Featured Articles Archive - Page 171

Deal Me In: A courtesy, or something more ominous?

Dear Mark: In a recent column you addressed a reader named Danny, who only likes to play on hand-shuffled games. Include me on that list. Where you find hand-shuffled games, I have noticed signage posted along these lines: “As a courtesy to the other players, no mid-deck entry." Interestingly, you never see this same sign at machine-shuffled games...read more

Top-10 things to know if you plan to play The Colossus at the WSOP

It seems like only a few weeks ago Martin Jacobson turned a final table short stack into a World Series of Poker Main Event title, so you can be excused if (like me) it’s hard for you to believe that this year’s WSOP is less than six weeks away.This year’s series promises to start off with a bang, too, as The Colossus, a $565 no-limit Hold’em re-entry event, will be the first weekend (Day 1s run on May 29 and 30)...read more

Deal Me In: Appearances can be deceiving

Dear Mark: I have been a longtime, 20-year reader of your column. Your weekly column offers terrific material for us aspiring gamblers. I do strictly abide by your “make only bets that have less than a 2 percent house rule” with one exception...read more

California tribal gaming market regains momentum

Eight years ago, California’s Indian casino market was approaching $8 billion in annual gaming revenue. By comparison, Nevada casinos in 2007 brought in a single-year record $12.8 billion, of which $6.8 billion came from the Strip.The recession knocked the California casino market down a few notches, as it did in Nevada.But the Golden State’s tribal gaming industry is firing up again.California’s 69 Indian casinos produced slightly less than $7 billion in gaming revenue in 2013 — $6.994 billion to be exact — according to the recently released Indian Gaming Industry Report for Casino City, authored by California economist Alan Meister.The state’s casinos accounted for a fourth of the nation’s $28.3 billion in total Indian gaming revenue in 2013.Meister, who has written the annual Indian gaming report for 13 years, didn’t downplay California’s importance.“The state can spur growth for the whole Indian gaming industry,” he said.It’s still hard to predict when or if California will surpass the $7.8 billion revenue figure Indian casinos collected in 2007...read more

Top-10 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs bets

If you’re a hockey fan, last Saturday was one of the most exciting nights of the sports year. The NCAA men’s hockey tournament ended in spectacular fashion, with Providence College winning its first national championship in a thrilling come-from-behind victory over overwhelming favorite Boston University...read more

Deal Me In: Using this lotto write-off ruse is ill advised

Dear Mark: I have a tax liability from a slot jackpot win from this past November of $20,000. Because I have never won any sizable amount in the past, I didn’t do what you have suggested multiple times, that is, keep accurate records of my play...read more

Despite high taxes, MGM National Harbor offers huge potential

MGM Resorts International had a busy March.And that’s without the unsolicited offer from a minor shareholder to convert the casino giant into a real estate investment trust.On March 24, MGM officials broke ground on the Las Vegas-based company’s $800 million hotel-casino development in Springfield, Mass.A day later, MGM leadership celebrated the hiring of the 1,000th construction worker for the $1.25 billion MGM National Harbor in Maryland.The National Harbor ceremony couldn’t really be described as a groundbreaking...read more

Private equity firm offers to buy remaining stake in Affinity Gaming

Illinois private equity firm Z Capital Partners, which already owns 39.5 percent of Affinity Gaming, has offered to buy the rest of the Las Vegas-based casino company for $9.75 per share.In letter to the company board Friday, Z Capital CEO James Zenni — who is also a member of Affinity’s board — said a single ownership makes the most sense for the company, which owns 11 casinos in four states, including the three Primm properties and the off-Strip Silver Sevens.Z Capital has more than 8 million shares in the company...read more

Top-10 skill-based competitions Atlantic City should take on next

Top-10 skill-based competitions Atlantic City should take on nextLate last month, the Borgata hosted a free throw shooting competition that saw 750 people compete for a first-place prize of more than $10,000. Nearly two thirds of those players paid just $20, while 272 of them opted to rebuy once to try to advance past the first round.With Atlantic City revenues plummeting, people might look at ideas like this and think it's a gimmick...read more

Deal Me In: I'll be back

Dear Mark: Recently, someone who wrote you was frustrated with never winning at slots. Your answer was excellent but you left something out that is probably also adding to his frustration: gamblers, especially slot players in my opinion, are notorious liars about their gambling outcomes...read more