Heard it on the River

You probably never heard of this gang but if you like slapstick, physical comedy, goofy mime, theatrical expressionism, and European avant-garde, you and your kids will love the unbridled silliness that is AGA BOOM. This all-ages production is appearing at GOLD STRIKE for a ten-show run in November starting Nov. 4,5 and 6 and tickets may be purchased at 1-888-24KPLAY or online at goldstrike.com. DANA NELSON, Millennium Theatre manager, said the show has appeal for everybody and adults will use kids as an excuse to see the show. He should know. In his other life, Dana was formerly a professional clown for Ringling.

The MEMPHIS BUSINESS JOURNAL reports that COLONY CAPITAL, which purchased HARRAH'S and BALLY'S in Tunica, will rebrand Harrah's as RESORTS TUNICA and is considering a licensing agreement with CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT to retain the Bally's name. The article said Colony " will bring its new properties up to par with the rest of the Tunica casinos."

You'll be missed, PHIL. Harrah's Entertainment has announced the retirement of PHIL SATRE as chairman, a planned transition with GARY LOVEMAN succeeding him as chairman while retaining his positions as president and CEO. Satre is recognized as one of the gaming industry's top executives and during his 25-year career he guided Harrah's growth from four casinos to 28. Phil left the company is good shape…Harrah's just reported third-quarter revenues of $1.31 billion, up over 25 percent from the 2003 third quarter.

Somebody is going to "set for life" at Harrah's. The casino has announced this promotion where a lucky person will win $100,000 a year for 20 years. We all could live with that. The big drawing for this event takes place on Saturday Dec. 11 and begins at 5 p.m. At 7 p.m. someone will win $100,000 a year for 20 years via simulcast with some nice additional prizes also up for grabs including BMWs, cruises, trips and more. Use your Total Rewards card for entries and you also get tracked on slot or table play for more entries.

EARLY NOTICE…GOLD STRIKE'S $150,000 blackjack tournament with all prize monies guaranteed is now open for early registration but is limited to 268 entries. The $500 buy-in event is held Nov. 19-21. If you sign up early before Nov. 4, you get the early bird $50 discount. First place money pays $50,000 but there is a different wrinkle for this event. Session finishers, ten deep, will be paid with $5,000 to the top qualifiers. There will also be re-buy session winners and first place pays $2,500. Call 1-888-24KPLAY for more info.

Would $60,000 make you happy? You can get a shot at this great first prize in SAM'S TOWN very popular DIAMONDS & DOLLARS slot tournament Nov. 12-14. Total prize money is $120,000 based on 300 entries and it only costs $400 to enter. On Nov. 20-21, Sam's Town is also offering a $50,000 Open Dice Tournament. A $500 entry fee gets you a shot at a $25,000 first prize but space is limited to 96 players so sign up now. The top 16 players win cash.

PEARL RIVER RESORT is doing something nice in honor of VETERAN'S DAY on Nov. 11. The Resort in Philadelphia, MS is offering a free night's stay to anyone who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom. MARTY MOORE, executive director of hospitality, said the offer is based on availability and vets should bring their discharge orders to qualify. Need help with that turkey? Executive Chef STAFFORD DeCAMBRA is conducting live, step-by-step courses on preparing a holiday meal and the first session begins in November and will feature tradition and non-traditional ideas for a spectacular Thanksgiving dinner. Call 1-866-44PEARL.

Like Poker? A lot of us do these days even if we don't play because it is so entertaining on television. The last two WORLD SERIES of POKER champs, CHRIS MONEYMAKER and the guy with weird orange-tinted glasses, GREG RAYMER, won their seats playing in satellites at POKER STARS.COM. In fact, four of the nine finalists in the WSOP main event qualified at Poker Stars. The guy who makes Poker Stars work, it is the second largest online cardroom in the world, is DAN GOLDMAN and he will be a guest on the GOODTIMES RADIO SHOW at 9:30 a.m. on WMC790.Memphis, Saturday Nov. 6. Tune in and you can talk to him yourself by calling 901-274-7979. You can also listen to the show on audiovegas.com where it is archived as well. Speaking of poker, JACK BINION, who hosted the first World Series of Poker at the Horseshoe in downtown Las Vegas in 1970, has agreed to host the WSOP tournament circuit that is a now a very valuable asset for Harrah's Entertainment.

It's been reported that JIM BELISLE and LAKES GAMING MISSISSIPPI LLC has published notice for a proposed casino on the Big Black River off U.S. 61 South near Vicksburg. Lakes parent company is LAKES ENTERTAINMENT of Minneapolis, as in LYLE BERMAN.

HOLLYWOOD CASINO is carrying its thematic scheme into the new wedding packages it is now offering and couples can choose from four packages - the "Casablanca," "An Affair to Remember," "Breakfast at Tiffany's" and "Romeo and Juliet." Some even include breakfast in bed amid scattered rose petals. There is a lot more to these packages so call RENEE FLOWERS at 1-800-871-0711, ext. 7837. Sounds like fun but once is enough for me.

Something different but welcome…. BOYD GAMING's BORGATA in Atlantic City has 120 custom-built gaming tables equipped with nozzles that blow fresh air up, creating a nice environmental barrier between smokers and dealers. PAUL-SON developed the unique tables. Need a job? STEVE WYNN'S new $2.4 billion Las Vegas strip resort is open for applications for some 8,000 jobs but you might have a little competition as more than 125,000 are expected to apply. It is projected that 90 percent of the property's opening staff will be from Vegas casinos and hotels.

Congrats to the very capable PR lady at Caesars Entertainment here, VALERIE MORRIS, who has been selected to participate in the upcoming LEADERSHIP MISSISSIPPI program. You can still buy tickets for the 4th Annual Hollywood Casino/St. Jude RED CARPET BASH, a really great night out on Nov. 13, which directly benefits the biggest, stars of all, and the kids of St. Jude. Call 901-373-5051 with more info available at www.recarpetbash.com

And for you NASCAR NUTS, we heard that our proposed Tunica motor sports track is still a very active project and the outlook is generally favorable to move forward with some developments expected in a month of two. Stay tuned.

FROM THE QUOTABLE GAMBLER…Lyons Press

"People don't understand that the gambler may be the most virtuous of men. I know a man who habitually cheats at cards, but he will give his last penny to a beggar. And at the same time, he will never miss a chance to get into a game where a sucker is to be trimmed."
NIKOLAI GOGOL
The Gamblers (1842)

LAISSEZ LE BON TEMPS ROULER.