Heard it on the River

There are upwards of 33,000 people employed in Mississippi's casinos and now they all have another thing in common...they receive the only newspaper authorized by a state casino association produced strictly for them. It's the MISSISSIPPI GAMING NEWS and the first edition, 36 pages long, is now in every casino in the state and if you are working in one of them and haven't seen it, ask why. It's there. It focuses on issues of importance and interest to those working in an industry that supports their families, their communities and their state.

I like the change that is now in effect that labels ROBINSONVILLE as TUNICA RESORTS. Gives the area a different cache for zip code 38664. The Post Office has approved the name change but the old one remains in effect for mailing purposes. With a new airport, golf course and river park about to come on line, we are on the move and the name picked by the County Board of Supervisors reflects that.

If you don't know who FRANK SCOBLETE is you either don't read gaming publications or don't care. Frank, America's most prolific gaming author, is putting on his own show at GOLD STRIKE CASINO RESORT Nov. 14-16 and he calls it, what else, FRANK SCOBLETE'S GAMBLERS JAMBOREE. It will be a weekend of gaming seminars covering all of Tunica's games and the speakers and instructors will be some of the most recognized experts in gaming. You can get complete details on this event in the next issue of JACKPOT.

There is still time to register for the ISLE of CAPRI "Beat the Heat" $50,000 blackjack tournament to be held in Lula, Miss. August 8-10. As always, prize money distribution is based on the amount of players who enter but $20,000 is a guaranteed minimum. For more information you can call 800-789-5825.

We hear all sorts of rumors about what is going in Tunica casinos but they fall on deaf ears in this column, well, most of the time anyway. But we would like to can a recent one making the rounds that PARK PLACE ENTERTAINMENT is trying to sell some of its operations.

The rumors started when PPE announced it plans to rename the company CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT in order to take advantage of the one great casino brands in the industry. But PPE has dismissed the rumors and PR guy ROBERT STEWART emphatically states..."Our properties are not on the market. Anyone who suggests otherwise is guilty of grossly uniformed speculation."

There you have it!

This is not a rumor but a fact...VALERIE MORRIS is the new PR and Community Development Director at Grand Casino. PATTY HUGHES is now Co-Director of Tournaments at Grand's poker room.

HORSESHOE CASINO has picked up some nice recognition for it's wine and cuisine. WINE SPECTATOR magazine has recognized JACK BINION'S STEAK HOUSE, YASMIN'S ASIAN RESTAURANT and CAFE SONOMA for their award-winning wine selections. The Steak House and Yasmin's have won the Award of Excellence three years in a row and now Cafe Sonoma joins the ranks.

In addition to these great awards, the Steak House received the DiRoNa Award from Distinguished Restaurants of North America for being one of the most prestigious fine dining restaurants in North America. Congratulations to MARK SICILIA, VP of F&B, and his talented staff for these achievements.

HARRAH'S is sponsoring an International Chili Society event, the GREAT BOWLS of FIRE chili cook-off on Sept. 20-21. Chiliheads from across the Mid-South will compete for $6,000 in cash and trophies with $3,000 for the winning team and two free trips to RENO to compete for $25,000 in the world championship cook-off. Proceeds from the Tunica competition will benefit the American Cancer Society in Jackson. PETE BONNER, GM, says it is the first time Harrah's is doing an outdoor event of this kind.

To register or get more info call SANDRA HENLY at 662-357-2742 or shenly@tunica.harrahs.com. Harrah's is also celebrating ELVIS all of August with all kinds of Elvis rewards for play. During August the casino is giving away over $500,000 in prizes, cash/reward credits. Every Tuesday is Bonus Entry Day for the '100 Million Reward Credit Giveaway.'

There is a lot of poker action on television these days and I find it fascinating to watch big name players playing big money make some stupid mistakes. But all the TV exposure has created a lot of buzz about Texas Hold 'em and card play for this game has picked up in our poker rooms hereabouts. I just read a good book on poker, not a novel or "how to" book but an account of the WORLD SERIES OF POKER. It is engrossing.

POSITIVELY FIFTH STREET was written by JAMES MCMANUS who was sent to Las Vegas by Harper's Magazine to cover the WSOP at the Horseshoe downtown. Instead of just covering the event, he is lured into actually playing in it with this travel advance money and the book captures the action of the event and the varied and colorful characters who compete in it. It is a high stakes adventure, often very funny, never dull and the outcome of his play and what goes on outside of the poker room while he is there will surprise you.

Even if you are not a dedicated poker player, you will find this a great read. The publisher is FARRAR, STRAUS and GIROUX, 19 Union Sq. West, New York NY 10003. It can probably be found on the Internet at amazon.com.

This year's Global Gaming Expo will be held in Las Vegas Sept. 14-23 and Isle of Capri Senior Director of Marketing GLENN BUXTON will be a seminar session speaker on casino marketing. CLYDE CALLICOTT, for years a marketing maven in Tunica, has taken a director of marketing position at an Indian casino in New Mexico. Good luck Clyde.

BERNADETTE SPENCER at HOLLYWOOD CASINO has been promoted from director of slot operations to vice president of slot operations.

Spencer joined the Hollywood team in May 1999 as slot manager and in July 2001, she was promoted to director of slot operations and now assumes the her new role. Congratulations to Bernadette.

MORE ON "DEALERS GRIPES:

"Players who don't tip but constantly complain and give out such sound advice to other players as...'I never hit a 16 against a dealer's ten and I win most of the time with this move." Basic strategy it ain't.

FROM THE QUOTABLE GAMBLER, Lyons Press:

"Slots giveth and slots taketh away," I said. "They're good when they come in, aren't they? Nothing like that sound. Nothing."

FRED BARTHELME, Bob the Gambler (1997)

LAISSEZ LES BON TEMPS ROULER.