Featured Articles Archive - Page 434

Deal Me In: A flush at the outhouse

Dear Mark: We have a fairly new casino where I live that locals have nicknamed "the Outhouse," because it's impossible to get a flush there. Get it? It is so obvious that I actually have taken pen and paper and kept track of the action. A couple of times, I have kept a four-card flush 24 times before filling it, but the norm is between 14 to 17 hands...read more

Bertrand Grospellier wins WSOP TOC playoff

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Frenchman Bertrand Grospellier on Thursday won a seat into the World Series of Poker's Tournament of Champions, winning a "sudden-death playoff" to earn a chance at the event's $1 million prize pool.Grospellier bested eight other players who were not eligible for the public voting to fill one of the Tournament of Champions' 27 seats.The World Series of Poker Academy sponsored the event."I feel like I am a deserving champion based on my record around the world, and I look forward to getting my World Series of Poker bracelet soon," Grospellier said.Grospellier made his mark as a prolific online player...read more

Vegas sportsbooks unsure of World Cup impact

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- The 2010 World Cup is expected to provide local sports books with an influx of hard-core and casual soccer fans over the next five weeks. Whether interest in the games translates into an increased betting handle is up for debate. Many sports book operators are hopeful the 32-nation World Cup, which takes place in South Africa starting Friday and ends July 11 with the championship match in Johannesburg, will spur feelings of national pride among gamblers. "We know there is going to be interest in the World Cup," said Lucky's Chief Executive Officer Joe Asher, whose company operates 13 sports books for casinos in Nevada...read more

Nevada gaming revenues dip nearly 6 percent

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Nevada gaming revenues fell almost 6 percent statewide in April, but casinos on the Strip fared better than the rest of the state. According to figures released this morning by the Gaming Control Board, Nevada casinos collected $810.4 million from gamblers in April, a 5.7 percent decline compared to $859.5 million collected in April 2009. On the Strip, gaming revenues in April were $437.3 million, a decline of just under 1 percent compared with $441.7 million collected in the same month a year ago. Other areas of Clark County didn't fare as well...read more

Ameristar to expand Kansas City hotel

KANSAS CITY, Missouri -- Ameristar Casinos said this morning it would spend $14 million to expand the hotel portion of its riverboat casino property in Kansas City, Mo.The project will add 100 hotel rooms and a fitness center to the Ameristar Kansas City and is targeted for completion at the end of 2011.Ameristar Kansas City currently has 184 hotel rooms, which were renovated in September 2006.Expanding in Kansas City doesn't mean the Las Vegas-based regional casino operator is not opposed to other opportunities elsewhere...read more

France issues 17 online gambling licenses

After months of anticipation and speculation, the French government issued 17 online gambling licenses to 11 different operators Tuesday. The companies will be allowed to conduct online betting on sports, horse racing and poker. According to Reuters, the companies are Everest Gaming, Beturf, Betclic, France Pari, Table 14, Iliad Gaming, Sajoo, SPS Betting France, BES SS, Pari Mutuel Urbain and state-run Francaise des Jeux. Jean-Francois Vilotte, president of Arjel, the French regulator of gaming, said in a radio interview that the country received a number of applications for licenses. "There were 35 requests for licenses and we have retained 17 at this stage," he said...read more

ECJ fails to take the initiative yet again

Last week the ECJ ruling in the case brought against betting operators Ladbrokes and Betfair by the Dutch government stated that Member States were entitled to block private operators on the grounds of protecting the public from crime and addiction.They've done this despite there being absolutely no evidence that proves that an open, regulated online gambling market contributes to higher rates of addiction and crime than a closed shop.In fact, several independent reports have actually found that without the consumer-need to find black-market alternatives and with increased competition with regards to customer service and security, a liberalised online gambling market can actually help combat addiction and related criminal activities.For example, in the UK, which has arguably the most liberal approach to its online gambling market, the addiction rate is lower than in some Member States where a monopoly exists.Consumer protection is of paramount importance and we wish in no way shape or form to play down that argument...read more

WSOP players ante up for charity

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- With the 41st World Series of Poker under way at the Rio, tournament officials hope to surpass last year's prize pool of more than $174 million.They also hope a percentage of those winnings end up in the hands of the World Series of Poker's chosen charity, the Nevada Cancer Institute.Players who cash out in any of the tournament's 57 events are encouraged to "Put a Bad Beat on Cancer" by making tax-deductible donations to the cause.World Series of Poker spokesman Seth Palansky said if all players return 1 percent of their winnings, the tournament's participants could donate $1.75 million toward fighting cancer."Poker players are among the most generous and charity-conscious people on the planet," Palansky said...read more

"The Master" wins seventh WSOP bracelet

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Seven turned out to be the lucky number for the poker player known as "The Master."Men Nguyen of Bell Gardens, Calif., won the 41st World Series of Poker's first $10,000 buy-in event early Sunday morning, when he topped a field of 150 players to capture the Seven-Card Stud World Championship at the Rio.The victory earned Nguyen his seventh World Series of Poker championship bracelet, tying him with Hall of Fame inductee Bill Baxter and Phil Ivey for sixth place among those with the most career World Series of Poker victories.It has also been seven years since Nguyen captured his last bracelet.Men "the Master" picked up his seventh gold braclet after the victory...read more

How to get broader bankroll swings without paying more in edge

Everybody knows that house advantage or edge in the casino is bad for players. Not many solid citizens know exactly why, how much it's responsible when they lose, or the reason folks often wrap up sessions or visits with a profit despite its negative effect. Hardly anybody knows anything about volatility...read more