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As The Mirage is all set to undergo a grand renovation and emerge in three years as the Hard Rock Casino's iconic guitar, many are left wondering what will happen to the world-famous Mirage relics: namely the Siegfried & Roy statue, the dolphins, the white tiger, the aquariums, and more. But Mirage aficionados need not worry, as the stage is set for a grand rehoming of its world-famous relics as well.

As everyone is aware, The Mirage, a beloved landmark on the Las Vegas Strip, is undergoing a monumental transformation. In three years, it will re-emerge as a Hard Rock casino, leaving behind almost no trace of its past glory. As the property undergoes this metamorphosis, it's fortunate that some of its one-of-a-kind relics have already been able to find new dwelling places. Here's a look at where some of The Mirage's most cherished pieces have gone.

Siegfried & Roy figure

One of the most iconic features of The Mirage was the golden statue of Siegfried & Roy with one of their very own white tigers. This statue served as a memorial for fans to remember the lives of Siegfried and Roy. The pair died one year apart, Roy Horn from COVID-19 in 2020 and Siegfried Fischbacher from pancreatic cancer in 2021. As stated by the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the beloved statue will be given as a donation to the Neon Museum, though the museum hasn't confirmed these plans yet. The sculpture was revealed on October 27, 1993 with both Siegfried and Roy, as well as Steve Wynn, attending the unveiling.

The white lions and tigers

Siegfried & Roy&'s Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat was once home to numerous white tigers and lions. With the transformation of The Mirage, these majestic animals have found new sanctuaries. The last surviving big cats were transferred to two animal sanctuaries: In-Sync Exotics in Wylie, Texas and the WildCat Ridge Sanctuary in Scotts Mills, Oregon. Although the exact number and types of cats relocated have not been specified, this marks a significant shift in public attitudes toward the exploitation of captive animals. The career-ending attack on Roy Horn by his white tiger, Mantacore, during a show on the 3rd of October, 2003, was a pivotal moment that led to a re-evaluation of such practices.

The dolphins

Of course, the gorgeous dolphins of The Mirage have also found new homes. In February of 2023, three dolphins named Sofi, Karli, and Osborne were relocated to the famous SeaWorld in San Diego. Later, in May 2023, the remaining three dolphins, Huf-N-Puf, Lady Ace, and Coco, were moved to the sea sanctuary of Coral World Ocean Park at Water Bay in St. Thomas, the US Virgin Islands. These relocations also reflect changing public sentiments about the ethical implications of keeping dolphins in captivity.

The tropical fish

The Mirage's 20,000-gallon tank, which was located behind the front desk, was home to 450 kinds of tropical fish representing 85 species, including puffer fish, angelfish, tangs, and other creatures from the sea. These saltwater fish have since been relocated to Mandalay Bay's Shark Reef, where they presumably (and hopefully) swim in a separate tank. Needless to say, the aquarium at The Mirage was meticulously maintained, with staff suiting up and diving in two to three times a week just to clean the tank.

The mermaids

For 35 years, two brass mermaid statues greeted guests at the Mirage's entrance. These statues, which became popular photo ops and, unfortunately, targets of groping (as evidenced by the paint rubbing off certain areas of the mermaids' anatomy), are slated to be auctioned off. The auction, which will include other Mirage items which are yet to be named, is expected in September.

As The Mirage transitions into a Hard Rock casino resort, these relocations mark the end of an era. The Mirage's unique attractions, from the Siegfried & Roy statue to the vibrant aquarium, have left an indelible mark on visitors. Their new homes ensure that these beloved relics will continue to be cherished and remembered, even as The Mirage itself takes on a new identity.

It is hard to imagine Inter Miami making the most of their impressive strides in the game all without their top star in Lionel Messi, and yet the club’s opening game in the Leagues Cup has shown that the squad definitely has what it takes to win big without the best player on the planet. That has seemed to ignite their hopes of winning in the Leagues Cup so far.

A year ago, Inter Miami opened its campaign in the Leagues Cup with a win against a LIGA MX club, but it was Messi who drilled the free-kick winner in his debut that time. This time, however, the Argentine star was in the stands watching his team wage war in his stead, showing how deep the roster is for Inter Miami at this point.

