Harrah's, the largest casino operator in the world, has received an unexpected buy-out bid from two private-equity firms. Analysts believe the $15 billion deal has a reasonable chance of going through. Harrah's immediately established a special committee of directors and retained a mergers-and-acquisitions adviser to review the bid.

FINAL PIECE: Meanwhile, Harrah's announced that it has signed a deal to buy property on the Las Vegas Strip that it has long coveted: Barbary Coast. The Barbary Coast, on the northeast corner of Flamingo Road and the Strip, is the only acreage between Harrah's and Paris that Harrah's doesn't own. In exchange, Barbary owner Boyd Gaming would receive 24 acres of vacant land adjacent to the site of Boyd's own mega-project, Echelon Place. Echelon will be built early next year after the Stardust is torn down.

Q.What's the new restaurant with the super-expensive tasting menu and how much is it?

A. Several restaurants now offer tasting menus, but the two biggies are MGM Grand's Joel Robuchon, where the 16-course tasting menu is $360, and Caesars Palace's Guy Savoy, with its seven-course menu for $290. These prices are without wine.

For information about Las Vegas shows, buffets, coupons, and deals, go to www.LasVegas Advisor.com.

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