Casino Buzz

I never really thought about the fate of Internet poker before I took this job as a gaming industry journalist. I deposited my online bankroll, played my nightly Internet games, and assumed it was my right to play wherever and whenever I wanted.

Come to find out - there are many powerful people who don't agree.

On March 15th, the House Financial Services Committee passed a bill introduced by Representatives Jim Leach (R-IA) and Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) that would make it illegal for Internet gambling sites to accept financial transactions like credit cards, checks, wire transfers and electronic fund transfers.

The point of this bill is to stifle Internet poker, denying online rooms important conduits of money and essentially killing gaming sites at their root. The bill is headed to the House floor for debate and although there are no assurances that the bill will even make it to a vote, it's still a serious attack on the millions who view online poker as their recreational right.

This isn't the first time a bill like this has come before Congress. In fact, this isn't even the first time this particular bill has seen the House floor. Certain legislators have tried to ban Internet gambling (poker included) since 1997. So far they haven't succeeded, but as long as there is a moral perch to preach from, the attempts will continue.

Attacks on the game are not limited to the Internet. Live poker games, especially tournaments, are being shutdown worldwide, most noticeable here in the United States. Here are some interesting examples. After each article summary, I added a link to the full article so readers can gather more information.

Last year (2005), authorities shut down Phil Hellmuth's charitable Phil Hellmuth Poker Challenge, an event held to raise money for breast cancer. With more than 600 people slated to attend the day was sure to be a successful one against a painful disease. It was not to be. Texas State gambling laws closed the event.

http://www.pokerplayersalliance.org/articles/a051805.html

Another Texas poker mishap involved a small group of senior citizens who enjoyed playing penny poker at their senior center. Because of the same Texas anti-gambling laws, their "harmful" game was shut down.

http://www.pokerplayersalliance.org/articles/a061705.html

I have a few questions about these Texas-sized attacks on harmless poker events – were the laws originally written to prevent charitable work and senior citizen activity? Do the laws still make sense? Shouldn't the laws provide adequate explanation as to what constitutes gambling and what does not? And, where is Chuck Norris when you need a little Texas justice?

These two examples come from Texas, but there are hundreds of these anti-poker stories circulating in newspapers worldwide. In the short time I've covered poker I've learned to not be so naïve about the status of the game. If players are not careful, especially those who love Internet play, they may find the game they love taken away.

There are legislators in positions of power who have made it a personal quest to rid the country of Internet gaming. Judging by what I've read, these legislators know little about the game, in most cases claiming they've never played. Rather than try to understand why poker has become immensely popular online, they'd rather ban it with a blanket of morality.

In my humble opinion, banning something without adequate understanding is cowardly and kind of scary. It's one thing to analyze one statistical report and draft laws based on numbers and assumptions. It's quite another to sit down at a poker table and actually understand why people love to play. If these questing legislators sat down with their constituents and played a few hands they might see poker's recreational viability and conclude it is a game of skill that when played correctly, is a very enjoyable activity. I can't imagine Washington D.C. doesn't want to get their hands into this lucrative tax conduit, so why not work with the industry and players to come up with a mutual beneficial agreement?

I doubt many of poker's strongest opponents have ever played the game, but if they have, I must conclude they are hypocrites and simply trying to attach their name to legislation in order to appease a certain morality-based constituency. I pray that's not the case. I challenge any opponent of online poker to sign on and come play some poker with me. I guarantee you at least a good time.

Here are my thoughts on the games legality:

1.) Poker is a game of skill…period.

There is a reason some people can make a living off this sport and some people can't. The separation between professional and amateur is argument enough to prove poker is a skilled sport and should be treated as such. Skill always rises to the top in the long-term sports competition and poker is one of the strongest examples. I allow there is an element of luck in poker games, but the skill required to know when a situation calls for a gamble is what sets it apart from luck-based games. It's not like the lottery (a state-sponsored form of gambling by the way), a person needs to know what they're doing before luck can make them a millionaire. No one wins the lottery twice, but some poker players are able to win all the time. Sit down and play against a pro, Mr. Congressman, and see how you do. Was he just lucky or was he just plain better? The game requires skill, if you can't see that, then I have a seat for you at my home game.

2.) Poker requires limits.

Some people can't handle the money management required to play responsible poker. Some people value their skill level a little higher than they should. Some people become obsessed with winning and their fervor makes them habitual losers. All three cases are examples of how poker can become a harmful hobby (similar to games like pool and backgammon). Like everything in life, a few bad apples shouldn't ruin it for everyone. If a player can't manage their money, they shouldn't be allowed to play, but millions play poker responsibly everyday and cause no more harm to society than your average cribbage player. I agree we need to make restrictions in poker to keep people safe from themselves, a sentiment expressed by Massachusetts Senator Barney Frank, but to take away peoples' rights to play is ignorant. I will not pretend to be an expert on what those restrictions should be, but in my mind, developing a strategy for helping people who have poker addictions is a far more effective way to deal with Internet poker play than an outright ban. Far too many people game responsibly for lawmakers to even think they can claim it their social responsibility to banish the game.

3.) People have a right to play poker.

People have a right to their desired forms of recreation. My grandmother loves poker and probably drives the booming poker TV ratings higher than anyone else in her demographic. She plays the game often, however, with her fixed income, she knows her limits and never plays for anything other than coins. She has lived a long and glorious life and is a great example or someone who understands that games were invented to provide amusement. Adding a little money to her games just ups the thrill level a tiny notch. I dare you to try telling her she can't play anymore. She has a right to play for her pennies and I have the right to lose mine to her.

What Can Players Do To Help?

There is something players can do to help preserve the game. Thanks to the Poker Players Alliance (PPA), all poker players now have a voice in Washington D.C. The PPA is a non-profit organization run solely on membership fees and donations, boasting a membership total of more than 20,000 players. The goal for the end of 2006 is to have 100,000 members, a number that would give the group serious clout when it's decision time on poker legislation.

I recently joined the PPA. After winning an online tournament, I was given the option of donating $25 of my winnings to the PPA. I was hesitant at first because I like my winnings, but after reviewing the PPA site http://www.pokerplayersalliance.org and getting some answers to my questions, I believe the group is viable and important for the game's future.

It costs $25 to become a full member, but there are other donation options. Whether you are a professional or an amateur, a live game or online player, a home game specialist or a casino junkie, the game needs your help. Don't let non-players decide the fate of our game without at least hearing from the very people who have made the game the world's most popular sport. Join the PPA today.
By Ryan McLane

Whether it involves clicking on an online slot machine, laying down at a Web poker hand, or spinning an on-screen roulette wheel, Internet gambling is hotter than blazing sevens.

Gambling Web sites hauled in $12 billion worldwide last year, up from $8 billion the year before, according to Christiansen Capital Advisors, a research firm that tracks gambling statistics. Online gambling is expected to double to $24 billion by 2010.

CCA estimates 9 million U.S. residents gamble with "some regularity."

This despite online gambling being illegal in the United States.

Federal law prohibits online casinos from operating in the United States, and the estimated 1,800 Internet gambling sites are run from foreign countries.

The Department of Justice also says it's illegal for individuals to gamble online, though three judicial rulings have questioned the law.

Several states, including Indiana, have created their own laws restricting Internet gambling. In Indiana, the activity falls under the category of "unlawful gambling" and is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 180 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine.

Despite the layers of law, an online bettor has a better chance of winning the World Series of Poker than being arrested for Internet gambling, says attorney I. Nelson Rose, an expert on online gambling.

Only one person in the history of Internet gambling has ever been arrested, Rose says. That North Dakota man paid a $500 fine, moved out of the state and became a very successful gambler, Rose says.

"At least one person wins the World Series of Poker each year," he says.

Police and prosecutors "don't want to be in the business of knocking on bedroom doors and going after $5 bettors," he says.

Catherine Wilson, spokeswoman for the St. Joseph County Prosecutor's Office, says her office would potentially prosecute online gamblers and would possibly refer such cases to the U.S. Attorney's Office or FBI.

She doesn't know if the office has ever prosecuted online gambling but says no cases have been brought to prosecutor Michael Dvorak since he took office in 2003.

Whether it's legal or illegal, experts expect online gambling to continue to grow.

"The big question is how long we're going to keep doing this and not license it, and regulate and not collect taxes on it," says Indianapolis attorney Greg Hahn, who's worked in the gambling industry since the 1970s.

"Gaming in our society is accepted by probably 80 percent of the population, and as more and more people get a home computer ..., it will only continue to get bigger."

Though governments are discussing Internet gambling constantly, "There's no technical way you can block it," Hahn says. "We'd have the same screaming and howling over (right to privacy as with) the eavesdropping over e-mails and telephones."

