’ BREEDERS
CUP
VIEWING PARTIES 2 Fantastic Days of Championship Racing at Keeneland
FRIDAY & SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30 & 31 Grand Ballroom • Doors Open at 9am (Closes After the Last Breeders’ Cup Race Each Day)
Betting Stations & Kiosks • Food & Drink Specials • Prize Giveaways on Saturday
FREE HANDICAPPING SEMINAR
Friday, October 30 • Grandview Lounge • 5:30pm Hosted by Ralph Siraco with Handicappers Jon Lindo, Jonathan Hardoon & Bob Ike
Ralph Siraco
Jon Lindo
Jonathan Hardoon
Bob Ike
Seminar Will be Streamed on South Point Studio’s You Tube Channel
PUBLISHER MARIA BLONDEAUX maria.blondeaux@gmgvegas.com EDITOR SHANNON MILLER shannon.miller@gmgvegas.com
EDITORIAL
Senior Editor GEOFF CARTER (geoff.carter@gmgvegas.com) Managing Editor BROCK RADKE (brock.radke@gmgvegas.com) Arts & Entertainment Editor AMBER SAMPSON (amber.sampson@gmgvegas.com) Staff Writer GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ (gabriela.rodriguez@gmgvegas.com) Staff Writer TYLER SCHNEIDER (tyler.schneider@gmgvegas.com) Contributing Writers AVA CHATLOSH, GRACE DA ROCHA, HILLARY DAVIS, KATIE ANN MCCARVER Contributing Editors RAY BREWER, CASE KEEFER, DAVE MONDT Office Coordinator NADINE GUY Editorial Listings Coordinator MADELYN WINGER
CREATIVE
Las Vegas Weekly Art Director CORLENE BYRD (corlene.byrd@gmgvegas.com) Marketing & Editorial Designer AMANDA LUNDQUIST Contributing Graphic Designers WESLEY GATBONTON, THERESE BAUTISTA Photo Coordinator LAUREN VINTON Photographers CHRISTOPHER DEVARGAS, STEVE MARCUS, WADE VANDERVORT
DIGITAL
Vice President of Digital KATIE HORTON Web Content Specialist CLAYT KEEFER Social Media Coordinator RAEMINDA TAGBO
ADVERTISING & MARKETING
Associate Publisher ALEX HAASE Senior Advertising Managers MIKE MALL, ADAIR MILNE, SUE SRAN Account Executives LAUREN JOHNSON, MELINA TAYLOR Events Director SAMANTHA LAMB Events Coordinator APRIL MARTINEZ Event Sales Coordinator EMILY BUSCHELMAN
PRODUCTION & CIRCULATION
Vice President of Manufacturing MARIA BLONDEAUX Production Director PAUL HUNTSBERRY Production Manager BLUE UYEDA Multimedia Production Designer MARISSA MAHERAS Senior Traffic Coordinator DENISE ARANCIBIA Traffic Coordinator KIMBERLY CHANG Fulfillment Operations Coordinator CASANDRA PIERCE
GREENSPUN MEDIA GROUP
CEO, Publisher & Editor BRIAN GREENSPUN Chief Operating Officer ROBERT CAUTHORN Director of Human Resources SHANNA CHAVEZ GRAY Chief Financial Officer STEVE GRAY
LAS VEGAS WEEKLY P.O. Box 94018 Las Vegas, NV 89193 702-990-2550 lasvegasweekly.com facebook.com/lasvegasweekly instagram.com/lasvegasweekly x.com/lasvegasweekly
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T U R N H A PPY HOU R I N TO A H A NDS - ON EX PER I ENCE CR E AT E 3 COCKTA I L S W I T H CELEBR I T Y M I XOL OGISTS
R E S E R V E YO U R S E AT TO DAY T H E C A B I N E T LV.CO M
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IN THIS PHOTO Jesse Flores
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Nuwu Art Gallery founder Fawn Douglas brings Native art and style to the Arts District with IndigenousAF.
COVER STORY
ON THE COVER Nick Splawn Photos by Wade Vandervort
Meet the content creators who, through livestreaming and videos, are making gambling a spectator sport.
NEWS
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Nevada’s health insurance premiums are rising. Experts offer tips on staying ahead of the costs.
SPORTS
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Coach Josh Pastner is fighting to bring fans back to UNLV Rebels basketball games.
ART
NIGHTLIFE
THE STRIP
With The Return at Sahara West Library, Isaias Hiram Urrabazo brings warmth and beauty to our grief.
Hottieween comes but once a year. Who else but Megan Thee Stallion could bring it?
Luke Combs’ country bar Category 10 has made landfall at the Flamingo. We assess the impacts.
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08 SUPERGUIDE
The Sin City Halloween Ball, The Book of Mormon at Venetian, a one-of-a-kind sandwich pop-up from Michelin-starred chef Nicolas Costagliola and more this week. Want More? Visit lasvegasweekly.com.
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SUPERGUIDE FRIDAY OCT 30
THURSDAY OCT 29 VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS VS. NEW JERSEY DEVILS 3 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com. THE SMASHING PUMPKINS 8 p.m., MGM Grand Garden Arena, axs.com.
CONCOURS Thru 11/1, times vary, Wynn, lasvegasconcours.com. METALLICA 8:30 p.m., & 10/31, Sphere, ticketmaster.com. YANDEL 8 p.m., PH Live, ticketmaster.com. BRYAN ADAMS Thru 11/1, 8 p.m., Encore Theater, ticketmaster.com. WAGE WAR 7 p.m., House of Blues, ticketmaster.com.
S U P E R G U I D E
CHIEF KEEF 7:30 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com.
*Spotlight events are sponsored
MARY J. BLIGE 8 p.m., & 10/31, Dolby Live, ticketmaster.com. EARTH, WIND & FIRE 8:30 p.m., & 10/31, Venetian Theatre, ticketmaster.com.
LEWIS BLACK 8 p.m., Palazzo Theatre, ticketmaster.com. MEGAN THEE STALLION’S HOTTIEWEEN 9 p.m., Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com. TIËSTO 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com. ILLENIUM 10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, taogroup.com.
S P OT L I G H T E V E N T
FRIDAY NIGHT FRIGHT Kick off Halloween weekend with Friday Night Fright at the Racing Zone on October 30 from 7-10 p.m. Put the pedal to the metal in a high-octane night of sim racing, spooky cocktails and frightfully delicious snacks, all included with your $50 ticket. Take on the Las Vegas Grand Prix Circuit or choose from more than 100 legendary cars and world-renowned tracks across 22 immersive racing simulators. Whether you’re chasing the checkered flag or simply looking for a wickedly fun night out, grab your crew, embrace the Halloween spirit and race into the weekend. theracingzone.com
RICKY MARTIN 8 p.m., & 10/31, BleauLive Theater, ticketmaster.com.
Courtesy
UNLV MEN’S BASKETBALL VS. MISSOURI 7 p.m., Thomas & Mack Center, unlvtickets.com.
STRONG MUSIC FESTIVAL With Yeat, Destroy Lonely, Waka Flocka Flame, more, 4 p.m., Thomas & Mack Center, unlvtickets.com.
W.A.S.P. 7:30 p.m., House of Blues, ticketmaster.com.
Courtesy
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA 7:30 p.m. (& thru 11/1, dates & times vary), Reynolds Hall, thesmithcenter.com.
RICHARD MARX 8 p.m., Pearl Theater, axs.com.
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MUSIC
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SATURDAY OCT 31 S P OT L I G H T E V E N T
UNLV FOOTBALL VS. NORTHERN ILLINOIS 7:30 p.m., Allegiant Stadium, unlvtickets.com. AMERICAN BUCKING BULL WORLD FINALS Thru 11/5, times vary, South Point Arena, americanbuckingbull.com. SCAREA15: STRANGE CIRCUS With Valentino Khan, Henry Fong, Rad Cat, more, 8 p.m., Area15, area15.com. EMOWEEN 8 p.m., the Usual Place, eventbrite.com. JODECI 8 p.m., Pearl Theater, axs.com.
SIN CITY HALLOWEEN BALL Nothing less than an annual Las Vegas party institution—maybe the only one left standing from generations past?—the Sin City Halloween Ball, once known as Fetish & Fantasy, is celebrating an incredible 30 years in 2026 at Virgin Hotels. The theme is always the thing, and this year it’s Lost Vegas Wasteland, so prepare your wildest costume—latex and lace are always welcome—and be ready to dance to the sounds of Dave Audé, Tim Clark, Lolo Mayhew, DJ Kevmo and DJ Twin. Exotic performances from Flesh & Fire, Cervena Fox and her crew, Pyrra Sutra, Black Lickorish and more amp up the naughty factor, but the guests always make the party at this ball so expect to observe and participate all night long. 9 p.m., $85+, Theater at Virgin, sincityhalloweenball.com. –Brock Radke
ALURA With Same Sun Here, MSMRS, 9 p.m., Dustland, thedustlandbar.com. MARTIN GARRIX 11 a.m., Marquee Dayclub, taogroup.com.
