Featured Articles Archive - Page 495

Study says schools lack gambling policy

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Colleges and universities need to attack campus gambling problems in the same manner they confront the issue of alcohol abuse, a national gambling task force recommended in a study released Tuesday. Nearly 80 percent of all schools do not have a written policy concerning gambling abuse, according to the Task Force of College Gambling Policies...read more

Top-10 final table tips for this year's November Nine

When the World Series of Poker made the decision to move the Main Event final table to November last year, it changed the dynamic of the entire tournament. The final table participants now had to go through a four-month pause in which they had to deal with interview requests and ESPN cameras poking into their personal lives...read more

Playing It Smart: Double-or-nothing bonus bets with no edge

Some slot machines can be found with double-or-nothing bonus bets. These games give gamblers opportunities to wager returns they've just received, on 50-50 propositions yielding even money. Players can therefore double their previous payouts, or lose them, by making "fair" bets those on which the house has no edge...read more

Denials by MGM's Kerkorian challenged

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- A federal judge in Los Angeles believes MGM Mirage majority shareholder Kirk Kerkorian knew a now-convicted Hollywood private eye was illegally wiretapping his ex-wife during their child custody dispute. However, it doesn't appear that Kerkorian, a 92-year-old Los Angeles billionaire who was never charged in the case, will face criminal prosecution. The statements were part of a 2008 order issued by U.S...read more

Deal Me In: Multi-line/multi-coin slots welcome all wallets

Dear Mark: I like to play multiple line slot machines in AC, but it seems the amount I bring to the casino does not lend itself to these type machines. I am a 25-cent machine player with usually $200 to play with for four hours. I seem to run out of money before the four hours elapse, so my question is, is the amount I bring large enough, or am I playing the wrong machines? Rachel B. What you failed to mention, Rachel, is just how many coins we're talking about per spin? Five, nine, 50? It makes a big, big difference. Now, if you were a typical slot player on a 3-coin quarter machine, pushing the spin button every 10 seconds, wagering 75 cents per push, you'd be betting $4.50 a minute, or $270 an hour...read more

'Conrad on Casino Marketing' vital, packed with profitable ideas

Dennis Conrad, who penned Conrad's Corners -- Uncut and Uncensored in 2008, has now written Conrad on Casino Marketing (240 pages, hardbound, $49.95). The book contains seven major sections, with something for everyone, it seems, energetically packed with innovative, money-making ideas, which should be even more vitally important to the industry in today's economic setting. Conrad covers a wide variety of tangible and intangible subjects including dealing with customer superstitions, building relationships and furthering loyalty of customers through your own personnel fine-tuning customer interaction with every level of management and removing the intimidation of certain games through education. Native American casino management will benefit from the book's advice about how to find good employees, coming trends involving tribal casinos and what the industry can learn overall about community involvement and executive development. As he should, Conrad discusses casino culture and customer service, the worst mistakes casinos make (pet peeves of the author) in dealing with patrons ("It's not my station." or "You'll have to get your table games comps from the pit.") or scowling security personnel and improving the role of casino hosts. One of the most crucial sections examines how to listen to your customers and your own employees with examples of how to identify and reward your best workers. An industry veteran with more than three decades of experience, Conrad admits he isn't perfect...read more

I'm rooting against Tiffany Michelle in the Amazing Race

I have a confession to make. I like some reality shows. I get a kick out of "The Apprentice." I watch "Shark Tank" to see ruthless executives steamroll entrepreneurs. I'll even watch "America's Got Talent" occasionally to see what kind freaks -- err, talented people -- have decided to display their wares...read more

'Jovial Gent' steamrolls WCOOP final table

With two bracelet wins and 11 cashes already to his name in the 2009 World Championship of Online Poker, Daniel "djk123" Kelly held both the hot hand and the chip lead heading into the final table of the WCOOP Main Event's final table on Monday...read more

Analyst sees positive signs in Macau

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- One Wall Street researcher believes Macau could be the catalyst to spur a prolonged upswing in the share prices of Las Vegas Sands Corp. and MGM Mirage. JP Morgan gaming analyst Joe Greff said Macau has shown signs of recovering from its economic doldrums of the past 18 months...read more

Becky's BAC top 10

I may have a new boss and a new job with Calvin Ayre and Bodogbrand.com, but when it comes to industry entertainment, not much has changed...with the upcoming launch of CalvinAyre.com, and with Calvin's return to the public, it will only continue to get better...read more