In the end, Hahn predicts, governments will decide to benefit from Web gambling. "They are going to come to that point where it's the same as going to the riverboat, and we need to regulate this and tax it. That's the bottom line."
By CHRISTINE COX

SANTA MONICA, Calif., March 27 /PRNewswire/ -- GSN has partnered with gaming company Shuffle Master Inc. to air the finals of the first ever Three Card Poker National Championship Tournament. The two one-hour specials, hosted by Mark L. Walberg ("Temptation Island," and "Russian Roulette") and Danielle Demski (Miss Arizona 2004 and Miss USA Finalist), are slated to air on Friday, April 21 and Friday, April 28 from 9:00-10:00 PM E/8:00-9:00 PM C and is being produced by LMNO Productions and Shuffle Master subsidiary Shuffle Up Productions. (Note: Three Card Poker was previously announced to air Monday, April 17 and Monday, April 24 from 9:00 to 10:00 PM ET/PT).

The popularity of Three Card Poker has risen quickly over the past nine years, making it one of the most played casino table games in North America, with international expansion close behind. Shuffle Master Inc. includes a portfolio of proprietary table games including Three Card Poker® and Let It Ride Bonus®.

"We are excited about giving away a $1 million to the winner of our first event. Next year we anticipate bigger crowds and more players competing for the finals at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. We expect to conduct 30 to 35 Regional events in 2006 throughout North America," said Brooke Dunn, Senior Vice President of Shuffle Master, Inc.

In Three Card Poker, players compete against the dealer. Each is dealt three cards face-down and must make the best poker hand with them. Hand rankings are slightly different from five-card poker: straights beat flushes, and the highest ranking hand is a straight flush. There are three wagers, pair plus, which pays based on the rank of the hand and the ante and play wagers that pay off if the players hand is higher than the dealers hand. The dealer must have a queen high or better to qualify.

Shuffle Master held 20 regional Three Card Poker tournaments throughout North America, and over 250 people qualified to play in the finals at The Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The special will focus on the nine finalists as they battle for the $1 million dollar grand prize and a diamond and ruby-encrusted bracelet worth over $30,000.

"GSN is on the forefront of bringing casino games to television in a compelling and entertaining manner," stated the show's executive producer, Eric Schotz. "Three Card Poker is a perfect fit for viewers. It is a game based on skill and luck that anyone can play."

GSN, the Network for Games, is the only U.S. television network dedicated to game-related programming. The network features game shows, reality series, documentaries and casino games. As the industry leader in interactivity, GSN has allowed viewers to play-along with on-air programming via their computers and GSN.com since 2002. Reaching more than 57 million Nielsen homes, GSN is distributed in the U.S. through all major cable systems and satellite providers. The network is jointly owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment and Liberty Media Corporation. For further media information, visit GSN's press website at corp.gsn.com.

Dear Mark,
I am writing a screenplay with a character who has the ability to affect the outcome of dice on a crap game with his throws. I need a term for such a person who has this skill. Billy F.

I'm guessing here, Billy, but I think you are inquiring about a player so gifted at throwing dice that he can alter the conventional odds of the game, not the cutesy-pie player who merely slides the dice in prohibited fashion across the table.

In gamblese, Billy, the player you're envisioning is called 'an arm'. As to whether or not such a golden arm actually exists, who can chuck the die with any accuracy is dicey at best. I fly on the side of gaming folklore, and hold that it ain't so. Others in the betting house biz disagree. One of my favorite gaming authors, Frank Scoblete, penned a very enjoyable read called, Golden Touch, Dice Control Revolution. We are both on the same page in that craps is a losing proposition and the game is structured to mathematically beat all betting systems. But in his book, Frank feels that you can control the outcome of a roll and that the skilled dice controller can change the nature of the game to favor the player. I’m not saying phooey aloud here, it’s just that after spending 18 years on the inside, an umpteen years bellying up to a table that I have to see it to believe it, and I haven’t seen it yet.

As for a player sliding the dice across the table to get a specific result, yes, that's a possibility. I’ve witnessed that, along with those who have tried it being escorted off the game. Crap dealers, a box person, the pit boss or the eye in the sky tend to go berserko if some dice jockey tries to illegally manipulate the cubes so that a random outcome doesn’t occur.

It's your play, of course, and your hotshot is certainly going to be sharp enough to know all that, so you might invent a brand new term for his magic anatomy: Dicerony, Warlock 7, The Wrist of Doom… Let us know when and where we can see it.

Dear Mark,
Could you tell me the house edge on Video Blackjack and how different rules and playing perfect strategy affect the house edge? I enjoy playing at my own pace and can wager smaller than at a table. John S.

You've got the advantages of video blackjack down cold, John: the low minimum bankroll required, with some machines taking as little as 5 cents a hand to play. They also spare you the intimidation factor of a live game, while delivering excellent practice sessions, where you can work on perfect basic strategy.

On the downside, it's tough to find a machine that pays you the true value of a blackjack (3 for 2). Most video blackjack machines pay even money on natural 21's. Because you can expect a blackjack every 21 hands on a live game, the loss of that bonus is going to cost you an additional 2.3 percent. Considering that blackjack has a house advantage of less than 0.5 percent over the basic strategy player like yourself, you are giving away a considerable amount percentage-wise.

Also note that some machines round down on blackjack payoffs. If you do happen to find a machine that pays the bonus for a blackjack but rounds down, make sure your wagers are in two-unit increments so that you can get the maximum value of your every blackjack.

Gambling Wisdom of the Week: "I vow to never touch a slot machine again...although I suspect this resolve has all the firmness of a cream pie." -- Barry Meadow
By Mark Pilarski

To date, Bravo has given more than $2 million to various charities through its series "Celebrity Poker Showdown." The show will add another million to its pot this year -- with all the money going to organizations helping victims of Hurricane Katrina.

The show will also film its next tournament, scheduled to air later this spring, in New Orleans as part of a partnership with Harrah's Entertainment. Harrah's New Orleans casino, which was used as an operations base following the storm, re-opened last month.

"New Orleans is a city with a heart and soul like no other American city, and being that it is the birthplace of poker, there was no better place to take our show," executive producer Marcia Mule says. "And in the process, to be able to give away a million dollars to help bring back the Big Easy, that's a winning hand."

Phil Hellmuth, a nine-time bracelet winner in the World Series of Poker, is taking over for Phil Gordon as the show's poker expert. Comedian Dave Foley will return as host.

The lineup of celebrities, and the Katrina-related charities they'll play for, will be announced later.

LAS VEGAS — Sarah Steineker, 50, is stuck to her seat. She's got a bingo game going, and the "hot ball" jackpot is up to $14,490. But thanks to mobile gambling regulations that passed the Nevada Gaming Commission on Thursday, she soon may be able to take that bingo game with her elsewhere in the casino.

"I could be eating in the restaurant but I'm still involved in the hot ball," she said Wednesday as she sat with an electronic bingo device at the Texas Station casino. The downside of mobility is "you'd probably spend more."

Automated, portable bingo devices like FortuNet Inc.'s BingoStar have been around since the early 1990s _ and are now available in 26 jurisdictions in North America _ but they are not allowed outside bingo halls.

Regulations passed Thursday make Nevada the first in the nation to approve the use of handheld devices for gambling in any public area of the state's casinos, such as restaurants and poolsides.

Rules allow a range of games, including bingo, poker, blackjack and horse race betting. Use in hotel rooms and other places that cannot be supervised is prohibited.

Advocates say the move will better use resort space that is increasingly being devoted to non-gambling activities, such as shopping, dining and clubbing.

But they admit it's not likely to lead to the lucrative world of Internet betting, which is barred by state and federal law.

"Pools, that are used by people as they are meant to be used, are not making them (casinos) any money," said Joe Asher, managing director of Cantor G & W (Nevada) LP, which has pushed to legalize mobile gambling in Nevada for the past two years. "We can offer a casino a revenue enhancer."

Casino operators remain hesitant.

Major players Harrah's Entertainment Inc. and MGM Mirage Inc. and neighborhood casino operator Station Casinos Inc. say they are taking a wait-and-see approach as the regulations and the technology unfold. Boyd Gaming Corp., whose holdings include the Stardust in Las Vegas and co-ownership in the Borgata in Atlantic City, N.J., said it is unsure about demand for hand-held gadgets, despite having electronic bingo devices at halls in its Las Vegas properties.

"Even when we brought those (bingo devices) in, they didn't replace paper," Boyd spokesman Rob Stillwell said. "We're still uncertain about how much demand there might be."

The process of certifying systems and having field trials will take at least several months, Gaming Control Board Chairman Dennis Neilander said.

Still, at least four prospective manufacturers are plowing ahead, while keeping their estimates for market demand close to their chest. Many expect New Jersey to follow Nevada's lead.

"It's nice to hear that Nevada is going to be again leading the charge forward," Commissioner Sue Wagner said Thursday.