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COSTUMES UNDER THE CANOPY Go big this Halloween at Fremont Street Experience! On October 31, celebrate Costumes Under The Canopy with free live entertainment across three stages featuring Alter Igor, Flame Kissed Fire Arts, Bling and more. Bring your best look and enter the free costume contest, where three winners will take home a share of up to $8,500 in cash prizes. Stop by the Fremont Party Pit for chances to win free zipline rides, food and drink offers, swag and more. Keep the celebration going at neighboring hotels with Halloween parties, drink specials and even more spooky fun. Downtown Las Vegas is where it’s at this Halloween—costumes encouraged, mischief guaranteed. Must be present to participate and win. Must be 21+ to participate in the costume contest. All ages welcome. fremontstreetexperience.com
LENNY PEARCE 11:30 a.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com. ROBBY KRIEGER AND THE SOUL SAVAGES 7:30 p.m., Copa Room, tuscanylv.com. JAY WEBB 10 p.m., Stoney’s North Forty, stoneysnorthforty.com. GULLY BOYS With Pollyanna, Quit Yer Whinin’, 5 p.m., Grey Witch, dice.fm. HAUNTED HEADLINERS With Jackie Wiatrowski, Celina Graves, Desde Trap, 8 p.m., the Space, thespacelv.com.
LATTO 10 p.m., On the Record, ontherecordlv.com. STEVE AOKI 10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, taogroup.com. SEDUZA 10 p.m., Discopussy, tixr.com. MUSTARD 10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, taogroup.com. THE CHAINSMOKERS 10:30 p.m., Encore Beach Club, wynnsocial.com. ADRIATIQUE 10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub.com. FREAK THE BEAT With Atrip, 7 p.m., Rouge Room, rougeroomlv.com.
DOJA CAT 7:30 p.m., T-Mobile Arena, axs.com.
Photo credit Greg Swales F O R M O R E U P C O M I N G E V E N T S , V I S I T L A S V E G A S W E E K LY.C O M .
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SUPERGUIDE SUNDAY NOV 1 DIA DE LOS MUERTOS FESTIVAL 1 p.m., Las Vegas Civic Center, lasvegasnevada.gov. TERRIE RIMSON’S FIRST SUNDAY GOSPEL BRUNCH 3:30 p.m., the Space, thespacelv.com. RON TAYLOR 6 p.m., Wiseguys, wiseguyscomedy.com.
UB40 7 p.m., Brooklyn Bowl, ticketmaster.com.
MARÍA JOSÉ & MOENIA 8 p.m., Pearl Concert Theater, axs.com. MOON DARLING 9 p.m., Dustland, thedustlandbar.com.
MUSIC
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SPORTS
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MONDAY NOV 2 FREAK SLUG With Mamalarky, 5 p.m., Grey Witch, dice.fm. REGGAETONLANDIA With Nina Sky, 11 a.m., Marquee Dayclub, taogroup.com. KETTAMA 10:30 p.m., LIV Nightclub, livnightclub.com.
NICOLAS COSTAGLIOLA POP-UP Have you ever eaten a Michelin-starred sandwich? Here’s your chance. Restaurant Guy Savoy was one of few Las Vegas restaurants to be awarded a star in the Michelin Guide Southwest in August, and Nicolas Costagliola has served as its executive chef since 2019. He’s collaborating with Proper Sandwich Company and dropping four sandwiches he’s created for this one-night only event. The pan bagnat, mortadella and tartiflette panini are priced at $17-$18, and then there’s the $75 sandwich of Japanese A5 Wagyu, poached Maine lobster, pickled vegetables and Astrea caviar on toasted brioche ... sounds more like a five-star situation to us. 5 p.m., Proper Sandwich Company, propersandwichcompany.com. –Brock Radke HOT IMPORT NIGHTS KICKOFF PARTY With Vice, 10:30 p.m., Marquee Nightclub, taogroup.com. MONDAY FUNDAY SHOWCASE 8 p.m., Composers Room, thecomposersroom.com. CHRIS TOFIELD BAND 10 p.m., Sand Dollar Lounge, thesanddollarlv.com. TOM RHODES With Trixx, thru 11/8, 8 p.m., Brad Garrett’s Comedy Club, mgmgrand.com. JAY HOLLINGSWORTH With Tyler Smith, thru 11/8, 8 p.m., LA Comedy Club, bestvegascomedy.com.
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S U P E R G U I D E
MISC
DO IT ALL
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SUPERGUIDE TUESDAY NOV 3
UNLV MEN’S BASKETBALL VS. NORTHERN ARIZONA 7 p.m., Thomas & Mack Center, unlvtickets.com. UNLV HOCKEY VS. ARIZONA STATE 8 p.m., & 11/4, City National Arena, rebelhockey.com. EXHIBIT: FACING CHANGE Thru 5/22, Tue.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Marjorie Barrick Museum of Art, unlv.edu.
MUSIC
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SPORTS
CARLOS GUERRERO & FRIENDS 10 p.m., Sand Dollar Lounge, thesanddollarlv.com.
THE BOOK OF MORMON Hello and a hearty “Hasa Diga Eebowai” to The Book of Mormon, returning to Las Vegas for the first time since 2019 for a limited run at the Venetian. The nine-time Tony award-winning, smash hit 2011 musical from South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone and Frozen songwriter Robert Lopez remains one of the most potty-mouthed productions ever to grace a Broadway stage (nice try, Oh, Mary!), and strangely enough, one of its most hopeful, too. Through its raunchy, hilarious songs and freewheeling interpretation of religious faith, The Book of Mormon makes you feel great about reaching out to your neighbors … and for not having wriggling larvae where you don’t want wriggling larvae. Trust us, it’ll make sense. Thru 11/13, days & times vary, $56-$243, Venetian Theatre, ticketmaster.com. –Geoff Carter
SANTANA 7 p.m., & 11/5, House of Blues, ticketmaster.com. COMPOSERS SHOWCASE 7 p.m., Myron’s, thesmithcenter.com.
TIM MCGRAW 8 p.m., & 11/6-11/7, the Colosseum, ticketmaster.com.
JAZZ VEGAS ORCHESTRA 7:30 p.m., Notoriety Live, notorietylive.com. DJ FRANZEN 10:30 p.m., Hakkasan Nightclub, taogroup.com.
WILLIE BARCENA 10 p.m., & 11/4, Laugh Factory, ticketmaster.com. STEVE AOKI 10:30 p.m., Omnia Nightclub, taogroup.com.
DO IT ALL
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S U P E R G U I D E
MISC
WEDNESDAY NOV 4
HOLY PINTO 7 p.m., Red Dwarf, reddwarflv.com. HARRISON GORDON With Crumbcatcher, 8 p.m., Grey Witch, dice.fm.
COMEDY
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P E O P L E
IndigenousAF’s Fawn Douglas ups the culture in the Arts District B Y
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Fawn Douglas has always been unapologetically Indigenous. The enrolled member of the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe is constantly promoting the works of Native American artists and of other marginalized groups and hosting workshops and events that strengthen cultural knowledge and identity with her Nuwu Art Gallery and Community Center on Maryland Parkway. Now, she and her partner, UNLV professor A.B. Wilkinson, are embarking on a new chapter— selling authentic Native American-made artwork, clothing, jewelry and more in the Arts District, plus opening a connected gallery. Their store, which opened on October 23, bears the name of their nonprofit IndigenousAF, with the “AF” standing for allies and friends (indigenousaf.org).
IndigenousAF in the Arts District
Photos by Wade Vandervort
Fawn Douglas
The word “authentic” gets thrown around a lot. What does it mean to you? We have a history of people who steal designs, motifs. And there is a law against that—the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990. If we are saying that we are providing authentic Native American-made arts, we stay true to that. This is from somebody who is a tribal member or a descendant of a tribe. … When everybody comes here, they’re going to learn about Native culture and Native arts. There are stories behind all of these pieces.
The retail store is connected to Wai Gallery, a 1,600 square-foot space for art exhibitions. Why is it important to give Indigenous artists and other marginalized artists a platform? We haven’t had one. There are awful stereotypes about our art and our culture. People think we’re a monolith, but there’s more than 575 federally recognized tribes in America, and each has their own distinct language, ways, culture and art. So instead of somebody else speaking for us, we’re going to the artists and letting them tell their own stories through their artistry.
