BJ21.com Newsletter
October 28, 2010       101028

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Compiled by Al Rogers
 Al@bj21.com


Police: Orleans restaurant worker helped plan robbery against manager -- Man was stabbed during Monday morning robbery in parking lot

LAS VEGAS - An employee at an Orleans Hotel & Casino restaurant told Metro Police she drove to her manager's car in the parking lot, then an accomplice waited for the manager to come out with a bank deposit and stabbed him while trying to take the money.

Gaming board postpones vote on revoking Foxwoods license

HARRISBURG - For enforcement lawyers with the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, the Foxwoods Casino project in South Philadelphia should be judged on what it is today: broke and overdue.

Harrah's steps in with plan to revive, operate Foxwoods Casino


PHILADELPHIA - For the second time in six months, local investors in the proposed Foxwoods Casino will present state gaming regulators with a new partner and a plan to revive the stalled South Philadelphia project.

MGM, Dubai World Refinancing $1.8 Billion CityCenter Bank Loan


MGM Resorts International and Dubai World, owners of the CityCenter development on the Las Vegas Strip, are seeking to refinance the property’s $1.8 billion loan to extend maturities.

Two CityCenter projects begin branding efforts


Two of CityCenter's developments, the centerpiece Aria and the nongaming Vdara and condominium project, have begun national branding campaigns.

Settlement reached in wage case involving Las Vegas adult clubs

Attorneys around the country can't seem to agree on how to require topless and nude dancing clubs to pay entertainers the minimum wage and overtime in compliance with state and federal laws.

Report: Don’t bet on Las Vegas Strip comeback in 2011

While some industry observers point to recent increases in gambling revenue, tourism traffic and room rates as a sign that a recovery is under way, analysts at CB Richard Ellis in Las Vegas are popping that balloon, calling such figures a temporary aberration and forecasting earnings declines for most Strip’s casinos next year.

Death at Hard Rock’s Rehab pool caused by drowning, intoxication

The death of an Oregon man in late August at the Hard Rock Hotel's Rehab pool was caused by a combination of drowning and ethanol intoxication, according to the Clark County Coroner's Office.

Report Details DUI Arrest of Palms Owner George Maloof

LAS VEGAS  -- The report detailing the arrest of Palms Casino Resort owner George Maloof Jr. has been released by police. Maloof was arrested for drunken driving a few weeks ago near his Spanish Trail home.

Boyd rejects chance to purchase all of Borgata

Boyd Gaming Corp. said Monday it isn't turning its back on Atlantic City, even though it turned down a chance to buy the 2,800-room Borgata outright because it believes there are better investment opportunities outside the troubled gaming market.

Boyd Gaming seeks to raise $500 million

Boyd Gaming Corp. wants to raise $500 million to pay off or refinance some of its existing debt. The Las Vegas-based casino operator said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission late Tuesday that it was offering $500 million of eight-year senior notes in a private placement transaction, subject to market, regulatory and other conditions.

Proposed Station casino receives 5-year extension

RENO - A proposed hotel-casino development off Mount Rose Highway was given a five-year extension by the Reno City Council on Wednesday to start building.

Reno casinos grapple with gambling downturn


RENO — The Siena Hotel Spa Casino abruptly closed its doors. Boomtown Hotel and Casino is rumored to be on the market.

Rincon tribe barricades disputed property

SAN DIEGO - For years, the Rincon tribe has tried to get the owner to comply with its regulations using the Intertribal Court of Southern California, but Donius has rejected the court's authority over his property.

No "giveaway" of Pinnacle's Atlantic City land, company says

ATLANTIC CITY - Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. will not sacrifice its Atlantic City land for a cheap price and may consider using the site for a boutique-style casino, the company's chief executive says.

Former MTR Gaming exec approved as CEO for Trump Casinos


ATLANTIC CITY — Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc. will "fix our house in Atlantic City" and then look to expand into other gaming markets as part of its post-bankruptcy restructuring plan, the company's incoming chief executive said.

Casino vet, ex-regulator has plan for Resorts


ATLANTIC CITY — His efforts to root out mob influence in Las Vegas gambling halls were immortalized in the Martin Scorcese film "Casino." As head of Atlantic City's Tropicana Casino and Resort, he pitted a tic-tac-toe-playing chicken against customers and used billboards of Fidel Castro to hype a Cuban-themed shopping and dining mall.

Leaders named at gaming companies after bankruptcy

New CEOs and boards of directors have been named for two Las Vegas-based casino operators as they emerge from bankruptcy.

Nightclub workers sue Wynn over tip pooling

Nevada Labor Commissioner Michael Tanchek has upheld the groundbreaking Wynn Las Vegas policy of requiring casino dealers to share tips with managers -- but that hasn't stopped attorneys and workers from challenging that and similar arrangements.

Customer foils holdup at a casino in Havre

GREAT FALLS - A Havre man found himself in the middle of an armed casino robbery early Tuesday morning and managed to scare the masked robber off with what he called "the Crocodile Dundee trick."

Cosmopolitan chief reveals more details about new resort


With only about 45 days until the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas opens, Chief Executive John Unwin is still slowly revealing facets of the $3.9 billion resort.

Harry Reid, Sharron Angle polar opposites with views of economy

With early voting under way in the race that will serve as the nation’s No. 1 referendum on Washington’s response to the recession, the Clintonian adage “It’s the economy, stupid” seems like a gross understatement. Nevadans have been thrust front and center as they decide whether to keep Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid or replace him with Sharron Angle.


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



Casino-ology  by Bill Zender      Casino-ology provides contrarian solutions to common gaming management issues.  It is must reading for patrons and casino employees.

Bill Zender knows the art of casino management. In addition to having worked in, managed, and owned casinos for decades, Zender has also been an enforcement agent for the Nevada Gaming Control Board, as well as spent time as an advantage player, exploiting the vulnerabilities of casinos from the civilian side of the tables. Today, he travels the globe consulting for the international casino industry.

In Casino-ology, Zender argues against excessive card-counter and shuffle-tracker countermeasures in favor of hand production to increase profits, and concludes that rhythmic dice rollers aren.t the threat they.re made out to be. He details the dangers of customer-service breaches; ill-conceived non-negotiable-chip programs; and past-posting, marked-card, and false-shuffle scams. He addresses player tracking systems, 6-5 payouts for blackjacks, the subtleties of marketing to Asian customers, nuances of the derivative pit games, even the science of turning around a distressed casino.

By challenging long-cherished conventions, Casino-ology provides contrarian and radical, but proven, solutions to common gaming issues.

The price is $39.95 plus shipping (plus sales tax if sent to a Nevada address).  Order Casino-ology by Bill Zender.


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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On the 1st and 2nd of every month, a couple dozen Pi Yee Press reporters visit casinos around the United States to check on the blackjack rules and playing conditions. Five of those reporters split up Las Vegas and visit every casino in town. Any changes in rules and playing conditions that they find, they email to the CBJN editor, who compiles them into a newsletter that is published late in the afternoon on the 3rd. That report is available as a single issue, your choice of e-mail or regular mail. The price of a single issue is $13 for electronic or $16 for regular mail.  Sample issue of  Current Blackjack News.

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