Richard N. Velotta

Senior Business Reporter

Rick has been editing and writing about business for 19 years at the Sun and its business-to-business weekly, Vegas Inc. His specialties: tourism, gaming and aviation industries. His assignments have taken him to Tokyo, Beijing, Taipei, Macau and Singapore and he has visited all 50 states.

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My case for ‘The Amazing Race’: Monday, May 20, 2013; Looking around Las Vegas’ Friendly Ford dealership, I almost felt sorry for the scores of people who had arrived to audition for “The Amazing Race.”
Board tells Las Vegas table game maker: Stay out of California: Friday, May 17, 2013; Galaxy Gaming, a Las Vegas manufacturer of casino table games, has been deemed unsuitable to do business in California by a judge, a recommendation that could call into question the company’s Nevada gaming license.
Economic diversification office grants major tax breaks to one of its own: Friday, May 17, 2013; The Governor’s Office of Economic Development carefully considered the largest request for tax abatements in its history on Thursday — carefully, because the request came from one of the members of the board making the decision.
State OKs $1.5 million in tax abatements for distribution facility: Thursday, May 16, 2013; he Governor’s Office of Economic Development conducted a meeting today in Las Vegas, with most of the agenda dedicated to considering tax abatement incentives to companies considering expansion or relocation to Nevada.
Old Lady Luck on track to reopen this fall as Downtown Grand: Thursday, May 16, 2013; The Nevada Gaming Commission conducted its monthly meeting today in Las Vegas.
After 51s deal finalized, it's business as usual at Cashman Field; but what's next?: Thursday, May 16, 2013; Now that a deal has been finalized to sell the Las Vegas 51s to a group that intends to move the team to Summerlin, the clock is ticking on its lease at Cashman Field. But the deadline is far away, and Cashman officials say it's business as usual.
Stratosphere parent company loses $3 million in 1st quarter: Wednesday, May 15, 2013; Declines in occupancy and room rates broadened losses in the first quarter for American Casino & Entertainment Properties, operator of the Stratosphere, the Arizona Charlie’s locals casinos and the Aquarius in Laughlin.
Station Casinos optimistic despite losses in first quarter: Tuesday, May 14, 2013; Station Casinos is banking on moves it made in the first three months of the year to reverse the company’s fortunes after reporting a net loss of $142.2 million for the first quarter that ended March 31.
Apartments being demolished for Convention Center parking lot: Tuesday, May 14, 2013; The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is spending $5 million to buy a 3.3-acre lot on Sierra Vista Drive and will convert it into a parking lot and staging area for the nearby Las Vegas Convention Center.
Confusing tourism and immigration: Monday, May 13, 2013; The battle over immigration reform could get heated, and local tourism leaders hope the federal government’s efforts to reduce visa wait times aren’t lost in the shuffle.

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Blog Entries

Photos: Art in Terminal 3 depicts airplanes, desert and showgirls: Wednesday, June 27, 2012; Four international flights arrive today at McCarran International Airport’s new Terminal 3. Passengers will be the first to walk through the 1.9 million-square-foot, ...
Bankruptcies shouldn't hurt McCarran: Friday, April 18, 2008; Officials at McCarran International Airport say they aren’t worried about being paid by the bankrupt airlines that packed up operations in a recent flurry of Chapter 11 filings.
Allegiant MD-80s already inspected: Thursday, April 10, 2008; You’ve heard all about the American Airlines flight cancellations that stranded thousands of passengers across the country, including McCarran International Airport.
Wyndham announces new Las Vegas resort: Tuesday, April 8, 2008; The world’s largest time-share company plans to build a fifth Las Vegas property near the Rio, the company has announced.
ATA bankruptcy disrupts travel to Hawaii; Southwest scrambling: Thursday, April 3, 2008; The announcement today that ATA Airlines has shut down after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection severs another conduit for passengers between Las Vegas and Honolulu.
Living wills via state Web site: Friday, March 21, 2008; Secretary of State Ross Miller told members of the Nevada Development Authority this week that his office would unveil a new Web site next week to store advanced health care directives of Nevadans who submit them.
Taxicab Authority gets new exec: Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008; Gordon Walker, a vice president for a government contractor on the Nevada Test Site, has been appointed administrator of the Nevada Taxicab Authority.
Acting administrator of taxicab authority resigns: Friday, Feb. 8, 2008