Free video poker classes plus a low $42 room deal make South Point Casino in Las Vegas a great summer stay value.

South Point Casino in Las Vegas will be hosting a series of free video poker classes this summer featuring pro player, author and columnist Bob Dancer. The 10-week session begins June 15 with classes held every Tuesday at the casino’s Showroom. Classes start at 1 p.m. with a beginner’s class from 1 to 2:30 p.m. followed by an intermediate class from 3 to 4 p.m. The schedule changes during the final four weeks of the session when there will be one class beginning at 1 p.m.  The schedule along with topics and more information can be found on www.bobdancer.com.

Video poker is one of the most popular casino games and learning proper video poker strategy can have a huge impact on your bottom line.  Different games require different “holds” and knowing which cards to keep when playing a specific game version can spell whether you come out ahead or you let the casino keep your cash.  Luck  will always play a part but having a clear understanding of the game will give you a better outcome on your video poker play.

During this summer’s class run, Dancer will teach two games for the very first time and those are the popular 8-5 Bonus Poker Quick Quads and the 15-9-4-4-3 Deuces Wild version of Ultimate X Poker. Both versions — along with many other favorite video poker games — are from leading manufacturer, Action Gaming.  (If you haven’t played these games, check out the company’s videopoker.com site where you can play video poker for free.)

Stay and Play details:  Hotels.com is offering rooms at South Point Hotel, Casino, and Spa for as low as $42 per night PLUS receive a FREE VIP coupon savings booklet containing hundreds of dollars in discounts at spots on and off the Strip including the popular Forum Shops at Caesars Palace.

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There’s also a section on the site that we particularly like which pictures all the “slot hosts” and gives their individual email addresses so you can get personalized attention to your questions or comments.  Also, be sure to check out the page that gives you “Slot Floor Updates” including details on all the newest additions to the gaming floor.  We’re really looking forward to playing the new video poker variations from IGT/Action Gaming, “Ultimate X Poker™” and “Good Times Pay Poker™,” when we visit The Bellagio later this month.

Here’s another item of interest from the Bellagio Slots website and we’re quoting them directly:  “Compared to official data published by the Nevada Gaming Control Board, during the first two months of 2009 Bellagio’s average payback on its slot machines was over 2.75% better than the rest of the Las Vegas Strip! In fact, Bellagio’s payback percentage has been consistently higher than the Strip average since 2005.”  So we just added another reason to love the Bellagio casino!

Looking for a great rate at The Bellagio?  Check out The Bellagio at hotels.com for the summer’s best deals on The Strip.

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Players Club members have been accruing Gift Shoppe points since January 1. Gift Shoppe points are completely free and club members accrue them automatically – no extra sign-ups required.  Plus, these points are in addition to other slot club points and benefits.

Players can redeem Gift Points at the fabulous year-end Players Club Holiday Gift Shoppe 2009 which will take place during the two week event happening November 28 – December 13 where you can get watches, jewelry, electronics, home & sporting goods, Gift Cards, FREEPLAY^® and more!

Check for details at MGM Mirage’s website at playersclub.com or at the players club desk at each casino location.    Click Here for the Best Las Vegas Hotel Deals!

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Poker Buddy scores with a double Royal Flush for a cool two grand.

P.B.:  “Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino is announcing their Alaskan cruise contest winners tonight.  Do you want to go out for it?”

Me:  “Not really…I’m kinda’ tired today.”

Three hours later —

Me:  “Okay, I got my second wind.  Let’s go out and see if we won a cruise.”

P.B.:  “Yeah, let’s go but I don’t want to play too much.”

Me:  “Nah, me neither.”

Two hours later –

See above photo!  Poker Buddy hits for $2000 on a quarter Triple Play DDB video poker game.  Dealt four to the Royal Flush, he pulls the queen twice for TWO Royals.  Cha-Ching!

Hmm, maybe we should not “want to play too much” more often?  (No cruise by the way.)

Got any stories you wanna’ share?  We’d love to hear them so tell us about your big wins in the comments section of this post.

Want to practice your video poker strategy for free online?  Just go to videopoker.com to play your favorite games on the ‘net’s largest non-wagering video poker site.

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Our initial idea was to do one site which would cover lots of great gambling destinations and give recommendations – and hot deal alerts! -  on where to stay, places to dine, where to shop and what sight-seeing and special events were not to be missed.  We’ve now decided that there is so much to see and do in so many of the good gambling spots we visit that it would best serve our readers to build some additional websites focusing on specific destinations.

With that in mind, we are pleased to announce our first “sister” site, AZCasinoTravel.com.  With 23 casinos spread throughout the state plus so many special things to do and see here in the Grand Canyon State, we felt we had more than enough to work with in building an info-packed site for visitors to our beautiful state. In addition to our casino guide and reviews, we’ll also keep readers up-to-date on the best deals on Arizona hotels, dining, golf, shopping and all types of vacation activities.

This new site is the first in what will be a family of websites our readers can go to for help in planning a casino trip that includes not only where to play but also where to stay, dine, shop, play golf and more.  (We think you’ll find these sites helpful in planning any trip to the specific destination – with or without gaming!)

Also, because these sites will be more location-oriented, we hope our readers will feel comfortable in asking for suggestions, posing questions and leaving comments about each spot we feature.

Click on the name – AZCasinoTravel – to visit our new site now and let us know what you think!

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Steve and Elaine Wynn head for divorce court again.

While this isn’t a Las Vegas news site so to speak, I do keep up on — or try to keep up on — what’s happening in Las Vegas and when it’s something I think readers would be interested in, I do like to mention it here.

What has struck me as interesting lately is all the news about “splits” — both corporate and personal — happening these days in Las Vegas.  Here’s a quick rundown on what’s caught my eye lately:

Split #1 — Steve and Elaine Wynn filed for divorce.  While no one on the outside can ever know what’s going on within a marriage, this news made me sad.  I would think that having a string of successful properties, stock prices that haven’t tanked like the rest of the industry, and what would appear to be a “wynning” working relationship would allow them as a couple to sit back, relax and enjoy their family and what they have built together.  And it’s not like this is their first trip to the courthouse — they divorced once before and got remarried.  But, again, that’s just my opinion.  Read more about the Wynn divorce here.

Split #2 — “Cannery Casino Resorts and Crown Terminate Merger Agreement; Crown to Make Investment Into CCR” is the headline on a press release I received this week.  Also verbatim from the release, “Cannery Casino Resorts LLC (“CCR”) today announced that it has entered into an Agreement with Crown Limited (ASX: CWN) under which CCR will receive $370 million from Crown, which will consist of a $50 million cash fee and a $320 million non-voting investment in CCR, subject to appropriate regulatory approvals. The Agreement terminates the previously announced Cannery Purchase Agreement whereby CCR was to be acquired by Crown.”  (The $50 mil is basically a penalty for canceling the merger deal.)  So it looks like beleaguered billionaire™ (and aren’t they all these days?) James Packer is “packering” up his bank book and heading back to Australia.  Read more about Mr. Packer, his casinos, his stock, his ranches and more here.

Separation #1 — In the “it might happen” category is this news that MGM MIRAGE may be willing to part with its Bellagio property for the right price.  Yeah, I know you’re saying “Well, duh! — Anything is for sale for the right price.”  And you’d be correct.  Considering the massive financial burden of building the CityCenter project, MGM needs to come up with some cash, especially after negotiations with Deutsche Bank fell through earlier this month.  Selling Treasure Island earlier this year is a good start but with the credit markets still nailed down tight, the Company needs to find funding elsewhere and selling assets may be the only option.  It sure didn’t help their cause to have Moody’s downgrade some of their ratings this week.

Seems to be a good month to be just a casino player, not a casino owner.

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You can check out some terrific opening night photos by visiting ratevegas.com as well as read a “players” look at the new M Resort from David Matthews at his “Gambling in Space” blog.

And don’t forget to look for my interview with Anthony Marnell III in the March issue of “Casino Player” magazine.

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Nine dining venues will be a major draw of the new M Resort which opens March 1 in Las Vegas. (Image courtesy of the resort.)

When the new M Resort, Spa and Casino opens its doors on March 1, Chairman and CEO Anthony Marnell III  will be able to gaze down upon the legendary properties designed in part by his father’s company, Marnell and Corrao Associates.  With a pedigree that includes work on such resort icons as Wynn Las Vegas, Caesars Palace, Bellagio, Mirage and more, the newest generation of the Marnell family is bringing mega-resort luxury, amenities and design innovations to a 90-acre spot on the “South Strip.”

Perched 400 feet above the lights of the Las Vegas Strip, the new $1 billion-plus resort – located about nine miles from Mandalay Bay – uses this vantage point as a key design element in the positioning of the resort’s nine restaurants, 390 guest rooms and suites, as well as the lavish outdoor swim and stage complex called  the Villaggio Del Sole Pool and Entertainment Piazza.

