What is Isleta? A Casino Resort Breaking the Mold!

In a time when many casinos have become lock stepped in a narrow corporate-think that attempts to soak every last dime from the players, seemingly incapable of understanding that players' bankrolls and their desire to play losing session after losing session are not infinite, the Isleta Casino Resort in Albuquerque, New Mexico is breaking the mold and it's breaking it big time.

In the last month, Isleta has recreated the old-time Vegas blackjack game – double-deck, stand on soft 17, liberal doubling and splitting rules, deep penetration, and a relaxed attitude towards players with much greater than average skills. You won't find this game in Atlantic City casinos, or Tunica, or the Midwest or even in Vegas, except, perhaps, in some high rollers pits on the Vegas Strip with table minimums of $100 or more and nervous pit bosses looking to toss you at the first sign of an increase in betting with an increase in a positive count. At Isleta all eight tables are right there in plain view and their minimums are accessible even if you're not a high roller.

In craps, Isleta's game now rivals even that of the famed Horseshoe in Tunica, with 20X odds, low table minimums, and buy bets on the 4, 5, 9 and 10 where you pay the vig on winning bets only. The house edge on these spectacular buys is around one percent! The table crews are friendly and competent, and the pit personnel don't sweat the action. Have a good roll, even have a monster roll, and they'll cheer you on!

In slots, Isleta has just recently certified their machines, some as high as 99 percent!

Just go into Isleta's gift shop and what will you see? Dozens of gambling books, by the world's best gaming authors. Go into an Atlantic City, Mississippi or Vegas gift shop and the quality gaming books are hard, if not impossible to find – because you can't find what isn't there!

How come the "suits" at Isleta are doing this? Because their dynamic management, not stuck in venal pursuit of daily player-soaking profit, are looking to cultivate long-term and loyal players; players who know the games and budget their income weekly, monthly, or yearly so that gambling becomes their preferred recreational activity. They are looking to make lifetime players; not flash, crash and burn types.

But Isleta is going even further. On December 6, they will be hosting Frank Scoblete's Gamblers Jamboree, a day of seminars and demonstrations by the best and most talented gaming writers/players in the business. The lineup of talent is staggering:

Jean Scott, author of The Frugal Gambler, and known as the Queen of the Comps, will be showing you how to get the most comps for the least risk but she will also be sharing with you her video poker strategies.

Dr. Henry Tamburin, a best-selling author and the publisher of the Blackjack Insider, e-newsletter, will be teaching classes in blackjack basic strategy, tournament strategy and, yes, card counting.

John Robison, an expert computer programmer and the author of The Slot Expert's Guide to Playing Slots, and video poker columnist for several magazines, will be discussing just how the machines work and how to best play them.

Bill Burton, gaming guide for About.Com and the author of the best-selling Get the Edge at Low-Limit Texas Hold'Em, will teach the best methods for winning at Texas Hold'Em.

Billy the Kid, expert craps player and dice controller, will focus on how the game of craps is played and how to structure your betting to get the best bang for your bucks.

John Grochowski, gaming columnist for The Chicago Sun Times and author of the famed Answer Book series, will discuss the new games, how they are played and how to play them.

Dominator, one of the greatest dice controllers of all time, will discuss the techniques necessary to influence the dice to reduce the house edge and turn the tables on the casinos. He will also discuss the psychological aspects of being a winning player.

Of course, I'll be teaching several seminars as well, including Casino Gambling for Fun and Profit and The 5-Count and Rhythmic Rolling.

The fact that Isleta is sponsoring such a player-friendly Jamboree is proof positive that this is a casino-resort that is visionary and clear thinking. They are breaking the mold, all right, and more power to them!

To sign up for the Jamboree, just call 505-244-8191 and ask for the showroom box office. An attendant will take all the information needed including credit card number. They will make the hotel reservations for you and call back with the hotel confirmation number. Complementary shuttle service will be offered to and from the Hilton Garden Hotel. Room packages are $159 for the weekend, which includes two tickets to Frank Scoblete's Gamblers Jamboree and also a free continental buffet at the Hilton and a free buffet at Isleta. It doesn't get much better than this for savvy casino players!

(Isleta's website is: www.isletacasinoresort.com)