Heard It On The River

20 March 2003

By Rudi Schiffer

By the time you read this column I fully expect our country  to be
embroiled in a war with IRAQ and it is understandable that this
informataion may not be a priority on your agenda while our troops are
slugging it out with SADDAM and his merry bunch of bio/chemical
terrorists. The fear of war took an early toll  in LAS VEGAS where advance
room bookings plunged for early April without a shot being fired.


In Tunica there is apprehension as well but this market appears to have a
little more breathing room since the majority of visitors (90%) use buses
or cars to get to our central location which has 25 percent of the US
population within a day's drive. WEBSTER FRANKLIN, executive director of
the Tunica Convention & Visitors Bureau, tells us that our location makes
this market a desireable primary, and now, a solid alternate destination
during a war. The CVB and its member casinos are not the only ones who
will be aggressive during a war. They have joined in sponsoring a market
blitz of the ST. LOUIS area with a 12-week long campaign covering
television,radio, newspaper and outdoor advertising that will hit in
mid-April if everthing goes as planned.

Of course, it remains to be
seen if anyone will want to gamble during a national crisis period. My
guess is that people will eventually want to get away from their TV
sets,unless we are marching down Saddam Boulevard in Bagdad in a victory
parade a week after war begins. When they choose to get on with their
lives Tunica could be a hot pick as getting here will not require air
transportation. I have not heard anything about lures such as discounted
rooms and coupon deals but expect them if the conflict drags out and
follks are bunkered down.

There's a new force in Tunica Towne and
it  comes via www.tunicacasinoresorts.com. On the surface it may look like many other
sites but when you look closer you will see a big and important difference
and a section titled "THE TUNICA INSIDER."
This subscription
section of  the site is tailored specifically to info and games at our
nine casinos and the pros who write these focused articles are among the
best in he business. Familiar names like FRANK SCOBLETE, the country's top
gaming author and a weekly expert guest commentator for the past nine
years on the GOODTIMES RADIO SHOW  (www.goodtimesradio.com), slot guru JON
ROBISON, comp queen JEAN SCOTT, blackjack wiz HENRY TAMBURIN, JOHN
GROCHOWSKI and newcomer ROBIN ST. JAMES, who covers all the bases in the
county. The site is not affiliated  with any casino or hotel and if you
want to know what's what with table games, slots and video poker, the
Insider could be your ticket.

There has not been a lot of news
about this recent development but it's one  that bears watching. The
ARKANSAS attorney general has approved the ballot title and name for a
proposed constitutional amendment that would allow casino gaming in nine
counties and a statewide lottery, according to the Associated Press.
Casino gaming initiatives have not made any headway in prior attempts in
Arkansas but in these days of dwindling state coffers, anything can
happen. My guess, however, it that it is wasted effort.

DON BARDEN,
owner of FITZGERALDS CASINOS, among other companies, has been named as a
National Finance Co-Chair by Rep. DICK GEPHARDT to help him run a
competitive race for the Democratic nomintion for President of the United
States. Barden, who was an early supporter of former President BILL
CLINTON and a large donor to the Democratic National Committee, is the
only African-American to wholly own a national casino company.


WALLY BARR, President and CEO of PARK PLACE ENTERTAINMENT, is not one to
mince words and he recently challenged 55,000 employees to focus on three
key objectives: Becoming the most successful player in each of the major
gaming markets in the USA, significantly expanding revenue from non-gaming
activities while growing gaming revenue. and exploring opportunties in new
markets, including domestic, international and online.

When
MISSISSIPPI legislators contemplate new taxes on casinos, the should
consider the consequences as well. Casinos are often hit for new revenue
to bolster sagging state income but such raises are not without negative
results. Many casinos in other states have been driven out of business by
onerous taxes and that means lots of lost jobs. It can effect players also
since casinos, unlike other businesses, cannot raise prices to counter
higher taxes. That means service and comps will could be cut back.


FRANK SCOBLETE's Sharpshooter Craps Festival was a big success at SAM'S
TOWN as over 110 students paid to attend intensive sessions over three
days. Scobe said it was the highest attendance for such an event held by
GOLDEN TOUCH CRAPS and shooters could look for another festival next year.
The main attraction was the teaching of dice control by the best craps
players in the country such as the DOMINATOR, BILLY THE KID, TENOR, MR.
FINESSE and SHARPSHOOTER. Dr. RICHARD MCALL, (AKA, Samurai Shooter),
applied the principles of master swordsmanship to dice shooting. He got my
attention when he used a short, swift sword stroke to slice clean through
a cucumber held by his son against his neck without so much as nick in the
skin. Doc said he has "has a 98 percent success rate with this demo."
Count me out.

FROM THE QUOTABLE GAMBLER...The Lyons Press
"An
intelligent man gambles because this is a means of surrendering himself
and his fortunes to the fates before testing his wits and nerve. He does
this because it improves the flavor of living. Unless he can do this
happlily, and with grace, he is a loser whether he leaves the game a
richer man or a poorer. Unless he can do this, he should not gamble at
all."
  NICK "THE GREEK" DANDALOS, quoted in Ted Thackery Jr.,
Gambling Secrets of  Nick The Greek (1968)

Check out
www.goodtimesradio.com and win casino buffets.

LAISSEZ LE BON TEMPS
ROULER