Those staying overnight in one of the resort’s rooms will enjoy dazzling views of both the Strip and the Las Vegas skyline from the floor-to-ceiling windows gracing each of the 550-sq.ft. or larger accommodations.  Some of the state-of-the-art amenities are a 42″ HD LCD television, Bose “Wave” sound system, an iPod docking station, an in-room safe large enough to hold a standard laptop plus high-speed Internet access.  While “techies” will love the new digs, old-fashioned luxury is also part of the room and suite design.   Terry robes and slippers, spa bathrooms with separate tubs and showers plus turndown service are all de rigueur.

The resort’s casino features over 92,000 sq. ft. of indoor and poolside gaming with 1,847 slot and video poker machines, 64 table games, a live poker room as well as race and sports book.  Casino players will be able to sign up for the resort’s exclusive new “iMagine Club” to earn rewards including restaurant meals, cash back, free slot play plus shows and entertainment offers.

In addition to the attention being paid to the rooms and casino, the new resort is putting a huge focus on the nine dining venues that are all owned and operated in-house.  With a goal of being the new “favorite locals casino,” Mr. Marnell and company are relying on the quality and variety of dining options to not only bring people into the casino but back as regular visitors.

When talking about the resort’s restaurants, Mr. Marnell said “We believe food is one of the most, if not the most important reason why guests will visit the property.  The restaurants we have developed will introduce a new kind of dining experience that reflects my family’s reputation for great food and great value.”

What’s sure to be a hit is the resort’s 500-seat buffet restaurant, “Studio B,” where a live-action exhibition kitchen will allow diners to enjoy their meals while watching the restaurant’s chefs prepare signature appetizers, entrées and desserts.  Guests will also enjoy a selection of beer and wine as part of their meal at no extra cost.

Other restaurants include the rooftop Restaurant Veloce Cibo and Bar Veloce; Marinelli’s for authentic Italian dishes (including some from the Marnell family recipe book) and Terzetto, the resort’s steak house and oyster bar.  A casual deli, a coffee house and an artisan bakery plus the outdoor Piazza Grille round out the extensive dining options.

For oenophiles, the creatively-named “Hostile Grape Wine Cellar” – wine with an attitude – will offer guests the opportunity to discover more than 120 wines by the glass including hard-to-find boutique wines from throughout the world.  A unique wine dispensing system will be used to pour one-, three- or five-ounce portions so that aficionados can create their own tasting “flights” of wine.

The “spa” part of the M Resort, Spa and Casino is represented by the 23,000 sq. ft. “Spa Mio” that includes a fitness center, salon, 16 treatment rooms plus sauna, steam and Jacuzzi.   Also on-site is the new M Resort Conference Center.  Built to accommodate small to mid-size meetings, the 60,000 sq. ft. area is home to the resort’s Grand Ballroom along with multiple other reception rooms.

Two additional features of the “M” are the wholly-owned gas station where customers can redeem player points for gasoline as well as an on-property, full-service pharmacy, which will be open 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. for both customers and employees.

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Video poker machines wait for tourney players at Bally's in Las Vegas.

One of the benefits of joining a casino’s players club is getting invitations to free tournaments — slots, video poker, table games, even bingo — along with the free hotel stay and other perks that go with the invite.  (Of course, you have to have past play in the casino to receive these types of invites.)

In a previous post, I mentioned that our last trip to Las Vegas was planned around a video poker tournament that we played in at Bally’s Las Vegas.  The tournament consisted of two 10-minutes sessions (one per day for two days) and it is no exaggeration when I say neither of us could hit anything during the tournament play.  No four-of-a-kinds, no straight flushes and certainly no Royals.  We both held four to the Royal, three aces, three low cards, three high cards — you name it — and still couldn’t hit for anything.  Funny thing though, while playing “for real,” we both did pretty well.  All those hands we couldn’t hit on in the tourney, we did, in several instances, pull off in the casino.

I’m thinking about this because we’re playing later this week in another video poker tournament — this time here in Phoenix — and I’m hoping that our luck will have a change of heart and maybe one of us will end up “in the money” this time out.  But, as always, even if we don’t win it’s always fun to compete, meet and talk with other players and generally just go out and have a good time on the “house’s” dime.

By the way, I’ve been practicing my Double Double Bonus tournament-style “holds” at videopoker.com, a great site for free, non-wagering game play.

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The "Deep Stack Extravaganza" poker tournament starts soon at The Venetian Las Vegas.

The highly successful “Deep Stack Extravaganza” poker tournament returns February 2 to The Venetian Las Vegas poker room.  Appearing on many “Top 10 Poker Rooms in Las Vegas” lists, the 11,000 square-foot Venetian room will host this well-attended event for the third consecutive year.

- Starting chips for the $330 NLH event will be $10,000 and an additional $2,000 in chips with an optional $10 staff bonus.

- The $550 and $1,070 NLH events will begin with $12,500 in starting chips and $2,500 additional chips with an optional $10 staff bonus.

- The $2,500 NLH event will begin with $15,000 in starting chips and $5,000 additional chips with an optional $10 staff bonus.

Total cash prize: Payouts are based on the number of participants that enter the tournament. 3% of prize pool is withheld for poker room staff.

All participants must be at least 21 years of age and have a Venetian players club, “Club Grazie,” card.  You can find all the details plus the results from both the 2007 and 2008 tourneys here on the Venetian’s website.

The poker room offers a special hotel rate available to anyone who plays in a DSE event or plays at least six hours of live play in the poker room. Rates are based on prevailing rate and availability.  Contact The Venetian Poker Room to inquire: 702-414-1000.

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A view of the new CityCenter project in Las Vegas. (Click on each photo to enlarge.)

Check out these latest photos from two new construction projects happening on the Strip in Las Vegas.  With soaring glass towers in shades of cool blue and chartreuse, wickedly-angled walls and sharp points define some structures while sinuous curves soften and enrich others.  These are the elements that define the new CityCenter project and its neighbor to the north, the Cosmopolitan Resort and Casino.

CityCenter, from MGM Mirage and partner Infinity World Development Corp, a subsidiary of Dubai World, is slated to open in late 2009, and is currently the largest privately financed development in U.S. history.

Directly from an article on CityCenter’s own website comes this description of the massive $8 billion project:   ”Located between Bellagio and Monte Carlo resorts, CityCenter will feature ARIA, a soaring 61-story, 4,004-room gaming resort; non-gaming luxury hotels including Vdara Hotel and Las Vegas’ first Mandarin Oriental; Veer Towers, the development’s only strictly residential buildings; approximately 2,400 condominium residences; a $40 million Public Fine Art Program; and Crystals, a 500,000-square-foot retail and entertainment district.  Additionally, The Harmon, a luxury 400-room boutique hotel, is anticipated to open at CityCenter in late 2010.”  Read more on the CityCenter website.

I don’t know about you, but the only thing I see that’s missing is the flying cars ala “The Fifth Element” to take us from one futuristic tower to the next.  I can’t wait to check out these newest additions to the Strip but I’m interested:  What do you think of these new designs?

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Find Wizard of Oz slot machines at the Flamingo Las Vegas.

While this wasn’t a “game-finding” mission to Las Vegas, we did keep our eyes peeled for some of the most popular slot machine games out there; the ones we get asked about a lot.

The most convenient, most accessible “Wizard of Oz™” slots are at the Flamingo.  Located at the very front of the casino, right near the interior walkway to Flamingo’s Steakhouse46 and Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville, they usually had a crowd gathered each time we walked by them.  (According to Harrah’s.com “slot finder,” they have them at Harrah’s Las Vegas, Imperial Palace and Caesars Palace as well.)

Wynn Las Vegas has a cool “assorted” group of these popular WMS Gaming machines — including Dirty Harry, Top Gun, and Wizard of Oz™– near the main “Red Card” players club booth.

All the Harrah’s properties we visited now have the Total Rewards Card-affiliated “Star Trek” machines.  Like Tim and Michelle who do the always-entertaining and informative Five Hundy by Midnight podcast, we, too, played a few dollars through (maybe $40) and never got the bonus round.  Not once.  Boo, hiss.  We live for bonus rounds and not getting to play even one is a real let down.  Also, when you “cash out” (if, unlike us you have any money to cash out!) be sure and check your ticket as the machine prints out a “voucher” to use for future log-ins for the “Episodic Gaming from WMS” as well as an actual TITO casino cash-out ticket.  Don’t leave the machine without the cash ticket!

**Interesting side-note: When I stopped by the Bellagio to see the winter garden display, I asked one of the slot hosts if they had any Wizard of Oz™ machines and she told me they took them out a few months back because they weren’t making any money.  I said that’s odd because they seem to be really popular and she said well, yes, she does get asked about them — a lot.  Hmm, maybe it’s time to re-think that one.

