BJ21.com Newsletter
December 18, 2009 091218
Presented as a public service
by BJ21.com, the leading source of accurate
information about casino games and conditions. Our free
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back issues of our weekly newsletters.
Compiled by Al
Rogers
Al@bj21.com
CITYCENTER'S
ARIA: THE CRESCENDO -- Newest, most expensive joint on the Strip opens
with fireworks, fanfare
Wednesday was all about celebrating the opening of CityCenter's
centerpiece, but it was also a time for putting the $8.4 billion
project into perspective.
Q&A:
Bill McBeath -- President and COO, Aria
If you build a resort with the lofty expectations associated with
CityCenter, you can’t hand over the keys to just anybody. When it came
time to choose a president and chief operating officer of the Aria
hotel and casino, the centerpiece of CityCenter, MGM Mirage turned to
Bill McBeath, who has held key management positions with some of Las
Vegas’ most successful properties — Mirage, Treasure Island and
Bellagio.
Northern Nevada's fortune tied CityCenter success, or failure
CityCenter's potential benefits extend beyond Clark County's border.
All of Nevada has a stake in the project.
Murren, execs lend insight into Harmon blame game
MGM Mirage likely will not seek legal action against the participating
parties involved with structural issues that delayed and significantly
altered the design on the Harmon Hotel, according to the company’s
chairman and CEO, Jim Murren.
Boyd
sweetens bid for Station -- Company offers $2.45 billion in cash,
assumed debt for casinos, land
Boyd Gaming Corp. sent another message Tuesday that it intends to be a
serious player in Station Casinos' bankruptcy by offering $2.45 billion
for most of the company.
Black
Gaming May Be Getting A New Partner
MESQUITE, NV - Reports by KLAS-TV and the Las Vegas Sun on Friday, Dec.
11, broke the news that negotiations were underway for Frank Toti to
become involved with Black Gaming, LLC.
Thanks to Nic Alfonsetti in Mesquite, NV for submitting the above
link.
Sahara
cites weak demand in closing hotel towers
The Sahara hotel-casino in Las Vegas is temporarily closing two of its
three hotel towers and its buffet, citing slow business during the
holiday season.
Bankrupt
Silver Dollar Casino sold
Calgary's Silver Dollar Casino has been bought by Colorado-based
Century Casinos, Inc. in a $10.6-million US deal.
Mo. levies no penalty on former Pinnacle CEO
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri regulators decided Wednesday not to
punish a former casino executive who warned a St. Louis-area official
that there would be political consequences for voting to help another
company's project.
Mashantuckets
officially default on Foxwoods loans
CONECTICUT - Legal ramifications in 'uncharted waters' after
Mashantuckets fail to make $7.5 million interest payment
Gaming board blasts Foxwoods over a deadline
Lawyers for the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board yesterday slammed the
Foxwoods Casino developers for missing a Dec. 1 deadline to submit
architectural renderings of its stalled South Philadelphia slots
parlor, and advised against an extension to March 1.
Murphy
suing state for malicious prosecution in Binion case
Sandra Murphy, known for her conviction and eventual acquittal in the
death of her boyfriend and Las Vegas casino executive Ted Binion, is
suing the state for false imprisonment and malicious prosecution.
Man
pleads guilty to casino fraud -- The Missourian created counterfeit
gambling chips to swindle a casino near Grove
TULSA, OK - A Missouri man pleaded guilty Tuesday to stealing from an
Oklahoma casino by creating counterfeit gambling chips.
NFL
to allow Las Vegas ads on postseason telecasts
NEW YORK — The NFL will allow advertising for Las Vegas on game
telecasts this postseason, including the Super Bowl.
Will
Obama legalize gambling?
Along with health care reform and usher in economic incentives,
president Barack Obama is on the mood to change the face of online
gambling in the United States. Merrill Lynch representative said: "We
believe that it could ultimately pave the way for on-line gaming
regulation rather than prohibition."
Singapore to bar over 28,000 people from casinos
Singapore's National Council on Problem Gambling will send letters to
over 28,000 people in Singapore, barring them from the two upcoming
casinos, local media reported on Wednesday.
Carl
Icahn Trumps the Donald and Gains Control of 3 Atlantic City Properties
Entities controlled by Carl C. Icahn have purchased a majority of the
outstanding first lien bank debt from Beal Bank of Trump Entertainment
Resorts Holdings LP, the owner of the Trump Taj Mahal, Trump Plaza and
Trump Marina properties in Atlantic City, NJ, from.
Sands Casino scam attempt doesn't pay off -- New York woman faces
prison after pleading guilty to thefts. She stole $10,000 in 13 hours.
PENNSYVANIA - A New York woman accused of a career of casino scams
faces sentencing in January for stealing from patrons of Sands Resort
Casino Bethlehem.
Woods
was high roller at Vegas blackjack table
When he wasn't forking over cash to silence his harem of beautiful
bimbos, Tiger Woods tossed tens of thousands of dollars on the
blackjack table at a Sin City casino, according to one of his
mistresses.
Tiger scandal puts VIP hosts on spot
Tiger Woods' widening infidelity scandal has brought unprecedented
media scrutiny to the roles of VIP casino and nightclub hosts and
whether they are involved in hooking up clients with sex partners.
The
VIP service that seduced Tiger Woods
On any given evening at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, a long queue
will stretch from the floor of the casino to the entrance of a
nightclub called The Bank.
Ontario
looks to unload Crown corporations -- Facing record $24.7-billion
deficit, province considers privatizing major companies including LCBO,
Hydro One and OLG
The cash-strapped Ontario government is looking into the sale of all or
part of its collection of Crown corporations, including the provincial
lottery company and the retail monopoly on liquor sales, to raise cash
to close a $24.7-billion deficit this year.
