Guest Commentator Allison and me, VegasRy, have read both, and will share our thoughts on how valuable their advice really is.

Preparation: SHE SAID – No girl, in their right mind, is going to pack one, single pair of shoes to go out in. Be realistic…and on that note, if you do pack the required three pairs, you will not be able to carry your luggage on, as recommended. Bad advice. Keep the group size between 5 and 8, and do not invite the friend that is crying about her recent breakup. Good advice. HE SAID – Plan your trip…with each guy it gets exponentially harder to maintain “the group”. There is so much to do in Vegas, that if you do not plan, as advised, you do not get to experience any of it. Good advice (for the 24 hour trip discussed).

Hotels: SHE SAID – The Little Red Book suggests the coolest, most expensive places in Las Vegas Hard Rock, Palms, Wynn. Of course…they recommend these because that is where you are going to find guys with money…but nice hotel selection, nonetheless. HE SAID – Here’s where the two books differ…while the Red Book suggests the hippest places on the Strip, the Black Book recommends hotels for large groups of guys on a budget. We tend to sway toward the nicer locations, but if you are a 21 year-old on a budget, this is decent advice.

Food: SHE SAID – The restaurants boasting celebrity chefs earn the highest rankings in the Red Book, like Spago, Nobu, Mix and Olives. Of course, the defining “Dining” recommendations come in the list titled Five Restaurants to Meet Mister Right. HE SAID – According to this book there are only two types of restaurants in Las Vegas. High end steak joints and all-you-can-eat buffets. They are one for two, in our opinion, a steak is an integral part of every Sin City trip but buffets are a cheesy Vegas relic. Nowadays Vegas has so much more to offer, do your research before deciding where to dine and make it a memorable experience.


Clubs: SHE SAID – Nightclubs and Ultra Lounges rule the Red Book list. While ranking the top places to be seen, the Red Book authors give such great advice as “Never Pay, Have the Guys Pay for You!” and rank clubs by the general level of attractiveness that it’s male clientele boast (it remains to be seen if the authors are discussing physical attractiveness or the beauty of a fat wallet.) HE SAID – The Black Book recommends avoiding the mega-clubs when in groups of guys. This is good advice for those who do not want to be tied down to one club, or spend $18 a drink, plus a $30 cover charge (if you can even get in). However, if $200 a piece seems worth it, shell out for bottle service. They don’t call it VIP for nothin’.


Opposite Sex: SHE SAID – How to score a guy that will pay for your drinks, give you money to gamble, and maybe even take you shopping!!!! The Red Book authors even delve into what color chips the appropriate “prey” should have in front of him at the Blackjack table, how he should have them stacked, and exactly what spa you should visit pre-going out to get all dolled up to look just like that Paris Hilton. HE SAID – While the book does give advice for where the girls are, and how to break the ice, it never strays into anything too risqué. While it might not suggest the hottest clubs and lounges, avoiding these places also means you steer clear of the Paris Hilton wannabes and other gold diggers who only want you to buy them drinks while clinging on to a desperate hope that some rich man will whisk them away from their Us Weekly-reading lives.

Favorite Quote: SHE SAID – Tie!!

“You never know who you might run into in Vegas; a new friend, a new job opportunity, or maybe even a new boyfriend!”

(When advising on what men to avoid sitting next to at the blackjack table)… “Does his lip twitch and is there a sheen of sweat collecting onhis forehead? Translated…he could be just as nervous in the bedroom!”

HE SAID – Another Tie!

“Limos serve as a great place to hook up. The limo offers a hookup sanctuary that is quick to get to, and you don’t have to spend the night. Just get a girl in the limo for a ride down the Strip and a glass of champagne, and the likelihood of getting some action will increase tenfold.”

and

“Vegas gentlemen’s clubs have women. Lots of women. Lots of hot women who will flirt with you; lots of hot women who will flirt with you and take their clothes off for you.”

Best Advice: SHE SAID – Pick your co-travelers carefully…the group you are with can make or break your vacation. HE SAID – Plan your trip carefully, and if you aren’t willing to shell out the big bucks, stay away from the clubs.

Worst Advice: SHE SAID – Whore yourself out. HE SAID – The words Bellagio and Wynn fail to be mentioned by the authors.

What do you think of the other book? SHE SAID – The Black Book authors have a lot of good advice…if you are a 21 year-old looking to get drunk and find some short-term female company! This book actually wasn’t nearly as offensive as the Red Book, it just came across as much better advice for a younger crowd. HE SAID – The Red Book is jaw-droppingly blatant about its intentions…as if failing to find a rich dude to buy you drinks and take you shopping somehow brands the trip as a failure. A cautionary tale for every male out there…read 5 pages, and you’ll never buy a drink for a strange female again!

