Smoking Dragon

What is Smoking Dragon?

Philip Pietras, 52, admitted to stealing from more than 170 people, many of whom are senior citizens who sought to limit the emotional and financial burdens placed on their loved ones by prepaying for their funerals. But instead of placing those funds, meant for caskets and burial services, in escrow accounts, Pietras pocketed the money to gamble.

Pietras accepted a plea deal from the state, and prosecutors expect him to enter a guilty plea on Oct. 23 and be formally sentenced on Jan. 22, 2027.

Under the terms of the state’s offer, Pietras will admit to stealing his clients’ money for his personal use. In exchange for his admission, the state has recommended a prison sentence of 7.5 years instead of 15 years, followed by five years of probation.

About Smoking Dragon

The expansion follows the property’s first major addition, which brought more than 25,000 square feet of casino space and 230 slot machines. 

That project also introduced a high-limit slot area with 120 machines and a new bar.

With the latest construction now around the halfway mark, the southwest Las Vegas property is preparing for another significant increase in gaming, dining, and entertainment space when the project is completed next year.

About Smoking Dragon

“The decision we made today was the right decision to deliver on the remit that Congress gave us to ensure stable prices… Some months ago I said we will deliver stable prices, today’s action is consistent with that,” Warsh said at the Fed press conference.

For the gaming industry, the marked economic shift over the course of 2026 and a return to an elevated interest-rate environment after years of post-Covid easing could dissipate some of the optimism that prevailed at the onset of this year.

Many top gaming stocks have underperformed relative to the broader market in recent years, and most of the M&A activity has been facilitated by private equity and other institutions that can more readily capitalise on depressed valuations. There had been hope that rates would start to fall and help alleviate those pressures.