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Caesars Palace will wait to add 660 more rooms as Harrah's puts hold on new tower.

When it comes to gambling revenues these days, if there is any bright spot to be found for Las Vegas casino managers it could be — “Well, at least we’re not Atlantic City.”

The numbers coming in from the two biggest gaming Meccas in the country aren’t pretty and certainly serve to justify all the recent changes and holds* we’ve seen on several casino construction projects.

Gambling revenues for the state of Nevada fell 14.8 percent in November compared with a year ago according to figures released last week by the state’s Gaming Control Board.  Within the state, LV Strip properties recorded a 16.02% drop while North Lake Tahoe casinos fell a whopping 26.94%.

Across the country in Atlantic City, revenues dropped a record-setting 18.7% for the month of December.  That number broke the previous decline record of 15.1% set in September.

Back in December, Fitch Ratings said that the casino industry would probably not show any signs of recovery until 2010.  This article in The Wall Street Journal goes on to explain how rising unemployment and continuing real estate market woes — among other reasons — will continue to affect consumer spending.

So what does this mean for loyal casino-goers like us?  Look for more great deals on trips to Las Vegas and other top gambling spots.  The current environment allows us to stay and play in 4- and 5-star properties for less so let’s take advantage of it while we can. Click Here for the Best Las Vegas Hotel Deals!

*  Harrah’s Entertainment announced yesterday that it is halting construction of 660 rooms in the new Octavius Tower at Caesars Palace Las Vegas until demand returns.  The Las Vegas Review-Journal has a good article on the announcement plus info on year-to-year room occupancy rates.

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Here’s a run-down on the current highlights (and lowlights) of life in Las Vegas for some of the major casino industry players:

From MGM Mirage:  “CityCenter Holdings, LLC, a joint venture between MGM MIRAGE (NYSE: MGM) and Infinity World Development Corp, today announced certain scope changes related to The Harmon Hotel & Spa which include postponing the opening of the hotel to late 2010 and cancelling The Harmon residential condominium component.”  The press release cited “contractor construction errors” as partially to blame for the reconfiguring of the project.  All other components of CityCenter remain on schedule for a December 2009 grand opening.

Speaking of CityCenter, it began taking applications Monday to fill the approximately 12,000 jobs available at the new property.  Myriad positions from food and beverage service to hotel and casino operations, retail help and more will need to be staffed before the December grand opening.  Check the CityCenterCareers website for more information.

In mid-December, while we were all busy buying gifts at the local mall (or maybe Walmart this year,) Phil Ruffin, former owner of the New Frontier, was busy getting his own bargain – Treasure Island from owner MGM Mirage for a reported $775 million.  Ruffin, a Wichita, Kansas businessman, sold the New Frontier in May 2007 for more than $1.24 billion. That casino was closed shortly thereafter and demolished in November 2007.  The deal on TI is expected to go through in early-summer.

Are there more property sales ahead for MGM Mirage?  The answer “possibly” is leaning more and more toward “probably.”  See what you think after reading  this article at Bloomberg.com based on an interview with new MGM Mirage CEO James Murren.  The reporter says that Mr. Murren “plans to “dramatically” reduce debt and will consider further casino sales as he overhauls the company’s balance sheet.”

One question we can easily answer is “Will there be more massive changes in Las Vegas this year?”  And that answer is a resounding “most definitely.”

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Gifts are great...just not mittens and backpacks.

Lists, lists and more lists!  Best of, worst of, most notable, most notorious.  So as not to be left off the year-end bandwagon, this week we are going to list some New Year’s resolutions we’d like to see the casinos make for 2009.   (Feel free to add your own suggestions in the comments section.)

To all casinos both large and small; please resolve to stop giving away dumb stuff.  I love “gifts” – quote marks used because we both know I have more than paid for them with my play — but puh-leeze make it something I would even remotely consider using.

For instance, I am the proud owner of Casino Arizona’s latest marketing giveaway — mittens and a scarf.  Uh, did someone miss the Arizona in that name?  If you’re trying to make an impact, wouldn’t you want to give a gift that has some sort of relationship to your business?  Yeah, black mittens and a fuzzy scarf immediately say “Let’s go to the casino…in sunny Arizona” to me.  The month before, a thin “stadium blanket” was the featured free gift.  (This fascination with cold weather is really starting to make me wonder if they know something we don’t and the newest Ice Age is upon us starting in the Arizona desert.)

Or, how about their September back-to-school Casino Arizona backpack?  This one still has me shaking my head — once I quit laughing.  I can just picture little Johnny going off to school with this slung over his shoulder.  Should add some spice to that next parent-teacher conference.

So, here’s some advice to all the casinos thinking about what to give away in 2009:

How about giving away a nice little case to hold my players club cards or a lighted key chain with a four-leaf clover?  Really anything that a.) I would possibly use and b.) isn’t ugly.  (Note that neither suggestion is expensive.)

Marketing people — think about your players.  What would they actually use?  Considering that the average age of casino players is north of 40, you can pretty much bet that backpacks aren’t high on their list of must-have items.

Cash works.  I know it doesn’t have your name emblazoned across the front but trust me, it will get me in the door faster than a pair of mittens or a backpack ever would.

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So, sit back and relax, pour yourself a cup of cocoa, and shop for all the casino fans, poker players, and slot players on your list with our tailor-made gift guide.  We sorted through tons of items and websites to bring you our “Best Gifts for Casino Players.” 

I’m giving P.B. a watch this Christmas and in my search found a great site with a huge selection of the most popular watch brands including Fossil, Citizen and more – both men’s and women’s — at phenomenal prices with free shipping and a 110% price guarantee.  Be sure to use the special coupon code “10off” to save an additional $10 on any watch purchase.

Here’s the link: 
Watchco.com- HOLIDAY SPECIALS- BRAND NAME WATCHES- 40%-70% OFF!

A custom thermal from Bad Beat Clothing.

Also, check out the custom-designed tee-shirts, thermals and more at Bad Beat Clothing.  This stuff rocks!  Speaking of poker, great article at Poker Listings about the Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic that starts today at The Bellagio. 

And here’s a quick-click way to access all of our holiday gift posts so far this season:
Gifts for Poker Players       Gifts for Slot Players/Casino Gamers         Holiday Gifts for Players     JAQK Wines

Happy Shopping!

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Here’s how the numbers released today by the Nevada Gaming Commission played out in the Silver State:

Nevada as a whole brought in $905 million for a 22.3% drop.

The Las Vegas Strip was hit hard with its $475 million take which represents a 25.8% drop compared to a record “win” in excess of $637 million in October of last year.

Worst numbers?  The “Boulder Strip” which brought in $62.9 million and saw the biggest decline in the state with a 28.2% plunge.

Faring somewhat better was the Downtown Las Vegas area which saw its “win” decline 19.6% to a $48.4 million take.

Almost all areas of the state showed a marked decrease in October numbers.  Here are some additional results from around the state:

Reno — $57.5 million, down 7.4 percent.
Laughlin — $45.7 million, down 14.9 percent.
Sparks — $12.9 million, down 10 percent.
Stateline — $20.9 million, down 23.8 percent.

Considering that economic experts are predicting a “long, slow recovery,” we can expect to see more sobering numbers coming from Nevada in the months ahead.

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Here’s the skinny from a joint press release dated December 1, 2008 (Emphasis mine) – “Players who are members of Harrah’s TOTAL REWARDS® program will be able to use their cards to create a personalized and differentiated gaming experience on the STAR TREK themed gaming machines at most of the company’s casinos in North America, as Harrah’s moves forward with a market-by-market implementation plan, subject to additional jurisdictional regulatory approvals.

“This server-enabled, networked gaming platform provides players with the unique ability to personalize their game play, allowing them to save their play status and unlock additional bonus rounds and game episodes over time. “

While all the Star Trek machines in place at different casinos allow players to “save” their game information from trip to trip, the Harrah’s program (if I am reading this right) will give TR club members the ability to further personalize the game and earn additional Harrah’s-only bonuses. 

According to Tim Stanley, chief information officer and senior vice president, innovation, gaming and technology of Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc., (His business card must be “super-sized” to fit that title on it….) –  “As players advance through the dynamic Star Trek storyline, they can save their progress through the game and pick up where they left off during their next visit, regardless of which STAR TREK gaming machine in a TOTAL REWARDS enabled casino they visit. Additionally, by using TOTAL REWARDS® to enable their personalized STAR TREK account and ‘avatar,’ they can transport their previous play status from non-Harrah’s based Star Trek games, earn ‘Bonus’ achievement medals for their Harrah’s play, and get access to new games, unique communications and special promotions and offers as part of our innovative introduction of this new capability.”