Cantor has sunk "millions of dollars" into development, Asher said. The company plans to use bond-trading technology that already has been in use on its "Cantor Index" mobile gambling devices in Britain since September 2003.

FortuNet said in a January share prospectus that, if mobile gambling was approved, it would move immediately to introduce more games for its current clients to install on their BingoStar devices. "We expect to subsequently expand our marketing efforts beyond Nevada," it said.

Shuffle Master Inc., a manufacturer of automatic card shufflers, has partnered with SONA Mobile Holding Corp., to create a personal digital assistant system that delivers its patented games, such as Ultimate Texas Hold'em and Three Card Poker.

"This allows the casino to increase the number of wagering positions in the casino without adding any bricks or mortar," Shuffle Master CEO Mark Yoseloff said.

But taking gambling off the casino floor will make it harder to ensure minors don't wager, said state Sen. Maggie Carlton, D-Las Vegas, the lone lawmaker who voted against the bill when it passed the Legislature last year.

Manufacturers say biometric fingerprint readers and regulations limiting use to public areas will keep devices out of the hands of minors.

"It's already hard enough to stop kids from playing Keno," said Carlton, a part-time legislator who is a full-time waitress at the Treasure Island resort's coffee shop.

As for mobile devices she has seen, "They look like a little Game Boy. They look like a toy."
By RYAN NAKASHIMA

Las Vegas, NV (AHN) – Nearly 600 top poker players from all over the world will converge at the The Bellagio Hotel and Casino for the World Poker Tour’s Season IV finale, The WPT World Championship.

The prize pool is expected to reach anywhere between $12 - $15 million, with the winner taking home as much as $3.5 million.

The tourney will take place April 18-24 with a $25,500 buy-in. It is expected to lure about 600 players and if the payout reaches $15 million, the final three spots will pay over $1 million each.

Among the top names expected to take to the felt are Phil "The Unabomber" Laak, Antonio "The Magician" Esfandiari, Doyle Brunson, Jennifer Harman, Phil Ivey and Jennifer Tilly, among many others.

Doug Dalton, Bellagio’s director of poker operations, says, "We are excited to host the WPT World Championship for the fourth consecutive year. The pots are getting higher and the number of participants is growing with every tournament. Bellagio is proud to be a part of this phenomenon."

Last year’s world champion, Tuan Le, conquered a field of 452 players and took home $2.8 million. Second place Paul Maxfield of the UK pocketed $1.6 million.

Bellagio will begin running tournaments April 5 that will award seats in the event and will offer two $2,500 Super Satellite Tournaments.
By Hector Duarte Jr

In the U.S., University freshman Jeff Williams is still too young to enter a Las Vegas casino.

But during spring break he set foot in the Monté Carlo Bay Hotel in Monaco and won more than $1 million beating 298 professional poker players in the European Poker Tour Grand Final.

“All these guys were looking at me, this scrawny 19-year-old kid — an obvious online player,” Williams said. “But I just played my game, played really aggressively, got a big pile of chips and never looked back.”

Williams, from Dunwoody, said he doesn’t play poker for the monetary benefit.

“I play because I like winning. It has never been about the money,” he said.

As soon as Williams won the tournament March 11, his home phone and e-mail account were flooded with media requests. Williams’ sister Amanda, a sophomore at Dunwoody High School, took messages while the rest of her family returned from Monaco.

When the rest of the Williams family returned to Georgia, William’s mother took over as her son’s public relations liaison.

“We tried to handle it for him,” Cindi Williams said. “He is not used to having an interview at three and an interview at four.”

Williams even made his Facebook profile private because of numerous requests begging him to play poker against people he didn’t know.

Williams started out winning a $40 tournament that earned him a free shot at a $650 qualifier for the European Poker Tour Grand Final. Williams placed high enough in the qualifier to earn a trip to the final, with food, hotel and flight included.

With a friend, he traveled to Monte Carlo. The EPT Grand Final was Williams’ first time inside a casino and his first organized, in-person Texas Hold ‘Em Poker Tournament.

“I stacked all my chips thinking, ‘I don’t belong here. I need to go back to online,’” Williams said.

By the last day, Williams found himself at the final table in third place. As he was sitting down to breakfast before the final game, his parents surprised him by flying out to Monte Carlo, not knowing that their son was still going strong in the tournament.

By the end of the day, Williams was heads up against Arshad Hussain from the United Kingdom, a player he knew very well from playing online. Williams took the tournament when he called Hussain’s pre-flop “all in.”

In order to compete in the tournament, Williams missed the week before spring break and was forced to reschedule his midterms.

Williams, who is on the HOPE Scholarship, will continue to pursue his degree in political science and considers poker only a “serious hobby,” not his future profession.

With his gambling riches, Williams said he has no plans to go on a spending spree except to buy a new, glimmering watch similar to those the professional poker players wore beside him in Monte Carlo.

After putting aside about $400,000 for taxes, he intends to divide his winnings into investments and charities.

Williams is not even trading in his ‘93 Accord.

“I love my car,” Williams said. “It is a little old, but I love it.”

Williams expects that he will return to being a normal student shortly.

“I think I will be a bit of a celebrity for a couple of days,” said Williams. “It will die back down, and I’ll be back to being a regular kid.”

Dear Mark,
I was asked to leave a casino because a pit boss believed I was adding more chips to my bet on a roulette table after the dealer “supposedly” called no more bets. I told him I didn’t hear the dealer say it, and that I was just adding chips to my favorite number, which I believe he was upset at because it just happened to be a winner. Does the casino have the right to toss me out? Nick B.

Let’s just say you were lucky, Nick, that you weren’t treated to powdered eggs for breakfast compliments of the county.

It’s obvious from your letter that the pit boss felt, right or wrong (I wasn’t there) that you were capping you bets, meaning, you were piling extra chips on top of your initial bet after the ball had dropped. Casinos consider this a serious form of cheating, and it’s a good way to get 86’ed from the casino and/or to spend some time in the slammer.

The primary function of a pit boss is to protect the company’s assets. It’s their job to be on the lookout for charlatans who “past-post” an unsuspecting croupier by adding chips to a winning number, or removing chips from a losing number after the ball has already dropped into the wheel. One time Yours Truly had such a hustler on a game that was graced with the hands of a magician. He could get chips on or off a table without me, a patsy break-in roulette dealer, even noticing. Luckily, an alert pit boss did, the 'eye in the sky' confirmed, and the casino ended up pressing charges to the fullest extent of the law.

Regarding the dealer calling “no more bets,” every casino, Nick, has its own set of guidelines on when they want the dealer to call it. Some before the spin, others will allow an experienced roulette dealer to halt wagering at his or her discretion. Since the casino holds a hefty 5.26% advantage over the player on all but one bet on the layout, obviously they want to wave in as many wagers per spin as possible within reason. To avoid a future fracas with casino pit personnel, I suggest you get your bets in early, well before the dealer voices “no more bets.”

Dear Mark,
Lemme see here. I will lay 5-1 that this is the 500th or higher e-mail you’ve received about your Hardways explanation. You were just checking on your readers to see if we are alert enough to gamble, right? Mike H.

The egregious error, Mike, (a 7 and 1 to make an easy eight on a dice roll) was purposely done so, as to give away some of my Hooked on Winning tapes for those alert enough to spot it. Surprisingly, I got nowhere near 500 readers catching the blatant mistake for the free giveaway.

The half-baked idea of seven-sided dice on a crap game had blown in from Gurth. You might remember him -- the knucklehead who wrote in wanting to wrap his Uncle in Reynolds Wrap to block Uncle’s pacemaker signal from interfering with an electronic slot machine. Recently he sent me a letter crawling with indigestible mathematical muck to prove that the game of craps could rain cash and glory on the player if seven-sided dice were introduced on the game, I am guessing illegally.

I’m figuring Gurth is in possession of a pair of seven-sided dice, since I’ve seen them before, associated with a variant form of Backgammon that uses seven-sided dice and a seven-sided polygon board with seven points in each quarter instead of six, as on a standard board. Anyhow, I’ve put Gurth on special secret assignment, asking him to field test a seven-sider with five million random tosses to see if all seven numbers on the dice equally appear. That should keep him busy, and hopefully out of trouble. I figure he’ll be done in nine years, four months and three weeks. I’ll post the results.

Nice catch to you, Mike, and those others who noticed it. The tapes are in the mail.

Gambling wisdom of the Week: "If bankroll accumulation is your goal, there are better methods for obtaining it (for most people) than gambling. Work two jobs. Bank everything. Spend nothing." --Bob Dancer
By Mark Pilarski

But those two favorites are far from the only options for gamers eager to put their money on a card game. Casinos are dedicating more and more space to poker- and blackjack-derivative games or, as some gaming executives call them, “carnival” games. These games are followed easily by those who already understand basic blackjack or poker, and the extra incentive of sizable jackpots in some of them is keeping seats filled.

