I’ve not yet read the article due to computer problems navigating those digital issues but will try to deal with it later. I think these bar/restaurants/slot-parlors may be the social scene for casino patrons/employees. More comfortable chairs, a nicer atmosphere, a few diversions for those who play slots… yet they survive in the outlying areas around casinos offering real gambling.

Perhaps its the marketplace that determines what is real. Chop Suey is more American food than Chinese, Irish Pub Food in the USA is perhaps not authentic. These bar/restaurants exist elsewhere and they seem to be thriving in Las Vegas. People undoubtedly meet up with friends at the various casinos, particularly the locals casinos, but it seems some seek out a more subdued atmosphere than the large, impersonal casinos.

Yes. Las Vegas has plenty of mini-cultures in various bars around town. One that I like is called Ichabods near Flamingo and Pecos (I think?). It draws a good crowd of people who like ‘cocktail sounds’ provided nightly by their piano-player (Howie). Their square shaped bar is almost always active with gamblers. It’s the kind of place I’d imagine Sinatra would have went to after-hours.

They serve excellent food & specials till 11pm and breakfast 24 hrs. I like their $10.95 Chicken Fried Steak best, but next time plan to try their huge plate of lamb chops.

Closer to where I live is the crowed ‘Money Plays’ tavern, which has a great jukebox, polaroids on the wall of many winners who’ve hit $2,000-4,000. Plus they have a 24 hour Mexican restaurant semi-attached. Locals seem to love the place.

A new place, down the road on Decatur, is called ‘TrainWrecks’. Before that it used to be called ‘The Emergency Room’. The new name is meant to attract a different crowd of people. I think it’s for Heavy Metal fans, biker-types and the fun and rowdy crowd.

Whatever a person’s cultural make-up, they can find a suitable place for themselves in one of Vegas’ many different taverns.
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Here’s the TMI (too much info) part:
Trannies have the Las Vegas Lounge and Macho-Gays have the Hawk Bar. Across the street is a bar for more effeminate cross-dressers. Liberace would have probably loved the place.

When driving a cab I’d have to walk into a wide variety of ‘cultural taverns’ and ask “did someone call for a cab?”. Usually, after awhile the person that was waiting for the cab to arrive would meet potential-hook-up and wouldn’t admit they had just called for a cab to take them home.

Many cabbie’s “bar-calls” end up being no-shows and cancellations.

Seems counter-productive to them, since I’m not seeing all those ad spaces they sell in the magazine by reading stuff from their blogging engine.