Jim Murren and Steve Wynn appear to have similar thoughts about where their Las Vegas customers increasingly want to spend time and money: on entertainment, on food and drinks and, whenever appropriate, in an outdoor environment.

When plans were unveiled last week for a $1.5 billion artificial lake and related development at the Wynn resort on the Strip, the announcement was chock-full of Las Vegas-style adjectives: “elaborate water attraction,” “pristine white sand,” “premium meetings and convention space,” and “extensive dining and nightlife”.

Cool trendy hangout. No one would have dared uttered those words a decade or two ago about the Gold Spike in downtown Las Vegas. The hotel-casino offered cheap rooms and slots for the value-oriented gambler.

The Las Vegas Strip is due for some major changes this week as MGM Resorts International readies to launch its newest attractions: The T-Mobile Arena and the Strip's first outdoor park.

During a meeting convened by Governor Brian Sandoval earlier this month, the task before the Gaming Policy Committee was clear: Figure out how Nevada can adapt to emerging gaming—a sprawling, shifting area that, right now, comprises three main groups: daily fantasy sports (DFS), skill gaming and e-sports—without compromising its reputation as the “gold standard” of gaming regulation.

The IS-7 thunders over the rubble of a ruined cottage just as a T110E5 comes crashing through the trees. They simultaneously fire on the Spahpanzer Ru 251, which is rocked by explosions but manages to hang on. As the attackers reload, the Ru 251 wheels backward, searching for cover. But an SU-152 is waiting to deliver the kill shot. In a fiery blast, the Ru 251 ceases to exist.

Mark Cuban threw some serious shade at politicians who want to ban fantasy sports in a USA Today opinion piece published this week. The Dallas Mavericks owner and host of Shark Tank argued that the popular game of skill wasn’t going anywhere despite reports predicting the industry’s demise.

It's like "Guitar Hero" that pays you back, if you're any good. At least, that's the pitch gambling regulators across the country are hearing as they consider whether to allow casinos to offer slot machines that mimic video and arcade games in an effort to attract younger gamblers.