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To put it in gambling lingo, it was a bad week for the house.

Several gaming giants showed deepening signs of trouble, as the recession continues to drag down tourism and revenue for Nevada's largest industry.

A court filing Monday said Station Casinos plans to file for bankruptcy by April 15.

Then on Wednesday, Harrah's Entertainment, revealed that its take last year dropped 10.3 percent to $10.13 billion from 2007.

MGM Mirage, meanwhile, reported bleak projections from auditors that increase the likelihood the company might file bankruptcy to restructure its debts.

Tropicana Entertainment already is under bankruptcy protection.

Herbst Gaming is set to file its prepackaged bankruptcy Monday.

MONDAY

BROTHEL BRIBERY PLEA

As part of a deal with prosecutors, brothel owner Maynard "Joe" Richards pleaded guilty to felony wire fraud in connection with an attempt to bribe a Nye County commissioner in 2005.

The deal, which requires approval from a federal judge, would keep the 75-year-old Richards out of prison but could force him out of the brothel business.

TUESDAY

THE RISING COST OF SIN

State lawmakers are considering two bills that could double "sin taxes" on liquor and cigarettes.

The change would give Nevada the fifth-highest liquor taxes in the nation.

Industry lobbyists opposing the move argue that consumers will simply switch to cheaper brands.

WEDNESDAY

BOOM GOES BUST

Las Vegas used to be among the fastest-growing metro areas in the nation. Not any more, according to the latest U.S. Census Bureau figures.

The numbers show the Las Vegas metropolitan area grew by 38,091 people from July 1, 2007, to July 1, 2008, putting the total population here at 1,865,746. That differs slightly from local demographers, who say we actually shrank by about 10,000 people to just shy of 2 million.

The county, state and federal governments have slightly different ways of estimating populations, but the overall theme is the same: The days of unbridled growth are over, at least for now.

THURSDAY

ANWAR LINKED TO CASE

A member of the Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners practices medicine with the Las Vegas medical group accused by the U.S. attorney's office of defrauding two federal agencies by performing thousands of unnecessary cholesterol tests on patients.

Medical board member Dr. Javaid Anwar was not named in the lawsuit filed Monday against Miller Medical Group, but he is a longtime physician for the 20-year-old group, which does business as Internal Medicine Associates.

No physicians were named in the complaint.

FRIDAY

JOBLESS RATE SOARS

Nevada's share of jobless residents rose to 10.1 percent in February, up from the 5.5 percent rate in February 2008.

The Department of Employment, Training & Rehabilitation said Nevada's rate is a full 2 percentage points higher than the national level of 8.1 percent.

Joblessness in Las Vegas surged from 5.6 percent in February 2008 to 10.1 percent last month.

That translates into 102,500 locals out of work.