Boyd Gaming has announced that its giant Echelon project, which ceased construction a few months ago, will not be restarted until the end of 2009, eight months later than previously announced. Boyd is reportedly considering opening the metaresort in stages or even reducing its scale. And MGM Mirage has halted design and preconstruction work on its unnamed metaresort project planned for a few blocks up the Strip on 78 vacant acres north of Circus Circus. In June 2007, MGM Mirage announced a one-year design schedule and a three-year construction period for the project, which was expected to be completed in 2011.

ENCORE BOOKING: The 2,034-suite Wynn resort, which will open as planned in December, is now accepting room reservations from Jan. 12.

TASTING DEALS: Several top restaurants at MGM Grand and Mandalay Bay are offering value-priced fall tasting menus. The tasters at MGM Grand are at L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon, ($75), Craftsteak ($75), Shibuya ($59), Nobhill Tavern ($59), Seablue ($59), Fiamma ($49), Pearl ($39), and Diego ($29). At Mandalay Bay it's Red Square ($85) and Fleur de Lys ($59). Call ahead to confirm availability.

Q. Can you explain the craziness inflicted on bettors in the "suspended" game of the World Series?

A. Different sports books have different rules, but in most, the suspended game reverted to the score in the last completed inning to determine winning and losing bets. So in the case of Game 5 of the Rays/Phillies Series, suspended in the middle of the fifth inning at 2-2, most of the books went back to the end of the fourth, at which point the score was 2-1 in favor of the Phillies. Despite the game resuming in a tie, Phillies bettors won and Rays bettors lost.

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