The IndigenousAF Store is closely connected to your other arts education nonprofit Nuwu Art, which provides free exhibitions, workshops and other community events at its gallery space on Maryland Parkway. How will you balance those two ventures? The funds from this [retail store] will help to keep funding Nuwu Art’s free art materials, paying culture bearers, having the amazing events that we do. We want to get the store open first and see how we move and flow with the Arts District community.
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Bobby Rivas, aka Bluff
Photo by Wade Vandervort
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Big bets, bigger personalities and viral jackpots turn gambling content creators into a new draw
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ They say slot machines are a fool’s game. Bluff calls 24 hundred-dollar bills “fun coupons.” In a YouTube video titled “I finally hit a grand jackpot,” gambling content creator Bobby Rivas, known online as Bluff or Bluffin’ Bob, turns a day at the 85-year-old El Cortez Hotel & Casino in Downtown Las Vegas into a spectacle of near losses, mounting bets and a jackpot worth more than $45,000. Posted 11 months ago, the video has drawn more than a million views—a million chances for viewers to feel the rush of a big win without risking a dollar of their own. The action begins at a crapless craps machine—also called bubble craps—where Rivas taps digital chips across the screen with the ease of someone ordering lunch. He starts with $600, rolls the dice and watches his balance climb. “We are going to walk away with some money today. It’s not that hard,” he says, half joking. “You just come to bubble craps and go on a God roll.” After a few rolls, $600 has become $1,400. After stops at baccarat and table craps, Rivas and his cameraman head to the high-limit slot room, where he casually reveals he has loaded $3,000 into a Huff N Even More Puff machine. Each spin costs $45, each one unfazed him as he continues to push the play button. Then three buzzsaws line up, triggering a wheel feature. Bluff rises from his seat, claps and asks God for an upgrade as the wheel slows, and the anticipation grows. The machine obliges. A second wheel offers a shot at jackpots that have climbed to $76,000. Then comes the hit, the Grand Jackpot, worth $45,380.54. There’s a moment of disbelief before Rivas leaps up and runs the length of the room screaming as his crew cheers and daps him up while lingering strangers join in. The celebration is loud, contagious, and even through a screen, this windfall feels like your own. Across YouTube, Instagram and
livestreams, gambling content creators have turned the casino floor into a stage, with high-stakes wagers, outsized personalities and life-changing payouts packaged as entertainment. And the expansion of this content, focused on the original form of Las Vegas entertainment and aimed at younger audiences that may not have experience playing in a real-life casino, is prompting operators to loosen long-standing restrictions on filming across gaming floors. “I sort of realized right away this is a whole different kind of reach, a more personal reach that people are seeing,” says Adam Weisberg, vice president and general manager of the El Cortez Hotel & Casino. “It was very quickly obvious that this was going to be important.” The historic Downtown casino began allowing slot-machine filming in 2017. A year later, it approved a blackjack livestream, embracing a form of promotion that much of the gaming industry had long regarded with suspicion. As Las Vegas casinos compete for younger visitors and new audiences, the wager extends beyond the gaming floor. Can watching someone else hit the jackpot persuade a generation raised on viral videos to come try its own luck? In this genre of online content, established names like Vegas Matt and Lady Luck share the spotlight with newer personalities like BettinBoop and High Stakes Hottie. Some have been lifelong gamblers while others have only recently caught the betting bug. Rivas has quickly become one of the scene’s younger standouts. In two years, he has built a YouTube audience approaching one million subscribers, drawing viewers with high-stakes wagers, lavish giveaways and a demeanor that remains disarmingly down-to-earth. He’ll put $5,000 into bubble craps, wager $10,000 on a hand of baccarat or spin a
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“I THINK I CONNECT WITH THE AUDIENCE BECAUSE I’M JUST LEARNING HOW TO PLAY … ANYTIME ANYONE WAS EXPLAINING IT TO ME, THEY WERE SPEAKING THIS OTHER LANGUAGE AND I DIDN’T UNDERSTAND. SO, I’M GONNA TEACH IT TO YOU LIKE ONE PLUS ONE EQUALS TWO.”
slot machine for $250 a turn. He also gives away prizes to followers and rewards members of the Bluff team with cars and vacations. A Las Vegas native whose parents both worked in the casino industry, Rivas took a less conventional route to the gaming floor. He worked as an auto technician in Nevada, Texas and Arizona before trying his hand at content creation. The response was swift, and he reached 100,000 subscribers in a week, quickly returning home in 2024 to spend two months producing as much content as he could. On the Fourth of July, a fireworks accident near Moapa led to a dislocated lens and traumatic glaucoma, leaving him blind in his left eye. He was absent from posting for about a month, but his instinct was to look for the upside. “I basically just accepted that I was gonna be blind in my left eye, and the first thing was like, wow, the clickbait for these videos is gonna be crazy,” he says. “You always gotta find the positives in the negatives, and that’s how I like to navigate my life.” That mix of
spectacle and generosity shapes his content. Through a weekly series called Philanthropy Thursday, Rivas has donated to nonprofits such as SafeNest, given cash to food-service workers and gifted a new car to a longtime El Cortez security guard. “What gives me joy is gifting other people and seeing them enjoy that moment,” he says. “I’ve always envisioned if I ever got to this point in the content creation space, I would do crazy, outlandish things that nobody really ever does. Obviously, I do it for content, but it’s also because I genuinely want to do this.” His audience offers a glimpse into the demographic behind the trend of new gamers. At the time of the interview, 36.5% of his viewers were between 25 and 35, Rivas says. Gambling creators are hardly a uniform group. While Rivas has built a following around big bets, giveaways and an easygoing persona, others have found their audience through different styles of play and on-camera personalities. The On Tilt Boys, a group of creators led by founder Nick Splawn, pump out daily content on YouTube and Instagram, bringing a loud,
high-energy style to casino floors as members gather around high-stakes slots and tables. The group also collaborates with creators such as Bluff and Real Brettski, bringing an almost Avengers-like feel to these gaming meetups. Originally from Dallas, Texas, Splawn says gambling was part of his family life from an early age. “My mom, she gambled basically since I was a baby. My dad played poker and bet on sports and that’s kind of just how the family bonded,” he says. Splawn got his start dealing poker in Texas, where interacting with players helped hone the conversational skills and quick wit that would later help him build a social media following. Soon after launching his YouTube channel, Splawn saw the potential of going all in and taking this party to the mecca of gambling while retaining the On Tilt team. “I had the bankroll and the personality and my boys knew the YouTube and the posting, and you need a team,” he says. According to Splawn, 75% of viewership ranges from 18 to 45 years old and is about 85% male. And despite the money spreads and the grips of cash stacked in each video, the intention is also to promote responsible gambling, he says. “I’ve always been a hardcore gambler, that’s nothing new,” Splawn says. “We are having a good time, and that’s kind of what the casino needs to be. You know, we don’t want nobody to be trying to make money.” When it comes to content creation, the trickle down effect is common. Local musician Jesse Flores, who performs as Indie Florentino, began learning and playing casino games seriously about 18 months ago, an interest that really took off after watching other creators. Under the name Indie Gambles, Flores started off using his tips from his music gigs to stretch a smaller bankroll across multiple videos. As a steady performer at Caspian’s at Caesars Palace and the Barbershop at the Cosmopolitan, he figured he
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could double dip into time spent at the casino. But what makes his content stand out is how it’s beginner-friendly and is structured around making tutorials. “I think I connect with the audience because I’m just learning how to play bubble craps and it took me a while,” Flores says. “Anytime anyone was explaining it to me, they were speaking this other language and I didn’t understand. So, I’m gonna teach it to you like one plus one equals two.” For creators like Flores, the appeal extends beyond the possibility of a big win. Their videos can also demystify casino games and make the gaming floor feel more approachable to newcomers. Whether that online interest translates into more visits is another question—one casino operators are in a position to help answer. “You sit down at a table and you have some dude sit next to you and then you guys become friends, or you meet a dealer and you strike up a conversation. Next thing you know, you guys are buds,” says Flores. “You don’t really get that from sitting at home on your phone.” That sense of camaraderie is part of what makes gambling so compelling to watch online and potentially valuable to the casinos hosting it. As creators turn their visits into content, casino management has a unique opportunity to grab the attention of people who might not otherwise give this traditional experience any attention.