Conclusion: While more entertaining and more targeted than most travel guides, these two books have their flaws as well. If you’re a guy, and under 25, the Black Book is for you. If you’re an enormously shallow, single, woman whose hero is a spoiled, Los Angeles socialite…by all means, pick up the Little Red Book!


Buy the Little Red Book (Girls)

Buy the Little Black Book (Guys)

VegasRy Book Review: Bust

Bust
By Adam Resnick

What happens when you give a degenerate gambler a blank check to bet, and lose, millions? Essentially, that’s what happened to Adam Resnick, who is now serving time in prison for wire fraud. A cautionary tale if there ever was one, it doesn’t delve too deeply into why the author gambled so much, it’s more a memoir than a character study.

Resnick was a gambler basically as long as he can remember, from poker games with his grandfather, to gambling in college; whether is was trips to Vegas from the University of Arizona, or local Indian casinos while at the University of Wisconsin. He was gambling every cent he could, and then some, but it was only a precursor to what was in store.

After college, Resnick became a successful businessman, making millions selling medical equipment. But the access to greater amounts of money only fed his addiction, and he began lying and pleading to anyone and everyone to keep gambling. From a Dateline NBC segment on Resnick:

In 1998, when they got married, Meredith didn’t catch on that Adam was still gambling all the time. Only now, he lied all the time, too.

Resnick: I would actually buy tickets to California and leave them on the counter in the kitchen so—saying, “Look, I’m going to California.” And take it a step further, I’d actually pay for a room at a hotel in California.

Of course he wasn’t really at that hotel, but at a casino in Vegas.

Resnick became a valued high roller at Las Vegas Casinos, being flown in on a private Gulfstream, and staying in his own private villa at the Bellagio. Only he didn’t seem to enjoy a second of any of it…gambling was his only concern. The comped shows, dinners, even women were only distractions, keeping him away from the tables.

Later in life, Adam became an insider at a bank in Chicago, which effectively gave him access to unlimited funds, which he predictably abused. The book opens with the Author driving to a Chicagoland Casino, needing to win 3 million dollars in order to save the bank, and himself. The collapse that follows is the exclamation point on an almost unbelievable tale of addiction.

The book is written in apologetic way, like the author knew what he was doing was wrong, but he did it anyway. Some of the numbers are mind-boggling, and we would have trouble believing the scale of his loss and deception, if it weren’t for the press coverage of his downfall. We recommend the book, not for the high-flying gambling tales (although there are quite a few), but for the look into a gamblers psyche. Bringing Down the House kicked off a series of gambling memoirs, and the sheer magnitude of Resnick’s story is what makes this better than most.


The Dateline segment is online here:

Buy Bust

VegasRy Book Review: 24/7

24/7: Living It Up and Doubling Down in the New Las Vegas
By Andres Martinez

The premise of 24/7 is at pretty crazy, the author takes his publishers $50,000, and goes to Las Vegas for 5 weeks, and chronicles his experience. Simple concept that might seem like a dream to some and a nightmare to others, and it turns out to be a little of both for Martinez.

Martinez goes to Vegas for 4 or 5 weeks, and stays at about 8 different hotels, gambling his advance and reporting the balance at the end of each day. He starts off at the Luxor, and ends up at Bellagio during it’s opening weekend, staying downtown and at local’s casinos along the way.

One of the interesting aspects of the book is that Martinez is a Vegas Novice. Having never been to Vegas, or even gambled before, his sense of awe makes the book very enjoyable. A modern-day Tocqueville, the author maintains his stance as an outsider. At times writing about Las Vegas citizens and customs as a stranger in a strange land, Martinez becomes more comfortable in his surroundings, but you never get the sense that he is a changed man.

When I first read 24/7 I liked it a lot…Las Vegas was still pretty new to me, and I could appreciate his excitement and sense of discovery. I decided to go back and re-read it for this review, having been to Vegas many times in between and having seen the town change so much, as well as my attitudes towards it. Sadly, the book loses a lot with that transition.

One problem I had upon reading it again was that, while he had a good time gambling, it wasn’t exactly a ‘wild’ time. He meets a few interesting people along the way, but doesn’t really delve too deeply into what make Las Vegas tick. For him, 50 grand didn’t seem to buy much excitement.