All major Reno-Sparks casinos seeking devaluation of properties
Fourteen casino properties in Washoe County will be devalued by $99
million -- 26.5 percent -- for tax purposes in the year starting July
1, because of the continuing decline in gaming.
Casinos want state high court to ban card counters
INDIANAPOLIS - A court ruling that requires an Indiana casino to allow
a gambler to play blackjack even though he admits counting cards could
force the state's casinos to institute new rules that could push
players to other states at a time when gambling revenues have already
taken a hit, gambling experts say.
Hard
Rock Hotel investor granted state gaming license
A major player in retail shopping centers has received a Nevada gaming
license after investing in the company that owns Las Vegas’ Hard Rock
Hotel.
Management of Greektown Casino Hotel in flux as Fine Point Group's
contract expires
DETROIT - Leadership of the Greektown Casino Hotel will be in flux as
of January 1 after Greektown's board of directors decided not to offer
a new contract to Las Vegas-based Fine Point Group, which has run the
casino for the last year.
The Bear Growls
Long-time Las Vegas-based advantage player, casino critic, and frequent
BJ21.com
contributor LVBear offers his opinions on things that sometimes go
wrong in the world of casinos.
Current and past growls can be read and comments posted at LVBear's
website, TheBearGrowls.com
Weighing the Odds in Sports Betting
by King Yao
Sports betting can be attacked intelligently. Smart sports bettors do
not gamble the same way as tourists play roulette or retirees play the
slot machines. Instead, smart sports bettors are making bets that they
have thought through carefully with supporting logic and/or research.
The purpose of this book is to give you tools to succeed at sports
betting, to show you how to evaluate, compare and view sports betting
from an analytical perspective, not from a gambling perspective.
The price is $19.95 plus shipping (plus sales tax if sent to a Nevada
address). Order Weighing
the Odds in Sports Betting.
Sharp Sports Betting, the book, by
Stanford Wong
2009
printing
Millions of dollars are wagered on sports events each year. Most people
give up a part of their bet to the house, while some "sharp" bettors
actually turn a profit for themselves. Sharp Sports Betting by Stanford
Wong is a revolutionary text on getting the edge over bookmakers. Much
of this information has never before been seen in print.
Some important topics covered in this book are:
Money management - Proper money management lets you win more than if
you simply make flat bets. Sharp Sports Betting explains when to bet
more, and how much to bet.
Internet sports betting - The Internet has opened up the opportunity
for people to bet on sports without visiting Nevada. Along with making
bets on the Internet, there are many important things to know. How do
you open an account? How do you get bonuses? What do you do if they are
slow to pay you?
Parlays - Parlays are risky; you can lose faster or you can win faster
than with straight bets. Sharp Sports Betting explains the mathematics
behind parlays. It explains how to make parlays that give you an edge
over bookmakers. It will help you answer questions like, "Should I
parlay these two bets?" "Should I bet off-the-board or with a parlay
card?" "A casino is offering 7:1 on a 3-team parlay. Is that good?"
Props - Do you ever bet on how many of something is going to occur,
such as how many games your favorite team is going to win during the
coming season, or how many field goals will be kicked during the Super
Bowl? Sharp Sports Betting explains how to evaluate such prop bets to
find the nuggets.
Historical NFL data - Have you ever wondered how frequently certain
spreads are achieved? When you should buy a half point for a dime? How
big a deviation you need from the posted spread to get an edge? When
should you bet the money line instead of the spread? Sharp Sports
Betting has the answers to all these and more. The 2009
printing has data through the 2008-2009 season.
NFL teasers - Since football points often come three or seven at
a
time, some final scores are more common than others. The sharp sports
bettor can take advantage by making teaser bets. Sharp Sports Betting
explains which teams to tease to get an edge over bookmakers.
And lots more… If you are brand new to sports betting and want the
basics on how to place bets and what the different information in a
sports book means, Sharp Sports
Betting
gives the answers. If you're a seasoned pro and want explanations of
how to analyze the various betting options available in sportsbooks, Sharp Sports Betting has much
essential but never-before-published information.
The price is $19.95 plus shipping (plus sales tax if sent to a Nevada
address). Order Sharp Sports Betting.
Beat the Players - Casinos, Cops and the
Game Inside the Game, by Bob Nersesian
This
book should be read by everyone who sets foot in a casino: average
casino patrons, skilled players, casino employees, and anyone else. It
should be required reading for police officers, regulators, other
public officials, and attorneys who may represent any of the
aforementioned. Beat the Players
was the subject of a
feature in USA Today.
Bob
Nersesian is an attorney who represents victims of casino wrongdoing
against patrons. In an enjoyable writing style, he takes a look at the
often too-cozy relationship between casinos, police, and regulators. He
discusses specific cases and dispenses sound, practical advice that
patrons, casinos and public officials would be wise to heed. Cases
discussed are from Nevada and other jurisdictions.
Chapters
include: Your Money or Your Liberty; Scary Cop Statements; They'll Take
Your Liberty Anyway; Gaming Agents Speak; The Take of the State; Rules
for Casino Patrons; Gambling at the Legal Limits; Cops Hate Card
Counters; Griffin Investigations; Casinos Cheat With Impunity; A
Judicial and Government Overlay; Finding a Nickel Brings Trouble; Names
and Aliases; The Security Office and Surveillance Functions, and
Casinos and Cops.
Appendices
include Nevada Cheating and Detention Laws with Commentary; Other
Nevada Gaming Laws of Interest; Gaming Cases of Interest, and Nevada
Gaming Regulations with Commentary.
The
320-page book includes a bibliography and an index.
The
price is $19.95 plus shipping (plus sales tax if sent to a Nevada
address). Green Chip
members get their normal 10% discount .Order Beat
the Players.
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Current Blackjack News
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