INSIDE GAMING: Next dust heap may be Hilton, some say

Colony Capital's 3,174-room Las Vegas Hilton could soon be history, Strip scuttlebutt suggests. Deutsche Bank's Bill Lerner last week told investors "recent channel checks" suggest wrecking crews in the next 12 months to 18 months will level an unidentified hotel-casino that hasn't hit anyone's radar yet. Reliable insiders, however, say the target will be the iconic former International. That's consistent with plans previously presented to state regulators. Should the announcement come, Lerner predicts improving returns for Strip operators. Moreover, given current investor expectations of more lower tier property closings and more development of upscale projects, Lerner says developers likely will move toward midlevel properties as an alternative to added upscale supply.