Another issue is that the book is already pretty dated. Even though it was published in 1999, 8 years is a lifetime in Vegas years. For example, the Desert Inn no longer exists and it’s tough to listen to him bitch about a $75 show ticket. Martinez caught the tail end of the 90’s building boom, and we are already in the midst of the next one.

Beyond the premise, those with much of a Vegas acumen might be a bit bored. Still, for a Vegas newbie, or those in need of a Vegas fix, this book is a good PG-13 alternative.

Buy 24/7

VegasRy Book Review: Super Casino

Super Casino: Inside the "New" Las Vegas
By Pete Earley

Super Casino is a very interesting look inside the daily operations of a modern Las Vegas Casino, from the President of the property down to the dealers and cocktail waitresses. Author Pete Earley had complete access to all employees and areas at the Luxor Casino, which he used to describe the unseen mechanics behind the 24/7 operation of the property

The book is split into two parts:

The first is the history of Las Vegas, told mostly from the perspective of Circus-Circus Enterprises, (now MGM-Mirage) the developers and owners of the Luxor. This section describes the evolution of Las Vegas from the desolate outpost, to the mob-run glory days in the 60s and 70s, finally to the corporate governed town it is today. It’s interesting, although you’ve read or seen much on the history of Vegas, it’s a bit repetitive.

The second section is the real revelation, as the author follows the stories of many different people in their roles in the operations at the Luxor; it tells the story of the Casino Shift Manager, and his dealing with the high rollers the casino is trying to attract. Of a showgirl signed to act in the property’s new production show. The Casino President and his managing the many changes taking place at the Hotel. Finally, the story of a prostitute who operates out of a Luxor bar.

The book, published in 2001, is already pretty dated. For example, the book concludes with changes such as the addition of the nightclub RA, which has already been closed and replaced by LAX. On the flip side it is interesting to see how many of their grand plans fared. As we reported here, there are major changes going on at Luxor, lending me to believe that most of their changes didn’t pan out.

My one complaint is that the author seems to take everything that Circus-Circus employees say at face value. There is a bit of a naivety in reporting the efforts of leadership, perhaps due to their willingness to provide access. As anyone who has visited the Luxor can tell you, it is not exactly a high-end property, as the author portrays it. Still the book is a pretty good read, and if you are familiar with the Luxor and it’s (many) shortcomings, it’s fun to compare their vision to the finished product.

Buy Super Casino

VegasRy Book Review: Roll the Bones

Roll the Bones: The History of Gambling
By David Schwartz

Dr. David Schwartz is the Director of the Center for Gaming Research at UNLV, so who better to write a book about the history of gambling? Fair warning, this book is pretty long (~500 pages) and detailed, but is very well-written, and is a great read for those interested in casino gambling, and the origins of games such as Blackjack and Craps.

The book spans the thousands of years of human development, from prehistoric man rolling sheep knucklebones, to Roman dice games, European lotteries, all the way to multi-billion dollar Las Vegas casinos. Also covered are the invention of modern techniques such as playing cards and the random number generator. Interspersed throughout the history lesson are interesting asides that provide insight into how gambling is woven into human history, from Roman Emporers to the current aura surrounding the current gambling mecca, Las Vegas.

With the future being the proliferation of Asian gambling in Macau and Singapore and the explosion of internet gambling, this book provides a great look at gamblings past and it's part in human evolution.

Buy Roll the Bones

Dr. David Schwartz's Homepage

VegasRy Book Review: Smart Money

The Smart Money: How the World's Best Sports Bettors Beat the Bookies Out of Millions

By Michael Konik

I was really excited to read this book, as Michael Konik is one of the better gambling writers, and the world of big-time sports betting is pretty fascinating. That said, I was ultimately disappointed.

It begins promisingly enough, as the author is recruited into the betting syndicate, or "Brain Trust". This group uses computer models to calculate the best bets and the ideal lines for football and basketball games. Since the leaders of the syndicate are well known wiseguys, the casinos won't take any of their money, and that's where the author comes in: He places the large bets at the books where the leaders cannot.

Konik tells the story of placing HUGE bets at Sports Books such Caesars, and living the life of a high roller the whole time. However, the subtitle is misleading, this book does not tell HOW they determine the bets, its more of a "I went here and placed this bet, it won....I placed this other one, it lost". It's interesting for a while, but those looking for insight on the sports betting world will be disappointed. That said, the book ins't particularly a good read either. Due to the identities of those involved, you can tell a lot has been left out, and references to his girlfriend's kinkiness seem horribly out of place.

I think this book strives to be the "Bringing Down the House" of sports betting, but falls way short.

Buy Smart Money