So, thanks to WMS Gaming:  Video game meet slot machine.  Slot machine, meet video game!  And to Harrah’s good job on going boldly where no casino has gone before!  Now, if I just have a little more luck in actually finding an open machine next time I visit Harrah’s….

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I love a compact wallet or little case that can hold all my players club cards, my room key, some cash, my credit cards and keep everything perfectly organized.  These all fit the bill and do it stylishly to boot!  Left to right:  I love this Colorful Credit Card Holder.  Check out the rainbow of hues on this one — from basic black to “Pumpkin” and “Ocean,” $14.88.   Pictured in the center is the sleek little Metro Mini Designer Card Case which will hold all the necessities and comes in ten great colors/textures.  At just $9.88 each, this hard case makes a great stocking stuffer. The zippered leather case on the right is perfect for my sweetie. He can pack it with all his club cards, stash it in a pocket and off to Vegas we go!  Leather Credit Card Holder, $25.50.

Any slot machine fans on your list will have a ball playing casino-like games at home.  Sure to be a hit are these PC video games like the very popular IGT Slots: Little Green Menfeaturing casino slot favorites like “Triple Diamonds” and “Haywire” or this CD-ROM Slots from Bally Gaming with “Popeye” and “Blondie & Dagwood” games just to name two — $19.99 each.  The Hand-Held Slot Game (far right) will provide lots of entertainment while traveling for just $16.95.

Help that someone on your list save up some dough for that next trip to Vegas with this  “Crazy Diamonds” Slot Machine Bank, $46.98. Spin the reels to “hit” for fun!  In the center, the “Wild Cherry” Watch for her ($99.99) features the well-known IGT® game logo, a crystal-accented case, and a mother of pearl face all on a snazzy red leather band.  Right, this handsome and well-made men’s water-resistant chronograph stainless steel watch ($299) features the famous ”Megabucks” logo plus date and three sub-dials. Megabucks IGT Stainless Steel Men’s Watch.

Be sure to check out our expansive “Gift Guide” for even more great ideas in all price ranges!

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Mine is a classic story of beginner’s luck.  This happened more years ago than I’d like to count while I was on my honeymoon with P.B.  We were in the Bahamas staying at what was, at the time, the Paradise Island Princess Resort & Casino.  After a full day of sight-seeing and snorkeling, we had dinner at one of the hotel’s restaurants and headed for the casino.  We walked around the crowded gaming floor for quite a while before deciding on which machines to play.  Because it was so packed, we weren’t able to find games next to each other but we were at least in the same general area.  I sat down at a multiple-line fruit and 7’s slot machine and started feeding quarters in and pulling down the lever.  (Told you it was a while ago!)  I went through one roll of quarters and had just cracked open the second roll when I hit a bunch of red sevens.  I didn’t even know it was a big hit until the lights started blinking and the bells started ringing!  In my excitement, I left — yes, left — the machine to find my new husband who immediately told me to go back to my machine and wait for the attendant.  NOW!  I still laugh when I think about it.  (Smart man.  No wonder I’m still married to him.)

My total win was 2500 quarters — $625 — which went toward our hotel bill for the week and toward my enduring fascination with casinos and casino gaming.

Now, I open the cyber “floor” for the story of your first big win.  Check out our “Post Contest” for your chance to win a copy of the new 2009 American Casino Guide. 

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For video poker players, it was no doubt their very first Royal Flush.  For slot players, maybe it was three Triple Diamond symbols or three Blazing 7’s appearing like magic across the screen.  I will always remember my friend, Mark, calling me on his cell phone from the California casino in downtown Las Vegas to tell me he had just hit for $10,000 on the Triple Double Diamond dollar slots.  Cha-ching!  For blackjack and poker players, craps and roulette fans, it was that first “streak” that just went on and on until your bankroll looked like nothing you’d ever seen. 

Here’s a “first story” for P.B. and me.  While it wasn’t his first $1,000 Royal, it was the first one he got while he and I were playing together.  We were sitting side-by-side at the bar at The Rio in Las Vegas sipping wine and playing Double Double Bonus video poker, quarters, when P.B. nudged me and said “Look.”  That’s it, just one word – “look.”  When I glanced over, all I saw was the “Call Attendant” notice on the screen so I thought his machine was broken.  I was saying something dumb  like “Oh, I’m sure someone will come and FIX it” and he said … “No, LOOK!”  That’s when I saw the Royal Flush and the big fat $1,000 JACKPOT sign!  It was a very fun hit with everyone at the bar coming to look and even the bartender calling people over to see it.  (By the way, he hit it in diamonds and he held the Ten, King and Jack and drew the Ace and Queen.  See what I mean about remembering in great detail!)

Tomorrow — My first big hit in slots PLUS the announcement of a fun new contest for our readers.

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As you would expect given the state of the economy, they found Vegas to be a lot less crowded than usual over the Thanksgiving holiday.  From the short cab line at the airport to the less-than-busy intersection near The Flamingo casino and Margaritaville bar and restaurant, it was obvious to them that fewer and fewer tourists are making their way to Vegas these days. 

The "Pig-A-Pult" bonus screen from the new "Bigger Bang" slot game from WMS Gaming.

For those of us who enjoy gaming, a highlight of this week’s podcast is their review of the several new slot games they played on their trip.  Games including “Bigger Bang” at Caesars Palace and Bill’s, “Star Trek,” “Happy Days” and the” Cliffhanger” version of the popular “Price Is Right” game are discussed.  The “Bigger Bang” machine is a “group slots” game (and yes, that does sound funny when you say it out loud) and it’s the newest version of WMS Gaming’s popular “Big Bang Piggy Bankin’” slot game and that’s why it’s called “Bigger Bang.”  There’s also a good update on the reported demise (false) of Wheel of Fortune™ machines at properties on The Strip.

You’ll find much more of interest in the very entertaining one-hour-plus show including a call-in segment featuring listener restaurant reviews and updates on hotel room rates so listen to it here.

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What poker night would be complete without a kick-ass poker table?  Check out these high-quality yet affordable beauties from BBO Poker Tables including their new “Custom Lab” tables with full-color graphics.  Free crating and shipping on all tables really does bring “Poker to the People” — BBO’s motto.  Plus, here’s a special offer to sweeten the pot:   Save 5% off poker tables at www.BBOPokerTables.com by using coupon “POKERHOLIDAY”!  And be sure to check out their “Poker Chips and Accessories” category, too, for some distinctive card guards as well as nice chips.

Paulson clay poker chip set.

Speaking of chips, they’re really a matter of budget and design appeal. Got big bucks to spend on Paulson’s — here’s a great offer with a sweet 37% discount on the classic Top Hat & Cane chip.  This impressive set also comes with two decks of cards, a cigar tray and more.  Trademark Games 240 – Pc. Paulson® Top Hat and Cane Poker Chip Set with Wood Case.

Or, try these popular 10g chips complete with cards, dice, dealer buttons, aluminum case and with a hefty 50% discount (click on link to show price) Casino Da Vinci Authentic All Clay Casino Quality Poker Chip Set w/ 300 Chips, 6 Dealer Buttons, 2 Cut Cards.

Prefer to save your money for that upcoming trip to Vegas?  Then consider this good-quality set of 500 composite chips with a nice design and jaw-dropping price of just $39.99!  ChipsAndGames Premium Set of 500 11.5 gr Ace-King Suited Poker Chips w/6 Dealer Buttons & Poker Dice.

KEM poker cards

You’ve saved a lot of money so far so why not splurge a little on these KEM plastic cards?  Set of two deluxe decks with the WPT® logo.  KEM Poker World Poker Tour Standard Index (Black/Silver).

Tell your poker-playing buddy to drop the kitchen timer with this Poker Genie Home Tournament Manager Timer.  The Poker Genie is a poker tournament clock that electronically displays the time remaining in the current blinds level, the ante and the small and big blinds. It is a hardware-based blind timer that will also help set up your poker tournament. The Poker Genie will automatically calculate your blind schedule and tell you how many chips of each color to issue each player. It will estimate how long your tournament should last and … it does all this within a minute or two. You can also use The Poker Genie to display your own custom blind schedule.  No more “How much time is left?” or “What is the big blind?” questions.

Looking for some stocking-stuffers?  Maybe some hand-painted card guards will bring you luck. I’m particularly partial to the “Royal Flush” version.  Hand Painted Poker Card Guard Protector – Choose from 6 Designs. 

And last, but certainly not least, give the players on your list some great card-playing movies they can show to set the mood for poker night.  Check out the titles in our ”Gift Guide” and choose from classics like “The Sting” and “The Cincinnati Kid” or new favs like “The Rounders” and “21.”

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Harrah's Ak-Chin casino in Maricopa, AZ.

