Featured Articles Archive - Page 349

Nevada's slot machine industry preparing for Internet gaming

International Game Technology is poised to premiere "American Idol" on Facebook, and wants players to one day wager on the interactive version of its slot machine on the Internet. While state and federal lawmakers inch along toward legalization of online gaming, IGT and the casino industry's other large slot machine makers are already lining up for a piece of the potential action. And when it comes to the future of those who provide the technological bones of the gaming industry is debated, the only question is how much of the future online prize they'll want. Analysts and investors have speculated openly whether slot machine companies and other gaming product vendors will be satisfied just to provide content for casino operators to use on their Internet gaming websites...read more

Top-10 ways to send a player from your home game to the WSOP

Every poker player dreams of winning the World Series of Poker Main Event. The multi-million-dollar prize, and the fame that comes with the title "World Champion," would certainly change your life.Of course, the $10,000 entry fee is a pretty high bar for a lot of us, especially low-stakes home game players...read more

Why you can win when the casino has an edge, or lose when it doesn't

Most casino players ultimately blame any losses they suffer on the edge the house has on the bets it offers. Edge certainly is a consideration. And solid citizens would be wise to select games, wagers, and strategies to minimize this factor consistent with their other priorities and preferences...read more

Deal Me In: Those costly bargains

Dear Mark: Both my wife and I have separate casino club cards at the same casino. She plays slots while I mostly play video poker. We play about the same amount, $100 per visit, and yet, she receives more in comps that I do. Does that sound right to you? Martin G.The reason your wife is getting more goodies than you, Martin, is because most casinos today rate slot play higher than your video poker play.With expert play, some video poker machines can return in excess of 100 percent...read more

Penn National chief tries to make light of GSA flap

LAS VEGAS -- Penn National Gaming Chairman Peter Carlino, whose company owns M Resort, tried to make light Thursday of the controversy surrounding the General Services Administration's taxpayer-funded $823,000 junket to Las Vegas which took place at the Henderson casino.At the end of Penn National's first quarter earnings call, Carlino was asked by Larry Haverty of Gamco Asset Management firm about the "raft of unplanned advertising" M Resort has received in the past week.M Resort hosted the GSA training meeting Oct...read more

CityCenter developers cut prices on high-rise condos

LAS VEGAS -- CityCenter developers are announcing a renewed effort to sell high-rise condominiums at the Strip development, discounting prices by about 25 percent in hope of jump-starting an otherwise stagnant market.The remaining 602 condominiums in two CityCenter projects -- 441 units in Veer Towers and 161 units in Mandarin Oriental -- will have their initial face price marked down by 10 percent...read more

MGM weighing options in Toronto, report suggests

MGM Resorts International is eyeing prospects for a hotel-casino development in downtown Toronto. Canada's Globe and Mail newspaper reported Tuesday that the casino company's development staff visited the city and hired a local lobbying firm. According the newspaper, two MGM Resorts officials had informal conversations about a casino with Toronto Mayor Rob Ford's staff and other officials during last week's council meeting. "MGM is exploring a $2 billion-to-$6 billion investment in the city, one that could go well beyond slot machines and roulette wheels to include hotels, restaurants, spas and convention facilities," according to the newspaper. "It's an amazing market, it's an amazing city," Alan Feldman, MGM's senior vice president of public affairs, told the newspaper in an interview from Japan on Monday...read more

Gaming insider: Potential in Midwest has game makers smiling

Executives with Nevada's major slot machine manufacturers oftentimes wonder if they will ever sell another game. The recession zapped sales figures for several years. Casino operators made due with older games rather than spend money on newer gambling equipment. Many potential casino jurisdictions were slow to gain approvals from state lawmakers and local governments...read more

Executive snapshot: Rob Bone vice president of North American sales, WMS Gaming

Rob Bone came to Las Vegas to play football for UNLV. But the Dallas native also received an education outside the classroom and Sam Boyd Stadium. Bone is the senior vice president of North American sales for slot machine giant WMS Gaming, which has its corporate headquarters in Waukegan, Ill., and a sales office in Las Vegas...read more

Bally hopes Beach Boys slot will bring players fun, fun fun

Bally Technologies is hoping its newest themed slot machines will "get around" sometime this summer. The Las Vegas-based gaming equipment provider used last week's National Indian Gaming Association tradeshow in San Diego to unveil a slot machine themed after the Beach Boys, the band that brought the culture of Southern California -- surfing, cars and romance -- to the music world. Bally expects to roll out the Beach Boys slot machine nationwide in August. The video slot machine has five reels, five different progressive jackpots and is enhanced with video clips of the Beach Boys performances...read more