The signs were there in previous months, but the hammer finally came down in May, as the drop-off in Nevada gambling wins set a record for the steepest year-over-year decline since the numbers began being compiled in 1984.

Statewide, the win was off 15.2 percent, including a 16.4 percent drop on the Strip. Of course, the decline notwithstanding, Nevada casinos still posted nearly $1 billion in winnings, so it's not time to start locking the doors yet. In fact, visitation increased marginally in May, indicating visitors are still coming, though not staying as long or spending as much.

POWER HOUR: Tough times make for good happy hours, of which several are running around town. But the best of the bunch is at the Blue Martini in the Town Square shopping district on the south Strip where, from 4 to 8 p.m. every day, food and drinks are half price. The selection is fantastic, including seared tuna for $6.50 (discounted from $13), beef tenderloin for $7, and lobster tacos with huge chunks of lobster for $9. Plus, the Blue Martini has quickly become one of Las Vegas' trendiest local haunts, with four bars indoors and out, live music in the evenings, and lots of Vegas folks hanging out.

DIXIE'S: Hooters has converted the Dam restaurant into a watering hole called Dixie's Dam Country Bar. One of the few country-music options in a Strip casino, Dixie's offers smokin' fiddle-centric live entertainment in the evenings. The bar opens at 7 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays.

COMEDY JUMP: The ticket price for the "Comedy Stop" at the Tropicana has been raised to $21.95. It's still one of the leastexpensive tickets in town, but after holding its $19.95 price for many years, it finally succumbed to rising costs.

Q. Will the low room rates you wrote about a couple weeks ago remain throughout the summer, or were they just a July thing?

A. Low July rates always extend into August, but they usually nudge a little higher. Not so this year. Because of the economic situation, rates are actually getting lower at many places. For bargain hunters, it's a great time to visit.

For information about Las Vegas shows, buffets, coupons and deals, see www.LasVegasAdvisor.com.