Featured Articles Archive - Page 428

IGT chosen to replace Quebec video lottery terminals

QUEBEC, Canada -- A Canadian province has awarded Reno-based International Game Technology a contract to replace at least half of the government-run video lottery terminals in an agreement analysts touted as one of the largest gambling equipment deals available this year. IGT will share the replacement of 12,000 VLTs in Quebec with Canadian-based Spielo, which will also provide Lotto-Quebec a central operating system for the games...read more

Landry's might make move into Atlantic City

ATLANTIC CITY, New Jersey -- The Golden Nugget name could return to Atlantic City's Boardwalk.Landry's Restaurants, which owns the downtown Las Vegas and Laughlin casinos, is reportedly trying to acquire the Atlantic City Hilton Casino Resort, which may be taken over by a bank that holds its mortgage.The Press of Atlantic City reported Houston-based Landry's might grab the resort if it is forced into receivership.U.S...read more

Penn National buys 50 percent stake in Texas racetrack operation

HOUSTON, Texas -- Penn National Gaming announced Wednesday it was forming a joint venture partnership with Texas racetrack operator Sam Houston Park which will give the regional casino operator 50 percent interest in two tracks and a planned track.Financial terms were not disclosed but Wall Street viewed the move as a preemptive strike should Texas move to legalize slot machines or full-scale gaming at the state's racetracks."Texas represents the largest untapped gaming market in North America," Stifel Nicolaus Capital Markets gaming analyst Steven Wieczynski told investors...read more

Deal Me In: When they say, "No thinking allowed," just smile

Dear Mark: Are there any secrets to winning at blackjack? Craig S.Secrets, Craig? Yes, and one that's been around for almost five decades: Counting cards.Counting cards is nothing more than wagering more money when the cards remaining in the deck are rich in 10s and aces...read more

Hard Rock chain owner says "Rehab" hurts image

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Are pool parties at the Hard Rock Hotel free publicity for the Hard Rock name? Or an example of "drunken debauchery" and excess that casts the Hard Rock name in a negative light?Owners of the Orlando-based Hard Rock Cafe restaurant chain have sued owners of the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas over its name, saying the casino's party image has damaged the name enough to justify ending a 14-year-old licensing agreement.Lawyers for Hard Rock Cafe International Inc...read more

Microstakes player wins over $56,000 in PokerStars 50 billionth hand

PokerStars player 'tbvle' won the biggest $.02/$.05 no limit Hold'em hand in Internet poker history on Wednesday, claiming $56,140 in prize money on top of the $46.25 he won for taking down the hand.All six players at the six-handed table moved all-in before the flop, with tvbie's pocket queens having the best chance to win (about 41 percent)...read more

Top-10 things Aaron Todd was wrong about

So Phil Laak just won his first World Series of Poker bracelet at the WSOP Europe. The £2,500 buy-in Six-Handed No-Limit Hold'em championship gave Laak about $270,000 in prize money, and got a huge monkey off his back. I mean, even his girlfriend had a WSOP bracelet … you're not much of a poker pro these days, if you haven't gotten your hands on one yet.Of course, the win also put me in my place...read more

Hockey and Hooters can mix in Vegas

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- It might be a shock to the New York media, but owning both a Las Vegas casino and a National Hockey League team isn't a novel concept.Real estate developer Ed Roski Jr. has owned the Silverton since 1997. He is also co-owner of the Los Angeles Kings.But a New York Post writer last week seemed to believe hedge fund operator Phil Falcone, who owns a 40 percent stake in the Minnesota Wild, might have some issues with the league.Falcone's $8 billion New York-based Harbinger Capital Management controls the $130 million debt covering the troubled Hooters Hotel.The difference is Roski owns the Silverton and has a say in the casino's operations...read more

Lisandro wins fifth bracelet at WSOPE

LONDON, England -- Poker professional Jeffrey Lisandro captured his fifth career World Series of Poker individual event champion's bracelet over the weekend in London.Lisandro, who captured the Player of the Year title at the 2009 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, won of the £5,000 buy-in Pot-Limit Omaha championship at tournament's European event.Lisandro earned *159,000, which is equal to about $248,450, after beating a field of 120 players.A real estate investor originally from Salerno, Italy by way of Perth, Australia, Lisandro joins the late Stu Ungar, Berry Johnston, Chris "Jesus" Ferguson, Allen Cunningham, Scotty Nguyen, Ted Forrest and Gary Berland in a tie for 12th place on the all-time World Series of Poker individual event champions list.Finishing fifth in the event was 25-year-old John Racener of Port Richey, Fla., who is one of the nine competitors returning to the Rio Nov...read more

Are Don't Pass superior to Pass bets at craps, and by how much?

Most casino craps players bet on Pass when the shooter is coming out. A few begin with wagers on Don't Pass. These solid citizens aren't usually shy about touting the superiority of bets they typically claim are against the shooter and with the house. Is Don't Pass indeed a better option? If so, why and by how much? Only the "flat" portions of the alternatives need be examined to answer these questions...read more