Harrah’s was actually pretty crowded Friday, probably due in part to people using the free slot play coupons — good for the holiday weekend only – like the $100 ones P.B. and I had just received in the mail.  (Way to get people in the doors, Ak-Chin marketing!)  Plus Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays are when the qualifying drawings are held for the $1,000,000 giveaway finale coming up on December 28 at Ak-Chin so I’m sure lots of players came out for that, too.

We had a fun day at Harrah’s — much more fun than slogging through the stores looking for some Holy Grail of gifts.  We each started out playing Triple Double Bonus games on nickel Spin Poker Deluxe™ and not hitting much at first but then the cards started coming and we each hit for some aces, some deuces, and then threes with a kicker.  I even hit for a Royal Flush in hearts.  P.B. had the “best pay of the day” (we always have a fun competition going between us) with his four aces and a kicker on two lines which paid a little over $440.  We stayed most of the afternoon and left with a little more than we walked in with so a good trip in more ways than one. 

Oh, and on a side note, the bank of new Wizard of Oz™ slot machines was crazy-crowded with people gathered around watching the players and rooting them on during bonus rounds.  People love these new Wizard of Oz machines!  Guess you have to get there early to snag a seat at one. 

The rest of the weekend I’ve spent pulling together the holiday “Gift Guide“ along with the other gift suggestions you’ll find here on our site — all for you to give to the players on your holiday list.  The Internet is a wide and wonderful place if you know where to look!

And how did you spend your holiday weekend?  Get any gaming in you want to tell us about?

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Here are some of my favorites:

American Casino Guide:  The new forum is really well done with categories like “Trip Reports” and “Casino Gambling Strategies.”  This is also the place to purchase the Guide itself which has lots of coupons and promos for casinos in Las Vegas as well as around the country.

Slot Machines Forum:  If you’re looking for hot slots this is the forum for you.  Subjects include the popular “Tales from Winners” as well as ”Casinos” where you’ll find info for places from Atlantic City to California and all spots in between.

Videopoker.com:  Join the forum and you’ll have lots of opportunities to talk “turkey” (sorry, couldn’t resist) with vp aficionados everywhere.  Also, since the site is owned and operated by Action Gaming Inc., you’ll get the latest info on new games and where to find them.

Yahoo Groups:  Head straight for the Search box and type in a term like poker, casino or video poker to find the online gathering of gamers that is right for you.  My favorites are “vpFREE” and ”casino_comps.”  Poker players can check out the different “city” groups to find players in their towns.  Whatever or wherever you enjoy playing, you’ll be amazed at the number of options available.

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With lights that change colors like an Arizona sunset, a soaring canopy greets visitors to the new Lone Butte Casino in Chandler, Arizona.

So what does it sound like when every one of a casino’s 850 slot machines are ALL being played at once?  You would know – or you would have heard – if you were at the grand opening yesterday of Gila River’s new Lone Butte Casino in Chandler, Arizona.  Casino-goers flocked to the handsome new gaming facility for a first look and to try their luck at one of the new machines.  Guests not seated in front of a machine or at one of the 24 table games milled around eagerly waiting for the opportunity to play.  Even the new “High Limit” area was crowded with players hoping to hit it big.

The Gila River Community is to be commended on this classy addition to the Phoenix gaming scene.  The interior is light and bright and highlighted by the use of natural materials like sandstone.  Shimmering walls of water surround the aptly-named, Cascades Lounge.  In the center of the casino, another water feature –this time a playful fountain — is the focal point of an outdoor courtyard.  Serving as a seating area for both the casual 24/7 Cafe on one side as well as the more formal Verona Chophouse opposite, this lovely outdoor space is perfect for taking a break from all the bells and whistles inside.  Another gem here is the cozy round wine bar adjoining Verona with a design reminiscent of a Napa Valley tasting room. 

Slot players will love this new casino.  Lots of games — both snappy new video reels as well as old favorites — in all kinds of denominations, will keep players happy.  There are the new eBay™ slots, free-spin favorites like Golden Chariots and the perennial fav — Wheel of Fortune®. 

Check it out yourself if you live in or plan on visiting Phoenix soon.  Lone Butte is located at Kyrene Road and the Loop 202 in Chandler.

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This is a comment/question that was posted today on one of our older articles — Play FREE Slot Games Online Courtesy of Bally – so I thought I would move it up here and answer it.  With all of our budgets getting squeezed these days, it’s nice to have the option to play some non-gambling, casino-style slot games at home.  So, here are some options for playing free games online, Ken:

This site from AOL, games.com, has a section called “Slots Lounge” featuring casino games you’ll likely recognize such as ”Black & White Double Jackpot” and “Stars & Bars.”  You can play as a guest or register and chat with other players — either way, it’s free.

Also online, check out the free games at Pogo.com for some slots, Keno and poker fun.  Not exactly like the games you know from the casino but still lots of fun are their Ali Baba Slots™, Show Biz slots and Keno games plus the chat is always lively if you want to ”talk” with other players.  You’ll find these games and more in the area labeled “Freebie Casino.”

Good luck playing! 

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Planet Hollywood, video poker and a chocolate chip cookie…that works for me.

I get asked this question a lot — “When you go to Las Vegas, what and where do you play?”  As I’ve written in other posts, I am mostly a video poker player so I always look for my favorite games with the best pay tables.  On The Strip in Las Vegas, you can find me at Planet Hollywood where they have the games I like – Spin Poker™ and Super Times Pay™ plus the multi-game All-Star Poker™ machines – and the pay tables are reasonable for what I’m playing.  For several reasons, ”Planet Ho” just has a “vibe” that appeals to me.  I like the music and I really like the adjustable chairs.  The drink servers are friendly and pretty good about keeping me supplied with bottled water and the occasional glass of white wine.  Plus, when I’m ready to take a break and stretch my legs, there’s a warm chocolate chip cookie with my name on it at the Nestle Toll House Café in the connecting Miracle Mile Shops.
When I do play slots, I like the Hot Shot Progressive™ machines at Paris Las Vegas, Bally’s or MGM Grand while P.B. usually goes off in search of one of his favorites, Jackpot Party™.

If you’re looking for the games you like to play, Harrah’s has a nifty gadget on their website that allows you to find your favorite slot machine or video poker game at any of their casinos in Las Vegas or across the country.  Over at the IGT/Action Gaming site, videopoker.com, you can also do a search to find your favorite video poker variations and denominations at casinos throughout the U.S.

I’d love to know what and where you like to play in Vegas.

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So, if you really want to know how slot machines work then this article chock full of details (I’m talking charts and graphs and full-color diagrams…with cross-sections!) and with words like step motors, digital pulses and solenoids is for you.  For instance, here’s a brief excerpt from the article section entitled “Computerized Slot Machines” –

“Most modern slot machines are designed to look and feel like the old mechanical models, but they work on a completely different principle. The outcome of each pull is actually controlled by a central computer inside the machine, not by the motion of the reels.”

At the end of the article, you’ll find lots of links for other gaming and casino-related subjects you might also want to explore.  And, if after all that, you still have a need for unusual knowledge, there’s always this Thursday’s seasonally-appropriate episode of “HowStuffWorks” television simply entitled — “Turkey.”

Custom poker tables at 50% OFF for your home game

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Wednesday, the Navajo Nation, America’s largest Indian tribe, will open their first casino, the $30 million Fire Rock Casino near Gallup, New Mexico.  The 65,000 square-foot space will feature a bingo hall, blackjack and poker tables as well as 400+ slot machines and marks the end of a long road to bring gaming to the Navajo tribe.

A day later and 275 miles away, the Gila River Indian Community will celebrate the opening of their newly-expanded Lone Butte Casino in Chandler, Arizona.  Gila River’s new Lone Butte Casino, located at Kyrene and the Loop 202, will offer players more than 120,000 square-feet of casino space including 850 slot machines, live blackjack, bingo, poker and six dining outlets. 

In other Indian gaming news, the expanded Cherokee Casino at West Siloam Springs, Oklahoma opened for business on November 10.  The new casino is a 200,000-square-foot facility housing more than 1,000 games plus numerous dining and entertainment areas.

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Company                          Symbol        Current Price     52-Week-High   % Change

The casino owners:

MGM Mirage                      MGM                   $10.45                   $ 93.19              -89%

Boyd Gaming                     BYD                    $  4.21                   $ 39.38              -89%

Las Vegas Sands Corp.     LVS                    $  6.11                   $122.96             -95%

Wynn Resorts                    WYNN                 $43.00                   $139.75             -69%

The manufacturers:

Int’l.GamingTechnology      IGT                     $10.74                   $49.41              -78%

Bally Tech                           BYI                     $17.18                   $52.83              -67%

WMS Gaming                     WMS                   $21.11                   $41.23              -49%

So we have a range in decline in stock price from a whopping 95% (Las Vegas Sands) to a decline of “only” 49% at WMS Gaming.  For comparison purposes, the DOW has declined approximately 38% since its 52-week high of 13,851. 

