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Rudi Schiffer Gaming Guru  Rudi Schiffer: Heard it on the river10 June 2014
By Rudi Schiffer (PRESS RELEASE) -- Harrah's passing June 2 is not the first time a Tunica casino has closed its doors but it is the most significant shutdown in 22 years. Who outside of Caesars Entertainment executive offices could have foreseen this event with its calamitous effects on the area through loss of jobs, tax revenue and tourism. We should have seen this coming as the signs were out there for some time. There was a steady decline in visitors coupled with more intense marketing by the competition. It didn’t help that Caesars is in long term debt about $21 billion. Paula Dean left her mark and a bad taste on the operation as well. The corporation still has a strong footprint left with Horseshoe doing just fine as always and with Roadhouse across the street. Looking into the future is Roadhouse on the sales block? In the meantime there has been a shortage of proposals on what to do with the 2,200 acre property with all its great amenities. Hate to see tumbleweeds blowing across the fairways of the magnificent $27 million Cottonwoods.. Some hope there is buyer out there but at this point it would have to be an adventurous one willing to rehab the operation with three hotels and a very large gaming floor all the while hoping to regain market share. But the jurisdiction will do just fine, thank you. More players in the pool and one less competitor. In a tale of two casinos by comparison, late- comer Southland Park, which became a casino in 2007, has propelled itself in the opposite direction. It’s been reported its visitation total last year was 3.6 million after a start of 300,000. Over those years some $101 million on capital investment has been spent on improving the casino and its greyhound racing operation and that investment will reach $148 million when the current 41,000 square foot expansion is completed around the end of the year. Southland’s advertising has been very aggressive and is geared to the area’s population as casino competition in other states has bled off gamblers who play closer to home. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO FITZ as it celebrates the occasion of its 20th anniversary this month culminating with a fireworks spectacular on Friday July 4. On Saturday June 21 you can join the party with a $20,000 cash drawing, comp birthday cake, comp champagne toast and live entertainment. On Fridays and Saturdays the BIG BIRTHDAY promo cash drawings offer $160,000 from 6 to10 pm. To celebrate Father’s Day on June 14 the casino will stage a $22,000 slot tournament with free entry with 100 points. Pay offs go 75 places deep. In case you’ve been out of town, Fitz is not being sold and remains the same with the same good people running the store. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO HOLLYWOOD CASINO WHICH TURNS 20 SOON. Laizzez les bon temps roulez. Heard it on the River is published courtesy of Jackpot Magazine, the South's leading gaming newspaper. GM Llambia's building: A better Bally's casino9 June 2014
TUNICA, Miss. -- General manager Eddie Llambias has been at the helm at Bally's Tunica for about a year and has made real and intangible progress with the property but now he is steering the casino to a higher level in a very competitive market. “We are launching new programs, bringing new and more slots ... (read more)
The whispers on Harrah's were wrong28 March 2014
For several months now rumors have been floating around Tunica on a possible sale of the FITZ CASINO and the sale of HARRAH’S. The rumor on Fitz turned out to be real when FULL HOUSE acquired it. But two days later, the whispers on Harrah’s were wrong…the CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT’S huge property is shutting down June 2. ... (read more)
On the table at Southland26 January 2014
The table is the dealer and it never makes mistakes in blinds, dealing cards or payouts -- all of which happen quicker than in regular dealer-controlled poker games. I found this out first hand when I decided to take a shot in a satellite event for a free pass into the $10,000 Arkansas Poker Championship now underway Thursdays at 6 p.m. ... (read more)
Heard it on the River: Crapsless craps?CRAPLESS CRAPS is making a comeback at the Fitz Tunica and with a name like that, it is bound to attract players, some who know the game, and others who ask…what the heck is this game? We kept getting requests to bring it back and finally we decided it would be a good idea and to make it even more ... (read more)Mississippi poker room manager makes the rules her wayWhen you walk into the poker room at Gold Strike Casino Resort, tucked away by the dual escalators on the second floor, you may only see one lady there in the male dominated setting but with her spiked short cut blonde hair and an imposing figure of authority, you will know at once this is HER room.She has made it so. ... (read more)Heard it on the River: Rudi succumbs to social media pressureNever thought I would succumb to this “social media” stuff sweeping the world and making our lives busier than we want them to be. After deriding it for over a year I have jumped on the bandwagon that is exponentially growing at a horrific rate and I can now bore you on TWITTER@RUDISCHIFFER, FACEBOOK, and even by blogging at GOODTIMESRADIO.BLOGSPOT.COM. ... (read more)Heard it on the River: Myths part of the gameThey come from far away with money in their pockets and stars in their eyes looking for the Golden Fleece. They wander up to a blackjack table a bit tentatively and slide into a seat after watching the play for awhile. Your suspicion is confirmed when they hold the cards they are dealt with both hands until ... (read more)Heard it on the River: Madam Chief a first for ChoctawsPhyllis Anderson is a busy lady but finds time for three children, is stepmother to four more and grandmother to two. Now she has added to her workload and was inaugurated Tuesday as the first female chief of the proud Mississippi Band of Choctaws…an energetic and ambitious tribe that has carved out a ... (read more)Rudi Schiffer |
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