Poker, prayer perfect partners

We now know what Jesus thinks.

New World Series of Poker champion Jerry Yang, a 39-year-old psychologist from Temecula, Calif., proclaimed his faith in God when he won $8.25 million and the Texas hold’em world championship event at 4 a.m. Wednesday at the Rio.

Yang, a born-again Christian, said he prayed often during the tournament, asked God for guidance and a high pair when he needed the cards.

Only one former world poker champion was still in the room when the tournament ended — 2000 winner Chris “Jesus” Ferguson, nicknamed for his shoulder-length hair and dark beard.

Harrah’s Entertainment Chairman and CEO Gary Loveman and several executives from Harrah’s buyer Texas Pacific Group paid a visit to the Rio on Tuesday night during the final table of the World Series of Poker. Texas Pacific and Apollo Management are purchasing Harrah’s for $17.1 billion.

The Golden Gate, the oldest hotel downtown, no longer has the oldest slot machines.

Owner Mark Brandenburg replaced the coin-operated slots with ticket in-ticket out machines, which are less labor intensive than coin-operated machines. The move should reduce costs for the 101-year-old casino.

Longtime customer Alma Margaret Creel, 94, was given card No. 1, as the founding member of the new slot club.

Just when it seemed Nevada’s tourism boosters couldn’t get any more mileage from Elvis, The King is biking the Silver State back country.

A national advertising campaign is using Las Vegas icons to promote outdoor destinations in Nevada.

Sponsored by the Nevada Commission on Tourism, the ads feature mountain bikers dressed in Elvis costumes racing down the Flume Trail near Lake Tahoe. Other ads include a tuxedo-wearing Wayne Newton fly fishing, showgirls skiing and golfing, and the Blue Man Group paddling a kayak.

The campaign will play on the Travel Channel, Discovery and Fox News. Print versions will appear in Outside, Travel and Leisure and two National Geographic publications.

Tamares Las Vegas Properties, which is selling the Gold Spike for $15.6 million, is cutting back services at its other downtown casinos.

The hotel at the Western has closed and the Upper Deck Restaurant at the Las Vegas Club was shut down.

Kenneth Landfield, chief operating officer for the U.S. real estate division of Tamares’ parent company, said via e-mail that Tamares is evaluating the best use of its downtown real-estate holdings.

The Inside Gaming column is compiled by Review-Journal gaming and tourism writers Howard Stutz, Benjamin Spillman and Arnold M. Knightly. Send your tips about the gaming and tourism industry to insidegaming@reviewjournal.com.