“We’ve learned that customers really enjoy new slot products and new video slots,” said Joe Barrett, vice president of table games at Caesars Indiana. “Table games can drive that same excitement.”

Poker look-alikes
Among the carnival games, Three-Card Poker has seen the most consumer traffic at Ohio River casinos. Players are attracted to the ease of the game and the possibility of big payouts.

The premise of the game is simple: Get a pair or better in three cards. Do that, and you automatically win on a wager called “pair plus.” Yes, three-card straights and flushes count and earn bigger payoffs. The biggest payoff is earned with a three-card straight flush (three cards in sequence and of the same suit), which pays 40 times the original bet.

Players also may take on the dealer with an ante and play bet, and if the dealer has at least a queen in his or her hand, the hands are compared and the player will win on both bets with a better hand (if the dealer doesn’t have a queen, the play bet is refunded and the ante is paid).

“It’s a simple game to understand, with quite nice payoffs (for premium hands),” said Patrick Banfield, director of table games at Grand Victoria Casino. “People who like to play for some time can last a lot longer; some of the other games may be a little more volatile.”

Caribbean Stud poker is similar in how a player’s five cards take on the dealer’s five, but there’s no automatic payoff for pairs or better like Three-Card Poker. Instead, with an optional dollar side bet, a player receives a bonus for flushes or better. An elusive royal flush can pay a six-figure jackpot.

Let It Ride is another five-card game with the lure of big paydays, but players don’t have to play against the dealer. Instead, a player’s three cards are combined with the dealer’s two cards to create the best five-card poker hand. A player starts by making three identical bets and can opt to pull one bet back after each dealer card is revealed. Depending on the casino, a royal flush here can pay 1,000-to-1.

Not surprisingly, there’s also a game called Texas Hold’em Bonus that’s catching on at casinos. Like the popular poker game, a player gets two cards and there are five “community” cards that are shared, in this case between a player and the dealer. If a player’s best five-card poker hand beats the dealer, a payout is won, and an optional bonus bet on the player’s two “hole” cards also can win payouts.

Based off blackjack
Carnival games aren’t limited to poker-style games. The steady popularity of blackjack has led to some spinoffs, each with its own set of rules and tweaks that players need to understand before committing their money.

Spanish 21 can be as favorable for players as standard blackjack; certainly some of its rules have instant appeal. In this game, a player’s 21 automatically wins and a player blackjack beats a dealer blackjack, just to name two rules.

The catch? All the 10s are removed from the decks, which makes blackjacks a little tougher to come by. But that hasn’t kept players away.

Other carnival games based off blackjack are coming out all the time, some with bonus features that offer extra payouts based on a player’s first two cards (watch out for same-suited cards or identical cards). As with any of these games, casino personnel can explain the rules fully before play.
By John Schwarb

COUNCIL BLUFFS (AP) --- Iowa's biggest casino opened Wednesday night as about 2,000 guests got a sneak peak at an invitation-only event.

The Horseshoe Casino has 100,000 square feet and features some Las Vegas-like touches, including huge crystal chandeliers and thick carpeting with a golden horseshoe pattern with hues of burgundy, black and turquoise.

"This is absolutely gorgeous," said Maren Palmer, a financial securities manager from Council Bluffs. "It's overwhelming when you walk in here."

The $85 million casino was built by Harrah's Entertainment Inc. to replace the Bluffs Run Casino.

The most frequent patrons can visit the Diamond Lounge, which offers a free buffet and drinks. The wealthiest customers can spend time in a special "high limits" room off the main floor that allows bets of $10,000 per hand for blackjack games.

One of the property's biggest draws is expected to be an 18-table World Series of Poker room, which can accommodate 170 poker players.

Gaye Gullo, Harrah's senior vice president in Council Bluffs, said her company initially planned a smaller renovation of the old Bluffs Run Casino. But those plans changed after the Iowa Legislature revised tax rates for the casino industry and permitted racetracks to offer table games.

"All these things fell together," Gullo said. "We decided that if we are going to build an expansion in this market, let's really do it right and in a way that we can entertain our customers."

Horseshoe Casino is part of a $742 million expansion of Iowa's casinos. It's strategically located on the western Iowa border, where it can also attract thousands of patrons from Omaha, Neb., which has about 409,000 people.

Council Bluffs is Iowa's most profitable casino market, drawing more than 8 million gamblers last year who left behind $431 million -- an average loss of $53 per customer, according to the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission.

Horseshoe Casino hopes to draw many customers from outside Iowa, including Kansas City, Denver, Minneapolis and other major Midwest cities. Some of those guests will bet as much as $10,000 per hand for blackjack games, said Gary Blevins, a Harrah's shift manager.

"I don't know that it will happen every day, but it will certainly happen, although more likely on the weekends than on a Tuesday afternoon," Blevins said.

Besides the Horseshoe Casino, which has 1,000 employees, Nevada-based Harrah's also owns the Harrah's riverboat and hotel on the Missouri River in Council Bluffs. The city's third gambling business is Ameristar Casinos' riverboat and hotel.

MANITOWOC — It was a few minutes before midnight Friday outside Time Out Sports Bar & Grill and Brandon Panier was flush with the thrill of victory.

The Marinette resident had just captured the regional crown in the USA Rock Paper Scissors tournament. Next stop, Las Vegas and the nationals in April.

"That was intense at the end. I dominated the competition," Panier whooped. "This will be my first time going to Vegas. I'm going to tear it up and come home with the 50 G's."

That's right. You can now win $50,000 by displaying a rock (closed fist), paper (flat, open hand) or scissors (index and middle fingers) while trumping your opponent's move.

"I rarely throw rock. That's bush league. I use scissors and paper in combinations of three," Panier said of his strategy in conquering fellow finalist Jared Romanowski of Plymouth.

For those who have forgotten the rules of this game most have played as kids: rock beats scissors, scissors beats paper, paper beats rock.

There's more than luck involved swore Romanowski. "It's equal parts charisma and clairvoyance and drinking plenty of Bud Select," said the man who would drop trou to expose his lucky boxer shorts before each match.

Indeed, many of the 64 contestants Friday had chosen to drink a few, or more, beers in the spirit of Bud Light's sponsorship.

Larry's Distributing in Sheboygan is the designated Anheuser-Busch wholesaler that had the right to conduct the tourney in more than 30 bars in Manitowoc, Sheboygan and Calumet counties the past two months.

Lots of alcohol, lots of fun

"It's been great for our company," said Krisi Kaiser of Larry's Distributing, flanked by two young women in referee's shirts. "They're not Bud Girls. They're part of the 'Contemporary Marketing Team.' That's classier," Kaiser said.

Jessica Avina and Andrea Rickmeier had the challenge of having contestants pound the table three times in unison before throwing out their rock, scissors or paper.

For those who had wet their whistles frequently, the throw downs proved challenging.

But it was all in good fun with nary a cross word exchanged between foes. That doesn't mean there weren't some mean looks.

"I tried to stare her down but she didn't flinch," Manitowoc's John Raiten said after Debbie Kuehnl, also of Manitowoc, beat him in an early match.

The action lasted nearly two hours with plenty of high-fives for victors.

Finally, at 11:45 p.m. Panier and Romanowski were the final duo ready to duel for the four-days and three-nights, all-expenses paid trip for winner and guest. Panier had a last minute offer.

"I'll take you to Vegas if I win if you'll take me if you win," said the high school history teacher. The Plymouth car salesman agreed.

Romanowski's lucky boxers came up short. Panier won in less than two minutes. Emily Lancour gave Panier a victory hug and kiss.

"Forget about me. Take your girlfriend," Romanowski told Panier.

He will and he won't be going to Las Vegas with humility.

"What Lance Armstrong is to cycling, I am to this sport," Panier crowed.
By Charlie Mathews

St. Lucian authorities have approved plans for the first casino in the eastern Caribbean island, hoping to give a boost to the country's vital tourist industry.

The casino, which will have 350 slot machines and 14 gaming tables, is scheduled to open by December, according to the management company, Treasure Bay Corp. LLC of Biloxi, Miss.

Treasure Bay said the 15,000-square-foot casino would be built 10 miles north of the capital, Castries, and would employ 300 full-time workers.

Dear Mark,
I heard you on a radio show talking about getting comps, and one of your suggestions was to call a casino host and ask what type of action was needed to warrant, as you said; “getting some goodies.”

So, I called a casino host and asked how much I would need to play in order to get both a dinner for two in their steak house, and possibly a buffet for two. She said that I would need to “put in action” at least $5,000 to warrant the free meals. I’m not that big of a player. Don’t you think that betting that amount is a bit unrealistic when all I’m asking for is a couple meals? Peter T.

Whoa, Pete, all that the casino you called wanted was for you to blow into town with some of your hard-earned money, and not necessarily five large, and they’d like a crack at it.

