I just spent a few days in Vegas, staying downtown at the Lady Luck. I was dismayed to find Binion's Horseshoe seemingly in its death throes. They've removed all the table games from the "Mint" side (except poker, which I don't count, and a blackjack pit in the back that is apparently used only for tournaments), and the "bar pit" on the "Horseshoe" side never even opened while I was there. Almost all the open blackjack tables were $5.00 six-deck games or $10.00 single-deck games, most of which had open seats. Heck, the only reason one ever had to play at the 'Shoe was low-minimum single-deck games (among other games--remember the $.25 craps tables?) and easy comps, and Becky Behnen's answer to every financial crunch seemingly has been to offer less value to the clientele.
I think an era is about to end. The question is whether Downtown can survive without the 'Shoe.