With numbers like these, I’m thinking this should be one interesting Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas this week.

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It comes as no surprise that Blazing 7s™ from Ballys is a customer slots favorite.

The iconic Bally’s Blazing 7s machine and Vision Gaming’s old-time favorite, Pot of Gold, were named as two of the games casino slots managers “can’t pull” off their floors due to customer popularity. This question – ”What old school slot or video poker games are so popular with players that you just can’t pull them off your floor?” — is asked and answered at the website belonging to popular industry-insider magazine, “Slot Manager.”

The site has lots of interesting information and categories including “Hot Topics” where you’ll find the question-and-answer forum, a “New Products & Games” section, and great articles and columns by industry pros.  Being mainly a video poker player, I was particularly interested in the article called “More of a Kind” by Craig Berosh outlining what’s to come and what’s popular in new VP games.

In the article, Berosh says this —  ”According to John Daley, director of video poker at International Game Technology, the video poker maker based in Reno has been finding success bringing to market games with bonuses that don’t affect base pay tables, where players fund the action by betting an extra coin.”  Think the popular Super Times Pay™ and the new Quick Quads™ — both from IGT’s Action Gaming.

Also currently at the site is a run-down on this week’s gaming convention in Las Vegas, G2E, where more than 30,000 gaming professionals will gather for a look at new products, seminars and more.  Check out the Global Gaming Expo article here.

And don’t forget, you can play some of your favorite video slots free from Bally’s here and free, non-gambling video poker at Action Gaming’s popular game site videopoker.com

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Lucky cherries...why not lucky lawyers or smoke monsters? (Photo courtesy of Lisa Brewster, http://sophistechate.com

I think being a slot machine inventor, game developer, whatever you want to call it, would be one of the coolest jobs on the planet.  I want to be the person who decides that the cherry gets to be the lucky fruit.  Sorry apples, pears and pomegranates…move back to the bowl because you just don’t cut it.  Triple diamonds, blazing 7’s, weird Slingo™ dude and even you, Monty Hall -  yep, you’re all in.  But “Chainsaws & Toasters®?”  What kind of weird nightmare did the person have before coming up with that game?

So, if that game made it through the vetting process, why not some of these?

Magic Ex-Wife -- Get five lawyers in a row to go to the bonus round where the machine takes all your credits and your dog.  Sorry, there’s no winning this one.

Deal or My Ex-Husband — Get three sheets of drywall and five unopened cans of paint in a row for your trip to the bonus round and the chance to finally finish that bathroom remodel.  Unfortunately, the reels just keep spinning and spinning and spinning….

Hamburger Heavens – Spin for burgers, shakes and fries for small wins or hit the big jackpot when five counter employees all show up in a row.  Yeah, like that would ever happen.

Lost, The Slot Machine – First you think you have to get five wrecked planes to line up but then that doesn’t pay off so you get four smoke monsters in a row and again nothing happens so you keep spinning until you get five disappearing islands scattered on the reels and then the machine jumps the shark and sinks into the casino floor.  For the bonus round, you spin then wait a really long time and come back in January to collect your winnings.

“24″ – Legend of Jack Bauer – Winning combinations include five nuclear bombs, three imploded buildings, six mangled cars, four long-suffering women, and twenty-seven instruments of torture.  In the bonus round, you get the chance to save Jack’s daughter, Kim, again and again and again until the machine finally explodes and you’re sent to a work camp in some un-named country.

Bail-Out Triple Double $700 Billion Mania – Just line up five banks in a row and you win General Motors.  No, really, you get the whole company.  That’s your prize.  No, you can’t spin again for the toaster.

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Could something like this bring you casino luck?

When it comes to good luck charms, I’ve seen a lot of strange things in casinos in Las Vegas, here in Arizona and, really, all across the country.  I remember one “regular” at a casino here in town who, back in the days when actual coins still poured out of the machines, would accumulate buckets of quarters and carry them from machine to machine.  If he was having a good day, you’d see him perched on his seat in front of a slot machine with three, four or even five completely full buckets of change under his chair.  Watching him move from machine to machine with a stack of change cups sort of piled atop each other “Leaning-Tower-of- Pisa-style” was a pretty interesting sight.  When asked why he carried around all those quarters rather than cashing in for some lightweight bills, he said his method of only going to the cashier at the end of his gambling day brought him luck.  (I’m sure he’s not having near as much fun with the paper tickets spit out by the machines today.)

I’ve seen lucky “talismans” perched on slot machines – what is it with those strange little Troll dolls with the weird hair (think Don King-style but in neon green or pink!) – as well as odd rituals like rubbing the machine screen or the paytable legend. And, in a very bizarre attempt at attracting luck, I even saw a lady cover the screen of her slant-top slot machine with what looked like paper towels out of the restroom so she could “hear” but not see her winnings.  Honest. 

So what’s my lucky charm?  It’s fairly tame:  a bracelet that I happened to be wearing the day I hit my first-ever Royal Flush for $1,000.  Made of sterling silver and chunky turquoise, it was the first time I had ever worn it to a casino and it kept getting in my way while I was moving my hand back and forth to click on the cards I wanted to hold.  I hit the Royal just before I was going to take that annoying bracelet off and put it in my purse.  Now, I wear it on every trip to the casino and it doesn’t annoy me in the least.  (Bracelet pictured is from the Sundance collection.)

Got any “good luck” stories to share?

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MGM Mirage – Announced in its third-quarter earnings release on October 29 that the company is postponing indefinitely its MGM Atlantic City project citing “current economic conditions and the impact of the credit market environment.”   In Las Vegas, MGM Mirage has also halted plans “for the development of a major resort complex on the southwest corner of the Las Vegas Strip and Sahara Avenue in Las Vegas….” 

There’s better news, however, for MGM’s CityCenter Las Vegas development.  In an interview with Market Watch, company officials said the $9 billion resort complex “will get the financing it needs to be completed.” 

Pinnacle Entertainment - The company’s plans to build a casino resort in Atlantic City are on “indefinite hold due to credit market conditions and an evolving competitive environment….”  The company cited the recent election results allowing casinos to be built in Maryland as one of the factors in its decision to suspend the project.

Boyd Gaming - Construction abruptly stopped in August on the company’s $4.8 billion Echelon project on the Las Vegas Strip.  The site – previously occupied by the legendary Stardust which was imploded to make way for the new Echelon – is now a deserted reminder of the lousy economy.  Boyd has announced that it will take most of 2009 to “evaluate alternatives” to the halted project. 

Las Vegas Sands Corp. – While continuing to build the casino portion of the Bethlehem, PA project, construction was stopped in late-October on the non-gaming portions including the planned hotel, events center and shopping mall.

Seneca Gaming Corp. - This Native American casino operator suspended both the construction of a $333 million casino and hotel in Buffalo as well as a planned $130 million expansion of the hotel at the Seneca Allegany Hotel and Casino in Salamanca, NY. 

Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority – Plans for a House of Blues theater and a 39-story, 922-room hotel addition to the Mohegan Sun casino complex in Uncasville, CT were put on hold in September.   The tribe did open its new “Casino of the Wind” – part of its “Project Horizon” expansion plan – in August of this year.

Like I said above, so far….

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Owner of The Palazzo -- Las Vegas Sands Corp. -- sees troubled times ahead.

Las Vegas Sands Corp. — owner of The Venetian and The Palazzo casino resorts on the Strip in Las Vegas, plus the Macau Venetian, Sands and Four Seasons — said in a regulatory filing today that it probably won’t meet the requirements of loans arranged by Citigroup Inc., Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. unless it cuts spending on developments, boosts earnings at its Las Vegas Strip casinos and raises more capital.

An earnings boost in Las Vegas seems remote considering that Las Vegas Strip casino gambling revenue slid 6.7 percent this year through August and remains on track for its biggest annual decline ever.

Casino owner Sheldon Adelson today saw his stock (LVS) price fall today by $3.81, or 33 percent, to $7.85 in the New York Stock Exchange composite.   In contrast, the stock had seen a 52-week high of $122.96.

Currently, both The Palazzo and The Venetian are offering their “Ultimate Escape Packages” with rates as low as $119 per night weekdays PLUS $50 in slot credits per stay for reservations made by November 30.

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Missouri — Proposition A passed and with its approval lifted the ” no more than $500 in losses every two-hours” spending limit imposed on casino players.

Ohio — No casino for my friends in Ohio.  Steve Wynn sighs with relief. 

In other state news –

An initiative in Colorado passed with the result allowing state casinos to remain open 24/7 while also lifting the maximum bet or play to $100 (it was $5!) and permitting roulette and craps to be added to the list of games offered in Colorado casinos.