What the host meant by “put in action” was NOT the actual dollar amount of money you were to bet per hand, nor even the amount you are supposed to bring to the table with a “Gamble” ear tag on it.

For instance, suppose that you sat down at a blackjack table with $500 and proceeded to play 100 hands an hour over, say, three hours, betting $20 on each hand. Now multiply 100 hands, times three hours, by $20, and it totals $6,000. This would be the amount of money you “put in action,” even though your actual bankroll was just $500.

This is but one criterion a casino would use to assess your rating and eligibility for comps. The joints I worked in had sort of the same formula to figure out what you’re worth. To get your goodies from us, we also wanted you to bet a decent chunk of change for a calculated stretch of time, but we based your RFB’s merit (Room, food and beverage) on what you were probably going to lose.

We considered your average bet, how many hours you were possibly going to play, speed of the game, and the casino advantage. This, in theory, computes essentially your expected loss to us over a certain period.
.
Again, suppose you are betting $20 a hand for three hours, averaging 100 hands per hour, coupled with a house advantage of five percent the casino holds over the average blackjack player, we could predict in advance that you should lose $300 ($20 X 3 hrs. X 100 hands X .05 = $300) of the $6,000 wagered, or as she said, “put in action,” over that time period. That free trip to the chow line was really going to cost you $300.

Dear Mark,
On a Field bet on a crap table, some casinos pay 2-1 if a 12 rolls, others pay 3-1. How much of a difference is there in the house edge between the two? James D.

A Field bet is a wager that the next roll of the dice would turn up a 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, or a 12. This one-roller pays even money for 3, 4, 9, 10, and 11, and usually pays 2:1 for either 2 or 12. Some casinos pay 3:1 for either the 2 or 12, but not both.

When the casino pays 2-1 on the 12, the house edge is 5.56 percent. If they pay 3-1, the casino advantage is reduced to 2.78 percent. Either way, both advantage levels are far higher than the 1.41 percent edge on a pass line wager or 1.4 percent on the Don't pass, so, James, I’m recommending neither.

Gambling Wisdom of the Week: "Betting is the only moral thing you can do. It is an intellectual pursuit, as good as The Times crossword. For millions, it is the only uninfluenced democratic decision they take." - Lord Wyatt

March 9, 2006 (London, UK) – America’s #1 poker magazine, ‘Bluff’, is crossing the Atlantic to delight European poker lovers with its unique and eclectic mix of news, view and expert tips from Poker’s finest exponents.

Written for real players by real poker professionals, Bluff Europe will be available in the UK and mainland Europe from March, making it Europe’s first and only lifestyle magazine dedicated to the poker enthusiast.

The combination of high-quality content and precisely-targeted distribution mechanism means that Bluff Europe will appeal to - and reach - a wide European audience, many of whom will be seeking a tournament, challenge or simply, new poker room to try.

In addition to its UK & Continental European card room distribution channels, the publishers of Bluff Europe are in the process of acquiring additional distribution partners so that anyone in Europe can purchase a copy at major book sellers.

The move into Europe marks an important milestone for the hugely-popular magazine, which has achieved an impressive US circulation of 250,000 in just two years.

Features Editor, Philip Conneller, says: “With Bluff’s winning blend of entertainment and information, we are confident that we can replicate the success achieved in the US for our readers and our advertisers. The time is right. And this is too-good an opportunity to miss!”

Editor in Chief, Michael Caselli, added, ”The poker lifestyle in Europe is a different animal to that in the US. Bluff Europe reflects that. Where poker goes, we will follow.”

With three players left in the Camp Hellmuth finale -- which played out onstage in front of 200 people, with the hands being shown on a big screen, and with me announcing the hands to the audience -- Gordon Higgins of Kansas City was getting low on chips. But after what he's been through this past year, it didn't bother him at all.

You see, Higgins' girlfriend had given him a Camp Hellmuth ticket as a present, and they planned to turn the two-day camp into a real Vegas vacation by adding two days for themselves after the camp ended. Higgins, however, was being treated for thyroid cancer and was feeling low on energy.

Higgins now says, ''I told the little lady going in that I may not feel up to doing much more than the camp-planned activities.'' Her response was classic: ``That's OK. I just expect some great poker this weekend!''

And Higgins delivered.

When Amy Graves of Fairfax Station, Va., finished in third place, Higgins was looking down the barrel of a 6-to-1 chip deficit versus Allan Kennedy of Valdosta, Ga. It would have been easy for him to give up, or to do something stupid to try to catch up in chips quickly.

Higgins, though, says, ``Honestly, after the things I've been through this last year (thyroid cancer and a bad appendix), I wasn't overly stressed out about playing from behind.''

By then, Higgins had watched T.J. Cloutier's ''21 Tips'' presentation and Antonio Esfandiari's spiel as well.

Then we had Joe Navarro, who taught everyone how to read people using the nonverbal tells that he had developed over 25 years as an FBI interrogator. Navarro told us that when people hit the flop well, they lean in toward the middle of the table, and when they miss the flop, they lean back away from the table. Another key tip from Navarro is that if your opponent's feet are shaking (``happy feet''), then he is super strong.

When Higgins and Kennedy were at last even in chips, with the blinds at $10,000-$20,000 and the ante at $4,000 apiece, the following hand came up. Higgins called $10,000 on the button with 7s-5s, and Kennedy checked with his 6s-3c.

The flop came down 7d-7h-6d, Kennedy checked his two pair, and Higgins checked his trip sevens. When the turn card came up the 10h, Kennedy checked again and Higgins bet out $50,000.

At that point, Kennedy raised making it $150,000 to go. Higgins, sensing the kill, raised another $100,000 and Kennedy moved all in for $450,000. Higgins called instantly, and it was all over.

Higgins had played the hand perfectly, but Kennedy, I think, put too much money into this pot with his meager pair of sixes. After all, he couldn't have beaten even a pair of 10s, which would have been a reasonable possibility for Higgins, given that there was a 10 on the board and the betting was heavy.

In any case, both of them had played great poker to have become the final two, and I hope this is just one victory for Higgins this year: conquering his health issues is the real victory he'll be looking forward to in 2006.
By Phil Hellmuth

It definitely pays to play King Cashalot Progressive Jackpot at River Belle Online Casino with its 111 Free Spins promotion currently on offer.

That’s 111 chances to hit the jackpot, which is never less
than $100,000 on King Cashalot.

You’ll receive $200 free for making a deposit of $50 as a New Real Player, which means you’ll be able to spin 111 times for your chance to win $100,000 or more!

GIBRALTAR, March 6 /PRNewswire/ -- At the final table of the No-Limit Texas Hold'em World Series of Poker Main Event, the greatest poker players in the world are at war with each other, giving cold stares and making bluffs, painfully relinquishing chips until only one is left standing, ready to claim a fortune. But fortunes are made at more than one table at the World Series of Poker (WSOP).

This summer River Belle Online Poker will send one of its loyal players to compete in any or all of the 45 events at the 2006 World Series of Poker. Entry into the competition can be done in one of two ways: logging on to www.riverbellepoker.com and finding the WSOP Multi Event promotion or by accessing the WSOP Multi Event tables in the Satellites tab of Multi-Table Tournaments in the River Belle Poker software. The final tournament to determine the River Belle representative at the WSOP is scheduled for May 20th, and players can enter into qualifying tournaments with buy-ins as low as $11+$1.

The winner will have one month to recuperate before a two month marathon of competitive poker in Las Vegas. They will arrive as the best player on the River Belle network and could leave as the best player in the world. To make the experience even more comfortable, River Belle will be including up to 60 nights of accommodation in a luxury suite at the Rio Hotel & Casino, round trip tickets for the player and their guest, plus $3,500 in spending money. All told, the lucky River Belle rep will be winning a prize package of more than $130,000, with an opportunity to experience the WSOP and win millions.

"This is an opportunity to live and breath poker for two months," said Tim Johnson, Chairman of Carmen Media Group, owners of Belle Rock Entertainment. "This promotion is available to every single River Belle player. I wish everyone the best of luck as always, but in this case luck will only get your foot in the door. The rest is up to your skill and passion for poker."

LAS VEGAS (AP) - Ted Forrest won the National Heads-Up Poker Championship early Tuesday, beating an elite field of pros and sending Chris "Jesus" Ferguson to his second defeat at the final table for the second year in a row.

Forrest, the winner of five World Series of Poker bracelets who hones his play at cash games in Las Vegas, defeated five professionals in the unique one-on-one, bracket-style event to reach the last table.

Then he came from behind in the best-of-three final, besting Ferguson with three kings to take home $500,000 and first place.

"The players here are all super-high caliber so it means a lot," said Forrest, 41. "I've kind of seen what my opponents were willing to give me and adjusted at the table."

