There are a lot of signs that can be read as possibly negative, but my opinion on the two anecdotes is they may not be.
Las Vegas have done it to themselves. What used to be a good value for your dollar to go and play has become extractive. There isn’t a good deal to be had on the strip. Used to be you could at least play some $5 blackjack when you got tired or wiped out. No longer.
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Sic transit gloria mundi (so shut up and get back to work)