Featured Articles Archive - Page 376

Deal Me In: Let the games begin

Dear Mark: Now that the NFL football season is finally under way, please explain the differences between making a point-spread wager and betting the money line. Also, any thoughts regarding a Super Bowl futures bet? David D. With one billion plus on the line, sportsbook operators are very pleased that the NFL lockout of 2011 is resolved, especially since wagering on college and pro football accounts for approximately 43 percent of their sports action...read more

Macau casino revenues top $3 billion in August

MACAU -- Macau's booming casino market shows no signs of slowing.The Chinese special administrative region's 34 casinos shattered single-month gaming revenue figures in August, collecting $3.09 billion from gamblers during the month. The figure was a 57 percent increase over August 2010 and 2 percent higher than July.Analysts said the monthly year-over-year comparisons continue to reflect the May opening of Galaxy Cotai, along with growth in high-end business.The results also halted any worries that a softening in the world's economy or attempts by the mainland Chinese government to slow wagering will keep gamblers away...read more

Top-10 ideas to improve poker programming

Televised poker is always evolving, and my last top-10 list showed just how much it has changed, thanks to ideas that have improved the quality of the programming. Today, I'll offer up another list, this time of the ideas that I think could be used to further enhance the viewer’s experience...read more

Las Vegas could see payoff from Mass. legalization

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Moody's Investors Service said in a report that the potential for casino expansion in Massachusetts could prove to be a winning gamble for a few Las Vegas-based companies, notably Caesars Entertainment Corp. and International Game Technology. The bond rating company told investors that a long-awaited deal that could lead to full-scale casino gambling in the state could have a ripple effect...read more

Hurricane Irene hits Atlantic City's balance sheets

ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey -- Atlantic City's 11 hotel-casinos escaped major physical damage from Hurricane Irene over the weekend.The biggest hit, however, was on the balance sheet.One Boardwalk gaming executive said the "lost weekend" may have cost Atlantic City's beleaguered casino industry $40 million to $45 million in gaming revenues.Tropicana CEO Tony Rodio told the Press of Atlantic City the hurricane cost his resort about $4 million.All the casinos reopened Monday after the shutdown, which began late Friday...read more

Gambling and the Law: California's Unnecessary Delay

On August 22, 2011, California State Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg sent a letter announcing that the bills to legalize intra-state Internet poker would not be voted on this year. The letter was also signed by Sen. Roderick D. Wright, Chair of the Governmental Organization Committee, and author of one of the bills. Both legislators made it clear they are in favor of Internet gaming; just not now. Anyone receiving the letter knew it was going to be bad news from the start...read more

Top-10 ideas that improved poker on TV

Televised poker has come a long way since Johnny Chan beat Erik Seidel for the WSOP title in 1988. It has improved because producers of televised poker came up with great ideas to make the product better. Some of those ideas are recent, others are more than a decade old, and some (unfortunately) have fallen out of favor.Here's my list of the top-10 ideas that have improved televised poker.10...read more

Deal Me In: Do not believe in scheming RNGs

Dear Mark: Do the odds on a slot machine change based on past performance? Let’s say I am winning smaller jackpots spin after spin, does the machine get to point where it stops paying knowing I have won such-and-such amount? This has been happening to me lately...read more

Nevada gaming authorities release online poker details

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- State gaming authorities have released proposed regulations for Internet poker to be implemented if the federal government legalizes the activity. The proposals, posted to the Gaming Control Board's website Wednesday, include rules for the finding of entity suitability, technology approvals, audit and record-keeping, and customer enrollment. The proposals also spell out regulatory oversight of internal controls by the online gaming companies and establishes a disciplinary process for regulatory violations. Gaming Control Board Chairman Mark Lipparelli said the proposals were offered after the Nevada Legislature and Gov...read more

Massachusetts inches towards full-scale casino gaming

BOSTON, Massachusetts -- A long-awaited deal that could lead to full-scale casino gaming in Massachusetts may have finally been reached. The Boston Globe reported this morning that Gov. Deval Patrick and leaders of the state’s House and Senate reached a tentative agreement to expand gaming in the state. Under the deal, Massachusetts would have three stand-alone Las Vegas-style casinos and a fourth slot machine-only casino with up to 1,250 games. According to the Globe, the three resort casino licenses would be auctioned for at least $85 million and require developers to invest $500 million in each project...read more