Gans was found dead in his home early this morning, Friday, May 1. There is no word on the cause of death yet.

Gans was one of the biggest names in Las Vegas entertainment, headlining at various casinos in town since the mid 1990s. He recently began an exclusive engagement at Encore Las Vegas.

Ticket holders will receive automatic refunds - there is no need to visit or call the box office.

I'll have more information in the weekly column for May 4, 2009.

In fact last week, celebrity Kelly Monaco’s hotel room was burglarized while she was in it. She wasn’t hurt but thieves made off with some loot while she hid under the bed.

With this in mind, I thought it would be a good idea to offer up a few pointers on how to reduce the chances that you will be a victim of a criminal act while visiting Las Vegas.

Be Aware of Your Surroundings
It’s very easy to get distracted in Las Vegas – there are lots of shiny things and pretty colors designed to capture your attention. But people who are lost in the Vegas madness are more likely to be targets for those looking to take advantage of the situation. While staring at that fountain show or pirate battle or pumping dollars into a slot machine, look around every now and then to see what’s going on in the real world. Take note of strangers who seem to be invading your personal space or seem to be taking more of an interest in you than they should. Pick-pockets and the like will notice you noticing them and will be more likely to move on to someone who isn’t paying as much attention.

Guard Your Assets
Men should consider carrying their wallets in a front pocket or wearing one with a chain that attaches to the belt buckle. Women should consider not carrying a purse at all or if absolutely necessary, get one with a long enough strap so it can be worn across the body instead of casually slung over your shoulder. While they are not the most fashion-forward statement, fanny packs are also good alternatives although you should make sure to keep them zipped closed whenever not in use.

Stick to the Beaten Path
Compared to other major metropolitan areas, Las Vegas is pretty safe and most of the tourist areas in Las Vegas, including The Strip and Fremont Street in Downtown, are fine to explore and enjoy. But just like any other city there are some bad areas of town and unfortunately many of those areas are immediately adjacent to the main tourist spots. The neighborhoods that surround Downtown and those just west of The Strip range from not so great to downright scary. Don’t wander off the beaten path, especially at night.

Use the Valet
How many times have you driven to a hotel’s self-parking area only to find it so full that you wind up having to park in the furthest corner of the upper-most floor? That can put you and your vehicle at risk, especially if you are planning to head back to your car late at night. Valet parking is free at most major hotels in Las Vegas so why not use it? If the valet at your hotel is full, consider trying one at a neighboring hotel. For instance, if you can’t use the valet at The Mirage, go to Treasure Island and then take the tram between the two hotels.

If People are Lurking, Wait
When you are going to your hotel room, be sure to pay attention to other people in the hallway. If you see anyone who looks even remotely threatening – you know, like an 82-year-old woman with a walker – wait a few moments before you open the door to your room. You can pretend to be looking for your key or you can just stand there if you feel like it, but waiting until the hallway is clear will ensure that no one will try to come in the room with you.

Lock and Bolt Your Door
I know this sounds ridiculously simple but a lot of people use only the auto-lock feature on their door and don’t bother with the extra security features while inside. Most Las Vegas hotel rooms have additional bolts, locks, or chains that can increase safety and while they are never foolproof, they do put an extra level of security between you and someone who wants to get inside.

Use the Safe
Most hotel rooms in Vegas these days have in-room safes. If yours does, use it, even when you’re in the room. Keep your cash, phones, jewelry, or whatever else you have of value in it at all times and only take them out when you need to use them. If your room doesn’t have a safe, ask the front desk if they have safety deposit boxes – most do.

Privacy Please
One little trick that I use all the time is to put up the “Do Not Disturb” sign on my door whenever I leave the room. This is the same effect as leaving the lights on when you leave the house, signaling to would be burglars that there is someone inside. If they have a choice between a door with a privacy sign on it and one without they will probably be more likely to choose the one without.

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Going to Vegas poses unique health risks for a few reasons. First, the sheer number of people from all over the world means you are more likely to be exposed to all manner of illnesses. Second, your touching a lot of stuff that someone else just touched and we’re not talking about the usual door handles or sink faucets we’re talking about slot machine handles or buttons, cards, gaming chips, and more.

There is no way to ensure you won’t get sick while visiting Las Vegas short of not visiting… or perhaps wrapping yourself in plastic. But that would be uncomfortable and not terribly stylish. However, there are a few tricks you can use to reduce the chance that you’ll bring home a cold or worse.

Wash Your Hands
Washing your hands often with warm water and soap is one of the simplest and best defenses against catching someone else’s germs. You don’t need to be obsessive about it, but when you get up from a gaming table or change slot machines, stop by the bathroom for a quick scrub. And definitely wash your hands thoroughly before eating anything, especially if you have just come from the casino as so many people do.

More Hand Care
Other options for keeping your hands free of germs is to carry around a bottle of hand sanitizer or anti-bacterial wipes. Again, you don’t need to go crazy – no need to wipe down between every hand of blackjack – but if the soap and water isn’t easily accessible this makes a good backup plan. If you really want to go to an extreme, you could also wear gloves. Ladies can evoke their inner Audrey Hepburn and there are several stores that sell special “gambler’s gloves.” They look a little silly but if you’re serious about not wanting to get sick they are hard to beat.

Listen for Sniffles
If you’re in a casino or a showroom or at a restaurant pay attention to the people around you. If you hear or see someone sniffling or sneezing or coughing, you may want to consider a different blackjack table or another station at the buffet. I once sat next to a woman at a gaming table who kept coughing without covering her mouth and despite my repeated requests to cut it the hell out, I finally had to move. Unfortunately I didn’t move soon enough and a couple of days later I was in bed with a cough of my own.

Re-Sanitize
Most major hotels do a good job of sanitizing the bathrooms, which is where the bulk of the nasty stuff that can get you sick lurks. But despite their best efforts, bacteria and viruses can stay behind even after the cleaning crew leaves – note the multiple outbreaks over the years of the norovirus at Strip and Downtown hotels. So, remember those antibacterial wipes I mentioned above? Why not give your faucet handles, toilet seat and handle, light switches, and other similar surfaces a quick wipe before you use them? It only takes a minute and trust me, the maids won’t be offended.

Water, Water Everywhere
One thing that a lot of people don’t do enough of while in Vegas is drink water. It’s easy to get distracted by the general hubbub and the constant on-the-go nature of the town and people don’t remember to drink as much water as they should, especially when it gets hot. Worse, I’ve heard a few of you may have an alcoholic beverage or two while you’re in Las Vegas, which only dehydrates you more. Drinking lots of water helps your body’s natural defenses and could help you fight off disease.

What Do You Mean Pulling a Slot Handle Isn’t Exercise?
I know, I know… the last thing you want to do in Vegas is exercise. You’re on vacation! You want to sleep until noon and eat too much at the buffet and order too many free cocktails at the blackjack table and stay up until 5 in the morning partying. I hear you. But here’s the deal: getting even a moderate amount of exercise can give your body that boost it needs to stay healthy. Most hotels in Vegas have a gym so go spend 15 minutes on the treadmill or, if you prefer, forgo the cab to that casino up the street and walk instead.

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