Photo by Wade Vandervort
Nick Splawn
Welcoming cameras and phones to the gaming floor means rethinking an environment where privacy and discretion have been the norm. “Gambling is very serious business. It involves the winning and losing of money, and it’s a sort of an emotional thing,” says El Cortez’s Weisberg. “Dealers make mistakes, and so there’s a lot of apprehension to let someone record it, and without having any manipulation of the end result.” This shift has created new opportu-
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Jesse Flores
Photo by Wade Vandervort
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nities for different local properties and even turned some casino executives into personalities in their own right. “I’m so passionate about the place, like it’s my own, and the people who come here, it’s like this ecosystem we built. So there’s a lot of emotion for me tied to this property,” Weisberg says. “El Cortez Adam, which I started a year ago, has 66,000 followers ... and they’re just engaged.” Creators and casinos must remain vigilant in understanding how this digital trend is being digested. Anthony Curtis, a former professional blackjack player, industry expert and founder of the well-known Las Vegas Advisor, cautions that a creator’s popularity shouldn’t be confused with gambling expertise. “You’re playing what’s called a negative expectation game,” he says. “A negative expectation game means that over time, it’s insurmountable. You will lose, except for a few lucky ones who are on the far right side of the bell curve.” Gambling was never meant to be a sure thing, but with big wins and stacks of cash dominating gambling videos, it’s easy to imagine hitting your own jackpot—especially if you’re a new player. “Let’s not forget that the casinos are in business to take your money,” says Curtis. “In the beginning you couldn’t take any pictures on the floor. All that changed with cell phones because they couldn’t stop it. Look at a Vegas Matt video and this guy’s getting hundreds of thousands of views, if not millions. That’s the kind of advertising that casinos just can’t duplicate anywhere else.” Viral videos depicting shows at the Sphere, presentations at restaurants or fast-paced sporting events are defining the destination’s online identity. If gambling can carve out a bigger piece of that pie, it’s a trend worth exploring. “Gaming is an iconic part of our destination, and our resort partners do a great job of showcasing that offering through their own creator relationships,” says Michael O’Brien, senior vice president, AI and enterprise performance at the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. “The value of creator content lies in its authenticity and the trust audiences place in the people they follow, making it powerful to have creators sharing their own Las Vegas experiences rather than relying solely on the destination to tell its story.”
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OFFICIAL VOTE CENTERS OPEN ON ELECTION DAY, NOVEMBER 3 All Election Day vote centers are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on November 3 and accept mail ballot drop-offs. Locations with an asterisk (*) have an event tent in the parking lot. Alexander Library 1755 W. Alexander Road
Brown Academy of International Studies 307 N. Cannes St.
Coronado High School 1001 Coronado Center Drive
Allegiant Stadium 3333 Al Davis Way
Bunkerville Community Center 150 W. Virgin St.
Cortney Junior High School 5301 E. Hacienda Ave.
Burkholder Middle School 355 W. Van Wagenen St.
Cox Elementary School 280 Clark Drive
Allen Elementary School School 8680 W. Hammer Lane Arroyo Market Square* 7225 Arroyo Crossing Parkway
Cadwallader Middle School 7775 Elkhorn Road
Bailey Elementary School 4525 Jimmy Durante Blvd.
Cambridge Recreation Center 3930 Cambridge St.
Blue Diamond Crossing Center* 4100 Blue Diamond Rd.
Centennial Hills YMCA 6601 N. Buffalo Drive
Boulder City High School 1101 5th St.
Coleman Senior Center 2100 Bonnie Lane
Boulder City Recreation Center 900 Arizona St.
College of Southern Nevada Henderson Campus 700 College Drive
Bowler Elementary School 1415 W. Whipple Road Bozarth Elementary School 7431 Egan Crest Drive Bridger Middle School 2505 N. Bruce St. Brinley Middle School 2422 Maverick St.
College of Southern Nevada North Las Vegas Campus 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave. College of Southern Nevada West Charleston Campus 6375 W. Charleston Blvd.
Craig Ranch Regional Park* Parking Lot East of the Revere Street entrance at W. Craig Road Cram Middle School 1900 W. Deer Springs Way Del Sol Academy of the Performing Arts 3100 E. Patrick Lane Derfelt Elementary School 1900 S. Lisa Lane Desert Breeze Community Center 8275 Spring Mountain Road Desert Oasis High School 6600 W. Erie Ave. Desert Pines High School 3800 Harris Ave. Desert Vista Community Center 10360 Sun City Blvd.
Detwiler Elementary School 1960 Ferrell St. Dickens Elementary School 5550 Milan Peak St. Dooley Elementary School 940 Chickasaw Drive Doolittle Community Center 1950 J St. Downtown Summerlin* Parking Lot East of S. Pavilion Center Driove; enter on S. Spruce Goose Street south of Marketwalk Place Durango High School 7100 W. Dewey Drive East Las Vegas Community Center 250 N. Eastern Ave. East Las Vegas Library 2851 E. Bonanza Road
Fertitta Middle School 9905 W. Mesa Vista Ave.
Hollywood Recreation Center 1650 S. Hollywood Blvd.
Findlay Middle School 333 W. Tropical Parkway
IKEA* 6500 IKEA Way
Fine Elementary School 6635 W. Cougar Ave. Forbuss Elementary School 8601 S. Grand Canyon Drive Galleria at Sunset 1300 W. Sunset Road Goolsby Elementary School 11175 W. Desert Inn Road Gray Elementary School 2825 S. Torrey Pines Drive Green Valley High School 460 N. Arroyo Grande Blvd. Hayes Elementary School 9620 W. Twain Ave.
Eldorado High School 1139 N. Linn Lane
Henderson City Hall 240 S. Water St.
Ellis Elementary School 3200 Artella Ave.
Heritage Park Senior Facility 300 S. Racetrack Road
Faiss Middle School 9525 W. Maule Ave.
Indian Springs Community Center 715 W. Gretta Lane Johnson Junior High School 7701 Ducharme Ave. Keller Middle School 301 N. Fogg St. Kesterson Elementary School 231 Bailey Island Dr. Knudson Academy of the Arts 2400 Atlantic St. Las Vegas Athletic Club Decatur* 6050 N. Decatur Blvd. Las Vegas Athletic Club Rainbow* 1725 N. Rainbow Blvd. Las Vegas City Hall 495 S. Main St. Laughlin Library 2840 S. Needles Highway Lawrence Junior High School 4410 S. Juliano Road
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Leavitt Middle School 4701 Quadrel St. Long Elementary School 2000 S. Walnut Road Manch Elementary School 4351 N. Lamont St. Mannion Middle School 155 E. Paradise Hills Drive May Elementary School 6350 W. Washburn Road Meadows Mall 4300 Meadows Lane Mendoza Elementary School 2000 S. Sloan Lane Mesquite Jimmie Hughes Campus 150 N. Yucca St. Miller Middle School 2400 Cozy Hill Circle Moapa Justice Court Recreation Center 1340 E. State Highway 168 Moapa Tribal Administration Building 1 Lincoln St. Moapa Valley Community Center 320 N. Moapa Valley Blvd. Molasky Junior High School 7801 W. Gilmore Ave. Monaco Middle School 1870 N. Lamont St. Moore Elementary School 491 N. Lamb Blvd.
Mountain Crest Community Center 4701 N. Durango Drive
Sahara West Library 9600 W. Sahara Ave.
Sun City Anthem Center 2450 Hampton Road
Walnut Recreation Center 3075 N. Walnut Road
Mountain Shadows Community Center 9107 Del Webb Blvd.
Sandy Valley School 1420 E. Pearl Ave.
Sun City MacDonald Ranch Community Center 2020 W. Horizon Ridge Parkway
Ward Elementary School 1555 E. Hacienda Ave.
Mountain’s Edge Regional Park* 8101 W. Mountains Edge Parkway Nellis Crossing Shopping Center* 1250 S. Nellis Blvd. Nevada State University CEB Building 1300 Nevada State Drive North Las Vegas City Hall 2250 Las Vegas Blvd. North O’Roarke Elementary School 8455 O’Hare Road Ober Elementary School 3035 Desert Marigold Lane
Saville Middle School 8101 N. Torrey Pines Drive Schofield Middle School 8625 Spencer St. Schorr Elementary School 11420 Placid St. Searchlight Community Center 200 Michael Wendell Way Sedway Middle School 3465 Englestad St. Shadow Ridge High School 5050 Brent Lane
Sun City Mesquite 1350 Flat Top Mesa Drive Sunrise Mountain High School 2575 Los Feliz St. Swainston Middle School 3500 W. Gilmore Ave. Tarkanian Middle School 5800 W. Pyle Ave. Tarr Academy of International Studies 9400 W. Gilmore Ave.
West Career and Technical Academy 11945 W. Charleston Blvd. West Flamingo Senior Center 6255 W. Flamingo Road Whitney Recreation Center 5712 Missouri Ave. Wiener Elementary School 450 E. Eldorado Lane Williams Elementary School 1030 J St.
Thompson Elementary School 7351 N. Campbell Road
Winchester Dondero Cultural Center 3130 McLeod Drive
Silverado Ranch Community Center 9855 Gilespie St.
