The Grand Bazaar Shops have opened at Bally’s. The $50 million 2-acre outdoor shopping promenade bordering the Strip is configured similarly to downtown’s Container Park, with stores built into small boxlike areas. The more than 120 shops include several international stores coming to Las Vegas for the first time, including British fashion designer Superdry, Brazilian footwear company Havaianas and Costa Rican jewelry retailer AG by Ana Gutierrez Wearable Art, along with several dining options. The long escalator from the Strip to the casino runs through the center of the mall.  

 

Paradise casino: The diminutive Mardi Gras Hotel & Casino on Paradise Road east of the Strip has been sold. The new owners say they will remodel and upgrade the 314-room hotel into a 700-room resort with a 35,000-square-foot casino. No timetable has been announced.

 

Omnia opens: The latest and (they hope) greatest Vegas nightclub is open. The $100 million Omnia debuted this week at Caesars Palace in the spot where Pure nightclub used to be.

 

Megabucks hits: The Megabucks jackpot was hit at Westgate Las Vegas (formerly LVH). A 78-year-old woman from Utah won $10.7 million while playing a $100 buy-in.

 

Noodle bar: The Westgate has also opened a new restaurant. The Silk Road Noodle Bar has been woven into the area that overlooks the gardens at the casino’s Benihana Village, which also houses the Benihana Japanese steakhouse.

 

Dollar oysters: Not all of the good deals are in the casinos. McCormick and Schmick’s, on East Flamingo across from Terrible’s casino, does raw oysters for $1 on Wednesdays, running from 5 p.m. till close.

 

QUESTION: What are the odds for the March Madness basketball tournament?

 

ANSWER: Kentucky is the big favorite to win the championship at +130 (bet $100 to win $130), followed by Wisconsin at +715 and Arizona at +775. The long shots are Hampton and Robert Morris, each at +150,000 (1,500-1).