Ferguson, known as "Jesus" for his long brown hair and beard, said he was disappointed, but had no regrets about his play, including calling Forrest's all-in bet before the flop with a queen of clubs and jack of diamonds on the last hand. Forrest held a king of clubs and seven of diamonds, but had a commanding 5-to-1 chip lead to support the bet.

"It really isn't that much pain," said Ferguson, 43. "I would have absolutely loved, loved to win this. It's a very, very important championship, in my opinion. But you can't do it every year. I'm really proud of finishing second two years in a row. That's way harder than winning it once."

Ferguson, who has a Ph.D. in computer science from UCLA, lost to Phil Hellmuth Jr. in the final of the 2005 Heads-Up event. Hellmuth was knocked out in the first round Saturday to pro Chip Reese, who lost to Ferguson in the next matchup.

Poker consultant Mori Eskandani, hired by network NBC to help produce the tournament, noted the final table was quieter than the previous year, when Hellmuth rolled on the floor on one turn of the cards and had to go to his hotel room to recover.

Neither finalist this year was known for table antics or showing emotion. "Win or lose, they're pretty stoic," Eskandani said.

In this year's final, Ferguson, dressed in black suit, cowboy hat and sunglasses, was inscrutable as he often stared down Forrest, in jeans and black shirt, looking for clues.

Forrest said he sometimes donned sunglasses to cover any outward signs that would reveal his cards. "I actually felt like I had to put the sunglasses on to defend myself," he said. "I wish they would just outlaw them because then everybody can see what people are looking at."

Ferguson won the first final table match when he went all-in with an ace and nine of hearts and Forrest called with a pair of 10s. The fifth community card was an ace, giving Ferguson the higher pair.

In the second match, Ferguson lost a $650,000 pot on a bluff, then was unable to overcome about a $1 million chip deficit.

The 64-player tournament was a raging success last year when NBC televised it for the first time. Six million people watched the finals on a Sunday afternoon in May last year.

This year, the venue moved to the Strip at the Caesars Palace poker room from the Golden Nugget in downtown Las Vegas. Broadcast coverage will extend to 10 hours, up from eight, and be spread over six Sundays starting April 16.
By By RYAN NAKASHIMA

Dear Mark,
In craps, is there a difference between a hopping hardway and a regular hardway? Is either worth playing? Clint F.

With a hardway, Clint, you are betting that a matching pair of dice will appear before a 7, or before two dice of the same total value are rolled. When the face of the dice are rolled as 2 and 2, it is considered a hard 4; the 3 and 3 is a hard 6; the 4 and 4 is a hard 8; and the 5 and 5 is a hard 10. Using a hard 8 as an example, you lose if a seven is rolled, or an eight the “easy” way (6 and 2, 5 and 3, or a 7 and 1).

With a hopping hardway, you are betting that a certain matching pair will appear on the next roll. This one-roller pays 30-to-1, compared to a payoff of 9-to-1 for the run-of-the-mill hard 6 or 8, or 7 to 1 for the hard 4 and 10.

Although all proposition bets like a hardway have high payoffs, the casino advantage on them is between 9-11%; far too high to chance them with your hard-earned money. The only thing hardways are good for is the house. Besides, Clint, they don’t call ‘em hardways for nothing.

Dear Mark,
What is the "allowable" size difference in a set of five dice on a craps table? The reason I ask is, I got some game-used ones from a casino I frequent. They are numbered 1230 and 1232, which I figured to be part of a five number set. We got bored at work and measured them on our Coordinate Measuring Machine. We found a .0007 variation from all sides of the pair. David S.

Games management is the second line of defense when a new deck (set) of dice is introduced on a crap game. Prior to their baptism, a pit boss will inspect the dice with a micrometer to make sure they were produced to a tolerance level of .0005 of an inch.

The first line of defense is the dice maker. That manufacturer deals in tolerances of .0002, with imperfections discarded, making the random nature of a dice throw a certainty.

The most unlikely scenario is that dice 1230 and 1232 were from different decks. They could be from a slightly larger than normal set of dies allowing more tolerance, or they were lackadaisically inspected upstairs and somehow slipped through.

Either way, I doubt that the extra .0002” deficiency from one die to another would affect the outcome of the rolls. Next time you happen to run into a couple ten-thousandths of an inch, just ask ‘em.

Dear Mark,
With super mega lottery jackpots usually being split by more than one winner, do you have any recommendations for how to play that would put you in position to be a sole winner? Peggy S.

Of late, Peggy, there has been single ticket winners of both the Mega Millions and Powerball lottery games.

To be a sole winner of any lottery, you just need to select numbers that nobody else picks. Simple enough. So, since most people tend to play birthdays and anniversaries, don't pick all your numbers under 32. Don’t play geometric sequences on the card, such as rows, columns, and diagonals. Don’t play a numeric sequence, such as 42-43-44-45-46-47, and especially not 1-2-3-4-5-6, since over 50,000 players have marked that sequence in the past when the jackpot was enormous.

What I can’t help you with, Peggy, is beating those insurmountable odds.

Gambling Wisdom of the Week: "Gamblers everywhere are eating better these days; even the buffets--some of which barely used to count as edible--are serving top-notch nosh." --Buster Phillips
By Mark Pilarski

DURANT, Okla. The Choctaw Nation plans to open its largest-ever casino next week.
Situated along U-S Highway 69, the new casino is part of a 50-acre development that includes a rodeo arena, coliseum and hotel.

The new 108-thousand-844-square-foot casino contains one-thousand-426 gaming machines, some compacted and some older machine varieties.

Thirty-two blackjack tables and a poker room with 18 poker tables are also in place. An off-track betting site completes the gaming package, offering 100 television-operated betting stations.

The casino also boasts the first gaming floor with ticket-in, ticket-out technology, where players' cash-out tickets can be reinserted into any gaming machine on the floor.

The casino is one of eight gaming sites the tribe operates within its 10-county jurisdictional area in southeastern Oklahoma.

A month from now, the first of four new Iowa casinos will open its doors for business. The Diamond Jo in north central Iowa's Worth County broke ground last June and is on track to roll the dice the first week of April.

General Manager Jim Dickstein says 80 percent of the casinos four-hundred employees have been hired. "Our first day of live gaming will be April 4th, but that will be for friends and family and Worth County people that we're inviting," Dickstein says. "Then on the 6th (of April) it opens to the public and we'll have what we call (a) soft opening or sneak peak weeks until the 19th which is our grand opening."

Dickstein says it's fitting that the casino in Northwood is the first of the new casinos to open since the people of Worth County were so dogged in going to the statehouse day after day to try to convince state legislators to allow more casinos. "The people in Worth County worked very hard to first change the law and then to petition to get a license in their area," Dickstein says.

The referendum which allowed a gambling casino in Worth County passed overwhelmingly with 70 percent of the vote, and more than 15-hundred people applied for jobs once the casino started hiring. "The economic impact we know is just going to be terrific for a variety of reasons," Dickstein says. "We've hired a lot of Iowa people from the Iowa area. Also, our location tells us that about 70 percent of our money will be coming in from Minnesota. That's real new money for Iowa. That's not just Iowa money shuffled around within the middle of the state."

The casino will feature five-hundred slot machines, 15 table games and five live poker tables. It also has a Burger King, a sit-down restaurant and bar -- plus the City of Northwood's first Starbucks. The Wild Rose of Emmetsburg plans to open on Memorial Day. The new casino in Riverside plans a September opening and the Isle of Capri Casino in Waterloo plans to open next May.
by O.Kay Henderson

ATLANTIC CITY — That small object that casino guests are holding at poolside may not be a book or a bottle of sunscreen.

Gamblers could use wireless devices to place bets while lounging at the pool or sitting in a restaurant at Atlantic City's casino hotels, under a proposal considered by a state Senate panel Thursday in Trenton.

Gambling devices similar to handheld video games would allow patrons to play the slot machines, blackjack, poker and other table games without actually being on the casino floor.

New Jersey is thinking of joining Nevada in legalizing the devices, which are at the forefront of the casino industry's efforts to fend off competition from Internet gaming and attract a new generation of tech-savvy gamblers.

“Technology is evolving. Public policy must evolve to reflect that,” said state Sen. Barbara Buono, chairwoman of the Senate's Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee.

Legislation to legalize wireless gambling is expected to be introduced later in the year, Buono, D-Middlesex, told the Associated Press after her committee heard testimony from casino executives and New Jersey gaming regulators.

Taking a cue from Nevada, New Jersey lawmakers will consider allowing handheld gambling devices in public areas of Atlantic City's 12 casinos. Nevada is preparing to introduce wireless gambling at pools, restaurants and other public areas of the casino buildings, but will prohibit its use in hotel rooms.

