A Front-Row Seat to Vegas’ Transformation with Senior Reporter Howard Stutz

Las Vegas has always been a city of reinvention. From the mob era to megaresorts, from University of Nevada-Las Vegas basketball glory days to professional sports franchises calling the Strip home, the evolution has been nothing short of remarkable. Few people have had a front-row seat to this transformation quite like Howard Stutz, senior reporter for The Nevada Independent.

Howard has been covering sports and gaming in Las Vegas for more than 40 years. In a recent conversation on the Betting On Success Podcast, Howard sat down with Mark Morton aka "Morty" to share stories from his career, his thoughts on the arrival of Major League Baseball, and how gaming and technology continue to shape the future of the industry.

Here’s a look at some of the highlights from their discussion. Listen to the complete podcast on PodBean, Apple Podcast, Spotify or YouTube.

Journalism Rooted in Sports and Gaming

Howard didn’t arrive in the City of Las Vegas planning to stay. A California native, he thought he’d spend a year as a sportswriter at the Las Vegas Sun before heading back to the LA Times. Instead, he found a career. Over the decades, he’s covered everything from UNLV football (back when Randall Cunningham was making national headlines!) to the rise of mega-casinos, and now the city’s evolution into a true professional sports hub.

Baseball Comes to the Strip

One of Howard’s current beats is the Oakland A’s planned move to Las Vegas. He’s followed the story since 2021, through political battles, financing controversies, and site changes from the Wild Wild West property to the Tropicana site.

While there’s skepticism about how the community will embrace the A’s compared to the beloved Vegas Golden Knights, Howard sees potential:

The team is building a "young nucleus of talent" that could win over fans if kept intact.
Big matchups (think: Dodgers, Giants, Yankees) will fill seats with locals and traveling fans alike.
The stadium project, now projected at over $2 billion, will start to feel real once construction begins.

For Howard, the A's story showcases just how Las Vegas continues to evolve and attract world-class entertainment.

The Changing Face of Gaming

Howard has also studied the shift in the gaming industry. From mob-run casinos to today’s publicly traded giants, tribal-owned resorts, and tech-driven innovation.

Regional tribal casinos have grown from simple tent-like structures to full-blown luxury resorts, but Howard believes Vegas will always thrive as long as it keeps reinventing itself.
Technology is reshaping the player experience. From cashless wagering to mobile wallets that work seamlessly across states, convenience and security are driving the future.
The business side of gaming has changed too, with slot machine companies moving off U.S. stock exchanges, making transparency more challenging for Wall Street watchers.

Old Vegas vs. New Vegas

When asked what he misses about “old Vegas,” Howard laughs and admits he arrived just as the mob era was fading.

What he doesn’t miss? Uncertainty.

What he loves about “new Vegas?” Constant innovation, professional sports, and entertainment options that keep the city ahead of every other market.

Still Passionate After 40 Years

After four decades in journalism, Howard joyfully shares that he still loves what he does. At The Nevada Independent, he’s energized by working with a younger team, experimenting with video and digital platforms, and continuing to tell the stories of Las Vegas as it reinvents itself again and again.

“I’m going to keep doing this as long as I keep enjoying it… and I’m still enjoying it.”

While Las Vegas has changed dramatically since Howard first arrived in 1982, one thing hasn’t: it’s still the most fascinating place to cover the intersection of sports, gaming, and culture.

And thanks to journalists like Howard Stutz, we get the inside story of how it all happens.

The Betting On Success Podcast, sponsored by Las Vegas-based companies Marker Trax and Koin Payments, features conversations with gaming industry leaders while exploring the future of cashless gaming technology.

Watch the complete episode, visit PodBean, Apple Podcast, Spotify or YouTube.

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