Thunderbird Family Sports Complex* 6105 N. Durango Drive
Wolfe Elementary School 4027 W. Washburn Road
Parkdale Recreation & Senior Center 3200 Ferndale St.
Simmons Elementary School 2328 Silver Clouds Drive
Tobler Elementary School 6510 W. Buckskin Ave.
Pearson Community Center 1625 W. Carey Ave.
Skyview Multi-Generational Center 3050 E. Centennial Parkway
UNLV Student Union 4505 S. Maryland Parkway
Paradise Recreation & Community Center 4775 S. McLeod Drive
Rainbow Library 3150 N. Buffalo Drive Rancho High School 1900 Searles Ave. Regional Transportation Commission 600 S. Grand Central Parkway
Silver Springs Recreation Center 1951 Silver Spring Parkway
Stevens Elementary School 550 Dave Wood Circle Stupak Community Center 251 W. Boston Ave. Sun City Aliante Community Center 7390 Aliante Parkway
Valley High School 2839 S. Burnham Ave. Vegas Verdes Elementary School 4000 El Parque Ave. Veterans Memorial Community Center 101 N. Pavilion Center Drive
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Woodbury Middle School 3875 E. Harmon Ave. Woolley Elementary School 3955 Timberlake Drive
Clark County Election Department 965 Trade Drive, North Las Vegas, Oct. 29-Nov. 2, 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Nov. 3, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Boulder City Hall 401 California Ave., Boulder City, Oct. 29 and Nov. 2-3, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Henderson City Hall 240 S. Water St., Oct. 29-30 and Nov. 2, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 3, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Las Vegas City Hall 495 S. Main St. (validated parking), Oct. 29 and Nov. 2, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 3, 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Mesquite City Hall 10 E. Mesquite Blvd., Nov. 2-3, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. North Las Vegas City Hall 2250 Las Vegas Blvd. North, Oct. 29 and Nov. 2, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Nov. 3, 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
Early voting in Nevada runs through October 30. For a full list of official early voting sites in Clark County, visit lasvegasweekly.com.
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TA K E T H I S PA G E W I T H YO U T O T H E P O L L S !
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES District 1 – Dina Titus (D)* District 3 – Susie Lee (D)* District 4 – Steven Horsford (D)*
STATE EXECUTIVE OFFICES
Governor – Aaron Ford (D) Lieutenant Governor – Sandra Jauregui (D) Secretary of State – Francisco “Cisco” Aguilar (D)* Attorney General – Nicole Cannizzaro (D) State Treasurer – Tya Mathis-Coleman (D) State Controller – No endorsement
STATE BALLOT QUESTIONS Question 6 – Yes Question 7 – No
STATE LEGISLATURE – SENATE
Senate District 8 – Marilyn Dondero Loop (D)* Senate District 9 – Melanie Scheible (D)* Senate District 12 – Julie Ann Pazina (D)* Senate District 20 – Calvin Sandoval (D) Senate District 21 – James Ohrenschall (D)*
STATE LEGISLATURE – ASSEMBLY
Assembly District 2 – Kamilah Bywaters (D) Assembly District 3 – Selena Torres-Fossett (D)* Assembly District 4 – Eileen Eady (D) Assembly District 5 – Brittney Miller (D)* Assembly District 6 – Jovan Alexander Jackson (D)* Assembly District 7 – Cameron “C.H.” Miller (D) Assembly District 8 – Duy Nguyen (D)* Assembly District 9 – Ryan Hampton (D) Assembly District 12 – Max Carter, II (D)* Assembly District 13 – Daniel Andrews (D) Assembly District 16 – Cecelia González (D)* Assembly District 18 – Venicia Considine (D)* Assembly District 19 – Jason Patchett (R)* Assembly District 20 – David Orentlicher (D)* Assembly District 21 – Elaine Marzola (D)* Assembly District 22 – Shenea Booth (D) Assembly District 23 – No endorsement Assembly District 29 – Alex Pereszlenyi (D) Assembly District 34 – Hanadi Nadeem (D)* Assembly District 35 – Joe Spica (D) Assembly District 36 – Jon Penn Junejo (D) Assembly District 37 – Shea Backus (D)* Assembly District 41 – Vinny Spotleson (D) Assembly District 42 – Tracy Brown-May (D)*
Candidates with an asterisk (*) are incumbents.
NSHE BOARD OF REGENTS District 2 – Patrick Villa District 3 – Erik Swendseid District 5 – Moises “Mo” Denis District 8 – Pete Goicoechea*
CLARK COUNTY
County Commission District E – “Tick” Segerblom (D)* County Commission District F – Minja Yan (D) County Commission District G – Jim Gibson (D)* County Clerk – Lynn Marie Goya (D)* County Recorder – Tanya Flanagan (D) County Assessor – Tamicka Washington (D) County Treasurer – J. “Ken” Diaz (D)* Public Administrator – Michael Murphy (R)
CCSD
Trustee District D – Brenda Zamora* Trustee District F – Irene Bustamante Adams* Trustee District G – Linda Cavazos*
JUDGES
District Court Judge Department 5 – Veronica Barisich* District Court Judge Department 8 – Austin Beaumont District Court Judge Department 12 – Michelle Leavitt* District Court Judge Department 17 – Jennifer Schwartz* District Court Judge Department 21 – Tara Clark Newberry* District Court Judge Department 23 – Jasmin Lilly-Spells* District Court Judge Department 28 – Noreen DeMonte District Court Judge Department 29 – Alex Quagge District Court Judge Department 30 – Jerry Wiese II* District Court Judge Department 31 – Alexandra Beth McLeod District Court Judge Family Division Department D – Gwynneth Smith District Court Judge Family Division Department E – Charles “Chuck” Hoskin* District Court Judge Family Division Department N – Kerri Jean Maxey* District Court Judge Family Division Department P – Jennifer Isso District Court Judge Family Division Department R – Marilyn Caston District Court Judge Family Division Department S – Randall Forman
MUNICIPAL
CITY OF LAS VEGAS City Council Ward 2 – Luke McCarthy Municipal Court Judge Department 1 – Matt Walker* Municipal Court Judge Department 2 – Allycia Murphy CITY OF NORTH LAS VEGAS Mayor – Daniele Monroe-Moreno City Council Ward 1 – Esmeralda Villeda CITY OF HENDERSON Mayor – Michelle Romero* City Council Ward III – Jennifer Atlas Municipal Court Judge Department 1 – Gary Thompson BOULDER CITY Mayor – Joe Hardy* City Council Member at Large (vote for no more than two) – Cokie Booth* and Steve Walton*
IS MAKING NEVADA THE NUMBER ONE STATE TO DO BUSINESS IN. He’s reducing paperwork and cutting wait times at the Secretary
Cisco Aguilar knows how hard small business owners work because he is one. He experienced the administrative maze and hold times with the
easier to navigate. The process improvements he’s made to the business registration system are helping entrepreneurs, and focus on what matters.
He’s keeping Nevada elections fair and secure, no matter your political party Cisco Aguilar is standing up to the federal government’s efforts to gain access to the private personal information of Nevada voters. He fought back in court and won to protect our personal information.