Also, in Maryland, voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment awarding the addition of 15,000 slot machines to five locations in the State – in Anne Arundel, Cecil and Worcester counties, Baltimore City and on state-owned property in Rocky Gap State Park in western Maryland.

In Maine, voters said no to a proposed new casino for the southern part of the state and in Massachusetts, voters approved a ban on dog-racing in the state.

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Workers recently installed this sign at the new Gila River Casino, Lone Butte.

The new Gila River casino, Lone Butte, at Loop 202 and Kyrene Road in Chandler, Arizona is coming together nicely for the scheduled November 20 opening date.  I am really looking forward to playing in this new Phoenix-area casino which is slated to have 850 slot machines, a 750-seat bingo hall, new high-limit player areas and exciting table games including Fortune Pai Gow Poker Progressive, Let It Ride Three-Card Bonus and Three-Card Poker.  And, for a non-smoker like me, the thought of a state-of-the-art smoke removal system built right into the facility makes me swoon.

In grand opening promotions, casino customers can play their favorite games for cash and prizes including a new Pontiac Soltice which will be given away on December 4th.  Prior to the main event car giveaway, the “Luck Has a New Home” promo will award cash prizes to players from 6 – 10 p.m., November 5, 12 — at the current Lone Butte location —  and on the 26th at the new casino.

The new Phoenix-area casino promises guests fun new slot games like eBay™ and Star Wars™ as well as popular favorites Wheel of Fortune® and Blazing 7’s. 

In addition to playing at the new casino, I am also looking forward to trying the new upscale Verona Chop House for either dinner — think certified Angus steaks and martinis — or for a relaxing Sunday Brunch. 

Maybe this Phoenix player will find a “new home.”

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Voters will have their say on gambling issues in several states.

Election 2008 sees some interesting gambling-related issues on ballots in several states.  Of these, two are of particular interest to me and here’s why.

This past summer, P.B. and I took a cross-country jaunt and stopped to stay and play at several mid-West casinos including Harrah’s St. Louis.  When we arrived at the casino, we were informed that we needed new player’s club cards and to obtain them, we had to produce picture ID’s plus sign the backs of our replacement cards.  We were told that we must insert these cards into the machines in order to play and that’s when we learned about the $500 loss limit.  Huh?  Yes, unique to Missouri, is a law that says a player cannot lose more than $500 in any two-hour period.  (The cards keep track of your play.) 

While obviously the intent is to limit individual losses, is that really the state’s responsibility?  In my opinion — no.   If, as a state, you allow gambling, then allow it.  Why put artificial spending limits on patrons?  I say artificial because depending on your personal loss capabilities, the games you play, etc., $500 is simply a relative number.  One hundred dollars could be too much for one player while $1,000 may be little more than a drop in the bucket for another. 

 Proposition A is on the ballot in Missouri and would:

 1.)  Repeal the limit that’s currently in place on how much a person can lose per gambling session. Proposition A would not only repeal that limit, it would also prohibit any future loss limits.  

2.)  Prop A would require ID to enter a gambling area if a person appears to be under 21.

3.)  It would prevent any additional casinos from being built.

and 4.)  It would increase the casino gambling tax from 20 percent to 21 percent, and would create a new specific education fund from gambling tax proceeds that would go to Missouri schools.

In other gambling news, my home state will decide on the “Ohio Casino Measure” also known as Ohio Issue 6.  This is a proposed constitutional amendment which would allow a $600,000,000 privately-owned casino resort to be built near Wilmington, Ohio. 

If I still lived in Ohio, I would, as you probably guessed, vote “Yes” on this proposal.  I know lots of Ohioans who regularly go to Las Vegas, Atlantic City — even Mountaineer in West Virginia — to play so why shouldn’t the state benefit from keeping some of these vacation/entertainment dollars at home. 

For an excellent article on the pros and cons of this ballot prop, read this article, “Issue 6:  high stakes in casino vote” at Cincinnati.com by Alexander Coolidge.

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Is Barack Obama holding all aces?

Professional political commentators have weighed in and according to The Washington Post, only two out of fourteen pundits see John McCain in the White House next January.   While you can put your stock into what people like Ed Rollins, Eleanor Clift and Bill Maher say, Keith Thomson, in an article appearing on the website The Huffington Post, argues  that professional gamblers or, to be more specific, bookmakers are the true political soothsayers.

In his article “The Most Accurate Election Forecast?  Hardcore Gamblers,” Thomson gives some great information on the history of betting on political outcomes – which was legal for many years — here in the United States.  He also gives reasons in the article as to why bookmakers have to be on the money – pun intended – when setting odds.

For the post, Thomson interviewed professional gambling experts and a University of Kansas economics professor, Koleman Strumpf, who “believes wagering is an incomparable barometer of an election.”

If you are interested in seeing the current odds on the presidential and other races, check out internet site Betfair.com.  Keep in mind that it is for information and entertainment purposes only since both betting on political races and internet gambling are prohibited for United States citizens.

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And in Arizona, the state department of gaming, announced Friday that for the quarter ended September 30, tribal contributions from Indian gaming revenue – which are based on gaming earnings — to the state fell 9.5% from the same period a year ago.  

According to the Arizona Department of Gaming press release, “Arizona tribes’ combined contribution for the quarter…was approximately $25.0 million.  That’s down from $27.6 million in the same quarter a year before.”

So what do these revenue drops mean for casino visitors?  Look for more competition among gaming venues for your gambling dollars.  More and bigger promotions (think Harrah’s Ak-Chin “Win Your Million“), enticing hotel rates all around the country, especially in room-laden Las Vegas, and lots of other events and ideas aimed at getting fannies into the gaming seats.

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The shining new Encore resort at Wynn Las Vegas opens in December.

UPDATE:  Check HERE for the latest on the grand opening of Encore at Wynn Las Vegas.

The new Encore resort at Wynn Las Vegas has begun taking room reservations for January 12, 2009 and beyond according to a recent press release.  The $2.3 billion resort is scheduled to open December 22 and a rumor is out that the grand opening may get tied into Steve Wynn’s late-January birthday.  Since P.B. and I always go to Las Vegas in January for P.B.’s birthday maybe this year we’ll be celebrating it with Steve Wynn.

Encore’s 2,034 suites will no doubt feature all the luxury and attention to detail that Wynn Resorts is known for when designing guest rooms.  The property’s resort suites will be more than 700 square-feet while Tower Suites clock in at up to 5,800 square-feet!

Wynn Encore, situated next to the flagship Wynn Las Vegas, will feature five “signature” restaurants, seven bars & lounges, a new “ultra-chic” nightclub and several new retail entities.  And, according to the press release, “A vibrant atrium and European-inspired pool area are centerpieces of the Encore experience and signature design elements include an abundance of natural light, a landscape of foliage and shimmering pools of water. Butterflies flirt over vibrant carpets, mosaic tiles and textured walls to draw guests into a playful juxtaposition between indoors and out.”

For reservations and a peek at the new room design, check out the Encore Las Vegas website.  (Click on the ”reservations” tab at the bottom of the screen to pull up a photo of the new rooms.)

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Play free video poker games online at Action Gaming's videopoker.com website.

As I’ve said before, when it comes to playing video poker, the original Spin Poker™ and it’s 20-line sister, Spin Poker Deluxe™, are two of my favorite machines so I found this article by John Brokopp at Casino City Times interesting.   

Mr. Brokopp says  — “There is one video poker hybrid, however, that has stood the test of time: Spin Poker, an invention developed a number of years ago by (who else?), Action Gaming and IGT.

Spin Poker was the first game to successfully blend the components of traditional video poker with those of multi-line video slot play and create something that appealed to both dedicated video poker players and slot players.”  Read more here.

The machines in the casinos I play at here in Arizona are ALWAYS busy — sometimes even attracting a line of would-be players waiting for machines to open up — so I know this is one popular game!

No doubt hoping to repeat that success, Action Gaming and IGT have introduced a couple of new video poker games and you can play them — for free (no money, no wagering, just fun) — at their popular website videopoker.com  Check out new games “Big Times Draw Poker™” and “Quick Quads™” poker.  And, for some great info on strategy when playing Quick Quads™, here’s a recent article by VP pro Bob Dancer at Casino Gaming that you should read.

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Cha-Ching! A Triple Double Bonus beauty for the video poker player.

Recently, on a visit to a local Arizona casino, I had the unfortunate experience of sitting next to a truly annoying fellow video poker player.