Inter Miami is set to play against the Tigres UANL in the next game for the Leagues Cup this August 4th, and there are a lot of hopes for the team’s chances of winning as they seek to deliver a promising run when they face their opponents at the NRG Stadium next week.

A Confident Version of Inter Miami

There’s no denying that Inter Miami has seen a spark of confidence, and their games have been really quite off the charts, claiming one win after another. Inter Miami had a total of 16 shot attempts in the win, with nine of those on target. They held the ball for 59% of the game and made 532 passes for a promising 86% accuracy, and if you are not impressed with their superb performance, Miami just held Puebla to two shots on target for the whole game.

Matias Rojas drew first blood for Miami in the game by the ninth minute. Miami would go on to keep the lead with some superb defense as they prevented Puebla from scoring a goal to tie the game. Luis Suarez would go on to put the exclamation point on the game with another goal in the 72nd minute to close the game for good.

"We are a team that goes out to the pitch and establishes things during the first minutes of the game, that's important to start winning," Suárez after the match. "Puebla found themselves in a difficult situation, being down on the scoreboard. And we could finish it during the second half."

Winning Without Messi

It is definitely not an easy look to have your best player sitting out a crucial tournament. Lionel Messi is expected to be out for the entirety of the Leagues Cup, which means that the team will have to rely on the rest of its players, like Suarez, to lead the way towards the top. So far, it does seem that all is well for Inter at this point.

"Inter have already won this, they have the experience," Suárez said. "This is a matter of fighting until the end. Some like this, some may not, but we need to get used to it. Our obligation is to work."

Inter Miami has entered the Leagues Cup with a promising balance in their games. The team also leads the MLS in the Supporters' Shield race, with a five-point lead over FC Cincinnati. Their impressive depth has been quite the story of this season, and it cannot be denied that the team has managed to figure out so many things that could have been the cause of their downfall late in the season.

After a lengthy discussion with the agents of Matthew Stafford, the Los Angeles Rams have finally secured their franchise quarterback that rewards him with a hefty salary this season and will include a promising roster bonus heading into the next offseason. This keeps Stafford content with the team while the Rams engineer their salary cap into being able to create promising offers in the long run.

The Rams did not extend the four-year, $160 million deal that Stafford signed back in 2022, and this deal still runs all the way through the 2026 season. At the age of 36, the quarterback has expressed his desire to at least have more guaranteed money to the deal that he initially signed with the team.

Rumors had it that he was ready to hold out in participating in the training camp had the Rams not decided to actually come up with adjustments to his contract. This puts the Rams in perspective as the team seeks to build on their pace towards a possible climb to the Super Bowl once more.

Positive Hopes for the Rams

The Rams making tweaks to his deal makes a certain point that the team is committed to keeping him for good. Stafford means to stay for the team for good, and while there’s no contract extension just yet, it does seem that his goal is to actually invest himself in the squad while they aim to come up with more wins, and possibly a Super Bowl blast.

“We’re surrounded by a bunch of young talent on this team and guys that are hungry to prove themselves in this league, on this team, on the field, everything,” Stafford said. “That’s a fun thing to be around. As veteran guys, we feed off that. At the same time, try to lead them in the right direction and teach them how to practice like NFL players. But these guys came in really in the spring and then have carried over to today. Just really knowing what to do and that’s half the battle, so I’m proud of those guys.”

This keeps Stafford satisfied in the meantime. The defense still has to weather the loss of Aaron Donald in the offseason, which is more pressure considering that the team is expecting to come up with a playoff run once more.

A Stagnant Super Bowl Window

While the Rams are quite the contenders as they appear, it is easy to say that the Super Bowl window for the team will be soon closing fast – but it is still wide open for them to consider making some faster upgrades. Locking up Stafford is a commendable move at this point in time, but fans should be confident with the team’s chances at this point in time.

