Featured Articles Archive - Page 520

Gambling and the Law: Another "What Is Poker" Case

Last column I started the discussion of whether the prohibitions on internet gambling should apply to online poker by asking the fundamental question: "What is poker?" Twenty years ago I actually had to answer that question under oath in the "7-card down" case I described in my last column...read more

Gambling and the Law: What Is Poker?

Should the prohibitions on internet gambling have a carve-out for online poker? The question is much more complicated than it seems. If the argument is that poker is not gambling but rather a contest of skill, should the exemption be limited to poker tournaments? What is "online" – what about people playing against each others at terminals in a club, or linked clubs? Which laws are getting changed, federal or state? And who is doing the changing, legislature, courts or regulators? Let's start with what should be the easiest question: "What is poker?" I have been asked that question twice while on the witness stand and under oath...read more

CityCenter hotels booking rooms

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Last week's multibillion-dollar financial deal that saved CityCenter was good for advance bookings at the $8.5 billion complex. MGM Mirage Chief Design and Construction Officer Bobby Baldwin, who also serves as the president and chief operating officer of CityCenter, said CityCenter resorts received between 5,000 and 6,000 inquiries into potential room night reservations after it was announced the 760-acre project was fully financed and would be completed by the end of the year. During MGM Mirage's first quarter earnings conference call Monday, Baldwin updated CityCenter's activities, now that the financing issues are out of the way. Through Monday, roughly 105,000 room nights have been booked at Aria, CityCenter's 4,000-room hotel-casino centerpiece...read more

Top-10 WSOP events we'd like to see on ESPN

True poker fans received a bit of a jolt last week when ESPN announced its broadcast schedule for the 2009 World Series of Poker. The network will air 15 weeks of WSOP coverage beginning July 28, but just two bracelet events will be shown and the only game that will be seen will be No Limit Texas Hold'em...read more

Macau gaming revenues down 8.5 percent

MACAU -- As some of the biggest gaming companies prepare to release first quarter revenue reports, word came from Macau this morning that the global recession continues to impact the Chinese gambling market. Portuguese-language media is reporting that Macau gaming revenues in April decreased 8.5 percent to just above $1 billion. In March, Macau gaming revenues fell 13 percent...read more

Murren rounds bases but isn't home

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- MGM Mirage Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jim Murren spent months negotiating a multibillion-dollar financial rescue plan for the troubled CityCenter. He held around-the-clock talks with officials from banks located in four different time zones...read more

Colorado beckoning casino workers

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Mark Wexler hasn't worked as a table games dealer since November, when the tanking Southern California economy eliminated his job at the Pechanga Casino in Riverside County. Wexler, who spent 17 years dealing table games and working as a floor supervisor on the Strip, said he can't find a dealing job in Las Vegas because casinos aren't hiring...read more

List of online gambling sites banned by Minnesota released

Minnesota's Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Division released Friday the list of 200 online gambling sites it wants blocked from Minnesota residents, and it contains quite a few surprises. On the list are several sites that don't allow American players, including PartyCasino, Everest Poker, Ladbrokes Casino, Intercasino, Virgin Games and William Hill Casino...read more

Gaming stocks show gains in April

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- For the first time since August, gaming stocks collectively took a positive turn. The 10 casino operators and slot machine manufacturers charted by Las Vegas-based financial consultant Applied Analysis all showed double-digit increases in their average daily stock prices over their March totals. Several of the major casino operators will be reporting first-quarter earnings soon...read more

Deal Me In: Natural odds, take your bow

Dear Mark: I have been told that the best bet in a casino is to bet "natural odds" at the craps table because the house has no edge. My question is, if this is such a good bet, why do some casinos offer to let you to place bets for up to 10 times your line bet or even higher? Bob F. It's true; Bob, taking odds is distinct from all other casino wagers in that free odds carry NO house edge...read more