Why Restaurants Are Important to the Future of Casinos

Sebastien Silvestri, the vice president of food and beverage at the Venetian and Palazzo, talks about why dining is such an important part of the casino experience. "…resorts are fully embracing nongaming revenue as an integral part of their business model and recognizing how an excellent food-and-beverage program can positively impact a casino’s bottom line." He looks to the future of restaurants as well, saying that tourists don’t want a three- or four-hour dining experience and more casual restaurants answer that request. [LVS]

Golden Gaming will merge with Lakes Entertainment out of Minnesota to form Golden Entertainment, which will be traded on Nasdaq. Golden Gaming runs PT’s taverns, three Pahrump casinos and slot machines at Nevada grocery stores, while Lakes Entertainment runs Maryland’s Rocky Gap casino. [Vegas Inc]

Frenemies Wolfgang Puck and Patrick Terrail talk about the 40 years since Ma Maison opened in Los Angeles. Puck got his start there before he opened Spago while owner Terrail on Melrose Avenue, a scalpel's toss from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Together Puck, who says the two went through a "really bad divorce" when he left, and Terrail, who admits he bought cheap furnishings for the chichi restaurant frequented by Hollywood elite, do separate Q&A’s mashed together in this piece. [Hollywood Reporter]

Vegas Chatter, Hotel Chatter and Jaunted shut down on Friday, July 31. Their content will be rolled into Condé Nast Traveler. [VC]