After all, having a quality and a high-end quarterback at the lead is not guaranteeing a Super Bowl win, but it does give them hope. With Stafford now done with his whims on the contract, it is time for him to focus on a promising campaign now more than ever.

Considering the fact that they are just two seasons displaced from winning the Super Bowl, it cannot be denied that the team has a promising chance to establish their dominance in the league once more and deliver a win heading into the 2024 season. Who knows, maybe Stafford can lead them to glory once more.

The Trade Deadline constantly puts pressure on many clubs to make some massive changes in their games and increase their chances of winning. However, it is easy to say that trading for Isaac Paredes is a no-brainer move for the Cubs as they seek to tweak their chances of winning heading into the coming months with the hopes of reaching the playoffs.

The Cubs sit just a few wins behind the second spot in the NL Central, with all of the playing clubs in the division having 50+ wins as of the time of writing, and it cannot be denied the competition is at an all-time high at this point. Trading for Paredes seems to be the right idea for the team considering the fact that he earned his first break as an All-Star this season.

At this point, the Cubs are definitely getting a major upgrade in their roster heading into the month of August, which should give them a promising boost to win games all the way to the start of the playoffs. Who knows? Maybe the Cubs can end up with the top spot in the NL Central at this rate.

Bringing in an All-Star

Paredes is clearly one of the biggest bats on the market, and it cannot be denied that his first boost in the team would be to spark the team’s offensive end – which has struggled a lot since the start of May and has hampered their run towards the top of NL Central. So far, Paredes’ stat line of .245/.357/.435 with 16 homers and 55 RBIs in 101 games is a promising look that fans cannot ignore at this point.

For those who are not familiar with his game, Paredes has already nailed a career-high 31 homers and 98 runs a year ago. What makes him a great pick up for the Cubs is the fact that he won’t be a free agent until 2028, which makes it a promising look for the club with its lack of production in the third base. For this season, Paredes has already tallied 16 homers as of the time of writing.

Paredes was originally signed with the Cubs out of Mexico in 2015. Now he returns to the club that has given him a chance to make his name in the Majors, and he can definitely return the favor at this point.

Losing a Core Piece

The Cubs had to trade Christopher Morel for the deal to work, who has been batting fifth as the designated hitter in the squad. At the age of 25, Morel has become a fan favorite in the game while he continued to play at a high level for .199 with a .675 OPS in 103 games this season. So far, the Cubs needed and upgrade, and it is unfortunate that it was his spot that has to go.

“It’s always a little bit strange telling someone during the game that they’ve been traded,” manager Craig Counsell said. “It was certainly surprising and shocking to Chris. He’s provided Cubs fans with a lot of memories, for sure, even in a short time here. No matter how he’s playing, no matter how the team’s playing, no matter what’s going on, it’s indicated by how he treats people. He’s an example for all of us in that regard.”

The Cubs now move forward with a new look. They’ve already added Nate Pearson from the Toronto Blue Jays last weekend, and it seems that they are really keen to solidify their place in the competition at this point.

July 29, 2024 – The last race of the season took place at Hong Kong's Sha Tin Racecourse on July 14, drawing hundreds of bettors, most of them middle-aged males. Massive horse bettors and enthusiasts showed up to bet, studied racing forms and odds, hurried to the stands as horses bolted from the gate.

Emotions were running high when they came back into the air-conditioned hall after each race. Over 30,000 individuals attended the event, with a record 6,373 viewers traveling from mainland China, where it is prohibited to gamble on horse races.

An 81-year-old participant by the name of Wu had to share “I've been betting on horses for more than 50 years and I always come for day races," said an 81-year-old who gave his name only as Wu.”

Macau Jockey Club’s Closing

Hong Kong's vibrant scene stands in stark contrast to that of Macao and Singapore. The Macau Jockey Club closed in April owing to financial problems; in 2023, it drew only 29,000 spectators.

The waterfront location is slated for a new use by the government. October will see the closure of Singapore's Turf Club when the government takes back the racecourse site, which is being used for housing and other purposes due to competition from the city's two casinos.

