Casino at the End of the World

by Don Hall

Every casino is the same physical space. No windows, no clocks, the Feng Shui of confusion with ranks of slot machines, blackjack tables, carpet with a labyrinthian design, cocktail waitresses with trays of drinks in plastic cups, the constant promise of the quick buck and a timeless oasis of ups and downs, hope and despair. Some are palaces, others are dumps, all offer something subversive and, underneath the smell of smoke, whiskey, and oddly manufactured air deodorizer, a whiff of possibility. What sets one casino from another is the people who decide that this place is *the* place, their place.

Las Vegas did have a place for me but it wasn’t anything like I imagined. A building is just a building but the Wild Wild West was something so much more, so much seedier and alive, than the tried and true dazzle of this circus in the desert that it felt like *the* place, my place.

Part memoir, part history of Las Vegas, "Casino at the End of the World" is a as wild and seedy as the place it memorializes.

293 pages, Paperback

Published August 19, 2023

About the author

Don Hall is a writer, teacher, and artistic mercenary.

In the past forty years, Don has worn many hats—Events Director for both nonprofit and commercial radio, freelance copywriter, casino operations manager in Vegas, Chicago public school music teacher, story slam host, Off Loop theatrical producer/director, Front of House Manager for Chicago’s Millennium Park, professional trumpet player, and one-time homeless busker. Like each random gig is a chapter in a novel written by a lunatic.

Now living alone, thrice-divorced, Hall commits to a daily routine of writing too much, drinking too much, and railing against the dying of the light. Go to his Substack for more info and to the digital magazine he co-edits and to which he contributes regularly www.literateape.com.

His latest book "Casino at the End of the World" is available at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.

Reviews

[TanyaStanton]

Lately, I’ve been diving into different ways to unwind after a long day of reading and work, and it’s easy to get lost in all the options online. While exploring, I stumbled upon a site where the gameplay felt smooth and fair, which is rare these days - definitely worth checking for Pin-up slots and it kept things fun without any hidden surprises. Personally, I found it reliable for quick sessions, and it didn’t feel like one of those sites that overcomplicates everything. It’s a solid pick if you just want some straightforward entertainment in your free time.

[Eric Z. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don Hall is masterful at telling tales of his time at an off-Strip Vegas casino full of colorful customers and coworkers, while offering sage advice on handling conflict and Karens along the way. This book could easily be a streaming series with Hall narrating each episode’s escapades. It could’ve used one more round of proofreading, but never mind: this is a great read. Highly recommended.