MAKE A PLAN TO VOTE BY NOVEMBER 3RD Paid for by Cisco for Nevada
Cisco Aguilar is fighting for the future of Nevada business owners and their families. C I S C O N V. C O
/ C I S C O F O R N E VA D A
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N E W S
HEALTH HELP:
HOW TO LOWER YOUR PREMIUM AMID A 17% AVERAGE RISE IN NEVADA’S HEALTH INSURANCE MARKETPLACE BY TYLER SCHNEIDER Nevadans who buy their own health insurance are facing a second straight year of double-digit increases, with average premiums for 2027 plans on the state’s Affordable Care Act marketplace, Nevada Health Link, rising 17%. For uninsured residents, cost is already the biggest barrier. Approved annually by the Nevada Division of Insurance, the rates follow a national trend driven by surging medical care and prescription costs, inflation and the end of pandemic-era federal subsidies and programs. And as healthier people drop coverage because of cost, insurers are left covering a sicker, more expensive pool, which only perpetuates the cycle. In 2024, Nevada had the nation’s fourth-highest uninsured rate, at 11.4%, according to data from nonprofit KFF. It also had the second-highest share of adults who skipped medical care due to cost, at 16.7% versus 12.4% nationally, based on a State Health Access Data Assistance Center analysis. Still, Nevada Health Link remains the only place Nevadans can get federal subsidies that lower their premiums. More than 80% of
2026 enrollees qualified, and free help is available. Ahead of open enrollment, running November 1 to January 15, Nevada Health Link executive officer Janel Davis and Cherie Hughes, a certified local navigator with the Asian Community Resource Center, share tips for applying. CONSULT A BROKER OR NAVIGATOR About 70% of those who signed up for 2026 coverage with Nevada Health Link got free assistance from a certified broker or navigator like Hughes. Brokers are paid commissions by insurance companies, while navigators do the same work through grant-funded nonprofits. “Once you get the right information, and you’re working with the right person helping you connect and advocate for you, health insurance won’t be a problem,” Hughes says. SHOP AROUND Clark County residents can browse 90 plans on NevadaHealthLink. com, plus 11 lower-cost Battle Born State Plans. An estimate of your 2027 household income will help determine your subsidy. Applicants need to prove Nevada residency and may be asked to verify their income. Davis suggests looking at your options before letting an existing plan auto-renew. Four in 10 Nevada Health Link enrollees in 2026
didn’t actively shop, but those who compared and switched plans saved a monthly average of $287. LOOK PAST THE PREMIUMS With prices rising, many enrollees are weighing cheaper bronze plans against silver ones. “Nevadans are having to make difficult decisions when they’re sitting around their dinner table,” Davis says. “The key is making that choice with the full picture of what they’ll pay.” Bronze plans have lower monthly premiums but higher deductibles and out-of-pocket costs, so you may pay more when you need care. Lower income enrollees who downgrade from silver will lose exclusive silver plan discounts on deductibles and copays. Beyond the monthly bill, Hughes recommends comparing copays, or the flat fees you’d pay for doctor visits, lab work and prescriptions. Davis suggests considering how often you see a doctor, your prescriptions and whether you could afford the deductible if “something unexpected” happens. HEALTH CARE FOR IMMIGRANT FAMILIES Starting in 2027, under the federal budget law President Donald Trump signed in 2025, many lawfully present immigrants who don’t hold green cards will no longer qualify for subsidies, and undocumented immigrants can’t buy marketplace plans. For them, as well as anyone who’s uninsured, Hughes says local clinics can provide a limited lifeline. “There are some great clinics in
Nevada and in Vegas that service folks that don’t have insurance, and they try to make their services not as costly,” she says, noting that many offer a sliding pay scale based on income. Parents who are undocumented can still apply for coverage for children born in the U.S., who may qualify for a plan through Nevada Health Link, Medicaid or Nevada Check Up. “We don’t ask questions about your Social Security number, your documentation, nothing like that,” Hughes says. “Just your children. We would need their Social Security numbers, and we can get them insurance.” DON’T GO WITHOUT Whatever you choose, Davis and Hughes urge Nevadans not to go without coverage if they can help it. Every plan on the marketplace covers the same 10 essential health benefits, from hospital stays to prescriptions, and the alternative could be life-altering. “In the long run, it’s an investment, and you’re protecting yourself from potential bankruptcy or financial ruin,” Davis says. Open enrollment runs November 1 through January 15. Enroll by December 31 and make your first premium payment to start coverage January 1, or sign up between January 1 and 15 for coverage beginning February 1. Free help is available at NevadaHealthLink.com or by calling 1-800-547-2927.
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RARING TO GO S P O R T S
UNLV basketball seeks breakthrough year with highly talented roster BY RAY BREWER
UNLV basketball coach Josh Pastner had counted on a crowd. It was the night the program would honor Lois Tarkanian by adding her name to the court at the Thomas & Mack Center, a tribute to the woman who stood beside the coach who made the Runnin’ Rebels a national brand. Pastner, in his first season, figured thousands of fans would turn out. Then he looked up at the stands and saw mostly empty seats. “I did everything when I got the job until our first game,” Pastner said. “I was everywhere, did every speaking engagement, didn’t say no to anybody. I thought it was going to be like 12,000 people in the stands, and (there) wasn’t a lot of people for that first game. I thought, wow. I turned to one of my coaches and I said, this is a bigger rebuild than I thought.” The court has carried Jerry Tarkanian’s name since 2005, honoring the coach who in 19 seasons at UNLV led the program to four Final Fours and the 1990 national championship. Pastner’s job is to return UNLV to prominence, and that means more than winning. The Rebels haven’t reached the NCAA Tournament since 2013 and the locals who once packed the Thomas & Mack have found other things to do on game nights. Year 2 of the Pastner era begins November 3 at home against Northern Arizona. “As much energy as I was putting in, I was going to have to double that to get people excited,”
Pastner said. The Rebels’ upgraded roster could help generate some buzz. Tyrin Jones, who averaged 12 points, five rebounds and 2.2 blocks last season and seemed to produce a highlight-reel play every time he stepped on the court, is back for his sophomore season. So is combo guard Issac Williamson, who averaged 14.3 points and 2.5 steals. The newcomers are intriguing, too. Pastner brought in 10 transfers, including Cam Miles from Florida State, Terrance Ford Jr. from Tulsa and Sebastian Mack from Missouri. Mack averaged 12 points as a freshman at UCLA in 2023-24 and should thrive in the Mountain West. He scored 25 points in an exhibition October 7 against Utah. Miles was a four-star recruit in the Class of 2025 after averaging 17.4 points and 5.2 assists at IMG Academy’s postgraduate program. He averaged 5.4 points and 1.7 assists as a freshman at Florida State, and he is the kind of dual-threat guard UNLV lacked last season. The most significant off-
Josh Pastner
UNLV forward Sebastian Mack (24) drives to the basket against Utah.
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season addition, however, is still waiting to be cleared. AJ Storr, a transfer from Mississippi seeking a fifth year of eligibility, averaged 15 points last season in the Southeastern Conference and is the type of scorer who could contend for Mountain West player of the year. Storr was granted a temporary injunction restoring his fifth year as part of a lawsuit involving players from the class of 2022, but the Tennessee Court of Appeals stayed that injunction after the NCAA appealed, putting his eligibility on hold. Jones and Storr made the preseason all-Mountain West team. Forward Jackson Kiss was named preseason freshman of the year. The makeover, Pastner hopes, leads to more wins. UNLV went 18-17 last season, a mark that produced poor attendance. “Winning solves everything,” he said.
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“We have to do our part and play meaningful games late in the season. ... We have to be competing for championships. I get that. That’s the deal. It’s what we have to do.” Effort is central to that plan, and Pastner has preached it since he arrived in the spring of 2025. He brings relentless energy to everything, whether he’s speaking to a community group or working the sideline on game day. He expects the same from his players. “We have to have great toughness. We have to be gritty,” he said. “We have to be competitive warriors. We have to have great competitive excellence. All of those things we can control.” Jones, for one, knows the expectations. His acrobatic dunks and blocks brought plenty of energy to the fans last season. Now he must do it again. “It’s a big year for the team and program,” he said. “We trying to bring Vegas to life again.”
Photos by Steve Marcus
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L A SVEGA SWE E KLY.CO M /C SUITE H O N O RS
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A R T
Artist Isaias Hiram Urrabazo explores the metamorphosis of healing for Dia de los Muertos BY SHANNON MILLER
W
alking into The Return at Sahara West Library’s grotto gallery, a sense of awe-filled calm pervades. Candlelight illuminates the room and more than 6,000 paper butterflies hovering by the walls and marigolds dripping from the ceiling. A statue of the Virgin Mary with baby Jesus, the central ofrenda, is surrounded by hundreds of photographs of loved ones who have passed away. Different stations around the room offer different meditations on grief—an empty chair and pair of shoes, a papel picado-laced altar for deceased pets. With a tissue box lovingly placed, benches at the center provide a place for rest and reflection.
After debuting at Sahara West Library in 2025, the exhibit’s return to the space is bigger than before. Artist Isaias Hiram Urrabazo says he had more time to tell a “deeper story” this year for Dia de los Muertos. Ultimately, it has helped him transform his own grief. “I would hope that when people do come and visit it, they walk into the room and start to get memories of their loved ones that have passed,” he says. “I hope that some kind of healing begins for them too, just like it began for me.” The exhibit is a labor of love orchestrated by Urrabazo. Meticulous details—like stringing together marigolds one by one, or gluing paper butterflies to garden netting—were made possi-
ble with the help of his family. In celebration of Dia de los Muertos, the artist will have another exhibit, Sacred Light, on November 6-8 at Springs Preserve. The memory of his late mother Maria S. Urrabazo lingers during the process of putting these shows together. Her influence can be felt, even in death. “Mom really wanted to make sure that her children still came together. And this is where they do it. It’s a blessing to be able to sit with family, sometimes cry, sometimes laugh, and just enjoy these beautiful moments,” he says. Here are three reasons to check out The Return, on display at Sahara West Library through November 30.
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Vulnerability
The 2025 edition of the exhibit was inspired by the loss of Urrabazo’s mother. This year’s exhibit is dedicated to the memory of his friend Max. The exhibit is not so much about death and grief as abstractions; rather, it is rooted in lived experience.