The Nevada Gaming Control Board expects to adopt regulations this month, paving the way for gamblers to start betting on the devices sometime this year. The rules will include a series of safeguards to protect against cheating and underage gambling. Wireless devices would be linked to a casino's main computer server to prevent unauthorized use.

New Jersey lawmakers and gaming regulators are already discussing ways to prevent abuses, including possibly using password-protected devices that would be inoperable in hotel rooms, parking lots or garages. The state's top casino regulator wants assurances that the devices will not fall into the hands of underage gamblers.

“We would want to examine it to make sure it does what it says it does and protects the integrity of the gaming industry,” Casino Control Commission Chair Linda M. Kassekert said.

New Jersey law limits gambling to the casino floor, so legislation would be needed to allow it to spread to other parts of the casino complex for wireless betting, Kassekert said.

In addition to handheld gambling devices, regulators are considering high-tech downloadable slot machines that would enable casinos to switch games and jackpots with the touch of a button. Kassekert said downloadable games are essentially computers operated by remote terminals, which may be vulnerable to hackers.

“Obviously, the concern there is that they can be tampered with or that they can be hacked into,” she said.

The Casino Control Commission and the Division of Gaming Enforcement have written preliminary regulations for downloadable games and are seeking input from casinos.

A test run of downloadable slot machines is tentatively scheduled for late this year or early 2007. Barring any glitches in the testing process, the games may be ready for the casino floor sometime in 2007.

“The industry has undergone monumental changes to the electronic games offered to patrons in the past five years,” said Thomas N. Auriemma, director of the Division of Gaming Enforcement. “I believe even greater changes will be made in the next two years. First and foremost is the advent of downloadable slot machines.”

Also on the horizon are so-called smart chips that allow casinos to track betting activity at the table games in real time. Known as Radio Frequency Identification Devices, or RFIDs, they will also help cut down on cheating and counterfeiting.

State Sen. Nicholas Asselta, a member of the Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee, questioned whether the introduction of so much technology could threaten casino jobs and help spread illegal Internet gambling.

“Technology is good and it's bad. Sometimes it means (fewer) job opportunities,” said Asselta, a Republican who represents Cape May, Cumberland and Atlantic counties.
By DONALD WITTKOWSKI

COMMERCE, Calif. - In a game of bluffs and blinds, they’re the brashest.
All under 30, all winners of at least $1 million in a single poker tournament. World Poker Tour observers have dubbed them the tour’s “brat pack.”
So you’d expect some sort of suave Sinatra-Sammy Davis common understanding, a link beyond their knack for a card game.
But beyond a thirst for gambling, it isn’t really there. Some hide massive egos behind their poker shades; some are humble to the point of being meek. One rocks designer BAPE sweatshirts, another plays in pajamas.
The Associated Press sat down with seven of professional poker’s young millionaires to find out how they win, what they’ve splurged on and their take on that age-old question: Is it a sport?

ANTONIO ESFANDIARI

Age: 27 Home: Las Vegas Family: Single Biggest win: $1.4 million, Commerce, Calif., February 2004. Resulting celebration/purchase: “I flew all my friends down from the Bay Area. We went out and partied for three days straight, spent like $15,000. I bought a Dodge Viper, $50,000 or $60,000 - something like that. And that was it, then I went back to regular normal life. Oh, I bought a house in Las Vegas.” Why he’s good: “I have a certain ability to be able to read what my opponent has. I’m pretty good at that. I’m pretty good at getting people to want to beat me pretty bad so they end up making bad plays against me. And I don’t ever go on tilt. You either have it or you don’t have it. And I was fortunate to maybe have it.” If not playing poker: “I was going to (DeAnza) college (in Cupertino, Calif.) I wanted to be a business guy. Eventually I’m going to go into the restaurant business. I used to do magic. I want to have restaurants where people come in, they see magic and they eat good food.” In free time: “There’s so many different business things going on. ... The book, DVD, I’m promoting a product: energy balls - kind of like Red Bull in a ball. That’s funenergyfoods.com. I made a video with a friend of mine on how to avoid being cheated - magicalpoker.net. ... I probably go out too much, more than I should. Just having fun.” Game or sport: “Sure you can call poker a sport, but I think it’s more a game of mental warfare than anything else.”

ERICK LINDGREN

Age: 29 Home: Las Vegas Family: Single Biggest Win: $1 million, cruise to Mexico, March 2003. Resulting celebration/purchase: “We ran up a $20,000 bar tab that night, so everybody had a good time drinking on the ship. I had a bottle of Dom in both hands. One for pouring and one for pouring into me. ... I just bought a Cadillac Escalade and that’s about it. I’m not a big spender. Well, I did put six plasmas on my wall so I could watch the games. That wasn’t cheap. They were just regular Gateway plasmas, 42-inch.” Why he’s good: “Observation skills, a little bit of math, psychology, and just practice. I’ve been playing poker non-stop since I was 19. So hopefully you get better at something if you play it every day.” If not playing poker: “I’d probably be trading stock or doing something with a certain level of gamble to it. I’ve always been that way. I would be in business for myself. I could never be employed by somebody.” In free time: “Think about poker. No (laughs). I’m playing golf, basketball. Anything to get off my ass. Because we’re always sitting down, so anything to stay in shape a little bit is important.” Game or sport: “Any game that you can drink while playing is not a sport.”

JOHN STOLZMANN

Age: 24
Home: Corona, Calif.
Family: Dating. Biggest win: $1 million, Tunica, Miss., January 2005. Resulting celebration/purchase: “I just had a nice dinner with my dad and my girlfriend. Just had a quiet evening; nothing really crazy. ... I was a student at (University of) Wisconsin. I took the year off, moved out to LA, bought a house here. A nice million-dollar house. I didn’t buy a car or anything. My girlfriend has a BMW already.”
Why he’s good: “My ability to adapt to every type of game. And not to play beyond my own skill level. I try to not let my ego affect my game too much. If I’m outclassed by a certain opponent, I recognize it, and I try to counter that.”
If not playing poker: “The plan was to go to law school if I didn’t become a professional poker player. I can always do that. ... I never really wanted to live the high-roller lifestyle. I used this year to play a bunch of tournaments to see if I could make another big score. And I didn’t. I’m going to go back to school and get my degree (in philosophy). I only have one semester to go.”
In free time: “I play this game called Magic (The Gathering). It’s a lot like poker. I guess I’m just a gamer at heart. ... It develops the same skills you need in poker. A little bit of reading people, a little bit of the math aspect. It’s just a really complex strategy game.”
Game or sport: “For these top-level pros that are playing all these events, I guess it’s a sport to them. For 90 percent of the poker-playing population, it’s just a game. Just recreation. And I don’t think many people should take it to a point beyond that.”

MICHAEL GRACZ

Age: 25
Home: Raleigh, N.C.
Family: Engaged.
Biggest win: $1.5 million, cruise to Mexico, March 2005.
Resulting celebration/purchase: “I bought a $30,000 car, a low-end Mercedes. I went and bought a townhome, but that was just to get out of paying rent. ... I paid my taxes first, I took about another 60 percent of the money and invested it, and have left the rest to play poker with.”
Why he’s good: “People. Just looking at somebody and being able to pick up on their mannerisms, how they play, in a short period of time. That’s what separates good players from great players. ... Poker could be played with blocks, but we just happen to play with cards. All it is is trying to figure out the person that’s holding the cards. I try to do that from the moment I sit down.”
If not playing poker: “I actually finished school (at North Carolina State in 2004) and went to work for a financial analysis firm. And then won a few poker tournaments. So I’d probably still be dealing with finance somewhere in the real world sitting at a desk 9 to 5.”
In free time: “We go skiing, my fiance and I. We like doing a lot of traveling, just seeing new places. Hiking, swimming, doing active stuff. Because when you’re sitting at the poker table, you’re not being active. ... I try to separate my life and poker. It’s kind of like a separation of church and state for me. Poker is great, but it can be an overload.”
Game or sport: “It’s a sport mentally. Sports such as basketball and football, you have to be physically ready to compete, but 60 percent of it is mental. In poker, granted, you don’t have to be physically fit - except for when there’s a six-day-long tournament, you have to have some endurance there - but mentally it’s 100 percent a sport.”

