It was an eerie sight last Saturday night when the Las Vegas Strip shut off its lights at 8:30 p.m. in support of the worldwide observance of Earth Hour. The hourlong "dark" period included almost all of the Strip casinos (Wynn, Encore and Circus Circus were notable exceptions), as well as several off-Strip casinos. Perhaps the most pronounced effect of the blackout came when the lights came back on, as the magnitude of lighting in force every night on the Strip became abundantly evident.

CLOSED BOOK: And speaking of dark, Bally's has closed its race and sports book, pending a re-opening prior to football season. Customers are being directed to the sports book at Paris.

KANE'S CLOSES: In another surprise announcement, Ivan Kane's Forty Deuce nightclub at Mandalay Bay closed abruptly last week. MBay says a new bar and lounge will open in late summer to take its place.

CARLOS IN THE HOUSE: In what's being called a "resident" gig, rock icon Carlos Santana will play a 20-month engagement at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino at about 35 dates a year.

SUPERNATURAL SANTANA: "A Trip" opens May 27 and will cover 40 years of Santana's music; tickets are $79-$299.

EARLY-BIRD BUFFET: One of Las Vegas' best buffets, Cravings at the Mirage, has lowered its dinner price by $5 if you dine between 3 and 5 p.m. The $19.99 early-bird dinner buffet is available every day and qualifies as one of Las Vegas' best deals.

Q. Does Nevada have a lottery?

A: Believe it or not, lotteries are illegal in Nevada, under a constitutional ban that's been in place since 1864. Lottery backers have brought up the issue for debate 27 times since 1975, including a recent effort that seems to have a chance of amending the Nevada Constitution. But even if it's approved, it couldn't get through the entire legalization process until 2013.

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