While they do not intend to target the HKJC's land, Hong Kong authorities are fighting to use a portion of the Hong Kong Golf Club site for public housing. In contrast to its counterparts in Macao and Singapore, the HKJC is expected to prosper because of its targeted philanthropic expenditure, varied funding streams, and alignment with governmental agendas. Being the largest taxpayer in the city and providing funds for public services like housing, healthcare, and education guarantees government support for its growth.

Government Influence Spreads Across the Jockey Club

Although the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) is a private nonprofit, government officials have significant influence. Among the club's 189 voting members, 33 are current or former officials, including Financial Secretary Paul Chan.

The board is led by Michael Lee, with two former government ministers. Some, like Regina Ip, see a conflict of interest in these links. However, HKJC CEO Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges described the relationship as "symbiotic and collaborative" in an interview with Nikkei Asia.

"The position and status of the HKJC depends on its plans to cooperate with the Hong Kong and Chinese governments to expand its reach and power in contemporary and future Hong Kong and China," wrote Leiden University lecturer Pui Chi Lai, in a paper published in 2023.

The University of Hong Kong's John Bacon-Shone, an honorary professor of social science, stated that the club deliberately enlists senior civil officers who are about to retire. "So the government is comfortable with the strategies of the Jockey Club [and] how they are spending their charitable money," Bacon-Shone states.

According to the government budget plan, the city anticipates receiving HK$28.6 billion in betting taxes from the HKJC overall this fiscal year, which is equal to one-third of anticipated collections from personal income taxes. For the year ending in June 2023, the club itself paid HK$542 million in income tax. The HKJC's reaction to opinions such as Ho's extends beyond suggesting that increased taxation will force gaming underground.

July 29, 2024 – The 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas has come to an end, but there are still some exciting poker tournaments scheduled for the rest of 2024. Some of the most sought after charitable activities that will generate funds for some fantastic causes are set for a kick off by Always Bet on Blue, All in for Ability, and ART4AUTISM to name a few.

Charity Series of Poker (CSOP) Events

There won't be much time to wait for the next two Charity Series of Poker (CSOP) events, which were held in the summer. The Stirling Club will host CSOP Event #68: Always Bet on Blue on Saturday, August 17.

The $300 buy-in tournament includes entry, a silent auction, and a cocktail hour. Non-players can attend for $100. Rebuys and add-ons are $100 each. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. PT, with the tournament starting at 7:00 p.m. PT. The winner will receive a $5,000 cash prize, with over $9,000 in donated prizes for the final table. Proceeds benefit The Wounded Blue, supporting injured and disabled law enforcement officers.

The Stirling Club will host CSOP Event #69: All In for Ability on September 7. Everything is the same as it was before, with the exception that The Ability Center will benefit financially from this competition. The Ability Center helps its members find new strengths, abilities, and confidence to live their best lives. They also provide assistance in making exercise easily accessible to Southern Nevada's special needs community.

Autism Awareness Events

The 16th Annual Ante 4 Autism Event will be held at South Point Hotel & Casino on Saturday, July 27th. Registration for the $200 buy-in charity tournament, with a $15,000 guaranteed prize pool, opens at 5:30 p.m., and the tournament starts at 6:30 p.m. Late registration and $100 rebuys and add-ons are available until 8 p.m. Proceeds benefit five autism charities.

The third annual ART4AUTISM event, organized by Families for Effective Autism Treatment of Southern Nevada, will feature artwork created by people with autism spectrum disorder. The World Market Center in Las Vegas will host the exhibition from August 12 to September 7. Pieces will be up for grabs through an online auction that closes on September 7. On September 7, there will be a VIP Finissage Closing Reception with free food, beverages, artist meet-and-greets, and art pickup.

About Las Vegas Charity Poker Events

When Las Vegas Charity Poker Events first started in the early 2000s, poker professionals, celebrities, and athletes attended. These prestigious events, which promote different organizations, have guaranteed prize pools and buy-ins throughout the years.

They are typically held at locations such as South Point Hotel & Casino. Beneficiaries include local community programs, wounded veterans, and autism organizations. Players have a great time playing competitively and giving back to the community, all while having a big influence.