Emotional release
It’s not uncommon to shed tears in the grotto, which feels like “a warm hug” with its low ceilings and the visual effects Urrabazo has installed. Photos of deceased loved ones collected from the community root the exhibit in real loss and, at the same time, a reminder that we are not alone in our grief.
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Comic relief
Skull sculptures are called calaveras in Mexico, and Urrabazo has constructed a cast of characters including Elvis, Frankenstein’s Monster and his bride, Star Wars’ Princess Leia and Frida Kahlo. They’re just outside the main grotto in the library lobby, and they’ll leave you with a good laugh.
THE RETURN Thru November 30; Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Friday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; free. Sahara West Library, thelibrarydistrict.org.
Exhibit photos by Wade Vandervort; Calavera photo by Shannon Miller
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N I G H T L I F E
MEGAN THEE STALLION’S HOTTIEWEEN October 30, 9 p.m., $175+. Zouk Nightclub, zoukgrouplv.com.
TAO NIGHTCLUB
The landmark club at Venetian hosts a $5,000 sexiest costume contest on October 29 paired with a DJ set from—who else—Murda Beatz. taogroup.com
THE PORTAL AT AREA15
Megan Thee Stallion teams with Cirque du Soleil BY AMBER SAMPSON for Hottieween at Resorts World Jordan Peele, Ari Aster and Zach Cregger might be modern scare masters, but have they met Megan Thee Stallion? The Grammy Award-winning rapper is a lifelong horror fan who sank her teeth into the genre with 2019’s Hottieween, a YouTube series starring Megan as a private investigator in Stallion County who discovers a gang of womanizing vampires. Oscar-nominated One Battle After Another actress Teyana Taylor directed the three-part series, which debuted alongside the first edition of Megan’s Hot Girl Halloween bash of the same name. The party has since become an annual tradition, traveling to Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago and Megan’s hometown of Houston. And her costumes have only gotten wilder with each season. She’s shown up as Hellraiser’s Pinhead, Greta from Gremlins 2: The New Batch and even a talking flower from Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland.
“I’ve always liked horrors, thrillers, all that good stuff,” Megan said during a 2025 interview on The Jennifer Hudson Show. “If I could figure out how to turn a Freddy Krueger into a Freddy Hoochie, I was gonna do that. You know, like horror but make it Hot Girl.” Now, the Houston rapper is teaming with Cirque du Soleil to bring a circus-themed Hottieween to Zouk Nightclub at Resorts World on October 30. Proceeds from the party also benefit the Pete & Thomas Foundation, a nonprofit Megan named after her late parents to help underserved communities in Houston and beyond. Resorts World will also have festivities popping off elsewhere, like Dia de los Muertos at Here Kitty Kitty Den and Allē Lounge’s Masquerade on 66 costume contest on October 30. Local hotties, consider this permission to go all out. Dress to impress and watch Hot Girl Meg burn it down. Ahh.
OK, the Portal isn’t a nightclub, but it’s going to feel otherworldly on October 29 with Monster Prom, where every creature of the night is welcome to wear their most extra costume or formal wear and celebrate with a live band and DJ performances, contests, prizes and more. area15.com
GHOSTBAR
This place has this name all year round so show some appreciation during three nights of Halloween parties October 2931, featuring a performance by “Movin’ to the Sun” dance hitmaker Ultra Naté. palms.com
BEL-AIRE LOUNGE
Durango’s hip nightlife spot will transform with eerie decor, costume contests and DJ sets for Nightmare at Bel-Aire October 29-31, starting with Thursday’s Halloween edition of Ladies Night. belaireloungelv.com
ENCORE BEACH CLUB
The Haunting at EBC brings sets from Hugel, Grossomoddo and The Chainsmokers during the night shift at Encore Beach Club. wynnnightlife.com
CABINET OF CURIOSITIES
AP Photo/Charles Sykes
The Cabinet of Curiosities and The Lock Speakeasy at Horseshoe hosts its Masquerade Halloween Party on October 30, an Eyes Wide Shut-inspired bash with a $250 multi-prize costume contest and $10 vodka and bourbon cocktails available in addition to the seasonal Spooky Cocktails menu. thecabinetlv.com
DISCOPUSSY
Friends & Family presents the Kitty Klub Halloween Special on October 31 at Discopussy, starring the dance party brand’s founder Seduza with support from Jnomadic, DrewStaarks and Calmasutra. discopussydtlv.com –Brock Radke Megan Thee Stallion, center, performs during the 79th Tony Awards.
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CATEGORY 10 Flamingo, category10.com, Daily, 11 a.m.-late.
T H E
S T R I P
First impressions of Category 10, Luke Combs’ new country hot spot on the Strip BY GABRIELA RODRIGUEZ As the Las Vegas Strip continues its evolution as a premier country music destination, Luke Combs’ Category 10 at Flamingo fits right in. Here are our first five impressions of the superstar’s newest honky tonk which opened on October 15.
1. Flavors of the South
As a North Carolina native, Combs is no stranger to soulful Southern cooking, and neither is Category 10. Before we could even finish the blue crab dip or loaded sidewinder duck-fat fries, the Carolina smoked ribs had us licking our fingers clean in Hurricane Hall, the venue’s main dining area.
2. Real boot scootin’
It’s not a real honky tonk if there’s no room to dance. As a live band plays on the raised stage of Hurricane Hall, the floor fills for line dancing, two-steppin’ and more. And with an impressive lineup of bands, you can stomp along to country staples, rock ’n’ roll classics and newer jams all night. If you’re new to this, free line dancing lessons run Thursday through Sunday, so you can practice your moves.
3. More to see
Category 10 spans 34,000 square feet, with three floors to discover. On the second level, The Still offers elevated views over Hurricane Hall’s dance floor, but the highlight is its bourbon-focused bar and private patio overlooking the Strip. The Eye’s rooftop also offers sweeping views, plenty of dancing room and a DJ booth to keep the party rolling.
4. Closer to Combs
As massive as Category 10 is, there are still details that remind you that you’re in Combs’ house. The signature hat wall showcases fan-submitted caps alongside hats from Combs’ personal collection. Photos and murals around the venue chronicle the artist’s journey in country music, while select memorabilia sits on display in The Still.
5. Country crawl starting point
Photos courtesy of Opry Entertainment Group
The Strip’s concentration of country bars works to a cowboy’s advantage when looking to bar hop without disrupting the vibe. Saddle up to Category 10 and get a feel for the newest stable in the vicinity. After you’ve warmed up with a signature Hurricane cocktail, mosey on over to Blake Shelton’s Ole Red, which is seven minutes away. From there, take a trek under the glittering lights down to Jason Aldean’s Kitchen & Bar to round out the perfect country crawl.
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F O O D + D R I N K
Bazaar Mar’s Daniela Romero goes for a seemingly simple flavor bomb BY BROCK RADKE Daniela Romero grew up cooking with her grandmother and family in Honduras, realizing her culinary calling at a young age. Currently head chef at Bazaar Mar by José Andrés at the Shops at Crystals, Romero worked on the opening team of the same restaurant concept in Miami and Chicago. “Before that, it fascinated me how little I knew about seafood. But [Andrés] is from the Catalonian area [of Spain], so to see him talk about it and share his passion for it, it was a great challenge and learning experience every day,” she says. “And working with seafood in Las Vegas is even easier than any other part of the country, because it’s so close to California, and it’s so simple to get product in because we are one of the largest food capitals in the U.S.” When pressed for her ideal dish—“It’s kinda like choosing your favorite kid,” she
Photos by Wade Vandervort
laughs—Romero can’t pass on the tiny Po Boy José ($16) from the Little Sandwiches portion of the menu, a beautifully steamed brioche bun filled with fried baby squid, a Basque stew called pelayo and bit of aioli. “We have this great steamed bun recipe that we then fry, open it up, and stuff it with pelayo, a very simple stew of squid, onions and green bell pepper, and some aromatics,” says Romero. “We deglaze it with wine and it becomes this sweet stew, and top it off with the puntillitas [baby squid] and some pickled peppers to balance out with acidity. “It’s this very complex little sandwich you can eat in two bites, very hearty but well balanced at the same time. I crave them. It’s a rustic dish but also very elegant, and it’s fun to make and to enjoy.” Find another Perfect Bite from the chef online only at lasvegasweekly.com.
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PREMIER CROSSWORD “PIECING TOGETHER A CLASSIC” BY FRANK LONGO
Engineer I in Las Vegas, NV to be responsible for taking technology innovations to the next level. Manage and execute the design, development and delivery of technology that enables great customer experiences. Remote work permitted. Apply online at https://careers.mgmresorts.com/global/en job number: 280331 or E-Mail resume to resume@mgmresorts.com and reference job number: 280331.