Let me set the stage.   I was playing my favorite casino game, a type of video poker called Spin Poker Deluxe.  I was playing the nickel Triple Double Bonus game and having some pretty good luck.  When dealt three low cards, I drew the fourth and a kicker and hit for a couple of hundred dollars.  That happened more than once in a short amount of time so I was up a nice sum and decided to increase my denomination to ten-cents.  A bit later, I hit on four aces with a kicker – on two lines – and that paid another $800 plus and I was up a very nice amount after that hit.  Not bad for nickel and dime play.

So, I should be having fun here, right?  Enjoying a rare “lucky streak,” something we all know comes and goes like the wind.   But, no, I had to be sitting next to someone who felt it necessary to whine and complain to his companion – LOUDLY and CONTINUOUSLY – that my winning meant “no one else would be winning anything” and that “the machines were fixed because only one person was winning” and other such nonsense.  Under different circumstances, I would have moved to another machine,  but, number one, I was hitting on this machine; number two, there were no other Spin Poker machines open; and number three, I absolutely refused to let this person bully me into relocating.

Scenes similar to this have happened to me before albeit not quite as annoying as this one.  So, to the guy who was making all the noise:  Here’s where a basic understanding of video poker – pay tables, the “RNG,” “expected return,” strategy, etc. - along with simple casino etiquette would have made all the difference.  Plus, in my mind, if someone spends all their time complaining about how bad the machine is or how badly they are losing then guess what?  Time to take a break or call it a day.  Unless you are a professional gambler and earn your living playing poker, a visit to the casino is supposed to be fun!   (And actually, if you are able to make a living playing video poker I’d have to think that actually would be pretty fun!)

Yeah, we all complain once in a while — the ace that got away, the royal flush missed by a single card — but to do so repeatedly and to blame the player who is winning?  Not cool.

In an upcoming post – some thoughts on casino etiquette.

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Soon the ringing of slot machines will replace construction noise at the newest Arizona casino, Gila River's Lone Butte.

When the clock strikes 3 pm on November 20, the newest Arizona casino will open its doors to the public at the Loop 202 and Kyrene Road near the Phoenix suburb of Chandler.   Gila River’s new Lone Butte Casino will offer gamers more than 120,000 square-feet of casino entertainment including 850 slot machines, live blackjack, casino bingo, and a host of poker games including Fortune Pai Gow Poker^® Progressive, Let It Ride Three-Card Bonus^® and Three-Card Poker^®.

Slot machine aficionados will find both new casino slot games like eBay™ (see eBay™ photos here) as well as popular favorites such as Wheel of Fortune®, Star Wars^TM, and Blazing 7’s.  Casino bingo players will be treated to a 750-seat state-of-the-art bingo hall with both matinee and evening sessions. 

And Gila River planners have made sure players won’t go hungry while visiting the new casino by offering six restaurants in the expansive $60 million facility.  Visitors can choose from Venona Chophouse, Café 24/7, Dick Clark’s American Bandstand Express, Tuscan Olive, Quiznos™ plus a quick-serve coffee shop featuring Starbucks™ coffee.

Looking for some live entertainment to complement your gaming?  Then visit the new Cascades Lounge evenings Thursday to Sunday for a variety of entertaining acts.

The Gila River Indian Community operates three Phoenix-area casinos including Wild Horse Pass, Vee Quiva and Lone Butte.  (The current Lone Butte casino at 56^th Street will be closed prior to the opening of the new casino.)

Look for more updates on the opening of Lone Butte as we draw closer to the big day!

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Hot Shot Progressive by Bally Technologies is a smokin' fun game!

Some of the most popular slot games in casinos across the country come from Bally Technologies and now you can play them for FREE online on your personal computer.  Video slot games such as the extremely popular Hot Shot Progressive® as well as both Playboy® and S & H Green Stamps® can be downloaded from the Bally Technologies site and played for free whenever you want a little casino-style fun at home or on the road.  Follow the link that says “Click here to play for free.”

Not only can you enjoy fun casino-style action but your points stay on the game so you can track your luck visit-to-visit.  To keep your play even more interesting, there’s a “chat room” available while you play so you can connect with fellow players if you wish.

Also, when visiting Bally’s site be sure to check out the “Players Center“ section.  There you’ll find a Winners Gallery, current progressive Jackpot Totals, and a game-finder for locating your favorite Bally slot.  For instance, if you click on the Hot Shot Progressive logo, you’ll be taken to a page that lists — by state — the casinos that have that game available.  In Arizona, you’ll find this game at both Harrah’s Ak-Chin outside of Phoenix and the Desert Diamond casino near Tucson.

Click on the picture to check out the NEWEST slot game from Reel Deal games! American Adventure is available March 22, 2010!

So if you’re between visits, have fun playing these “reel life” casino games!  Also, check out these fun DVD games at Amazon.com with favorites from Bally’s, WMS Gaming and more.  Specially-priced double-disc set Slots WMS Double Pack, or try these popular games — Slots From Bally Gaming.

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A view of the construction at CityCenter on the Las Vegas Strip.

Curious what the rooms will look like when Aria, The Strip’s newest mega resort under construction at the 67-acre MGM Mirage CityCenter complex, opens late next year?  Then check out this excellent four-page article on Vegas Tripping for an extremely detailed look at the design model for the resort’s King Deluxe room.  With a color palette featuring bronze and royal purple, the room’s two most striking features for me are the floor-to-ceiling windows and the clean simple lines of the furniture.

In addition to the sophisticated decor, rooms will also feature über-technology including a 42-inch LCD flatscreen TV that acts as the operations hub for the room.  A user-friendly (at least they hope) joystick-type remote will keep controls for lights, draperies, a/c, and more at the fingertips of room occupants. 

The Aria, an MGM Mirage property, will have more than 4,000 rooms in a 61-story tower along with an adjoining casino.  The sprawling CityCenter development, a joint venture of MGM Mirage and Dubai World, will also include three luxury non-gaming hotels including Las Vegas’ first Mandarin Oriental, The Harmon Hotel Spa & Residences and Vdara Condo Hotel; Veer Towers, the development’s only strictly residential buildings; approximately 2,600 condominium residences; and The Crystals, a 500,000-square-foot dining, retail and entertainment district.

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Learn video poker strategy then try your luck at South Point's casino.

If you are a video poker player like P.B. and me and you want to take your game to the next level, then here is an opportunity for you – FREE video poker classes with America’s most well-known player, Bob Dancer.  Mr. Dancer has spent years researching and teaching video poker strategy through his popular books, software programs including “Video Poker for Winners” and live lessons. 

Beginning on Tuesday, November 11, and continuing through to January, Mr. Dancer will be giving classes at the South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.   Again, classes are free but you must be 21 or older to attend.

The classes will offer both a 90-minute session for beginners as well as a one-hour portion for intermediate players.  Classes focus on different games such as Jacks or Better, Deuces Wild and Double Bonus Poker as well as varying subjects so see the class schedule here for more details.

Also, check out the great package prices available at South Point and combine your free video poker training with a hotel stay.  South Point is about 10 minutes from The Strip but offers guests all the amenities such as a spa, multiple restaurants, show room, lounges and more that Las Vegas visitors have come to expect in a casino destination.

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"Gold Fish" - a popular slot game from WMS Gaming.

For a spirited discussion on “favorite slot machines,” visit TripAdvisor and check out what people are talking about right now in regards to slot machines. This is one hot topic on TripAdvisor considering the original post asking Las Vegas visitors to name their favorite slots game is dated August 24^th and the replies keep coming – six pages of them so far.

 I don’t play slots too often but always stop and check out any new games I see  – think eBay®, Deal or No Deal® – and any games that seem to have a lot of people gathered ‘round.   

From the topic replies, it looks like “Gold Fish” from WMS gaming is a hot slot favorite.  I mention this one specifically because P.B. and I walked by a double bank of the machines several times during our last stay at Paris Las Vegas and not once was there a machine open.  People were even hanging around waiting for machines to open up so they could play.  Hmm, based on its popularity, maybe we’ll check it out again when we go to Vegas later this month.

The hot new "Wizard of Oz" slot machine from WMS Gaming.

We recently saw this new game at Harrah’s Ak-Chin  near Phoenix  - “The Wizard of Oz” from WMS Gaming (for information, click on the game icon in this cool virtual gameroom.)  Check out the high-backed spaceship seating for this game.  Here’s what the manufacturer says about it on their website:   “The Wizard of Oz^TM is the newest theme in the revolutionary “Sensory Immersion Gaming” product category, where players hear, see, and feel the experience, thanks to real-time 3D animation and our innovative gaming chair that features the BOSE® 3Space^TM audio system and CPU-NXT®2 enhanced graphics.”   Again, we didn’t get a chance to play since all the machines were taken but we will definitely play Wizard of Oz slots in the future – when we get the chance. 

If you’re a slots player, I’d love to hear about your favorite game and where you play it.  Also, check out the thread on TripAdvisor and chime in with your recommendations.

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