In the constantly changing downtown Las Vegas, here’s another change coming soon!

The Fitzgeralds hotel-casino in downtown Las Vegas will soon be renamed to the D Las Vegas once it has undergone a $15 million renovation while still being operational. As it stands now, the property has nearly 640 hotel rooms as well as a casino with two levels. The previous owner was the first black casino owner in Las Vegas, Don Barden.

The renovations will be done slowly, two floors at a time. The casino will also be split, with the upper level keeping things classy in a ‘Vegas style throwback to the olden golden days. The lower level of the casino will be decorated in a modern and contemporary style.

Also coming down is the signature giant “F” signs representing the “Fitzgeralds” name. The new name is expected to be installed shortly.

Derek Stevens bought the hotel-casino last year, and always intended to change the name and spruce things up to make the hotel-casino a hotspot in downtown Las Vegas. Stevens also owns the majority of the nearby Golden Gate casino.

Stevens told The Associated Press “I really didn’t want to buy the hotel to maintain the (current) hotel.”

Stevens explained the “D” in the name stands for “downtown”. It is also a homage to his own nickname, as well as to his hometown of Detroit.

This year, the 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards will be held at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand, on April 1^st, 2012. Award nominations will be announced this Thursday.

If last year’s Annual Academy of Country Music Awards is an indication of how good this year’s awards show is going to be, then guests and attendants are going to be in for an amazing show, with outstanding performances from country music stars.

This year, the 47th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards will be hosted for the second year in a row, by Reba McEntire and Blake Shelton. The awards event will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena as well as the Zac Brown Band at Mandalay Bay Events Center, with the second annual ACM Fan Jam. Both hosts will be at both venues hosting.

This year, the highlight of ACM will be the performances by Jason Aldean, the Band Perry, Kenny Chesney, Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Rascal Flatts and Kenny Rogers as they collaborate with the legendary to Lionel Richie.

Last year, one of the highlights of the night was the performance of “Walk This Way” with Steven Tyler and Carrie Underwood.

Tickets went on sale today, so get them before they’re gone!

Governor of Nevada, Brian Sandoval has revealed the names of the new 11 members of the Gaming Policy Committee. Sandoval appointed five members according to reports from the Associated Press. The five members are Keith Smith, Jim Murren, Sallie Becker, Mark Bruce, and Paul Mathews Jr.

All five members bring a great amount of knowledge and experience in the gambling industry and Las Vegas, with Keith Smith being the Boyd Gaming Corp. CEO, Jim Murren being the MGM Resorts CEO, Sallie Becker from Bomas Grill in Las Vegas, Mark Bruce a Reno attorney, and Paul Mathews Jr. from social gambing IncuBET in Las Vegas.

The two chairs that are on the state’s Gaming Control Board and Gaming Commission were given seats on the Gaming Policy Committee automatically. These two legislative representatives are Senator Valerie Wiener and Assemblyman William Horne. Tribal representation will be monitored by Arlan Melendez, Reno-Sparks Indian Colony Chairman.

The CEO’s that have been appointed onto the Gaming Policy Committee will be able to promote online poker and online gambling, as both CEO’s represent corporations that are interested in pursing online gambling.

Online gambling is the next step in gambling expansion for many casinos in Las Vegas. MGM Resorts International certainly needs a new source of revenue, as they have been carrying debt for quite some time now. With the CEO of MGM Resorts on the Gaming Policy Committee, will he help steer the gambling industry in the direction that will most favour MGM?