Featured Articles Archive - Page 353

Aristocrat Technologies manages small and large slot operators

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Sago's Baja Tavern and Lounge won't be confused with M Resort or The Palms Casino Resort.The two off-Strip hotel-casinos each house more than 1,500 slot machines.Sago's, a bar and restaurant at 4790 S. Fort Apache Road, holds a restricted gaming license and operates 15 bar-top slot machines.But the games in all three locations operate in a similar fashion.Sago's owner Jason Godfrey recently ended the tavern's deal with a slot machine route operator and took on the games' operation himself...read more

Vegas casino begins remodeling most of 3,500 hotel rooms

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- The Flamingo Las Vegas has begun remodeling two-thirds of the Strip resort's 3,500 hotel rooms as part of an overall rebranding and renovation of the property, which will become a gateway for the planned $550 million Project Linq development.The $10 million renovation of 2,307 rooms is expected to be completed by May.About 500 of the redesigned rooms, being marketed as the FAB rooms, are expected to be available for guests checking into the Flamingo on Jan...read more

Top-10 gaming industry developments I'm thankful for

It's the time of year when Americans think about all the things that they're thankful for. I'm thankful for my family, especially the great health of the two newest members, our twins, who were born earlier this year. But I'm also thankful for a number of developments in and around the gaming industry which make my job a lot more fun...read more

Massachusetts ready for gambling expansion

BOSTON, Massachusetts -- The ink wasn't even dry on the final piece of legislation authorizing three Las Vegas-style casinos and a slot machine parlor in Massachusetts when Ameristar Casinos bought a seat at the table for $16 million.But the hands may have already been dealt.Gov...read more

New TV show examines how sportsbook oddmakers operate

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- If the setting didn't need to be the South Point Hotel Casino and Spa's sports book, "The Linemakers" could easily be filmed in someone's den.The half-hour weekly cable television series surrounds seven friends discussing and analyzing the weekend's college and professional football games...read more

How do the gurus decide what's the best way to handle a video poker hand?

Everyone who plays the machines fantasizes about hitting a jackpot (name somebody who doesn’t). Most don’t actually expect it to happen, but still nurture the thought that it could. Pretend you’re at a jacks-or-better video poker game with the following return schedule: royal – 800, straight flush – 50, quads – 25, full house – 9, flush – 5, straight – 4, triplets – 3, two pair – 2, high pair – 1...read more

House subcommittee hearing asks who should operate regulated Internet poker sites

A House subcommittee hearing on the possibility of licensing and regulating Internet poker rehashed a familiar debate on Friday, with many lawmakers expressing reserved support for the idea while others were concerned about the impact it would have on problem gamblers and minors. Members of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade heard testimony from members of Congress who supported and opposed regulation, gaming industry leaders and an expert on problem gambling...read more

Arkansas ballot initiative could bring seven casinos

LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas -- Arkansas could be the next hotbed for casino expansion if a Texas businessman succeeds in putting a proposed constitutional amendment before voters next year. Michael Wasserman of Gainsville, Texas, who has spearheaded several failed efforts to establish casinos in Arkansas, said casinos in seven Arkansas cities would generate millions of dollars and provide jobs to help the state’s economy. “It will be on the ballot,” he told Arkansas News, a day after Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel certified a revised version of the ballot initiative for the 2012 general election. The political arm of the conservative Family Council immediately announced its opposition. “If we create destination resorts, it’s going to bring people from Texas and all of the surrounding states,” Wasserman said. Under the proposal, Wasserman’s Arkansas Hotels and Entertainment Inc...read more

Deal Me In: Number of decks versus number of players

Dear Mark: When I play blackjack in Vegas at a double-deck table, I always seem to win much more when there are just two people playing. Any logic to this? Ruth F.If you base your line of reasoning on math, Ruth, yes as to the number of decks used, but no as to the number of players sitting tableside.It is always to your advantage to play on a game that offers the fewest decks...read more

Caesars Palace to hire 450 employees

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Caesars Palace will hire 450 employees in conjunction with the opening of its 668-room Octavius Tower on Jan. 2.The new hotel tower will give the Strip resort more than 3,960 rooms.Caesars is seeking employees for both front- and back-of-house positions in hotel operations, gue...read more