MICHAEL MIZRACHI

Age: 25
Home: Hollywood, Fla.
Family: Engaged, with two children.
Biggest win: $1.85 million, Commerce, Calif., February 2005.
Resulting celebration/purchase: “It was late, my family was here. We got something to eat and I went to bed. It hits you a week after, like wow, I can’t believe I won this tournament. ... I bought a (Sportscoach) RV bus. I spent $174,000. A few months later, I sold it (for $30,000 less). ... I had too many things at once and I was getting a big, big headache, a migraine. ... I sold a couple cars. Things that I don’t need, you know? And I have responsibilities. I have kids, so I needed more cash flow.”
Why he’s good: “I have great reads and great instincts. I like to control the way people play. If I want them to do something, I make them do it. ... Sometimes I make a couple speeches, try to make them push in chips. Sometimes I’ll stop them from betting. Sometimes I’ll raise to slow them down.”
If not playing poker: “I don’t know. When I was younger, I wanted to be a doctor, lawyer. It seemed interesting, but I feel it wouldn’t suit me. I got tired of being in school from morning to night. I don’t know. Who knows?”
In free time: “Just go to the movies, have fun with the family, play with the kids. ... But poker’s every week, so it’s so tough. Every week is another tournament.”
Game or sport: “What do you work out? What part of the muscle group do you build? I guess your fingers, throwing your chips in the pot? ... I would think it’s a sport, but for the winning players, people that win lots of money. But for the people that don’t, I don’t think it’s a sport. Because in sports, you’re supposed to be making money, not losing money.”

NICK SHULMAN

Age: 21
Home: Manhattan, New York.
Family: Single.
Biggest win: $2 million, Mashantucket, Conn., November 2005.
Resulting celebration/purchase: “I went out with a couple friends. ... I helped my parents with a ($40,000) house payment. I’m going to invest in a restaurant with my sister. I’m thinking about buying an apartment. I just can’t decide if I want to buy in New York or Vegas, so I’m putting it off.”
Why he’s good: “I’ve really dedicated a huge part of my life to poker. I’ve spent countless hours just playing. Not going out or not doing a lot of things I might’ve wanted to do. It’s a combination of natural ability and a lot of hard work. ... I play on UltimateBet a lot, and PokerStars. All the sites, I play on.”
If not playing poker: “I really don’t know. I just don’t know.”
In free time: “My life right now is very concentrated on poker. It’s all poker. (He’s repeatedly played 24 hours straight of online poker.) I don’t recommend that, but I’ve done it, too many times.”
Game or sport: “It’s an exciting game, but I definitely don’t think it’s a sport. There has to be some athletic requirement.”

TUAN LE

Age: 28
Home: Los Angeles.
Family: Single.
Biggest win: $2.8 million, Las Vegas, April 2005.
Resulting celebration/purchase: “I was with a bunch of friends and family. I just exhaled and was just relieved it was over. It was six days of real scrutiny. ... I bought a lot of things. I paid off my mom’s house. It was about $280,000. I bought a few nice cars (a Range Rover and an exotic sports car). I rent a nice place (in West LA).”
Why he’s good: “I lack a lot of good areas, but I make up for it in a lot of other areas. My fearlessness. My will. My mentalness, my strong mind. That’s where I make up for it. I lack a lot of discipline. ... It’s going to affect me in the long run. Short-term, I’ve had a lot of good success, so I’m blinded to it. But personally I do know I lack discipline.”
If not playing poker: “I really don’t know what I’d be doing if it wasn’t for poker. I was in school (at Cal State Northridge) but I knew I wasn’t going to stay in school. I wasn’t going to use my degree. I was a finance major. I was 12 units short of graduating. That was really stupid of me. I should’ve just continued. But it got really hard. I missed a lot of classes, my grades were dipping, and I just couldn’t keep up with it anymore. I just lost total sense of the value of a dollar.”
In free time: “I’ve actually gotten a lot better. Before I used to put in ridiculous amount of hours. ... I put in a 50-hour session before, at the Hustler. That was the longest session I remember. I walked out and I missed a whole calendar date, and I was totally confused and lost when I was driving home. ... I took some time off and said, hey this is kind of fun. Maybe poker isn’t life. ... Now I enjoy life a little more. I go out to bars, I go out to clubs. I travel to places I thought I’d never go. I went to Europe, I went to Miami.”
Game or sport: “It’s a game of minds. In the long run, the guy with the stronger mind will beat the guy with the weaker mind.”
By RYAN PEARSON

LAS VEGAS (AP) - If there's one thing that bothers Phil Hellmuth Jr., it's not being considered top dog.

Hellmuth, known as the "Poker Brat" for his on-camera tantrums after unfortunate turns of the cards, looks to defend his title in the 2006 National Heads Up Poker Championship beginning Saturday.

The three-day tournament, with $1.5 million in prize money, draws top professional poker players and celebrities in one-on-one elimination showdowns.

What gets Hellmuth is that even as reigning champion, he's not sure to face one of the lesser players. He could face a top rival and get knocked out early, or have an easy path to the finals and the $500,000 first place payout.

"The problem with the Heads Up tournament is it's not seeded," Hellmuth told The Associated Press.

"Last year, I'm sure everyone had me in the top three somewhere. And I played against Men 'the Master' Nguyen, who probably is somewhere in the top 15, my first draw.

"Daniel Negreanu, who is in the top six, drew Jerry Buss, who is the owner of the Lakers," he said. "There's some randomness involved in the draw. And I faced a real tough crew of players. It probably makes it less egalitarian. I mean more."

Organizers say the format for the 64-player tournament is not going to change this year, after its raging success last year when NBC televised it for the first time. Six million people watched the finals on a Sunday afternoon in May last year.

The venue has moved to the Strip at the Caesars Palace poker room from the Golden Nugget in downtown Las Vegas, where it was taped last year. Broadcast coverage will extend to 10 hours, up from eight, and be spread over six Sundays starting April 16.

"The idea of trying to seed them was very, very difficult," said Jonathan Miller, senior vice president of programming for NBC Sports, noting it was the players last year who objected to seeds.

"Phil was one of the guys who screamed the loudest last year about seeding," Miller said. Of this year's gripe, Miller added, "that's his right as defending champion."

Poker stars, including Mike Matusow and Annie Duke, and celebrity such as Jennifer Tilly and James Woods have paid $20,000 to play, while three amateurs won sponsored seats at free satellite events. NBC added $220,000 to the prize pool. Those who make it to the round of 16 win at least $25,000.

Hellmuth, a native of Madison, Wis., said his expectations this year "aren't particularly high."

He was knocked out on the first day at a World Poker Tour event in San Jose, Calif., earlier in the week in classic Hellmuth style after losing a showdown with pro Chip Reese. Hellmuth took a $100 bill from his pocket and before handing it to Reese, signed it: "You're a lucky SOB."

Last year at the Heads Up tournament, Hellmuth collapsed on the floor and stormed up to his hotel room after losing on a draw to Chris "Jesus" Ferguson in the second match of a best-of-three final. Hellmuth came back to win.

Poker Pro magazine editor-in-chief Johnny "Quads" Wenzel said he expects similar fireworks this year.

"Seeing Phil Hellmuth do a meltdown on camera, that's worth the price of admission," Wenzel said. "It's great theater."
By RYAN NAKASHIMA

A proposed $1 billion expansion of the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino has been canceled amid rumors that owner Peter Morton is in negotiations to sell the property to an unnamed buyer.

The expansion was going to include more than 1,200 condo units, plus additional entertainment, retail and pool/spa space on 24 acres behind the hotel, along Harmon Avenue.

Deposits were already being taken for the condos, and all of that money will be returned to the people who reportedly laid out anywhere from $40,000 to $250,000 to make a reservation for one of the upscale units that had been planned.

This doesn't necessarily mean that the condos won't be built, but that decision will ultimately go to new owner, whoever that may be. The rumored asking price is somewhere in the neighborhood just south of $1 billion, including the land on which the expansion was to be built.

There have been several whispered rumors of who might be the leading contender for the property, with nothing but denials coming from places like Station Casinos, Harrah's Entertainment and Rolling Stone founder Jann Wenner, who already announced his intention to build a Rolling Stone-themed hotel in the same neighborhood.

Whether the property will keep its Hard Rock branding is another mystery that will depend on who buys it.
By Rick Garman

Las Vegas, NV (PRWE March 1, 2006 -- Binion's Gambling Hall & Hotel, and Omni Media & Entertainment are proud to announce the next great American poker tournament, the American Poker Player Championship™ - http://www.americanpokerplayerchampionship.com

Omni Media is working in conjunction with the world famous Binion's Gambling Hall & Hotel, that hosted the world's first major poker tournament from 1970 to 2004, the World Series of Poker.

Cary Davis, president of Omni Media said, "The American Poker Player Championship™ is a response to the tremendous popularity of poker in America today. We are proud to provide this new venue and anticipate great success because it will be a multi-event tournament, with cash prizes in each event, and the main event will be an affordable $5,000 buy-in championship."

World Series of Poker Champion Tom McEvoy, and two time Ladies World Series of Poker Champion Susie Isaacs will be the tournament Hosts.

The American Poker Player Championship™ poker tournament will take place May 10th through May 24th, 2006, with 29 individual events, and featuring the $5,000 buy-in Championship Main Event. Each event in the tournament will be limited to 800 players. For exact times, buy-ins of events or accommodation packages please check our website - http://www.americanpokerplayerchampionship.com or call 1-866-916-6664.