Featured Articles Archive - Page 504

Problem gambling books -- they can help before it's too late

Too often, families with a problem gambler or individuals who lose control have nowhere to turn until it's too late. There's denial or avoidance, and when individuals hit rock bottom many wonder if something could have been done sooner. Sadly, there are few books out there to help individuals or families but some do exist...read more

Odds against a repeat WSOP Main Event champ

LAS VEGAS, Nevada –- Peter Eastgate did the math. The odds aren't in his favor. In November, the Danish-born Eastgate became the World Series of Poker's youngest-ever champion, besting a field of 6,844 players to win $9.15 million in the tournament's No-limit Hold'em Main Event. World Series of Poker officials expect at least the same number of entries to ante up $10,000 when this year's Main Event begins July 3. Even at 22, with his poker career in its infancy, Eastgate knows winning the game's ultimate prize for a second time is a long shot. "Say I play (in the event) every year for the next 50 years, the chances of me winning it one more time is a 100-to-1 shot," Eastgate said in an e-mail interview from his home in Odense, Denmark. ESPN poker commentator Norman Chad said a repeat World Series of Poker Main Event champion might be an extinct species. "I think the odds are better of landing a Kia on Mars," Chad said...read more

Microgaming and Intertops end longtime partnership

Following a partnership that lasted nearly 11 years, Intertops and Microgaming have parted ways. Microgaming – which made the decision to begin denying U.S. players last November as a result of the Kentucky domain seizure case – made the announcement last week after Intertops decided to reenter the U.S...read more

Companies may be hired to run sold-off properties

LAS VEGAS, Nevada –- Randall Fine is busy enough right now. He knows, however, as the financially challenged casino industry weaves its way through restructuring over the next couple of years, his life may become a little more complicated. Fine, managing director of The Fine Point Group, a Las Vegas-based casino management company, took over operations of the bankrupt Greektown Casino in Detroit in January. With several casino operators already in some form of bankruptcy restructuring, and others potentially close, Fine and his competition could be called upon to operate casinos that have been pared off by debt-laden casino corporations seeking to shed assets to satisfy creditors. Greektown, the smallest of Detroit's three casinos, is owned by the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians and has been in bankruptcy for more than a year, owing some $777 million to creditors and lenders. Since Fine's company took over, Greektown, with 2,600 slot machines and 21 gaming tables, has grown its market share 13 percent...read more

Playing It Smart: Passing up Basic Strategy splits at blackjack

Proficient blackjack players normally split pairs when Basic Strategy says to do so. "Normally," meaning having enough reserve to fund possible resplits and doubles-after-splits, neither sweating the outcome nor risking a bust-out if fate is frowning. Circumstances that aren't normal may pose a dilemma...read more

Illinois moves to legalize slots in bars

SPRINGFIELD, Illinois –- Illinois lawmakers gave the slot machine industry hopes for a new source of potential revenue Thursday evening. If Gov. Pat Quinn agrees, International Game Technology, Bally Technologies and Illinois-based WMS Industries could get a much-needed boost to their bottom lines. Both houses of the Illinois Legislature passed a $29 billion public works program that would be paid for by increased taxes and fees associated with the legalization of video gambling across the state. Illinois already has a healthy riverboat gambling industry...read more

New LV Sands president ready for action

LAS VEGAS, Nevada –- If he had done his job correctly, Michael Leven wouldn't be president of Las Vegas Sands Corp. Leven, a member of the casino operator's board of directors since 2004 and a 20-year friend of company Chairman Sheldon Adelson, was asked to find a replacement for Bill Weidner, whose contract was expiring at the end of the year. Insiders didn't believe the board would renew Weidner's deal...read more

Top-10 first impressions of Las Vegas

Last week I finally took my pilgrimage to gambling's Mecca: Las Vegas. I stayed for four days and three nights, and probably couldn't have lasted any longer. By my last day, running on three hours of sleep had finally caught up. My group stayed on the Strip at the Luxor, whose two "headline" acts were Carrot Top and Criss Angel...read more

Deal Me In: Spread your action around

Dear Mark: The casino where I play cut back on the perks I normally receive. Is there anything I can do about it? Tim D. I made mention a few weeks back, Tim, that it baffled me that some casinos are making wholesale changes to their video poker machines, hoping to improve their theoretical hold during these tough times...read more

A betting preview of the 2009 World Series of Poker

The verdict is in and the evidence is rather convincing. Poker is a spectator sport. Sure, there are many out there who would argue that not only is poker not a spectator sport, but that it's not even a "sport" to begin with. But try telling that to the ESPN executives who have made the game a staple of its broadcast schedule and have seen its World Series of Poker ratings rise in recent years...read more