Featured Articles Archive - Page 247

Newhouse unable to parlay lucky start at WSOP final table, finishes ninth

LAS VEGAS -- Mark Newhouse almost had one of the shortest November Nine experiences in history. On the fifth hand of the World Series of Poker's final table, Newhouse, the second-shortest stack at the table, moved all in over the top of Marc-Etienne's opening raise holding pocket queens...read more

Macau casinos produce record-breaking $4.6 billion in October

Macau’s casino industry shattered its single-month gaming revenue record in October when the market produced an eye-popping $4.6 billion in pre-tax winnings.The total exceeded the previous record of $3.92 billion set in March of this year.The Macau Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau said Friday the results were a 31.7 percent increase over the October 2012 total...read more

Nevadan at work: Veteran game designer is always creating

LAS VEGAS -- One thing you can say about Joe Kaminkow is that he’s always creating.Since the 1980s, Kaminkow has designed more than 100 pinball machines and amusement games, some of which reside in Las Vegas’ Pinball Hall of Fame.He’s played in a role in creating more than 1,000 different slot machines based on pop culture and entertainment, including “Wheel of Fortune,” “Sex in the City,” and “Ghostbusters,” which are some of the casino industry’s best-known and most well-received games.Even when Kaminkow took a hiatus from gaming, he was still creating.He developed and sold concepts for several reality-based television shows and worked on several Broadway shows...read more

Bay State blunders: Massachusetts now an embarrassment on gaming scene

Two years ago, Massachusetts was considered a potentially lucrative gaming opportunity.The past two weeks, however, have called into question the viability of the Bay State’s incubating casino market.Massachusetts is moving ahead with a single Las Vegas-style casino in each of three geographically separate regions: Boston, the southeast corridor and the western half of the state.But it might become nothing more a second-rate gaming jurisdiction.Rather than creating resort destinations, the state’s casino industry could be viewed as just a deterrent to Connecticut, keeping Massachusetts gamblers and gaming tax revenue in house, instead of across the border in Indian casinos.Initially, gaming observers thought Massachusetts’ licensing process was moving too slow.Now, it seems totally out of whack.Chances are none of Nevada’s major casino operators — despite spending hundreds of millions of dollars in planning and promoting potential billion dollar developments — will be involved in Massachusetts when the first hands of blackjack are dealt in 2016 or 2017.Caesars Entertainment Corp...read more

McEvoy, Nguyen enshrined in Poker Hall of Fame

LAS VEGAS -- Scotty Nguyen and Tom McEvoy have distinctly different personalities. Nguyen is brash and charismatic at the table. And away from the felt he is very a much a man of the people. Fans stop him for autographs and pictures all the time...read more

Top-10 things to watch for in the November Nine

The final table of the World Series of Poker's Main Event begins on Monday night, when the final nine players in the tournament (dubbed the November Nine) play down to two (though ESPN has the option of calling and audible and stopping play when the tournament gets down to three players)...read more

Deal Me In: Bob knows slots

Dear Mark: It is hard to believe you when you say that the casino cannot adjust the slot percentages on slots on weekends. It seems I lose more often on weekends than any other time. Please explain to me one more time why I am wrong. Scott E.Even though I was in a casino management position to make a decision like a wholesale chip swap, which we never did, if you don’t want to believe me, fine, but believe Bob, a slot guru who spent 32 years as a Slot Board Tech, Slot Director and all of the stops in between.To change percentage returns in the gaming jurisdiction where Bob was employed, he said the gaming commission (GC) required a one-week notice...read more

Poker Player Tweets of the Week: Basketball is back

On Monday night, all eyes will be on the World Series of Poker Main Event final table, as nine talented players battle for the WSOP championship bracelet and an $8.36 million top prize. The November Nine is the premier event on the poker calendar, and the Penn and Teller Theater at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino will be buzzing next week...read more

WSOP Main Event final table primer

Four months ago, a field of 6,352 players entered the World Series of Poker $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Championship hoping for the $8.36 million first-place prize. On Monday, the remaining nine players, known as the "November Nine," will regroup at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino and battle for the Main Event title.The final nine players represent five different countries...read more

MGM Resorts narrows losses, gains revenues in third quarter

LAS VEGAS -- MGM Resorts International reduced its net loss in the third quarter as the casino giant was helped by increased results from its Strip gaming operations, which officials said are seeing the benefits of hotel room renovations and amenity enhancements.During a conference call with analysts and investors Thursday, MGM Resorts Chairman Jim Murren said he expects to see additional improvements in upcoming quarters.MGM Resorts, which operates 10 hotel-casinos on the Strip, said its net loss for the quarter that ended Sept...read more