Featured Articles Archive - Page 482

Can you make money converting the 12 at craps into a lay bet?

By the usual standard, house advantage, the 12 at craps is a sucker bet. It's a 35-to-1 shot paying only 30-to-1. The house edge is just under 14 percent. So the bosses figure every dollar dropped on boxcars puts almost $0.14 into their pockets. Can money be made on the 12 anyway? Can people get rich on the lottery? Big lottery wins are well publicized...read more

Harrah's launches long-awaited online casino

Harrah's Interactive Entertainment looks like it has "soft launched" its long-awaited online casino -- and it has a familiar face attached to it. The new casino is named Caesars Casino Online and bears the unique black and gold Caesars branding. Caesars Casino Online is powered by Dragonfish and appears to offer a variety of games, including roulette, craps, Caribbean Poker, three-card poker, video poker, video slots and blackjack...read more

Slot-maker IGT promotes two employees

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Slot machine giant International Game Technology has beefed up its corporate staff by promoting two employees to new positions. Robert Melendres has been named the Reno-based company's chief legal officer and corporate secretary...read more

Deal Me In: Thomas D. 1 — Mark P. 0

Dear Mark: In your answer to Jason S. about don't pass players being allowed to take down bets, you state correctly that a don't pass bettor has 3 ways of winning on the come out, but incorrectly show the winning numbers to be 2, 3, 12...read more

Mandarin Oriental brings unique amenities

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Size isn't everything. In any other city, a 392-room hotel would constitute a large resort. Not Las Vegas. On the Strip, the Mandarin Oriental is billing itself as a true boutique nongaming hotel that just happens to sit at the entrance to the 67-acre CityCenter campus and is surrounded by 3,000- and 4,000-room megaresorts. But what it lacks in size -- the Mandarin Oriental's hotel rooms would comprise about six floors of its CityCenter neighbor, the 4,004-room, 61-story Aria -- it makes up for in exclusivity. The Mandarin Oriental brand has built a reputation on providing guests a luxury setting and personalized service...read more

Buy a gambling-related book as a holiday gift, stocking stuffer

Depending on their taste or enthusiasm for a particular form of gambling, your friends and/or family members might appreciate a good book as the perfect holiday gift. Here are a few suggestions with a thumbnail description of each to help guide you:The Ultimate Video Poker Pocket Book by Chris Newman (177 pages, paperbound, $19.99)...read more

Frank makes his case for UIGEA repeal in Congressional hearing

Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) made his case today for repealing the UIGEA and creating regulated online gambling environment in a House Financial Services Committee hearing in Washington, D.C. "The notion that this Congress should tell millions of adult Americans that we know better than they what they should with their own money on their own time on their own computer seems to me to be a very grave error," said Frank, who chairs the committee...read more

Gaming industry passings noted

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- The passing of three individuals who contributed tremendously to the gaming industry since the 1970s needs to be noted. Bill Velardo, 55, who started his gaming career in 1976 as a blackjack dealer at Caesar's Palace, died on Nov...read more

Gaming officials keep eye on Dubai

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- State gaming regulators, who licensed Dubai World last month to share in revenue from the soon-to-open Aria's casino, are closely watching the financial maneuvers of the Persian Gulf emirate's investment arm as it deals with a potential default of some $60 billion in debt. If there is a change in control of Dubai World, the entity could again be called forward for licensing by Nevada. Gaming Control Board Chairman Dennis Neilander said the state would have concerns if there is a management shake-up in Dubai World or any of the subsidiaries that were licensed because of the entity's 50 percent ownership in CityCenter. "We have staff looking at this situation and they are in touch with representatives of the Dubai World subsidiaries," Neilander said...read more

Sands China hurt by Dubai World trouble

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- An initial public stock offering in a subsidiary of Las Vegas Sands Corp. hit a snag Monday when shares tumbled 10.2 percent on their first day of trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. Still, Las Vegas Sands said it raised $5 billion in debt and equity financing in Asia and will use a portion of the proceeds to restart and complete construction of a resort and casino complex on Macau's Cotai Strip. In a statement, the company said it listed 30 percent of its Macau holdings through Sands China Ltd...read more