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Credit One Bank seeks Platform Engineers III - P3 in Las Vegas, NV to create, maintain, and track designs with issue resolution. 100% telecommuting permitted. Apply @ www.jobpostingtoday.com REF# 18029
2020 KING FEATURES SYNDICATE ACROSS 1 Tabloid dirt 7 Shroud 11 Do away with completely 20 Movie awards 21 Charlotte Brontë’s Jane 22 Display units for cold cuts and such 23 Statement from Martin Luther King Jr. 25 Like traveling salespeople 26 Weight without cargo 27 Many people born in July 28 Frequently, in poetry 30 “I -- film today ...” (Beatles lyric) 31 Taxi-driving guys 33 Be 100% sure 38 Bel -- (Italian cheese) 40 Ivy League university in Philly 42 Comic’s joke 43 -- Haute 44 Snoozing 46 Gumbo, e.g. 48 German river 51 IRS payment 52 Existential question about humanity 55 Taco Bell menu item 57 “I’m off!” 58 Enunciation 61 Wallet bills 62 Epoch 65 Olympic prize 68 Muhammad Ali’s epithet 70 Major branch of Islam 72 Sugar in milk 74 Topic
75 2016 drama film with Kevin Sorbo 78 Blizzard, e.g. 81 Health resort 82 Epochs 83 Running after 85 Football throw 87 Wrestling duo 89 Spotting of a rare raptor, say 95 Tahiti, par exemple 96 Pale-looking 99 Three squared 100 Like many offshore rescues 101 Roman 403 103 Hot tub sigh 105 Hair tangles 107 Country star Brooks 108 Adds to the melody, in a way 112 Loren of Two Women 114 12:00 p.m. 115 -- culpa 116 “Fernando” pop quartet 117 Brand of sponge balls 120 Maximum mark reached during a deluge 124 Author of the book revealed by reading the first words of seven long answers in this puzzle 127 Tongue - (ENT’s tool) 128 Corp. bigwig 129 They follow Marches 130 People certifying things 131 Dorm fixture 132 Hoi polloi, with “the”
DOWN 1 -- alone (perform solo) 2 Worker welfare gp. 3 Barely 4 Reserve somebody’s parking spot? 5 Rage 6 Holy hymn 7 From Romeo and Juliet’s city 8 Seeing things 9 Lyricist Gershwin 10 Very sour fruit 11 Battle over a wiki page’s content 12 On Soc. Security, say 13 -- Viejo, California 14 Kuwaiti currency unit 15 Calorie-free cold drink 16 Wine bottle 17 Quick -- wink 18 99-Across plus one 19 NYC hrs. 24 Profound 29 Hazy stuff 32 Tapering stack of empty brew cans 33 Jabbed with a bent leg 34 E-I linkup 35 Bohemianism 36 Seals in a wooden box 37 Crude oil, in slang 38 Pet’s foot 39 Fire remnant 41 Utmost 45 Reds’ Rose 47 Added to the ballot, maybe 49 Helper in a monster film 50 Zilch 53 Small lump
54 Cavern effect 56 Periods 59 Dick Tracy’s Trueheart 60 “-- that a lot” 62 Strict self-deniers 63 Vince who scored “Peanuts” TV specials 64 Become occupied with 66 -- mater 67 Land west of Vietnam 69 Shoots for the stars 71 Tree home 73 Baby’s bed 76 Final Four org. 77 Resistance units 79 Nail polish brand 80 Indian music 84 Very dirty 86 Sieves 88 Sitcom units 90 Genetic ID 91 Reverses the progress of 92 Jaffa natives 93 Fish catcher 94 Frustrated cry 97 Pothole filler 98 Prattles on 102 Snub 104 Garden tool 106 Japanese noodle variety 109 “The Planets” composer Gustav 110 Ouzo flavorer 111 Gave a title to 113 Old TWA rival 116 Positive votes 118 Part on stage 119 Hullabaloo 120 Rx safety gp. 121 Permit to 122 Decide (to) 123 And not 125 Hatchet, e.g. 126 Transcript fig.
10.29.26
HOROSCOPES
L A S V E G A S W E E K LY
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WEEK OF OCTOBER 29 BY ROB BREZSNY
ARIES (March 21-April 19): Japanese craftspeople cultivate an ethos called shokunin kishitsu: devotion to skilled work and continual refinement, where joints are perfected even if no customer will ever notice. Pour extra focus into details now, regardless of applause. For Halloween, be an artisan or eccentric inventor. TAURUS (April 20-May 20): Ancient trees survive centuries because they bend during storms and slow their growth through droughts. You are in an opportune phase to favor this resilient approach to strength and endurance. Yield strategically rather than resisting reflexively, weaving flexible adaptability into your fervent willpower. For Halloween, be an ancient oak tree, forest guardian or mushroom spirit. GEMINI (May 21-June 20): When archaeologists unearth ancient artifacts, they never uncover a complete civilization in one dramatic moment. A fragment of pottery illuminates an inscription, just as a broken staircase reveals architectural purpose. Wield your curiosity similarly, trusting that small discoveries will gradually reshape your understanding. For Halloween, be an archaeologist, paleontologist or crime scene investigator. CANCER (June 21-July 22): Mature wolves wrestle and chase throughout their lives, proving serious responsibilities do not require a terminally serious personality. They never graduate from joyful experimentation that strengthens trust and sharpens cooperation. Bring playful intelligence into everything you value; amused delight creates exceptional work. For Halloween, be a playful wolf. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22): Peacocks’ extravagant displays signal health and vitality. Never apologize for expressing your charisma with theatrical flair; as long as it reflects inner vitality, authentic glamour serves the public good. For Halloween, be a sun deity, lion monarch or glamorous ringmaster. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22): When fields lie fallow in autumn, real growth happens invisibly underground, beyond the reach of forced effort. Nothing more can be improved by sheer willpower right now. Practice the radical art of leaving at least one thing gloriously alone so it can work its magic outside your conscious awareness. For Halloween, be a serene scarecrow watching over harvested fields. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22): Past slights, missed credit and lingering patterns are finally losing their grip on you. The days ahead favor overdue adjustments that offer recognition in forms you never anticipated. Watch for turns of fortune that do not erase history, but change what it means and expand what becomes possible next. For Halloween, be an exorcist. SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21): In this high holy season, the veil thins between worlds. While others find the threshold eerie, you are naturally equipped to explore depths, abide with the hidden and extract treasure from the dark. In the coming weeks, your ability to perceive what is concealed will be amplified. For Halloween, be a psychopomp: a threshold keeper walking comfortably between the living and the dead. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21): Early balloonists could not steer horizontally, so they rose or descended to catch different winds. If you cannot alter external circumstances directly, shift your perspective to find a new current. For Halloween, be a hot-air balloon pilot, comet rider or sky pirate. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19): Capricorn philosopher Simone de Beauvoir noted that life must both perpetuate and surpass itself. We need continuity, but we also need transcendence. Honor the commitments that anchor your daily life while making stability the launching pad for an exhilarating experiment or two. For Halloween, dress as your future self three years from now. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18): Breakthroughs often arrive after weeks of seemingly unproductive tinkering, as the subconscious mind quietly solves the puzzle. A fresh arrangement eventually appears as if by magic. Your experiments have been steadily priming your intuition for a revelation far cleverer than what you sought. For Halloween, be a time traveler, benevolent extraterrestrial or eccentric professor. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20): Will-o’-thewisps hovering over bogs are explained by science as combusting swamp gas and by folklore as spirit lanterns. You occupy a similar liminal zone where empirical reality and inexplicable mystery both hold sway. Welcome both ways of seeing, and let them illuminate the road ahead. For Halloween, be a will-o’the-wisp draped in mist and lantern light.
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P H O T O G R A P H Y
BEHIND THE SCENES: GAMBLING INFLUENCERS | OCTOBER 15, 2026 Back in the day, a casino pit boss would rather keel over than allow someone to bring a film crew onto the gaming floor. Cameras were a liability, and the last thing a casino wanted was someone pulling back the curtain on the action. Today, gambling influencers are being shepherded around properties, encouraged to go live, clip farm, host meet-and-greets and churn out endless content in the hopes that something, anything, goes viral. The casino has entered the attention economy, and suddenly the house wants to be seen. Bobby Rivas, better known online as Bluff, is part of a new wave of gambling influencers striking a chord with younger gamblers through social media. He’s helping bring a new set of stakes to an age-old game, where the action isn’t just happening on the casino floor, but also on screens watched by thousands, sometimes millions. –Gabriela Rodriguez
BACKSTORY
Photo by Wade Vandervort
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