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If you ever plan a trip to Las Vegas, you will likely want to check out everything that this bustling city has to offer. Everyone wants to see the fountains at the Bellagio, the amazing height of the Stratosphere, and the lights that light up the city at night. Thrill seekers can’t wait to get aboard the wicked roller coasters that are offered by Circus Circus Hotel and Casino; The Sahara; New York New York Casino, New York; Buffalo Bill’s; and the Stratosphere Casinos. However, there is still much more to see when you make that trip to Las Vegas. In fact, some of the best Vegas entertainment is located just off the Vegas strip at Arizona Charlie’s Casino Las Vegas!

The owners of the two Arizona Charlie’s Decatur and the Arizona Charlie’s Boulder Casinos, American Casino & Entertainment Properties, are also the owners of The Stratosphere and The Aquarius Casinos. And, although Arizona Charlie’s Casino is situated in an area off of the famed Las Vegas Strip and not directly on it, guests keep coming back for more and more. This could be because Arizona Charlie’s has such a rich history in Vegas, or it might have something to do with the fact that they offer their guests such a wealth of different options for gambling entertainment.

If you like to bet on football, basketball, or any other sport for that matter, Arizona Charlie’s has a complete race and sports book available for you to place your bets. The casino also offers the one and only bingo hall that’s open a full 24-hours a day, seven days a week!

For traditional casino gaming entertainment, Arizona Charlie’s features nearly 1300 slot machines and a variety of table games. The slots range in denomination as much as in type. There are video slots, three-reel slots and five reel slots that offer a great variety of paylines. Guests can ante up at the poker table or cross their fingers and pray for 21 at the blackjack tables. Players can even place their bet on the roulette table and watch as the wheel spins. Of course, if a guest is up for fast paced action, the craps table is always a sure bet for fun.

So, if you make it to Las Vegas, stop in and pay a visit to Arizona Charlie’s Casino Decatur or Arizona Charlie’s Casino Boulder for loads of casino fun outside the strip!

Casinos in Aurora, Illinois, as well as those in East St. Louis, Joliet, and Alton claim that revenue is down; some showing decreases of nearly 19%. With the economy in shambles and the new smoking ban that took effect on the first day of 2008, even the rest of the state’s business owners are unsure of what to blame the lack of business on. Some claim that the reduced patronage is due to the smoking ban, while others swear that it is being caused by the horrible economic downturn. The truth is that it is likely a combination of both.

The casinos in Aurora, Illinois were showing a decline in patronage, as were Illinois casinos all across the board. The two casinos located closest to Missouri competitors, the Casino Queen and Argosy Casino Alton, were recently praying that Missouri voters wouldn’t pass Proposition A, which involved abolishing the loss limit for individuals entirely. However, Proposition A passed at the end of 2008 and Missouri casinos began raking in the customers that could no longer smoke their cigarettes in Illinois establishments. The result? Additional lost revenue for the casino and for the state.

Hollywood Casino in Aurora, Illinois, which is owned by Penn National Gaming Company, provided nearly $3 million less in tax revenues for 2008 when compared to the previous year and other Illinois casinos are comparable.

The fact is that with the majority of the Illinois casinos being located so close to the borders of Indiana, Missouri and Iowa – states that do not have any ban on smoking – it is difficult to compete. The once loyal patrons of the Illinois casinos are now turning their backs on them in order to enjoy their rights as a smoker and frequent casinos like the neighboring Casino Aztar Indiana instead.

Not only is this affecting the overall income for the Hollywood casinos, it is also direly affecting the tax revenue that the State of Illinois receives. What this means is that the hundreds of programs that are funded by the state’s tax dollars are going to see a huge decrease in funding; especially funds for education and higher education, since these have become almost solely funded by casino and lottery tax dollars. The municipalities that these casinos reside in will also see a decrease in funds; causing there to be less money for the streets departments, city government and parks departments.

With high hopes, the casinos in Aurora, Illinois as well as those across the entire state are currently in the process of discussing a change in the law that might allow gamblers to smoke on the gaming floor once more.